Chapter 413: An Act of Generosity, Returning the Bright Pearl

Li Yuzong continued, "If you had just given in and admitted your mistake, the Emperor wouldn’t be so cold to you. For such a close ruler and subject to end up like this..."

He found it a great pity himself. Li Yuzong heaved a long sigh.

Even if Wei Ting was a military genius the likes of which is seen only once a century, history books have long recorded the fate of men who dare to covet the Emperor’s woman.

Wei Ting remained silent until they reached the main tent.

He could guess why Emperor Wu Su had summoned him so late at night.

While the Emperor was gravely injured and unconscious, he had used certain means to forcibly marry Ji Qingwu. Although Ji Bo Lian later made a scene and took his daughter home, the matter ended as a farce and was left unresolved.

But Wei Ting knew full well that once Emperor Wu Su awoke and learned of it, he would not let the matter rest.

He had once harbored a sliver of hope, believing his marriage to Ji Qingwu was a foregone conclusion, but he never expected Ji Bo Lian to interfere.

Ji Bo Lian had returned to Lin’an at the perfect moment—not too early, not too late. It was difficult to say it wasn’t Emperor Wu Su’s handiwork.

「Inside the main tent of the military camp.」

The candlelight flickered, revealing a tall figure.

Emperor Wu Su had his head lowered, brush in hand, writing something.

Li Yuzong stopped by the entrance, bowed, and reported, "Holy Emperor, General Zhenbei has arrived."

After a long moment, Emperor Wu Su finally moved, tossing the brush in his hand aside.

A single, faint word drifted out of the tent.

"Send him in."

Li Yuzong glanced at the General before him. "General Wei, if you please." With that, he gently lifted the tent flap.

Wei Ting strode forward and knelt on one knee, performing a military salute.

"This general greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long, long may you live."

Emperor Wu Su sat behind a long desk in the tent. Though he was not on a throne several feet high, the sheer force of his presence was enough to make Wei Ting feel a weight on his back.

The Emperor did not bid him rise, so he could only remain kneeling on the ground, awaiting his judgment.

It was warmer inside the tent than outside, yet Wei Ting’s hands gradually grew cold.

He could feel an icy gaze lingering on his spine and the nape of his neck.

"Do you have any regrets?" Emperor Wu Su’s voice was dispassionate, yet it pierced like ice to the bone.

The question came without warning, yet it was enough to send a jolt through one’s heart.

’Is Your Majesty giving me a chance to admit my mistake?’

Wei Ting’s ramrod-straight back gave an almost imperceptible tremble.

He took a breath before answering, "I have no regrets!" Wei Ting continued, "I admit to everything I have done."

After speaking, he lowered his head and awaited the Emperor’s judgment.

Zhao Mingyan flicked the letter, its ink still wet, through the air and asked casually.

"And do you know what matter I am referring to?"

Surprise flashed through Wei Ting’s mind.

There was no hint of anything in Emperor Wu Su’s demeanor; he might have been feigning ignorance.

"This general is slow-witted. Please, Your Majesty, clarify what matter you speak of," he replied cautiously, though he already had a sinking feeling.

’There weren’t many things that could make him feel regret...’

’If Emperor Wu Su wasn’t talking about Ji Qingwu, what else could it be?’

The black ink soaked into the yellow paper. Zhao Mingyan placed the letter on the desk and said lightly, "I am speaking of the time Wei Liru entered the palace."

Wei Ting’s back went completely rigid.

’To bring up Liru now... he couldn’t be planning to rake up the past.’

Zhao Mingyan’s gaze fell to the hands resting on Wei Ting’s knees. His tone was calm, yet oppressive.

"I recall that General Wei was vehemently opposed to Wei Liru entering the palace. Because this sister of yours, whom you grew up with and treated so well, was—"

Before Zhao Mingyan could finish, he saw Wei Ting’s fingers clench abruptly.

"Not related to you by blood."

Wei Ting’s head snapped up, his gaze locked on the man seated before him. "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Mingyan continued leisurely, "Though she is supposedly the legitimate daughter of the Wei Family, her true identity is that of an abandoned infant taken in from Lijiao Lane."

Wei Ting’s eyes trembled, a storm raging within him.

’What is the Emperor’s purpose in bringing this up now?’

He didn’t deny it, nor did he offer any pointless excuses. Since the Emperor had brought it up, he must have already investigated the old matter thoroughly.

"This general is guilty. I knew of this but failed to report it. Princess Consort Wei is unaware," Wei Ting said gravely.

Wei Ting had only learned that Wei Liru was adopted and not his biological sister after accidentally overhearing a conversation between Madam Wei and his father.

His own biological sister had long since passed away from an illness.

Zhao Mingyan said, "Go on, tell me what you know."

Wei Ting answered carefully, "Princess Consort Wei is not the legitimate daughter of the Wei Family, but there was no intention to deceive Your Majesty. It’s because my little sister was born prematurely and passed away after only half a month. The childbirth severely weakened my mother, leaving her frail, and my father couldn’t bear to tell her the truth. That is why he adopted Liru."

Zhao Mingyan’s expression didn’t change, as if he already knew everything.

"Oh? Then why were you so vehemently opposed to Wei Liru entering the palace?"

Wei Ting lowered his head, a flicker of conflict in his eyes.

Zhao Mingyan took in his reaction, his tone remaining calm.

"Regardless of your reasons for trying to stop her, I will now give you an opportunity."

Wei Ting’s heart hammered against his ribs like a sledgehammer, each beat heavier than the one before.

Having been fellow generals and then sovereign and subject for many years, Wei Ting believed he shared a certain understanding with the Emperor.

His scalp tingled as he faintly sensed Emperor Wu Su’s intentions, and panic began to set in.

Wei Ting shifted to kneel on both knees. "This general and Her Highness Princess Wei have no illicit affair!"

Zhao Mingyan chuckled, his tone laced with ridicule.

"I am a man who delights in helping others fulfill their desires. I am willing to return the pearl to its rightful owner. I will give Princess Consort Wei a new identity, and then—"

He paused, his gaze turning to ice.

"Bestow her upon you in marriage."

Wei Ting’s heart sank. "Your Majesty, you absolutely must not," he said hastily.

Zhao Mingyan’s tone turned cold and severe. "So, forbidden things are only for General Wei to do, not for me?"

A chill ran through Wei Ting’s entire body.

’He couldn’t refuse. He could only accept.’

Only now did he finally understand his own heart.

The thing he regretted wasn’t allowing Wei Liru to enter the palace. It was that he hadn’t held on to Ji Qingwu when she had tried every way imaginable to get close to him.

The color drained from Wei Ting’s face, leaving it ashen. His heart filled with defeat.

Zhao Mingyan felt no satisfaction at his loss of composure, merely saying lightly, "There is one more matter I wish for General Wei to handle. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with it."

Wei Ting’s mind was in a daze. "Please instruct me, Your Majesty."

Zhao Mingyan said, "Two hundred li outside of Longzhou, there is a place called Black Wind Village. It is no ordinary bandit hideout, but a den for the former subordinates of the Fourth Prince of Xijin, Yu Wen Tianqing."

Hearing this, Wei Ting’s expression grew stern. He forced himself to focus. The war with Xijin was paramount. He immediately concentrated and listened intently.

Zhao Mingyan’s gaze was profound as he said slowly, "Yesterday, this Black Wind Village ambushed Qingyun’s convoy. The Prince Consort has already requested a deployment order to lead troops to surround and suppress them."

Wei Ting nodded. He had heard about this as well. No wonder elite troops were being dispatched; so it was Xijin’s forces hidden there.

"Your Majesty, how are the men of Black Wind Village to be dealt with? Are they to be executed on the spot?" he asked.