Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The Second Daughter

Jiang Su whipped Chu Mu again, "Though the Ye family are subjects, we have been loyal and patriotic, earning countless military merits and the deep affection of His Majesty through generations. Even this golden whip was bestowed upon our family by the founding emperor. With it, the people of the Ye family can strike down a negligent sovereign and corrupt officials! Today, I use it to strike at you, the treacherous members of the royal family! What can your Northern King's estate do to me?!"

"You, you..." The old princess consort trembled with anger, "With your arrogance, aren't you afraid of the Emperor's blame?!"

"Blame?" Jiang Su scoffed, "Even if there's blame, it would only come after I've dealt with you!"

If the situation weren't so inappropriate, she would have loved to strip the Dingbei household of all its pretenses right there and then!

Such fools! Still thinking of the current Emperor? The person who most desires their downfall is the Emperor himself; he'd probably be delighted to see Ye Tong and the Ye family turn against Dingbei's household. Expecting him to stand up for Dingbei's household? Dream on!

The old princess consort was infuriated by Jiang Su's relentless onslaught, feeling pain in every organ, and yet Jiang Su didn't stop. The golden whip she wielded seemed to crack with authority, each strike making it feel like bones were breaking.

Chu Mu wanted to step in and stop Jiang Su but was blocked by Ye Tong.

Chu Li, enraged by being hit, also tried to confront Jiang Su but was quickly restrained by Zhong Yi.

The old princess consort on the ground, her clothes in disarray and her hairpin, intricately designed, painfully pulling at her hair.

"Rebellion, all of you!" She stomped her feet in frustration, her sons restrained, she angrily scolded the servants of the Southern Garden, "Are you all blind? Seeing your masters being bullied and not helping!"

The servants were in a dilemma.

Though they were servants of Dingbei's household and should protect their masters, they were also facing the family of the princess consort, their masters too. And who in the entire land didn't know of the Ye family's reputation?

Known throughout Da Jin for their brute strength and fierce loyalty, they had cut ties with the princess consort in recent years, so the servants hadn't seen them defend their own. Now that they had, they dared not step forward.

While the servants hesitated, Jiang Su no longer provoked the old princess consort but instead lashed out with her whip at Chu Mu and Chu Li.

Every single one in Dingbei's household, dumb and venomous to the core!

"You blame Ye Tong for the celebratory banquet, for marrying during mourning, for taking the place of your beloved! But have you thought, if she hadn't done that, even if the old King of Dingbei had arranged the marriage, do you think you could have married? Could you have lived so peacefully after the old king's death?!" Jiang Su threw the letter she had given Ye Tong at Chu Mu's face.

"Back then, it was you who sought to marry Ye Tong. Over these years, she's given almost everything for a promise, but what about you? Taking advantage of her on one hand, while insulting and humiliating her on the other. People like you, ungrateful, what right do you have to talk about divorce?"

Chu Mu, initially filled with anger at Jiang Su, was taken aback by her words, frozen in thought.

Jiang Su gave Chu Li one last lash, then sheathed her whip and coldly declared, "The debts of gratitude owed and promises made by Ye Tong have all been fulfilled! Today, I, Jiang Pingjun, declare that from this day forth, my Ye family and your Dingbei household are entirely severed, with no further connection! Ye Shi Ye Tong is no longer a woman of your Chu family! Should you entangle us further, the Ye family will fight to the death!"

With that, she turned to the Ye family members and said, "Let's go!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yi immediately let go of Chu Li, and Ye Tong, taken aback, also released Chu Mu.

The Ye family members left openly and boldly, leaving the old princess consort, Chu Li, and others from Dingbei's household seething with anger but clueless on how to react. Never had they imagined the Ye family would be so bold, barging into Dingbei's household and confronting them without restraint.

"Outrageous... Absolutely outrageous! I will report this to the authorities, I want to see the Emperor! I refuse to believe that there's no one in this world who can control the Ye family," the old princess consort, as if possessed, tugged at Chu Mu, "To the palace! Mu'er, go, to the palace to see the Emperor! Let the Emperor give us justice!"

Chu Mu remained silent.

Furious, the old princess consort berated him, "You unfilial son! Have you forgotten how the Ye family just treated us? Are you still soft-hearted towards Ye Tong?!"

Chu Li, fuming from the whipping, kicked away a servant who came to help him, filled with resentment, "Brother, have you lost your mind? I've always said Ye Tong was no good. Look at their family; do they even consider us? Are you still trying to protect them?!"

The old princess consort and Chu Li believed Chu Mu's reluctance to report the Ye family to the Emperor was because of Ye Tong. But in reality, Chu Mu had spent these years indulging in pleasures and neglecting court affairs, with his daily attendance at court being negligible.

The current Emperor also had little desire to see him, showing indifference towards his negligence. Thus, over the years, Chu Mu had rarely seen the Emperor, knowing all too well what Dingbei's household meant in the Emperor's eyes, and...

Chu Mu, looking at the letter in pain, wondered what right they had to seek justice.

After leaving Dingbei's household, Jiang Su did not head back to the Ye residence but went to the palace instead.

If the people of Dingbei's household wanted the Emperor to grant them justice, she would show them what true justice was.

When the imperial attendant announced that the elder madame of the Ye family requested an audience, Jiayang Emperor was feeding medicine to Jing Xiangyao at her bedside. Ever since Jing Xiangyao took a sword strike for Jiayang Emperor, his affection and trust in her had deepened significantly.

These days, had it not been for Jing Xiangyao's insistence, Jiayang Emperor would have almost recklessly made their relationship public.

To Jiayang Emperor, the ethics of human relationships mattered little. In his view, as the sovereign, all under heaven belonged to him; if he favored Jing Xiangyao, then she should be his.

However, what Jiayang Emperor could think, Jing Xiangyao could not afford to. Reputation, though she cared little for it personally, was necessary for her.

"Your Majesty, Elder Madame Ye, General Zhong, and General Ye request an audience," the imperial attendant reported with bowed head and eyes.

Jiayang Emperor, holding a medicine bowl, frowned and asked, "What are they here for?"

The petition of Ye Tong for battle and Jiang Su's reprimand of Ye Tong had caused quite a stir recently, giving Jiayang Emperor quite a headache concerning this family.

"Your Majesty," the attendant replied, "Madame Ye says they have come to admit their faults."

"Admit their faults?" Jiayang Emperor raised an eyebrow, "What faults are they admitting to?"

The attendant hesitated, then said, "It is said... that the King of Dingbei intends to divorce General Ye, and Madame Ye has beaten the people of Dingbei's household."

"Ha?" Jiayang Emperor laughed, "Weren't they at odds? What, they've reconciled now?"

Jiayang Emperor knew about Madame Ye driving Ye Tong out of the household. When Ye Tong married Chu Mu, Jiayang Emperor was also angered. Ye Tong, with her capabilities and the Ye family army, was an excellent chess piece, yet she chose to marry into Dingbei's household of her own accord. Because of the past events, Jiayang Emperor had been cold towards Ye Tong for years, allowing her to perform duties but never favoring her.

If it hadn't been for the resurgence of the Xiongnu and the disturbance caused by assassins, he wouldn't have allowed Ye Tong to go to the frontier.

However, he didn't expect Madame Ye to submit a petition reprimanding Ye Tong.

Jiayang Emperor previously thought Madame Ye still hadn't forgiven Ye Tong, hence her opposition to Ye Tong leading troops.

But now, just a few days later, there's an incident of the Ye family standing up for Ye Tong.

Jiayang Emperor found this interesting, stirring his spoon with a cold laugh.

"Your Majesty?" Jing Xiangyao called out to Jiayang Emperor.

Jiayang Emperor set down the medicine bowl, tenderly caressed Jing Xiangyao's cheek, and said, "I'll go see what they're up to. Rest well."

Jing Xiangyao obediently nuzzled his palm in response. As Jiayang Emperor's expression softened and he was about to leave, Jing Xiangyao suddenly grasped his hand again.

Jiayang Emperor: "Xiangyao?"

With emotions swirling in her heart but displaying only gentleness on her face, Jing Xiangyao softly spoke, "Your Majesty, before I was married, I had received many kindnesses from General Ye. When I heard she was determined to marry into Dingbei's household, I too felt saddened. Over these years, even though I did not pay much attention to General Ye, I knew that the King of Dingbei was not a good man. Now that he intends to divorce, if possible, I wish to ask you, Your Majesty, to assist General Ye."

Jiayang Emperor's eyes cooled slightly, chuckling, "So Xiangyao also admired Ye Tong once? Why haven't you told me before?"

Jing Xiangyao's eyes sparkled clearly, and with a gentle smile, she said, "Which girl of our age didn't admire General Ye back then? Surely, Your Majesty, you wouldn't begrudge even this?"

Jiayang Emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this, "It seems I was being narrow-minded. Rest assured, Xiangyao, if Ye Tong truly wishes to separate from Chu Mu, I will indeed assist her."

Jing Xiangyao: "Xiangyao thanks Your Majesty."

Jiayang Emperor returned to the main hall through a secret passage from the Eastern Palace, about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Soon after, his attendants brought in Jiang Su and others. Upon entering the hall, Jiang Su immediately called for punishment, asking Jiayang Emperor to penalize her.

Jiayang Emperor feigned ignorance about why she was requesting punishment.

Jiang Su, holding the golden whip high above her head, stated that she misused the golden whip for personal matters, failing the high hopes of the ancestral emperor.

Jiayang Emperor asked, "What crime has Madame Ye committed?"

"Your Majesty," Jiang Su knelt, "My first crime is failing in my duties as a mother, allowing her to be misled by love, disappointing Your Majesty and the people."

She knelt again: "My second crime is knowing Ye Tong was on the wrong path but, due to my resentment, not stopping her, allowing her to remain lost for years."

And knelt once more: "My third crime is that the late emperor graciously gifted the Ye family the golden whip, which I today used for family matters. Please, Your Majesty, punish me."

Jiayang Emperor, with a slightly raised eyebrow, knowingly asked, "Why did you use the golden whip?"

"Your Majesty," Jiang Su suddenly became overcome with grief, "I know I am at fault, but the Dingbei household's bullying is too much..."

Jiang Su sorrowfully recounted everything Ye Tong had done for Dingbei's household over the past four years and how the household's people treated her.

The world always sympathizes with the underdog, but when someone known for their strength suddenly cries out in sorrow, it evokes even greater sympathy.

Jiayang Emperor had once feared the Ye family and disliked Ye Tong, but seeing the once glorious and renowned Ye family reduced to the frail and weak, he felt a pang of sorrow.

Jiang Su's visit was a strategic retreat, requesting punishment as a means to have Jiayang Emperor personally grant Ye Tong a divorce decree.

There was no precedent in Da Jin for a wife to divorce her husband, and it was impossible for Jiayang Emperor to issue such a decree to Ye Tong. Despite Dingbei's household's diminished standing, Chu Mu was still a Chu, a member of the royal family. Jiayang Emperor wouldn't do such a thing, as it would be a direct affront to the royal family.

Jiang Su initially thought convincing Jiayang Emperor to grant a decree of divorce would take some effort—especially since Ye Tong's marriage to Chu Mu had angered him, so she wept sorrowfully.

But the Jiayang Emperor they faced today was unusually amenable.

Of course, this amicability was relative.

Jiayang Emperor, while amiable about Ye Tong's separation from Chu Mu, issued a mild reprimand for Jiang Su's use of the golden whip before openly confiscating it.

As the reigning emperor, he was most annoyed by ancestral gifts of power like the imperial swords to old officials.

These swords, although not always a threat to the emperor, could be a source of annoyance. Jiayang Emperor was pleased that the Ye family voluntarily surrendered it.

After spending roughly half an hour in the palace, Jiang Su and others left, and an imperial decree regarding Ye Tong's separation followed soon after.

News of Ye Tong's imperial decree for separation quickly spread throughout the capital.

When the news reached Dingbei's household, the old princess consort, who had remained unaffected by anger until then, finally fainted from rage.

Historically, separations, though a matter between spouses, often led to more controversy for the woman. Now, with it widely known that the Ye family sought the emperor for the separation from Dingbei's household, even if a separation decree was sent, it might as well have been a dismissal in the eyes of the public.

People in Dingbei's household fretted over their lord and the household's reputation, fearing they would become the empire's laughingstock.

Those who understood the emperor's intentions and the imperial heart thought that becoming a laughingstock was just the beginning for Dingbei's household. Without Ye Tong's mediation, how could they withstand the emperor's displeasure?