"Hah, it's him?" Upon hearing about Zhou Fugui, Murong Xi, looking at Empress Murong Qing, said with great joy, "Empress, your foresight was indeed remarkable! You knew this man would render great service to our Great Yan, didn't you? Come, draft an imperial decree, bestow upon him the position of Minister of the Palace."
"Your Heavenly Sage Great Khan, absolutely not!" Empress Murong Qing's face suddenly showed a hint of panic as she advised.
The position of Minister of the Palace was a military post in Yan, responsible for the imperial guards, the emperor's personal army and inner attendants. The Minister of the Palace held no high rank but possessed considerable power, usually filled by those trusted by the emperor.
It was natural to appoint a trusted confidant as the commander of troops guarding the capital and protecting the emperor.
At this moment, the position of Minister of the Palace in the Yan court was vacant, not assigned to anyone. The imperial guards and inner attendants were led by the Inner Three Generals, Lord Lou Zan, and the deputy commander of the inner attendants was the Inner Fine Archer Murong Kang. These two, one on the left and one on the right, one principal and one deputy, commanded the emperor's personal army and inner attendants. Lou Zan was old and often seemed dazed, rarely handling affairs, so the emperor's personal army and inner attendants were almost entirely under Murong Kang's command.
The emperor's personal army and inner attendants were naturally the most elite troops of Great Yan. The commanders, whether the Minister of the Palace, Inner Three Generals, or Inner Fine Archers, were chosen from the Xianbei nobility, prioritizing those skilled in archery and horsemanship. They served to protect and attend to the monarch, and to guard and escort the monarch during campaigns.
Murong Xi, though capricious and unpredictable, was not entirely without his wits, especially when it came to his empire. He was shrewd indeed.
If Murong Xi suddenly wished to promote a Han man to the head of the imperial guards and inner attendants as Minister of the Palace, it indicated he had lost trust in the Xianbei. He intended to use the Han man Zhou Fugui to counter Murong Qing's influence. This meant Murong Xi planned to guard against, and perhaps even move against, the siblings Murong Qing and Murong Kang.
Empress Murong Qing had recognized Zhou Fugui's potential in the past and saved him, intending to use him for her own purposes. Now that Zhou Fugui had achieved great merit, Murong Qing naturally wished to leverage this to make him eternally grateful and loyal to her.
If Emperor Yan Murong Xi promoted Zhou Fugui, it would essentially mean Zhou Fugui owed his gratitude to Emperor Yan Murong Xi, not Empress Murong Qing.
Therefore, the promotion of Zhou Fugui had to be initiated by Murong Qing.
"Why not?" Murong Xi asked, glancing at Murong Qing.
"Those of different races will have different intentions. Your Heavenly Sage Great Khan, do not forget his identity; he is a..." Murong Qing replied.
"Enough!" Murong Xi interrupted, waving his hand. "I have heard the saying 'those of different races will have different intentions' so many times that my ears are calloused. Did the Empress not also value him? Why then do you obstruct him so vehemently now?"
"I..." Murong Qing was momentarily speechless, unable to respond. However, after a brief pause, she said calmly, "Whether Zhou Fugui's accomplishments are true or not is difficult to ascertain. Moreover, he is currently far away at the Xiongnu royal court. It's uncertain if he will even return alive. The Minister of the Palace is the head of the inner guards and must protect the capital. Your Heavenly Sage Great Khan must not be so hasty."
In the past, Murong Qing had saved Zhou Fugui, and he was naturally grateful and had sworn his loyalty to her. At least, that was what Murong Qing believed. However, so much time had passed. Had Zhou Fugui changed? Was he still the same? It was necessary to test him. Thus, Murong Qing employed a delay tactic, which Murong Xi could not refute.
"Your Heavenly Sage Great Khan..." After a moment, Murong Qing said to Murong Xi, "Marquis Hou Zhongluo's memorial states that the Xiongnu army has been routed, yet the border commander Hu Yan Sheng hesitates to advance, fearing the loss of a battle opportunity..."
Before Murong Qing could finish, Murong Xi coldly interrupted, "Does the Empress also wish to interfere in border affairs?"
...
"Your Heavenly Sage Great Khan... Crown Prince Cheng and the Eldest Princess request an audience."
After Murong Qing departed, Emperor Yan Murong Xi reverted to his old ways. Within the imperial harem gardens, he drank and indulged in debauchery, reveling with concubines and palace maids in naked revelry, turning the once clean and elegant gardens of Great Yan into a pool of wine and flesh, a place of unrestrained pleasure.
Murong Xi forbade any disturbance. Otherwise, his madness would erupt, and he would kill again. Even if someone requested an audience, the eunuchs would not dare to announce it. However, the visitors were Crown Prince Murong Cheng and Eldest Princess Murong Xiaoxiao, and the eunuchs dared not refuse. They had no choice but to report to Murong Xi at the risk of their lives.
The announcer was the inner official Tu Zhen. After reporting, Tu Zhen retreated to the side, fearing he might anger Murong Xi and incur disaster.
"They are here? Quickly, quickly help me change!" Murong Xi's old face flushed upon hearing this. He pushed away two palace maids and repeatedly ordered those around him.
Others might not matter, but these were his two most beloved children. Hence, he felt a blush of embarrassment.
Murong Cheng and Murong Xiaoxiao were born to the late Empress Dacheng, Lady Yu Chi, of Yan. Empress Dacheng, from a prominent Xianbei clan, was dignified, virtuous, and gentle. She assisted Murong Xi in establishing the hegemony of Great Yan. Alas, her fortune was short-lived, and she passed away early, leaving behind only these two children.
Murong Xi grieved for Empress Dacheng Yu Chi's early passing and had always doted on the children she left behind. Therefore, no matter how extravagant and unrestrained Murong Xi was, he did not wish to show it before them.
Another reason was that what is lost is always the best.
The maternal uncle, Murong Fu, originally bore the surname Yu Chi and was later granted the name Murong.
Thus, there was a flurry of activity. Some were dressing, others were changing clothes, and some were tidying up, finally managing to restore some semblance of solemnity and dignity. However, a thick air of decadence still permeated the space.
"Xiaoxiao, I'm not going!"
Murong Xi doted on Murong Cheng, otherwise, he would not have made him Crown Prince, the heir apparent of Great Yan, and allowed him to grow up in this environment of wolves circling and extreme danger. Without Murong Xi's protection, it would have been impossible. Otherwise, Crown Prince Cheng would have long been ousted from his position and devoured.
However, the person Murong Cheng feared most was his own father, Emperor Yan Murong Xi. Today, forced by Murong Xiaoxiao, he clung to the carved door post, refusing to enter and see his father.
"Brother..." Murong Xiaoxiao found it both amusing and exasperating. As she dragged him along, she said, "Father is waiting for us. Let's go, or we'll be laughed at."
"I'm not going. Xiaoxiao, you go," Murong Cheng, Murong Xiaoxiao's biological brother, had grown into a stout and robust man like his father. Murong Xiaoxiao could not move him. Instead, Murong Xiaoxiao almost fell over. Murong Cheng said to Murong Xiaoxiao apologetically.
"Brother..." Murong Xiaoxiao's face turned red with anger. She glanced at the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids, stomped her foot, and said to Murong Cheng, "Brother, if you continue like this, I will never help you again."
Many of Murong Cheng's absurdities had been covered up by Murong Xiaoxiao.
"Oh, Xiaoxiao..." Murong Cheng had no choice but to release his grip and followed Murong Xiaoxiao towards the garden, asking as they walked, "What should I say when I see Father?"
The petite Murong Xiaoxiao walked ahead, while the stout and robust Murong Cheng, hunched over, trotted behind her. The dignified Crown Prince of Great Yan looked like a follower, astonishing the court guards, eunuchs, and palace maids. However, they dared not show surprise. Their faces remained expressionless, like clay sculptures.
"Brother..." Murong Xiaoxiao turned back and saw Murong Cheng's appearance, becoming furious. She sighed and turned to adjust his princely attire, saying, "Brother, you are the heir to the nation. You must show the dignity and majesty of an heir. If Father sees you like this, he will be angry."
"Oh..." Murong Cheng nodded in agreement and then asked, "What majesty?"
In the Eastern Palace, Murong Cheng was indeed majestic and imposing, needing no instruction. The officials, servants, and maids in the Eastern Palace dared not defy his will and were all respectful. He could commit murder or arson in the Eastern Palace, and no one would intervene. But here, in the Yan Imperial Palace, his legs went weak, and he wanted to kneel or turn and flee.
"Make fists with both hands, stand up straight, don't bend over, lift your chest, and walk with large strides. Don't walk like a woman," Murong Xiaoxiao replied angrily.
"Oh..." Only then did Murong Cheng straighten his chest and head, walking towards the garden.
"Brother, wait..." Murong Xiaoxiao called out to Murong Cheng, snatched a golden scabbard from a guard, and hung it on Murong Cheng's jade belt. "Brother, grip the hilt tightly as you enter, and let Father see a valiant Xianbei man!"
Murong Xiaoxiao then clapped her hands, a smile appearing on her face. She was quite pleased with her creation.
"Oh, is this... appropriate? Will Father blame me?" Murong Cheng, holding the sword hilt, turned to Murong Xiaoxiao with some fear.
Bringing weapons into the palace was forbidden, even for the Crown Prince, unless one was a sworn guard. However, the Xianbei had founded their nation on military strength, so the rules in this regard were not overly strict. It was not an uncommon occurrence for princes, or even princesses, to occasionally wear swords when meeting the emperor.
"What is appropriate or not appropriate about this?" Murong Xiaoxiao's mood, which had just improved, was again spoiled by Murong Cheng. Angrily, she pushed Murong Cheng and said, "Hurry in and show the dignity and majesty of an heir. Father will not only not blame you, but he will be happy."
"Oh..." Murong Cheng looked at Murong Xiaoxiao with a half-believing expression, then straightened his chest, tightly gripped the saber at his waist, and strode towards the interior.
Indeed, Emperor Yan Murong Xi saw Crown Prince Murong Cheng enter with great majesty, striding with his sword, and was greatly pleased, laughing heartily.