Chapter 3: Chapter 176: It's No Fun If You Die

Chapter 176: It Would Be Boring If He Died

"Father, please do not be angry. Even if you don't have a son, you still have me, your daughter Wan'er!" Yao Mowan wept as she turned back to Ye Junqing's side. Even after leaving the Yao Prime Minister's Manor, the tears at the corners of Yao Mowan's eyes had not yet dried!

Inside the carriage, Ye Junqing watched Yao Mowan's pear-blossom-like, rain-drenched appearance, hesitating for a long time before speaking.

"If it were just about Li Qingqing, Yao Zhenting wouldn't have been struck that hard by you. What exactly happened? This Prince cannot figure it out. Do you hate Yao Zhenting? Why did he mention Mo Xin?" Ye Junqing's eyes were filled with suspicion; he was particularly concerned about anything related to Yao Moxin.

"Why would Mo Wan tell you?" Yao Mowan wiped the tears from her eyes and said resentfully. By losing a few tears, she could make Yao Zhenting nearly die of anger; in this round, she had won decisively.

"Because you used Junqing as a tool, you should at least give some return, shouldn't you?" Ye Junqing stated this fact in an extremely calm tone. After leaving the Yao Manor, Ye Junqing finally understood what Yao Mowan's true purpose for tricking him into coming along had been.

"Yao Zhenting indulged Dou Xianglan in poisoning Mo Wan's mother to death, and even ordered people to throw mother's corpse into a mass grave. What does His Highness think of this reason?" Yao Mowan had no intention of hiding anything from Ye Junqing and laid it all bare.

"A beast in human clothing. I really should have slaughtered him just now!" Ye Junqing suddenly felt a hint of regret, even feeling the impulse to immediately get off the carriage and turn back.

"It would be boring if he died." Looking at the indignation in Ye Junqing's eyes, Yao Mowan couldn't help but smile foolishly. Ye Junqing was likely feeling protective of her by extension.

"Does he know that you aren't foolish?" Noticing the strange light flashing in Yao Mowan's eyes, Ye Junqing's indignant heart gradually calmed down. How could he have forgotten? Most people targeted by Yao Mowan lived lives worse than death.

"It's only interesting if he knows." Yao Mowan laughed wantonly; she really had to carefully deliberate on the upcoming drama.

"Then aren't you afraid he will report to the Emperor that you aren't foolish?" Ye Junqing looked at Yao Mowan suspiciously.

"He will enter the palace, but the person he is looking for is not the Emperor." Yao Mowan leaned lazily against the backrest of the sedan chair. Her jade-like fingers lifted the side curtain, her clear eyes gazing outside before gradually closing.

Seeing the faint fatigue on Yao Mowan's face, Ye Junqing did not disturb her. If she hadn't said so, Ye Junqing truly wouldn't have known that Yao Mowan carried such hatred. That was why she specifically targeted Yao Suลuan, wasn't it? It seemed he had misunderstood her before.

Things indeed developed according to Yao Mowan's guesses. On the second day after Ye Hongyi learned of the incident at the Yao Manor and issued an edict to penalize Yao Zhenting by withholding one year of his salary, Yao Zhenting appeared in the main hall of Huaqing Palace.

"The Prime Minister is quite a rare guest. Ming Yu, serve tea." Yao Sułuan sat leisurely in a lounge chair, holding freshly brewed Pu'er. Her slender phoenix eyes glanced at the solemn-faced Yao Zhenting, her tone full of mockery.

Whether it was Guanju Palace or the Yao Manor, as long as there was any movement, she would know. Now that such a major incident involving Li Qingqing had occurred, how could Yao Sułuan not know? When she received news of her father's intent to kill Yao Mowan, Yao Sułuan knew it must be because her father had discovered Yao Mowan's true face.

"Sułuan, Father hasn't come to see you for a long time. Are you well?" Yao Zhenting naturally heard the disdain in Yao Sułuan's words, yet he did not show any anger. He knew very well that with Yao Mowan's schemes, he was no match for her alone—especially since the Emperor, based solely on Yao Mowan's word and without even giving him a chance to explain, had docked his salary. This showed that Yao Mowan had already captured the Emperor's heart. Now, if he wanted to topple Yao Mowan, he had to have Yao Sułuan's support.

"Father? If this Palace remembers correctly, the Prime Minister once said he only had one daughter, and that was Yao Mowan living in Guanju Palace. Could it be that the Prime Minister is unfamiliar with the palace paths and has come to the wrong door? Ming Yu, take the Prime Minister to Guanju Palace." Yao Sułuan was angry at Yao Zhenting's ruthlessness; whether toward her or her mother, Yao Zhenting was thoroughly heartless.

"Sułuan, in the past, Father wronged you. I truly did not expect that lowly wretch Yao Mowan to hide so deeply. Father finally understands now—only you are my good daughter!" In Yao Sułuan's memory, Yao Zhenting had never apologized so submissively. It seemed Yao Mowan had truly wounded him deeply.

"Forget it. We are father and daughter after all; Sułuan does not wish to dwell on it so much. Father, please sit." Hearing this, Yao Zhenting was overjoyed and immediately sat at the table. By this time, Ming Yu had already handed over the brewed tea.

"Ming Yu, go and stand guard outside." Yao Sułuan dismissed Ming Yu and turned to face Yao Zhenting.

"Speak. What business does Father have in seeking Sułuan this time?" Yao Sułuan asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Father has decided to do everything in his power to help you reclaim the Emperor's favor from Yao Mowan!" Yao Zhenting thought this sentence would make Yao Sułuan's eyes light up, but he did not expect it to be met with her sneer of contempt.

"What a pity. If Father had said this a month ago, Sułuan would be infinitely grateful. But now, the thing Sułuan prizes least is the Emperor's favor." Yao Sułuan sat down opposite Yao Zhenting, her eyes calm and undisturbed.

"Sułuan, are you truly willing to be neglected? Willing to be stepped on by Yao Mowan forever?" Yao Zhenting was astonished by Yao Sułuan's reaction and asked in confusion.

"This Palace will certainly not sit idly by and wait for death. In fact, this Palace has long had plans, but I wonder if Father is interested in hearing them?" Yao Sułuan raised an eyebrow at Yao Zhenting. Being willing to accept Yao Zhenting's peace offering did not mean she could forget the past humiliations. Currently, she was extremely short-handed; otherwise, Yao Sułuan would never have let Yao Zhenting step foot into her Huaqing Palace.

"What plans?" Yao Zhenting concealed the sharpness in his eyes and asked suspiciously.

"Thanks to Yao Mowan, this Palace's relationship with the Emperor has reached a point of irreconcilable rupture. Even if this Palace were to kneel before the Emperor and perform [censored], he would not spare me a second glance. Currently, this Palace is at the end of my rope, but fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel—Prince Jing visited me recently." Yao Sułuan briefly explained her situation, her words serving as a probe.

"Prince Jing? What business does Prince Jing have with you?" Yao Zhenting's brows furrowed, a flash of worry appearing in his eyes. In his impression, Prince Jing was by no means a kind person.

"Since Father is so clever, does this Palace still need to be explicit?" Yao Sułuan picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and waited for Yao Zhenting's response.

"Prince Jing wants to rebel, and you want to assist him?" To reach the position of Prime Minister, Yao Zhenting must have had extraordinary qualities.

"What does Father think?" Yao Sułuan set down the teacup and asked seriously.

"Sułuan, you are being so foolish! Rebellion is a capital crime that results in the execution of nine generations; you must not be so reckless!" Yao Zhenting looked at Yao Sułuan in shock, his heart feeling as if it had been hollowed out. If the Emperor found out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"If we fail, it is indeed a capital crime of the nine generations. But what if we succeed? Then we are founding heroes! Currently, being in this Huaqing Palace is no different from being dead. Rather than sitting and waiting for death, it is better to take the initiative!" Yao Sułuan's beautiful eyes narrowed, her voice growing cold.

"So, you are saying you have agreed to Prince Jing's terms?" Yao Zhenting let out a long sigh. He had originally thought that among his three daughters, Yao Sułuan was relatively easy to control, while the other two were simply eccentric. He knew in his heart that if it weren't for Yao Moxin, Ye Hongyi might not have become Emperor. As for Yao Mowan, her schemes were so deep even he could not see through them; it was just that now, even this daughter he thought was the easiest to control was becoming increasingly crazed.

"That is correct, I have already agreed. Father now has two choices. One is to leave Huaqing Palace and go directly to the Imperial Study to report me to the Emperor. The second is to support Prince Jing alongside me; when Prince Jing succeeds in the future, he will still entrust Father with heavy responsibilities." The reason Yao Sułuan laid her cards on the table was because she was certain Yao Zhenting would not refuse.