Yu Mingyue was quite optimistic: "Mother, don't overthink it. The Empress has helped us for now, and we'll deal with future matters as they arise."
For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to the Empress.
Although Cui Shi had concerns, seeing her daughter like this, she said no more.
Regardless, as a mother, she would protect her.
The weather grew colder day by day, and Yu Mingyue stayed within the manor, never venturing out.
The capital seemed unusually quiet this year. While in previous years, the end of the year was filled with banquets, this year, the households seemed to have their throats choked, as if afraid to even breathe deeply.
Even the Zheng family, close confidants of the Emperor with meritorious service in supporting his ascension, could fall into trouble overnight. Who wouldn't be afraid?
If old debts were to be settled, how many in the court were truly clean?
She wondered how things were in Jiangzhou, whether the academy was progressing smoothly. Winter Solstice was fast approaching, and the custom in Jiangzhou was to eat tangyuan on Winter Solstice. She feared she wouldn't get to eat dumplings.
She had been back in the capital for a long time, and Brother Jiayan hadn't sent a letter. Truly… so heartless.
Never mind, she would be magnanimous and write to him first.
Two days before Winter Solstice, a heavy snow fell in the capital. The snow stopped on Winter Solstice, and Yu Mingyue went hunting outside the city with Zhu Yu.
She remembered the first time she met Brother Jiayan at the hunting grounds that year, so many people gathered together, it was so lively.
Now, those who remained in the capital couldn't gather as they wished. Actually, it wouldn't be bad if they could stay in that time forever.
Yu Mingyue closed her eyes, and it seemed she could still recall the scene from that year.
Perhaps it was a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road. Those who had hunted together that year were not present, but she unexpectedly encountered Jing Zhan.
Yu Mingyue had nothing to say to him, but seeing him blocking the path, she knew she couldn't leave.
Yu Mingyue did not dismount, but looked down at Jing Zhan and sneered, "You're really going backward with age, only good at doing things to annoy people."
"Where is Youyou?" Jing Zhan's face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost, completely unconcerned by Yu Mingyue's sarcastic remarks.
Yu Mingyue stared at Jing Zhan with disdain, her eyes involuntarily reddening, "You personally sent Youyou to the Directorate of Music and forced her to commit suicide by poison. You ask me where she is? I should be asking you, why did you do this to her?"
"I'm asking you where she is!" Jing Zhan lost his patience and couldn't help but roar.
Ever since she returned to the capital, except for a visit to the palace, she had remained indoors. He had finally waited for her to leave the manor.
"She's in hell. Legend has it that those who commit suicide are cast into the Avici hell, never to be reborn..."
"Yu Mingyue!" Jing Zhan's temples throbbed, his eyes filled with murderous intent, as if he were about to kill someone at any moment.
Zhu Yu's hand rested on the sword at her waist, ready to act at any moment.
Yu Mingyue, however, was not afraid and continued, "If you truly want to find her, why not try committing suicide yourself? See if she's willing to see you, willing to forgive you. But I guess you wouldn't dare, because you can't bear to part with your position as Duke..."
Yu Mingyue watched with a smile as the anger in Jing Zhan's eyes gradually turned to desolation, utterly lost.
Yu Mingyue flicked her horsewhip and left with Zhu Yu.
Jing Zhan's guards wanted to pursue, but Jing Zhan stopped them, "No need to chase."
Jing Zhan stood alone, horse and rider, in the vast expanse of white snow, as if his soul had been drained.
He had long known the Yu family's sixth daughter's skill in manipulating people's hearts, yet he was still unwilling to give up. For a moment just now, he thought he should go find Youyou.
But she was right, he didn't dare to go find Youyou.
Because he would not let go of any of the enemies who had caused the extermination of the Duke of Huguo's family.
Zhu Yu rode half a horse length behind Yu Mingyue. If Jing Zhan dared to bring people to chase them, she would fight them to the death. What was a Duke? Just a despicable person.
"Don't listen, he won't chase," Yu Mingyue said, seeing Zhu Yu straining to listen for sounds from behind.
Zhu Yu looked back. Indeed, no one was chasing.
"How did you know, my lady?"
"He's guilty!"
It wasn't that she wouldn't tell him where Youyou was; it was that he himself lacked the courage to see Youyou.
He knew their animosity ran deep as the sea, yet he watched Youyou sink deeper and deeper step by step.
She wanted him to carry guilt and remorse, to have nightmares every night, and never find peace.
"Someone like him wouldn't feel guilty. My lady, you don't know his reputation!"
"What reputation?"
"The Cold-faced Rakshasa, Lu Jingxing!"
"What?" Yu Mingyue wondered if she had misheard.
"The Cold-faced Rakshasa, Lu Jingxing. I heard people say that."
Yu Mingyue felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Lu Jingxing, so he was the one who impeached Minister Lu and the Li family.
He was seeking revenge on everyone who had participated in that matter back then.
Not just the Gu family, but also the Five Great Clans.
She vaguely remembered that Minister Lu was impeached for three grave offenses: embezzlement of disaster relief funds, accepting bribes, and buying and selling official positions. The Li family of Longxi was accused of privately casting weapons, colluding with foreign enemies, and both the Lu and Li families were stripped of their titles and their clans exterminated, with their members either dead or fled.
The Sage fiercely destroyed the powerful clans, causing a talent gap in the Great Wei, leading to instability in the court.
Tibet took the opportunity to make a comeback, and her father and brother died in the battle of Yumenguan.
She had wanted to change these things, but found that all she could change were minor matters. In fact, because of her interference, her brother had joined the army even earlier than in the storybooks.
"My lady!" Zhu Yu saw Yu Mingyue's face turn paler and paler.
"Return to the manor!"
"Yes!"
Zhu Yu asked no more questions, only rode closely behind Yu Mingyue.
Upon returning to the manor, Yu Mingyue went straight to Yu Mingjing's study. Yu Mingjing was discussing matters with Second Master Yu. Seeing his sister rush in, looking panicked, he knew something had happened.
Second Master Yu, knowing the siblings needed to talk, tactfully excused himself.
"Brother, Jing Zhan is not only seeking revenge on the Gu family but also wants to annihilate the Five Great Clans. Uncle Gu's incident and the Zheng family's implication were all orchestrated by him. Chai Xinye, who is already dead, was also introduced to the Sage by him. He is already collecting evidence of the crimes of the Lu and Li families," Yu Mingyue said urgently.
Yu Mingjing remained silent, making Yu Mingyue even more anxious. After the Lu and Li families were destroyed, the nation's strength would be greatly reduced, and the court would be unstable. The Great Wei would soon face internal and external troubles.
"Minister Lu has already been impeached!" Yu Mingjing said.
He and his uncle had just been discussing this. His aunt's maternal family had some connection to the Lu family, and because the Duke of Huguo's manor and the Cui family were in-laws, they had relied on the Lu family for years and were quite familiar with the Lu family's situation.
The Lu family's businesses were vast, spanning all industries, and they were the wealthiest among the Five Great Clans.
Minister Lu also held a high position in the court. Today's impeachment was due to the saying: "A horse that is not properly trained will not be noticed among chickens and pigs; a family that cuts ice does not keep cattle and sheep; a family with a hundred chariots does not keep officials who accumulate wealth."
It stated that the Lu family, as a noble clan, was competing with merchants and commoners for business, which was an act of immorality, injustice, and harm to the nation.
"If the Lu and Li families are annihilated, truly bad things will happen."
The Five Great Clans were intricately connected. If they collapsed, and there were no families capable of succeeding them, chaos would ensue below.
"Don't worry, I'll go find the Crown Prince now. Wait for my news..." Yu Mingjing first comforted his sister.
Just as he was about to leave, a guard from the Crown Prince's side hurried in: "Young Master, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence in the palace immediately."
"What happened?"
"The Sage imprisoned Minister Lu half an hour ago."
Yu Mingjing and his sister exchanged a look. Their fears had come true.