Chapter 431 - 192: This Oath Is My Stance (2)
"Back then, although the Yun Family had fallen, they were still an aristocratic family. Why didn’t Duke Ning choose a woman of equal status but instead pursued a disgraced woman?"
"I’ve also heard that when Duke Ning enlisted in the army, it wasn’t to kill enemies and gain glory for the family, but to bring his wife back to the capital."
"I want to ask Duke Ning, apart from your wife, can other women really do?"
With every sentence Mo Yuanlin spoke, Yun Zheng’s expression became increasingly awkward.
The matter of going to war for his wife never made Yun Zheng feel ashamed or humiliated, but now the timing was just not right.
At this moment, he was persuading the Emperor to abandon Yun Wanyao and choose another woman, but contrary to his expectation, the Emperor brought up his past as an example. How could he not feel embarrassed?
"Your Majesty is different from me. You are the ruler of a nation. Whether you like the Empress or not is unimportant; what matters is whether the Empress is dignified and virtuous, and whether she can befit the role of the mother of the nation."
Mo Yuanlin didn’t agree with this view.
"If I can’t even marry the woman I love, then what kind of ruler am I? Besides, the mother of the nation doesn’t need to be dignified and virtuous; she only needs to be someone I love."
"If just because I am an emperor, I’m not qualified to marry the woman I love, then I might as well not marry anyone for the rest of my life."
Yun Zheng: "..."
Previously, he had thought that the Emperor had some hidden ailment or unspeakable reason for not establishing an Empress.
But now that he knew otherwise, how could he allow him to act recklessly?
The stability of the empire, which millions of soldiers risked their lives to secure, shouldn’t fall into chaos again just because of the absence of a Crown Prince.
Must Yao’er really be sacrificed?
Yun Zheng felt troubled and had never been so bewildered before.
"Your Majesty, do you really like Yao’er?"
The long-silent Yun Zhan suddenly spoke, surprised to learn today that the Emperor actually liked Yun Wanyao.
A monarch and a confidant, for so many years, he hadn’t discerned the Emperor’s feelings at all.
It was evident how deeply the Emperor had hidden his feelings.
Mo Yuanlin nodded and said, "Mm, I hadn’t planned to say it, but last night Yao’er came to the palace and suddenly told me she wanted to dissolve her engagement with King Qi..."
"She doesn’t like King Qi. Once the engagement is dissolved, she will be free. I’ve already missed one chance, and I don’t want to miss this one."
One is his own younger brother, and the other is the woman he loves. If they truly love each other, even if it pains him, he would support them.
Thus, for so many years, despite the pain in his heart, and many times the urge to wickedly take her away, he had always restrained himself and never done anything to destroy them.
Yet now, she proactively came to seduce him and said she wanted to dissolve the engagement. How could he possibly endure it?
He had waited for that moment for so many years that it almost drove him mad.
Back then, Father had intended to betroth her to him. He had eagerly awaited the imperial decree, but who would have thought that when the decree finally came, it wasn’t for him.
Yun Wanyao was snatched by Mo Yuanhao.
He was weak by nature, dark and evil in his youth. When the imperial decree came, he even planned to kill Mo Yuanhao and her together.
He had indeed taken action, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he gave up.
Afterwards, he started to distance himself from her, silently awaiting death.
But fate played another trick on him.
The poison in his body was so deep-rooted that he was supposed to die suddenly one night, but was cured by Imperial Doctor Yao from the Imperial Hospital.
Upon hearing the news of his recovery, he wasn’t the least bit pleased; instead, he felt an indescribable pain. Dying would have been a release, but he couldn’t, and now he would have to watch her marry and have children...
He couldn’t fathom what wrong he had done to receive such severe punishment, but since he couldn’t die, he had to accept fate.
How could he have known that things would take a turn again? She proactively came to the palace to seduce him and said she wanted to dissolve the engagement...
Mo Yuanlin thought, this must be the best gift Heaven has given him.
This time, nothing could stop him.
"Mm."
Yun Zhan nodded in response.
He felt there was nothing wrong with Yun Wanyao being together with Mo Yuanlin.
At least it was better than being with Mo Yuanhao, after all, they had heard about Mo Yuanhao’s identity and story from Ningning’s heart.
Now that the engagement with Mo Yuanhao was dissolved, Yun Wanyao would have to marry someone anyway.
Compared to other men in the capital, he trusted Mo Yuanlin’s character more.
"Big Brother, we don’t need to worry too much about this matter. Let Yao’er make her own decision. Yao’er is soon to come of age; she is a young woman who can take charge of her own life."
Yun Zhan believed that if they got to know each other well over time, Yun Wanyao would surely come to like Mo Yuanlin.
After all, a man like Mo Yuanlin, regardless of his status or personal qualities, was very attractive to women, so in a way, his words were in favor of Mo Yuanlin.
"Alright..."
Yun Zheng nodded with irritation, looking at Mo Yuanlin, said, "Your Majesty, if you can pursue Yao’er, then I won’t stop you, but first, you must agree not to force her. It has to be of her own free will."
"Alright, I promise."
Mo Yuanlin agreed confidently,
He couldn’t believe that as long as he sent out word in secret, any man in the capital would dare to marry Yun Wanyao.
After all, he was the Emperor, there was nothing he couldn’t do if he was willing.
Fenghua Palace.
Upon waking up and seeing the unfamiliar yet splendid luxurious curtains, Yun Wanyao was somewhat befuddled.
In a moment, several fragmented images floated into her mind, her face uncontrollably turned red, filled with embarrassment.
Oh my, last night she must have been possessed to audaciously seduce the Emperor, and after being seen through by the Emperor, she stayed in the palace and spent the night together with him.
The Emperor even... embraced her.
Yun Wanyao was in complete disarray, both scared and uneasy, unable to resist covering her face with her hands.
How would she face her parents when she returned home?
Wait, what was in her hand?
A quick glance revealed what seemed like fabric in her hand. The more she examined it, the more peculiar it appeared.
"This... this color and texture, could it be the Emperor’s nightwear?"
Yun Wanyao covered her mouth in astonishment, wondering how the fabric of the Emperor’s nightwear came to be in her hand.
Did she, in her sleep, inadvertently tear the Emperor’s nightwear?
No, no, no, it’s not possible; the edges of this fabric are so neat, definitely not torn, but rather cut.
What on earth was going on?
Yun Wanyao racked her brain but couldn’t fathom it, so she threw the fabric aside, adjusted her dress, and cautiously peeked out from under the curtain.
It was broad daylight, the hall empty, not a single attendant in sight.
With a slight sigh of relief, Yun Wanyao put on her shoes like a guilty sneak and quietly headed toward the hall’s exit.
The Emperor must have gone to morning court; she would try to see if she could leave the palace.
She needed to go home, after spending the night away, who knew what might have happened at home? If her parents found out she hadn’t come home all night, what would happen then?