Chapter 23 Kill her without hesitation!
Wei Jing gestured to the palace maids that there was no need for anyone to serve in the hall, and a large group of female servants quickly withdrew. Wei Jing, sitting at the head of the table with his knees crossed, was actually smiling: "Yihua, what's wrong that makes you so angry? Please sit down."
Wei Yihua sneered and cut to the chase: "You went to see Yue Yining?"
"You've seen her?"
Seeing that she didn't move, only standing there staring at him coldly, Wei Jing's smile faded. He pursed his lips, walked down the jade steps, and came to Wei Yihua.
"Yes, I went to visit Master Yue. What? You can see her, but I can't?"
Wei Yihua said, enunciating each word clearly, "So, the rumors circulating among the sons of high-ranking families in the capital today also originated from your mouth, didn't they?"
While discussing important matters with her female officials, she suddenly learned of a secret that had been circulating among the aristocratic families recently—the fourth prince of Dongxi, Wei Jing, had recruited a talented and extraordinary person, who was none other than the disciple of the Venerable Qiu Wuzhu, a highly capable female celestial master who could discern the secrets of heaven.
Wei Yihua believed she had concealed her tracks well enough, and each time she went to see Yue Yining, she was more cautious than the last, for fear that such a thing might happen.
Wei Yihua stared at him, her voice as cold as ice and snow: "I didn't even know when Yue Yining agreed to you. Did she personally promise you that she would become your strategist?"
Wei Jing: "No, not yet. But isn't this already a done deal?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Yihua closed her eyes, feeling a tightness in her chest, knowing that she was extremely angry.
She nodded repeatedly, pointing her finger at him: "You know she hasn't agreed yet, and you've already casually spread this around? Who said Master Yue would definitely support you? Don't you think you're being too arrogant?"
Wei Jing's secret visit to Yue Yining made her feel uneasy, but she didn't expect that her imperial brother would also spread the secret of Yue Yining's identity everywhere.
Now, officials in the court pay homage and present their reports daily, urging the court to settle the matter of the heir apparent as soon as possible. They even say that even if a settlement cannot be made immediately, the two adult princes should begin to assist in governing the country. Everyone knows that the day the Emperor relents will be the day the struggle for the throne in Dongxi begins. Various factions have already been secretly recruiting talent, planning their moves carefully, and scheming in every way. But Wei Jing, this guy with a brain full of bubbles, has actually thrown out a secret weapon into the open for everyone to see!
She said bitterly, "Now, all sorts of forces in the capital are trying to find out about Master Yue. This matter has caused quite a stir and is the talk of the town! Can't you keep your mouth shut? What is there to brag about? You're such a grown man, don't you understand the principle of secrecy?"
Wei Jing, who had been subjected to a barrage of insults, chuckled instead. What a finely groomed young man, his cheerful demeanor revealing no trace of sorrow. He smiled mockingly at Wei Yihua, saying, "My dear sister, even now, do you still want to keep me in the dark? You traveled a thousand miles to see her, wasn't it also to recruit her and make her my strategist?"
Even though Wei Yihua had many guesses, she never expected him to say such a shocking thing. She swayed, lost her footing, and staggered back a few steps.
Wei Yihua murmured, "What did you say?"
"Who told you I went to see her because of you?"
When Wei Yihua asked the question and saw Wei Jing looking confused and bewildered, she suddenly felt as if struck by lightning, and then she understood everything.
Yes. She should have realized it sooner. She knew Wei Jing's nature well; the line between good and evil was thin, and he always put himself first. To put it nicely, this was called self-respect and independence; to put it bluntly, it was selfishness and egocentrism. She should have anticipated how Wei Jing would interpret and react if he knew she had gone to visit Yue Yining.
She was the one who caused trouble for Yue Yining.
Realizing this, Wei Yihua was burning with anxiety, her brows furrowing in anguish.
Yue Yining's reputation spread far too early, her identity becoming known to various factions in the capital even before the struggle for the throne began. It's impossible to estimate how many people and events will deviate from their predetermined course. All these changes will lead to an even more chaotic situation, making it difficult for her to see the future. For Wei Yihua, who hopes to change her past life's ending, this is entirely detrimental.
Wei Jing couldn't understand why such complex emotions flashed across his sister's face, a mixture of great sorrow and anger, helplessness and hopelessness. He keenly sensed something was slipping out of control, like sand slipping through his fingers, and a rare hint of panic crept in his eyes: "Don't be angry. It was wrong of me to act on my own, but I was just overwhelmed with emotion. You always know me best..."
"Besides, you and I are the closest siblings in the world. If you don't help me, who else can you help?"
Wei Yihua vaguely recalled that in her previous life, she had chosen to assist Wei Jing for the same absurd reason. But her tragic circumstances and desolate later years in her previous life told her that she had been wrong from the very beginning, terribly wrong.
Wei Yihua stared blankly at Wei Jing, then suddenly opened her lips and uttered a few cold words:
"You and I are not siblings."
She ignored the momentary shock, disbelief, and confusion that flashed across Wei Jing's face. Wei Yihua felt her lips were no longer under her control, and without hesitation, she spoke again with unwavering resolve.
The floodwaters, once released, could no longer be contained and would never return.
She said, "My birth mother was the late Empress. Consort Li was instructed by the Emperor to raise me after the Empress's death, treating me as her own child, and that was all."
I said it.
In her previous life, Wei Yihua never told anyone about it until her death. She truly kept her mouth shut and took this palace secret to her grave.
This was the first time in Wei Yihua's two lifetimes that she had revealed this secret to others.
She was neither a princess born to Consort Li, nor a biological sister of the Fourth Prince Wei Jing.
The person who truly shares her bloodline is the eldest prince. He is the child of the woman who has passed away, the woman who caused her father, the emperor, to fall ill and become bedridden, and the only woman the emperor ever truly loved—the renowned former crown prince.
Wei Yihua's biggest regret after her rebirth was that she awoke after the death of Crown Prince Wei Changqiong.
If only it could have been earlier, just a little earlier.
If Wei Changqiong hadn't died, perhaps she wouldn't have had to do anything, and everyone here would have had a peaceful end.
In her previous life, after returning to her fiefdom, she spent a considerable amount of time confined to her bed. Unable to get out of bed, she would always gaze at the spring flowers, autumn moon, summer cicadas, and winter snow outside the window, constantly replaying the downward spiral of her fate in this life.
Until one day, she finally understood that the death of the crown prince was the beginning of the tragedy that led to the downfall of the Dongxi Kingdom. From that day on, no one could stop this devastating collapse.
Wei Jing's eyes were bloodshot. He stepped forward with a smile and grabbed Wei Yihua's arms, his smile sounding like he was crying: "You're lying to me, aren't you?"
"Speak up! Say you were just saying it in anger, how could we not be..." His voice trailed off, for he saw the pity in Wei Yihua's eyes, as if she were mocking him. See, she'd already laid everything out clearly, yet there was still this foolish guy burying his head in the sand.
Wei Yihua said, word by word, "Do you understand now? I didn't go to Yue Yining for your sake, and she won't become your strategist."
Wei Jing almost gritted his teeth to pieces. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed her shoulders and roared, "Tell me! Who were you doing this for?! If it wasn't me, then who were you going to find Yue Yining for?!"
"Wei Changqiong is dead! Dead! He died at the young age of twenty-four! Do you understand? This is Heaven telling the world that he was never destined to be the crown prince or the emperor! Ha, what are you trying to say? Are you looking for a strategist for that corpse that's already lying in the imperial mausoleum?" Wei Jing was almost going crazy. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he bit his trembling lips tightly. He spoke incredulously, "...Or are you after that palace maid's bastard child? Are you planning to abandon me to help him?"
Looking at her brother, whose features were distorted, Wei Yihua calmed down. She looked at him as if he were an incurable madman.
She said, "Wei Ye is not some lowly child born of a palace maid. He is also your brother, your sibling."
Saying those words seemed to have exhausted all of Wei Yihua's strength. A wave of utter exhaustion washed over her, eroding her already taut and fragile spirit.
Wei Yihua closed her eyes briefly: "In any case, I'm not doing this for you. Wei Jing, you're not suited to be the crown prince, much less the emperor."
"Stop fighting for the throne, give up."
Wei Jing's temples bulged with veins, his face contorted in a ferocious expression: "If I'm not suitable to be the crown prince, then who is? Wei Ye is, right?! You've been yelling and cursing at me like this, just to say that you approve of him more, that you think I'm not as good as him, and that you want to support him as the crown prince, is that it?!"
Wei Yihua glared at him coldly: "I never said that. Instead of always shifting the blame to others, you should learn to look for the reasons within yourself."
After saying this, Wei Yihua shook off his hand that was gripping her shoulder. Seemingly feeling that there was no point in saying anything more to him, she turned around, her face cold, and strode away.
Wei Jing stared at Wei Yihua's retreating figure, almost completely distraught. He hunched over, head bowed, his lips trembling uncontrollably. Seeing this, the palace maid who had stepped forward to help him suddenly retreated in fear, for the usually proud and unruly fourth prince had two lines of clear tears streaming down his face.
He sat high above the clouds, a carefree and unrestrained man, destined for wealth and honor that ordinary people could only dream of. Yet, the only person in the world who could deeply hurt him with mere words had just spoken harshly to him, shattering his fortified confidence and complacency.
When his advisor Zhang Si heard the news, he rushed over and saw this scene.
He didn't dare to step forward for a moment, and went straight to the trembling maid beside him, his brows furrowed with disbelief: "What, what on earth happened?!"
The maid's voice was weak and helpless: "Just now... just now the Eldest Princess barged into the palace and argued with the Fourth Prince for a long time. The two couldn't reach an agreement, and we don't know what the princess said. When we sent him out and came back, the Fourth Prince was like this..."
Zhang Si had just witnessed Wei Yihua's entourage leaving the palace. His suspicions were confirmed, leaving him somewhat amused and exasperated. He couldn't understand why a quarrel between siblings had to escalate to this extent.
Besides, he had heard that the Fourth Prince was extremely fond of the Eldest Princess, and the two had always been very close.
Zhang Si thought that the most urgent thing was to find out the reason for the quarrel and then soothe the little princess's emotions. But it was absolutely unacceptable to say that the princess was wrong. If the two of them made up afterward, wouldn't it be him, the outsider, who would suffer?
The guards looked at Wei Jing, who was kneeling in the hall, crying uncontrollably, and felt a pang of pity. Just now, Wei Yihua and Wei Jing had been arguing in the palace. All the palace maids were waiting outside, so asking them would be pointless; they couldn't hear anything. Only the guards stationed at the palace gates could hear a few words.
The guard looked at Zhang Si and stepped forward: "Let me explain to you, sir."
Wei Jing was still crying, his vision blurred by tears.
He suddenly heard Zhang Si's voice, coming from afar: "Your Highness, I have heard the guards at the palace gate explain what happened just now."
"Your Highness, please calm down. What the Princess said was probably just a momentary outburst. If we talk things out again in a few days, everything will be fine. After all, how can siblings hold a grudge overnight?"
Zhang Si spoke respectfully, but then changed the subject: "However, the matter of Master Yue is indeed troublesome. People are inquiring about him everywhere in the capital, and it's likely that several groups of people will head to Jinling in a few days. A powerful master like Yue Yining is like a surprise force wherever he goes; if he becomes an enemy, he will be difficult to deal with. I believe that if there is no hope of recruiting Master Yue, we should eliminate him completely to prevent future troubles."
Wei Jing gritted his teeth, tears still welling in his eyes, but his gaze was filled with murderous intent.
He said angrily, "You're right. Go find someone now, and have the assassins set off for Jiulian Town tonight."
"I want to see her head placed before me by tomorrow at the latest!"
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