Chapter 413 Helping Others Achieve Their Goals, Returning the Pearl to Its Rightful Owner

Li Yuzong continued, "If you had first apologized and admitted your mistake, the Emperor wouldn't have been so cold to you. What should have been a good relationship between ruler and subject has turned into this..."

He felt it was such a pity, and Li Yuzong sighed deeply.

Even if Wei Ting is a military genius who comes along only once in a century, the history books have long recorded what fate awaited such a person who dared to covet the emperor's women.

Wei Ting remained silent until he reached the outside of the main tent.

Emperor Wusu summoned him late at night, and he could guess why.

Taking advantage of the emperor's serious injury and unconsciousness, he used tricks to forcibly marry Ji Qingwu. Although Ji Bolian later joked about it and took his daughter home, the matter ended in a farce and was left unresolved.

But Wei Ting knew perfectly well that Emperor Wu Su would not let the matter rest once he woke up and learned of it.

He had been hoping for the best, thinking that his marriage to Ji Qingwu was a done deal, but he never expected that Ji Bolian would interfere.

Ji Bolian's return to Lin'an at the perfect time, neither too early nor too late, could very well have been orchestrated by Emperor Wusu.

Inside the main tent of the military camp.

The flickering candlelight cast a tall shadow.

Emperor Wusu lowered his head, picked up his brush, and was writing something.

Li Yuzong stopped at the door and bowed to report, "Your Majesty, the General of the Northern Garrison has arrived."

Emperor Wusu took a while to react, throwing the pen in his hand aside.

A single, faint word drifted out of the tent.

"Announce."

Li Yuzong glanced at the general in front of him and said, "General Wei, please." He then gently lifted the curtain of the military tent for him.

Wei Ting strode closer, knelt on one knee, and performed the military salute.

"Your humble servant kowtows to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Emperor Wusu sat behind a long table in the tent. Although he was not on a throne several feet high, his imposing presence still made Wei Ting feel a weight on his back.

The emperor did not tell him to get up for a long time, so he could only kneel on the ground and wait for his fate.

It was warmer inside the tent than outside, but Wei Ting's hands gradually grew cold.

He could feel that cold gaze lingering on his back and neck.

"Do you have any regrets?" Emperor Wusu's voice was indifferent, yet as cold as ice.

These three words came without warning, yet were enough to send chills down one's spine.

Is the emperor giving him a chance to admit his mistake?

Wei Ting's usually sturdy back trembled almost imperceptibly.

He took a breath and replied, "I have no regrets!" Wei Ting continued, "I acknowledge everything I have done."

After saying this, he lowered his head and awaited the emperor's judgment.

Zhao Mingyan tossed the still-wet ink on the letter in the air and asked casually.

"Do you know what I'm talking about?"

A sense of surprise flashed through Wei Ting's mind.

Emperor Wusu's attitude revealed nothing; it was unclear whether he was feigning ignorance.

"This humble general is foolish and ignorant. Please tell me what it is about, Your Majesty," he replied cautiously, though he already had a vague premonition in his heart.

There aren't many things that he would regret.

If Emperor Wusu wasn't referring to Ji Qingwu, then what could it be?

The black ink was absorbed by the yellow paper. Zhao Mingyan placed the letter on the table and said calmly, "I am referring to the matter of Wei Liru entering the palace back then."

Wei Ting's back stiffened completely.

Mentioning Li Ru at this time, is it to bring up old stories?

Zhao Mingyan's gaze fell on Wei Ting's hands resting on his knees, his tone calm yet imposing.

"I remember, General Wei strongly opposed Wei Liru entering the palace. Because of your younger sister, who grew up with you since childhood, you treated her very well, but she—"

Before Zhao Mingyan could finish speaking, Wei Ting's fingers suddenly tightened.

"We are not related by blood."

Wei Ting suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on the person seated on the throne: "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Mingyan continued leisurely, "Although she is the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, her true identity is that of an abandoned baby brought back from Lijiao Alley."

Wei Ting's eyes trembled, and a storm raged in his heart.

What exactly is the Emperor's intention in bringing this up now?

He neither denied it nor made any pointless excuses. Now that the Emperor had spoken, he must have already thoroughly investigated the matter.

“This humble general is guilty. It was this humble general who knew but failed to report it. Consort Wei was unaware of it,” Wei Ting said in a deep voice.

Wei Ting overheard Old Madam Wei talking to his father and learned that Wei Liru was adopted from outside and was not his biological sister.

His younger sister had already died of illness.

Zhao Mingyan said, "Tell me, what do you know?"

Wei Ting carefully replied, "Consort Wei is not the legitimate daughter of the Wei family, but she did not intend to deceive the Emperor. It was because my younger sister was born prematurely and only lived for half a month before passing away. My mother was severely weakened by childbirth and her health was poor. My father could not bear to tell her the truth, so he adopted Li Ru from outside."

Zhao Mingyan's expression remained unchanged, as if he already knew everything.

"Oh? Why did you so strongly oppose Wei Liru entering the palace in the first place?"

Wei Ting lowered his head, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.

Zhao Mingyan took in his reaction, but her tone remained calm.

"No matter what your reasons are for trying to dissuade me, I will now give you a chance."

Wei Ting's heart pounded against his chest like a heavy hammer, each beat heavier than the last.

First, they were both generals, and then they had been ruler and subject for many years. Wei Ting believed that he had some tacit understanding with the emperor.

His scalp tingled, and he vaguely sensed Emperor Wusu's intentions, which made him increasingly flustered.

Wei Ting knelt down on both knees and said, "This humble general has no private relationship with Consort Wei!"

Zhao Mingyan chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

"I have the good intentions to grant you this precious pearl. I will give Consort Wei a new identity, and then—"

He paused, his gaze turning icy.

"I will grant you a marriage."

Wei Ting's heart sank, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Zhao Mingyan's tone turned cold and stern: "What is forbidden can only be done by General Wei, but I cannot do it?"

Wei Ting felt a chill run through his body.

I can't refuse, I can only accept it.

Only now does he understand his own heart.

His regret was not that he agreed to let Wei Liru enter the palace, but that he failed to hold onto Ji Qingwu when she tried every means to get close to him.

Wei Ting's face turned ashen, his heart filled with frustration.

Zhao Mingyan was not pleased by his loss of composure, but simply said, "There is one more thing that I need to entrust to General Wei. I do not trust anyone else to do it."

Wei Ting was somewhat dazed: "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

Zhao Mingyan said, "Two hundred miles away from Longzhou, there is a Black Wind Stronghold. It is not an ordinary bandit den, but a former subordinate of Yuwen Tianqing, the fourth prince of Xijin."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ting's expression hardened. He forced himself to stay alert, for the war with Xijin was of paramount importance. He immediately focused his attention and listened carefully.

Zhao Mingyan's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "This Black Wind Stronghold robbed Qingyun's caravan yesterday. The Prince Consort has already applied for a transfer order to lead troops to encircle and suppress them."

Wei Ting nodded. He had heard about this before. No wonder they sent elite troops. It turned out that the troops hidden among them were from Xijin.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with the people of Black Wind Stronghold? Should they be executed immediately?" he asked.