Chapter 1243 - 919: We Are Family, Bound by Fate

When she saw Yu Dingxing’s only remaining eye bloodshot and furious, staring at her with rage, Yu Mingyue felt a bit guilty despite her disgust for this scoundrel.

She averted her gaze and softly said, "I just asked a question, why is Father so angry?"

Yu Dingxing, having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for years, managing to align himself successfully at critical moments to become a founding hero, had an eye trained in the fires of experience, so Yu Mingyue’s thoughts couldn’t escape his notice. He clenched his fists, the illness and suffering over these days making it hard to suppress the fury in his heart. Yet with another thought, he forcefully swallowed back the rage that was close to erupting.

He sneered and said, "So, you’re saying, it’s just me being paranoid?"

"..."

Yu Mingyue glanced at him, eyes flickering, without responding, prompting Yu Dingxing to continue, "What answer does the Crown Princess Consort wish to obtain from this old minister?"

"..."

"Or do you believe this old minister knows the answer?"

Yu Mingyue immediately replied, "Of course not. I was merely asking casually, Father, please don’t overthink."

"Hmph."

Seeing Yu Dingxing’s cold demeanor, Yu Mingyue felt some annoyance, but reflecting it was her slip of tongue earlier, she could only curb her resentment as she leaned slightly forward, saying to Yu Dingxing, "The group that ambushed Pei Xingyuan appeared out of nowhere, the situation is too strange, I’m really uneasy."

"..."

"If Father has any clues, please be sure to tell your daughter."

"..."

"We are a family, interconnected in fortune and suffering!"

Initially, the previous words had already made Yu Dingxing roll his eyes, determined to ignore her pleas, but upon hearing those last words, his expression turned serious.

Indeed, not only are the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort connected in fate, he and the Crown Princess Consort, after all, are father and daughter, aren’t they also?

However—

He pondered and said patiently, "What clues could I have? The other day, I was nearly stranded in the mountains over the New Year; just after the Lantern Festival finished, my old injuries flared up and I was dispatched once more to pursue those two rebels. What could I know of matters in the city?"

Saying this, he cast a sideways glance at Yu Mingyue, "Does His Highness, the Crown Prince, also know nothing?"

Yu Mingyue frowned slightly, giving him a glance.

In truth, almost everyone suspected the Crown Prince first once hearing someone attempted to ambush Pei Xingyuan. After all, one of the purposes behind arranging this play was to claim Pei Xingyuan’s life, to not only cripple King Qin’s support but also to subtly deepen the Emperor’s suspicion of King Qin. However, from the beginning of this plot, the Crown Prince was a conspirator with them; it made no sense for that move to be hidden from them, and furthermore, after the incident, he returned immediately to question them; if it truly was his doing, he wouldn’t have shown anger towards them.

Moreover, an attempt on Pei Xingyuan’s life like this is too obviously inviting trouble upon oneself.

Hence Yu Mingyue shook her head and said, "His Highness, the Crown Prince, certainly does not know. He even suspects it was me—or rather, us—"

Hearing this, Yu Dingxing was immediately filled with rage, slamming the table and standing up, "I have lost an eye for the Crown Prince, for you, and am now suspected by the Emperor, and now I have to be doubted by you? If this is the case, then in the future don’t come to me for any matters of yours!"

"I——"

Yu Mingyue again felt a surge of guilt.

In truth, what Yu Wenqian had said to her were all just suspicions aimed at her, but she refused to let anyone think she had not only not gained the Crown Prince’s favor, perhaps even lacking his trust, hence she had implicated Yu Dingxing in her words. Little did she expect that in his rage, he would threaten to sever ties with her.

And seeing Yu Dingxing turn to leave after saying those words, Yu Mingyue felt not just guilty but somewhat panicked—long since had she lost the Emperor’s trust, the Crown Prince’s attitude towards her since the wedding had been indifferent, with Lou Liangdi constantly stealing her spotlight; after this incident, the Crown Prince’s coldness and suspicion towards her were written on his face. Now, her only reliance is her family, and if Yu Dingxing severs ties with her, what will remain for her as the Crown Princess Consort?

For the first time, she felt she knew nothing, and possessed nothing.

Yu Mingyue hurriedly said, "Father, please don’t be like this!"

"..."

"His Highness, he... he is merely, just a bit anxious, after all, this batch of people has left us very passive."

"..."

"Since Father is also suspected by the Emperor, we should discuss and resolve this issue together to clear all doubts, isn’t that right?"

Yu Dingxing halted in his tracks.

In truth, he didn’t truly intend to leave this mess behind; after all, Yu Mingyue was right in saying that he and the Crown Princess Consort, and the Crown Prince, their destinies are indeed intertwined. Moreover, having already been involved earlier, to abandon it now would yield a poor outcome if things went awry in the future, neither for him nor the entire Yu Family.

Thinking this, he let out a heavy sigh, turned back to sit down, and coldly looked at Yu Mingyue, "So, what does the Crown Princess Consort suggest we do?"

Yu Mingyue said, "Investigate, we must find out who this group of people is!"

"..."

"Only by understanding their origins and actual intentions can we clear our names before the Emperor."

"..."

"Moreover, I suspect that this group acted to frame us, to incite the Emperor’s suspicion; if we don’t find them, we may fall into another trap in the future!"

Yu Dingxing frowned and said, "Hasn’t the Emperor already ordered the Left Guard to thoroughly search the city?"

Yu Mingyue said, "It’s the Emperor’s affair to search, but if we find them, it not only absolves us but could also be seen as an achievement—"

At this point, her gaze turned cold, "I can’t let that whore Lou Chan Yue overshadow me everywhere!"

Yu Dingxing gave her a cold look, seemingly lost for words. After pondering for a long while, he finally said, "I can investigate, I can search, but the Crown Princess Consort must understand one thing: I am not acting on anyone’s orders, nor am I willing to be anyone’s stepping stone. Instead, I act because my fate is connected to the Crown Princess Consort’s. Our rise and fall are one."

Yu Mingyue’s heart sank abruptly.

Yet she forced a smile onto her face and said, "Father, those words are too distant."

Yu Dingxing coldly said, "Not distant; who knows their own standing?"

Yu Mingyue gave him a deep look, feeling somewhat uneasy, then stood up and said, "Since it’s settled, I’ll take my leave first. Please, Father, do all you can for this matter. We, after all, are interconnected in both fortune and sorrow!"