Chapter 121 The So-called Kinship

Her father had indeed made such a statement.

Back then, King Ming, who wanted to usurp the throne, did not spare his kinship but murdered his brother and even took his wife and concubines by force.

Even her father commented that if King Ming had been born a hundred years earlier, the situation for the western vassal state and Dajin would have been different from what it was today.

“Your father is the real hero with an indomitable spirit. If not for the fact that we are in different positions, your father and I would have become bosom buddies.

The army of the western vassal state was incomparable to that of Dajin.

Moreover, Dajin was mostly victorious over the western vassal state during their many conflicts over the years.

Nevertheless, Lin Muzhi had always feared King Ming to a certain extent. Although the two nations were allies, the western vassal state had always had the mind to revolt against Dajin.

Lin Mengya, however, did not betray her knowledge of this in her expression.

Her beautiful face was smiling sweetly and she looked especially adorable with her flushed cheeks.

“My father said so too. He respects you from the bottom of his heart.”

When they were done with exchanging conventional greetings, King Ming changed the topic of their conversation as he shot a severe look at Lin Mengya’s eyes.

“I like you as a person, so I’m going to be very direct with you. Were you the one who killed my son, Hu Lunan?”

According to the usual practice of the western vassal state, a blood debt had to be repaid with blood.

Hu Lunan started the attack and Lin Mengya retaliated.

Hu Lunan could only blame himself for being incapable, which was why he ended up being injured.

However, killing a person was a different matter altogether.

Since Lin Mengya took her seat, this was the first time she looked straight into King Ming’s eyes, and she was herself looking somber and severe.

“I admit that I was indeed the one who injured Hu Lunan. However, I did not kill him, otherwise, I would have killed him when I injured him.”

Honesty was the necessary condition for negotiation under such a circumstance.

Lin Mengya’s forthrightness was obviously greatly appreciated by King Ming.

Pausing to think for a while, King Ming finally said,

“Since you were not the killer, then things become much easier. Tell me, what is the purpose of your visit today?”

At this moment, the two decided not to mince their words and this saved them from beating around the bush.

Lin Mengya smiled, but still did not reveal the purpose of her visit directly to King Ming.

“I would like to know what the Crown Prince promised King Ming in exchange for your help in achieving his goal, disregarding all else.”

Lin Mengya’s words took King Ming in surprise.

While his eyes flashed with surprise, a wary look immediately took over.

“You mean…”

“King Ming, let’s not try to conceal anything. Hu Lunan is not your own son, which was why his death did not really bother you, am I right?”

Once again, Lin Mengya’s statement brought a surprise look on King Ming’s face.

Not many people knew about this. How did this lass find out about this?”

“Don’t be surprised, King Ming. As true as the saying goes that a dragon will give birth to a dragon, and phoenix, a phoenix. How could your son be such a be a shameless person?”

Looking from the angle of the study of genetics, Lin Mengya could see that Hu Lunan was far from being the son of King Ming.

Moreover, both King Ming and Hu Tianbei seemed to connive at Hu Lunan’s behavior.

What kind of a father would do that?

Moreover, Lin Mengya also realized that from the onset of this entire incident, be it King Ming or Hu Tianbei, neither of them were truly grievous over what happened.

“Haha, what a glib tongue you have. You’re right, Lunan is not my son. More accurately, he was my brother’s son who was still in his mother’s womb when his father died.”

All the adult sons of King Ming’s brother had been secretly murdered by him.

This son alone was spared because at that time, he was still in his mother’s womb.

Nevertheless, he was now a cold, lifeless body. The irony was that Hu Lunan still believed that he was going to take over the western vassal state at the point of this death.

“In reality, King Ming, you may have guessed this even if I don’t say it. The Crown Prince was not the right partner to collaborate with. He is an inconsistent vile character, who does not honor his words.”

The Crown Prince did not have a good reputation and King Ming was very sharp with his judgment. He would certainly know that the Crown Prince was not the best option for a partner.

“You’re indeed very smart, little lass from the Lin Family.”

A smile appeared on King Ming’s face once again, as he cast a look of approval on Lin Mengya.

Compared to the muddleheaded and deluded Crown Prince, this woman before his eyes was definitely a better choice for a partner.

However, this would also depend on whether she was able to offer even better and more beneficial conditions in their negotiation.

“I’m flattered, Your Highness. I have merely been sent by my Lord, Prince Yu. No matter how attractive the promises the Crown Prince offered you, he would not promise you the country. Therefore if you want to negotiate terms with Dajin per se, we would be your best choice.”

Lin Mengya’s words evoked waves of thoughts in King Ming.

It was not a big deal to move to another partnership. It was not wrong to move on to whichever partner who could offer a greater benefit.

“What you said is absolutely right. However, I need time to consider your offer.”

Things turned out to be as Lin Mengya expected. She merely smiled but did not push him further to make a decision there and then.

“I think that’s it for now on this matter, but I’ve another thing which I’d like to ask you for your advice, Your Highness.”

Lin Mengya began putting on the black cape and was about to turn to leave.

“With regards to Lunan, if you could provide me with a reasonable account of what happened, I promise to let the matter rest.”

In reality, it was the Crown Prince who had been pushing for punishment, so he could be accountable to King Ming so to speak.

“Alright, I understand.”

Clearly, Hu Lunan was just part of the terms of negotiation. King Ming was not going to give up the benefits he had harvested just because he died.

Lin Mengya left King Ming’s tent in a hurry and was not surprised when she bumped into Long Tianhao just outside.

His lanky figure was wrapped in a long black coat as the breeze lifted the corner of his coat.

Under the moonlight, his handsome face exuberated a chilly brilliance.

No woman in the world would be able to withstand such a charming man.

Lin Mengya put on a hat and approached Long Tianhao slowly.

Little did she expect that another figure would suddenly appear and cut in in front of her.

This person must be trying to put up a grievous look in public.

It was Princess Ming Yue, who had by now changed into a long white dress. Her hair bundled up with a simple hairband and she was wearing a single velvet flower.

Her eyes were filled with tears and there was a subtle melancholy written on her pretty face.

Lin Mengya stopped abruptly in her tracks and stood behind the two figures.

“I didn’t expect Prince Yu to be here at this late hour, not having retired for the day.”

The voice that spoke sounded mesmerizing and appealing in the quiet of the night.

Long Tianhao’s vision was drawn from what he was looking at, yet it did not rest on the beautiful lady.

“Erm.”

Without hesitation, Long Tianhao walked to Lin Mengya and stood in front of her.

“Are you done with your negotiation?”

His voice was so gentle that it did not sound like his usual self. He tugged at Lin Mengya’s cape and put his hand around Lin Mengya’s shoulder in the most natural way.

“Since you’re done, let’s go back.”

Princess Ming Yue’s face fell in that instant, but she quickly forced a big smile on her face.

“I wasn’t aware that Princess Yu was here. Please forgive me for not welcoming you.”

In reality, Ming Yue was aware of their presence since they arrived at the campground.

She approached Long Tianhao only now because he was in Hu Tianbei’s tent earlier on.

She had spent some effort and time to doll herself to meet Long Tianhao, but she did not expect that he only had eyes for Lin Mengya.

“It’s alright. I’m not a petty person. I just thought that is not appropriate to lust after that which belongs to someone else.”

She had meant these words for Ming Yue.

Long Tianhao was indeed very charming, but not everyone could develop a close relationship with him.

Princess Ming Yue’s face grimaced in that instant. She cast a wistful eye on Long Tianhao and started to tear up.

Although Long Tianhao did not get upset, why then did he refuse to meet her eyes but walk passed her?

Did her eldest brother not say that Princess Yu was an overbearing woman although she was exceptionally beautiful?

Could she not win the heart of Prince Yu by being demure and gentle?

Why? Why would he not even take one look at her?

As Ming Yue watched the two people walking away, she could not bring herself to resign to her fate.

“Don’t even think about it, for he’s not someone who could be brought under control.”

A leisurely voice sounded as Hu Tianbei emerged from his tent.

He could not help but feel a sense of pity for his little sister when he saw her standing there, disillusioned.

Ming Yue was so outstanding in her appearance there was no one in the western vassal state who could match up to her.

Sadly, Long Tianhao already had Lin Mengya, who was even more excellent than her.

“Elder Brother, I’m not resigned to this. I can’t be resigned to this!”

In the presence of Hu Tianbei, Ming Yue was like a child who had been overly pampered.

Stamping her foot, Ming Yue tugged at Hu Tianbei’s sleeves. She was like her younger self when she was asking Hu Tianbei for his purplish-red horse.

“If you’re not resigned to this, you should go ahead to fight for it. However, I’m warning you not to provoke Lin Mengya to anger, otherwise, you may even lose your life.”

The royal family of the western vassal state was in no way comparable to that of Dajin. At least in the western vassal state, they valued kinship more. At least on the surface, it was so.

The harsh environment had resulted in a strong bond between its people. All infants, including the ones in the royal family, would be left in the wild for a night straight after they were born.

If an infant was able to live through the night, he would have the right to survive.

However, if he were to die an unfortunate death or be eaten by a wild beast, the people would attribute this to his destiny.

“Do you think my life is so inferior? Do you think I’m like the useless Hu Lunan?”

She had always looked down on Hu Lunan. Moreover, that useless man had been harassing her non-stop since three years ago.

Ming Yue thought she would have to do something if not for his bad luck that brought upon his early death.

“Lunan had indeed died due to his bad luck. However, he deserved it since he was the perpetrator.”

Hu Tianbei shot a sharp glare at Ming Yue. His piercing eyes caused Ming Yue to start feeling some guilt.

“What are you saying, that I’m a dim wit?”

As she turned around, a look of guilt flashed across her eyes.

Hu Tianbei sighed and said quietly,

“Don’t treat the Crown Prince as your true reliance.”

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