Murong Yu’s words “need” made Xiao Rongyan purse his lips and swallow back the rest of what he wanted to say.
Back then, when Murong Yu needed someone who could gather intelligence among the various nations without revealing their identity, Xiao Rongyan resolutely left the Yan Kingdom and rushed to the Wei Kingdom, enduring countless hardships to become a wealthy merchant of Great Wei.
Now that Murong Yu needed him to stand by his side, Xiao Rongyan would not hesitate anymore.
He turned his head to look at Feng Yao standing beneath the war chariot and said, “Uncle Feng, bring me the mask from my horse!”
“Yes!” Feng Yao hurriedly nodded.
The smile in Murong Yu’s eyes deepened as he looked at his younger brother who was becoming more and more steady, more and more possessed of a king’s bearing. His heart was filled with comfort—if only mother knew, she would be so delighted.
He couldn’t help but raise his hand, wanting to touch his younger brother’s head, but his strength failed him. He gripped the armrests with both hands, gasping for breath.
“Elder brother?” Xiao Rongyan supported Murong Yu.
Murong Yu chuckled softly, “It’s been a long time since I touched A’Yan’s head. I didn’t expect… our A’Yan has grown so tall!”
He turned to look at Xiao Rongyan, his voice very slow and light due to his weakness. He lowered his gaze and gestured with his hand at the height of his waist: “When you left the Yan Kingdom, you were only this tall…”
“Now you’re even taller than your brother. When your brother wants to touch our A’Yan’s head, I can’t even reach it anymore.” Murong Yu smiled.
When Xiao Rongyan was young, he was most impatient with others touching his head, constantly complaining to Empress Ji that his brothers always touched his head, wishing he could grow taller.
Now… among all the brothers and sisters, only the two of them remained.
If he had known they would be separated by death later, Xiao Rongyan would never have minded so much about his elder brother and sister touching his head.
His eyes grew slightly red. He bent down, took the Yan Emperor’s hand, and bowed his head, placing the Yan Emperor’s hand on top of his head. Suppressing the pain in his heart, he said in a low voice, “If elder brother wishes to touch A’Yan’s head, A’Yan will simply bow down.”
As long as his elder brother was still here, as long as his elder brother wanted to, Xiao Rongyan would be willing to lower his head before his elder brother at any time.
The Yan Emperor’s eyes immediately became sore and swollen. He gently touched Xiao Rongyan’s head: “Our A’Yan has truly grown up…”
The east gate of Chang City opened wide, and the dazzling golden light of the rising sun shot straight into the city.
The second prince of Great Yan, Murong Ping, led the Yan Kingdom’s generals and soldiers to welcome the Yan Emperor at the east gate. The bustling crowds of common people lined both sides of the long street, held back by heavy troops on either side. That road paved with golden light led straight to the east gate of the imperial palace.
Second Prince Murong Ping, dressed in military armor, gripped his sword and stood with light cavalry outside the city gate.
From afar, he could see an army like a giant dragon, holding high the Dark Bird Azure Sparrow banners representing the Yan Kingdom’s royal family, winding through the morning light… vast and mighty, with overwhelming momentum.
Second Prince Murong Ping’s heart surged with excitement. Unable to contain himself, he spurred his horse and charged forward.
From a distance, he saw the heavy cavalry at the very front. The horses wore black chainmail with only their eyes exposed. The soldiers on horseback wore black war armor and held spears and halberds, marching in perfect formation. Seeing Second Prince Murong Ping galloping toward them from afar, the leading general raised his hand high: “Halt…”
The iron cavalry obeyed orders absolutely, their movements identical.
After Murong Ping nodded to that Great Yan general, he spurred his horse straight toward the rear. Seeing his father emperor, and his ninth uncle both standing on the war chariot, Murong Ping leaped down from his horse, clasped his fists, and knelt on one knee: “Murong Ping respectfully welcomes Father Emperor and respectfully welcomes Ninth Uncle!”
“My son has worked hard!” Murong Yu raised his hand, signaling Murong Ping to rise.
Murong Ping stood up, breaking into a smile. Perhaps because he had been tanned, his teeth appeared especially white, and his entire being radiated vigorous vitality.
“Lead the way ahead and respectfully welcome your father emperor into the city!” Xiao Rongyan looked at Murong Ping and said.
“Yes!” Murong Ping clasped his fists in acknowledgment, leaped onto his horse, turned around, and led the way.
Inside Chang City, the common people heard the sound of horns and all craned their necks to look outside…
First came the clanking sound of heavy armored cavalry hoofbeats, then… Second Prince Murong Ping led the light cavalry into the city first.
Following the light cavalry came the heavy cavalry. The pitch-black chainmail and heavily armored warriors holding spears and halberds brought an extremely powerful sense of oppression to the common people as soon as they entered the city.
The heavy cavalry’s hoofbeats were uniform, their steps orderly, each step making people feel the earth trembling.
These common people of Chang City, being residents of the capital who had seen the world, still couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees at this sight.
With such an army, what worry was there about not conquering? What fear of not achieving victory?
Subsequently, the war chariot carrying the Yan Emperor entered the city. The magnificently dressed and dignified Yan Emperor stood upon the war chariot, his spine straight, eyes fixed ahead, displaying the imperial bearing of one who could swallow mountains and rivers.
Xiao Rongyan, wearing a silver mask, stood shoulder to shoulder with Yan Emperor Murong Yu. His hand secretly supported the Yan Emperor’s elbow, holding him up as they looked down from their high position at the soldiers and common people.
“Kneel…”
Hearing the general’s loud shout from atop the city wall.
The common people all knelt. Only those with the heaviest curiosity dared to secretly lift their heads to steal glances at the Yan Emperor, who was known as the most beautiful man in the world.
The soldiers knelt uniformly on one knee, striking their chests with their fists and shouting: “Long live His Majesty! Long live the Yan Kingdom!”
The Yan army soldiers moved as one, their resounding voices seeming to tear through the sky, carrying the bloody and fierce spirit of war, solemnly declaring… Chang City was now the territory of the Yan Kingdom.
Wherever the Yan Emperor went, soldiers shouted in unison…
“Long live His Majesty! Long live the Yan Kingdom!”
The sound shook the four directions, stirring emotions in all who heard it.
Murong Yu’s vision became somewhat blurred. He forced his eyes wide open, looking toward the distant imperial palace that was rendered golden and magnificent by the morning sun. His body nearly went soft and collapsed.
“Elder brother!” Xiao Rongyan firmly supported Murong Yu.
“Don’t worry, your brother can hold on!” Murong Yu gripped the war chariot’s armrests with both hands, forcing himself to straighten his spine.
Murong Yu knew he was already at the end of his strength. The future world… would be A’Yan’s world, the world of future generations.
“A’Yan, your brother’s only regret is not being able to… see you marry Princess Zhenguo!” Murong Yu’s voice was extremely soft. “However, that day in Shuoyang, your brother already drank the tea Princess Zhenguo offered and gave her the treasure box that Mother prepared for her daughter-in-law.”
Xiao Rongyan clenched his teeth, suppressing the sourness in his heart, and said, “She and I agreed beforehand that the day Wei is destroyed would be the day I come to propose marriage. Mother passed away early, and the eldest brother is like a father—elder brother… You must still go to propose marriage for me!”
Hearing Xiao Rongyan say this, Murong Yu turned to look at Xiao Rongyan. His extremely delicate and beautiful phoenix eyes showed surprised delight as he nodded: “Good, when… Chang City affairs are concluded, your brother will personally go to Shuoyang to propose marriage for A’Yan.”
Xiao Rongyan nodded: “A’Yan’s lifelong happiness is entrusted to elder brother.”
Murong Yu smiled and nodded, mustering his spirits, wanting to hold on for a few more days… to hold on until after proposing marriage for A’Yan before going to pay respects to mother.
After all, if he, as the elder brother, didn’t go, it would inevitably make Princess Zhenguo’s family elders feel that A’Yan didn’t value Princess Zhenguo.
At this time, the old aristocratic families and nobility who had remained in Chang City and had not followed the Wei Emperor and Wei Empress Dowager in relocating the capital were waiting for the Yan Emperor in the square before the palace hall.