The Sage was truly heartless, unable to tolerate even his own son.
Had it not been for Xie Jia Yan's mediation, the Sage's despicable tactics against the Five Great Clans would have already provoked a backlash.
The barbarians choosing this moment to invade the Central Plains was a bitter fruit the Sage himself had sown. The wealth plundered from the Five Great Clans would also be consumed by war, which was the greatest revenge against him.
If the border was stable, it was the merit of the generals and soldiers. If the Central Plains fell into chaos again, he would be the culprit.
She, born into a noble family, knew that the power of aristocratic families was not a good thing. However, this situation had persisted for centuries. His heart was too impatient, his methods too despicable, and utterly shameful.
How could an unbenevolent ruler secure the empire?
...
Seeing Yu Ming Yue's disheveled state, Madam Cui felt both heartache and worry. She even wished both children were more selfish and simply left.
Madam Cui embraced her daughter. Yu Ming Yue said nothing, tears silently streaming down her face. After a long while, she slowly spoke, "Mother, Brother Jia Yan is not just my Brother Jia Yan. He is also the teacher of scholars across the land, a model subject. He doesn't want to implicate me or the Duke's mansion."
"When you have recovered, Mother will send someone to escort you to Yangzhou," Madam Cui said, tenderly stroking her daughter's head.
When Empress Wang sent word that she had fainted, Madam Cui had made her decision. While the Yu family's sons fought and bled on the battlefield, what was the use of such fame and fortune if her daughter could not pursue happiness?
If the Sage truly feared the Yu family, then some misfortunes were unavoidable. If one wished to condemn someone, they could always find a reason.
Yu Ming Yue's voice was thick with emotion, muffled as she said, "Brother Jia Yan considers me, and I do not wish to be his burden. I also want to do something for him."
On this short journey, she had already made up her mind.
The decline of aristocratic families was inevitable, and the border wars were caused by internal strife. This was the perfect opportunity for a new emperor to ascend the throne.
If the ruler was suspicious and unbenevolent, then he had to be replaced.
Otherwise, all the capable officials in the court would be schemed against by him.
Madam Cui's gaze gradually turned serious. "What do you intend to do?"
Yu Ming Yue took Madam Cui's hand. "Mother, please rest assured. I know what I need to do, and I will certainly not implicate the Yu family."
Madam Cui squeezed her daughter's hand back. "Mother is worried about you!"
"I will not let anything happen to myself." She had many things to do, and she could not afford to be harmed.
Although Madam Cui was worried about her daughter, she knew her daughter's steady nature and that once she made up her mind, she would not easily change it.
Especially after this incident.
Upon returning to Ming Yue Garden, Yu Ming Yue asked Chi Hua to prepare brush and ink. She had always refused to cooperate with Luo Ling Yi, but now she had no choice but to join forces with her.
If anyone hated the Sage, it was likely no one more than her.
The entire Luo family had perished at the hands of the Sage, and she had been poisoned. Even after the poison was removed, she could never bear children in this lifetime. How could she not hate him?
"Find a way to have your brother give this hairpin to Lu Mei."
The hairpin was hollow. Yu Ming Yue had already placed a letter inside the hollow. She had previously used this to exchange letters with Luo Ling Yi.
Later, they had fallen out, and this time, due to the matter of the young imperial grandson, they had completely broken ties and had not communicated for a long time.
This time, she was proactively seeking reconciliation, promising to help ease her relationship with the Mo family. Luo Ling Yi would surely contact her soon.
There was still some old affection between them. Even during their falling out, Luo Ling Yi had never intended to harm her.
In fact, it would not have been difficult for her to become an advisor to the Crown Prince at the Dali Temple. However, she did not want to get involved with Xiao Che again and spread gossip.
Times had changed. Now was the time for them to support each other once more.