Chapter 86: The last attempt, the country as a betrothal
The atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony during the morning court session was so low it felt like water could be squeezed out of it. Behind the bright yellow dragon-shaped table, the emperor's fingers tightly gripped the jade ruyi, his knuckles turning white. His gaze, as if icy, stared at the figure of his highness, dressed in a dark brocade robe and a head of white hair—his younger brother, the current Prince Duan, Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin held a gilded tray in his hand, upon which lay the military token, the symbol of military authority. The token, gleaming with a cold, hard metallic sheen, weighed down the hall like a heavy boulder in the morning light, weighing down the entire palace, pausing the civil and military officials to utter a single word.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant, Xiao Jin, begs for your permission." Xiao Jin's voice was hoarse, but every word was clear, his white hair swaying gently with his movements. "Your humble servant, Xiao Jin, is willing to hand in the military token, resign the title of Prince Duan, transfer half of my fiefdom to Yun Zhi, and offer half of my kingdom as a betrothal gift. I beg Your Majesty to grant the marriage and allow Yun Zhi to return to my side."
"How dare you!" The emperor slammed the dragon table, and the jade ruyi slammed onto it with a clang. "Xiao Jin! Do you know what you are saying? The military talisman is a national treasure, and the country is the foundation laid by our ancestors. And you are willing to give it away for a woman! What do you think of the court? What do you think of me?"
The whole palace was in an uproar, and whispers surged like a tide.
"Is Prince Duan crazy? He's actually giving up his military power and title for the daughter of a guilty minister!"
"I heard that Miss Yunzhi hates Prince Duan so much. Even if Prince Duan pays such a high price, I'm afraid he can't win her back!"
"If this gets out, how will the world view our Great Qi Dynasty? Won't we be laughed at by other countries?"
Xiao Jin, however, seemed oblivious to the discussion, and unaware of the Emperor's fury. He stubbornly held the military token, slamming his knees down on the golden bricks. "I know this is absurd, but I have no other choice. Yun Zhi is the only thing I want in my life. If I can't keep her, even if I have more military power and titles, I will be as good as a walking corpse. I beg Your Majesty to grant me this!"
His white hair draped down his cheeks, obscuring the madness and despair in his eyes. After turning gray overnight, he looked ten years older than his actual age, yet his obsession was stronger than ever. He knew that ordinary compensation would no longer move Yun Zhi. Only by giving her what she treasured most, half of her kingdom, could she perhaps look back at him.
The emperor watched him like this, feeling both angry and distressed, yet helpless. He knew Xiao Jin's temper; once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. But he also knew the depth of Yun Zhi's hatred for Xiao Jin. Even if Xiao Jin gave his all, it would be in vain.
"Xiao Jin, wake up!" The emperor's voice softened a bit, a hint of fatigue in it. "Yun Zhi's family was destroyed by you. How could she possibly return to you? Even if you surrender your military command and give up your title, you can't win back her heart, nor can you bring back the children and family she lost. You're not atonement, you're humiliating yourself and the court!"
"No! She will!" Xiao Jin raised his head suddenly, a mad glint in his eyes. "As long as I show enough sincerity, as long as I can make up for all her losses, she will definitely forgive me! Your Majesty, please give me another chance!"
At this moment, a young eunuch hurried into the hall and bowed to report: "Your Majesty, Miss Yunzhi sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that there is an important matter for Your Majesty."
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then took the letter, unfolded it, and his face gradually darkened. He handed the letter to Xiao Jin, his voice calm but with a hint of helplessness: "Read it yourself."
Xiao Jin quickly took the letter, his fingertips trembling slightly with excitement. The letter was written on ordinary straw paper, and the handwriting was elegant but with a hint of cold determination.
"Your Majesty, personally: I, Yunzhi, have heard that Prince Duan wishes to offer his kingdom as a betrothal gift, and I beg Your Majesty to grant my hand in marriage. I am terrified, yet also find it ridiculous. Half the kingdom is worth less to me than one of the hundred lives of the Yun family; the title of Prince Duan is worth less than the cry of my unborn child. All I ask for is the Yun family's vindication and the peace of my loved ones, not wealth and glory. Prince Duan wishes to atone for his sins, but he does not know that what I seek is something he can never give, nor repay. I have pledged my life to my family and country, and no longer harbor any romantic feelings. I implore Your Majesty to revoke your order, and I also implore Prince Duan to respect himself and cease further entanglement. Yunzhi bows her head."
Xiao Jin read every word on the letter, feeling as if struck by thunder. His body shook violently, and the letter in his hand fell to the ground. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. His chest felt like it was being pressed down by a huge rock, making it almost impossible to breathe.
"Not as much as one of the hundred lives of the Yun family... Not as much as a child's cry..." He muttered these two sentences, his heart seemed to be pierced by countless needles at the same time, the pain made his eyes go black.
He thought that half of his kingdom was his most precious possession, the greatest sincerity that could move Yun Zhi. But he was wrong, utterly wrong—Yun Zhi never wanted these things. She wanted the Yun family's innocence, the life of her child, and the irreparable losses. And these were precisely what he could never give or repay.
"Puff—" A mouthful of blood suddenly spurted out of Xiao Jin's mouth, splashing onto the gold bricks and mixing with the blood he had previously vomited, forming a glaring red. He clutched his chest, his body shaking violently. Everything in front of him began to spin, and finally he fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.
"Xiao Jin!" The emperor quickly stood up and tried to step forward, but was stopped by the guards. The imperial physician rushed over, examined Xiao Jin's pulse, and reported gravely, "Your Majesty, Prince Duan is suffering from a heart attack caused by his anxiety and sleepless nights. This has damaged his heart. He must return home to rest immediately, or his life is in danger."
The emperor sighed and waved his hand. "Pass on my decree. Send Prince Duan back to his palace to recuperate. Without my permission, he is not allowed to leave the palace. Also, you have all seen Yun Zhi's letter. This matter ends here, and no one is allowed to mention it again."
All the officials bowed their heads in agreement and watched as the guards carried Xiao Jin out of the hall. They felt mixed emotions - Prince Duan paid such a huge price, but ultimately failed to impress Yun Zhi. This obsession ultimately came to nothing.
At that moment, in Yunzhi's villa, Yunzhi stood in the corridor, watching the maid burn the draft of the letter she had sent. The ashes drifted with the wind and quickly dissipated into the air, just like her last thoughts of Xiao Jin, completely vanishing.
"Miss, will you really not reconsider this?" The maid looked at her calm profile and couldn't help asking, "Prince Duan is really showing his sincerity this time, even willing to give up his military token and title..."
Yun Zhi shook her head, her eyes expressionless. "Sincerity? His sincerity is based on his own obsession, not on guilt towards me. He thought half of the country could make up for everything, but he didn't know that some things, once lost, are lost forever and can never be returned."
She looked up at the sky. The clouds were light, the breeze was gentle, and the sun was shining brightly. But her heart was already desolate. Xiao Jin's mad entanglement was like a shadow, looming over her life, making her breathless. She knew that if she wanted to completely escape this shadow, to truly vindicate the Yun family, to live for herself, she had to leave here, leave this capital city filled with painful memories.
An idea gradually formed in her mind - she wanted to leave, take the Yun family's spirit tablet with her, leave the capital, go to a place where no one knew her, and spend the rest of her life in peace and quiet.
Little did she know that her decision would be the final straw that broke Xiao Jin's back, and would also kick off an even more frantic search and pursuit. This tragedy of love and hate was far from over.
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