Chapter 218: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 218: Will His Majesty Strongly Keep Her?
“County Princess Gu, why have you not yet accepted the decree and offered thanks?” The eunuch smiled as he reminded her, seeing that Ming Luo remained kneeling motionless.
Ming Luo barely managed to recover a shred of her scattered thoughts.
A princess title…
This seemed to be the highest honor that an outsider-born woman like her could ever reach under the Li dynasty.
Yet she felt not the slightest joy or excitement. For such an investiture to be bestowed at such a juncture—could it truly be a blessing?
The immense shock and confusion gave birth to a trace of courage. She did not immediately accept the decree, but rather, in fearful bewilderment, said:
“Aunt has so heavily favored me, Luo’er truly feels overwhelmed with fear. Yet without merit, one should not accept such reward…”
“You have accompanied me for many years, sharing my burdens—how can it be said you have no merit?” The Holy Emperor did not take offense at her hesitation, but only said:
“A princess title—you are worthy of it.”
The sovereign had no mind for detours:
“Besides, you are to go to Tuyuhun this time for a marriage alliance. You will need the identity of a Princess of Da Sheng.”
Ming Luo froze at once.
A marriage alliance?
Tuyuhun!
Her eyelashes trembled. “Aunt…”
“I have already had the imperial edict drafted. Tomorrow at morning court it shall be announced to all within and without.”
The Holy Emperor looked toward Ming Luo, still kneeling there, and said:
“You are no ordinary woman of the inner residence. You must understand—Tu Bo is mighty, and has long borne deep grudges against Da Sheng. There is, for now, no way to resolve them. Tuyuhun serves as a buffer between Da Sheng and Tu Bo. If Tuyuhun does not remain, Da Sheng will have to face Tubo’s wolfish ambitions head-on.”
“Tuyuhun must not be made to surrender to Tubo, nor must it be destroyed by Tu Bo. Thus at this time Da Sheng must declare its intent to protect and aid them, in order to settle Tuyuhun’s heart.”
A marriage alliance, naturally, was the gesture that most displayed sincerity, and also the one that Tubo would most take notice of.
“Our Da Sheng is a vast and mighty empire, strong for many years. Tu Bo cannot act without any scruple. To marry into Tuyuhun is also both a deterrent and a reminder.”
“At present Da Sheng suffers internal troubles, and in the short term we cannot afford to add external woes. The entanglement of interests here—I need not speak further; you yourself should know them clearly.”
Ming Luo trembled as she answered softly: “Yes.”
She understood well… but why must it be her?
The imperial clan did not lack suitable daughters of age. Why did Aunt choose her alone?
Was it because she had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure, and thus could no longer remain by her side in the capital?
Indeed. Even if she was but a chess piece—if cast aside and crushed outright, would that not be wasteful? Of course she had to be wrung of her last ounce of value before the years of “cultivation” could be considered not in vain.
“I know you may wish to ask—why I chose only you.”
The Holy Emperor’s voice rang out, without the least trace of joy or anger:
“From childhood you received my teaching and cultivation, unlike the other imperial women. And the new ruler of Tuyuhun is in his prime, a rare talent in both civil and martial matters. Since Tuyuhun depends on Da Sheng’s protection, they will certainly treat you with honor and respect. Once you are wed there, you will become Mother of the Nation. With your ability, you can share in the governance of their state—”
Here, the Holy Emperor’s voice dropped slightly, seeming to waver.
That year, her Chongyue was married to Northern Di—it had truly been a purgatory of blades and fire. There had been no honor, no respect—only humiliation and abuse.
Her homeland could not be her backing. Her past merits became sins devouring her, whips and blades that struck her down.
For a moment, the Holy Emperor muttered almost to herself:
“You are far more fortunate… than Chongyue ever was.”
Fortunate?
Ming Luo lowered her eyes, reddened, filled with desolate irony.
“If you can grasp this well, then this marriage alliance may be a turning point for you. Tuyuhun will treat you well, and Da Sheng will not wrong you either.” The Holy Emperor concluded:
“Go now—do not disappoint me again.”
“Yes… Gu’an will follow the Holy One’s teaching.”
Ming Luo received the golden imperial edict in her hands, and step by step left the Hall.
So it was that she had been shallow indeed. The Emperor knew her faults, yet disdained to speak them outright, disdained to hear her defense. She merely pulled her up like a weed, weighed what value remained in her dying stalk, and decided where to discard her.
Fortune, fate…
Aunt truly was skilled at gilding the word “use” into charity and grace.
Mother of the Nation?
Tuyuhun was but a tiny land, not even the size of one prefecture of Da Sheng. Hemmed in between Da Sheng and Tu Bo, mere survival was a struggle. Where in that was dignity?
To say she could “govern the nation together”—was that not laughable? Tu Bo’s ambition loomed; Tuyuhun’s annexation was only a matter of time. Her marriage was but to delay that day a little longer!
In the end, her role was no different from Chongyue’s—only a sacrifice to buy Da Sheng a breath.
That year, Princess Chongyue married into Northern Di, buying three years of respite for Da Sheng—and also the perfect moment of power for her cold-hearted mother.
And now, as this so-called “County Princess Gu,” what benefit could she trade in return?
This so-called “fortune” was nothing more than a lie to coax her into marching more willingly to her death.
Hot tears of rage and unwillingness welled in Ming Luo’s eyes. Through the blur, she looked up at the towering palaces, suddenly realizing that all her years of effort and caution had been no more than a vain dream.
Indeed, she should have known—ever since she chose to become Chongyue’s shadow, she should have foreseen this day.
Lowering her gaze to the edict in her hand, she thought it laughable. The one time she “resembled” Chongyue most… was today.
No—not resembled. She had truly become a second Chongyue.
Ming Luo brushed away her tears, and suddenly laughed.
How foolish she had been, once believing that the Emperor held genuine guilt toward her lost twin children. She thought that by being Chongyue’s shadow, she could secure shelter beneath that guilt.
Now it was clear. True, false, shadow—what difference was there?
If her shadow’s end was thus, would that Chang Suining, so hard to tell real or false—meet any different fate?
Ming Luo’s reddened eyes showed a hollow curiosity.
She need not hurry to kill her. Both were but chess pieces. She would watch instead, to see how the other piece would fall… perhaps there might even be some novelty in it.
She laughed again, her steps heavy, as she walked into the thick night.
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