Chapter 582: Pre-Wedding Troubles (11)

Chapter 582: Another Wedding Scandal (Part 11)

"Your Highness, who else in Yunlang wants Zhao Lianxin dead? Although our men encountered theirs, and though neither side revealed their identities, there’s no guarantee someone won’t investigate later.

Even though Zhao Lianxin’s death was such an accident and our men didn’t act, the clans of Yunlang are notoriously cunning. If the Zhao family of Yunlang refuses to believe it was an accident and deliberately investigates, and if the other side discovers it first, they might pin the blame on our nation..."

In the dead of night, as soon as the news arrived about this sudden development, Moying lost no time informing Prince Yi. He suggested taking precautions against the other party’s identity—whether they should investigate first to prepare for any contingency.

"Unnecessary."

Still in the mourning hall, Prince Yi had been keeping vigil for his elder brother, not just for forty-nine days but for three full months. Tonight was the last night, and by dawn, he would return to the capital.

On this final night, he stood before the altar with his arms folded behind him, bidding farewell to his brother and niece, just as he had done after escorting them to the imperial mausoleum.

As for Moying’s concerns, there was no need. Even if he had truly killed Zhao Lianxin, there was no reason to fear others knowing. Since her death did not occur within Zhu Xian’s borders, it had nothing to do with them. Moreover, given that it was such an unexpected accident, there was even less to worry about.

The two nations coexisted peacefully. Without a shred of proof, how could the death of a mere peace-marriage princess jeopardize their diplomatic relations? Especially since this princess was the mastermind behind the murder of his beloved consort. How could Yunlang have the audacity to blame Zhu Xian? Not causing trouble was already a mercy.

Furthermore, the current ruler of Yunlang, Yun Mujing himself, likely harbored his own suspicions toward the Zhao family. The daughter they raised, sent as a political bride, turned out to be so malicious—this was a greater embarrassment to Yunlang. Yun Mujing would surely rejoice at Zhao Lianxin’s death.

Perhaps the one who acted alongside him was sent by Yun Mujing himself.

In Yunlang, who else but the sovereign could so effortlessly and brazenly deploy agents to eliminate Zhao Lianxin right under the Zhao family’s nose? It was almost certainly him.

Prince Yi was ninety percent sure—no, entirely certain. Moying immediately understood. Their Prince’s reasoning was sound. Thus, there was no need for preemptive measures.

"Your Highness, everything is prepared. It is time for you to return to the capital. Any further delay will only fuel resentment among the courtiers."

At dawn, General Yanlie entered, announcing that the carriages were ready and urging the Prince to return.

Three months of mourning had delayed Prince Yi’s ascension. Since his stern declaration of "discuss it later," the courtiers had not dared to press further, fearing his wrath.

But a nation cannot be without a ruler for long. Both Yunlang and Danliang were rebuilding from the ground up, especially Danliang, where the new emperor was restructuring the military, emulating Yunlang’s governance, overhauling institutions, and upending traditions.

Danliang, originally a land of letters ruled through virtue, its reputation spanning continents, was now bolstering its military. In time, this mastery of pen and sword would make it a formidable rival to Yunlang.

Yet Zhu Xian still had no emperor. How could this stand? The courtiers had repeatedly visited General Yanlie’s residence, pleading with him to persuade the Prince to prioritize state affairs. Three months of mourning for the late emperor was surely enough!

Though anxious, General Yanlie could only advise. He understood Xianyi Chishaou better than the courtiers did.

Between power and kinship, the Prince valued the latter more. Though he was the influential Prince Yi, everything he had done was for his brother’s dream of conquering the realm—never for himself. Now, with the late emperor gone and the imperial decree in place, reluctant as he was, he had no choice but to accept the throne.

"Your Highness, please return to the capital and stabilize the court."

Xianyi Chishaou remained motionless, as if he hadn’t heard General Yanlie’s words. He stood with his arms folded behind his back, the dancing candle flames casting half his cold, sharp features in light and half in shadow, making his thoughts even more inscrutable. Three months had passed. The dead could not return, but the living must carry on.

General Yanlie watched for a moment. Seeing the Prince still unmoved, he dropped to one knee, once more urging him to return and delay no further.

Only then did Xianyi Chishaou stir. He glanced down at the general, then stepped forward to the altar, lighting three incense sticks and placing them in the burner.

Tendrils of smoke rose, briefly veiling his icy countenance. His unreadable phoenix eyes flickered with a rare glimmer as he thought of his brother and niece. His expression revealed only desolation.

Though only a few years had passed, the vicissitudes of life had taken both his brother and beloved niece from him. Now, he stood alone in this vast kingdom, engulfed in solitude.

After lighting the incense, he swept his robes aside and knelt once more to bid his brother farewell, then rose and strode away without hesitation.

A cold wind swept through, lifting the hem of his robe and rippling with authority. Xianyi Chishaou was still the formidable Prince Yi, a peerless hero who commanded respect.

General Yanlie’s expression relaxed, his brows smoothing. He rose swiftly and followed alongside Moying.

He had been troubled before. Although the late emperor's demise was caused by the empress's poisoning, the complex circumstances left Prince Yi with unresolved guilt.

Had he not fought for the throne on behalf of his elder brother, how could Rong Yuer have taken advantage? Perhaps his brother would not have perished.

Yet Prince Yi also understood clearly—without contention, the outcome would only be death, ending up as just another pile of bones trampled underfoot.

Moying, upon receiving the news, advised Prince Yi to take precautions. As for Yun Mujing, just after the morning court session, the Marquis of Yin Gonghou also came to the imperial study to offer counsel, sharing the same concerns as Moying.

Our Emperor had only just stabilized the court and gained the submission of all officials in Langjing. If it were discovered by those unaware that the new emperor of Yunlang had secretly manipulated the peace-sealing marriage alliance that once maintained harmony between Yunlang and Zhu Xian, it could spark new unrest.

The marriage alliance princess, having murdered Prince Yi of Zhu Xian's principal consort, was divorced and sent back. Though the fault lay with Zhao Lianxin, Zhu Xian's unilateral decision to repatriate her to Yunlang was, in truth, a grave insult to Yunlang from Zhu Xian. Moreover, it was a grave crime for the marriage alliance princess herself, meriting her deportation under criminal charges.

With Zhu Xian kingdom, Yunlang would inevitably need to engage in lengthy negotiations. The crimes attributed to the marriage alliance princess were all accusations made solely by Zhu Xian—how could such one-sided accusations be taken at face value? Prince Yi's unilateral repatriation of the marriage alliance princess was a calculated insult to Yunlang's honor.

Yet Prince Yi only attributed the princess's crimes to personal jealousy, without elevating it to a matter of state politics. Thus, Yunlang could neither convict the princess of major crimes nor formally question Zhu Xian's actions. Instead, they had no choice but to tacitly accept Prince Yi's decision.

They had to accept it, for to do otherwise would be to proclaim to the world that Yunlang had secretly instigated the princess's actions—that this marriage alliance princess, who murdered Prince Yi's consort, was their doing. Without other considerations, why would Yunlang negotiate with Zhu Xian over such a vile woman?

If it were for Yunlang's dignity, Prince Yi had only dealt with Zhao Lianxin as a matter of household affairs, without exploiting the incident to slander Yunlang's intentions.

Prince Yi's actions had already taken bilateral relations into account. Since he had no desire for conflict, Yunlang naturally had no wish to provoke one either.

Though tacitly accepting Zhu Xian's actions still somewhat tarnished Yunlang's reputation, with the recent turmoil in Langjing just subsiding, they could not afford to let the crimes of a single marriage alliance princess reignite discord between the two nations and destabilize the state.

Now that the marriage alliance princess had not been escorted back, her crimes remained solely her own—a personal fault, merely a domestic dispute within Prince Yi's household. Our Emperor, burdened with state affairs, naturally had no leisure to concern himself with such petty conflicts born of a woman's jealousy. If the Emperor were to intervene deliberately, it would only make Yunlang look complicit.

Though they could not openly question it, behind the scenes, she had to be eliminated. Otherwise, her return would become a national disgrace for Yunlang, a laughingstock among nations.

The marriage alliance princess, meant to maintain harmony between Yunlang and Zhu Xian, was instead divorced and sent back by Prince Yi of Zhu Xian. Though she brought it upon herself, it ultimately shamed Yunlang. Keeping her would only leave an indelible stain, further sullying their name.