Upon seeing that Lin Zhengyong was dead, the remaining troops of the Lin family army scattered and fled throughout the palace, but in the end, they could not escape being killed one by one by the Xie family army and the Moon Shadow Guard.
Mu Jin stood beside the grandfather and grandson, gazing at the hellish scene below. She couldn't help but sigh. The rise and fall of a noble family, though seemingly fleeting, was actually foreshadowed long ago.
As relatives of the emperor and important officials of the court, the Lin family is so arrogant and conceited that they have developed rebellious intentions and tried to seize what does not belong to them. How could the royal family tolerate them!
The Lin family was incredibly foolish. Their arrogance and domineering behavior over the years led them to mistakenly believe that Emperor Gaozong's indulgence of them stemmed from fear of his power.
However, they never expected that Emperor Gaozong would just coldly watch their scheming and rebellion, treating them like clowns. Once he got tired of them, he would simply kill them all!
After all, how could someone who ascends the throne be incompetent? It's just a pity that the Lin family was blinded by power and failed to see the stakes involved, ultimately sending themselves to the executioner's block.
From then on, the Lin family, a powerful clan that had dominated two dynasties and enjoyed a glorious century in southern Shu, disappeared without a trace.
The atmosphere inside the Dragon Saliva Hall was different from the dense aura of death outside. At this moment, Emperor Gaozong of the South was filled with uncontrollable joy.
He looked at Su Yi and Mu Jin with a smile in his eyes, his heart filled with satisfaction.
For the past month, he has used his serious injury as an excuse to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the court and live alone in the Chengen Hall.
He spends his days either playing chess with himself, watering the flowers and plants with a ladle of clear spring water, or whispering to the portrait of the deceased empress; his days are easy and pleasant.
When Su Yi stepped into Chengen Hall today and told him that the operation could be completed tonight, he couldn't help but beam with joy. He said impatiently, "If it had been two days later, your grandfather would have thought you were no longer alive."
Tonight, standing in front of the Dragon Saliva Hall, he witnessed Su Yi toying with Lin Zhengyong like a trapped beast, and felt gratified. When he saw Su Yi and Mu Jin working together seamlessly and killing enemies as if they were nothing, he was even more overjoyed.
He sighed inwardly: Mu Jin is truly remarkable, and deserves to be his good grandson.
"Miss Mu." Seeing Emperor Gaozong call her name, Mu Jin stepped forward: "Does Your Majesty have any instructions for me?"
Emperor Gaozong smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Miss Mu, there's no need for such formalities before me. I simply wish to ask you if you would be willing to become Empress?"
Upon hearing Emperor Gaozong's words, Mu Jin paused, frowned slightly, and glanced at Su Yi. However, before she could speak, she saw Su Yi walking towards Emperor Gaozong with a hint of displeasure.
"You old man! Speak plainly, don't scare my Ah Jin."
Emperor Gaozong paused slightly, then quickly explained with a smile, "Miss Mu, please don't misunderstand. The Empress I'm referring to is not my own Empress, but Yi'er's Empress."
"I intend to issue an imperial edict tomorrow to formally appoint Yi'er as the new emperor of Southern Shu. I am also thinking that it would be more solemn and joyous to hold his coronation ceremony together with the ceremony for appointing the empress, so that it can be a double celebration."
"These days, I have observed that you are a very good woman. Although my grandson has many shortcomings, he has only two good qualities: he has good taste and treats you well. Since you do not have anyone you like at the moment, why don't you reluctantly take him in?"
Mu Jin felt somewhat helpless towards the grandfather and grandson in front of her, but she still replied respectfully, "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty. Prince Yi is very good, but I am of mediocre talent and am not worthy of him."
Furthermore, marriage has always been a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words. Now, with her father and brothers in dire straits a thousand miles away, this woman is filled with worry and has no heart to consider her own marriage.
These words were a refusal. Emperor Gaozong glanced at Mu Jin, then at Su Yi, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Emperor Gaozong looked at Mu Jin, then glared at Su Yi, and couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
However, he also gleaned a hint from Mu Jin's words, suggesting that Mu Jin wasn't entirely indifferent to Su Yi.
Mu Jin was worried about her father and brothers who were trapped in Dongyue. If her father and brothers were rescued, then Mu Jin might actually be willing to marry his good grandson.
Emperor Nanzong stroked his beard, thinking to himself, and said, “It’s alright. I’ve also heard that your father and brothers are currently imprisoned in the Eastern Great Prison. However, knowing Yi’er as I do, he certainly won’t stand by and watch his beloved’s family suffer. Perhaps he already has a way to save them and is currently implementing it.”
Mu Jin felt a little embarrassed by Emperor Gaozong's bluntness when she saw him repeatedly referring to his beloved. However, Emperor Gaozong continued.
"Once Yi'er inherits the great cause, we, the soldiers of Southern Shu, will march to Eastern Yue to rescue your father and brothers. This is not a difficult task, so you don't need to worry too much."
Mu Jin was surprised that Emperor Gaozong was willing to break the decades-long precedent of Southern Shu not engaging in war with other countries for her sake. Moved, her eyes welled up with tears.
Mu Jin knelt down to express her gratitude, saying, "This humble woman is truly unworthy of the Emperor's great favor to my Mu family."
Su Yi knelt down and quickly went over to help Mu Jin up, saying, "Silly! There's no need for such formalities in front of your grandfather."
Mu Jin gently turned to the side and withdrew her hand from Su Yi's. Emperor Gaozong laughed heartily and said, "Yi'er is right. We are all family, so there is no need for formalities. Besides, you don't need to feel burdened by this matter."
"My decision to send the soldiers of Southern Shu to fight against Eastern Yue is not entirely for the sake of your father and brothers. The root cause is that the Southern Shu army has not been involved in war for decades. As time goes by, I am also deeply afraid that they will become complacent and be at a loss when foreign enemies attack."
"This expedition will provide a good opportunity to hone their fighting spirit and strengthen their combat capabilities in the land of Dongyue."
"Moreover, that brat Su Yuntian's throne is neither legitimate nor justified. It's time for Yi'er to go and settle accounts with him, and give the people of Dongyue justice."
Mu Jin knew that Emperor Gaozong spoke to her in this way simply because he didn't want her to bear a heavy burden. After all, which country doesn't want to maintain stability and prosperity for a long time? War not only costs a lot of money, but also brings countless casualties. Unless forced by circumstances, no country will easily start a war.
"Alright!" Emperor Gaozong said, "You and Yi'er have worked hard tonight. I know you are tired. Go back and rest."
Mu Jin curtsied again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now."
Su Yi and Mu Jin slowly walked out of the Dragon Saliva Palace. Outside the palace, the previous devastation had been removed, and all that remained were palace servants carrying clean water to wash away the bloodstains left on the ground again and again.
The air was still thick with the stench of blood, but they all knew that when the sun rose tomorrow and its warm rays shone on the earth, everything would return to normal.
This scene, which resembled hell on earth, will eventually be gradually forgotten as time goes by.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
