Murong Yan’s features were sharper and more angular than Murong Yu’s, his profile also more resolute, his handsomeness carrying an extremely profound masculine aura. Especially those eyes, calm yet deep, making it impossible to read his emotions, his entire being radiating an extremely compelling deterrent force, appearing tall and profound, making people afraid to approach—unlike Murong Yu, whose eyes always carried an extremely gentle, shallow smile that made people instinctively want to draw near.

The Yan Empress called Murong Yan’s name just as the Yan Emperor used to: “A’Yan, come to Sister-in-law’s side…”

As soon as the words fell, the Yan Empress’s nostrils flared, tears unconsciously flowing down. That heart-wrenching pain struck again, and she gripped the silk beneath her tightly, nearly unable to bear it and about to faint again.

Murong Yan responded and walked to the Yan Empress’s side, kneeling on one knee. He remembered that when he had seen Sister-in-law a few years ago, she still looked like a young girl, but now she had grown silver threads, her person also haggard beyond recognition. His voice hoarse, he called out: “Sister-in-law.”

Since his elder brother’s death, Murong Yan had endured his grief and used thunderous methods to suppress and deal with those Wei nobles who attempted to cause chaos. But whenever he had a moment of leisure, Murong Yan couldn’t emerge from his sorrow and found it difficult to sleep.

Later, he received a letter from Bai Qingyan, and his sleeplessness improved somewhat.

Today, coming to see the Yan Empress, in order not to cause Empress Ji to grieve again, Murong Yan had specially arranged his appearance beforehand to make himself look more spirited. But… the extremely deep red blood vessels in his eyes still revealed Murong Yan’s internal torment.

“These years away from home have made you suffer…” The Yan Empress’s voice was extremely gentle. She wanted to raise her hand to touch the top of Murong Yan’s head as her husband used to do, but found her arms too weak to lift. She struggled to curve her lips toward Murong Yan: “Sister-in-law knows that your brother must have passed the throne to you. His Majesty discussed this with me before, and I nodded in agreement.”

The Yan Empress let out a long breath: “A’Li is young and still immature. Your brother died early and could only feel at ease entrusting the throne to your hands. But… Sister-in-law also has her selfish desires, and hopes A’Yan can fulfill them.”

The Yan Empress’s tone was somewhat guilty. She looked at Murong Yan with worried eyes, asking in a consulting, low voice: “A’Yan, could you pass the throne to A’Li in the future? Could the matter of uncle-to-nephew succession… be decided before your coronation?”

“Sister-in-law, I have never thought of wanting this throne…” Murong Yan’s deep, dark eyes looked at the Yan Empress, his gaze calm as still water, yet seeming able to see into one’s heart with an indescribable profundity. “A’Li being young is true, but he is not immature. No matter what… I am still here. On the path ahead… I will support him as he walks!”

Hearing Murong Yan’s words, the Yan Empress suddenly burst into tears. She tremblingly reached out to grasp Xiao Rongyan’s hand—she had judged a gentleman’s heart with her petty mind.

She knew the Yan Emperor chose to pass the throne to Murong Yan out of consideration for Yan, but she was Murong Yu’s wife… She was unwilling to see the throne fall into the hands outside of Murong Yu’s descendants.

She was not a person with grand schemes like Murong Yu and Murong Yan; she was just a woman who couldn’t bear to see her husband’s hard-won inheritance unable to be inherited by his descendants.

“Sister-in-law has wronged you!” The Yan Empress cried as she apologized to Murong Yan.

Murong Yan shook his head.

After comforting the Yan Empress, Murong Yan emerged from the Yan Emperor’s bedchamber, the blazing sun overhead so bright he couldn’t open his eyes.

Feng Yao followed behind Murong Yan, closing the palace doors properly. Seeing Murong Yan standing with hands behind his back, eyes closed against the dazzling sunlight, he stood beside Murong Yan and softly called: “Young Master…”

“Uncle Feng, it’s time to announce the mourning…” Murong Yan said in a hoarse voice.

“His Majesty’s edict for Young Master to ascend the throne is still with this old servant.” Feng Yao looked up at Murong Yan’s sharp profile. “This old servant believes Young Master should follow the master’s wishes and inherit the throne.”

Murong Yan turned to speak with Feng Yao: “Uncle Feng, bring me the edict, then summon A’Ping and A’Li. Tell them I’m waiting for them at Lanfeng Pavilion.”

Feng Yao respectfully responded: “Yes!”

·

Lanfeng Pavilion was the palace where Empress Ji had lived when she was in Yan’s old capital Kuangping. The imperial palace in the capital also had a Lanfeng Pavilion, though it had long been renamed. The Yan capital… also had a Lanfeng Pavilion, all arranged exactly as they had been when Empress Ji lived there, identical to the Lanfeng Pavilion in the old capital Kuangping.

Murong Yan held the edict in his hand, standing before the open window lattice of Lanfeng Pavilion, gazing at the crabapple flowers blooming magnificently in the courtyard.

Under the blazing sun, the crabapple tree gleamed under the golden sunlight, coating the crabapple flowers covering its branches with a layer of golden radiance.

A breeze passed, and the gilt bronze bells hanging from the bamboo curtains under the corridor chimed lightly. Crabapple petals fell with the wind onto the corridor… onto the window, onto Murong Yan’s feet.

As soon as Murong Ping and Murong Li stepped through the palace gates of Lanfeng Pavilion, they saw their Ninth Uncle standing before the window, staring at that crabapple tree in a daze. The two exchanged glances and hurriedly walked inside.

In the hall, several crane-shaped bronze lamps flickered with flames, gauze curtains swayed gently in the wind, and scattered crabapple petals covered the floor.

Murong Ping and Murong Li walked around the silk screen painted with landscape scenes. Seeing no palace servants attending in the vast palace hall, with their Ninth Uncle holding that final edict in his hand, both hurriedly cupped their hands toward Murong Yan in salute: “Ninth Uncle…”

Xiao Rongyan hummed softly, turned to look at Murong Ping and Murong Li, walked to the table, and knelt, placing the edict to one side. He gestured for the two to sit and asked: “Now that you’re here, Ninth Uncle asks you… Which of you two brothers do you think is most capable of shouldering great responsibility?”

Murong Ping was startled, his gaze falling on the edict in Murong Yan’s hand: “Ninth Uncle, Father Emperor’s edict is for Ninth Uncle to ascend the throne.”

Murong Li knew from the moment Ninth Uncle used thunderous methods to deal with Wei’s imperial relatives and nobles that Ninth Uncle had no desire for the throne. Murong Li walked to the opposite side of the table, kneeling across from Murong Yan, looking at him seriously: “A’Li knows that from beginning to end, Ninth Uncle has had no intention of ascending the throne. But Father Emperor had long instructed that only by entrusting Yan to Ninth Uncle’s hands could he feel at ease. We brothers must also become Ninth Uncle’s most capable blades, helping our Yan complete the great undertaking of unification…”

Seeing his younger brother had calmed down, Murong Ping also came forward, kneeling beside Murong Li: “Ninth Uncle ascending the throne—we brothers are all convinced. Without Ninth Uncle… Yan would not have today’s situation. Ninth Uncle’s merit is greatest of all.”

“If Ninth Uncle is worried that his methods in Wei were too severe, fearing outsiders might speculate that our Yan ruler is tyrannical by nature, A’Li is willing to become Ninth Uncle’s blade from today onward…” Murong Li said solemnly.

“Younger brother is too young! I’ll do it!” Murong Ping cupped his hands toward Murong Yan: “Just say that when we were in Wei, I forced Ninth Uncle to do everything!”