Mei Ruyan wanted to speak, but for a long moment, she found herself choked with emotion, unable to utter a word.
She had followed Wei Yuzhi in acts of treason, day and night longing for nothing more than to see him again.
Mister Mo, known in the martial world as "Yin Sha," also bore the widely recognized name Wei Chuzhi. Beyond that, only a handful knew he was of direct lineage to the Yelü imperial clan of the Liao Kingdom—his true name was Yelü Quancang.
The world knew Misty Villa had a First Master, Wei Chuzhi, and a Second Master, Wei Yuzhi. Yet while Wei Yuzhi handled affairs openly, no one had ever seen Wei Chuzhi’s true appearance.
At this moment, he was not the shadowy leader of a mysterious assassin organization, not the feared Yin Sha, nor even the ethereal yet eccentric Mister Mo from Mei Ruyan’s memories. Instead, he was an emperor who commanded an empire.
Mei Ruyan was momentarily at a loss.
That year, the valley entrance to Plum Blossom Village had been scorched to ashes. From the clothing and weapons, she had identified Mister Mo’s corpse. In that moment, her grief had been beyond despair. She had never imagined that someone like her—who had scraped and schemed just to survive—would one day be so heartbroken over something as extravagant as love.
She buried "Mister Mo’s" body in the bamboo grove of the Mei Estate, the place where he had loved to sit quietly and play the qin. After days of sitting numbly before the grave, she encountered Wei Yuzhi, who had come searching for his old friend.
Wei Yuzhi’s appearance was no coincidence—he had come specifically to retrieve Yelü Quancang.
"You’ve grown thinner," Mei Ruyan murmured, gazing at his gaunt yet increasingly imposing face, her heart a tumult of emotions.
"Sit," Yelü Quancang said, taking a seat by the window.
After a brief hesitation, Mei Ruyan chose a spot neither too close nor too far from him. Even after all this time apart, she still remembered clearly—he disliked others getting too near.
"You once said that if you died, I should avenge you. Was that your way of accepting my feelings?" Had this been the Mei Ruyan of the past, she might have flattered and ingratiated herself, eager to seize the position of Liao’s empress now within reach. But at this moment, nothing mattered more to her than this question. Even if he were still Mister Mo, still forced to wander in hiding, she would follow him without hesitation, without regret.
Yelü Quancang studied the girl before him, his expression devoid of any excess emotion.
The hall was eerily silent. Mei Ruyan felt her heartbeat thunder in her ears like war drums.
"I grant you ten thousand gold," Yelü Quancang said, his opening words draining the color from Mei Ruyan’s face. Yet he seemed not to notice. "Return to the Song Kingdom and live well."
Her face pale, Mei Ruyan’s gaze only grew more stubborn. "Regardless of the outcome, I want an answer!"
As the emperor of a nation, Yelü Quancang did not take offense at her demanding tone. His reply was calm yet firm. "I never once felt anything for you."
"Then why summon me today? Why grant me ten thousand gold?" Mei Ruyan pressed, unwilling to relent.
Yelü Quancang answered, "You married Hua Rongjian and stole many secrets for Liao, rendering great service. By rights, you deserve a reward. I simply no longer wish to see you."
"If what you say is true, then why did you say those words back then?" Mei Ruyan already faintly guessed the answer. She dreaded hearing it from Yelü Quancang’s lips, yet unless she heard it directly, she knew she would never truly let go.Yelü Quancang lowered his gaze and spoke slowly, "If I hadn't said that, would you have willingly served the Liao Kingdom?"
"You..." Mei Ru Yan's phoenix-like eyes welled up with tears, "You're not that kind of person."
Mei Ru Yan thought hearing the answer would make her give up, but even after hearing it, she still refused to accept fate. Mister Mo was far too proud—he would never stoop to such vulgar acts just for a woman's allegiance!
Yelü Quancang looked up, his authoritative gaze tinged with surprise and helplessness. Mei Ru Yan was far more clever and stubborn than he had imagined.
After a moment of heart-wrenching pain, Mei Ru Yan's mind gradually cleared. Memories surfaced, vivid and real, making her increasingly certain that Yelü Quancang was not entirely indifferent to her. "I heard you're plagued by illness. Is that why you drove me away?"
Yelü Quancang did not answer. Mei Ru Yan continued, "I just don't understand—if you're the Liao Emperor, why did you grow up in the Song Dynasty? Why were you part of Yin Sha? And why did you hide in Plum Blossom Village?"
Yelü Quancang tilted his head slightly, resting his chin on one hand with a hint of laziness. "The struggle for imperial power was too fierce. I had no choice but to avoid the storm."
The previous Liao Emperor actually came from a collateral branch of the Yelü imperial clan. That year, the Liao Taizu was already thirty-five—an "advanced age"—yet had no sons. Thus, he had to select outstanding boys from collateral branches to groom as successors. But who could have predicted that three years later, Empress Xiao would give birth to a legitimate heir? While late-life children should bring joy, what was to be done with those collateral descendants who had been raised as potential heirs?
Had Liao Taizu lived longer, Yelü Quancang might have smoothly inherited the throne. But time waits for no one. Yelü Quancang was named Crown Prince at eight years old, and the following year, Taizu was injured during a hunt. The wound festered, and after lingering for a year, he finally passed away. (To be continued...)
PS: Had a late IV drip at the hospital—the fluid hurt going in, and I was so sleepy. Struggled through it, but at least I fought through the Medicine's effects.
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