Yuan Qing walked in from outside with a grave expression, “Your Majesty, a letter from Minister Ge.”
Yan Han lifted his head from the imperial desk, his gaze instantly focusing. After receiving and opening the letter, the corners of his lips soon curved upward. “Bring the writing materials.”
Yuan Qing immediately stepped forward to grind the ink and layout paper. Yan Han contemplated briefly before picking up the brush and beginning to write. He wrote two letters – the first explicitly addressed to Ge Yang, the second to Lin Zhang. After finishing and sealing them, Yan Han added, “Have these delivered to them quickly, and let everything proceed according to Our instructions in the letters.”
Yuan Qing took the letters, repeatedly acknowledged the order, and left. When Yuan Qing returned, Yan Han had written a third letter, which he handed to Yuan Qing saying, “Send this letter north to Prince Cheng.”
Yuan Qing hesitated slightly, “Your Majesty wants to…”
Yan Han saw no reason to hide anything from Yuan Qing and said, “In the north, the Shuoxi Army and Northern Prefecture Army have already joined forces with Yue Qiong, and they’ve now reached south of Cangzhou. Ge Yang and his group have stayed in Yingzhou for many days – it’s time for them to move.”
Yuan Qing’s brow twitched, “Your Majesty wants Minister Ge and the others to head west at this time?”
Yan Han nodded, and Yuan Qing’s heart tightened as he realized the purpose of the earlier two letters.
Yuan Qing nodded and turned to leave to arrange the delivery to Prince Cheng, but just as he stepped out the door, he saw Prince Gong Yan Li standing at the entrance.
Yuan Qing was startled, “Why has Prince Gong come?”
Yan Li stood straight at the doorway, his face showing a grave expression. Glancing at the letter in Yuan Qing’s hand, he replied, “I’ve come to see His Majesty.”
Yuan Qing quickly smiled and said, “Very well, I’ll announce you right away.”
Yuan Qing returned inside and said, “Your Majesty, Prince Gong is here.”
Yan Han raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but still said, “Let him in.”
Yuan Qing immediately went out to relay the order. Soon after, Yan Li entered, performed a deep bow, and Yan Han asked, “What brings you to see Us?”
Yan Li knelt, sweeping his robes aside, and said, “Your subject has come today to request Your Majesty. Although Your Majesty has permitted me to gain experience in the Ministry of Revenue, with the frequent battles in the north, I have come today to request to join the army. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to go north and serve in the military.”
Hearing this, Yan Han first frowned, then smiled, “So you’ve developed the same northern aspirations as Yue Jia. At least Yue Jia comes from a military background, but you… We don’t know that you understand military strategy, and your amateur martial skills would be completely useless on the battlefield. Given this, what could you do up north?”
Yan Li frowned slightly, lowering his gaze, “The Ministry of Revenue oversees military supplies for the northern expedition. I could help with rear logistics and coordination.”
Hearing this, Yan Han narrowed his phoenix eyes, “The northern expedition army doesn’t lack such personnel. Of course, if you have ambition, it’s not impossible to leave the capital for more experience. However, you haven’t even mastered your duties at the Ministry of Revenue yet, so how can you leave? In the north, you would only cause trouble for Marquis An Yang.”
Yan Li’s lips were pressed tightly together, and he wanted to say more, but before he could speak, Yan Han said, “You need not say more. The war situation has stabilized somewhat, and all positions have been arranged. We have no position to give you. Stay peacefully in the capital.”
Then he waved his hand, “We still have state affairs to handle. You may go.”
Yan Li raised his eyes to look at Yan Han once, his eyes darkening as he stood up and walked toward the exit.
Yuan Qing stood at the door, not daring to enter. Seeing Yan Li come out, he smiled and said, “Why has Prince Gong suddenly thought of going north?”
Yan Li shook his head without saying anything and walked out, turning toward Shoukang Palace. After a few steps, Yan Li encountered Zhao Yu, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards. Since Lin Zhang’s temporary departure, Zhao Yu has been in charge of inner palace security. Behind him followed several young military officers from the Imperial Guards, coming from the direction of the training grounds.
Seeing Yan Li, everyone bowed in greeting. Yan Li smiled, “With Deputy Commander Zhao here, the inner palace security has become even more stringent.”
After Lin Zhang’s departure, there had been some changes to inner palace security. Initially, Yan Han had been dissatisfied and personally inquired about it, but discovered that Zhao Yu had only increased the guards at several palace gates and ceremonial gates, making the security much more stringent than before.
Zhao Yu scratched his head embarrassedly and said, “Commander Lin left the Imperial Guard duties to me. If anything went wrong, I would be failing both His Majesty and Commander Lin, so I can only ask the brothers to work harder. Once we get through this period and Commander Lin returns, everything will return to normal.”
Zhao Yu spoke quite directly. Yan Li looked at the several military officers behind Zhao Yu, noticing some unfamiliar faces. However, since he wasn’t in charge of inner security, he naturally couldn’t ask too much and headed straight for Shoukang Palace. When he arrived, he found that Yan Ze was already there.
With the Crown Prince’s rebellious departure, Prince Cheng heading north to supervise the war, Yan Chi also becoming a rebel, and other princes being very reserved and reclusive, the only young brothers who regularly met in the capital were Yan Li and Yan Ze. After Yue Ning broke off their engagement, Yan Li wanted to comfort Yan Ze but saw no trace of sorrow on his face. Instead, lately, he often came to Shoukang Palace, spending less time with the Empress Dowager and more time with Yan Sui. Today, Yan Ze was teaching Yan Sui to write.
“Third Brother, you’ve come early.”
Yan Ze glanced at Yan Li and asked, “Where did you just go? Why do you look so dejected?”
Yan Li’s expression was seen through at a glance, and his face showed only a bitter smile, “I wanted to go north, but His Majesty wouldn’t allow it.”
Yan Ze frowned slightly, “Of course, he wouldn’t let you go. Even Yue Jia couldn’t go, let alone you.”
Yan Li sat casually by the stone table, watching Yan Sui write the character “Gong” from “Prince Gong” stroke by stroke. “Why is he writing this character?”
Yan Ze smiled, “He can write all our princely titles now, except for yours.”
Yan Sui lay on the stone table, writing stroke by stroke, appearing very obedient. He wore a small dagger at his waist, and after these past months, he had grown quite a bit taller and become increasingly quiet and withdrawn. Yan Li patted Yan Sui’s head and looked at Yan Ze, asking, “Aren’t you going to look for Yue Ning?”
Hearing this, Yan Ze sighed, “Ning’er has a childish heart. I don’t want to pressure her.”
Yan Li’s words were stopped, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say, so he went into the hall to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was being cared for by Maid Chen, half-lying on a low couch by the window for her afternoon nap, covered with a blanket and dozing. Hearing movement, she opened her eyes and hazily said, “Han’er—”
Yan Li’s pupils trembled as he stepped forward and said, “Grandmother, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. It’s me.”
The Empress Dowager stared at Yan Li for a while, then said with a smile, “No… I haven’t mistaken you. Han’er, has your elder brother finished his studies?”
Yan Li’s back stiffened slightly, “He… he hasn’t yet…”
The Empress Dowager sighed, “Your elder brother is to be Crown Prince. He has so much to learn. Han’er, being emperor is the most exhausting job in heaven. Your father is too demanding of your elder brother. You must help your elder brother more in daily matters. You are blood brothers, unlike others.”
Yan Li nodded with a stiff smile, “Yes, you’re right.”
The Empress Dowager’s face showed a satisfied smile, “That’s right, that’s right…”
The Empress Dowager seemed extremely tired and closed her eyes again, leaning against the backrest, but still holding onto Yan Li’s hand. Yan Li sat by the couch, cold sweat beginning to flow down his forehead. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly freed his hand from the Empress Dowager’s grip and stood up to leave. However, as soon as he turned around, Yan Li saw Yan Ze standing in the doorway.
Yan Ze had been standing there for an unknown time, his expression light and gentle, showing no emotion.
Yan Li walked quietly to the door, and only after going outside did he say, “Grandmother seems to be growing more confused about her illness.”
Yan Ze smiled, “Indeed. When I came earlier, she mistook the Ninth Prince for you when you were young.”
Yan Li’s steps faltered again, but Yan Ze put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Although His Majesty doesn’t want you to go north if you want to go, it’s not impossible. You and Ning’er are still children – what can’t you do?”
Yan Li turned to look at Yan Ze, “Third Brother means…”
“You want to see Yan Chi, don’t you?”
Yan Ze sighed, “Ning’er has probably gone north to find Yan Chi and Qin Wan too.”
Yan Li’s brows furrowed slightly, but before he could say anything, Yan Ze had walked back to where Yan Sui was writing. As he tidied up Yan Sui’s writing materials, he said, “Now that Yan Chi and Qin Wan are in the north, Shuoxi is empty. I guess His Majesty won’t miss this opportunity.”
At these words, Yan Sui’s small head lifted.