Carry Out an Important Task! (Part Three)
Following the rocky path to the backyard, the garden looked very desolate during winter.
Fortunately, after a day of snow, the barren branches were covered in snow. It ended up looking quite pretty under a layer of silver.
A cold wind blew, and everything was covered in a layer of white. Someone spoke in a loud voice: “That brazen Yin Shuo. He actually wants to marry Yu Fu? Does he not know that the late emperor personally sanctioned the engagement between Yu Fu and eldest brother?”
It was Gu JiuGe’s voice.
Yin JiYao hid behind the rockery, as the wind carried the conversation past the rockery and into her ears. The two people on the other side, however, did not notice her presence.
Gu HanMo helped him into the pavilion, “Second brother, don’t rush to get upset. Yin Shuo even dares to bully Princess DanYang, so what is there that he doesn’t dare to do? I heard that Princess DanYang was severely ill and cannot even attend the new year’s banquet.”
Yin JiYao covered her mouth. She did not think that in a mere two months, Princess DanYang’s illness would get so much worse.
Although she did not like Princess DanYang’s domineering personality, she had also been treated well by her. She was the one who had brought in the imperial physician to treat her wound, and, more importantly, she was still her eldest sister-in-law.
Yin JiYao felt a little saddened.
Gu JiuGe said: “It was actually like that? Just what sort of mind-altering concoction is he feeding His Majesty? He is the mastermind behind a plan to kill his ruler, yet His Majesty has absolute faith in him? It’s a pity that the eldest prince is on his own on the road to the underworld. He should go and keep the eldest prince company!”
When Yin JiYao heard this, she was not particularly shocked.
Gu JiuGe and the others had never talked to her about this matter, but she was not stupid. She could guess how they felt based on their expressions and tones.
It was not just because of them. Rather, it was because she understood Yin Shuo.
This eldest brother of hers, who had always been cold and unfeeling, had been sought out by the eldest prince, so how could he possibly have gone undercover to look for evidence for the second prince?
This was not his style.
Gu HanMo let out a sigh, “Did second brother think that I didn’t think about it? Father has given up control of many military matters. This is the same as giving up a portion of our military power. But His Majesty still does not think that it was enough, and Marquis Gu’s Manor is no longer treated as warmly as before. I heard Steward Qi talk about this one topic, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.”
“What topic?”
“He said that Eunuch Chi hinted to father that Yu Fu might be married into the palace to become empress, but father refused to agree.”
The wine jug was heavily placed on the table. Since the matter was related to Yu Fu, Gu JiuGe immediately became infuriated, “It must have been spurred on by Yin Shuo. That Yin Shuo, I can’t forgive him!”
Gu HanMo rushed to calm him down, “Second brother, this matter hasn’t yet been decided. Father does not plan to tell Yu Fu for fear of disturbing her. You absolutely must not speak about it, and, even more importantly, you must not be rash!”
Gu JiuGe had drank too much wine, and his mind was a bit hazy. Being consoled by Gu HanMo, he slowly calmed down.
He suddenly remembered something, “Third brother, if we can’t find any clues of Yin Shuo’s participation in the assassination of the late emperor, can we do anything from JiYao’s angle?”
Yin JiYao heard her name mentioned and became a little nervous.
Gu HanMo said: “Elder brother is talking about young miss Yin’s background? Once word of young miss Yin’s birth mother being a female general from Western Kun is made public, Yin Yan won’t be able to escape being found guilty, and it might implicate Yin Shuo. But… won’t the innocent young miss Yin also get hurt?”
Crack.
It sounded like a branch snapping in the snow, and it came from behind the rockery. Gu HanMo immediately became alert, “Who’s there?”
A girl walked out from behind the rockery. Wearing a rose-colored fox fur cloak, her head hung low with a white gauze covering her forehead.
Gu HanMo thought to himself that things were bad. The girl raised her head. Sure enough, it was Yin JiYao.
Gu JiuGe had also mostly sobered up, “JiYao? Why… Why have you come here/”
Yin JiYao lifted the hem of her dress and walked forward. Her usually gentle and graceful movements were now very firm. It was as if she had made an incredibly important decision.
She walked to the pavilion and looked at the two, “What female general from Western Kun? You said that my birth mother is a female general from Western Kun? Father said that she was a common woman from a brothel. How could that identity have changed to a general from Western Kun?”
Gu HanMo furrowed his brow. Initially, he had wanted to drink with Gu JiuGe because he was feeling annoyed from hearing about Yin Shuo wanting to marry Yu Fu. Who knew that they would be overheard by Yin JiYao.
Now, things were even more complicated.
He glanced at Gu JiuGe, “This matter should be told to young miss Yin by second brother. I will be leaving first. Farewell.”
“Come back!”
Gu JiuGe reached out but only managed to grab a corner of his robe.
He actually used qinggong to flee…
The two sat across from each other in the pavilion. One desperately tried to conceal the matter, while the other was in tears but was resolute.
Taking advantage of his tipsiness, Gu JiuGe decided to stop worrying about this matter, “Alright, I will tell you. But you absolutely cannot tell anyone, especially your father and brother. Do you understand?”
Yin JiYao nodded, “Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t do anything that would cause harm to Marquis Gu’s Manor!”
She wore a serious expression, while Gu JiuGe tipsily squinted at her. Reaching out, he patted her head, “There’s no need to be nervous. Your mother was a very strong and courageous woman. You should be happy…”
At dinner the next day, Yin JiYao suddenly went to say goodbye to Yu Fu.
Yu Fu was a little surprised, “You’re returning to the prime minister’s manor? Did the manor’s servants not do a thorough enough job of taking care of you?”
Yin JiYao repeatedly shook her head, “That’s not it. The servants in Marquis Gu’s Manor are well trained and have taken very good care of me. It’s just that it’s about to be the end of the year, and it wouldn’t do for me to stay at Marquis Gu’s Manor forever, thus I was thinking of going back.”
She had stayed in Marquis Gu’s Manor for two months, and Yu Fu had done her best to treat her scar. She was full of gratitude toward Yu Fu, and the two had become good friends.
Yu Fu decided to just be blunt, “Are you not afraid of your eldest brother hurting you after you return to the prime minister’s manor?”
Yin JiYao laughed, “Don’t worry. My father returned today. With him here, eldest brother won’t dare to do anything rash.”
“Your father?”
Yin JiYao did not miss the look of disappointment flashing through her eyes. She suddenly kneeled in front of Yu Fu, and the latter quickly had Yao Lan help her up.
“JiYao, what are you doing?”
Yin JiYao said: “I know that my father committed a grave crime and nearly took the eldest young sir’s life. I also know that my eldest brother has tried to oppose Marquis Gu’s Manor in court many times, which forced Lord Marquis Gu to hand over a portion of his military strength. My Yin family has let down Marquis Gu’s Manor, and I apologize on behalf of my father and brother!”
Yu Fu said: “Quickly get up. They are them, and you are you. You have a kind heart, and those things have nothing to do with you.”
“A kind heart? Princess, I am unworthy of such a compliment.”
Yin JiYao smiled sarcastically, “Did you know that I wasn’t completely oblivious to the underhanded methods that my father and brother employed in court. Just like this time, when eldest brother plotted the assassination of the late emperor. The truth is that I knew about it!”
Yu Fu was stunned, but she continued: “I was even their accomplice, as I helped them by playing the role of a honey trap! Did you know that when I first met the second young sir, it was an assignment from my father and brother?”
Yu Fu looked at her without speaking. This time, Yin JiYao was the one who was stunned.
“You knew? You all knew?”
Yu Fu did not plan to continue discussing this matter. She just held Yin JiYao’s hand, “Alright, that’s all in the past. There’s no need to bring it up again. After those things happened, you have treated people with sincerity, so there won’t be anyone who can use those things against you. Do you understand?”
Yin JiYao said: “But I can tell that you’re very disappointed and feel very sad. The one responsible for murdering the ruler is held in high regard in court, while a loyal family like Marquis Gu’s Manor is being suppressed. What sort of morality is this? As someone from the Yin family, not even I can bear to witness it. How can you possibly accept it?”
“Regardless of whether or not I can, head general won’t oppose any of HIs Majesty’s decisions. It’s as you say. Marquis Gu’s Manor is loyal, and head general is a loyal subject. He would rather relinquish control of the troops under his command if that meant remaining loyal to His Majesty.”
As Yu Fu spoke, she suddenly remembered what Eunuch Chi had mentioned when he had come to deliver the gifts, and her heart turned cold.
Yin JiYao seemed to understand what she was talking about, “Then if His Majesty insisted on having you become empress, would Lord Marquis Gu still refuse to oppose him?”
Yu Fu suddenly turned toward her, “How did you know about this?”
Yin JiYao frowned, “Recently, everyone in court knows about it. His Majesty previously brought this up with Lord Marquis Gu, but Lord Marquis Gu did not agree. Second young sir and the others thought that you were naturally less sensitive to romantic matters and did not know about His Majesty’s feelings toward you. That’s why they have been hiding it from you this entire time. But based on what I’ve seen, you clearly know.”
Yu Fu smiled wryly, “Eunuch Chi also implied it to me, but I put it off.”
Yin JiYao said: “You can put it off for some time, but you can’t ignore it forever. A starving camel is still larger than a horse. No matter how much His Majesty tries to suppress Marquis Gu’s Manor, it will not collapse, but His Majesty will eventually run out of patience. My eldest brother will also refuse to just wait around. This is the reason that I must return to the prime minister’s manor.”
“You… you mean to say that you will be returning to the prime minister’s manor to help keep an eye on Yin Shuo’s movements for me?”
Yin JiYao suddenly smiled, revealing her pearly-white teeth. It was unlike her usual ladylike demeanor, “I heard that my birth mother was a female general. I want to be like her and do something important!”
Carry Out an Important Task! (Part Three)
Following the rocky path to the backyard, the garden looked very desolate during winter.
Fortunately, after a day of snow, the barren branches were covered in snow. It ended up looking quite pretty under a layer of silver.
A cold wind blew, and everything was covered in a layer of white. Someone spoke in a loud voice: “That brazen Yin Shuo. He actually wants to marry Yu Fu? Does he not know that the late emperor personally sanctioned the engagement between Yu Fu and eldest brother?”
It was Gu JiuGe’s voice.
Yin JiYao hid behind the rockery, as the wind carried the conversation past the rockery and into her ears. The two people on the other side, however, did not notice her presence.
Gu HanMo helped him into the pavilion, “Second brother, don’t rush to get upset. Yin Shuo even dares to bully Princess DanYang, so what is there that he doesn’t dare to do? I heard that Princess DanYang was severely ill and cannot even attend the new year’s banquet.”
Yin JiYao covered her mouth. She did not think that in a mere two months, Princess DanYang’s illness would get so much worse.
Although she did not like Princess DanYang’s domineering personality, she had also been treated well by her. She was the one who had brought in the imperial physician to treat her wound, and, more importantly, she was still her eldest sister-in-law.
Yin JiYao felt a little saddened.
Gu JiuGe said: “It was actually like that? Just what sort of mind-altering concoction is he feeding His Majesty? He is the mastermind behind a plan to kill his ruler, yet His Majesty has absolute faith in him? It’s a pity that the eldest prince is on his own on the road to the underworld. He should go and keep the eldest prince company!”
When Yin JiYao heard this, she was not particularly shocked.
Gu JiuGe and the others had never talked to her about this matter, but she was not stupid. She could guess how they felt based on their expressions and tones.
It was not just because of them. Rather, it was because she understood Yin Shuo.
This eldest brother of hers, who had always been cold and unfeeling, had been sought out by the eldest prince, so how could he possibly have gone undercover to look for evidence for the second prince?
This was not his style.
Gu HanMo let out a sigh, “Did second brother think that I didn’t think about it? Father has given up control of many military matters. This is the same as giving up a portion of our military power. But His Majesty still does not think that it was enough, and Marquis Gu’s Manor is no longer treated as warmly as before. I heard Steward Qi talk about this one topic, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.”
“What topic?”
“He said that Eunuch Chi hinted to father that Yu Fu might be married into the palace to become empress, but father refused to agree.”
The wine jug was heavily placed on the table. Since the matter was related to Yu Fu, Gu JiuGe immediately became infuriated, “It must have been spurred on by Yin Shuo. That Yin Shuo, I can’t forgive him!”
Gu HanMo rushed to calm him down, “Second brother, this matter hasn’t yet been decided. Father does not plan to tell Yu Fu for fear of disturbing her. You absolutely must not speak about it, and, even more importantly, you must not be rash!”
Gu JiuGe had drank too much wine, and his mind was a bit hazy. Being consoled by Gu HanMo, he slowly calmed down.
He suddenly remembered something, “Third brother, if we can’t find any clues of Yin Shuo’s participation in the assassination of the late emperor, can we do anything from JiYao’s angle?”
Yin JiYao heard her name mentioned and became a little nervous.
Gu HanMo said: “Elder brother is talking about young miss Yin’s background? Once word of young miss Yin’s birth mother being a female general from Western Kun is made public, Yin Yan won’t be able to escape being found guilty, and it might implicate Yin Shuo. But… won’t the innocent young miss Yin also get hurt?”
Crack.
It sounded like a branch snapping in the snow, and it came from behind the rockery. Gu HanMo immediately became alert, “Who’s there?”
A girl walked out from behind the rockery. Wearing a rose-colored fox fur cloak, her head hung low with a white gauze covering her forehead.
Gu HanMo thought to himself that things were bad. The girl raised her head. Sure enough, it was Yin JiYao.
Gu JiuGe had also mostly sobered up, “JiYao? Why… Why have you come here/”
Yin JiYao lifted the hem of her dress and walked forward. Her usually gentle and graceful movements were now very firm. It was as if she had made an incredibly important decision.
She walked to the pavilion and looked at the two, “What female general from Western Kun? You said that my birth mother is a female general from Western Kun? Father said that she was a common woman from a brothel. How could that identity have changed to a general from Western Kun?”
Gu HanMo furrowed his brow. Initially, he had wanted to drink with Gu JiuGe because he was feeling annoyed from hearing about Yin Shuo wanting to marry Yu Fu. Who knew that they would be overheard by Yin JiYao.
Now, things were even more complicated.
He glanced at Gu JiuGe, “This matter should be told to young miss Yin by second brother. I will be leaving first. Farewell.”
“Come back!”
Gu JiuGe reached out but only managed to grab a corner of his robe.
He actually used qinggong to flee…
The two sat across from each other in the pavilion. One desperately tried to conceal the matter, while the other was in tears but was resolute.
Taking advantage of his tipsiness, Gu JiuGe decided to stop worrying about this matter, “Alright, I will tell you. But you absolutely cannot tell anyone, especially your father and brother. Do you understand?”
Yin JiYao nodded, “Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t do anything that would cause harm to Marquis Gu’s Manor!”
She wore a serious expression, while Gu JiuGe tipsily squinted at her. Reaching out, he patted her head, “There’s no need to be nervous. Your mother was a very strong and courageous woman. You should be happy…”
At dinner the next day, Yin JiYao suddenly went to say goodbye to Yu Fu.
Yu Fu was a little surprised, “You’re returning to the prime minister’s manor? Did the manor’s servants not do a thorough enough job of taking care of you?”
Yin JiYao repeatedly shook her head, “That’s not it. The servants in Marquis Gu’s Manor are well trained and have taken very good care of me. It’s just that it’s about to be the end of the year, and it wouldn’t do for me to stay at Marquis Gu’s Manor forever, thus I was thinking of going back.”
She had stayed in Marquis Gu’s Manor for two months, and Yu Fu had done her best to treat her scar. She was full of gratitude toward Yu Fu, and the two had become good friends.
Yu Fu decided to just be blunt, “Are you not afraid of your eldest brother hurting you after you return to the prime minister’s manor?”
Yin JiYao laughed, “Don’t worry. My father returned today. With him here, eldest brother won’t dare to do anything rash.”
“Your father?”
Yin JiYao did not miss the look of disappointment flashing through her eyes. She suddenly kneeled in front of Yu Fu, and the latter quickly had Yao Lan help her up.
“JiYao, what are you doing?”
Yin JiYao said: “I know that my father committed a grave crime and nearly took the eldest young sir’s life. I also know that my eldest brother has tried to oppose Marquis Gu’s Manor in court many times, which forced Lord Marquis Gu to hand over a portion of his military strength. My Yin family has let down Marquis Gu’s Manor, and I apologize on behalf of my father and brother!”
Yu Fu said: “Quickly get up. They are them, and you are you. You have a kind heart, and those things have nothing to do with you.”
“A kind heart? Princess, I am unworthy of such a compliment.”
Yin JiYao smiled sarcastically, “Did you know that I wasn’t completely oblivious to the underhanded methods that my father and brother employed in court. Just like this time, when eldest brother plotted the assassination of the late emperor. The truth is that I knew about it!”
Yu Fu was stunned, but she continued: “I was even their accomplice, as I helped them by playing the role of a honey trap! Did you know that when I first met the second young sir, it was an assignment from my father and brother?”
Yu Fu looked at her without speaking. This time, Yin JiYao was the one who was stunned.
“You knew? You all knew?”
Yu Fu did not plan to continue discussing this matter. She just held Yin JiYao’s hand, “Alright, that’s all in the past. There’s no need to bring it up again. After those things happened, you have treated people with sincerity, so there won’t be anyone who can use those things against you. Do you understand?”
Yin JiYao said: “But I can tell that you’re very disappointed and feel very sad. The one responsible for murdering the ruler is held in high regard in court, while a loyal family like Marquis Gu’s Manor is being suppressed. What sort of morality is this? As someone from the Yin family, not even I can bear to witness it. How can you possibly accept it?”
“Regardless of whether or not I can, head general won’t oppose any of HIs Majesty’s decisions. It’s as you say. Marquis Gu’s Manor is loyal, and head general is a loyal subject. He would rather relinquish control of the troops under his command if that meant remaining loyal to His Majesty.”
As Yu Fu spoke, she suddenly remembered what Eunuch Chi had mentioned when he had come to deliver the gifts, and her heart turned cold.
Yin JiYao seemed to understand what she was talking about, “Then if His Majesty insisted on having you become empress, would Lord Marquis Gu still refuse to oppose him?”
Yu Fu suddenly turned toward her, “How did you know about this?”
Yin JiYao frowned, “Recently, everyone in court knows about it. His Majesty previously brought this up with Lord Marquis Gu, but Lord Marquis Gu did not agree. Second young sir and the others thought that you were naturally less sensitive to romantic matters and did not know about His Majesty’s feelings toward you. That’s why they have been hiding it from you this entire time. But based on what I’ve seen, you clearly know.”
Yu Fu smiled wryly, “Eunuch Chi also implied it to me, but I put it off.”
Yin JiYao said: “You can put it off for some time, but you can’t ignore it forever. A starving camel is still larger than a horse. No matter how much His Majesty tries to suppress Marquis Gu’s Manor, it will not collapse, but His Majesty will eventually run out of patience. My eldest brother will also refuse to just wait around. This is the reason that I must return to the prime minister’s manor.”
“You… you mean to say that you will be returning to the prime minister’s manor to help keep an eye on Yin Shuo’s movements for me?”
Yin JiYao suddenly smiled, revealing her pearly-white teeth. It was unlike her usual ladylike demeanor, “I heard that my birth mother was a female general. I want to be like her and do something important!”
