Song Yalin took two aback steps in shock, her face turning white from fear at the ruthless and decisive action taken by Marquis Mu Houchu.
She had long known of the Marquis’s reputation, a ruthless man with too much blood on his hands. She knew how formidable he was, but had never really been in contact with him, so she didn’t realize how cruel he could be till this moment!
He dared to simply drag off and kill the eunuch sent by the Emperor with the Imperial Edict, and this absurd act could insinuate rebellion, couldn’t it?!
Mu Houchu’s icy glare fell on Song Yalin. This was the first time he had truly looked at her, and his sinister gaze sent chills down her spine.
Chilling deeply enough to make Song Yalin almost believe that she could die within the next second.
If he dared to kill the eunuch that the Emperor sent with the Imperial Edict, what was to stop him from getting rid of her?
Song Yalin had done so much scheming, but she never thought she would fall into the hands of a man who was so unconventional.
Song Yalin couldn’t help stepping back. Her face was pale, and she stumbled and fell to the ground. She quickly kneeled in front of Ji Xinhe and sobbed, "Princess, save me. Princess, I was wrong, I won’t dare anymore. It was my mistake. Princess, please save me, can you save me?"
She knew that the only person who could save her from Marquis Mu Houchu now was Ji Xinhe.
But Ji Xinhe’s face remained unemotional as she replied, "I’m afraid I can’t help. You should know, I’m cruel and ruthless, and I hate grit. Before the Imperial Edict arrived, I thought of arranging your marriage or sending you to the temple to shave your hair and become a nun. Now that the Imperial Edict has arrived, how could I tolerate such a liability around me?"
"No, don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I didn’t mean it, it was Duan Lan, it was the Emperor, they made me do it. You know I’m just a small chess piece. From where would I have the means to take you down? Don’t kill me!" Song Yalin cried out for mercy.
Mu Houchu really disliked such weeping women, he found them annoying. Impatiently, he ordered, "Drag her away and dispose of her."
Ling Feng saluted, "Yes."
Upon hearing the command, Song Yalin’s face turned deathly pale and she began to tremble all over, "It’s not my fault, it’s the Emperor, it’s the Emperor who’s trying to get you. You should spare me, maybe I can be of use to you, you should spare my life!"
Now, Song Yalin fully understood that Marquis Mu Houchu didn’t care about the so-called Imperial Edict or the blessed marriage. Yu State and the court seemed to be heading towards a falling out.
Just as Ling Feng was about to drag her away, a servant ran in hurriedly and announced with an ugly expression, "Your Highness, Princess, the news of the bestowed marriage has already spread outside."
Mu Houchu’s gaze hardened ever so slightly, "Who leaked it?"
"I’m not sure, but..." the servant gritted his teeth. "Everyone in Yu State knows about the Emperor bestowing marriage this time. Everyone in the capital is praising it as a match made in heaven, a gracious act on the Emperor’s part."
A fraction of Xin He’s icy gaze bore into her sleeve as she sneered, "Our Emperor has become much smarter, it seems."
Even the Emperor must have guessed that this bestowed marriage could lead to Marquis Mu causing a rebellion. But while that could be the reason for the anarchy, it wasn’t what the citizens should think.
Marquis Mu Houchu needed the support of the people, and leaders supported by the people cannot be perceived as those who indulge in romantic matters.
Now that the news is so widespread, it wouldn’t be easy for Mu Houchu to dispose of the matter discreetly.
At least, Song Yalin’s life can’t be taken.
Ji Xinhe pondered for a while before saying slowly, "Given the circumstances, it might be better not to act rashly."
Mu Houchu swept a cold gaze over Song Yalin, and Song Yalin trembled all over, saying hastily, "I can help you, I can help you. Don’t kill me. I know everything about the Emperor’s arrangements, I know everything and can tell you everything. I beg you, don’t kill me!"
Mu Houchu’s gaze turned icy. Even though Song Yalin was so humble, she still posed a strong threat to him.
Seeing that Mu Houchu was itching to kill, Ji Xinhe took the initiative to grip his hand and ordered Ling Feng in a stern voice, "Take her away and lock her up for now."
Ling Feng glanced at Mu Houchu, and Xin He shouted sharply, "Don’t just stand there, get going!"
Without any further delay, Ling Feng quickly complied and took Song Yalin away.
It was only after Ling Feng took Song Yalin away that peace returned to the hall. Both Shulan and Xiaoyu tactfully withdrew, leaving only Mu Houchu and Ji Xinhe.
Mu Houchu’s gaze became even colder, "This woman’s scheming and cunning makes it impossible for her to stay."
Xin He calmly addressed Mu Houchu, her hands enclosing his tightly clenched fists, "But if she dies today, how can you explain this to the outside world, to the people of Yu State? Do you want the people of Yu State to believe and follow a willful, reckless person who even dares ignore and kill the Emperor’s choice of bride? Marquis Mu, we can’t afford to be reckless under the current circumstances."
"But Song Yalin is ambitious and devious. Keeping her around will be fraught with endless troubles. Xinhe, I worry for you." Mu Houchu knew Song Yalin’s mind too well. It was because he understood it so well that he knew that the only person blocking Song Yalin’s way at the moment wasn’t Marquis Mu, nor the Emperor, but Ji Xinhe.
Keeping a treacherous woman like her who had her eyes set on Ji Xinhe’s position day after day would pose a threat, which Mu Houchu dreaded was Ji Xinhe getting hurt.
He knew full well that this woman posed a huge threat to Ji Xinhe. How could he spare her life?
"Don’t treat me as if I’m completely useless. It’s not just a minor Song Yalin now. The Emperor is watching you closely now. We don’t have a way out. We can’t afford to give up Yu State so easily after working so hard for six years. Whether it’s continuing to feign a relationship with the court or having a fallout with the court, the people of Yu State must work together."
And they can’t afford to let the people of Yu State have a shred of doubt about Marquis Mu.
Marquis Mu’s face stayed gloomy, and he didn’t have anything to say.
Ji Xinhe spoke in a grave tone, "But there’s one thing I can’t understand."
"What is it?"
Ji Xinhe’s gaze was icy cold with a hint of suspicion, "Song Yalin should know that she is just an unimportant chess piece to the Emperor. Even if he assumed that you wouldn’t really take her as a concubine, the Emperor still wouldn’t be concerned about her predicament. With Song Yalin being so smart, she shouldn’t be ignorant of the Emperor’s intentions, and she shouldn’t fail to realize that her outcome wouldn’t be good after entering the royal mansion."
Indeed, she had now entered the royal mansion, and while there was a façade of jubilation on the outside, it couldn’t conceal the fact that she could simply liken herself to a prisoner being locked up, struggling just to survive.
And yet, she still came.
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