Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Jiang Mo froze, disbelief written all over her face. "What did you just say?"

Su Jiying slowly walked up to her. "I said, Lin Mei is dead!"

How could this be? Hadn't she left with Zhu Shiliang?

Jiang Mo's eyes instantly grew moist, and she felt a little short of breath. She unconsciously opened her mouth slightly and slowly stepped back. Su Jiying, afraid she'd lose her balance, stepped forward to support her. "Yesterday, Lin Mei's maid Xiao Huan also came looking for you. The guards at the gate wouldn't let her in, so Xiao Huan went to the Su residence to find me. By the time I got to the Faju Wine House, Lin Mei had already breathed her last. She was curled up in Zhu Shiliang's arms, just…"

Before she could finish, Su Jiying was already sobbing. She raised her hands, as if cradling something. "Just this tiny, how could she be only this tiny? Wei Yalan, Lin Mei is dead, killed by Princess Rong and Zhu Xun! We have to avenge Lin Mei!"

Jiang Mo's heart suddenly ached, as if struck by a heavy hammer. She could barely stand and had to grab the corner of the table. "What exactly happened?"

"That stubborn old man Zhu Xun deliberately revealed Zhu Shiliang and Lin Mei's whereabouts to Princess Rong. Princess Rong sent someone to poison Lin Mei. According to the servant beside Zhu Shiliang, one day Lin Mei went out to shop and came back with a headache. They called in many doctors, but none could diagnose the illness. As time passed, Lin Mei grew weaker and weaker. Finally, at his wit's end, Zhu Shiliang brought Lin Mei back to the capital and went straight to the palace to beg His Majesty. The imperial physician diagnosed her as poisoned, the toxin had already penetrated her lungs and was beyond cure.

"Lin Mei wanted to see her parents, so Zhu Shiliang took her back to the wine house. Lin Mei said she wanted to see us, so Zhu Shiliang sent Xiao Huan to fetch us. But I still couldn't see Lin Mei one last time."

Su Jiying pressed both hands on Jiang Mo's arms. "Wei Yalan, do you know? Zhu Xun confessed to what he did without a shred of remorse. He even told Zhu Shiliang to go ahead and impeach his own father if he had the guts. How can such a man call himself a father? And that Princess Rong, treating human life like dirt—she should pay with her life. I want to kill that Ritana woman! Kill Zhu Xun!"

Jiang Mo hugged Su Jiying and kept patting her back. "Don't get so worked up. Not only do we have no evidence, but one is a princess of Rong; harming her would affect relations between our nations, and the other is a high-ranking minister who has done great service. We can't kill them; we'd only end up getting ourselves killed. Su Jiying, revenge is a dish best served cold. Calm down first."

His Majesty would never punish the Minister of Personnel and the Princess of Rong over a mere Lin Mei.

Even if Ritana had to die, she couldn't die in Great Qi. Zhu Xun might not be a good father, but he is a worthy minister. As Minister of Personnel, he is impartial, appoints people on merit, and keeps the bureaucracy clean. Besides, Zhu Xun supports Prince Yu. Without his help, Prince Yu's spies would never have been planted in the mansions of the various ministers.

Many things have no solution. Many people can't be judged by a single act.

"So Lin Mei died for nothing?"

Tears streamed down Jiang Mo's face. Yes, she died for nothing. That's the tragedy of powerless people.

"I hope in her next life she doesn't meet Zhu Shiliang. May she control her own fate."

Jiang Mo understood that Zhu Shiliang deeply loved Lin Mei and was equally innocent. His grief was even greater than theirs. But Lin Mei's tragedy was brought about by Zhu Shiliang himself.

"Wei Yalan, I feel so powerless, so angry."

Jiang Mo thought of something and pulled Su Jiying to sit down. "How's Zhu Shiliang?"

Su Jiying snorted coldly. "After Lin Mei died, he won't eat or drink; he just holds her body and won't let go. At this rate, he'll either die of grief or go crazy." She suddenly stood up. "He deserves to die or go mad—he brought it on himself. If he couldn't protect her, why did he marry her in the first place?"

Jiang Mo pulled her back down. "Su Jiying, listen to me. I know you hate Zhu Shiliang, but Lin Mei loved him so much. She must want him to live well. Before Princess Rong asks His Majesty for permission, please invite her to the Prince Yu's Mansion."

Su Jiying's eyes widened. "What are you going to do? You're not going to kill her, are you? Then you won't survive either."

Jiang Mo shook her head. "No, I want to make her change her mind. Zhu Shiliang is disheartened. We can't push him further, or he might really go to the brink."

She didn't want Great Qi to lose a worthy minister, nor did she want Prince Yu to lose a close friend. Before she left, she would do this one last thing for her 'husband' and friend.

Su Jiying looked at her as if she didn't recognize her. "Wei Yalan, I really admire you. How can you stay so calm? I was so lost in grief that I didn't think of any of this."

Jiang Mo's lips twitched. She, too, wanted to cry her heart out, but there was simply no time.

"But why do you want Princess Rong to come to Prince Yu's Mansion? Why not book a private room at the Falling Cloud Pavilion?"

Jiang Mo said immediately, "No, let her come to the mansion." Now that she had the roster, she couldn't leave the mansion without Duke Qingguo's people finding out. She would have to disguise herself. But to meet Princess Rong, she needed to appear as the princess, with many guards and full ceremony.

She looked at Su Jiying solemnly. "Tomorrow, invite her here."

Su Jiying nodded firmly and stood up. "I know you're worried that delays will lead to mishaps. Rest assured, I'll go to the palace now to tell my aunt first, then I'll go see Princess Rong."

"See? It's not just me who's calm. You're the same." Jiang Mo felt a slight tug in her lower belly. She held onto the edge of the table and slowly stood up. "Be polite to Princess Rong. This is not the time for revenge."

Su Jiying's eyes were full of hatred. "I'll just wear a different mask. I understand."

She steadied her emotions and looked at Jiang Mo, scrutinizing her carefully. "Look at you, you look even more haggard than last time. Once the matter with Princess Rong is settled, I'll find someone to give you a good tonic. Also, from now on, can you stop constantly rejecting me or refusing to see me? It really hurts my feelings, you know."

Jiang Mo lowered her head, avoiding Su Jiying's eyes.

"Oh, you. I never know what you're thinking. I'm off. Wait for my good news."

As soon as Su Jiying left, before Jiang Mo could digest her grief, Wangxia entered the room. "Your Highness, the young master wants to see you."

Ever since learning of Jiang Mo's pregnancy, An Zeyou had repeatedly asked Wangxia to convey his desire for a meeting. But seeing Jiang Mo in low spirits, Wangxia had only relayed the message two or three times.

Jiang Mo's morning sickness was severe, she felt weak, and she was afraid that if Prince Yu or Duke Qingguo's people found out she was meeting An Zeyou alone, it would be trouble. So she had refused, telling Wangxia to inform An Zeyou that she wasn't feeling well and if it wasn't important, they shouldn't meet—just pass on messages.

After that, even when An Zeyou sent letters, Wangxia no longer mentioned them to Jiang Mo, directly declining on her behalf.

After many such instances, An Zeyou only had Wangxia deliver anti-miscarriage medicine and tonics, without any further mention of a meeting.

But this time, Jiang Mo had fainted. An Zeyou was frantic. Within a single day, he sent three carrier pigeons with messages asking to see Jiang Mo. Wangxia had no choice but to come and report.

"Did Master An say what it was about? If it's not important, I won't see him. Before I leave, it's inconvenient for me to leave the mansion."

Wangxia inwardly grumbled. Ever since meeting Lord Jiang on the twentieth of the first month, the young master had been tirelessly deploying plans. Almost half of the guards watching the Jiang residence had been replaced with his own people. Escape routes and support personnel were already arranged. What else could be so important? He was just lovesick, and as soon as he heard Jiang Mo had been unconscious, he got anxious.

"I don't know, Your Highness."

Jiang Mo thought for a moment and said, "I feel a bit uncomfortable in my lower belly today and want to rest more. If Master An has something important, I'll have to trouble him to disguise himself and come into the mansion to see me."

With the fourth of the third month fast approaching, Jiang Mo believed An Zeyou must want to discuss their departure. This was a major matter; she had to meet him.

Besides, Jiang Mo was also worried that An Zeyou might ask for the roster. Although Wangxia had mentioned it once a long time ago and never brought it up again, as if it had never happened, Jiang Mo was afraid that at this critical juncture of leaving, An Zeyou might bring it up again.

Fortunately, that night, apart from the few people in the study, no one knew she had seen the roster. If An Zeyou asked, she could easily deny it.

"Yes, I'll go inform the young master."

Just as Wangxia was about to leave, Jiang Mo called her back. "Not tomorrow. I have to see Princess Rong tomorrow. We'll meet the day after. Also, go tell the kitchen to prepare dishes that Princess Rong likes. And bring the plum blossom wine that Lin Mei left behind."

"Yes."

The weather on the eleventh of the third month was gloomy, as if it were about to rain.

Jiang Mo waited early at the mansion gate, not leaving until it was nearly dark, when Ritana's carriage finally appeared slowly at the end of the alley.

At the gate, Ritana lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down one step, then stopped, her foot resting on the carriage stool as she looked down at Jiang Mo.

Jiang Mo also looked up, meeting Ritana's gaze calmly.

Ritana curled her lip in disdain, leisurely stepped off the stool, and approached Jiang Mo with an air of superiority. "I'm doing this out of respect for Prince Yu. What do you have to say? Speak."

Jiang Mo said, "Please, Princess, enter the mansion to continue."

"No need. Let's talk here. I'm afraid if I go in, I might not come out."

Jiang Mo smiled. "You're overthinking it, Princess. Since you prefer to speak here, then here it is." She glanced at Lanqiu, who quickly brought out an armchair and set it down on the steps.

Jiang Mo walked up the steps and sat down in the armchair, looking at Ritana.

Ritana tried to step forward but was stopped by the guards at the entrance, kept below the steps.

She turned her head aside, adopting a nonchalant attitude, "Are you going to say it or not? If not, I'm leaving."

Jiang Mo said, "If Your Highness wants the treaty between our two kingdoms signed smoothly, I suggest you listen to what this Princess Consort has to say."

Hit the nail on the head—Ritana indeed stopped in her tracks.

If anyone else had said this, she might not have believed it, but coming from Wei Yalan, she believed it.

Wei Yalan was not only the beloved only daughter of Duke Qingguo, the chief negotiator of this treaty, but also the beloved wife of the Commander-in-chief who had repeatedly defeated the Rong Kingdom's army.

Ritana turned her head and looked at Jiang Mo. "You win. Go on."

Jiang Mo looked down at Ritana. "Does Your Highness wish to bring back a living consort, or a dead man's memorial tablet?"

Ritana frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"I've heard Your Highness is well-versed in the culture of our Great Qi. You must know the saying: 'Ask the world what love is—it makes people promise to live and die together.' Since Lin Mei died, Zhu Shiliang has been ready to die. What keeps him alive are his filial piety, his ambition, his love for this land, his concern for the people, his bright hopes for Great Qi, and his reluctance to part with his close friends."

"If Your Highness insists on taking him back to Rong as your consort, leaving behind this homeland, his family, and his friends, he will lose all will to live. Or does Your Highness believe she can set aside her royal status and stay in the Zhu residence, living a life where she serves her in-laws and never sees her own family?"

From the very first sentence, Ritana's heart tightened. She stared fixedly at Jiang Mo.

Every word was reasonable, every sentence made her waver.

Yet, she still couldn't resign herself.

"But, out of all the men I've seen, I have only fallen in love with Zhu Shiliang."

Jiang Mo couldn't help but sneer. "What do you love about him? Love his purity, grace, elegance, those eyes that look at you like they're full of deep affection even for a dog? Or do you love the way he loves Lin Mei?"

Ritana couldn't help but take a step back. Jiang Mo had hit the mark. What fascinated her seemed to be precisely the way Zhu Shiliang loved Lin Mei.

"If one day, he is no longer the gentle, refined nobleman with stars in his eyes, but instead becomes a disheveled, unkempt slob with a scruffy beard and dead eyes, would you still love him?"

"I, I..." Ritana couldn't even imagine what that person would look like.

Jiang Mo stood up. "Let me tell you, Zhu Shiliang is exactly like that now. Go and see him right now, see the appearance of the man you love. If, after seeing this Zhu Shiliang, you still love him and are willing to marry him, never to despise him, then I will stop trying to persuade you."

Ritana stood silent for a long time, rooted to the spot.

Jiang Mo walked up to Ritana. "Your Highness, you only love a fantasy. You are beautiful and noble. Throughout Great Qi and all of Rong Kingdom, countless men admire you. Why not choose one among them? Whether it's a good fate or a bad one, whether you get hurt or find happiness, then you'll know what it truly means to love someone."

She looked directly into Ritana's eyes. "In truth, Your Highness has not fallen in love with Zhu Shiliang, but with the Zhu Shiliang who loved Lin Mei. Lin Mei is dead, and the Zhu Shiliang you loved died along with Lin Mei."