“This humble minister will not fail Your Majesty’s trust and will do everything in his power to assist the Regent in finalizing this matter with Great Zhou!” Though Zhong Xingxiao felt ten thousand unwilling in his heart, he still had to put on a willing facade on the surface. His heart couldn’t be more bitter.
Who would want to risk the possibility of losing their head in the Great Zhou when they could stay safely in Yan’s capital? If he could remain in Yan’s capital, even if Great Zhou eventually still attacked Yan, at least there would be soldiers in front of them as shields, and there would still be a chance to escape. But if he went to Great Zhou, if Great Zhou’s emperor became displeased, their heads would all be gone!
Now Zhong Xingxiao could only place his hopes on the Empress Dowager, hoping she could persuade His Majesty and the Ninth Prince to let him stay in Yan’s capital.
The three of them went together to see Yan’s Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager heard that Zhong Xingxiao was to accompany Xiao Rongyan to Great Zhou, she was stunned for a moment before almost blurting out: “Minister Zhong cannot go! Too…”
Too dangerous…
The words reached her lips, but the Empress Dowager swallowed them back, her gaze turning to Xiao Rongyan, her palms tightening, her heart filled with panic.
She knew it was too dangerous, yet she still asked Xiao Rongyan to make this trip. How could she protect her brother at this moment, using danger as a reason to forbid her brother from going? Such favoritism would certainly chill A-Yan’s heart.
Xiao Rongyan held a teacup in his hand, his eyes lowered, hiding all his emotions behind his mask. How could he not understand the meaning in the Empress Dowager’s words? It was precisely because he understood that he found it meaningless.
Murong Li couldn’t help but speak with suppressed anger: “If Ninth Uncle can go to Great Zhou for Yan, why can’t Uncle go?”
The Empress Dowager glanced at her brother standing meekly to the side, frowning as she said, “It’s not that I won’t let your uncle go, but your uncle has always been incompetent. I’m afraid letting your uncle go would drag down your Ninth Uncle.”
“Uncle is good at socializing. Accompanying Ninth Uncle to Great Zhou, he can precisely move among Great Zhou’s court ministers and assist Ninth Uncle!” Murong Li had already made up his mind. Not giving the Empress Dowager another chance to speak, he directly said to Zhong Xingxiao: “Uncle, this matter is entrusted to you!”
“Your Majesty, rest assured. This humble minister will certainly sacrifice everything for our Yan!” Zhong Xingxiao knelt and kowtowed again.
The Empress Dowager looked at her son and brother, but felt too guilty to look at Xiao Rongyan. She understood in her heart that this matter was probably settled like this, with no room for discussion. Otherwise, if she forcibly prevented her brother from going, it would instead cause A-Yan and A-Li to become estranged from her.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager reluctantly looked toward Xiao Rongyan, who hadn’t spoken for a long time: “A-Yan, A-Li’s uncle… please take care of him on this journey!”
After all, the one who betrayed Great Zhou this time was her, and Zhong Xingxiao was her own younger brother. Zhong Xingxiao had no life-saving grace toward Great Zhou’s emperor. If Bai Qingyan couldn’t see her, she might take her anger out on her brother, and her brother might not be able to return in one piece.
“Empress Dowager, rest assured. As long as I, Murong Yan, have a breath left in me, I will certainly preserve Minister Zhong’s life.” Xiao Rongyan casually placed the teacup in his hand on the small table, asking in a low voice: “With this, can the Empress Dowager feel more at ease?”
“A-Yan…” The Empress Dowager felt so guilty that she had nowhere to hide. “You must also take good care of your safety! Your sister-in-law and A-Yan… are in Yan’s capital, waiting for you and your brother to return safely!”
“The Empress Dowager must take good care of her health! When this minister is away… Your Majesty will certainly be more burdened. If he fails to come pay respects to the Empress Dowager on time, please forgive him!” Xiao Rongyan said as he rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager. “Regarding the mission to Great Zhou, this minister still needs to discuss with Your Majesty and Minister Zhong, so I won’t disturb the Empress Dowager’s recovery here.”
“Good! Your important matters come first. There’s nothing wrong here!” The Empress Dowager forced a smile.
“Mother, then your son will take his leave first…” Murong Li also rose to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager.
“Empress Dowager, this humble minister takes his leave. I hope the Empress Dowager takes good care of herself. This humble minister will certainly return safely! Please don’t worry about this humble minister!” Zhong Xingxiao bowed to his sister, only feeling that his sister was too soft. As Empress Dowager, she could completely refuse to let him go forcefully, and then he could stay!
It seemed he could only send a message to the Empress Dowager after returning home, before departure, asking her to find another way to keep him behind.
Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan discussed that the court ministers to bring would include the Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, as well as officials from Honglu Si.
After all, this time they were to discuss strategies for determining the winner between the two countries through national policies. The Minister of Revenue was certainly indispensable. Honglu Si had always been responsible for reception and diplomatic missions, so naturally, they had to be brought along. Adding the sociable National Uncle Zhong Xingxiao, Xiao Rongyan wouldn’t bring others, leaving them in the country.
Xiao Rongyan also made arrangements for domestic defense. He told Murong Li: “The main Yan forces still in Xiliang probably can’t return for a while, so we can only mobilize all the forces within Yan’s borders to the frontiers, especially along the line from Great Zhou’s garrison to Yan’s capital. Military strength must be concentrated! To guard against the unexpected…”
Murong Li nodded. From the corner of his eye, he saw Zhong Xingxiao stretching his neck to look at the map, but didn’t pay much attention. Instead, Wang Jiuzhou came over carrying hot tea, smiling as he served tea to Zhong Xingxiao, using his body to block Zhong Xingxiao.
What Xiao Rongyan allowed Zhong Xingxiao to hear, he had already arranged properly. What he couldn’t let Zhong Xingxiao hear, he had already written down to have Wang Jiuzhou deliver to A-Li before departing for Great Zhou. The rest, Xiao Rongyan could arrange properly once he returned to his mansion.
Three days later, the Regent departed for Great Zhou with a grand procession.
Murong Li came to the Regent’s mansion very early in the morning.
Murong Li came too early. Xiao Rongyan had packed his luggage and arranged state affairs until dawn, only resting briefly. Hearing that Murong Li had arrived, Xiao Rongyan got up and had servants help him dress, then went to the front hall to see Murong Li.
Yue Shi directly brought Murong Li to Xiao Rongyan’s courtyard. Seeing his Ninth Uncle already washed, dressed, and stepping out of the main room, Murong Li smiled: “Ninth Uncle!”
Xiao Rongyan wasn’t wearing his mask. Because he had stayed up all night, the red veins in his eyes were heavy, and he carried a slight sense of fatigue. He gestured for Murong Li to come over: “Why did you come?”
Murong Li smiled as he took a substantial brocade box from Wang Jiuzhou’s hands, running to Xiao Rongyan: “Ninth Uncle, let’s go inside to talk!”
Xiao Rongyan glanced at Murong Li and nodded, personally lifting the curtain for Murong Li.
After the two entered, Yue Shi had all other servants withdraw, leaving only the uncle and nephew, Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li, in the room.
Only then did Murong Li say: “Ninth Uncle, these are gifts for my younger brother and sister to celebrate their birth. Please help me give them to my brother and sister!”
Xiao Rongyan was slightly surprised. He accepted the extremely heavy wooden box, opened it to look, and inside was a pair of jade pendants and a pair of jade stones that could be carved into seals.