Yu Mingyue returned the blood-stained suicide note to Luo Lingyi. It turned out that the Grand Princess’s suicide was also an agreement with the Sage.
The Grand Princess had used her own death to exchange for her daughter’s life, but unexpectedly, the Sage went back on his word and still wanted her life.
“This is an irreconcilable hatred, how could I forget?” Tears welled up in Luo Lingyi’s eyes.
Yu Mingyue held Luo Lingyi’s hand, “The dead cannot be brought back to life. Sister, do not be sad anymore. I still want to ask you something, did you plant spies in the Tubo army?”
“How do you know?” Luo Lingyi was startled.
Although the Luo family was annihilated, a group of loyalists from the Luo family army had secretly infiltrated the capital and only obeyed her orders. She had indeed arranged for people to go to Tubo, urging the Tubo King to advance recklessly. In no time, the Tubo King would lose the hearts of his people, and Tubo would be plagued by internal strife for fifty years, rendering them incapable of waging war against Da Wei again.
Da Wei, after this great war, would dominate the various nations, and the four seas would submit. It was a pity that Emperor Yong’an would not live to see it.
“Sister has always acted prudently, so you would not have failed to make arrangements,” Yu Mingyue said.
Luo Lingyi was inherently kind. If she had not learned the truth of her clan’s annihilation, her temperament would not have changed so drastically. It was also her own suspicion at the time that caused them to fall out without clarifying the truth. Had she known earlier, the situation at Yumenguan would not have become so dire, and Marquis Chenliu would not have sacrificed his life.
“Sister, I am truly ashamed of what you said. You are right, my actions were indeed selfish, and they also caused Marquis Chenliu’s death. I have nightmares every day of those fallen soldiers coming to claim my life…” Luo Lingyi’s eyes were tearful.
These were things she could not bring herself to speak of. Ever since her clan was wiped out, she had nightmares every day of her kin, covered in blood, shouting for help. Now, it was the soldiers of Yumenguan claiming her life. She lived in extreme misery every day.
These words she could not utter to anyone. It seemed only revenge could alleviate her pain, but now that her great vengeance was achieved, she did not feel as happy.
“Marquis Chenliu has a pair of children. Sister, you can find opportunities to make amends in the future. After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, treat the border soldiers and the people of Yumenguan with kindness,” Yu Mingyue said, not wanting Luo Lingyi to feel too guilty.
Now, she only hoped the war would end soon, and the people of both nations could find peace.
“Sixth Sister, no matter how you see me, I will kill Yong'an and the Tubo King to avenge my mother and my clan. If I can have your help, it will surely be within reach,” Luo Lingyi met Yu Mingyue’s gaze. Since they had now put aside their past grievances and were cooperating, she hoped to gain her affirmation and assistance.
“Besides you, who else in this palace hates the Sage the most?” Yu Mingyue asked.
Luo Lingyi seemed to recall something. Empress Wang certainly hated him. Her son, whom she could not acknowledge as her own, was now stripped of his official position and even in mortal danger.
There was also Consort Yao, who had been demoted to Zhaoyi. She had finally achieved status through her son, only for the Sage to register her son under Empress Wang’s name, preventing mother and son from acknowledging each other. How could she not hate him?
Their hatred for the Sage was probably comparable, but compared to Empress Wang, the Sage had been more lenient towards Consort Yao.
Luo Lingyi smiled, “Sister is indeed intelligent. I had not thought of this.”
“Empress Wang has been away from the palace for many years. If not for protecting Brother Jiayan, she would not have returned. When the Crown Prince inherits the throne, she will naturally leave the palace. Consort Yao is the birth mother, so she will naturally be honored,” Yu Mingyue understood Consort Yao reasonably well.
What she cared about most was that she had never been Empress, and her long-held dream of gaining status through her son had been ruined by the Sage. Now that she had another opportunity, how could she bear to miss it? Human ambition was the hardest thing to extinguish.
If anyone understood the Sage, it was Consort Yao.