"For the sake of the common people... it's utterly laughable to hear such words from you. Bai Lixi, when you say these things, do you truly believe your conscience can be at ease?"
"Let me tell you, all you care about is your fame and fortune, your reputation. You want to appease your ancestors, the Bai family's forebears. Stop using the people of Xiliang as an excuse. I only worry that you won't be able to sleep at night, unable to face your conscience."
From the very beginning, the Bai family has been the main proponent of war. My father, the Emperor, was almost entirely swayed by the Bai family's counsel, insisting on going to war with Dongchu.
These years have seen battles fought, victories and defeats, but where is the true victory? Countless people have been displaced and left homeless. So many women have lost their husbands, so many children have lost their fathers. How many more orphans has Xiliang gained?
On the journey from Xiliang to Dongchu for this marriage alliance, she has witnessed too many such human tragedies, wails echoing everywhere. It truly fills one with a sense of sorrow just to see them. She genuinely does not wish to see such events happen again.
She is even more certain that if she follows her father's plan and publicly attempts to assassinate the Emperor of Dongchu on the wedding day, regardless of whether it succeeds or fails, war is inevitable.
Not to mention that Xiliang's national strength is currently depleted, making it difficult to bear another war. Once it begins, who will suffer but the innocent common people?
"Princess, if you already consider me such a despicable and shameless person, then so be it. I, Bai Lixi, am a coarse man, but I understand loyalty. What I do is loyal to His Majesty, loyal to the people of Xiliang. My conscience is clear!"
He never expected that Murong Jinyun would harbor such suspicions about him.
All these years he had risked his life for Xiliang, facing death several times on the battlefield, only for it to be considered for his own selfish gain.
In the past, Murong Jinyun would never have uttered such words. What has happened to her now that has transformed her into this?
"Princess, I have already delivered His Majesty's secret decree. This matter is feasible. I implore you to lend me a hand. If you truly do not wish to do it, then please act as if you know nothing of this."
He no longer expects Murong Jinyun to help him. But he hopes she will at least pretend ignorance and not obstruct him; that would be enough.
He could also pretend not to know about the tearing of the secret decree and help Murong Jinyun smooth things over with His Majesty.
"Do you truly intend to proceed? Have you considered the consequences? Once you act, Dongchu will surely discover our involvement. At that time, not only will you and I be implicated, but the lives of thousands of palace maids and eunuchs in Dongchu will also be at stake. Do you not think of them?"
Once this is done, thousands of lives will be lost. How could she stand by and watch so many people die because of them?
"Those who achieve great things are not bound by minor details. Besides, they are all people of Xiliang. To sacrifice their lives for Xiliang is to serve Xiliang with their final breath, a fitting end."
Bai Lixi was unconcerned, not valuing the lives of the palace maids and eunuchs at all. They were merely servants; to die for Xiliang was their honor.
Murong Jinyun's eyes widened, and she looked at Bai Lixi with disbelief. Thousands of lives meant so little to him.
It was as if he dismissed the deaths of thousands of ants with the same casualness. Perhaps, in Bai Lixi's heart, he never considered them human beings at all.
At this moment, Murong Jinyun felt as if her heart had been submerged in ice. A sudden chill ran up her spine, striking the crown of her head. For a moment, she couldn't react.
After a pause, Murong Jinyun slowly raised her eyelids, looked at Bai Lixi, and said faintly, "You may go back first. I need to think carefully about how this matter should proceed. I will send someone to reply to you."
Bai Lixi did not press Murong Jinyun further, fearing it would be counterproductive. He had no choice but to leave first.
After Bai Lixi left, Murong Jinyun sat alone in her room for a long time. It was not until a maid entered the room that she slowly withdrew her thoughts.
"Princess, please have some calming tea."
Murong Jinyun picked up the teacup on the table, her gaze falling on the maid beside her. "Yunyan, how long have you been by my side?"
"Your maidservant has been serving Your Highness since childhood. I've long forgotten how long it's been. Why does Your Highness ask today? Has Your maidservant done something wrong?"
"No... I just feel that you've been with me for a very long time. You've worked hard to serve me for so many years, yet I haven't treated you well and have occasionally lost my temper with you..."
Yunyan was so frightened that she immediately knelt down with a 'thump', her head bowing repeatedly. "Princess, please do not say such things. Your maidservant truly cannot bear it. If it weren't for Your Highness taking me in, your maidservant would have lost her life by now. Your Highness's kindness to me is like that of a creator; your maidservant can never repay your grace, even in death!"
Murong Jinyun reached out and helped the kneeling Yunyan up. "Look at you, so frightened. I know you are loyal. I just feel that you are also of age to get married now. I will help you find a good family to marry into, and you won't have to be a servant anymore."
"Princess, your maidservant does not wish to marry. Your maidservant is willing to serve Your Highness for a lifetime. I implore Your Highness not to send me away."
"You foolish girl, if you marry, I will help you get rid of your slave status. From then on, you will be free! It's much better than serving me here and risking your life at any moment!"
She couldn't even protect her own life now. She didn't want to drag anyone else down with her to their deaths.
Now, she only wanted to take advantage of the opportunity she still had, while she still had the ability, to send Yunyan away. Saving one person was better than letting Yunyan die with her here.
"Princess, your maidservant will not leave. Even if it means losing my life, it will be with my willing heart. I beg Your Highness to fulfill this wish!"
"You... why are you so stubborn? You insist on facing death with me!"
Her own death would be insignificant, but there were still thousands of lives at stake. She couldn't let these people die with her, or she would never be at peace, even in the afterlife. Such a thing must not happen, absolutely not!
Murong Jinyun's expression grew slightly flustered. Her father had likely made up his mind by now, and coupled with the fact that his father had always trusted and relied on the Bai family in court, and the Bai family's consistent stance of advocating war, she alone would find it difficult to persuade her father to change his mind.
Now, her immediate priority was to use her own abilities to find ways to protect the lives of these people.