Chapter 335: Lu Mingchao’s Plan

Chapter 335: Lu Mingchao's Scheme

If Mingchao had ever seen Xie Yan kill someone herself, she wouldn't harbor such doubts.

More savage than mountain predators.

Ice-cold and terrifying.

This Xie Yan either wouldn’t act at all, or would leave no loose ends if he did. Perhaps only in Mingchao’s eyes was Xie Yan a poor, pitiable thing.

Lu Mingchao wasn't as optimistic as Lu Yao. She sighed softly and said slowly, "Time changes everything, including people. After all these years, the Northern Frontier Army is no longer what it once was."

"Some will hold fast to their principles and beliefs, while others may go with the flow, choosing to compromise. If Xie Yan raises the banner of the Xie family, it would be like a golden sun bursting over a chasm, illuminating the unfathomable darkness below. Who's a crow or dove would become instantly clear, with nowhere to hide."

"Then, the crows would savagely attack the doves."

"Once all the doves are slaughtered, without contrast, who could distinguish truth from falsehood?"

"As the saying goes, your own corruption is shameful enough, but seeing others’ steadfastness is even more hateful."

"That's how twisted human nature is."

"Second Brother, the North won't be easy."

"Mingchao," Lu Yao said solemnly, "Xie Yan is strong."

"He comes from the Xie family, the Duke of Xinguo’s household. Raised on martial arts from childhood and well-versed in military strategy, he comes from impressive stock."

"Even Mi Yuan, leader of the Shadow Guard, could only barely fight Xie Yan to a draw. Add to that the strange gadgets you’ve been sending him through merchant caravans, and even if the odds are against him, he could stabilize the situation by playing mind games."

"Mingchao, worrying too much clouds your judgment."

"He trusts you to handle the current turmoil, and you should trust him to effortlessly quell the chaos in the North."

Lu Mingchao lowered her gaze and murmured, "It's not that I doubt him—I just miss him."

"I know a mother's fear shows in every careful stitch, fearing delayed returns. But how do you put a wife's longing into words?"

"The same longing, two hearts full of empty sorrow. This feeling cannot be dispelled—it leaves the brows only to linger in the heart." Lu Yao chuckled. "Lately you've been thinking in circles."

"Let’s focus on the matter at hand."

Lu Mingchao gathered her scattered thoughts and said eagerly, "Second Brother, how about staging a grand spectacle where the current Emperor forcibly takes in a pregnant married woman—the Little Bodhisattva—into the palace, driving her to leap off a cliff?"

"The Little Bodhisattva, who spent all her wealth to save the people of Yicheng, is then hounded to death by the almighty Emperor. With a little guidance, the people would riot, and A Yan would have just cause to act."

In an instant, all traces of amusement vanished from Lu Yao’s face. He said sharply, "Mingchao, don't be reckless."

"Gambling with lives isn't worth it."

"Even if preparations are made beneath the cliff, there's still no guarantee you'd survive."

Lu Mingchao insisted, "Second Brother, I’m confident."

"Do you remember Master Xuanxi’s prophecy?"

"I know how clever you are, Second Brother. You must have long noticed something strange about me."

As the words fell, Lu Yao automatically started to object.

When Master Xuanxi said I don’t belong to this world, he wasn’t lying.

I am not the Lu Mingchao who grew up in the Yongning Marquis’s household, nor am I the Lu Mingchao who was hopelessly in love with Gu Huai for years.

You had no idea, did you, Second Brother?

Lu Yao was a genius—too sharp for his own good.

On the day Lu Mingchao killed herself by hitting her head against the wall, I arrived.

So, Second Brother, I have a surefire way to survive jumping off that cliff.

How? Lu Yao cut in. Leaving here, going back to where you really came from?

Of course, he knew this Lu Mingchao was not the same as the one before.

When Gu Huai arrived in Changhe County after the spring, he had already confirmed it.

Mingchao’s gaze at Gu Huai showed no love, no resentment, no nostalgia—not even the most basic familiarity.

There was just the curiosity you’d show a stranger.

That wasn’t how you’d look at someone you’d known since childhood.

Perhaps he wasn’t the first to suspect.

But he was certainly the first to be certain.

He wasn’t the least bit scared, and he never planned to call her out on it.

Did it even matter if she was the real Lu Mingchao?

No, it didn’t.

Lu Mingchao gave a small shake of her head. "I can’t go back."

"Second Brother, let me take you somewhere."

Lu Yao felt a sudden dizziness, and when he opened his eyes again, a completely foreign world stretched out in front of him.

Lights bright as daylight, escalators, crystal-clear glass, aisles of perfectly stacked produce and dry goods—countless things he didn’t recognize, couldn’t even begin to name.

"See? Nothing to worry about now, right?" Lu Mingchao grinned, tilting her head.

Lu Yao gaped. "This is... unreal. Like magic."

"Does Xie Yan know?"

Lu Mingchao blinked. "He kinda knows, but he’s never seen it."

"He never pushed for answers."

Was she calling me out?

But regardless, he was reassured.

The better Mingchao could take care of herself, the less he had to worry.

The capital city.

The emperor's anger kept flaring up.

Porcelain kept shattering in the grand hall.

The palace servants stood frozen, not daring to make a sound.

Inside the grand hall.

Xiao Yao knocked over the neatly stacked memorials, furiously tore the battle report to pieces, and scattered them across the floor.

Requesting honors for Old Master Xie?

How dare Qiao Song suggest this!

How did Liu Jingyuan discipline his subordinates?

He'd nearly exterminated the Xie family—why couldn’t Old Master Xie just die quietly?

So many people died year after year, month after month—what's one more death—Old Master Xie's?

He'd ruled for nearly four years, and the Xie family's destruction was nearly as old.

The rumors had finally died down, yet now Old Master Xie reappeared as some unstoppable hero, calling into question the shaky treason charges that had once buried the Xie family.

No one knew better than he how flimsy those so-called "proofs" were under scrutiny.

And Gao Fuyan!

He had shown mercy by sparing Gao Fuyan’s family from execution, commuting their sentence to exile instead, meaning to break Gao Fuyan's will for a while. Once the man’s stubbornness softened, he planned to reinstate him.

But who could have guessed Gao Fuyan would remain so stubborn, watching his family die off one by one, yet still refusing to pledge loyalty?

He could even forgive Gao Fuyan for defecting to the enemy, but he could not accept that Gao Fuyan killed the Left Wise King of the Northern Hu, adding another glorious feat to Old Master Xie’s achievements.

The northern border—troublesome.

Yicheng—also troublesome.

Master Xuanxi had been struck by lightning, while Lu Mingchao became hailed as a living bodhisattva.

The more this went on, the more he believed Lu Minghui’s words.

How else to explain Lu Mingchao's miraculous luck?

Whether by threats or bribes, kidnapping or brute force, he would bring Lu Mingchao into the palace.

"Summon the Empress and Prince Duan for an audience."

Xiao Yao glanced at the chaotic state of the hall, suppressing his fury as he issued the command in a low voice.

The Empress arrived before Prince Duan.

Her appearance told a grim story.

Her fine features showed a fresh slap mark, with blood trickling from it.

"You..." Xiao Yao froze momentarily.

"Did the Empress Dowager strike you again?"