The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 200 - 199

Chapter 199

"Mu Yingying, how did you end up like this? You must have gone through so many hardships. I’m sorry I found you too late..."

Ke Jiaren murmured to himself, his heart aching at the sight of his benefactor in such a state. Beside her was another woman, presumably Mu Yingying’s elder sister, in a similar condition. What hardships had they endured to look so pitiable?

If only he had found her sooner, perhaps he could have done something to help. Instead, he stood here, watching as she and her sister awaited their impending death. He had to find a way to save her.

"It seems like she is looking at something, Your Highness,"

The guard beside him observed. Ke Jiaren had already noticed the direction of Mu Yingying’s gaze, filled with hatred and vengeance.

Could it be...

Ke Jiaren followed her gaze and saw a luxurious carriage, likely belonging to the royal family, parked not far away. Could the person in that carriage be the reason for her and her sister’s death sentence?

"Find out who owns that carriage!"

Ke Jiaren ordered his guard. But as he turned back to the execution platform, the executioner had already beheaded Mu Yingying and her sister. He could only stand and watch from a distance.

Ke Jiaren stared at Mu Yingying’s head as it rolled to the ground, feeling a profound emptiness and pain in his heart. He had to uncover the truth behind her death. He couldn’t let her and her sister die without justice.

After the execution, the bodies of the two condemned women were moved from the platform. The ground around the area was stained with bright red blood, mingled with the pungent smell. Two soldiers were ordered to dispose of the bodies outside the city for the dogs to eat. No matter the severity of their crimes, the bodies should have been given a proper burial. Disposing them for animals to eat was utterly inappropriate.

The bodies of Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan were loaded onto a cart, their cold, headless corpses covered with straw mats. The soldiers began to head towards a remote area outside the capital, but before they could reach their destination, they were stopped by someone.

"Who are you?"

One of the soldiers asked, visibly alarmed, pointing his sword at the two men who blocked their path.

"Calm down, my friend. Let’s talk this over. Please put your swords down,"

Ke Jiaren’s guard said, signaling the soldiers to lower their weapons. However, the soldiers remained wary, keeping their swords pointed at the men who were blocking the cart. Realizing that peaceful negotiation wouldn’t work, the guard handed a large pouch of money to the soldiers.

The two soldiers frowned as they looked at the bag of money in their hands before one of them spoke up, "What exactly do you want?"

It was clear that these soldiers were not entirely foolish, understanding the implications of the guard’s actions. However, Ke Jiaren viewed them with disdain.

These soldiers were only interested in money!

"We want the bodies of these two prisoners,"

The guard stated bluntly. The soldiers exchanged glances, wondering what these two men could possibly want with the bodies of executed criminals.

"That’s not possible. We have orders to dispose of the bodies outside the city for the dogs. If we don’t follow orders, we’ll be punished,"

One of the soldiers replied. If it was discovered that they had given the bodies away, they would likely lose their own heads.

"What good would it do to let the dogs eat them? Wouldn’t it be better for you to take this large sum of money instead?"

Hearing the persuasion, the two soldiers began to waver. Although giving away the bodies was a serious offense, the amount of money in the bag was enough to support their families for years. They conferred for a moment before making their decision.

"Fine. Take the bodies, and we’ll take the money,"

After they finished discussing, one of them agreed. If these two bodies were thrown to the dogs to eat, it would be useless. Wouldn’t it be better to give them to the two men in front of them and receive a large bag of money? They figured that if they kept their mouths shut, no one would ever know.

"You’ve made the right choice," Ke Jiaren’s guard smiled, though inwardly he shared his master’s contempt.

They were all for money!

"So, take the bodies and keep this quiet. No one must know that we handed over the executed prisoners’ bodies to you. Understand?"

"Understood. We won’t say a word."

With the deal made, the two soldiers left with their large bag of money, and Ke Jiaren and his guard took the bodies of Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan to a hill outside the capital.

By the time they reached the hill, the sun was beginning to set. The evening sky was painted with the soft golden hues of the setting sun, and the cawing of crows returning to their nests added to the melancholic atmosphere.

The hill was surrounded by lush green grass and wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The air was filled with a serene tranquility, yet it also evoked a deep sense of sorrow. The distant sounds of the city also seemed to fade away.

This place was perfect for their final resting place...

Ke Jiaren and his guard searched for a small, open area amidst the serene hills to create a burial site for Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan. Once they found a suitable spot, they began digging the ground to lay the bodies to rest. Ke Jiaren gathered stones from the surrounding area to build a makeshift altar, with a wooden grave marker for Mu Yingying that he had carved himself. Around the marker, he arranged a variety of bright, colorful flowers that he had carefully selected.

In Ke Jiaren’s memory, Mu Yingying was still a cheerful and lively girl, much like these wildflowers. It was a shame that such a beautiful flower had withered so quickly.

Ke Jiaren sat down beside Mu Yingying’s grave and poured wine as a tribute to the deceased.

“I’m sorry I came too late...”

Though there were countless things Ke Jiaren wanted to say to Mu Yingying, all he could manage now was an apology.

“If I had found you sooner, you wouldn’t have met this tragic end.”

His heart was heavy with guilt. If he had searched for her earlier, they wouldn’t have met in such a state where she was lifeless. He didn’t even get the chance to repay her kindness. Despite being such a good person, why did she have to face such a fate?

“I refuse to believe that you could commit such a heinous act.”

Poisoning someone to death was a vile and despicable act, and Ke Jiaren was convinced that Mu Yingying could never have done such a thing. Moreover, the victim was her own half-sister. How could she have committed such an act?

Even though many people claimed that Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan were jealous of Mu Luofei, their half-sister who was appointed Lady Ping An, and thus decided to plot against her, Ke Jiaren believed these accusations were baseless. Mu Yingying would never be envious of her own sister.

At that moment, Ke Jiaren remembered Mu Yingying’s vengeful gaze before her death, directed at the luxurious carriage. Could the person inside that carriage be connected to her death?

“Don’t worry, I will uncover the truth and restore justice for you.”

Ke Jiaren spoke with determination to Mu Yingying’s grave. Though she was gone, he would never forget the debt of gratitude he owed her for saving his life in the past. If he could find out who was behind her death, he would immediately drag that person down to the underworld to beg for her forgiveness.

One month later,

The Royal Palace, Qingzhou Region 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Amid the stillness of the night within the Qingzhou Royal Palace, a young man walked along a marble-paved path. Despite the bright lanterns lining both sides, no one noticed his presence. Each step he took exuded power and grace. No matter how heavily guarded the inner sanctum of the Qingzhou Palace was, it posed no obstacle for Ke Jiaren.

Over the past month, he had uncovered many details about the Mu family and the Qingzhou royal court. Exactly as he suspected, the deaths of Mu Yingying and her sister were the result of someone framing them. His nocturnal visit to the Qingzhou Palace had only one reason.

He wanted to settle the score for Mu Yingying!

In the royal study, Chen Feng Yue, the current Emperor of Qingzhou, was diligently reading petitions submitted by his officials. While working, he did not wish to be disturbed, so the eunuchs and palace maids could only stand waiting outside the study’s door.

Even though it already passed Zi Hour, the young Emperor was still engrossed in his work, ignoring the repeated reminders from the eunuch in front of the royal study.

"Your Majesty, it’s already late. Please retire to your chambers. Overworking yourself could lead to illness,"

The eunuch’s voice echoed from outside, momentarily breaking Chen Feng Yue’s concentration. He needed to finish reviewing these petitions by tonight as there was an important meeting with his officials in the morning.

"Let me finish reading this petition. If you’re tired, you may retire to bed. I give you permission,"

The Emperor’s voice boomed from the royal study, causing the eunuchs and maids to gulp nervously. How could they sleep when the Emperor was still awake? Even if he had granted them permission, they dared not close their eyes.

Half an incense stick later, the flames of the candles around Emperor Chen Feng Yue began to dim gradually, before they flickered as someone moved through the room. The young Emperor looked up from his petitions to see a silver mask man standing before him.

Chen Feng Yue’s expression turned to one of surprise. How had this man managed to bypass the guards and enter the royal study? The stranger’s appearance intrigued Chen Feng Yue.

This man must be extraordinary...

Although Chen Feng Yue didn’t know if the silver mask man was friend or foe, he didn’t call for the guards outside to protect him. Instead, he asked with interest,

"Who are you? How dare you intrude upon my study like this? Do you not fear death?"

Ke Jiaren didn’t respond to the Qingzhou Emperor’s question. If he feared death, he wouldn’t have dared to invade the Emperor’s royal study.

"Who exactly are you?"

Chen Feng Yue felt a slight wariness towards the young man before him. He began to scan the surroundings for the closest weapon. If the man in front of him intended to cause harm, he would be able to use it to defend himself.

Ke Jiaren noticed the wary demeanor of the Qingzhou Emperor. He took out his personal jade pendant and handed it to Chen Feng Yue. The young Emperor examined the pendant for a moment, and then his memory sparked recognition. The red jade engraved with a soaring dragon was the symbol of the Crown Prince of the Basui Region. He remembered it well; it was unmistakably the emblem of the Crown Prince of Basui.

So, the young man before him was...

"Ke Jiaren..." Chen Feng Yue exclaimed softly.

Ke Jiaren had been appointed Crown Prince of the Basui Region not long ago. He was known for his considerable abilities. But why would the Crown Prince of Basui infiltrate the Qingzhou Royal Palace in the dead of night?

"If you agree to help me with something, I will assist you in eliminating the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang,"

Ke Jiaren stated his purpose immediately. Even though he knew he was being rude to the Qingzhou Emperor, his heart was too restless to follow protocols or customs. Infiltrating the palace to speak directly with the emperor seemed the best course of action, especially to keep their enemies unaware of their plans.

Chen Feng Yue frowned slightly, puzzled. How could Ke Jiaren propose such a bold offer after sneaking into the royal palace at night? What was his plan?

"What do you want? Why would you want to help me eliminate the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang?" The young Emperor was not easily convinced; he needed to understand the other party’s intentions clearly.

"I’m not interested in the politics of Qingzhou at all. I want to help you solely to repay a debt of gratitude. So, will you help me or not?"

Ke Jiaren asked bluntly. If the Qingzhou Emperor refused to cooperate, he would handle things himself without wasting time on negotiations.

"If I help you, will you truly help me get rid of the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang?" Chen Feng Yue asked again for confirmation, even though he still didn’t know what Ke Jiaren wanted from him.

"Of course. I mean what I say. I will help you eliminate the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang, provided you agree to cooperate."

The determined demeanor of the Basui Crown Prince made the Qingzhou Emperor contemplate for a moment. Currently, the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang wielded power beyond his control. In other words, his imperial authority was being undermined. The court was divided into factions supporting two power bases. If he did not act swiftly to remove the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang, he feared that in the future, they might be the ones to oust him.

"I’m very curious about your true reason for wanting to help me,"

If the Basui Crown Prince claimed to have no interest in Qingzhou politics, what could he possibly want? Why was he so determined to eliminate the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang?

"If I help you succeed in eliminating the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang, you must help clear the name of Seventh Young Miss Mu, making it known across the land that she was innocent."

The enemies who killed his benefactors, he would destroy them completely!

Hearing the Basui Crown Prince’s proposal, Chen Feng Yue fell into deep thought.

"Do you agree to cooperate with me or not?" Ke Jiaren pressed, noting the Emperor’s prolonged silence.

"I agree,"

Chen Feng Yue decided to cooperate with Ke Jiaren immediately. Right now, the power of the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang had grown to the point where he was nearly powerless. If he were described as a puppet emperor, it would not be far from the truth.

"Since you agree to cooperate with me, I will send you a letter with the detailed plan in three days."

The Qingzhou Emperor nodded in understanding. With that, Ke Jiaren used his lightness skill to swiftly leave the royal study.

Chen Feng Yue smiled in satisfaction, contemplating the kind of plan the Basui Crown Prince might devise to eliminate the Empress Dowager and Shin Wang.

He could hardly wait for the day to arrive...

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