"Get out!" The Emperor of Chilin lashed out in anger, shoving Linghe away as she tried to nestle into his embrace. Linghe stumbled backward, nearly hitting the tea table, and he didn’t spare her a single glance, only continuing his tirade: "Do you even know who’s leading the troops? Su Changyi!"
Linghe, still reeling from the push, staggered a few steps before regaining her balance. She then sidled up to the Emperor with a fawning smile, "Even if it’s him leading the troops, so what? Could he possibly flatten Chilin? Emperor, you really shouldn’t be so furious. I was muddle-headed at the ti and only wanted to kill Su Haoyu to avenge my parents and the Nine Clans. I didn’t think it through that much."
As she spoke, Linghe’s eyes reddened. "Emperor, if it weren’t for my devotion to you and my wholehearted desire for your prosperity and the glory of Chilin, why else would I risk committing the cri of treason and conspire with my family to bring the papermaking technique to you?"
"I understand, Emperor, that you cannot casually wage war just to avenge . I have never blad you for that. But because of , my family’s Nine Clans t such tragic ends. My heart is burdened with guilt." As she finished speaking, tears began streaming down her face, painting an image of genuine suffering.
Ever since she beca part of the Emperor’s harem, Linghe learned nothing but how to employ cunning and sches.
Rembering how Linghe’s Nine Clans were slaughtered after bringing the papermaking technique to Chilin, and how he never avenged them, while Linghe remained wholly devoted to him, the Emperor of Chilin felt a pang of guilt in his heart.
"Alright, my beloved consort, stop crying. I was just too angry earlier; I didn’t an to truly bla you," the Emperor weakly consoled her, his tone half-hearted.
Linghe imdiately broke into an expression of overly joyous relief. "As long as you’re not angry at , Emperor. My family is gone, and Li Er is still young. Emperor, the only person I can depend on is you."
Li Er was Linghe’s son with the Emperor of Chilin.
The Emperor responded with a perfunctory "Mm." After a long pause, he added, "I’m still uneasy, though. Who knows how many troops Su Changyi has brought along."
Linghe replied, "The Chilin army is strong and well-equipped. No matter how many troops he has, trying to wipe out Chilin would be harder than ascending to heaven."
The Emperor nodded, feeling sowhat comforted, and the crease in his brow visibly loosened.
The situation had reached this point, and negotiation was no longer an option. This war had to be fought.
Once the Emperor left, leaving Linghe alone in the bedchamber, she turned toward the door and spat disdainfully. "You really think I care about you? I’ve been using you, you idiot!"
Back when she couldn’t stay in Xiyun any longer, she had volunteered for the diplomatic marriage. Her sole goal was to soday seek revenge against Xiao Changyi and An Jing.
Yet before she could exact her revenge, her Nine Clans were massacred by Su Haoyu under charges of colluding with the enemy and treason. She genuinely hated Su Haoyu.
Day after day, whispering in the Emperor of Chilin’s ears, she’d persuaded him to dispatch troops to kill Su Haoyu. When it actually happened, and Su Haoyu was indeed killed, she felt an indescribable rush of satisfaction.
Now, Xiao Changyi was leading his forces to attack Chilin. Given how inseparable Xiao Changyi and An Jing were, An Jing was likely here too...
With this thought, Linghe broke into a radiant smile, beaming so brightly. "Su Changyi, An Jing, the two of you must die here. Don’t go back. If you do return, I’ll have to send people to assassinate you again. Such a bother, haha... But here, you must die. You absolutely must die here."
As her laughter grew, Linghe’s face twisted into a savage snarl. "Even if you don’t wish to die, I will ensure you die here. I swore I would avenge this grievance, and I absolutely will."
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