Xiao Rongyan ignored the accusations completely, lifting his foot to walk toward the jade platform…

Murong Li saw his Ninth Uncle, his nostrils flaring, but remembering that he was the Emperor of Yan, he forcibly restrained himself.

He lowered his eyes to look at his mother in his arms, who had already stopped breathing. Suppressing his tears, he first carried his mother’s body back to the sleeping palace, settled her properly, and then ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange the funeral ceremonies. Without even having time to change his clothes, he returned to the great hall to discuss the matter of Great Zhou’s forces attacking Yan.

When Murong Li returned, he heard the officials who had come back to the Yan capital with Xiao Rongyan telling the court ministers about the Regent’s encounter with danger.

“Fortunately, the Regent had the Regent’s carriage follow the originally planned route while the Regent went incognito to inspect the epidemic situation in other cities. This prevented Prince Jiujiang from succeeding—otherwise… the Regent might not be standing here now!” The accompanying official still looked shaken when speaking of these events, filled with lingering fear.

Those Jiujiang army fire-oil arrows had shot straight at the Regent’s carriage, nearly destroying it completely.

If the Regent had been in the carriage at that time, there would have been no chance of survival.

“The imperial clansmen allied with the regional princes to cause rebellion. Not only did they want to kill this king, but their main purpose was to kill the Great Zhou Emperor. This king has already received news that after the Great Zhou Emperor captured Xiping, Jiujiang has also been taken. Moreover, the Great Zhou has already deployed troops toward the Yan border…” Xiao Rongyan sat in the Regent’s seat below the Emperor, rotating his thumb ring, his voice heavy. “Perhaps at this very moment, while we speak, Great Zhou’s great army has already invaded Yan territory!”

The court officials remembered the battle report from Xiping saying that the Regent had captured Prince Xiping’s family members and killed two of Prince Xiping’s sons and the heir’s consort to save the Great Zhou Emperor. The ministers wanted to ask… but didn’t dare, only discussing the possibility that Great Zhou might have already begun attacking Yan.

“Now Yan still suffers from epidemic disease, and war has erupted again. This is my fault!” Murong Li entered from behind the great hall, lifting the hem of his robes as he walked toward the jade platform. “Originally, when Yan was in desperate straits, we sent envoys to Great Zhou to seek peace and established the nation-wagering strategy. This time, it was again our Yan imperial clansmen and regional princes who caused rebellion, attempting to control me internally while secretly setting ambushes externally… nearly harming the Great Zhou Emperor’s life! My error lies in… as Emperor, being unable to restrain the imperial clansmen and regional princes, and in… as Emperor, failing to discover Yan’s hidden dangers early.”

“Your Majesty…” Yan’s court officials heard their emperor speak thus and hurriedly said, “If not for Your Majesty proposing the nation-wagering strategy, Yan would probably not have lasted until now. How could this be Your Majesty’s fault!”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Though Your Majesty is young, you already display the majesty and magnanimity of a great ruler. It is we ministers who failed to assist Your Majesty well—it is our fault!”

The ministers knelt all over the floor, each confessing their guilt.

Murong Li glanced at his Ninth Uncle, seeming to make a great decision. His fists clenched tightly, his tightly bitten mouth filled with the taste of blood, before he spoke in a low voice: “Now is not the time to assign blame. Once war begins, the common people will suffer, and soldiers will sacrifice their lives! Therefore… I have decided to send envoys to seek the Great Zhou Emperor’s peace, ceding territory for peace! If… Great Zhou is unwilling, then Yan will take a step back and henceforth pay tribute to Great Zhou and submit as a vassal.”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty must not!”

“Paying tribute, submitting as a vassal… our great Yan would become a vassal state like the Dongyi nation!”

Murong Li ignored the ministers’ tearful pleas and spoke again: “I… will issue an edict of self-reproach, praying for Heaven’s forgiveness, asking for the epidemic to be eliminated soon so the people no longer suffer from disease.”

Murong Li knew he might not be a qualified emperor, but he was trying to be a good emperor—one who could reduce the people’s suffering.

Past mistakes had already been made. Murong Li could not become dejected because of them. Since he was the Emperor of Yan, he had to take responsibility and couldn’t rely on Ninth Uncle for everything.

Xiao Rongyan had returned in haste and hadn’t yet discussed this matter with Murong Li, not expecting him to have already made a decision.

Originally, Xiao Rongyan had also intended to persuade Murong Li to surrender.

After the incident of the regional princes ambushing Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan had realized that Yan’s regional princes were a cancer to the nation, and like weeds, difficult to eradicate. When several regional princes joined forces and coordinated with the imperial clansmen in court, they could push Murong Li from the throne at any time.

With such a Yan, even if Yan somehow won the nation-wager and truly achieved unification of the world, without reducing the princes’ power… the hidden danger of the regional princes would only grow greater.

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but admire Bai Qingyan’s foresight in resolving the regional prince problem from the very beginning of the Great Zhou’s establishment.

Xiao Rongyan looked up at his nephew, seeing from his expression that Murong Li had begun to doubt his abilities. He no longer had the confidence and high spirits he’d shown when Xiao Rongyan had asked if he dared to become Emperor of Yan.

But Murong Li had already done very well. Yan itself had many such problems.

If Yan faced the former Jin instead of the current Great Zhou, Xiao Rongyan dared say… the one to ultimately unify the world would certainly be their Yan!

But their opponent was the Great Zhou.

The Great Zhou had an emperor like Bai Qingyan—far-sighted and able to unite the Great Zhou’s people, making all of the Great Zhou work together with one heart. With Yan like this… if they didn’t have so many hidden dangers and the court could unite, they might still be able to contend with the Great Zhou.

Unfortunately, Yan’s imperial clansmen and regional princes all harbored their thoughts, each clutching their petty interests.

Yan’s defeat was not unforeseeable.

Xiao Rongyan felt that for someone of Murong Li’s age to take on his mission and choose to surrender and submit to the Great Zhou for the sake of the people’s and soldiers’ lives was already very brave and responsible.

“All ministers, please rise!” Murong Li spoke slowly. “Great Zhou could attack Yan territory at any time. There’s no time to lose—we must immediately draft a state letter and send envoys to meet the Great Zhou Emperor. Ninth Uncle…”

Murong Li looked toward Xiao Rongyan: “This time, we won’t trouble Ninth Uncle to go meet the Great Zhou Emperor, lest someone again use this matter to create trouble and throw mud at Ninth Uncle. In Ninth Uncle’s opinion… who would be most suitable to send?”

“The Minister of Honglu Si can go! The Minister of Revenue has dealt with Great Zhou officials before, so let the Minister of Revenue also make the trip personally…” Xiao Rongyan looked toward the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue had indeed dealt with Great Zhou’s officials and knew that Great Zhou was full of talented people. Not to mention the famous speaker Liu Rushi, Lu Fenglang was also not easy to deal with!

Especially that Fan Yugan—completely shameless, yet somehow leaving people unable to lose their temper. At least he had dealt with these people before and had psychological preparation. If they sent someone else, the Minister of Revenue really wouldn’t feel at ease, fearing his colleague would be tricked by the Zhou people.

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward and kowtowed solemnly: “Please rest assured, Your Majesty and Regent. This minister… will not fail in this mission!”