~ WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPY, SOMEONE BRINGS YOU A PILLOW ~
After a long while, the Third Prince finally calmed down and ordered in a deep voice, “Prepare ink and paper. I must write a letter of repentance to His Majesty.”
Now that his eyesight had returned, regaining the use of his legs was only a matter of time. The struggle for the throne had reached a critical juncture. He could not afford to be sidelined. Otherwise, he would never again have a chance to reach that high position.
Are Kings, Princes, Generals, and Ministers born into their positions? Not at all. And as for Imperial Princes, they were all sons of the Emperor. There was no reason the throne should fall solely to Ling Wang or Yu Wang. He, too, would strive with all his might.
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” The personal guard swiftly brought the writing implements. The Third Prince continued flipping through the scrolls.
A look of delight crossed the Third Prince’s face. Yet, upon reaching the section detailing the banquet, he froze in shock: “The Li family accused Yue Wang of not being the Emperor’s son?”
The guard nodded. “Yes, and they even implicated Grand Princess Yi De. But the Emperor dismissed it entirely, executing the witnesses on the spot. He declared before all officials that Yue Wang would always be his son. Moreover, they accused Grand Princess Yi De of deliberately concealing Yue Wang’s identity to confuse the imperial bloodline.”
“Ha ha ha!” Hearing of Ling Wang and the Li family’s actions, the Third Prince burst into loud laughter. “Ling Wang is truly a fool!”
Grand Princess Yi De’s status was too unique. As the Eldest Princess, she had supported the Emperor all the way to the throne, and her bond with the Emperor was exceptionally deep. Unless one were tired of living, no one would dare test the depth of Grand Princess Yi De’s influence.
The guards stood silently at attention, heads bowed.
Suddenly, the Third Prince’s lips twitched. His gaze fixed intently on a specific date, his expression darkening instantly: “The eighteenth of the first month...”
“His Majesty has already issued an edict granting a marriage between His Royal Highness Yue Wang and Princess Wenxian. The wedding is set for the eighteenth of the first month.”
The Third Prince narrowed his eyes. After a long silence, he swiftly spread out paper and began writing.
Three days later, a thick, ten-thousand-word letter of repentance arrived on the Emperor’s desk.
In the letter, the Third Prince candidly admitted his past transgressions and expressed profound remorse. He recounted memories from his childhood, continuing through his reflections in the darkness after losing his sight. Every word was heartfelt, every sentence deeply moving. It was said that upon finishing the letter, the Emperor shed tears. Disregarding Xu Li’s pleas, He left the Palace to visit the Third Prince’s residence.
Mu Yunyao combed her hair before a bronze mirror, leisurely selecting which hairpin to wear.
Jin Qiao vividly recounted beside her: “Miss, word has spread far and wide. They say when His Majesty arrived at the Third Prince’s quarters, he found the Prince clutching one of his old garments and weeping. The sight perfectly embodied the phrase ‘tears streaming down his face.’ Upon seeing the Emperor, the Prince was so overcome that he toppled from his chair. That garment was worn by Jin Wang during his illness many years ago, and the Emperor had stayed up all night tending to him. The Third Prince had carefully preserved it ever since.”
Jin Qiao couldn’t help but curl her lip as she spoke. When she first heard the story, it hadn’t struck her as odd, but now that she was retelling it, it felt strangely peculiar. Besides, the Third Prince’s keeping a garment from so many years ago showed remarkably long-term thinking.
Mu Yunyao’s lips curved slightly. “His Royal Highness the Third Prince has every reason to be moved.” Only this emotion wasn’t sparked by the Emperor’s arrival, but by the fact that he had finally regained his sight.
“And Miss, it’s said His Royal Highness the Third Prince has lost all appetite lately. He spends his days in repentance, neither shaving nor changing his clothes. With his garments soaked through from weeping, he looks utterly pitiful. The Emperor was furious and immediately ordered punishment for the servants attending to the Third Prince. He also declared that before your marriage to His Royal Highness Yue Wang, the Third Prince would be restored to his title as Jin Wang. After all, as an elder brother, it was inappropriate for him to remain without rank. Many officials are now watching to see if the Third Prince’s legs might recover. Compared to aligning with the hot-tempered and reckless Ling Wang or the upright and meticulous Yu Wang, they prefer to pledge allegiance to Jin Wang.
Mu Yunyao selected a Danyang pearl-adorned hairpin and gently inserted it into her hair. After examining it closely for a moment, she nodded with satisfaction. “What response has there been from Ling Wang’s side?”
“Reporting to Miss, Ling Wang’s residence remained very quiet initially.”
Mu Yunyao raised an eyebrow slightly. “Quiet?” Even if he wasn’t fuming, Ling Wang should be plotting against Jin Wang to prevent him from disrupting the crucial matter of selecting the crown prince. How could he be quiet?
“Three days have passed since His Majesty visited the Third Prince’s residence, yet Ling Wang has only sent people to spread rumors. This is entirely unlike the Li family’s usual style.” Jin Qiao also found it deeply puzzling. “Could it be they’ve given up hope on the Third Prince’s claim to the throne, so they’ve simply let him be, showing no interest at all?”
Mu Yunyao chuckled softly. “If Ling Wang could see things as clearly as you suggest, perhaps the selection of the crown prince this year could succeed without any deliberate maneuvering.”
Just then, Jin Lan entered carrying a teacup. “Miss, news has just arrived from outside the Palace. Envoys from the Northern Frontier have been dispatched and are expected to reach the Capital in just over half a month.”
Mu Yunyao’s eyes widened sharply. She looked up immediately. “What did you say? The Northern Frontier has sent an envoy?”
“Yes.”
The last time envoys were exchanged between the two nations had been over a decade ago. In recent years, relations between the Dali Dynasty and the Northern Frontier had grown increasingly tense. Northern Frontier cavalry frequently harassed the Dali Dynasty’s border, driving many to abandon their homes and relocate to nearby cities for survival. Even so, numerous lives were lost each year—and naturally, the Northern Frontier suffered its share of casualties as well.
The two nations had long become mortal enemies. This sudden dispatch of envoys inevitably brought the Li family to mind.
Mu Yunyao suddenly recalled another matter: “Wait—the Northern Frontier envoy arrived in just over half a month. Doesn’t that coincide precisely with the timing for nominating the Crown Prince?”
“Indeed,” Jin Lan nodded. “I wonder if it will have any impact.”
“If this Northern Frontier envoy’s arrival truly connects to the Li family, then this Crown Prince nomination is unlikely to succeed,” Mu Yunyao mused, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Jin Qiao was puzzled: “Miss, haven’t you always hoped for Yu Wang to become Crown Prince? Why do you seem so unconcerned now, even pleased?”
Mu Yunyao’s smile deepened: “The Emperor has his own plans for selecting the Crown Prince. Whether it happens sooner or later makes little difference. It’s the Northern Frontier envoys we need to strategize about carefully.”
She and Yue Wang had plotted to undermine both the Li family and the Northern Frontier. But the Northern Frontier lay so far away that communication was difficult. Merely establishing contact between the Third Prince and the Northern Frontier was troublesome enough, let alone the other schemes they had in mind. Now, the Northern Frontier envoy had practically delivered himself to their doorstep. It was truly like someone bringing a pillow just when you were feeling sleepy. She intended to seize this opportunity with both hands.
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