Yu Mingyue's righteous indignation was palpable and deeply relatable, even the Sage felt that Ye Feisheng's actions in bullying a junior were indeed not quite proper.
The Yu family father and son were both rare talents in military command. Yu Zeyan held the military power of Jizhou, and Yu Mingjing, after going to Yumenguan, gained the favor of the Crown Prince.
Ye Feisheng, his identity now public from clandestine to overt, served in the Five Cities Patrol. He was quite pleased to see discord between the Yu brothers, each checking the other.
The Sage feigned ignorance, "If that's the case, you have indeed been wronged."
"Your Sage is wise. In any case, this subject's daughter does not welcome him. Grandmother had already expelled him from the manor, and now he has changed his name. Grandmother will certainly not let him return to the Yu family," Yu Mingyue stated with certainty, even invoking the Yu family's old matriarch.
Although the old lady was currently in the old Yu family residence, she was an elder of the Yu family and detested the fifth uncle. At a crucial moment, she could still leverage her seniority to her advantage.
"Even a wise official finds it hard to settle household disputes. However, you have merit for lending books to assist the Jiangzhou official academy. What reward do you desire?"
The sixth daughter of the Yu family, with her glib tongue and slippery nature, was indeed like her maternal grandfather, unlike her honest father. When he asked about her relationship with Xie Jiayan, she dodged the question with witty remarks, suggesting their relationship was indeed close.
Upon hearing about a reward, Yu Mingyue was initially delighted, but quickly said, "What this subject's daughter has done are things a subject of Great Wei should do. No reward is needed. However, this subject's daughter has a request, which she hopes Your Sage will grant!"
"What is it?"
"This subject's daughter is about to come of age. My mother has already begun looking for potential suitors for me, but I only wish to be a good official and leave my name in history, not to marry. I implore Your Sage to grant me the freedom to decide my own marriage."
The Sage did not wish for her and Brother Jiayan to end up as husband and wife. His purpose in summoning her today was to admonish her.
Brother Jiayan was a future powerful minister favored by the Sage, and her father and brother held military power. Such a union was, by all accounts, a great threat to the Sage. He would certainly not permit it.
Great Wei had many vassal kings in its nooks and crannies, and there were still several unmarried princes. Most terrifyingly, she might even be sent for a political marriage. She did not want her future to be arranged in such a manner, so she directly stated her lack of interest in marriage.
The Sage raised an eyebrow. He had said this girl was very slippery. She wasn't just guarding against the Cui clan's forced marriage, but clearly against him.
However, a clever person had their own advantages. As long as she was sensible, he did not wish to trouble a child.
"I grant it!"
Yu Mingyue quickly knelt and kowtowed her thanks, "This subject's daughter thanks Your Sage. This subject's daughter congratulates Your Sage on eternal blessings and a lifespan as long as the heavens. May Your Sage live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."
The Sage's health was declining. Although he knew he could not live as long as the heavens, such words were comforting to hear.
Having been emperor for twenty years, he never expected to have the potential to be a foolish ruler. It seemed there was a reason why monarchs in history were so easily swayed by sycophantic officials.
After Yu Mingyue was sent away, Aunt Zhong smiled and said, "Your Sage has always been wise, yet today he was deceived by a young girl."
The Sage was in a good mood, "Everyone fears me, yet she dares to be so bold."
"Since Your Sage is pleased with her, why not fulfill their wishes?" Aunt Zhong asked.
The Sage was silent for a moment, "You are not unaware of Old Seventh's feelings for her. Since I have him assist Old Seventh, I cannot allow them to develop any ill will."
"Then why did Your Sage agree to Sixth Daughter Yu's request to decide her own marriage? What if she insists on marrying in the future?" Aunt Zhong asked.
"That child knows her limits. Yu Liu Niang is a smart person. She understood what I said today. Since she wants to enter the Dali Temple, let her. A little hardship will teach her the importance of priorities," the Sage said, fiddling with his prayer beads.
"Yes!"
Upon returning to the manor, Yu Mingyue only told Cui Shi that the Sage had merely inquired about the matter of Li Fu's capture at the Lijing Gate.
Ye Feisheng had taken up the post of Commander. His identity as the fifth master of the Yu family could no longer be concealed. However, he still used the name Ye Feisheng, and in the capital, there was much gossip about his relationship with the Yu family.
"He now holds a high position, and Your Sage naturally does not wish for him to return to the Yu family. Do not disturb him. In the end, the Yu family wronged him. Not disturbing him is a form of atonement," Cui Shi said.
Winning back hearts was not easy. It was already remarkable that he had not retaliated against the Yu family. He was a confidant of the Sage, and with her husband and son away, it would be too easy for him to do whatever he wished.
"Yue'er understands. Mother need not worry," Yu Mingyue nodded in agreement.
At the time, she had wanted her fifth uncle to return home without knowing he was Ye Feisheng. Now that she knew his current identity, she had abandoned the idea.
Yu Mingyue finally received Yu Mingjing's reply. Her guess was correct: the Luo family's rebellion did indeed have hidden reasons; more precisely, the Luo family was forced to rebel.
Great Wei and Khitan had been at war, with victories and defeats on both sides, but Khitan had never managed to breach Youzhou. The Luo family's defense of Youzhou was indeed meritorious.
Over years of fighting against the Khitan generals, the Luo family and the opposing generals became familiar with each other. Both armies were tired of war. The two generals devised a plan: the battles would continue, but they would change from real fights to staged ones. This time you win, next time it would be our turn. This way, they could collect military funds from the court and also avoid casualties among the soldiers.
For several years, it was like this. The problem arose when the Khitan King was incited by someone and appointed Fan Qi as the great general for the campaign against Wei.
Wu Kesu did not want his subordinates to sacrifice in vain. He repeatedly petitioned the Khitan King to recall Fan Qi, stating that this person was not to be used.
Unexpectedly, the Khitan King rejected his opinion. A deputy beside him betrayed him and defected to Fan Qi. Wu Kesu's years of staged battles with the Luo family were exposed. Fan Qi then presented a plan to the Khitan King, using this as evidence of the Luo family colluding with the enemy to force the Luo family into rebellion, thereby benefiting himself.
The Princess Royal's suicide on the battlefield was partly to boost the morale of Great Wei's troops, and partly in the hope that Luo Lingyi's father would repent and not make further mistakes.
The death of the Princess Royal indeed dealt a heavy blow to Luo Lingyi's father, but the mistake had already been made, and there was no turning back.
He admitted the Luo family's fault. The honor and disgrace of the Luo clan were shared. Now that the clan was in distress, they should face death with courage.
However, he knew that his wife had always been loyal to the Great Wei court and should not be implicated by him. Before the Princess Royal's suicide, he had written a letter of divorce, stating that all matters of the Luo family were unrelated to the Princess Royal and their two daughters. Unfortunately, it was too late.
In fact, it was not the Seventh Prince who killed Fan Qi, but Luo Lingyi's father. He was indeed a valiant warrior.
He did this to pledge allegiance to the future new ruler, hoping that Xiao Che would protect his two daughters.
The Luo family did harbor rebellious intentions. Although they colluded with Wu Kesu, it was to deceive the court for military funds, not to betray the country.
After the Khitan suffered a great defeat and submitted to Great Wei, the entire Luo family was executed. The Luo family ceased to exist.
If not for the Khitan King's false accusations and coercion, perhaps the Luo clan would still have had a glimmer of hope, even if they were demoted to commoners.
After reading it, Yu Mingyue immediately burned the letter. She could roughly guess Luo Lingyi's intention. The Directorate of Armaments was developing new firearms, and various forces were coveting them, including Khitan, who still harbored malicious intent. Forcing her into the Ministry of Works was perhaps to provoke a war between Great Wei and Khitan so that Khitan could be completely destroyed as revenge for the Luo family.
Khitan was indeed hateful, but the common people were innocent. If war broke out again, who knew how many families would be displaced.
The deceased were gone. The living must cherish the opportunity to live. Her own situation was already difficult, and if the Sage found out, he might not let her live.