Chapter 226 Knowing he was guilty of a serious crime, he couldn't escape punishment.
“This child.” Guan Ye seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her eyes quickly swept over A Jiu’s face. If she told the truth, A Jiu’s identity would be exposed. He would be guilty of deceiving the emperor and would have no way to live. “I guess he was lost when he was young. I heard from the old people on Canglang Island that there are hungry wolves that snatch babies in the back mountains. Lou Cangyu was snatched away when he was a child.”
Seeing everyone looking at him, Lou Cangyu took a deep breath and said, "That's right, I was carried away by a wolf. I was lucky to survive because the wolf abandoned me halfway there."
"According to what you said," Cui Jin continued, "Lu Chaoge is worried about the lost child, which is why she stayed on the island to search for the child, or perhaps she's waiting for the child to return to her side alive someday?"
"The Imperial Advisor is wise; that is indeed the case," Guan Ye exclaimed.
Mu You gazed at what he thought was Ajiu, his pale eyes overflowing with pity. This was the precious treasure he had survived, the last thing Lu Chaoge had left him.
Wanqi Xi's narrow eyes revealed a look of confusion. He glanced at Wushuang, who had been silent for a long time, out of the corner of his eye. In the main hall, he couldn't directly ask Wushuang about his doubts. He vaguely knew that Wushuang was a witness to everything, but she was unwilling to tell others everything. Since he took Wushuang away, he had asked her many times about her sister's past on the island, how she was doing, and why she died... and about Wushuang herself, how she, an orphan, was picked up, how she grew up collecting seashells, and why she finally made up her mind to board his ship and head towards Rongdu.
Mu You closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then opened his pale eyes and asked, "Where are Lu Chaoge's remains placed now?"
"Does His Majesty intend to retrieve her remains and bring them back to Rongdu for burial?" Guan Ye looked up and met his gaze. "To be buried with her beheaded clansmen? Or to give her a proper burial in the royal mausoleum? I think neither of these options is what she wants. Lu Chaoge would rather stay on Canglang Island. At least the place we chose for her is beautiful and pristine."
Mu You's face darkened with anger. "Are you saying that she would rather be separated from me by thousands of miles and die than come back to my side?"
"Perhaps in the next life, or the life after that, she will only have hatred for the emperor. How could she possibly be with the enemy who wiped out her clan?"
"Guan Ye, you!" Mu You roared in fury, "Do you think I won't kill you?"
Guan Ye almost burst out laughing. "After all I've said, do you think the Emperor would let me leave alive?"
Guan Ye's answer calmed Mu You down. Yes, Guan Ye was destined to die, so why bother arguing with a dying person? "Guan Ye, are you done?"
Guan Ye nodded, "I have told you everything I know and can guess, but I was not a witness to the events of that year. Whether what I said is right or wrong, or how much I guessed... I hope Your Majesty will give everyone the truth, so that at least when we go to our deaths, we won't be confused."
Mu You surveyed the hall. Standing before him were his own son, trusted advisors, and key ministers—in other words, all figures he could easily control. Gazing at Guan Ye, who had already disregarded life and death, Mu You's mind drifted to Guan Xiaotian, whom he had met a few times. Although Guan Ye and Guan Xiaotian were father and daughter, they didn't resemble each other; she probably looked more like her mother. Although Mu You had never met Guan Xiaotian's wife, he had heard of Dou Niang from West Street. Dou Niang wasn't particularly beautiful, but she possessed a unique air of strength and was known as a woman of great courage. It was as if Guan Ye before him, even on the verge of death, could still speak so eloquently. Even with her neck at his throat, she wouldn't even flinch.
Many things and many words were kept in his heart. Mu You longed for the opportunity to speak about those past events that he could not tell outsiders, and today was the day.
“Guan Ye, you said that the person who plotted behind the scenes is truly magnanimous. He used the country as a chessboard and everyone as pieces, playing against heaven and earth, and finally won by half a move against heaven, laughing all the way to today.” Mu You stroked his beard and laughed, suddenly opening his palm as if to envelop everyone. “These words resonate deeply with me. I actually won by half a move against heaven, hahahahaha.”
“It’s you…” Wanqixi murmured, a sound only he could hear, “It really is you.”
"The late emperor had many sons, and I was the fourth. I had older brothers and younger brothers, and my mothers were either of noble status or possessed both literary and martial talents and virtues. In every respect, they were superior to me. I was the least remarkable son of the late emperor, the one furthest from the throne. The throne..." Mu You sighed sadly, "Back then, how could I dare to dream of the throne? I didn't even dare to think about those two words."
"Jin State values martial arts, and I have loved weapons since childhood. I am also quite interested in casting techniques. Since my status and talent are inferior to my brothers, I will delve into casting techniques. It can be considered that I have a skill. One day, I can obtain divine weapons for my father and gain his attention. The five major workshops in Rongdu stand proudly in the world. Among them, the best is Tianhu Workshop. The Lu family has been casting weapons for the country for three generations, working diligently and following the rules. In this generation, a peerless genius has emerged. He is skilled in casting techniques, knowledgeable in minerals, and is also the best swordsman in Rongdu. Chaoge, Lu Chaoge."
"I went to Tianhu Workshop to ask Chaoge for a sword, of course I know that countless people have asked Chaoge for a sword, but only a few have been able to see her. But I know that she will not refuse me. I am the most unsuccessful and inconspicuous of the princes, but outside the palace, I am still a dragon among men. With just one glance, Chaoge saw that I am no ordinary person." Mu You said slowly, his vision blurred, and for a moment he seemed to return to the day he first met Chaoge. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was blowing on his cheeks, and the clouds were calm and the wind was gentle. Neither of them showed any emotion, but Mu You knew that Lu Chaoge, like him, had been stirred by a burning passion in their hearts.
“But Chaoge still treats me as an ordinary person.” Mu You tried his best to calm his emotions. “We competed in swordsmanship, discussed forging, and painted... We could talk from day to night. I fell in love with Chaoge at first sight. I know she also fell in love with me, not because of my status, but because... because I am the one who understands her the most.”
"I spoke with Chaoge about meteorites. Throughout history, no one in the world has possessed the technique to melt meteorites, not even the Tianhu Workshop. I told her that there is a meteorite treasured by the late Emperor in the palace. It was an ancient divine object that the late Emperor obtained by chance. He searched all the weapon workshops in the land, hoping to forge the divine stone into a divine weapon, but he was never able to achieve it. This has become a regret for successive emperors. My father also mentioned to his sons more than once that he longed to create such a weapon. I asked Chaoge, 'Can the Tianhu Workshop do it?'"
—Ancient texts record: "When white flames rise, all things melt. As long as white flames can be produced, meteorites can definitely be melted."
"When the white fire rises, everything melts." Mu You repeated Lu Chaoge's words from back then, "She said she could definitely melt the meteorite. The white fire, she really did it. Guan Ye, you're right, there's nothing she can't do. She burned the white fire, and almost helped me melt the meteorite."
"White Fire..." Wan Qixi's vision blurred. Of the people who witnessed the White Fire at the Tianhufang foundry twenty years ago, only one person is still alive.
Mu You noticed Wan Qixi's unusual behavior. "What's wrong, Wan Qixi? You're from a foreign country. Judging from your expression, you've seen Bai Huo before?"
"I, a humble citizen, also wish to witness the legendary White Fire, but I lack the opportunity and fortune to do so," Wan Qixi said, regaining his composure.
“I also did not have this opportunity,” Mu You continued. “Finally, one day, Chaoge told me that she had burned to white flame and asked me to choose a day to bring out the meteorite so that she and Guan Xiaotian could test it out. I was overjoyed. The long-cherished wish that generations of Jin kings had failed to achieve would be fulfilled in my hands. Once the meteorite is forged into a divine weapon, I will present it to my father. My father will surely look at me in a different light. I cannot wait any longer.”
"Who knows?" Mu You changed the subject. "With the rebellion at Xiguan, Tianhu Workshop is tasked with forging weapons for the country. Meteorite... has to be put on hold for now. The rebel army is advancing fiercely and unstoppable, capturing more than ten cities in a short time. Our Great Jin only has Eagle Ridge Road as its last barrier. If Eagle Ridge Road falls... Rongdu will be in grave danger, and the Great Jin's centuries-old foundation will be destroyed in an instant. Meteorite... by then, I'm afraid there will be no chance to forge it. Even if it is forged, what use is a divine weapon to a king of a fallen kingdom?"
"The Emperor said he loves weapons and is obsessed with forging, but his words implied that his interest in forging was merely because the Great Jin Dynasty values martial prowess and its rulers love weapons. You wanted to have a skill to gain the late Emperor's favor, and melting meteorites wasn't for forging weapons, but simply to please your father." Guan Ye chuckled. "If Lu Chaoge knew that your love for forging wasn't genuine, would she still consider you the one who understands her best?"
Mu You didn't react much to Guan Ye's sarcasm, seemingly lost in his own memories. "Suppressing the rebellion is my last and only chance."
“But why would Father Emperor let me, a mediocre prince, lead troops to quell the rebellion? He has a brave and skilled eldest son and a young son who is both scholarly and martial. He can’t choose me. I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out how to get the opportunity…” A glint flashed in Mu You’s eyes. Many years ago, he had a sudden epiphany during meditation, which led to his later plans. “I think my brothers are all capable and eager to try. Yes, it’s time for them to shine in the rebellion. After all, we princes all know that Father Emperor has not yet designated an heir. Whoever can quell the rebellion will be the heir apparent.”
"So I had an idea."
"That shouldn't be the case," Mu Lexiu said, puzzled. "To tamper with the crossbows, Father was on Eagle Ridge Road at the time. The entire crossbow battalion was wiped out, and Father's life was hanging by a thread. This move was too risky. If it failed, he would not be able to return to the capital alive." As soon as Mu Lexiu finished speaking, he suddenly realized what was going on. His handsome face suddenly lost all color, and his thin lips moved a few times but he dared not say anything more.
"Le Xiu, why did you stop talking?" Mu You smiled. "You're a smart child. Do you understand your father's thoughts?"
"Your subject dares not make any wild guesses." Mu Lexiu's knees buckled and he knelt on the ground, not daring to look directly into his father's strange, pale eyes.
Mu You chuckled softly. "It's alright to say it out loud. I originally intended to use the crossbow to send my brother, who was fortunate enough to lead the troops to quell the rebellion, on his way. When Eagle Ridge was defeated, and the fate of Jin hung in the balance, with no prince daring to step forward, I would then seize the opportunity to save Jin and achieve unparalleled merit. Who knew... who knew..." Mu You's face darkened. "Father, fearing the strength of the rebels, was unwilling to send his other sons to the battlefield, and actually... actually named me to lead the troops to quell the rebellion!"
"At that time, I had already issued an imperial edict ordering Mayi to allocate brass and send it to Tianhu Workshop. The workshop owner, Lu Nian, had already melted the brass into the crossbows as I instructed..."
"Wait!" Guan Ye interrupted, "Lu Nian, the shopkeeper? Lu Nian, as you said? He...he knows?"
"Hahahaha." Mu You let out a chilling laugh, a laugh that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "Guan Ye, you are so clever, you have almost guessed the whole truth, but you couldn't guess... that Lu Nian was also the perpetrator of the Blood Crossbow Case. That's why the Three Judicial Offices closed the case so quickly, and Lu Nian's fingerprint was on the case file. There was no torture, no wrongful conviction. Lu Nian is the mastermind. I ask you, how could five hundred catties of brass be mixed into iron ore without anyone noticing? The only possibility is that there were participants in Tianhu Workshop. Only then could it be done. Lu Nian, he sent his daughter away and stayed behind because he knew he was guilty of a serious crime and couldn't escape."
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