Chapter 33: Feng Yihan is Invading?
"You had been willing! Could it be that you've never thought about killing Yao Moxin so that you could take her place?" Ye Hongyi exploded when Yao Suluan exposed his ugly deeds.
"If it weren't for the fact that Suluan had such desires, why would Your Majesty have chosen Suluan to participate in those despicable schemes with you? Suluan had done everything for you, but what did Suluan obtain?" shouted Yao Suluan angrily. Currently, there was no point for her to act weak in front of Ye Hongyi.
"We've bestowed you the position of imperial noble consort! It's already extreme benevolence!" roared Ye Hongyi coldly.
"Imperial noble consort? Oh that's right! If Your Majesty hadn't reminded me, Suluan wouldn't have remembered that I had such a title. Back then, for the sake of controlling Huan Heng, Your Majesty had Suluan give up on the child to frame Huan Caier. After things didn't turn out as wishes, Your Majesty focused only on emphasizing that you were innocent and completely abandoned Suluan! Your Majesty has let down Suluan! You've let down your own flesh and blood!" Whenever Yao Suluan recalled the child that she had gotten rid of with her own hands, her heart would convulse with pain.
"Yao Suluan, don't forget! You were the one that drank the saffron. We didn't press a knife against your neck to force you! You had been willing to kill your own child to obtain the position of empress, how are you any better than us?" Ye Hongyi scoffed coldly.
"Since Your Majesty has already said this, then Suluan might as well put it bluntly. If Your Majesty presses Suluan too much, Suluan would rather do a last struggle than to give up and accept death! Suluan is just a woman. It doesn't really matter if the country's citizen spits at and curses me, but Your Majesty isn't the same! Your Majesty should think things through carefully. Don't do anything you'll end up regretting!" Yao Suluan abruptly got to her feet as she said this provocatively.
"You want to live? Then we'll allow you to do so! But you should remember this well: If this matter is ever exposed, we'll let you know the meaning of life worse than death!" said Ye Hongyi coldly, then he flung his sleeves back and stormed out.
After Ye Hongyi slammed the door closed, Yao Suluan collapsed into a chair, her face pale. Her legs trembled uncontrollably. She had just escaped from the door of the devil. To say that she wasn't scared would be a lie.
Now that she had fallen out with Ye Hongyi, regardless of whether it was imperial favor or the position of empress, they were both now forever out of reach. Could it be that she'd have to continue struggling on at death's door like this? Yao Suluan clenched her fists. She couldn't accept this! Unless… Unless the master of the country changed! When Yao Suluan's thoughts reached this point, a trace of a smile appeared on her tense face.
Beneath the bright moonlight, Yin Xue was repeating the conversation between Ye Hongyi and Yao Suluan word for word to Yao Mowan.
"What a pity for such matching allies to end up such enemies," said Yao Mowan lightly. No emotions could be made out from her voice.
Behind her, Yin Xue was inwardly shocked. Even she had felt a bit of pity when she heard that Yao Moxin had been killed, but Yao Mowan was actually able to remain so unpreturbed despite learning of this news. She had to admit her respect for this new master's deep foresight and ability to keep her emotions hidden.
"Master, should we kill Yao Suluan?" asked Yin Xue.
"Why would you ask that? This consort's hoping that she'd be able to live for a little longer," said Yao Mowan with a soft smile. Her smile was extremely beautiful, but Yin Xue could sense bloodthirsty murderous intent.
After what happened with Ye Liyu, Yao Mowan felt like Ye Hongyi's gaze always contained hidden murderous intention when he looked at Ye Junqing. It made her very worried. Fortunately, at this time, Yin Xue discovered that Ye Hongyi was secretly hiding the prince of Qi, Feng Duo. This discovery made Yao Mowan loosen a breath in relief. It seemed it was time for Feng Yihan to return the favor.
At breakfast, Ye Junqing had just lifted his bowl to start eating when he heard An Bingshan's voice. That voice immediately ruined his appetite.
"The imperial edict has arrived. Esteemed Prince, please accept the edict!" Upon hearing this, Ye Junqing lowered his bowl and reflexively glanced towards Yao Mowan.
"Why are you looking at me? He's calling for you?" muttered Yao Mowan even as her lips curved into a faint smile.
Ye Junqing blushed slightly. He also felt like his behavior was senseless. For some reason, he seemed to be a little dependent on Yao Mowan now. It showed in the way he always wanted to ask for Yao Mowan's opinion before he did anything. It made him really vexed.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, this emperor hereby decree that the nation of Qi has disregarded their signed treaty. They've openly incited war and have already taken over three cities. Ye Junqing is given the post of vanguard. Three days later, lead the troops to Geyan!" After An Bingshan finished reading the imperial decree, he handed it to Ye Junqing with a strange tone of respect. However, when Ye Junqing ignored him, he left angrily.
"Feng Yihan has just ascended to the throne. It doesn't make sense for him to start a war now?" Ye Junqing frowned as he looked at the edict.
"Mowan thinks that what Prince should be wondering about is why His Majesty chose to sent you to fight against Feng Yihan." Yao Mowan expressed that she really couldn't understand Ye Junqing's naive way of thinking.
"This prince is just a vanguard, what could this prince possibly do?" replied Ye Junqing with a bitter smile. There was no way he could be unaware of the fact that Ye Hongyi didn't trust him.
"If Prince wished, you could do anything." Yao Mowan looked towards him meaningfully.
"This prince had promised Moxin that I would protect Ye Hongyi's country." This was a vow and also a promise. Ye Junqing refused to disappoint Yao Moxin.
Yao Mowan fell silent. Sometimes she wondered what would happen if she told Ye Junqing that she was Yao Moxin? What would happen? But she didn't dare to take this risk. She couldn't guarantee that Ye Junqing would believe her. After all, anyone that hasn't experienced this for themselves would find it unbelievable.
"Say, why do you think Feng Yihan attacked great Chu? Was it because he wasn't treated respectfully the last time he visited?" When Yao Mowan didn't say anything, Ye Junqing walked over to her to ask this.
"Is he that shallow?" Yao Mowan took a deep breath. It didn't matter. Since she had decided to help pave the road to the throne for Ye Junqing, there was no need for him to worry about such things. After all, she owed him this.
"This prince also feels that he's not that shallow. So then, why did he do this?" Ye Junqing was clearly trying to fish something out of her.
"You want to know?" Yao Mowan lifted her brows, her eyes bright.
"I do!" Ye Junqing nodded.
"Then you should ask him!" Yao Mowan's innocent tone made her words all the more infuriating. When Ye Junqing heard her reply, his face went black and he left without a word.
Ever since finding out that Ye Junqing would be heading to battle, Yao Mowan had been worried about who would get the marshal's seal. At this time, when she heard Ye Hongyi's inquiry, she really wanted to laugh.
"Your Majesty, Wan er doesn't want to be the marshal! Wan er doesn't want to leave Your Majesty." Yao Mowan buried her face into Ye Hongyi's chest. The stone on her heart finally fell. The only thing she couldn't understand was what Ye Hongyi was trying to do by giving her the marshal's seal.
"We've never asked anything of Wan er before. This time counts as us begging Wan er, please do it, alright?" Ye Hongyi lifted a strand of Yao Mowan's hair and played with it as he coaxed her.
"But Wan er has never been a marshal before and doesn't know how to be one?" Yao Mowan blinked in confusion.
"It's fine, just remember that everyone must listen to you. They have to do whatever you tell them too, including Ye Junqing, got it?" explained Ye Hongyi patiently.
"But Wan er's really dumb and doesn't know how to fight. What if we lose…" Yao Mowan pressed the tips of her fingers together with a troubled pout.
"It's good if you lose! If you lose it just means that Wan er isn't a competitive person!" Ye Hongyi nodded earnestly without any trace of a joking manner. Yao Mowan suddenly realized his intentions. The reason Ye Hongyi wanted to make her the commander-in-chief of this hundred thousand men army was because he wanted to lose this war! When Feng Yihan visited great Chu before, it had always been Ye Junqing keeping him company. If Ye Junqing lost to Feng Yihan this time, it'd be taken as Ye Junqing selling out the nation! This crime was enough to for Ye Junqing to be executed!
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
[Chiyomira's Corner]
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