ebookland Chapter 281: Verbal and written criticism
Chapter 281: Verbal and written criticism
Yang Ling raised an eyebrow, still speaking politely to Murong Jin, "What is it?"
"I would like to ask you to tell me why my father and mother ran away from home in the first place?" Murong Jin looked directly into Yang Ling's eyes and asked seriously.
She wanted to know what exactly happened back then, why Murong Jin and Murong Min suddenly left the capital and then disappeared without a trace.
Yang Ling smiled mockingly. "You actually care about this? Have you forgotten why you came to the capital in the first place?"
Murong Jin's expression immediately turned serious. She knew she had been abandoned, and guessed that her parents had abandoned her, but she didn't know what exactly had happened back then.
Seeing this, Yang Ling sighed and said, "Fine, since you refuse to admit that you are a member of the Murong family, then you can forget about finding out why your parents left."
"Then can you tell me? I know you are a member of the Yang family army, but why would you betray the king you serve and become a traitorous rebel?" Murong Jin asked, staring intently into Yang Ling's eyes.
Yang Ling scoffed, "You're wrong. I haven't betrayed the Emperor."
"Then why did you help the emperor rebel?"
Yang Ling looked up at Murong Jin, "You want to know?"
Murong Jin nodded without hesitation.
"Fine, beg me. If you beg me, I'll tell you." Yang Ling's lips curled into a wicked smile.
Murong Jin looked at him for a while, then said, "Fine! Tell me the truth."
Yang Ling nodded in satisfaction. "The Murong family was indeed implicated because of you. Your father was dismissed from his post and exiled, and your mother was demoted to a commoner."
"Was my father dismissed from office and exiled because of me? Why was my mother demoted to a commoner?" Murong Jin was shocked to hear this. She simply couldn't believe that her father had been dismissed from office and exiled, and that her mother had been demoted to a commoner!
Seeing the surprise and pain in Murong Jin's eyes, Yang Ling comforted her, "Murong Jin, none of this has anything to do with you. Don't be too sad."
Murong Jin shook her head. "Thank you."
Although she hated Murong Jin's parents, they had ultimately raised her. Moreover, they had given her such an outstanding son as Yang Ling, for which she was grateful.
"You don't blame them?" Yang Ling asked, somewhat surprised.
Upon hearing this, Murong Jin replied calmly, "Why would I blame them?"
Yang Ling was stunned. After a long while, he finally found his voice: "But they abandoned you back then, they didn't even care whether you lived or died..."
Murong Jin lowered her eyes. "Yes." She hated them too back then, and she hated the world.
But later, as she grew older, she came to understand the choices her parents had made back then, and she let go of her resentment.
"So if you want to hate someone, hate Murong Jin. It has nothing to do with your parents." Yang Ling suddenly felt sorry for Murong Jin. Although she appeared strong, who knew how fragile she was inside?
Murong Jin raised her head to meet Yang Ling's gaze, revealing a weak smile, "Yes, I will hate Murong Jin, not just for my parents."
Yang Ling frowned. "You're planning to take revenge?"
Murong Jin sneered, her tone filled with intense hatred and anger: "That's right, I will definitely make them pay the price!"
Seeing this, Yang Ling fell silent. He stopped speaking and quietly looked at Murong Jin.
Murong Jin seemed to notice Yang Ling's probing gaze. She didn't flinch, but met his eyes openly, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"How do you plan to take revenge? Do you even know who he is?" Yang Ling asked.
Murong Jin snorted lightly, "Of course I know! She's the second legitimate daughter of the Murong family!"
Although Murong Jin did not reject her identity and even felt a strange sense of familiarity with it, she did not like Murong Wan'er, let alone respect her.
Yang Ling frowned slightly upon seeing this. "You don't dislike her?"
"What's the point of hating her? Besides, hating her won't change my situation, nor will it change her fate. Rather than hating her, it's better to let her continue living in hatred," Murong Jin said with a shrug.
She didn't think there was anything to be sad about; everyone has to take responsibility for the mistakes they make.
"You're quite carefree," Yang Ling smiled. "But even so, you still want to oppose the Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Murong Jin recalled what she had just heard in the Imperial Garden.
"His Majesty is a wise ruler. He is wholeheartedly concerned for the people and is a good emperor. He will do his best to get whatever he wants."
After hearing these words, Yang Ling gave Murong Jin a deep look. "I remember you came to the palace today on important business, didn't you? What? Are you going to give up now?"
Upon hearing Yang Ling's words, Murong Jin narrowed his eyes, then stood up and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave."
After saying that, she walked out of the hall. Yang Ling watched her back and a smile appeared on his lips. Then he picked up the wine pot on the table and took a few big gulps.
After finishing a pot of wine, Yang Ling got up and walked towards his bedchamber.
"Young master, this wine is quite strong, please drink slowly!" The servant hurriedly reminded Yang Ling when he saw him finish the whole pot of wine in one go.
Yang Ling ignored him and drank it all in one gulp.
Helpless, the servant could only take the wine pot from his hand after he finished the last cup.
Yang Ling shoved aside the servant who was blocking her way, "Get out!"
The servant was taken aback, then immediately knelt down and apologized: "I deserve to die! Please forgive me, young master!"
Yang Ling didn't even glance at him, and strode forward.
"Young master, where are you going?"
Yang Ling stopped and turned to the servant, "Go see the Emperor."
"But..." The servant was stunned when he heard Yang Ling say that he wanted to see the Emperor.
"What? Are you afraid I'll kill him?" Yang Ling looked at the servant's expression and sneered.
The servant was so frightened by Yang Ling's words that he immediately knelt down. "That's not what I meant!"
Yang Ling sneered, "Since that's not what you mean, then hurry up and prepare a car for me!"
"Okay, okay, I'll go right away." The servant hurriedly ran out.
Murong Jin stepped out of the palace gate and saw Xiao Yan waiting outside. She quickened her pace, walked up to him, and grabbed his sleeve, saying, "Husband."
Xiao Yan reached out and put his arm around Murong Jin's waist. "Let's go."
Murong Jin nodded, and the two walked hand in hand toward the carriage.
After getting into the carriage, Xiao Yan held Murong Jin's cold hands and asked, "Ah Jin, what's wrong?"
Murong Jin turned her head to look at him, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "It's nothing, I just think this palace is quite big." What she originally wanted to say was: she didn't want to go to the palace anymore.
Xiao Yan, however, did not notice the unusual expression on her face. "Yes, the palace is quite large."
Murong Jin nodded. "I'm tired. I'll take a nap." Then she closed her eyes.