Chapter 109: Intriguing Identity
An intriguing chapter about an intriguing identity – Happy Holidays :)
Li Wei Yang was stunned by Li Min De. In a fleeting moment, she felt this young boy gave her a very strange illusion.
Li Min De was surprised to hear this and immediately moved closer. The bright candlelight fell onto his pale jade-like cheeks. His eyelashes quivered: “Do you really want to know?”
Li Wei Yang nodded solemnly, then glanced out the window: “Wouldn’t it be a good time now?”
Li Wei Yang felt his smile was strange. He was lively just now, but when she asked about his identity, his expression seemed forlorn. There was sorrow, even though he was still smiling. She had a strange feeling that he was about to cry.
“Dead already?” Bai Zhi stared wide-eyed in horror at Zhao Yue by her side, but Zhao Yue was a seasoned professional and was naturally not bothered.
Li Wei Yang was just as shocked as she looked at Li Min De. He killed off all of Jiang Nan’s men? How could that be?
“Just some mountain bandits. I helped clean up these catastrophes on Jing Zhao Yin’s behalf. The Imperial Court won’t investigate it.” Li Min De looked down and slowly explained.
Li Wei Yang lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. Apart from the group of assassins in black and guards solemnly standing, no one was left alive. Jiang Nan’s forces were skilled soldiers, but these people had dealt with them so quickly… She was simply shocked.
“Don’t worry, I will naturally deal with it, so Jiang Nan won’t be able to use it as an opportunity.” Li Min De smiled and said.
Li Wei Yang frowned. “But—”
Li Min De shook his head and said: “He should be taught a lesson. As for these outsiders, I will report to Jing Zhao Yin that a private army entered the Capital. They all had martial arts skills and after battles, they came to the Capital and hid amongst civilians and robbed officials and wealthy businessmen. Today, they ran into the Li family guards. If Jiang Nan wanted to claim these bodies, then very well, his Jiang family will be accused of harboring a private army. I think he may be bold enough to try something like this, but he will not dare admit to the Emperor that he brought soldiers back to the Capital.
Li Wei Yang laughed. Although generals had many soldiers, once they stepped foot into the Capital, they were not allowed to take their soldiers with them. They could only use their household’s guards. These guards naturally could not compare with soldiers that had fought in countless battles. Many military officers privately stationed their soldiers in the Capital, disguised, but that was a private affair that could not be brought to light.
When it is done, officials will close their eyes. In any case, every household knew to compromise, but the Jiang family always had people watching them like prowling tigers. Jiang Nan will certainly not admit that his guards were veteran soldiers. Once he admitted it, he would certainly make everyone suspect that the Jiang family was no longer wholeheartedly loyal. He was not that foolish yet.
“What if someone asks why your guards were so powerful?” Li Wei Yang raised her eyebrows.
Li Min De lowered his voice and said: “The ones responsible for killing people. They’re responsible for handling the bodies. It will be nicely cleaned up soon, no traces left behind. Don’t worry, I’m just joking. I cannot hand this many bodies over to Jing Zhao Yin, otherwise this will get out of hand tomorrow. After a quarter of an hour, not even a drop of blood will be left here.”
Li Wei Yang wanted to remain calm, but she could not stay calm. Although Bai Zhi had an expression of speechless shock, Li Wei Yang’s internal state was no better than hers. She did not know when Li Min De had a group of people like this by his side. She was not even aware of their existence in the past. No, not only her, but she feared the entire Li family still knew nothing about it. Why … why did Min De recruit such people?
Li Wei Yang’s thoughts were racing and analyzing. To be able to kill Jiang Fourth’s experienced soldiers, they were certainly not ordinary guards. It was not enough to say they were assassins. How could a frightening group of people surround Min De?
It must be known that she had once tried to use large sums of gold to recruit martial arts experts. However, what she found were so-called masters who were simply after money. They were not much better than the Li family guards. Later, she realized talent had to be cultivated from the very beginning, but she did not have the time. She could not form a formidable force based on money, but today, she saw Li Min De’s army killing without mercy…
“I think you still need to explain.” Li Wei Yang felt she could not pretend like nothing happened. She was determined to find out about Min De’s origins.
Li Min De lowered his gaze and lightly said: “It’s a long story, do you want to hear it?”
Li Min De waved his hand: “Zhao Yue, escort Bai Zhi onto the carriage behind this one.”
“First off all, we must start with the previous Emperor of Yue Xi.” Li Min De calmly said with a natural expression as if he was talking about someone else’s matters. There were no expressions on his face. “He favored the young and beautiful Concubine Liu and was cold towards Empress Song. Moreover, he believed Concubine Liu’s words and thought Empress Song was using witchcraft to curse him with the intention to rebel. Not only did he investigate and confiscate Song clan properties, he also gave the order to force Empress Song to death. At that time, Concubine Qian, Empress Song’s maternal cousin, gave birth to a young princess and could not bear it, so she pleaded on Empress Song’s behalf. Concubine Liu had her beaten to death and even sent the newborn princess to the Cold Palace.
“Empress Song’s son, the Crown Prince, had turned two years old and was dragged into the Empress’ treason because of Concubine Liu. He was also imprisoned with the rest of the Song clan. The Crown Prince survived because many ministers pleaded on his behalf, but he continued to be detained, and the Song family that kept him company were one by one torn apart by horses, beheaded, cleaved, and exiled. In the end, only the Crown Prince was left. He gradually grew up but had no one to teach or guide him. No one dared to tell him who he was, leaving him alone in solitary confinement in prison.”
Li Wei Yang looked at Li Min De’s calm face and intuitively felt that the Crown Prince of Yue Xi had something to do with him.
Li Min De laughed and said: “After hearing about this, Empress Liu killed all the ministers that proposed this and even fiercely lectured the Emperor. This Emperor… was actually a weak coward. He could not control his woman and could not hold onto the throne as Emperor. He had to even hand over court proposals to Empress Liu. What could he do? He could only turn a blind eye and watch as upright officials were killed off day after day. After this matter, Empress Liu resented the Crown Prince even more. She spared the Crown Prince’s life because many officials thought that while Empress Song was guilty of treason, the Crown Prince was innocent. At first, she had no reason to kill him, but later, she had completely forgotten about it until this happened. That year, the Crown Prince turned ten. Kept in a dark cell for all that time, he did not know who he was, and no one was there to speak to him.”
“Empress Liu wanted to kill him?” Li Wei Yang felt a bit emotional. Yue Xi was south of Da Li and was very formidable, but the two countries did not have close relations. She genuinely did not know of the Imperial family secrets, but she learned that in this world, the battle for the throne was cruel and unforgiving. She feared Empress Liu would not spare the innocent Crown Prince.
“Empress Liu wanted to kill the Crown Prince at first, but … Many years of strife and grudges between her and Empress Song had soon turned into hatred. She once happened to see the young princess with the delicate beauty of jade and could not help but think of Empress Song and Concubine Qian. She remembered their grudges towards one another, so she came up with a vicious scheme.” Li Min De lowered his gaze, as if he didn’t want to talk anymore, but he had to continue and say: “She brought the young princess out from the Cold Palace and sent her to the cell to let her accompany the prince day and night. However, she did not allow anyone to reveal their true identities. At that time, the Crown Prince was ten, and the young princess was only eight. They naturally became playmates and support for each other.”
Li Min De’s face grew even more unnatural. His voice sounded emotional. Li Wei Yang gently took his hand, his entire body stiffened, and he quickly regained his calm.
“Since the age of two, the Prince had never seen anyone. Of course, he was very happy to have a good friend and companion, so in the next eight years, that little girl was his only consolation. Despite the people keeping close watch, despite how everyone feared him, not wanting to play with him, this little girl always stayed with him, comforting him, and even began to take care of everyday things for him. In the Crown Prince’s heart, the person who burnt straw day and night and took care of him was trustworthy. So… When he was eighteen, and that little girl had just turned sixteen… They… They… loved each other…”
Li Wei Yang was taken aback. Her fingers turned stiff. How was this possible?! The Crown Prince and a Princess of Yue Xi? They were half-siblings!
The sadness in Li Min De’s face was like a cloudy sky, refusing to fade away: “They didn’t know about the blood relations between them and only relied on each other for warmth. In time, of course, complicated feelings developed… The only ones who knew were the prison guards and Empress Liu. This was indeed her intentions. She had to let Empress Song and Concubine Qian furiously but helplessly seethe. She wanted them to die and not feel at ease, letting the Imperial family be sullied for an entire lifetime! She could only feel happy that way, relieved even! Her son died prematurely, so others said that Empress Song was cursing her from down there, so she became even more and more crazy, even more abnormal…”
“This Empress Liu is not just crazy, she is too crazy.” Li Wei Yang felt rather horrified. If she resented him, she could just kill him, but Empress Liu did the exact opposite. She not only let the Crown Prince and the Princess live, but she even made them fall in love. She wanted Empress Song and Concubine Qian die without closing their eyes, so they could see the two who should not be in love, love one another. Wasn’t this the best revenge?!
“They were by each other’s side for eight years and in love for three years. They spent a total of eleven years together. In those eleven years, they only had each other, so they only believed in one another. If possible, I wish they lived out a lifetime never knowing the truth—” Li Min De’s voice trembled a bit, but he continued to speak. “When Empress Liu became gravely ill, no longer able to control the Imperial Court, the Liu family acted arrogantly and met resistance from Commander Pei Xiu. To deal with the Liu clan, Commander Pei thought about the Crown Prince… Finally, he had people say that Heaven’s son was in prison. The Emperor immediately sent a herald to welcome the Crown Prince back and ordered to write his name back into the Imperial bloodline. The Crown Prince was acknowledged in the Imperial family. At this time, Empress Liu, who was severely ill, finally died. A month later, the Emperor also died due to old age. After that, Pei Xiu helped the Crown Prince inherit the throne.”
This seemed to be a happy ending. The villain is dead, and the hero seemed to have the best ending, but there was still one person… Li Wei Yang was tempted and asked: “Then… What about the Princess?”
“Pei Xiu married his daughter, the fifteen year old Young Miss Pei to the Crown Prince … No, he was now the Emperor of Yue Xi, so Young Miss Pei also became Empress Pei.”
Li Wei Yang slightly frowned: “No mention of the Princess? The Emperor forgot her too?”
“The Emperor brought her back to the palace, but he could not fulfill his promise and marry her as his wife. It was not because of Pei Xiu’s superior authority, nor was it because he had a change of heart, but he could not accept the fact that she was his Imperial sister. She could only become Princess Qi Xia, living alone in the inner palace, but—they could not suppress their desire for one another and secretly met up. Empress Pei discovered his matter a year later. Empress Pei did not let it spread to the outside and only went home to cry and lament. Empress Pei’s father, the same Commander Pei that helped the Emperor ascend, immediately had ministers propose that since the Princess was past marriageable age, she had to be quickly married off…”
This was to love a beauty without needing the kingdom. This beauty was his own sister though. Li Wei Yang was unsure if these chaotic feelings were right or wrong, but the feelings that had developed were not the two young adults’ faults… So she did not know if she should sympathize with them or feel differently. However, she felt she could understand the Emperor of Yue Xi’s sentiments. Once the rumor spread, the Princess would only be faced with death. Therefore, their relationship could not be made public.
“But Princess Qi Xia did not want him to sacrifice for her because she knew he had many things he wanted to do, including the Liu family, whose influence had not been completely cut off, and their revenge had yet to be taken. If she only thought of herself, it would be no different than wronging Empress Song and Concubine Qian up in the Heavens… Moreover, as long as there was a day that she was in the Palace, the Emperor would refuse to be intimate with the Empress or have concubines and will be criticized by the Imperial Court, so she resolutely agreed to marry Cui Jing, a handsome and renown man in Yue Xi.”
“What happened later on?” Li Wei Yang gently asked.
“This Prince Consort Cui was from a branch of the Jing family in Chang Ling. Well-educated and well-versed in martial arts, sophisticated and courteous, he was thought to be a worthy match for the Princess. Who would have thought this handsome, courteous and prestigious Prince Consort Cui in everyone’s eyes heard some rumors that the Princess was not virtuous and shameless. From the moment he was married, he had never stepped foot into the Princess’ room, solely favoring a concubine Tao Ye. Later on, when the Emperor found out, he was rather heartbroken, but he could not suppress his agony and warned Prince Consort Cui to treat the Princess well. Regardless of what he did, Prince Consort Cui did as he wished. He still refused to see her, even if the Princess was thin and bedridden ill. In the end, he thought that the Princess had reported everything to the Emperor, so he locked her up in the inner chambers, not giving her food or water. Once the Emperor learned about it, he took the Princess back to the Palace despite Empress Pei’s opposition. Moreover, he charged Prince Consort Cui of abuse towards the Princess and forced the two to mutually separate. From then on, the Princess lived in the Palace as a result of her current marital status… Commander Pei saw that there was no way to stop the Emperor. He said that as long as the Emperor had a Crown Prince with the Empress, then he could keep the Princess by his side.”
“The Emperor had just ascended to the throne and was in a hurry. Moreover, he could not let others threaten the Princess’ life again, so he agreed. However, he did not just let Empress Pei give birth to a son, he took several concubines into the Palace. These women all gave birth to princes. Of course, the Pei family was furious but could not do anything. Those concubines also came from prestigious families of Yue Xi and were not touchable. Among them were two from families that once supported the Pei family. Once they had princes to count on, they no longer wanted to cling onto the Pei family, wanting to raise princes of their family bloodlines to be the Crown Prince. Naturally, the Pei family’s power became divided. The Emperor also could not stand the Pei family’s threats…” At that point, Li Min De suddenly sighed deeply, after that his words turned sharp: “The Emperor waited until the Imperial Court stabilized and no longer continued to favor concubines in the Palace. He solely focused on the Princess, and Empress Pei pretended not to know for the time being. But soon, Empress Pei could not sit still because the Princess was pregnant, and the Emperor desperately wanted the child to be born.”
Li Wei Yang looked at Li Min De in shock. As blood siblings, even if they were from an ordinary household, falling in love was absolutely unacceptable, let alone in the Imperial family! Not only did they love each other, but they even wanted to have a child… Once the news was out, it could destroy the entire Imperial family. This was a dangerous situation, but the Emperor of Yue Xi still wanted his little sister to give birth to this child. What kind of insane love was this.
Li Min De’s eyes seemed empty as if he was staring into an unknown place. Perhaps he could not face Li Wei Yang because no one in this world would accept such a bloodline, such a terrifying, filthy, even if the two were in love, they were still brother and sister. They should not even be together, much less have a child with their shared blood… The thought was enough for him to sense others’ eyes, cutting into him like a knife, making his face ache and splitting his heart.
"I think... I will not tolerate the birth of such a child, not just her, I am afraid that those who have been silent and will now collectively oppose it..." Li Weiyang has been silent for a long time. Said, this is almost certain, and she faintly noticed that this child is Li Minde, but she did not immediately break it, but continued to listen.
“I think… Empress Pei will not simply allow this child to be born, not just her, but I’m afraid everyone who has remained silent will now collectively oppose it…” Li Wei Yang spoke up after a long, silent pause. This was almost certain. She vaguely felt that this child was Li Min De, but she did not say it aloud and continued to listen.
“What followed was rather simple. The Emperor wanted to hold onto their flesh and blood, but this child was born to be cursed by the Heavens. The Princess could bear it. After she had been with the Emperor, she was tormented by nightmares every night, pushing her into self-isolation and suffering. Later on, the Princess gave birth to a boy…” Li Min De’s voice trembled, tired and hollow like someone who was gravely ill. In that moment, he finally felt despair.
He felt as if his entire body was being pierced by nails, and the blood could not flow out, painfully trapped beneath the skin. Because of Wei Yang’s care, he came to understand the warmth of the world, but he had to tell her the truth, even if it would cost him this hard-earned warmth for his trivial dignity! He did not want her to be buried in her life. Since she wanted to know his background, he would tell her, but now he began to regret it. He believed that with her intellect, she had already guessed who he was.
He never understood what was called beauty, but many people praised his appearance based on their impression of him. They said he was born with a beauty unlike ordinary people, and even the Third Furen who adopted him also said he would grow up to make Young Misses lovesick and aching.
However, when he learned of his identity, he immediately saw himself as filthy, an unconventional beauty that came from a sinful bloodline he did not know of, but he knew it had to do with those two… He could not face it himself, especially when he stood in front of Wei Yang, he would feel that his blood was filthy.
Li Min De was lost in thought again. Li Wei Yang noticed the subtle change in his mood and did not speak. She only looked on in silence, her eyes calm and unwavering.
Li Min De closed his eyes, but those three words did come from his mouth.
Then, he turned back to look at her and softly said: “I am that child.” In that moment, his soft voice felt chilling.
