Chapter 102 My Ambition Lies with You
The news of the Left Prime Minister's sudden death at his residence caused quite a stir in the capital. Ning Jue and Duan Yi conspired to cover up the truth perfectly, so that even if suspicious people investigated in secret, they would not find any flaws.
In the past, Duan Yi, who commanded the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was best at the job of a street sweeper, covering up the truth of a person's death, even if that person was an official of the imperial court, it was not too difficult for him.
Moreover, His Majesty was put to the throne by the Left Chancellor. For the past two years, he has been restrained by the Left Chancellor and unable to make any independent decisions on national affairs. He has long been dissatisfied with this situation and has also grown tired of his previous life as a puppet emperor.
Ji Fukun's death was suspicious, yet no one in the world bothered to investigate the mystery.
...
The Grand General had been staying at the temple to accompany Ji Fukun during his childbirth some time ago and had ordered that no one else be allowed to disturb him. Therefore, he only learned of Ji Fukun's sudden death a few days later. Surprised, he quickly sent someone to summon Ning Jue to the mountain for questioning.
After meeting.
General Wang feigned anger and rebuked him, saying, "He is an official appointed by the court, His Majesty's most trusted close advisor. How dare you kill him!"
Ning Jue feigned ignorance: "What do you mean by that, Your Highness? I don't understand."
The Great General knew perfectly well what was going on. He snorted coldly and said, "Right now, it's just the two of us. Stop pretending to be confused! You are a disciple of the Sword Saint Situ Kong, and the Sword Saint is a hero whom I admire. I treat you well because of my affection for him, but I will not allow you to be lawless and arrogant because of my favor!"
Of the things that happened, some were things that the Great General could find out about, and some were things that he couldn't.
Ning Jue knew what was going on, but only explained the former: "I did it for personal revenge. My master died under suspicious circumstances, and I came to the capital to investigate the matter. Ji Fukun was the most suspicious. I went to confront him, but he attacked first. In the fight, swords and blades have no eyes, and I killed him by mistake."
General Wang had no doubts and truly believed him, adding, "You were too impulsive! Now look what's happened, there's no way to prove anything. The other day, the Rong family moved back to Jiling in disgrace, and Rong Linyan has mysteriously disappeared. These things are all connected, aren't they? You're fearless, full of江湖气 (a kind of chivalrous spirit), and act recklessly. Staying in the capital like this will only lead to trouble sooner or later."
Ning Jue deliberately only answered the second half of the sentence: "My ambition is not in the imperial court. After repaying the favor to the prince, I will leave the capital on my own."
The Great General shook his head, looked at Ning Jue, and sighed, "Even after you've started a family, you still can't keep your heart?"
Ning Jue replied without hesitation, "I will take her with me. She is willing."
The Grand General quickly forgot about Rong Linyan's whereabouts, but sighed again, patted his shoulder, and tried to persuade him again: "Ning Jue, you know that I value you. If you stay by my side, you will definitely have a bright future. So, are you really willing to give up the wealth and glory that are within your grasp, just to roam the world with a sword and live a free life? As for that Bai family girl, I recognized her as soon as I saw her brother. That woman was a famous beauty in the capital. She almost became the Crown Prince's wife. She comes from a noble family and is spoiled. How could she possibly go on adventures and endure hardships with you? With her gentle and timid appearance, she doesn't have the physique to endure hardship. I advise you to think twice."
The words of the Great General were actually quite reasonable.
But what others didn't know was that he and Bai Hua had spent their days and nights together on Xianyang Mountain, and had long been accustomed to a simple and peaceful life. Afterwards, the two traveled to Yecheng and Nanmin, experiencing storms together on land and sea, and had too many shared adventures.
Looking back on that time, I feel lighthearted.
Furthermore, he could never forget the image of Hua'er standing in front of the deck railing, arms outstretched in the wind, looking so relaxed and carefree.
He longed for an unrestrained life, and Hua'er yearned for freedom just as much.
Taking her to see the wider world is definitely more to her liking than giving her a grand mansion, providing her with fine clothes and food, but confining her within four high walls.
Ning Jue replied succinctly to the prince, his attitude resolute: "Everyone has their own ambitions."
The Grand General had no choice but to stop, turning his back to the window and offering no further advice. He gave Ning Jue one last piece of advice: "Regarding Ji Fukun's matter, no matter who tries to use it against you later, you must clear yourself of all responsibility. As for your friends, tell them to keep their mouths shut."
Ning Jue assured them, "I will keep them in check and make sure nothing leaks out, so as not to offend the Prince."
The Grand General turned around, recalling the past with a slightly sorrowful expression: "Enough, enough, perhaps it was all fate. Back then, Ji Fukun manipulated power in the court, single-handedly bringing down the Crown Prince, and then assisting the virtually invisible Prince Ying to ascend the throne. Throughout the process, he experienced the thrill of being a powerful minister, truly able to turn his hand to make clouds and rain. However, for his own lust for power, he almost destabilized the foundation of the Great Yan state, violating the taboo of the royal family and the Wei family. And I, too, would not allow the Great Yan's empire to be manipulated by someone of a different surname. If it weren't for you, with the combined efforts of the clan, we would have eradicated this thorn in Ji Fukun's side from the court sooner or later."
Ning Jue thought to himself that the Great General Wang only knew one side of the story and did not know that Ji Fukun had long since given up on power and even wanted to die. In the end, his madness was also aimed at seizing the Lonely Moon and Wild Goose swords to fulfill his delusional wishes after death.
The truth will be buried in the long river of history or in fragmented historical records, which is what Ning Jue and Duan Yi want to see.
Ning Jue clasped his hands together and bowed forward: "General Wang has been kind to Ning Jue. If it weren't for Your Highness's protection, I would have been envied and thwarted at every turn since I first came to Jingqi and had no family to rely on. I was able to act smoothly entirely because of Your Highness's influence. Ning Jue is a grateful person and promises not to leave the capital for three years. I am willing to serve Your Highness like a dog and horse and not fail to live up to the kindness shown to me today."
The Great General was greatly pleased to hear this.
He helped Ning Jue up and said half-jokingly, "Since you've said that, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Just don't complain about me making you work so hard for the next three years."
Ning Jue nodded: "I will do my utmost for Your Highness and repay your kindness."
...
Ning Jue initially did not know Rong Linyan's whereabouts.
With Ji Fukun dead, Rong Linyan lost his support in the capital. His previous hopes for a successful career had all turned into a mirage, and everything had come to nothing.
With nowhere to go, the Rong family returned to their hometown in disgrace. However, Rong Linyan was nowhere to be found, making it difficult for Ning Jue to seek revenge.
Later, Qiu Shu secretly wrote to Ning Jue, revealing the truth.
It turns out that Rong Linyan had disappeared without a trace during this period and had been captured alive by Qiu Shu and imprisoned in the cellar.
The two had no other grudges; their only connection was Yang Yun. Qiu Shu ultimately couldn't let go of Yang Yun and seized an opportunity to capture Rong Linyan, forcing Yang Yun to come and meet him.
The rest of the Yang family, seeking to avoid harm, saw that Rong Linyan had lost his backer and urged Yang Yun to divorce him and then stay in the capital to marry someone else. Yang Yun did not agree and insisted on returning to Jiling with the Rong family. However, on the way back, she left the caravan alone and met with Qiu Shu.
Yang Yun said she was willing to exchange herself for Rong Linyan, and from then on she would go with him, away from the capital, just to bring peace to the Rong family.
Qiu Shu mocked Yang Yun, saying that she was truly devoted to her lover and deeply in love.
These words provoked Yang Yun, who became emotionally unstable, started shouting and making a scene, and retorted with sharp words, determined not to suffer any loss.
Qiu Shu didn't argue with her, probably out of a sense of shame. He asked Yang Yun again if she would really go with him if he released Rong Linyan. Yang Yun reluctantly nodded. So Qiu Shu took advantage of her vulnerability and robbed her of her freedom. When leaving the capital, he released Rong Linyan but took Yang Yun with him.
With this departure, others only knew that the youngest daughter of the Yang family had married far away. Whether she stayed in Jiling for a long time or wandered around was not important, and no one was interested in digging into the details. Thus, the Yang family's face was preserved, Qiu Shu's request was met, and the Rong family was at peace from then on. Only Yang Yun, who gave up her status as the daughter of a general, reluctantly and under duress, followed a homeless bandit.
After reading the letter, Ning Jue could only think that Qiu Shu was really a blockhead.
As an outsider, he could tell from just a few words that Yang Yun had genuine feelings for him. Only he, being too caught up in the situation, couldn't see through it and even became jealous of Rong Linyan.
To Yang Yun, Rong Linyan was nothing more than a puppet husband she had found so that her child could be born with dignity.
When Ning Jue read this letter, he was taking Bai Hua on a picnic by a stream in the suburbs, enjoying the nice weather.
Seeing that he had been focused for too long, Bai Hua curiously peeked out and asked him who had sent the letter and whether she recognized them.
Ning Jue had nothing to hide from Bai Hua, and he didn't care whether the letter's owner wanted him to keep the secret. In any case, he would tell Bai Hua everything she wanted to know, without any principles to speak of.
"Qiu Shu's letter."
"Qiu Shu? Who is this person?"
Bai Hua had never heard of this name before.
Ning Jue then succinctly introduced the name of this bandit leader who had caused chaos in the capital, and at the same time, mentioned his love-hate entanglement with the daughter of the Yang family.
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua covered her mouth in surprise: "You mean, Yang Yun and Qiu Shu are the real couple, then what about my cousin... what about Rong Linyan?"
After that incident, when Bai Hua mentioned Rong Linyan, she mostly stopped calling him "cousin" and called him by his name. However, it was hard to change a long-standing habit in a short time, and she would often blurt it out when she was speaking, only to realize later that she had to correct it.
Ning Jue replied, "He's just a shield. Rong Linyan won the competition and was quite successful. It's understandable why Yang Yun fell in love with him at first sight. In addition, compared to the General's Mansion, the Rong family is weak and powerless. After considering all factors, Yang Yun finally chose Rong Linyan to take over for someone else."
This young lady from the Yang family is truly audacious beyond belief.
If it were Bai Hua, she would never have come up with such an earth-shattering method. She couldn't help but feel a little admiration for her, but she would not have followed suit.
Then I thought, my previous impression of her as a reclusive woman was really shallow. She is so thoughtful and has such a strong personality, she must be an extraordinary woman.
Bai Hua regained her composure and wanted to ask some other questions, but hesitated and stopped herself from speaking.
Ning Jue noticed all her subtle expressions; she couldn't hide anything from her.
Ning Jue stated in a declarative tone, "You want to know how Rong Linyan is doing now."
Bai Hua smiled at him, quite frankly, and asked teasingly, "Young master, do you have the ability to read minds?"
"I just know you too well." Ning Jue raised his hand and straightened the brim of Bai Hua's hat. The midday sun was the strongest, and he was afraid that her delicate skin would get sunburned. After he finished, he said, "Rong Linyan was released by Qiu Shu. He was supposed to meet with the Rong family afterwards, but he did not show up for a long time. He did not return to the capital, nor did he go to Jiling. The last place he appeared was Yuncheng, where Qiu Shu was. Since then, he has disappeared without a trace."
They've disappeared.
Bai Hua pursed her lips, looking thoughtful.
Ning Jue comforted her, saying, "Hua'er, don't worry. If Rong Linyan comes to the capital, he won't escape my eyes. Now that he can't rely on Ji Fukun, it's difficult for him to stir up trouble on his own, let alone pose any threat to you. Last time, he just took advantage of the fact that I wasn't in the capital."
Bai Hua wasn't worried about that; with Ning Jue by her side, she felt instinctively at ease.
However, during this time, several scenes from the painfully forgotten memories have vaguely surfaced in her mind, including the scene of Rong Linyan anxiously kneeling down and begging for mercy when Ji Fukun ordered his men to tie her up.
His voice was earnest, his face tense, and the scene was all too real.
Bai Hua thought that it wasn't something she was imagining, but something that had actually happened.
But she also clearly remembered that it was Rong Linyan who kidnapped her. He had harmed her before, but then pleaded for her later. Bai Hua had no answer in her heart whether these two things could offset each other.
Once connective tissue forms, it's not easily removed...
Bai Hua sighed inwardly and said, "From now on, the Rong family is destined to have no future in officialdom."
Ning Jue: "Yes."
People are like this: the more they want something, the harder it is to get it.
Rong Linyan aspires to serve in the imperial court but lacks the qualifications to hold office, while Ning Jue yearns for the martial world and only wishes to be a free-spirited swordsman, yet by a twist of fate he is forced to stay by the General's side for three years.
No one can truly live according to their own desires.
Three years is not a short period. Bai Hua looked at Ning Jue and said with some concern, "With your personality, you are really not suitable for officialdom. I will ask my brother to take care of things for you in the future, so that you will not offend many people unintentionally and be hindered everywhere."
Ning Jue chuckled and teased her, "Madam, you've already started planning ahead for me so early on? You're truly virtuous."
Bai Hua scolded him, "What 'madam'? Don't call me that."
Ning Jue raised an eyebrow, lowered his head and moved closer to her, his eyebrows curving into a mischievous smile, yet also filled with tender affection: "It's not just a random name. We already had a wedding ceremony back in Nanmin. Does Hua'er not want to admit it?"
Bai Hua's face flushed, and she turned her gaze away: "That... doesn't count."
Due to the limitations of their circumstances, the two simply wore wedding robes, bowed to heaven and earth, and then went directly into the bridal chamber to become husband and wife.
Looking back now, I still feel quite embarrassed by how impatient I was.
Ning Jue wrapped one arm around her slender waist, tightening his grip slightly. Bai Hua immediately went limp and unconsciously pressed herself against him.
"Oh, that time doesn't count..."
Ning Jue repeated, his voice slightly languid. Through the thin spring fabric of her clothes, the warmth of his palm flowed continuously over Bai Hua's body, causing an undeniable itch that made her tense up involuntarily.
He continued to hold her waist, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "In the next few days, when I go to propose marriage, I will ask the Great General Wang to personally bestow a marriage upon us. In addition, I was rewarded with an official position for my meritorious service in suppressing the bandits. In this way, it will be worthy of the respect of your Bai family."
Bai Hua was surprised to hear this, as she thought Ning Jue would disregard such notions of being a good match.
But to my surprise, he had thought things through so thoroughly.
Knowing that he had changed because of her, Bai Hua was moved and persuaded him, "Actually, you don't need to care about other people's opinions. You know my feelings. I am willing to marry you simply because you are you. It has nothing to do with any reputation, honor, or dignity. As long as it is you, that's enough."
Ning Jue and she touched forehead to forehead, their hearts feeling exceptionally close.
“I know, but I don’t want you to suffer in the slightest, and I don’t want you to be talked about by outsiders. Things you don’t care about, I care about.”
Bai Hua sighed, "But your ambitions lie elsewhere..."
Ning Jue said firmly, "My ambition is with you, and since you are here, my heart is here too."
Bai Hua was speechless, her throat tightening with emotion. She hugged Ning Jue tightly, wanting nothing more than to give him her whole heart and soul.
Ning Jue kissed her dark hair, hugged her, and gently patted her back to comfort her.
Why would he actually agree to let the Grand General stay in the capital for three years?
Besides repaying a favor, Ning Jue also had his own selfish motives—he wanted to use the prince's help to smoothly and respectably propose to Bai Hua.
In this way, he didn't lose out by exchanging three years of hard work.
With Hua'er by his side, the three years of boring official career shouldn't be too unbearable.
He made a sacrifice to gain something more precious.
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