Chapter 22 The Road Ahead is Clear (Bonus Chapter)

The current emperor, Xiao Liheng, also known as Emperor Yuanjing, is a renowned ruler of great talent and ability. After ascending the throne, he vigorously consolidated military power and suppressed powerful officials, and his control is beyond doubt.

He is clearly not the type to need to secretly protect his heir.

"Therefore," Ling Wei concluded:

"Your Highness needs to let go of that obsession with His Majesty's approval."

Showing weakness is not about self-degradation; it's about lowering your stance, showing harmlessness, and even... showing dependence.

"Let His Majesty, and let potential adversaries and allies see clearly, that His Highness no longer harbors ambitions of conquest, but only seeks a stable foothold amidst the turmoil."

"What happens after that? An alliance will have to be put on the agenda, right? With whom?" someone pressed.

Ling Wei's eyes lit up, and a sly smile curved her lips, carrying a hint of youthful smugness: "After showing weakness, someone will naturally be unable to resist and will come looking for us! As for who they'll come to?"

Her gaze swept over the crowd, her smile lively, "Why draw a line in the sand and choose only one side?"

Second Prince, Third Prince, Empress Xie… whoever extends an olive branch first, we'll accept it. We'll make them all think that winning over His Highness is a brilliant move to weaken their rivals and strengthen themselves!

For a moment, no one responded; they were all shocked by Ling Wei's bold statement.

Is it youth, or the fearlessness of a newborn calf, or simply recklessness...?

In the end, Xiao Yue remained noncommittal.

She stood up, her voice calm: "If it is truly necessary to reach that position through dishonest means... we should also deeply consider the choice and limits of those means themselves."

After saying this, he announced the meeting was adjourned.

After the meeting, Su Jingyu found Ling Wei and patted her on the shoulder: "You really dare to say that, you hit His Highness right where it hurts."

What Her Highness cares about most is how the Emperor views her. Like a child who isn't valued, she desperately tries to prove herself worthy.

Ling Wei's words tore away the layer of warmth between father and daughter, forcing the princess to "act".

Ling Wei blinked, replying rather cluelessly, "If what Your Highness truly values ​​most is the bond between father and daughter, then you only need to be by his side. Sister Su and I wouldn't be standing here right now."

Su Jingyu was speechless for a moment. Little girl, are you out of your mind to speak so bluntly?

But indeed, since we've chosen this path, with the goal ahead, everything else... should give way.

………

"Did she really say that?" Xiao Yue asked.

Su Jingyu: "Yes." She was worried that the princess would dislike Ling Wei because of this, so she tried to make amends for her: "Miss Ling... is pure-minded and only cares about what is most important. Other things may not be of any importance to her? Perhaps she is young and sees things in a black-and-white way."

After hearing Su Jingyu's report, Xiao Yue murmured, "Is it all just black and white...?"

Her gaze drifted vaguely to a certain spot: "Actually, in Father's heart, whether I am qualified to succeed to the throne is a matter of black and white."

There is only willingness or unwillingness.

Xiao Yue recalled that when she was a child, her mother was alive, and her father would often carry her on his shoulders and laugh, "My child is just like me!"

After his mother passed away, he took her under his wing and taught her, and together they mourned his deceased wife.

But as she grew up and her brilliance shone, her father's gaze towards her became more troubled and hesitant. He began to choose a husband for her and left her with unimportant political affairs.

Her father, who had once defied public opinion to allow her to participate in politics, was ultimately unwilling.

If they really wanted to, how could things have turned out this way?

Xiao Yue clenched her fists, the tender scene of the emperor and empress embracing inside the tent stinging her eyes.

She remained expressionless, bowing her head as if to take her leave.

But a soft "plop" sound came from behind.

All eyes turned to her, and there was Ling Wei, who swayed and collapsed to the ground.

"This humble woman has been disrespectful; I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Ling Wei was helped up and hurriedly apologized.

She looked disheveled, her uneven short hair making her appear even more pitiful.

Only then did the emperor see her clearly, and remembered that she was the maid from the Gu family who had saved his life?

Seeing her pitiful state, he softened his tone: "It's alright. You've done a good job saving the emperor; I'll have Judge Wang examine you later."

He beckoned Ling Wei closer: "You've done well, you deserve a reward. Is there anything you'd like?"

What to reward is not up to her to decide; Ling Wei knew this was just polite talk. Right now, she could do something else.

She lay prostrate on the ground, her voice weak and strained: "Saving people is my duty. It is my honor to shield Her Highness from a sword. This little injury is nothing!"

The emperor was taken aback.

Princess?

Ling Wei quickly added, "As for how Your Highness and I escaped danger, it was all thanks to Sister Shen who arrived in time. I dare not take all the credit!"

Shen Qinglan, who was standing to the side, also quickly declined.

The emperor's gaze finally turned to Xiao Yue: "Yue'er, you..."

The Empress immediately chimed in, feigning deep distress, as if she herself hadn't been the one ignoring Xiao Yue just moments before: "Yue'er was almost injured too, Your Majesty must comfort her properly."

The word "injured" glossed over the near-death experience of Xiao Yue and her maid, instantly smoothing out the frown that Emperor Yuanjing had just raised.

Xiao Yue turned her head and saw Ling Wei kneeling behind her on the right, looking at her. The blood on her right arm, which she was covering, had soaked through the bandage and dampened the ground, but she was completely unaware of it. She winked at her and smiled foolishly, her eyes filled with complete trust.

She knew that the other person's actions were to stand up for her, and that it was also because the other person had rushed forward to shield her without regard for anything else.

In that instant, Xiao Yue suddenly felt ridiculous.

So many people risked their lives to support her, yet she remained trapped in the thought that her father didn't love her as much anymore. It was truly—

It's extremely ugly.

And it is utterly useless.

Xiao Yue, you even went to the battlefield, and yet you claim to be a veteran.

You think you're so strong?

With that self-pitying look on your face, who are you really being fair to?!

The surging resentment and grievances subsided in a strange way.

Xiao Yue slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, willingly bowing down, her voice trembling with tears and lingering fear: "Mother and Fourth Brother's safety is of utmost importance, I couldn't care less about myself for a moment... but Father..."

She raised her head, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling slightly. "Your subject is so afraid... Your subject's chest was only three inches away from the sword's edge!"

Xiao Yue lay on the ground, trembling as she cried, but her soul seemed to detach, coldly watching herself weep.

Since coming of age, Xiao Yue has been striving to prove that she is no less capable than men in every way. The emperor has not seen Xiao Yue cry like this in a long time.

He suddenly thought of Xiao Yue from his childhood and couldn't help but feel a little moved.

While Xiao Yue was crying so hard, the Empress breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The princess is still a young lady, and she has been quite frightened this time. Your Majesty must comfort her properly."

The emperor nodded and personally helped Xiao Yue up.

He then turned to Ling Wei: "Since you can't think of a reward, I will decide on one for you."

Ling Wei looked up, her voice filled with a pitiful childishness: "Your Majesty... our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. Now that I have cut my hair and am in disarray, I fear that people will criticize me for being unfilial... I beg Your Majesty to grant me a decree so that they... will not laugh at me..." Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.

The emperor was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter: "What's so difficult about that!"

He immediately issued an imperial edict praising Ling Wei for her courage in saving the emperor, saying that cutting her hair was proof of her loyalty and bravery, and granting her permission to appear as a heroine until her new hair grew out, which would not diminish her virtue but rather highlight her merit.

Ling Wei shouted her gratitude.

The emperor then said that this was only a small reward, and that further rewards would be given upon returning to the palace.

He then dismissed everyone, leaving Xiao Yue alone. He then dispatched additional guards from the princess's residence and bestowed upon her some gifts as a form of appeasement.

After Xiao Yue left the tent, her gaze passed through the crowd and met Ling Wei's eyes from afar, who was surrounded.

An unspoken understanding flowed between their eyes.

A moment later, Xiao Yue turned and left.

Her steps were steady, the last trace of confusion in her eyes had vanished, and her ambition was like a wildfire, clear and vigorous.

Though the road ahead is difficult, my mind is clear.