Chapter 368: Becoming Princess Yi (Part 2)

Chapter 368: Becoming Princess Yi (Part 2)

"Yun Muhao, once I capture Yun Lang and present the heads of your father and all members of the Yun family to Rao Rao, I will reveal to her who the true culprit is. I will take Rao Rao to Dan Liang, and I will let her personally behead that person, resolving the hatred she has harbored for so many years, and return her to the Rao Rao she once was."

These final words signaled the end of another shift between the two personalities. In the end, it was Han Mochen who remained, but not the same bloodthirsty and icy Han Mochen from before. That dark and gloomy Han Mochen seemed to have gradually faded after meeting Su Rao. Though two personalities remained, Han Mochen's had transformed, now bearing a hint of Yun Ji's shadow.

Or perhaps, it was Rong Xiao who truly emerged, the blurred line between darkness and light.

Through the silk band covering his eyes, his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes glanced once more at old General Su's tombstone before he stood up and left.

Just as he stepped out of the woods, Duke Zhao arrived.

"Hao'er, your health is not good. You shouldn't come here at night."

He handed Rong Xiao a hand warmer.

"Grandfather, our plan must begin. I have waited so many years, and I can wait no longer."

Rong Xiao did not take the hand warmer but instead stepped into an inconspicuous black carriage behind Duke Zhao. Beneath the silk band, his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes glimmered with a dark, shadowy hue.

The carriage returned to Langjing, stopping at Yun Mansion's back gate near YueHua Gate in the dead of night.

YueHua's figure disappeared into the gate.

Duke Zhao stepped out of the following carriage, watching until YueHua's figure was completely out of sight before he left. However, he did not return to his residence but instead headed toward Yun Palace.

In the dead of night, he made his way to Yun Palace.

Inside Yunchen Hall.

At this moment, the palace lanterns were still brightly lit. The figure in imperial yellow stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the snowflakes drifting in the night. After a moment, his eyes turned toward Luangtian Temple in the distance.

In his eyes, the memories of that snowy night a decade ago surfaced—the night of slaughter, the ground drenched in blood, staining both his armor and the sword he held.

This was the first time in ten years that Emperor Yu recalled the massacre of that year, the Crown Prince of Great Qin who died by his sword, his eyes still wide open in death.

It was only when Duke Zhao arrived that Emperor Yu turned and entered the hall.

Duke Zhao, meeting Emperor Yu so late at night, naturally came to report on the whereabouts of Prince Yun Ji.

"Your Majesty, I have been keeping watch. The Prince went to pay his respects to the Su family tonight, but he only stood quietly at the gravesite for a moment before returning to his residence. He did not meet anyone else elsewhere."

After Duke Zhao spoke, he awaited Emperor Yu's next command.

However, for a long time, no sound came from Emperor Yu.

Yunchen Hall fell into an eerie silence.

"Enough, you may leave. From now on, there is no need to keep an eye on Prince Yun Ji."

After a long pause, Emperor Yu finally spoke these words and then rose to retire for the night.

"As you command, Your Majesty. I understand."

Duke Zhao, kneeling on the ground, a glimmer of light flickering in his aged eyes, bowed and took his leave. Just as he reached the doorway, the Emperor's voice suddenly echoed in his ears once more.

"Consort Shu has been under house arrest long enough. I also share the blame for not teaching Ling'er properly. Tomorrow, lift the confinement of Shulan Palace. Duke Zhao, you should also visit Consort Shu. As for Ling'er, let her calm down and stop causing trouble. When the time is right, bring her back. After all, Consort Shu and I only have this one daughter."

"Your humble servant... Your humble servant kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty. The Emperor's benevolence knows no bounds."

Duke Zhao hurriedly stopped and turned around, prostrating himself in gratitude. His face was filled with joy, and his body trembled slightly. However, as he lowered his head, a flicker of light passed through his aged eyes.

Duke Zhao understood perfectly well what Emperor Yu's intentions were.

Regarding the surveillance of Prince Yun Ji these past days, Emperor Yu did not wish for even a whisper of it to spread.

The night quietly passed amidst the endless expanse of snow.

In the Zhu Xian kingdom.

Su Rao slept until noon before she woke up. The first thing she heard upon waking was not about the arrangements for her marriage to Xianyi Chishaou, but rather an incident that had occurred at Lanhua Pavilion.

Prince Yi had actually given Zhao Lianxin a divorce decree, yet he had Moying keep Zhao Lianxin and her maid Shulan under watch in the backyard, without sending them out of the mansion.

This incident had occurred late last night while Su Rao was sound asleep, so Yi Su and the others had not disturbed her.

Just as Yi Su and Xiao Zhi were briefing Su Rao on this matter, Xianyi Chishaou arrived at Meixue Garden.

There was no need for Yi Su and the others to speculate why Xianyi Chishaou had treated Zhao Lianxin in such a manner, nor did Su Rao need to ponder why he had done so.

Xianyi Chishaou took the initiative to speak:

"Zhao Lianxin is a cunning woman. Knowing that you are in the mansion, she might secretly take action. For now, we cannot let Yun Lang detect our plans, so I had Moying keep her under watch..."

"She is your concubine. How you handle or dismiss her is your affair. There's no need to explain it to me in such detail."

Su Rao interrupted Xianyi Chishaou's words.

She had no interest in whether Xianyi Chishaou had other women around him or how many there were. He did not need to explain it to her so clearly.

"I have no interest in your inner household, but I do think it's commendable that you dealt with Zhao Lianxin. As you said, her cunning and the dirty tricks of women in the inner household can be quite troublesome. It's better to cut off the source from the beginning."

These words were spoken from an objective standpoint, and Su Rao's heart remained completely unmoved.

Xianyi Chishaou knew very well that Su Rao had no feelings for him, yet his heart still felt a pang of discomfort.

"Since she is an insignificant person, let's not talk about her anymore. I came today to ask if you have any other requirements for our marriage. Feel free to speak your mind."

The topic of Zhao Lianxin was thus dropped. Regardless of whether Zhao Lianxin would take any action upon learning of Su Rao's presence in Prince Yi's Mansion, as Su Rao had said, the source had been cut off. Even if there were any actions, they would now amount to nothing.

"Prepare as you see fit. Anything is fine. I only have one request: the sooner, the better. Preferably within three days. Have everything ready for the wedding within three days."

Only at this moment did Su Rao reveal the urgency she had been waiting for, showing a hint of her true feelings.

At least, it prevented Xianyi Chishaou from thinking that she was completely devoid of emotion.

"Alright."

With a nod of agreement, Xianyi Chishaou finished speaking and then left Meixue Garden without lingering or attempting to engage in casual conversation with Su Rao.

As he walked out of the room, he suddenly paused.

He turned his head to look back.

Su Rao had not risen to see him off. Instead, she picked up a teacup and began to sip her tea.

Clad in the red attire of the Zhu Xian kingdom, with narrow sleeves and a fitted waist, tall and slender, her side profile was stunning, and her waist was so slim that it could be completely encircled by one arm.

From the day he first saw her until now, he had rarely seen her wear clothes of other colors. The vibrant red complemented her complexion, and the first garment he prepared for her was also red.

Their impending grand wedding would feature an even more formal shade of red, the kind of red reserved for the principal consort.

Was she really going to become his Princess Consort Yi?

"Su Rao, after we are married, I will take you to the Eagle Wing Army camp."

With these words, Xianyi Chishaou turned and strode away.

Only then did Su Rao glance over.

But the figure in the black robe had already left.

In her slender hand, she still clutched the teacup, her peach blossom eyes serene and unperturbed.

Yet she softly murmured words she hadn't spoken in a long time, something she had often told another person.

Su Rao never aspired to be virtuous, and Qin Rao was never virtuous. Don't ever hope to get anything from her...