Chapter 1098: Chapter 1092: Doubts
“The wealthy merchant of Wei, Xiao Rongyan, is your alias, a fake identity! But now… the wealthy merchant of Wei, Xiao Rongyan, is also the deceased husband of the Emperor of Zhou, and in the abdomen of the Emperor of Zhou… there is a posthumous child!” Empress Dowager Yan firmly gazed at Murong Yan, asking, “Is the child carried by the Emperor of Zhou your flesh and blood, or… was your identity just used as a last resort?”
Upon hearing this, he vaguely understood what his sister-in-law was worried about and admitted frankly, “I wouldn’t deceive sister-in-law, the child in Qingyan’s abdomen… is A Yan’s.”
“Then let me ask you…” The refined eyes of Empress Dowager Yan were filled with fierceness, “Does the Emperor of Zhou know that you are the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom?”
Murong Yan nodded, without concealment: “Long ago, during the Xuanjia period of the Jin Kingdom, Qingyan knew A Yan’s identity and even helped A Yan conceal his identity, help him escape a crisis. Qingyan knew A Yan’s goal was to gain fame among the nations, and she even gave A Yan this opportunity, using the Bai family to establish the reputation of righteous merchant, and precisely because of this… A Yan has found it easier to navigate among the nations.”
Empress Dowager Yan had a look of ‘just as expected’, a deeper alertness in her eyes: “Your brother once told me, A Yan has a woman he is in love with, and that woman once said to A Yan… only with a united world can bring eternal peace for the people. A woman with the same aspirations and ambitions as A Yan, is this woman…the Emperor of Zhou?”
Murong Yan nodded.
Seeing Murong Yan nod, Empress Dowager Yan’s pupils suddenly contracted, and she stood up abruptly: “I knew it! This is it! Your brother’s frail health is known to all! She knew your identity long ago, so she had planned… thinking if your brother is no more, it would surely be you ascending to the throne of Emperor Yan, so back in Dadu City, she sold favors to you!”
“Sister-in-law…” Murong Yan looked at Empress Dowager Yan incredulously, not knowing where she came up with these guesses.
Empress Dowager Yan’s expression was tense, pacing back and forth: “Later she overthrew the Jin Dynasty, ascending the throne herself, but her goal is to unite the world! Therefore, she began plotting against the Yan Kingdom…”
“Sister-in-law!”
Murong Yan attempted to interrupt Empress Dowager Yan, but she continued speaking: “At that time, the Eldest Princess of Jin Dynasty was gone, although her grandmother was in mourning; the mourning period for the Imperial Family differs from the common people, so she hooked you with Xiao Rongyan’s identity into marriage and got pregnant with your child! Clearly, she intends to use the child to force you, threaten you…to impact you, thereby occupying Great Yan!”
“Sister-in-law! Things are not as you speculate, Kid is not that kind of person.”
“I reckon you have been blinded by Bai Qingyan!” Empress Dowager Yan shed tears more violently, struggling to restrain her voice, not wanting those outside to hear, “It is widely known Bai Qingyan cannot conceive, but why did she become pregnant after marrying you? Clearly, she has plotted this!”
“Sister-in-law… I know you fear that because of this child, I would remove Ah Li from the throne, but sister-in-law, do not insult Qingyan. A Yan has traveled the nations for many years, claiming to have some ability in judging people, the Bai family all have noble character, even… surpassing our Murong Imperial Family by many degrees, A Yan always felt inadequate!” Murong Yan steadily looked at Empress Dowager Yan, “Thus, I beg sister-in-law not to insult her! Do not… use the heart of our Yan Imperial Family to speculate on the hearts of Bai family people! Even if Bai Family does want the Yan Kingdom, they would certainly use the most legitimate means, not such vile schemes.”
“And please, sister-in-law, do not doubt A Yan’s promise. If A Yan were truly to dethrone Ah Li for his child, long ago, when my brother left the Imperial Edict to pass the throne to me, I would have ascended.”
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Yan wept instantly, choking, grasping her skirt as she knelt opposite Murong Yan, tightly clutching his hand: “Sister-in-law does not doubt you, A Yan! You are my brother, I trust you! But I do not trust the Emperor of Zhou! Perhaps as you said… the Emperor of Zhou is a straightforward person, but A Yan… my experiences tell me, the human heart is separated by a rib cage! Even one’s own father can poison his son for the sake of power and throne, let alone… the Emperor of a rival nation?!”
What sister-in-law refers to is the matter of Father Emperor poisoning brother.
At that time, brother was supported by officials, all said brother was wise, seeing brother’s reputation among officials and commoners rise steadily, Father Emperor poisoned brother.
But… there is one thing sister-in-law does not know, the reason Father Emperor poisoned brother, besides brother’s rising reputation, is because he suspected long ago that brother was not his flesh and blood, unwilling to let the throne of Yan Kingdom fall to the hands of another’s offspring.
Seeing Murong Yan’s face somber and silent, Empress Dowager Yan lamented again: “Even if the Emperor of Zhou and you are upright gentlemen, still… A Yan, your brother originally intended to pass the throne to you, in Ah Li’s heart this matter remains a knot.”
Upon hearing this, Murong Yan raised his head and looked at Empress Dowager Yan, the anxious expression from earlier gradually calming, a slight chill settling in his heart, his deep, profound voice resonating: “What does sister-in-law want A Yan to do?”
Empress Dowager Yan shook her head, her tone filled with expectation and plea: “It’s not about what sister-in-law wants you to do, but… if one day, that Bai Qingyan uses the child in her womb to threaten you, what will you do? If one day Ah Li wishes to pass the throne to your child, will you still be as firm today… only steadfastly support Ah Li in securing the throne, huh?”
Murong Yan pressed his lips, silent, just steadily looking at his sister-in-law, seeing her reaction, the matter of merging the two nations… he couldn’t speak candidly.
“Mother!” Murong Li lifted the curtain, coming in from outside. He had heard quite a bit with an ear against the outside, seeing his mother and Ninth Uncle kneeling opposite each other, not wanting his Ninth Uncle to be troubled, and fearing Ninth Uncle might reveal the matter of merging the two nations with future policies openly to his mother, then knelt beside his mother and Ninth Uncle.
“Mother is mistaken, Ninth Uncle conceding the throne to Ah Li is indeed not a knot in Ah Li’s heart. Ninth Uncle originally said to Ah Li when executing this that… this was to work with Ah Li, to make Great Yan better! Ah Li understands… Ninth Uncle wishes Ah Li to be a proper, kind, and benevolent Emperor, at least in the eyes of outsiders, Ninth Uncle shoulders the dark side, being cursed, only in this way… can the development and reform of Great Yan be promoted while consolidating Ah Li’s imperial power!”
Murong Li earnestly and firmly gazed at his own mother, voicing the heartache for Murong Yan, his voice involuntarily rising: “Everything that Ninth Uncle has done, all is for the Yan Kingdom… all is so Ah Li can stabilize the throne, for this… Ninth Uncle even disregarded the infamy after his demise, how can mother speculate and doubt Ninth Uncle this way?”