Xiao Rongyan’s eyes beneath his mask were deep. After giving the Yan Empress Dowager a formal bow, he straightened and spoke with stern authority: “If I hadn’t returned, Yan would face great chaos!”

With that, Xiao Rongyan turned to Minister Meng: “Forbidding medicinal materials from being sent to the cities within Yan that belong to Great Zhou—was this Minister Meng’s counsel to the Empress Dowager?”

Hearing this, Minister Meng knew Xiao Rongyan must already be aware of everything and couldn’t argue further. He quickly bowed formally: “Regent, now that the two countries are engaged in their national gamble, Yan suddenly faces an epidemic, and the epidemic in the cities belonging to the Great Zhou is also intensifying. This is exactly a good opportunity Heaven has granted our Yan to achieve victory, so this humble minister suggested the Empress Dowager prepare early.”

The silver mask reflecting cold light concealed Xiao Rongyan’s facial expression, and his calm, indifferent voice made it impossible to discern his emotions: “Prepare?”

Minister Meng looked at Xiao Rongyan standing with hands behind his back, stepped forward, and spoke: “According to the alliance treaty signed initially, the population count after three years is also an important measure of national governance and policy…”

“So after three years, Minister Meng wants our Yan cities to become ghost towns?”

Xiao Rongyan’s voice suddenly rose, his imposing presence causing all the court ministers to lose their footing and fall to their knees, kowtowing one after another.

Xiao Rongyan lowered his gaze to look down at the disheveled Minister Meng kneeling on the ground, walked a half-circle around him, and looked down at him from above: “Trapping the cities Yan allocated to Great Zhou, forbidding medicinal herbs from entering—Minister Meng, you’re killing our people! When Yan faced hardship in the past, if not for these people tightening their belts and saving every penny, how could Yan have reached where it is today? His Majesty is young and may not know, the Empress Dowager has long resided in the palace and perhaps doesn’t know, but does Minister Meng also not know?”

The Yan Empress Dowager wanted to speak for Minister Meng, but before she could open her mouth, she saw Xiao Rongyan’s gaze turn toward her standing on the high platform: “If those in power cannot protect their people, what right do they have to be supported by Yan’s people’s taxes?”

“A’Yan, Minister Meng is also doing this for our Yan…” the Yan Empress Dowager spoke hastily, lacking confidence.

Xiao Rongyan acted as if he hadn’t heard the Empress Dowager’s words and spoke deliberately: “Minister Meng, you deceived the Empress Dowager into placing His Majesty under house arrest, and after the Empress Dowager gained power, you again deceived her into abandoning the people. You deserve death…”

“Regent, please see clearly! This humble minister would never dare!” Minister Meng’s eyes widened as he kowtowed.

Even the Yan Empress Dowager couldn’t maintain her composure and hastily explained: “A’Yan, how can you wrongly accuse your sister-in-law like this! A’Li left the palace on his own… and then contracted the epidemic, so I had to take command in this crisis…”

“Since that’s the case, now that your son has recovered, please return to the rear palace to enjoy your remaining years, Mother!”

Murong Li’s voice came from outside the hall. The Yan Empress Dowager’s palms suddenly tightened, and among the ministers kneeling and kowtowing without daring to raise their heads, some bold ones lifted their heads to see the pale and weak Murong Li being supported by Yue Shi and Wang Jiuzhou as he entered the great hall. Thinking that the Emperor had contracted the epidemic, they were terrified and didn’t know what to do. With people on all sides and no way to escape, they could only bury their heads lower and hold their breath.

The Yan Empress Dowager clenched her fists, glanced at Xiao Rongyan, then looked at Murong Li and quickly spoke: “A’Li, your illness isn’t cured yet. Why did you come out?”

“I merely caught a cold and have now recovered. I haven’t contracted the epidemic. I’ve really… caused Mother too much worry!” Murong Li walked to Xiao Rongyan’s side and bowed formally to him. “Ninth Uncle!”

“The medicine’s effects haven’t worn off yet. No need for such formality.” Xiao Rongyan pointedly mentioned that Murong Li had been drugged, showing no face whatsoever for the Yan Empress Dowager.

Hearing Xiao Rongyan’s words, Murong Li understood his meaning. His fists clenched at his sides as he thought of how his mother had drugged him and then trapped the people in the cities Yan had allocated to Great Zhou. When he remembered that those people had once shared hardships with Yan, he made his decision and spoke: “The rear palace must not interfere in politics. Wang Jiuzhou… personally escort Mother back to her palace and let her rest peacefully. If there are still those like Minister Meng who lack tact and disturb Mother’s tranquility, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

With Murong Li’s words, Minister Meng had no way out.

Minister Meng closed his eyes. This had been a desperate gamble from the start. He wasn’t as quick as the Regent, didn’t have the Regent’s manpower or royal bloodline. Losing was… within reason.

“A’Li! A’Li…” The Yan Empress Dowager watched Wang Jiuzhou and others stride quickly toward her. “How dare you! I am Yan’s Empress Dowager—who among you dares touch me!”

“Empress Dowager, please calm your anger!” Wang Jiuzhou maintained his smiling, respectful appearance. “His Majesty requests you return to your palace to rest. This is for your good. You’re advanced in age—it’s time to enjoy your remaining years! Empress Dowager, please proceed. This slave’s hands are heavy… if I were to support the Empress Dowager, I might accidentally hurt you.”

The Yan Empress Dowager stepped back two paces and looked at Xiao Rongyan: “A’Yan! A’Yan… this Wang Jiuzhou is your slave. Are you just going to watch him commit such insubordination?”

Xiao Rongyan acted as if he hadn’t heard and looked down at the prostrate Minister Meng, speaking: “I heard Minister Meng intends to send his daughter into the palace? To become our Yan’s Empress? What grand ambitions!”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s face suddenly turned white, and she nearly lost her footing. She hadn’t expected Xiao Rongyan to know about this matter too.

“This humble minister doesn’t dare!” Minister Meng quickly kowtowed, fearing for his daughter’s sake. “This humble minister has no such thoughts! This humble minister knows his place—how could my daughter be worthy of His Majesty? This… this was all the Empress Dowager’s idea and has nothing to do with this humble minister! Empress Dowager… Empress Dowager, please explain to the Regent on this humble minister’s behalf!”

“Wang Jiuzhou! What are you standing there for? Escort the Empress Dowager back to her palace immediately!” Murong Li spoke sternly, his eyes murderous.

After all… the Yan Empress Dowager was Murong Li’s birth mother. Murong Li had once borne the name of betraying an allied nation for her sake. Now, even though his mother had conspired with Minister Meng to drug and imprison him, at this point… even though his mother was implicated, Murong Li still wanted to preserve some dignity for her and not make things too difficult.

This was the last filial duty Murong Li could perform for his mother. From this point forward, he would move his mother out of the Yan imperial palace, never allowing her to set foot in it again, letting her live out her days peacefully in a separate palace, never to see her again.

Wang Jiuzhou received the order.

“Empress Dowager, please…” Wang Jiuzhou spoke again, reaching out to support the Yan Empress Dowager. She wanted to shake off Wang Jiuzhou’s hand, but she felt his grip on her arm tighten, and half her body went numb. She didn’t even have the strength to speak and could only let Wang Jiuzhou support her as they descended from the side of the high platform.

Murong Li looked at his Ninth Uncle, bowed formally as an apology, then said to Xiao Rongyan: “If Ninth Uncle hadn’t returned in time to save us, Yan would have faced great calamity! Please leave the rest to A’Li, Ninth Uncle!”