No Repeats

Old Madame Huang's viciousness

Yu Li's face blackened further as he narrows his eyes and scrutinised the cold and icy expressions on Old Madame Huang's face. 

At that moment the head steward stepped inside the room to be hit head on by the auras of this pair of icebergs. Being an ultimate professional, the head steward swallowed his fear and cleared his throat to speak.

"Old Madame and Young Master, a person holding an imperial identification tag have arrived and asked to speak to Young Master. I have settled him in the waiting hall and prepared tea," said he.

Yu Li smirked internally, hating himself for this oversight, he always knew that his grandmother was a stern and intelligent woman, but he had underestimated her swiftness and crazy.

"Tell that person to wait, I will join them in half an incense stick's time," said Yu Li coldly, keeping his eyes still fixed on her face. Yu Li grew more irritated when Old Madame Huang's lips tilted upwards into a self-satisfied smile.

"Grandmother, she is just a girl and have nothing to do with our plans, why do you target her?" said Yu Li.

"Grandson, that woman has bewitched you all these years, because of her you have not returned home and even now blatantly offend other powerful families without any thought of consequences. It is as if you don't want to keep this mission a secret any longer and are prepared to declare it to the world. That is why I wanted to help you decide, either you go all out now and save your girl or you let her die to give our great mission a better chance of success," she said calmly as if she was discussing the weather.

"You know better than anyone else that rashness will kill us. I have worked so hard all these years to set up the chess pieces, but with one swoop, grandmother, you have destroyed all advantage that I have on this set. Is it because you could not stand anyone, including me, to go against your will? Because of your short-sightedness, you are gambling away the future of the Murong clan and our chance at success!" he said with clenched fists.

"I have not yet, think again grandson. I have rid those pesky concubines and spies in one go as you asked, and someone is going to take the blame for their deaths, it is perfect. Now, the move is yours, would you ruin the set up to save an insignificant woman? Let her be the sacrificial pawn...my grandson, the imperial secret inspector is outside right now, the move is yours," said Old Madame Huang confident that her own position is unshakeable.

"I do not care about the Murong clan's ambitions. No, I did everything I did for her," he said with a cold smile.

Old Madame Huang looked at him, feeling shocked by such an incomprehensible confession. Yu Li had always worked so hard and excelled in everything since he was a little child. He had approached her to understand the secret of the Murong clan's ambitions when he was five years old, and have gone on to become one of the most powerful people in the empire. How can he have done all of this for a woman he just met five years ago?

"My grandson, you must be feeling very confident right now to say that. Are all the pieces in place and ready for our strikes? Have you found the missing crown prince?" she asked earnestly, trying to change the subject.

"You have betrayed me, grandmother, you do not deserve to know, and you will not take part in any of the glory to come. But let me tell you something though, if Shu Mei loses a single strand of hair because of this, you will never see sunlight again," he said with a sneer.

"Grandson, no, think about my connections and all the resources I have given you all these years. Do not ruin your reputation and go down in history as an unfilial bastard! She is just a woman who has done nothing to contribute to your merits, do not throw away all your relationships and family for her," she pleaded.