Marquis Mu’s eyes flashed, his expression slightly heavier: "Enter."
Following that, an old man with white hair and a stooped figure staggered into the room. Even though he was barely able to walk, he insisted on kneeling before Marquis Mu: "Old servant, pays his respects to Your Highness."
Marquis Mu’s face was emotionless: "Lian Bo, stand up."
The old man slowly stood up: "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Lian Bo, you are not well. You do not need to come in person. If there is anything, you could have just sent someone to relay the message." Marquis Mu’s tone, although still cold, had softened unusually.
The old man shook his head with a smile: "Old servant had to take care of this matter personally. He cannot ease his worries if he lets others do it."
"Lian Bo, please speak."
The old man looked up at Marquis Mu: "It’s been more than twenty years. If the dynasty hasn’t changed its last name, the current Emperor would definitely be you, Your Highness. Nowadays, the Leng Family has held the dynasty for this long, and it seems everyone has forgotten that it once belonged to the Bai Family."
Marquis Mu’s facial expression was calm: "Lian Bo, you need not beat around the bush with me. If you want to say something, just say it directly."
The old man laughed, and the wrinkles on his face crisscrossed: "Your Highness is unparalleled in wisdom. The old servant, in front of you, can only tell it as it is. Today, I only came to remind you something: among all the people in the world who can forget this, only you, your Highness, cannot."
Marquis Mu was silent for a long time before he finally said: "Let’s not talk about this issue for now."
"Does Your Highness mean not to talk about it for now, or not to talk about it at all?"
Marquis Mu did not utter a word.
The old man shook his head with a wry smile: "What has Your Highness been fighting for all these years? Wasn’t it to take back the dynasty that belongs to the Bai family? After overcoming so many difficulties and now holding the position of Prime Minister, it seems the position of Emperor is only a step away! Does Your Highness want to give up now!?"
Marquis Mu looked at him: "Although it is only a step away, it is as different as day and night. Taking back the throne and spending the rest of my life in this bloody chaos..."
"Is Your Highness afraid of this? Hasn’t Your Highness already experienced plenty of bloodshed and chaos?" The old man seemed a bit agitated.
"I’m afraid." Marquis Mu said coldly.
He was afraid that she would be implicated because of him, and she would be pulled into all these conspiracies. He’d spent these many years, with the sacrifice of numerous lives, to reach his current position. Naturally, it couldn’t be just for the position of Prime Minister. He wanted the supreme power, he wanted that position.
But he knew too well what he wanted. In the past, he only wanted power and the throne, and he did not care about anything or anyone. He wasn’t afraid of bloodshed or chaos. But now, he only wanted her. He wanted to marry her, to protect her for a lifetime in the peace of Chang’an, not to bring danger to her because of himself.
"Your Highness, all for just one woman?"
Marquis Mu’s face changed slightly, and he continued: "Yes, all for one woman."
The old man was taken aback. He had never thought that Marquis Mu would have such feelings. For more than twenty years, Marquis Mu was single-minded in taking back the dynasty, extremely calculated, and hardly considered issues of love or romance.
"But Your Highness, can you easily let go of the hatred for your country and family?!"
Marquis Mu chuckled coldly: "Hatred for my country and family? If you’re talking about family hatred, back then my father was killed by the hands of Emperor Renzong. His own father didn’t trust his own son and instead believed the words of traitorous minister, stripping the position of Crown Prince from him. Later, the entire Prince’s Mansion was burnt down, killing everyone inside. Who should I blame for that? Should I blame my own grandfather, the Emperor? But he also died on his escape. As for the hatred for my country, the dynasty that the Leng Family took over was that of my enemy."
When Emperor Renzong was in power, he was easily deceived by a traitorous minister’s words, demoted his own Crown Prince, and put the Prince’s Mansion under strict surveillance. Afterwards, a fire was set off, which burned alive everyone inside the Mansion. Only Marquis Mu, who was still an infant, managed to escape the tragedy, thanks to a house servant who had brought him out.
The dynasty was unstable at that time and sure enough, six years later, it was invaded by an enemy nation. After lingering for two years, the enemy troops broke through the border defense and stormed into the capital city. Emperor Renzong was forced to flee the city but died during the escape.
The old servant sighed deeply: "Regardless, isn’t it a pity, Your Highness, to give up now? This dynasty should have belonged to Your Highness."
"What does it matter whether it’s a pity or not? There’s no such thing as fairness in this world, only survival of the fittest. I used to be interested in the throne, so I did everything in my power to try and obtain it. Now, I have lost interest in the throne, so this matter need not be discussed any longer. Lian Bo, in future, you should just address me as Prime Minister and not needlessly bring up past affairs."
He had lived the first half of his life for the hatred of others, but now, he wanted to live the rest of his life for himself. Even the position of Prime Minister did not matter to him. In the future, once the imperial court was stable, he planned to retire to Yangluo Bay with her. He had been without a home for twenty-four years, but those days at Yangluo Bay were the only time that he felt truly alive.
The old servant smiled bitterly: "Your Highness may want to retire intact, but others may not necessarily allow it. Being in such a position, it’s not easy to get out. In regards to the Black Bear Incident in the palace, doesn’t Your Highness have any suspicions?"
"I have too many suspicions. I will investigate this matter thoroughly." said Marquis Mu, his tone colder and darker.
Whoever dared to use her as their shield had best be prepared to face the consequences!
The old servant called Lian Bo sighed deeply, having nothing more to say.
——
In the Glazed Tower.
"You all can leave now. I do not need anyone to serve me here." said Xin He.
"Yes." Shulan and Jinxiu had already understood Xin He’s habits well over these few days - she did not like company when she was going through the accounts.
After Shulan and Jinxiu had left, the door was opened again and Xiaoyu brought in a bowl of sago pudding: "Eldest Miss, have some food."
Xin He took the bowl and casually scooped the sago pudding: "Did Jinxiu go anywhere today?"
Before leaving the house, Xin He had secretly instructed Xiaoyu to keep an eye on Jinxiu’s movements.
Xiaoyu quietly said: "The servant was watching her all day but she did not leave. It seems she is also cautious."
"She’s probably very alert. Keep monitoring her for me, and make sure to reveal the person behind her!"
"Yes!"
Currently with Jinxiu in her hands, she was in no hurry. She could not only find out who was behind Jinxiu, but perhaps even use Jinxiu to trap that person.
While casually flipping through the account book, she suddenly thought of the Li Junyan she had encountered in the corridor that day, his face turning slightly serious.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
