On the twenty-seventh day of the second month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, the Ghost-Faced General, who should have been fighting the Beirong, led his troops in a surprise attack. He set an ambush at Huang Canal, beheaded a Xiliang general, and forced the Xiliang army to retreat. Subsequently, Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue led cavalry in a pursuit attack that dealt a crushing blow to the defeated Xiliang forces. The Xiliang army retreated within their borders and dared not act rashly.

On the fourth day of the third month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Great Yan’s Second Prince Murong Ping broke through Great Wei’s northern pass and split his forces with Xie Xun into two routes with unstoppable momentum.

On the fifteenth day of the third month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Jin released the spring examination rankings. Grand Tutor Chen’s grandson Chen Zhaolu was appointed as the top scholar, Chancellor Lu’s grandson Lu Yuanqing as second place, Dong Changyuan as third place, and Qin Lang as the first in the second tier.

On the nineteenth day of the third month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Jin’s General Liu Hong and Princess Gaoyi led troops to recapture Yaoyang from Great Liang. Great Liang broke through Danyang City and advanced deep into enemy territory.

On the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Great Liang sent their Fourth Prince to Jin to seek peace. The Fourth Prince was mistakenly killed by Jin forces at Qingxi Mountain. Great Liang’s war generals were furious, and the Liang Emperor demanded that Jin offer the heads of General Liu Hong and Princess Gaoyi as an apology; otherwise, they would fight to the death. This peace negotiation ended before it began.

On the thirteenth day of the fifth month in the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Wei offered heavy rewards to Xiliang and Jin for aid, claiming that if they could occupy Yan territory, it would all belong to these two nations. Jin’s army was caught up in fierce battles with Great Liang and could not spare forces, so the Xiliang Empress decided to send troops to assist Wei.

On the seventeenth day of the fifth month in the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Great Liang’s soldiers and civilians were filled with righteous indignation, resisting Jin’s army at Yuzhou, which could not be conquered despite prolonged attacks.

On the twenty-sixth day of the fifth month in the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Nanrong’s Ghost-Faced General led his army to break through Beirong’s imperial palace. The Beirong King, escorted by Beirong’s remaining forces and Great Yan’s stationed troops, retreated to the north. Thus, Nanrong had occupied most of the Rong territory.

On the first day of the sixth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Xiliang captured Great Yan’s capital, Mingdu. The Yan Emperor ordered that Second Prince Murong Ping and Xie Xun were not to withdraw their troops for defense, personally leading the kingdom’s remaining old and wounded soldiers to resist Xiliang.

On the sixteenth day of the seventh month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Xiliang consecutively captured Great Yan’s Quanzhou and Longhu Platform. The Yan Emperor led his troops to defend Longan City to the death and was severely wounded.

Xiao Rongyan, who had been mediating between Xiliang and Great Wei, inquired about the situation and rushed to Longan City.

On the road, Xiao Rongyan had been riding fast without rest for two days and two nights. Just as they were about to reach Longan City, Yue Shi rode up on his horse and said, “Master, please rest and change your clothes. If His Majesty sees you in this state, he will surely feel distressed. Let this subordinate go ahead to Longan City to report the news!”

“No need! Let’s go!” Xiao Rongyan took a sip of water, tossed the leather water pouch to Yue Shi, and spurred his horse toward Longan City.

Emperor Yan Murong Yu could no longer rise. He lay clothed against a cushion, his hair unbound and scattered… his breathing somewhat labored. His refined and handsome features were completely bloodless, his forehead and nose tip covered in fine sweat, and white hairs had even appeared at his temples.

Murong Li was extremely anxious. Seeing that the imperial physician had reapplied medicine and re-bandaged the wound, he impatiently asked the physician, “How is it?”

Feng Yao held the black lacquered square tray used for changing the Emperor’s dressing, his hands trembling incessantly, his eyes red.

The elderly imperial physician looked up at the Yan Emperor, who said quietly, “Speak truthfully!”

Only then did the physician shake his head: “There’s no improvement. His Majesty already had toxins in his body. Fortunately, with treatment by a renowned physician, there was slight improvement, but the medicine treating His Majesty’s internal toxins makes his blood difficult to coagulate after injury. His Majesty has begun to develop a fever, which is not a good sign.”

Murong Li clenched his hands tightly. If it hadn’t been to save him… how would Father Emperor have been struck by an arrow!

Seeing his son’s guilt and sorrow, Murong Yu waved his hand, signaling the physician and everyone standing by to leave. He gently closed his robes and called, “A’Li… come here, come to Father Emperor’s side.”

Murong Li walked to Murong Yu’s side, his head lowered, seemingly unwilling to let Father Emperor see his reddened eyes.

“A’Li, if Father Emperor doesn’t make it this time, do you think you can support this Great Yan kingdom?” Murong Yu reached out to grasp his son’s slender wrist, having his son sit by the bed. “There’s no time for you to be sad now. Pull yourself together!”

Hearing these words, Murong Li looked up, biting his teeth as he gazed at Murong Yu, shaking his head: “Your son… doesn’t have the confidence to support Yan.”

“Among your brothers, who do you think… could support Yan?” Murong Yu asked again.

Murong Li shook his head, firmly stating beyond propriety: “Eldest Brother is mediocre, Second Brother is good at martial arts, but neither can shoulder great responsibilities. A’Li is young… and also cannot!”

“Since none of you are capable, then Father Emperor can only entrust this kingdom to your Ninth Uncle.” Murong Yu gripped his son’s shoulder. “Father Emperor hopes you remember that it doesn’t matter who sits on this throne – what matters… is who can support this Yan kingdom! Our Great Yan must not, after Father Emperor’s passing, create disputes over this throne or turn weapons against each other. Otherwise, Great Yan will never return to its former strength and will never be able to unify this realm!”

“Father Emperor! Your child remembers!” Murong Li responded.

Suddenly, the eunuchs and guards outside could be heard calling “Ninth Prince” in succession. Murong Li was startled and sat up from the couch, glanced at Murong Yu, and hurriedly passed through the curtains to greet the visitor.

“Young Master! You’ve finally returned!” Feng Yao knelt at the threshold, kowtowing, unable to suppress his tearful voice.

“Ninth Uncle!” Murong Li saw Xiao Rongyan, dusty from travel, stride into the main hall. The tears he had restrained for days immediately poured out, falling like pearls, “Ninth Uncle!”

Xiao Rongyan’s mind was in turmoil. He took three steps in two to reach Murong Li, reached out to touch the child’s head, and asked, “How is your Father Emperor?”

“Ninth Uncle, the physician says… says it’s not good!” Murong Li wiped away his tears with his sleeve. “The medicine Physician Hong gave Father Emperor to neutralize the poison makes Father Emperor’s blood difficult to coagulate – Physician Hong had warned about this long ago! But… but… if it hadn’t been for me this time, Father Emperor wouldn’t have…”

“A’Yan…”

Emperor Yan Murong Yu’s voice came from the inner room. Xiao Rongyan unfastened his cloak and casually tossed it to Feng Yao, then strode into the inner chamber.

Passing through the curtains, Xiao Rongyan saw his already frail elder brother leaning against the cushion. The fine cotton cloth bandaging his chest wound had already seeped with blood. Murong Yu struggled to sit up, and his chest was immediately soaked with a large patch of fresh blood, with signs of further spreading. Xiao Rongyan hurriedly stepped forward to place another cushion behind Murong Yu’s back and sat by the bed.

Looking at the wound on Murong Yu’s chest, emotions surged in Xiao Rongyan’s heart. He bit his teeth tightly to control his emotions, not knowing whether he was comforting himself or the Yan Emperor: “It’s not serious! Physician Hong has extraordinary skills – he’s comparable to Hua Tuo and Bian Que! As long as we can get Physician Hong here, everything will be fine!”

“Yue Shi!” Xiao Rongyan turned and shouted toward the door.

Yue Shi immediately entered. Seeing the Yan Emperor’s condition, Yue Shi’s eyes instantly moistened, and he knelt to kowtow to the Emperor.

“Go immediately to Shouyang and ask Miss Bai to lend me Physician Hong! Go quickly! Don’t delay!” Xiao Rongyan ordered.

“Yes!”

Yue Shi acknowledged the order, but before he could leave, the Yan Emperor called out to him: “Yue Shi, stop right there!”