Looking at Yue Shi’s serious expression, Xiao Rongyan was amused by him. He put down the memorial in his hands and squinted at Yue Shi, asking, “Who did you learn all this from?”
“Uncle Feng!” Yue Shi looked earnest. “Today this subordinate told Uncle Feng that… when we were in the imperial palace, master walked too quickly and this subordinate didn’t get a chance to ask Wang Jiuzhou how to keep one’s emotions from showing on one’s face. Then Uncle Feng told this subordinate that this time, His Majesty and the master’s strategy would surely make the Empress Dowager come to persuade the master. If others want to gather information from this subordinate later, I should just sigh, shake my head, then hesitate to speak, appearing as if I have suffered, I cannot voice!”
Xiao Rongyan smiled and nodded: “Then remember it well!”
“Master, rest assured, Yue Shi remembers it all clearly!” Yue Shi patted his chest in assurance.
For this trip to arrange Yan’s affairs before going to the capital, Xiao Rongyan planned to bring Feng Yao as well. Uncle Feng was an old servant who had served his mother, and moreover… Uncle Feng had saved him when he was small, then later served wholeheartedly at his brother’s side. After his brother died, Uncle Feng stayed by his side, working tirelessly without rest or retirement, saying he couldn’t stay idle.
Xiao Rongyan knew Uncle Feng was simply worried about him.
Going to the capital to see the two children this time, Xiao Rongyan also wanted Uncle Feng to meet them. In Xiao Rongyan’s heart… though Uncle Feng was a family servant, he was also like an elder to him.
·
The next day, during the morning court session, almost all of Yan’s most important court officials knew about the Empress Dowager’s nighttime visit to the Regent’s mansion.
Some officials speculated that the Empress Dowager must have gone to reach a consensus with the Regent, Ninth Prince—they absolutely could not gamble with Yan as the stake.
Naturally… some also speculated that Empress Dowager Yan still cared about her son after all, and went to the Regent’s mansion last night to humble herself… requesting the Regent to agree to the emperor’s nation-gambling approach, to prevent the Regent from truly developing thoughts of changing emperors.
Just as the court officials were speculating wildly, Emperor Murong Li had already taken his position, but Regent Murong Yan had not yet arrived. Instead, the Empress Dowager’s personal maid came to the front hall with the Empress Dowager’s edict, announcing to all officials… that her health had been poor for more than just a day or two, and now that the Regent had returned, the Empress Dowager would seclude herself for recuperation and no longer interfere in government affairs.
The court officials exchanged glances in surprise and suspicion, then saw Murong Li on the high platform instruct the Empress Dowager’s maid to take good care of her, saying he would visit her after court. Then Murong Li looked toward Zhong Xingxiao below the steps and said, “Mother’s health is poor and she most needs family companionship. Uncle, if you have no other matters after court, why don’t you join me in visiting the Empress Dowager?”
Zhong Xingxiao hurriedly stepped forward and kowtowed: “Thank you for His Majesty’s great kindness! This minister is also very concerned about the Empress Dowager’s poor health.”
The Empress Dowager’s faction officials all looked toward Zhong Xingxiao. He had received news from the Empress Dowager last night saying she had persuaded the Regent, but hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to suddenly announce today that she would no longer interfere in politics.
However, from when the Regent brought back the two trusted aides of General Cui Shanzhong, the Empress Dowager’s faction, led by Zhong Xingxiao, had vaguely guessed this day would come. This was already the best outcome.
Compared to the emperor’s previous fury about confining the Empress Dowager to the rear palace under the pretext of illness, at least this time gave the Empress Dowager was given dignity. Since His Majesty still allowed Zhong Xingxiao to visit the Empress Dowager, it meant the Yan emperor and Empress Dowager were still close.
For the Regent’s faction, though the Empress Dowager’s sudden claim of illness and retreat was unexpected, it was reasonable. Having caused such a great disturbance and brought Yan to the brink of destruction, if she continued assisting in governance, these court officials couldn’t agree either.
Although there was Consort Ji’s precedent and they dared not speak of “the hen crowing at dawn” in court, this Empress Dowager was truly too far from the late Consort Ji—not even one ten-thousandth as capable. Hopefully, the Empress Dowager would know her mistakes from now on and no longer interfere in government affairs, content to tend flowers and feed fish in the rear palace.
“The Regent arrives…”
Just as the court officials harbored various thoughts, a eunuch outside the great hall announced the Regent’s arrival.
The court officials immediately turned toward the great hall’s entrance, kneeling to welcome him. Murong Li also stood up, looking toward the door.
Seeing the Regent in court dress and silver mask walking toward the jade steps, Murong Li also bowed deeply: “Ninth Uncle…”
Xiao Rongyan ascended the high steps from the side and sat in the Regent’s seat established beside the emperor’s throne: “All rise!”
Murong Li showed a somewhat fearful attitude toward the Regent, slowly sitting on the dragon throne. Some officials couldn’t help but inwardly criticize that the Regent was too disrespectful of imperial authority, treating His Majesty entirely like a child, without any proper demeanor of a minister.
Other officials speculated whether the Regent planned to depose the emperor this time and install a new, obedient puppet emperor.
“Yesterday, after this prince returned to the mansion, I carefully considered His Majesty’s strategy of sending envoys to Zhou to determine victory through the two countries’ governance and thereby merge into one nation.” Xiao Rongyan rested his elbow on his chair’s armrest, speaking unhurriedly. “Though I still feel there are various improprieties, but… His Majesty is, after all, our Yan’s emperor. The words spoken by Yan’s emperor cannot be meaningless!”
“Ninth Uncle…” Murong Li looked full of guilt. “But currently, there’s no better method! Great Zhou is powerful… after destroying Xiliang, they’re now in an unstoppable position.”
Xiao Rongyan nodded: “So as His Majesty said, what’s most important now isn’t getting our Yan court officials to agree, but finding ways to make Great Zhou agree.”
“Ninth Uncle, does this mean you agree?” Murong Li looked surprised and delighted, like a child who deeply trusted Xiao Rongyan.
Xiao Rongyan nodded: “After all, this prince truly cannot think of a better solution now. After discussing with the Empress Dowager yesterday, we decided… this prince will personally go to Great Zhou, as only this carries sufficient weight! This prince… once led troops to rescue Jiangzi City and relieved the Great Zhou emperor’s siege. The Great Zhou emperor has always claimed that their Great Zhou puts the people first. This time, this prince will speak with the Great Zhou emperor about the world’s millions of people, hoping to make the Great Zhou emperor consider the world’s judgment and agree to our Yan emperor’s merger strategy.”
“This cannot be, Ninth Prince!” Ministers from the Regent’s faction hurriedly knelt forward. “If the Great Zhou emperor disagrees with His Majesty’s strategy, the Regent going to Great Zhou would be too dangerous!”
“This prince is Yan’s regent—only this position carries sufficient weight!” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was extremely calm, repeating to the court officials what Empress Dowager Yan had said to him yesterday. “If this prince doesn’t go, should His Majesty go personally?”
The court officials all fell silent.
Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Murong Li: “Before this prince departs, I will arrange Yan’s defenses properly. If… this prince cannot persuade Great Zhou to accept His Majesty’s two-country merger strategy, His Majesty must prepare for war with Great Zhou!”