The Residence of the Right Virtuous King of Youzhou
Bai Jie, also known as "Bai Yue" and "Chagan Sa," is similar to the Han Chinese Spring Festival. Every year during Bai Jie, the Xianbei people, like the Han, celebrate this most grand annual festival with great joy and festivity.
However, the residence of the Right Virtuous King of Youzhou was shrouded in gloom and sorrow. The reason was self-evident: the condition of Murong Wang, the Right Virtuous King and Right Governor of the Great Yan Kingdom, was worsening, and he was not expected to live long.
"Da Yan Zhi, you... you've finally arrived?" On this day, Murong Qing, the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, finally came to the residence to visit her father. Her younger brother, Murong Kang, greeted her at the gate, speaking while looking around.
"He... he merely asked me to come and see Father," Murong Qing replied with a pale, sorrowful smile.
Murong Kang nodded and ushered Murong Qing into the residence, leading her to Murong Wang's room.
"Father..."
The room was filled with the smell of medicine, even a hint of decay. The Right Virtuous King of the Great Yan Kingdom, Murong Wang, lay on his couch. His face was sallow and thin, his eyes dull. The thin quilt barely covered him, lying almost flat with the edge of the bed.
In just a few months, illness and injury had reduced a robust man to a skeletal frame. He no longer resembled a formidable general of the Great Yan who once commanded respect and awe.
Seeing this, Murong Qing was overcome with grief. She crawled to her father's bedside and wept.
"Da Yan Zhi, get up quickly. Don't give them a spectacle," Murong Wang said, extending a hand like a withered branch to stroke Murong Qing's hair. He then smiled slightly.
"Mm..." Murong Qing, hearing this, wiped away her tears and rose, standing by her father's bedside.
Murong Wang was a founding father of the Great Yan Kingdom. He had campaigned far and wide for the kingdom, achieving countless military successes. His prestige was second only to Murong Bolie, the Left Virtuous King.
After the establishment of Yan, Murong Wang became the Right Governor of the Yan army, jointly leading the Yan forces with Murong Bolie. It was because of this that Murong Qing ascended to the throne as the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom.
Now that Murong Wang was critically ill and near death, it was as if the pillar supporting his family would collapse. For Murong Qing, it meant losing her greatest support. Whether her position as Empress, her title as Da Yan Zhi, could be maintained was also uncertain.
Coupled with her worry for her father Murong Wang's health, how could Murong Qing not be heartbroken?
Emperor Yan Murong Xi had three sons. The eldest, Crown Prince Murong Cheng, was born to the former Empress. The second son was Murong Qing's own child, Murong Yi, who was well-behaved, intelligent, and handsome, far surpassing Murong Cheng. Murong Xi's third son was still an infant, born to a lowly palace maid. Therefore, the struggle for the succession of the Great Yan throne was between Murong Cheng and Murong Yi.
Although Murong Cheng was currently the heir apparent of the Great Yan Kingdom, Murong Qing could not bear to be inferior to him, nor could she tolerate her own son calling him sovereign. If it weren't for the protection of Murong Xi and the state uncle Murong Fu, and the obstruction of Murong Bolie, Murong Cheng, that imbecile, would have long been deposed by Murong Qing and others.
The succession to the Yan throne was not strictly limited to the eldest son. As long as one possessed ability and influence, there was a possibility of inheriting the throne. Even a brother succeeding a brother was possible.
Murong Qing wished for her own son to inherit the throne. First, she had to secure her position as Empress.
"Qing'er, Kang'er, you need not worry excessively," Murong Wang said. After a pause, he addressed Murong Kang, "Kang'er, help me sit up."
"Father King... you...? The physician told you to rest in bed more..." Murong Kang said with concern.
Resting in bed might bring about a turning point in his condition. Coupled with medication and herbal decoctions, he might yet recover from danger.
"I feel better today. Kang'er, help me up," Murong Wang replied, shaking his head.
Murong Kang then helped Murong Wang sit up in bed. Murong Qing brought a sable fur robe and draped it over him.
"You need not worry excessively..." Murong Wang truly felt much better today and his spirits had recovered somewhat. Leaning against the bed, he continued, "Your father is not going to die... Even if something were to happen to me, it might be a good thing for you."
"Father King, what do you mean?" Murong Kang asked, surprised.
"If Father has any misfortune, then he will be at ease," Murong Qing sighed.
"Oh..." Murong Kang finally understood.
"Kang'er, you still lack foresight compared to your sister," Murong Wang said after looking at Murong Kang.
"Father King speaks wisely." Murong Kang glanced at Murong Qing and lowered his head. "So, the death of the Left Guard General is also..."
"Brother Kang..." Murong Qing looked at Murong Kang and shook her head.
"What? Pu Yijian is dead?" Murong Wang exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes... Father King, the Left Guard Grand General died during a martial arts competition at the training grounds at the hands of a Han general named Zhou Fugui..." As Murong Wang inquired about the matter, Murong Kang recounted the events in detail.
"Zhou Fugui, a Han general? What a scheme of killing with a borrowed knife! Cough... cough... cough..." Murong Wang coughed violently with anger after hearing the story.
Pu Yijian, the Left Guard Grand General of Yan, was Murong Wang's man.
"Father King..." Murong Kang hurried forward to support Murong Wang and asked, "Killing with a borrowed knife? How did they know the Left Guard General would surely die at the hands of that Han general?"
To kill with a borrowed knife, the borrowed knife must be capable of killing first, otherwise, it's all in vain. The one who proposed the match between Zhou Fugui and Pu Yijian was the state uncle Murong Fu. His intentions were not hard to guess. However, how could Murong Fu know that Pu Yijian would definitely die at Zhou Fugui's hands? If Zhou Fugui had lost, what would have been their objective in doing this?
Murong Kang was utterly bewildered.
"Kang'er..." Murong Wang panted heavily for a few breaths before saying, "Pu Yijian has long been renowned, and he likely grew complacent. Furthermore, in recent years, he indulged in wine and women, his body already depleted. As for that Han general, Zhou Fugui, his archery is superb, and he is young and valiant. He has achieved great merits in places like Mayue River, Guangling Commandery, Niuzhu Cliff, and Luyi. How could I not know of this? This man's martial arts are exquisite, and his archery is precise. Perhaps even you are no match for him."
Murong Kang's face immediately showed a look of defiance.
"Kang'er..." Murong Wang glanced at Murong Kang and shook his head slightly. "I am aware of this matter. How could Murong Bolie not be? And Murong Fu certainly knows as well."
"So, they were putting on a play for us?" Murong Kang said indignantly. "But... what if Zhou Fugui had died at Pu Yijian's hands? Wouldn't their plan have failed?"
"Brother Kang..." Before Murong Wang could speak, Murong Qing answered for her father. "There are three possibilities. The first is that Pu Yijian dies at Zhou Fugui's hands. This is the best outcome for them. The second is that both sides fight to a stalemate, with no clear victor. They would then find an excuse to remove Pu Yijian, claiming the Left Guard Grand General is old and weak, unfit to lead the Zhongjie Army, and so on. The third is that Pu Yijian decisively kills Zhou Fugui. However, in doing so, he would alienate many Han officials, generals, and soldiers, or they would grow to dislike Pu Yijian. In this case, they would also have an opportunity to remove Pu Yijian."
"So, the Left Guard Grand General was doomed to die? At least dismissed from office? How formidable, how utterly treacherous!" Murong Kang said, clenching his fists in anger. However, he still felt a sense of dread and asked, "Does the Great Chanyu not intervene in this matter?"
"Hmph, he does not intervene. Don't you see?" Murong Qing scoffed. "He is content to watch the tigers fight and is paving the way for Crown Prince Cheng."
"Cough cough..." Murong Wang coughed twice and said to Murong Kang, "The Great Chanyu's actions are also a reminder to your father, urging me to die quickly, otherwise, he will act directly. Hmph, it won't be that easy to make me die."
However, fate and fortune are in the heavens. Murong Wang cannot avoid death simply because he wishes not to die...
"Father King, Father." Murong Kang and Murong Qing called out in unison with sorrow.
"But, speaking of which," Murong Wang waved his hand and said, "After I die, I can temporarily ensure your safety. Kang'er, you might even be heavily utilized."
"Why is that?" Murong Kang asked, his voice choked with tears.
"He is always thinking of the eternal stability of his empire. If I die, who will restrain them?" Murong Wang said with a slight smile.
Not long after, Murong Wang passed away. As expected, Murong Kang was promoted by the court to Zhonghou of the Zhongjie Army, which is to say, the deputy commander of the Zhongjie Army.
This is a later story and shall not be elaborated upon for now.
"Kang'er, what your sister said about the Han army touches upon a crucial point," Murong Wang then said to Murong Kang.
"The Han army? What do you mean?" Murong Kang glanced at Murong Qing and asked.
"Han officials, Han generals, and Han soldiers. Although they do not hold high positions, their numbers are considerable. This is a source of support. They have been actively recruiting. Why can't you?" Murong Wang replied.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
The swirling snowflakes fell from the depths of the sky like scattered petals from a heavenly maiden. They were like the skin of ice and snow, graceful as a maiden from Gushan, who ate not grains but drew sustenance from the wind and dew. Riding the clouds and dragons, she came in a white robe, scattering six-pointed snow spirits upon the mortal world.
The snowflakes fluttered and danced from the sky like sprites, crystal clear, and light as a ripple, landing on the soil of Kaifeng Prefecture, on the rooftops, hall roofs, and city walls, transforming Kaifeng Prefecture into a world of pure white. The entire world was enveloped in a vast expanse of white.
Youzhou was a northern city, and heavy snowfall in winter was common.
"Elder Sister, what are you worrying about? Are you worried about Father Emperor's health?"
Murong Kang looked at Murong Qing's solitary figure by the window and walked forward, gently embracing her from behind.
"Brother Kang..." Murong Qing turned to look at Murong Kang, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. "I am a little afraid."
"Elder Sister, what are you afraid of? Rest assured, Father is gone, but I am still here," Murong Kang said, his expression twisted and his teeth gritted.
"Mm... Mm... Hurry, or he will become suspicious," Murong Qing whispered, groaning as she leaned on the table.