Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 261 I Know I Was Wrong

"I know you think His Majesty was able to ascend the throne simply because of luck, but can someone succeed with only luck? He was also a general in the rebel army. Although he came from humble beginnings, even less so than you or me, he was brave and skilled in battle, had a forthright and generous nature, and was always ready to help others. This attracted a large number of talented people willing to serve him. Not to mention, after ascending the throne, what he did was for the sake of the people? He even stood against the former officials in the court because of it. You also know that the Great Jing Dynasty has suffered from natural disasters and man-made calamities in recent years, but even under such circumstances, he has been able to uphold his principles and do things for the people."

"When you keep denouncing His Majesty, have you ever thought about what kind of lives we ordinary people lived during the end of the previous dynasty? Even if you are not a true Great Jing person, why did your mother give birth to you, a mixed-race child? Wasn't it the work of those barbarian tribes of the grasslands? Moreover, your years of wandering and displacement are real. It's already a blessing that the people can live relatively peaceful and tranquil lives now. It's a world of difference compared to before. Although life is difficult now, His Majesty is trying. Do you think it's easy to support an army? Our Northern General has 20 men. Don't you have any idea how much resources they consume for food, drink, and sanitation every day?"

"Although Lenovo's annual allowances are sometimes delayed, they've always been paid in the end. Think about it, if we truly had no food, how would we have survived all these years? Who provided that food? It was all thanks to His Majesty's efforts. Do you think only the northern border of the Great Jing needs food? Not to mention, the Southern Barbarians to the south are always eyeing us covetously, frequently using the natural environment there for warfare. Many of our brothers are constantly sick because they can't adapt to the weather there, yet they still hold their ground. And then there are those scattered small countries along the eastern coast and overseas, though their overall strength isn't great, they're like flies, constantly harassing our coastal defenses and slaughtering villages. Don't those brothers need to eat or drink every day?"

“Di Yun, I am very disappointed in you. In matters of national importance, the country must come before the family. It is only natural for you to want to protect your family, and I do not blame you. But you can always give me a hint. It has been half a year, and you have never mentioned this matter to me. It is clear that you do not trust me and do not believe that I will treat you equally.”

General Yuchi looked at Di Yun, who had collapsed to the ground, with disappointment. He had never married or had any children of his own, but in his heart, he had already regarded Di Yun as his descendant and even planned to leave the position of General of the North to him in the future. But this very person whom he trusted so much had already betrayed him, betrayed the Northern Frontier Army, and betrayed the entire Great Jing.

Under Di Yun's pained gaze, General Yuchi had no choice but to speak.

"When you chose to conceal the truth and inform the enemy, you had already made a choice in your heart. At that moment, you sided with the grasslands."

"I, General, I didn't, I really didn't..."

Now that things have come to this, what's the use of saying all this? General Yuchi stopped looking at him and turned away nimbly. Only Jiu Que noticed that his eyes were red. Indeed, after so many years by his side, and having raised him almost like his own child, the child had long since stopped acknowledging his identity. What a blow this must be to Uncle Yuchi.

Speaking of which, children born to people of different nationalities and ethnicities should naturally inherit the genetic characteristics of both parents. In any case, she had never heard of a mixed-race child inheriting only the physical characteristics of one parent. If Di Yun was truly of mixed Dajing and grassland descent, it was impossible for her to only inherit the physical characteristics of Dajing people and look exactly like them.

So, was the person who secretly hid, sowed discord, and revealed Di Yun's identity lying to him from the beginning?
“Deputy General Di, I have also seen mixed-race individuals between the Great Jing and the grassland people. Most of them resemble both Great Jing and grassland people, and it’s impossible for them to inherit only the physical characteristics of one side. Of course, mixed-race children may not look like their parents, but they will always resemble the tribe to which their parents belong. But you, from head to toe, don’t resemble a grassland person at all. You have most likely been deceived.” Di Yun suddenly shuddered, abruptly looking up at Ying Jiu Que who had spoken these words, unable to believe his ears. Ever since receiving those secret letters one after another, he had been filled with unease, but he had never doubted that he was not a mixed-race individual between the two.

But now, hearing Lord Ying say this, a completely new suspicion suddenly arose in his mind: Could he have been a pure-blooded person of the Great Jing Dynasty from beginning to end? Could it be that someone was instigating all of this behind the scenes? If that were the case, what had he done? He had actually betrayed his country because of those so-called secret letters…

At this moment, Lady Di Yun, standing beside her, already knew what her husband had done. Despair welled up within her. No one in the entire frontier didn't hate the steppe barbarians, and her husband had actually sent them a secret message, nearly harming the kind-hearted Lord Ying. Even if he wasn't of mixed race, he had still done those things; how could he possibly live with himself?
"My husband, Di Yun, how could you be so foolish? How will our child face the world? She has a father who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. She will surely blame you in the future! And me, I was deaf and blind, and didn't even realize that the person beside me had done such an unforgivable thing..."

Her lips trembled, and she suddenly lifted her skirt and rammed her head against a nearby tent pole! The pole, coated with several layers of varnish and weathered by years of wind and sun, was practically indistinguishable from a stone. If she were to hit it squarely, she would likely die instantly.

Just as she was about to crash into the pillar, a faint figure suddenly appeared, gently pulled her back from the brink of death.

Jiu Que, who had been holding her breath, finally relaxed, thankfully having Senior Cui by her side.

Di Yun, who had also breathed a sigh of relief, was suddenly overwhelmed with immense sorrow. His actions had not only harmed himself but also his wife and daughter. Now he truly knew he had been wrong, and he pounded his head on the ground, kowtowing several times. He was actually quite weak, but the ground where he was kneeling was covered with pebbles, and after a few kowtows, his forehead was immediately cut open, and blood trickled down, flowing down Di Yun's face, making him look ferocious and menacing, as if he had crawled out of hell.

"General, I know I've done wrong. Kill me! I have no face to live any longer. I've let you down, I've let Lord Ying down, I've let down my brothers and sisters in the camp. I... I'm just a stupid, useless fool! Why didn't I think of asking you for help? How could I be so stupid? With a father like me, Aning will never be able to hold her head high again. Please, just do me a favor..."

(End of this chapter)