The setting sun cast a long shadow of Luo Lingyi, slender and delicate. Her voice was like a mournful cry, her face devoid of tears yet filled with infinite melancholy.
"You say my uncle, the Emperor of Great Wei, will he truly spare me, the daughter of a rebel, in consideration of my mother?" Luo Lingyi's voice was low, laced with deep self-mockery.
"Of course, Sister is the Princess Qingping, personally enfeoffed by the Sage, and the daughter of the Grand Princess of Great Wei. The Grand Princess is a hero of our Great Wei, and Sister is a hero's daughter," Yu Mingyue said without hesitation.
Though the Sage's heart was unfathomable, he would not stoop to harming two weak women. Moreover, it was easy to exterminate the Luo clan, but difficult to appease the hearts of the army and people of Youzhou.
Keeping the Luo sisters would better stabilize the military. Was not the title of a benevolent ruler better than that of a tyrant?
The Sage would not only spare their lives but even arrange a grand wedding for her and the Seventh Prince.
Yu Mingyue felt a deep sadness, a feeling of wanting to cry but being unable to.
She worried for her brother and grieved for the Grand Princess.
Underneath a war, how many souls perished unjustly, their names unknown.
The noble politicians, who could turn clouds into rain and rain into clouds, all claimed innocence and helplessness. Yet, who caused the constant turmoil for the common people, and who made women the sacrifices in their power struggles?
The two watched the setting sun gradually descend. They looked at each other in tacit understanding. Luo Lingyi's lips curved into a faint smile.
"To be honest, I'm not as afraid now. The anxiety that had been hanging over me has finally lifted. In fact, the day I left Youzhou, I knew I could never return in this lifetime, nor would I ever see them again. Even if the Sage decided to cut all ties one day, I would not be surprised, nor would I be afraid. Sister Mingyue, thank you for visiting me. Meeting you in the capital has been the greatest joy!"
Since the Luo family's rebellion and the news of her mother's martyrdom, she and her sister had been treated like plague carriers. Their so-called good friends from before had vanished.
The warmth and coldness of human relationships, the myriad facets of life.
"We will be sisters for life, supporting each other, never abandoning each other."
"Of course!" The light that ignited in Luo Lingyi's eyes dispelled her sorrow.
Pain?
The loss of both parents, a pain that pierced to the bone.
Hate?
Whom should she hate?
Live?
Of course, every day that followed was not for herself.
Many, many years later, Luo Lingyi could still recall the sunset of that day. It was one of the few moments of warmth she would receive in the rest of her life.
Therefore, later, even when they had disagreements and could no longer be close confidantes, she never harbored any murderous intent towards her.
Because, during her most helpless years, she had her companionship. In her heart, she was an untouchable kindness.
...
Youzhou remained silent, and the capital grew more tense. In the imperial court, the noble clans and Yao family's faction continued their fierce arguments.
Yao Zhinian was aggressive, launching a counterattack with his first words.
Yao Zhinian's faction began to accuse the Seventh Prince's disappearance as a conspiracy by the noble clans, as the heir of the Duke of Dingguo was also missing.
"The Seventh Prince disappears, and immediately they propose to welcome back the Empress. How can such a coincidence occur? The world knows that Young Master Yu's maternal clan is the Cui clan of Qinghe, and the Cui clan is one of the Five Great Clans, always united."
Now, both the father and son of the Yu family were absent from court, and the second and third masters of the Yu family held insignificant positions, unable to speak up. The Yao family seized this opportunity to blame the Seventh Prince's disappearance entirely on Yu Mingjing.
"Minister Yao, it is best not to speak baseless words. Are you inciting internal strife in our Great Wei?" someone immediately retorted.
"Even if Yu Mingjing was not instigated by others, as the Seventh Prince's deputy general, he should have protected him wholeheartedly. He bears undeniable responsibility for the Seventh Prince's disappearance," Yao Zhinian stated.
"The imperial court is a place for discussing state affairs. Minister Yao, please do not mix personal grudges into it." The speaker was Zhou Zixuan, the second-place scholar.
Subsequently, Lu Bingwen and several others also spoke up for Yu Mingjing.
The impression Yu Mingjing left on these scholars when he, along with the Sage, recruited them that day was very good.
Yao Zhinian's move was indeed clever, but the previous old grudges between the Yao family and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion caused a backlash.