Ne vous appuyez pas contre la rambarde ouest pour profiter pleinement de l'automne clair - Chapitre 78
Upon hearing this, Yu Yan suddenly trembled, all color draining from her face in an instant: "Husband, what do you mean? You...you don't want me anymore?"
"Yu Yan, don't talk nonsense. How could I not want you? I'm just asking if you've thought about finding a man to marry, having a home, having children, and living a good life..."
"But Yu Yan is already married to her husband! How can a woman marry two husbands?"
"Yu Yan, you know perfectly well what I..."
"I don't care! I'm married, and that's it. I don't care who I'm marrying. Once we've gone through the wedding ceremony, he's my husband for life!"
Rongyue's eyes suddenly welled up with tears: "Yuyan, don't be foolish. Only a real man can bring you happiness. If you stay with me, you'll definitely resent me in the future..."
"No!" Yu Yan's eyes were firm: "I, Murong Yu Yan, have never regretted the decisions I have made! Once a husband, always a husband, my husband, do not speak of it again!"
Thinking that Yu Yan's affection for her was like that of a family member, and that she would rather give up her marriage than abandon her, Rong Yue was moved, but she also clenched her fists and made a secret decision—since Yu Yan was unwilling, even if the emperor held a knife to her neck, she would not let anyone take Yu Yan away!
The next day, just after dawn, Tuoba Chen arrived at the Jian residence with a group of guards, demanding the person in question.
“Xiao San, stop being stubborn. Quickly call your wife out. If she doesn’t come soon, Father Emperor might punish you…” In the courtyard of the Jian residence, Tuoba Chen earnestly persuaded Rong Yue, who stood facing the wind with her hands behind her back. Meanwhile, the twenty guards he brought searched the entire Jian residence again and again, but after more than half an hour, they still hadn’t found a trace of Yu Yan.
Her eyes were deep and cold, like a bottomless black hole, its pure darkness capable of swallowing everything. Turning her face, Rong Yue's expression was ashen, her words like ice: "Punishment? The current emperor, seizing his subject's wife by trickery and coercion, how dare he!"
"How dare you!" Tuoba Chen roared angrily. Perhaps realizing his tone had been too harsh, he softened his voice and said, "Third Prince, I know you harbor resentment, but you cannot speak disrespectfully to the Emperor! Third Prince, you..."
"Is this what you call being disrespectful? You royals are really pampered!"
"Jian Xiaosan! Do you really have a death wish?!" That Xiaosan has such a terrible temper! With so many people present, if these words were to reach Father Emperor's ears…
"Ha, sorry, you were right! Do you really have a death wish?!"
Tuoba Chen was horrified: "Xiao San, don't be ridiculous! She's just a woman, don't act foolishly!"
"Pah! Just a woman? You look down on women? Were you not born of your mother, but crawled out of your father's asshole?!"
Suppressed laughter echoed from all around. Tuoba Chen's face flushed red, then turned pale, then purple and finally black: "Jian Xiaosan!"
"Take me to see the Emperor! I, Jian Xiaosan, will reason with him today! The laws of this country are not just made for his subjects, but also for the royal family and even the Emperor himself! If he cannot set an example for his subjects, be a role model, and establish a good image, if he cannot be strict with himself and lenient with others, how can he gain the trust of the people and establish authority? In other words, do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. If he doesn't even understand this principle, what kind of emperor is he? There is an old saying that an emperor who is not benevolent treats the people like dogs. Although that is a bit of an exaggeration, if he can just take away or rob his ministers' wives without any regard for the opinions of important ministers, then tell me, how is that any different from an unbenevolent emperor who treats the people like dogs?"
"Shut up! Jian Xiaosan!"
"Why should I shut up! If you dare to do it, you shouldn't be afraid of what others will say!"
Tuoba Chen was furious: "Guards! Arrest the Imperial Censor!"
Want to catch her? They'll have to see if they have the ability! With a murderous aura as sharp as snow, the needles seemed to freeze the sunlight, and the world changed color. In the blink of an eye, several silver-glittering flying needles shot out in rays in all directions!
Almost simultaneously, a red cloak was tossed through the air, swirling and churning once before the flying needles, as if guided by their own eyes, plunged into the wide cloak. In the blink of an eye, a figure swiftly appeared, snatched the cloak, and with a powerful flick, sent the needles flying in different directions.
Tuoba Jie's strong hand grabbed Rongyue's hand as she reached into his sleeve again, restraining her movements: "Jian Xiaosan, calm down! Don't be impulsive!"
"My wife is almost married to someone else, do you think I can stay calm?"
Facing Rongyue's cold and icy gaze, Tuoba Jie knew his persuasion was futile. He pointed, indicating that Rongyue should look in the direction he was pointing—
With light, graceful steps, Yu Yan smiled gently, flicked the silk handkerchief in her hand, and, bathed in the golden sunlight and the warm spring breeze, waved to Rong Yue…
As the palm struck horizontally, Rongyue's body slowly went limp. Her heavy eyelids gradually drooped, and in the dim light where darkness and gold met, the image of Yu Yan's breathtaking beauty flickered before her eyes…
The smile on her lips remained, but tears streamed down her delicate cheeks like broken beads, flowing to the corners of her lips and then sliding into her mouth, salty, bitter, and astringent...
Her fingertips trembled as she traced Rongyue's brows, eyes, nose, and mouth. Gazing at Rongyue, who lay peacefully in Tuoba Jie's arms like a child, she finally couldn't hold back her sobs any longer, and her whimpers turned into a full-blown cry. "Husband, farewell. Forgive me. As a daughter, I cannot stand by and watch my father suffer. I cannot… Forgive me, forgive my helplessness…"
Her eyes couldn't leave Rongyue's delicate face for even a moment, for she knew that once she entered the palace gates, it was like entering a deep sea, and Xiao Lang would become a stranger from then on. This parting might be the last time they would see each other...
Covering her mouth, her shoulders trembled uncontrollably as she sobbed, her cries filled with despair and sorrow, moving all who heard them.
A complex expression flashed across his face, but Tuoba Jie's expression remained as calm as ever: "Don't worry, as long as you obediently enter the palace, the Emperor will definitely not make things difficult for your father. What are you waiting for! Quickly send Miss Yuyan to the palace!"
The two guards nodded obsequiously, took a few steps to either side of Rongyue, and gestured for her to proceed.
With a final, lingering look at Rongyue, Yu Yan, tears welling in her eyes, bit her lower lip, turned resolutely, and as if afraid she would regret it, lifted her skirt and stumbled towards the pink-roofed sedan chair at the gate. Behind her, only the suppressed sobs of her heartbroken voice remained…
Tuoba Chen snatched Rongyue from Tuoba Jie's arms and sneered, "Prime Minister, you are truly remarkable! You seized someone's father and forced his wife, hitting the nail on the head with one move. I, Your Highness, am truly impressed!"
Sensing the veiled sarcasm in Tuoba Chen's tone, implying that he had used despicable and crude means to achieve his goals, Tuoba Jie smiled noncommittally, reached out and gently stroked Rongyue's still wrinkled face despite her unconsciousness, shaking his head with a look of pity: "Poor thing! If you're to be born in the next life, be born into the royal family. That way, not only will you not have your wife easily stolen, but you might even be able to steal someone else's wife!"
"Tuoba Jie!"
"Your humble servant is here!"
The shadow in his eyes gradually spread. He glanced meaningfully at the proudly standing Tuoba Jie, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, then turned and strode away without looking back, carrying Rongyue in his arms…
Tuoba Chen, perhaps even you yourself don't realize how deeply you've fallen into this mess... Watching Tuoba Chen's retreating figure, Tuoba Jie smiled wickedly...
Looking at Rongyue's furrowed brows with heartache, Tuoba Chen felt even more guilty, but mixed in with this deep self-reproach was a hint of expectation that he himself did not realize...
Mistress, this is what our royal family owes you...
Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines' Chronicle, Chapter Fifteen: Once Upon a Time
Amidst the purple silk curtains and the white jade pillow, Rongyue sat up on the couch, but her body felt slightly weak and swayed again.
A pair of intricately carved silver incense balls hung in the tent, wafting a faint, calming medicinal fragrance. Looking up at the unfamiliar yet luxurious bedroom, Rongyue shook her head vigorously a few times, letting her wandering consciousness gradually return...
Yu Yan!! Her almond-shaped eyes suddenly snapped open, churning with rage and fury. She yanked the blanket off, her bare feet leaving the ground. Without even putting on shoes, she staggered and staggered toward the door on the cold stone floor.
"Ah, Xiao San. You're awake..." Tuoba Chen, who was carrying lotus seed soup, happened to walk to the door and saw Rong Yue rushing out. He hurriedly went to greet her and said with a start.
Ignoring Tuoba Chen's words, Rong Yue forcefully pushed aside the man blocking her way and charged madly toward the distant mansion gate with her disheveled hair.