"Father... Emperor, your son...?"
Murong Cheng, after reaching adulthood, was stout and robust, with a broad face, high cheekbones, and long limbs, exhibiting the typical characteristics of a Xianbei man. He strode into the imperial garden, his crown prince robes exuding an air of opulent grandeur, a gold-sheathed saber slung at his waist, projecting an image of imposing might. Emperor Murong Xi of Yan watched him with immense satisfaction, feeling as though the Crown Prince Murong Cheng had become a different person.
However, just as Murong Xi was filled with joy and contentment, Murong Cheng suddenly knelt down with a "thud," his backside thrust high in the air. All the eloquent speeches he had prepared vanished from his mind. He stammered and stumbled, appearing exceptionally dull.
As Murong Cheng knelt, he inadvertently let the scabbard of his saber slip beneath his robes, causing it to stand upright as if he had grown a tail. The curved saber then fell from its sheath, striking the golden bricks with a clang.
Murong Xi's face immediately darkened. He looked at Crown Prince Murong Cheng with utter helplessness, his joy and satisfaction replaced by a gnawing anxiety and vexation.
"Father Emperor..." A soft and clear voice made Murong Xi's mood slightly better.
"Father Emperor..." Murong Xiaoxiao, the Eldest Princess of the Great Yan, approached Murong Xi and called out softly.
"Xiao'er, come to your father's side." Murong Xi ignored Murong Cheng and beckoned to Murong Xiaoxiao with a smile.
"Father Emperor..." Murong Xiaoxiao leaned beside Murong Xi and whispered, "Father Emperor... what's wrong? Xiao Xiao..."
Murong Xiaoxiao choked back her sobs, unable to speak further.
Murong Xi was not very old, not yet sixty years of age. Yet, his hair was almost entirely white, his body was plump, he was bald, his skin was wrinkled, and his muscles were flaccid. Bags hung beneath his eyes like two fish bladders, and his face was crisscrossed with wrinkles.
In his youth, Murong Xi had been a valiant general who had fought on many battlefields. However, years of unrestrained indulgence in pleasure, drinking, and overeating had left him looking like an elder of advanced years.
Murong Xiaoxiao had not seen her father for a long time. Seeing him in such a state now, she felt an overwhelming sadness and grief, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Murong Xiaoxiao, as the Eldest Princess of the Great Yan, bore the title "Princess Ling Shou." She was Murong Xi's biological daughter. However, it was not easy for her to see Murong Xi. The reasons were self-evident: Murong Xi largely neglected state affairs, indulging in pleasures in the imperial harem. The harem itself was almost entirely controlled by Empress Murong Qing, making it difficult for Murong Xiaoxiao to gain an audience with Murong Xi. Today, Murong Xiaoxiao and Murong Cheng had bribed imperial attendants and slipped into the imperial garden through a back gate.
"Xiao'er, do you think your father is old?" Murong Xi sighed softly, first wiping his hands on his dragon robes, then wiping Murong Xiaoxiao's tears. "Your father is not. I have neglected you all. Alas, Xiao'er, why have you and Cheng'er come today?"
Hearing this, Murong Xiaoxiao gave Murong Cheng a meaningful glance.
"Father... Father... Emperor, your son and sister missed Father Emperor, so, so today... we came to... pay our respects." Murong Cheng's speech remained hesitant, but he had managed to convey his purpose.
"Mm, good. Your father misses you too." Murong Xi nodded and asked Murong Cheng, "Do you only miss your father?"
"And... no, I just miss Father Emperor..." Murong Xi, who had reigned for decades, although he now looked like an elder, still possessed a majestic aura. His eyes, in particular, were piercing, like an eagle's, fixing on Murong Cheng, causing the words he was about to utter to retreat.
Murong Xiaoxiao felt a profound sorrow in her heart. She glanced at Murong Xi, then at Murong Cheng, who was as useless as mud on a wall.
He was so far behind. That man possessed the sharp gaze and imposing demeanor of a tiger, valiant and majestic. If only that man were her own brother, Murong Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of him.
"Cheng'er, you need not be afraid." Murong Xi sighed helplessly, trying to speak to Murong Cheng in a gentle tone. "This vast empire will soon be entrusted to your hands. You cannot wait much longer. But how will you govern? Have you thought about it?"
"Father Emperor, what do you mean? You are still in your prime, why speak such words?" Before Murong Cheng could answer, Murong Xiaoxiao looked at Murong Xi and asked worriedly.
Murong Xi waved his hand, signaling for Murong Cheng to answer.
"I..." Murong Cheng also glanced at Murong Xiaoxiao, then at Murong Xi, before stammering his reply: "The way of governance... the way of governance... Father... Emperor... Your son does not wish to govern. Your son only wishes to live under Father Emperor's wing. I... as long as Father Emperor is here, your son dares not speak of governing..."
In fact, the visit by Murong Cheng and Murong Xiaoxiao today was not entirely Murong Xiaoxiao's idea. It was also suggested by Eastern Palace officials like Murong Fu. The siblings were to visit Emperor Murong Xi to express filial affection and perhaps persuade him to change something.
As for how to respond, Murong Fu had instructed Murong Cheng in detail. However, his initial question was incorrect, and coupled with Murong Cheng's nervousness, it left him flustered and incapable.
The Eastern Palace officials had undoubtedly taught him the strategies and ways of governance. If Murong Cheng had paid even a little attention, he would have been able to provide some answer, right or wrong, at this moment. But Murong Cheng usually spent his days falconry, dog fighting, and cricket fighting, mingling with the servants of the Eastern Palace in his carefree leisure. His mind was never on such matters, and thus, he could not utter a single word now.
Whatever the esteemed scholars of the Eastern Palace had repeated like an old monk chanting scriptures in his ears, Murong Cheng had long since forgotten.
"Your father will eventually die." Murong Xi said angrily at this.
"No, no..." Murong Cheng exclaimed in shock, his face turning pale. He had just gotten up when he "thudded" to his knees again. He was so worried that he began to cry uncontrollably, holding onto Murong Xi's legs and weeping, "Father Emperor is the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven lives for ten thousand years, how can he...? Wuwuwu... Father Emperor, if you... if you were to... what would your son do?"
Murong Cheng's sorrow, sadness, and worry were not feigned. It was a genuine outpouring of emotion, or rather, genuine concern for himself.
Murong Cheng and Murong Xiaoxiao had lost their mother in their childhood and relied entirely on the great tree that was Murong Xi to shield them from the wind and rain. Otherwise, whether the siblings would still be alive today was uncertain.
Murong Cheng lived comfortably and freely under this great tree. Once this sheltering tree fell, he truly had no idea what he would do.
"Cheng'er, you..." Murong Xi intended to reprimand him, perhaps even give him a good beating. But Murong Cheng's filial piety was truly from the heart. So, he could only sigh inwardly.
"Xiao'er, you tell me, how to govern?" Murong Xi then turned and asked Murong Xiaoxiao.
"Me? Father Emperor, my brother knows. I am a daughter, how would I know?" Murong Xiaoxiao glanced at Murong Cheng and replied.
"You speak. No matter what you say, your father will not blame you," Murong Xi said.
"Oh, Father Emperor, this daughter has read many Han books and heard many people say that the key to governance is first in employing and managing people." Murong Xiaoxiao glanced at Murong Cheng again and answered somewhat hesitantly.
The old scholars of the Eastern Palace would drone on about these things all day. Murong Xiaoxiao, listening from the side, had practically grown calluses in her ears.
"Heh heh, Xiao'er, you are absolutely right." Murong Xi praised Murong Xiaoxiao and then turned to look at Murong Cheng. "Look at you, you're not even as good as your sister. You loaf around all day, doing nothing serious. I ask you, have you taken Xiaoxiao's affairs to heart?"
"Father Emperor, what affair?" Murong Cheng placed his hands on his knees and bent forward to ask.
"Of course, it's the matter of marriage." Murong Xi glared at Murong Cheng. "There's an old saying among the Han people: a man who has come of age should marry, and a woman who has come of age should wed. These matters should not be Father Emperor's concern, but... alas, your Eji died early. Today, your Father Emperor will decide for you."
Murong Cheng had reached adulthood and could have a Crown Princess. Although he currently had a retinue of concubines, he had no legal wife, meaning no Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince was the heir to the nation, and the establishment of a Crown Princess was a significant matter for a country. The Crown Prince's marriage, the woman he married, and her behind-the-family would all become the Crown Prince's allies. That is to say, through a marriage alliance, the Crown Prince's power would be strengthened, which would be beneficial for his future ascension to the throne.
However, given the current situation in the Great Yan, it was uncertain whether a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince would be a good thing.
"Father Emperor, can I get married now?" Murong Cheng exclaimed joyfully.
"You could have long ago." Murong Xi nodded with a smile. "Which family's daughter have you set your eyes upon?"
"The daughter of the Left Virtuous King, Princess Ziyue..." Murong Cheng replied, rubbing his plump hands.
"What?" Murong Xi and Murong Xiaoxiao exclaimed in unison.
While Han customs and rites forbade marriage between people of the same surname, the Xianbei did not. As long as they were not direct relatives, cousins from paternal or maternal sides, or members of the same clan, they could marry. However, the matter of Murong Huiying, the daughter of the Left Virtuous King and Prince Guan Ning, Murong Boli, had already caused a stir in the capital. Even Murong Xi, secluded in the imperial palace, had heard of it.
Murong Boli and his wife had held a grand ceremony to recruit a son-in-law, but the result was that a host of young lords had arrived with great fanfare and departed in utter disgrace. This matter had already caused a great commotion in the capital, and few people would propose marriage to them in the future.
Murong Huiying had a fiery temperament. Who would dare to provoke her? Given Murong Huiying's nature, even if a forced marriage were successful, she might die in the bridal chamber...
"Ah? No? If not, then forget it," Murong Cheng quickly said upon seeing their reactions.
Murong Huiying was renowned for her beauty, unmatched in the world. But Murong Cheng was no stranger to beauties; the Eastern Palace was filled with countless beautiful women. Murong Cheng had merely heard about the Left Virtuous King's mansion recruiting a son-in-law, and his competitive spirit had been piqued.
You all went in disgrace, but with this Crown Prince leading the charge, success is assured!