Un corazón puro en una vasija de jade - Capítulo 87
Yi Zhongtian's body stiffened, and he asked in surprise, "Does His Majesty know?"
Mr. Beauty nodded: "This was originally a deal between Youli Valley and His Majesty Prince Chen. Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to arrange for Yuxiu to marry into the royal family during peace talks? This was all for Emperor Yujia's benefit. To make him believe that the time to act was when the princess went to Anguo for her wedding. Only then could they wipe out Youli Valley's influence in Anguo in one fell swoop, and hold the princess hostage. They could then take the opportunity to depose the Empress and the Crown Prince, and allow his beloved eldest prince to ascend the throne!"
Hearing this, Yongye suddenly realized. Everything—the assassination attempt by using the princess's marriage into the royal palace, the summoning of her to offer birthday greetings—was all just out of fear of her father, the king.
Eighteen years ago, someone kidnapped her to threaten Prince Duan. Eighteen years later, she was lured to Chen and captured as a hostage, also to incite internal strife among the two princes of An, preventing Prince Duan from interfering. With the power of the two princes, without Prince Duan's intervention, An would be nothing but chaos.
Emperor Yujia was seriously ill. How could Father not know? Did Father not take precautions against the potential crisis that might arise from the Emperor's sudden death? Emperor Yujia couldn't have thought of this either?
Yongye suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.
She was merely a pawn. No matter how close Prince Duan was to her, he still treated her as a crucial piece on the chessboard. No matter how much he couldn't bear to part with her, no matter how much he protected her, she was still placed on the chessboard by him.
Doesn't she understand? What father would be willing to let his daughter dress as a man all the time, just to deceive Youli Valley's eyes? He not only had to hide it, but also because Emperor Yujia was seriously ill and the power struggle in Anguo was intensifying; he had to keep it a secret.
What a loyal and patriotic Prince Duan! Yongye closed his eyes, rain soaking his face, running down his neck, and chilling him to the bone. Very well, consider it filial piety. I will not allow myself to become a hostage who can threaten you!
She made up her mind and was about to leave when she heard the handsome gentleman say softly, "Zhongtian, I have been willing to do this for more than ten years. If you change your mind, there is nothing I can do to change it. I should do my best for the country. I only ask one thing of you."
"you say."
The beautiful gentleman stared into his eyes and said, word by word, "Do not harm the Marquis of Yong'an!"
Yongye really wanted to burst out laughing. Her handsome master was actually concerned about her life! Should she thank her master, or should she be proud of herself for having such a place in her handsome master's heart?
Yi Zhongtian abandoned her, and she never begged him, but she did beg him to spare her life. She still refused to tell Yi Zhongtian that she was Xinghun, the assassin from Youli Valley!
Yi Zhongtian smiled and said, "Don't worry, although Li Yongye doesn't know martial arts and is physically weak, she's not someone to be trifled with. I already have three hundred men killed by her. Not only that, she also hired Feng Yangxi as her bodyguard. Even if I wanted to kill her, I'd have to ask Feng Yangxi's sword first!"
"I just want you to promise me you won't kill her!"
Yi Zhongtian looked at her strangely: "Why?"
"This is the Valley Master's intention. Keeping her around is useful."
"Alright, I agree. But not because of Valley Master Youli, but because of you."
Yongye understood. She realized how naive she had been, moved by the handsome gentleman's plea, only to be doused with a bucket of ice water. It was truly chilling; her soaked clothes clung to her body, and the pouring rain was nothing compared to the words she had heard that night.
Almost forgot, You Ligu thought she was poisoned by a Gu curse. In the future, after the internal strife in Anguo and their assassination of her father, she could still be the legitimate heir to the Duanwang throne and be placed in Anguo to serve You Ligu!
Without lingering, she glided into the lake like a fish, swam to the riverbank, and used her light-footed skills to desperately run back to the post station.
The rain lashed down on her body like jets of water, and at that moment, Yongye's heart froze into ice. She ran through the darkness, her eyes wide open. All around was pitch black; there was no moon or stars in the sky, and she couldn't see a single ray of light.
People say rain is God weeping in sorrow. Tonight is truly a sad night.
This world is so unfamiliar; I can't even find a cigarette.
The people here are so terrifying that even I, a former assassin, feel lonely.
Moon Spirit, your Peace Clinic must be located under the sun, where the sunlight must be strong and warm enough to melt my frozen heart!
Your clinic must be very successful so that you can live a peaceful and prosperous life, and be able to smile at me. Your smile must be gentle and radiant enough to swallow up all my sorrow.
If he had one last wish, Yongye hoped for Yuepo's safety and that he could truly have a peaceful medical clinic. He had said that if one day she wanted a peaceful life, he would take her in.
However, with the rose hairpin in his hand, could Yue Po leave safely? Could he still open his Peace Clinic under the blazing sun?
With her heart pounding, Yongye ran back to the post station at an unprecedented speed.
Yihong leaned against the table and fell asleep, sleeping soundly. She was simply serving herself and obeying her father and mother's orders to protect herself. Only the most innocent person could have such a sweet dream.
Yongye's cold hand touched Yihong's face.
"Ah!" Yihong woke up with a start and saw Yongye standing at the head of the bed with a pale face. She sat up and began to take off her clothes. "Young Master, hurry up and change your clothes. Don't catch a cold."
Yongye let her take off her clothes and wipe herself with a dry cloth without her noticing.
"Yihong, why are you so loyal to Father?" Her voice was hoarse, like the sound of sawing wood.
Yi Hong was taken aback; this was the second time Yong Ye had asked her that question today. She hurriedly answered in a low voice, "Without the Prince, there would be no me."
"Don't you want to live a peaceful and happy life with Commander Lin?"
"Young master, we cannot repay your kindness; our consciences will not allow it."
Yongye was stunned. Repaying a debt of gratitude? A teacher for a day is a father for life? She needed to repay the beautiful Master Qingyi? In this life, they were her parents, the Prince and Princess Duan, so she needed to repay their kindness?
She wearily dressed, then chuckled softly, "Leave immediately! Have Commandant Lin escort you back to Anguo, and make sure no one else is alerted!"
"Young Master!" Yi Hong exclaimed in shock.
Yongye's face darkened: "Have you forgotten what I told you during the day?"
"Let me take your place, young master! Go, you and Commandant Lin go!" Tears streamed down Yi Hong's face.
Yongye looked at her, a smile appearing on her lips: "The separation of lovers can be heartbreaking, and I don't like separation. You should go now, or it will be too late." She took out a jade pendant and placed it in Yihong's hand, "This is Princess Yuxiu's talisman, which will allow you to pass through safely."
Yi Hong knelt down and kowtowed.
Yongye had already turned her back. She had figured it out: as long as there was even the slightest chance that her moon spirit could remain in Chen, she would not leave.
Facing the wind and rain over the lake, she calmly brewed tea. All the events flashed through her mind.
She recalled what Prince Duan had once said to her: "Yongye...you've been away from home for ten years and returned. You've spent far less time in the palace than you did outside. How much affection do you have for me and your mother? When you do things, do you consider us? If you don't, it doesn't matter who you want to marry."
How much affection do I have for them? Will I care about them? Will I understand and accept him? Yongye closed her eyes in deep thought. Her imposing father, the father whose severed heads had crushed his steed, and her seemingly gentle and dignified mother. She would rather bring home an infant to be the crown prince than let her father be coerced by others.