Ling Yu glanced calmly at Tang Wan before turning back to Ling Yue. His tone softened slightly.
“What your sister-in-law said is right.”
“So tell me—what exactly are you thinking?”
Ling Yue looked at him silently. After a moment of thought, she answered honestly.
“Big Brother, the Shadow Master is powerful, holds a high position, and possesses extraordinary martial arts. Just like Sister-in-law said… what’s that phrase again…”
“Oh, right.”
“A perfect eligible bachelor.”
“And I’m just an ordinary girl.”
“Marrying him would be marrying far above my station.”
“With him by my side, my status would naturally rise as well. Whatever business I wanted to do in the future would become much easier.”
“So…”
“Why wouldn’t I marry him?”
“As for what you told me before…” Ling Yue’s face paled slightly. She pursed her lips before continuing determinedly.
“I think that in life, whenever you gain something, you must also lose something.”
“If becoming a first-rank noblewoman and one of the wealthiest people in the world requires paying a price…”
“Then that’s only natural.”
“A husband dying young…”
“A mother and child being separated…”
“I wouldn’t be losing out.”
“Really.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Women are destined to marry and have children anyway.”
“So why shouldn’t I marry someone who benefits me?”
Even princesses, despite enjoying all the privileges funded by the people, were often required to marry into foreign kingdoms for political alliances.
She wasn’t even a princess.
What right did she have to be so picky?
Besides…
The Shadow Master wasn’t merely powerful and influential.
He was also unbelievably handsome.
Only an idiot would refuse to marry him.
And…
Setting all those practical reasons aside…
She genuinely liked that adorably clueless Shadow Master.
Ling Yu raised an eyebrow.
He hadn’t expected Ling Yue to say something like that.
This girl…
She’s becoming more and more like a true businessperson.
As for the Shadow Master…
Forget it.
Ling Yu let out a soft snort.
“Do as you please.”
“Just don’t come crying to me later.”
“Thank you, Big Brother…”
Ling Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
But when she thought about Ling Yu’s current predicament, worry quickly replaced it.
“My matters can wait…”
“But Big Brother…”
“Will you be alright going to the palace?”
Ling Yu looked completely unconcerned.
“I’m not like you.”
He wasn’t worried about himself in the slightest.
He knew exactly what the Shadow Master was capable of.
All he could say was…
Gu Hengcang had played a very poor move.
With the Prefect of Shuntian and a large group of constables escorting Ling Yu home…
It looked less like an escort…
…and more like he was being taken into custody.
The procession marched openly through the busiest streets.
It was impossible not to attract attention.
Not to mention all the spies and informants scattered throughout the capital.
Before long…
Almost everyone who should know about Ling Yu’s situation had heard the news.
Even those who shouldn’t have known…
…knew as well.
Inside the Palace.
The Emperor was so furious that he was cursing loudly inside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
This time…
He genuinely hated Gu Hengcang.
“That damned troublemaker!”
“That’s your own grandson!”
“Do you really hate seeing him succeed that much?”
Wan Zhenxiang wore a miserable expression.
Summoning all his courage, he cautiously tried to comfort the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”
“Actually…”
“I think this may not be such a bad thing.”
The Emperor glared at him and roared,
“Not a bad thing?”
“When the eldest prince and his mother hear about this, won’t they start causing trouble again?”
“What if they set another fire?”
“What then?”
“Will you give me back my grandson?”
Faced with the Emperor’s thunderous fury, Wan Zhenxiang immediately dropped to his knees.
He hurriedly explained,
“Your Majesty…”
“What I mean is…”
“Since Chancellor Gu is so utterly heartless…”
“Minister Ling won’t feel obligated to preserve any family affection for the Chancellor’s family in the future.”
“In that case…”
“There’ll no longer be any danger of the maternal relatives interfering in state affairs.”
The Emperor froze.
“…Well…”
“…That actually makes sense.”
Seeing the Emperor’s expression soften, Wan Zhenxiang quickly pressed on.
“I’ve served Your Majesty all these years.”
“When the Empress Dowager Ming was still alive…”
“You had such a difficult time.”
“This servant truly pitied you.”
“But now things are different.”
“That kind of situation won’t happen again.”
“If you ask me…”
“Chancellor Gu should keep making trouble.”
“The more he pushes Minister Ling away…”
“…the more disappointed Minister Ling will become in him.”
“Mmm…”
The Emperor imagined a future in which Ling Yu completely ignored all those troublesome relatives from the Chancellor’s family and governed with absolute impartiality.
His mood immediately improved.
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