Chapter 549: The Aftermath of the Plot Within a Plot (Part 6)

Chapter 549: The Aftermath of the Scheme Within a Scheme (Part 6)

When Yun Murui's rebellion was surrounded by old General Su's troops at the second palace gate of the Yun Palace, he surrendered and was captured, thrown into the palace dungeons to await Yun Mujing's return for judgment.

That same night, Senior Tutor Cheng, whom Yun Murui had sought out, submitted the list of remnants of the former dynasty and corrupt officials that Yun Murui had ordered him to investigate and compile over the past days to old General Su.

Upon receiving this evidence, Senior Tutor Cheng interceded for Yun Murui, revealing everything Yun Murui had confided in him and imploring old General Su to intervene in hopes of sparing the deposed crown prince and his family.

As for old General Su's resurrection, given the circumstances, even if Senior Tutor Cheng harbored doubts, he did not press the matter. Duke Zhao’s word alone was enough—the late emperor’s kindness honored past bonds.

During the Su family's time in the capital, the Grand General’s Estate had enjoyed imperial favor under both the Cloud King and Emperor Yu, particularly toward old General Su. The Cloud King treated him as a brother, while Emperor Yu revered him as an elder. Thus, in the end, Emperor Yu, moved by sentiment for his late brother and old General Su's military merits, spared the Su family.

So be it.

"Fourth Elder Brother, so Cousin and the child are both safe."

After reading the letter and hearing Su Si's account, Su Rao's first concern was the safety of Mu Mingyue and her child. Given Mu Mingyue's devotion to Yun Murui, Su Rao would not have been surprised if she had chosen to die for him. But how could she bear to kill her own newborn son?

Su Si confirmed that not only were Mu Mingyue and her child unharmed, but the deposed crown prince had also been spared. Yun Mujing had ordered Third Brother to oversee the execution, secretly substituting Yun Murui with a death-row convict.

Hearing this, Su Rao was truly stunned.

Her perception of Yun Mujing—his strategic cunning and decisive methods—had always suggested he was even more ruthless than herself. His treatment of Su Er had made that clear. Yet now, faced with a legitimate opportunity to eliminate a future threat, he had opted for mercy.

Turning her head, she glanced at Yun Ji, who had not uttered a word throughout. She recalled his words to her: Yun Mujing would never become another Yun Yu.

At this moment, Su Rao finally believed it wholeheartedly—she was convinced that Yun Mujing would not turn into Yun Yu.

And if Yun Mujing still held such sentiment in his heart, was there a chance for him and Second Brother?

After a brief stopover in Tianguguan County, they set off for the capital with Su Si.

Upon arriving in the capital, Su Rao did not enter immediately. First, she cast the Qin King’s ashes into the moat, kneeling by the bank and bowing three times to bid farewell to her uncle, Qin Rao, that he might rest in peace.

Only after this did she and Yun Ji follow Su Si into the city, returning to the Grand General’s Estate to see old General Su.

After the Su family's name was cleared, the Grand General’s Estate in the capital had been preserved. Yun Mujing had ordered servants to clean it thoroughly every day in preparation for Su Er's return.

But now, Su Er would never come back. Old General Su had taken up residence again in the manor.

Returning to the capital, nowhere was as comfortable as home. Though their stay would be brief—once the capital's affairs settled and the court stabilized, they would return to Yun County.

Having left, they would not return, nor would they resume their roles as the Grand General of Yun. With old General Su alive and the family's name cleared, he petitioned the throne, citing his advanced age, and retired to his ancestral lands.

No sooner had Su Rao and Yun Ji arrived home and hardly settled in—before even seeing old General Su—Yun Mujing, having received word of their return, arrived at the Su residence.

Clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, a five-taloned golden dragon coiled up from the hem, its claws gripping his waist and shoulders, the dragon's head roaring fiercely before him, exuding imperial majesty. A crown adorned his head, completing the imposing aura of an emperor.

This regalia completely overshadowed any trace of feminine softness in his features. No one scrutinizing him would ever guess he was a woman—he appeared every bit the ambitious young emperor.

A young emperor with soaring aspirations.

A Yun Mujing like this—if he did not rule as emperor, it would almost seem a waste. What did it matter if he was a woman? Those capable of great deeds were not limited to men alone.

"Yun Mujing, my Second Brother has become the new emperor of Tanliang."

Yun Mujing had just sat down and hadn't yet spoken a word to Yun Ji. She was about to take a sip of tea to soothe her parched throat from rushing over when Su Rao's sudden remark caused the cup in Yun Mujing's hand to clatter to the ground. The cup shattered, tea splashing everywhere, staining the bright yellow imperial boots.

The news of Su Er becoming the new emperor of Danliang—Yun Mujing had left in such a hurry that day, she must have been unaware of it.

Now, as Su Rao revealed this, the cup slipped from Yun Mujing's grasp, and her eyes locked onto Su Rao, the turmoil within impossible to suppress in that moment.

Su Rao watched, observing Yun Mujing's reaction, a faint smirk curling at the corners of her lips.

Shocked, aren't we? It must feel like a hand suddenly seizing your heart, squeezing it until it swells, then grinding it underfoot—so suffocating it’s unbearable.

"You wanted my second brother to be your Marshal Prince, to restrain the Zhao family for you. But the second son of the Su family has long been dead. His rebirth—compared to serving as the Marshal Prince of Yunlang, entrusting his life to an emperor, how could it compare to ruling as his own sovereign? My second brother is not someone you can control."

Twisting the knife further, Su Rao continued leisurely.

You, Yun Mujing, didn’t know how to cherish him. Now that second brother has become the new emperor of Danliang, countless Danliang women will flock to him. Soon enough, there will no longer be someone named Yun Mujing occupying his heart, tormenting him time and again. No one is so dependent they can’t live without another. Perhaps leaving is the path to a better, freer life.

Su Rao’s words were meant to provoke, but Yun Mujing seemed to have already regained her composure. She picked up another intact cup from the table, poured herself tea, and took a sip. The fragrance of the tea wafted, but what followed was an overwhelming bitterness that spread through her mouth, down to her stomach, as if her entire abdomen were wrapped in the acrid taste.

The bitterness twisted in Yun Mujing’s gut, yet it also sharpened her mind, sobering her as she repeated to herself again and again: She is Yun Mujing, born a prince, with a man’s spirit.

Once the tea soothed her parched throat, Yun Mujing finally addressed Yun Ji about the matter she had come for, ignoring Su Rao’s words entirely.

Since Yun Ji had returned, shouldn’t Prince Yun Ji come back to life? Back then, Prince Yun Ji’s "death" had been caused by a stifled rage that induced a deathlike state.

Luckily, as the coffin was being buried, the pent-up anger dissipated, reviving him. However, Prince Yun Ji’s body was extremely frail—he couldn’t risk overexerting himself again, or he would not be so fortunate next time.

For these past months, Prince Yun Ji had been convalescing in Yun County, his survival kept a secret.

Originally, Yun Ji had planned to fake his death, yield the throne to Yun Mujing, and then slip away unnoticed after settling Danliang’s affairs—unknown to anyone. He had never imagined his fate would turn out like this: becoming Yun Ji once more, reunited with the one he loved.

Since Yun Ji was no longer the second prince of Danliang but had returned to being Yun Ji, then Prince Yun Ji must come back to life to reclaim his name and begin anew.