The Blood Crown - Chapter 199

Although Yan Sikong was far away in Yunnan, news still reached him swiftly.

Liaodong had now fallen into a deadlock. Zhuo Letai could not advance, and Zhao Fuyi could not break out. It was similar to the situation in Datong and the Wala years ago. However, Datong’s defenses were solid as a rock, and the people within the passes lived in peace. Soldiers would fight when needed and farm when not. They could largely provide for their own food. Liaodong, on the other hand, was different. More than twenty years ago, after the defeat and relocation of the seven northern states, it had become wasteland. The entire region of Liaodong was in decline, with military expenses entirely dependent on the court. The daily expenditure was enormous, becoming a festering sore the court could not heal.

Han Zhaoxing still remained in the Jin Kingdom as the despised traitor, and it was unclear whether General Zhao had any secret dealings with him.

Xie Zhongren had been interrogated in prison for a year. He confessed to everything, including the scheme to frame the Feng family. However, because Feng Ye “changed his mind” at the last minute and did not comply with the amnesty, Emperor Zhaowu would not embarrass himself by exposing the injustice against the Feng family. Xie Zhongren’s survival was only due to his remaining usefulness in matters concerning Han Zhaoxing and Feng Ye.

All this information came from She Zhun’s confidential reports. Naturally, She Zhun also revealed the speculations and rumors about him. There were rumors about his defection to Feng Ye and covert assistance to Prince Chu’s rebellion that had spread far and wide. Though lacking solid evidence, the rumors were detailed and aligned with many facts. 

Yan Sikong was not surprised. At least a few people around Chen Mu, such as Qian Feihong, Hou Ming, and some close attendants, had already guessed his identity. Although publicly, he was still imprisoned by Feng Ye in a dungeon in Qianzhou.

Even if the Dog Emperor knew, he could do nothing. His only family in the capital was the Dog Emperor’s own daughter. Unless Wan Yang had a son to threaten him with, there was little he could do at the moment.

However, the court’s response was quite swift. As soon as the news of Prince Chu’s rebellion reached the capital, the court sent two envoys to negotiate peace. These two were chosen very well.

One was Duke Huo Li, who had been a lecturer for Chen Mu. After Yan Zilian’s death, he had been promoted from the deputy to the head of the cabinet but had retired due to persecution from the eunuchs. Now in his seventies, he was a venerable figure. The other was Chen Mu’s maternal grandfather, who had originally been a minor clerk at a postal station in Jinan. After sending his daughter to the palace as a maid, he unexpectedly gained favor from the emperor and fathered the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, Consort Hui was not favored, so he was only given a minor official position. Even when Chen Mu was made Crown Prince, he did not rise significantly. Now, however, he had been promoted five ranks to a third-grade secretary, an unheard-of rapid promotion, showing Emperor Zhaowu’s determination to remedy the situation.

Sending these two was clearly an emotional appeal. It seemed that Emperor Zhaowu had become realistic, no longer expecting Feng Ye, who bore a deep grudge for the murder of his father and family, to submit. Instead, his own son still had some chance of negotiation. 

These two envoys made Yan Sikong feel a great sense of crisis.

It was not because they had a deep relationship with Chen Mu—one was a largely ceremonial teacher who had taught Chen Mu only a few times, and the other was a rarely seen grandfather—but their appearance revealed a message: Emperor Zhaowu was showing weakness.

If Emperor Zhaowu realized the current dire situation, with internal strife and external threats, and felt besieged on all sides, and decided to remove Chen Chun and reinstate Chen Mu as Crown Prince to save himself, Feng Ye and Chen Mu’s reasons for rebellion would vanish. Chen Mu would have to serve Emperor Zhaowu loyally until the end of his life.

At that point, their only internal enemy would be Feng Ye. With national power and the Chahar tribe attacking from within and outside, Feng Ye would become the target of everyone and would surely face certain death. Furthermore, if Chen Mu were to return as Crown Prince, how he would be manipulated in the future would be unpredictable.

After clarifying this, Yan Sikong felt a chill and considered the idea of assassinating Huo Li and the others along the way. However, after some thought, he realized this was not appropriate. He needed to make both Emperor Zhaowu and Chen Mu abandon this idea. He needed to make Emperor Zhaowu understand that Chen Mu had harbored resentment for many years and make Chen Mu realize that they were after the throne, not just the position of Crown Prince.

Soon after receiving the news, Chen Mu came to find him. As soon as they met, he directly asked, “Have you received the news, sir?”

Yan Sikong nodded. “The emperor has sent Elder Huo and Lord Xu to negotiate peace. It’s a pity that Elder Huo is seventy-four years old. Such a long journey might be taxing on his health.”

“I really didn’t expect him to send my grandfather…” Chen Mu said coldly. “When my mother was alive, he ignored and neglected us. Now he only remembers my maternal family, which is simply laughable.” His tone was both resentful and relieved.

“This proves that His Highness has genuinely made him feel threatened,” Yan Sikong said. “Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Chen Mu sneered, “You’re right. He has never regarded me and my mother with any importance. Now he’s sending people to plead with me.”

“Your Highness should understand that his concern for you is because you command fifty thousand troops, and there will be more in the future. If you compromise with him, without these troops, you would return to the past. Moreover, if you have rebellious intentions, he will not spare you if he has the chance.”

“Rest assured, I am very clear-headed.”

Yan Sikong went to the window, looking at the moonlight outside, and said softly, “Your Highness is clear-headed now, but Elder Huo is highly knowledgeable and persuasive, and Lord Xu is your maternal grandfather. With these two negotiating, appealing to reason and emotions, I worry that Your Highness might not be able to withstand it.”

“Sir, you underestimate my determination,” Chen Mu said, narrowing his eyes with a sharp gaze. “I will certainly entertain them with due courtesy, but… no one should think of stopping me from reclaiming my rightful throne.”

Yan Sikong nodded and gazed at Chen Mu. “If the Emperor is willing to depose Chen Chun and reinstate Your Highness as Crown Prince, what then?”

Chen Mu lowered his gaze.

Yan Sikong smiled faintly. “Your Highness is wise beyond measure and has likely already considered this possibility, haven’t you?”

“Rest assured, sir, I will not be easily swayed.”

“Since I am not in a position to meet with Elder Huo and Lord Xu, I will await your news.”

Chen Mu stood up and walked to Yan Sikong’s side. “Why don’t you trust me, sir? You have helped me gain the power to challenge the court in less than a year. I see all the effort you have put in. Without you, I would not be where I am today. How could I possibly disappoint you?”

“I certainly trust Your Highness. You will not be satisfied with minor gains until you achieve great success,” Yan Sikong said earnestly.

Chen Mu gazed quietly at Yan Sikong for a long while, his expression somewhat dazed. Finally, he murmured, “You look so beautiful under the moonlight, sir.”

Yan Sikong frowned slightly. “Your Highness…”

“Sir,” Chen Mu interrupted, “you have devoted yourself to me with great effort and care. Since my mother’s death, no one has treated me better than you. I trust you, rely on you, and care for you. You are the closest person to me. How can I restrain myself?”

Yan Sikong’s tone was stern. “Your Highness is destined for great achievements. How can you be so sentimental?”

“If I were infatuated with an ordinary woman, or if I favored concubines like my father did, you could scold me. But you are different. You are my teacher, my strategist, and will be my Chancellor in the future. If we work together, we can recreate the prosperous era of the Great(DA) Sheng. I cannot live without you. I never want to be separated from you, and no one can replace you in my heart.”

Yan Sikong’s expression darkened. He took a step back and sighed heavily. “Your Highness, I am a man, and also…”

“Feng Ye was also a man!” Chen Mu grabbed Yan Sikong’s hand with frustration. “You married the Princess and had a young princess. If you adhered strictly to conventional norms and completely disregarded Dragon Yin(male aspect), I would never trouble you. But you clearly can, so why can’t I? I am going to be an emperor. I can give you the entire world. Isn’t that what you want?”

Yan Sikong spoke harshly. “What I want is a wise ruler and a capable minister. I want to assist Your Highness in governing the country and ensuring its stability, not to serve someone in an inappropriate manner and become a laughingstock.”

Chen Mu said coldly, “Nonsense. When I become emperor, if anyone dares to speak ill of you, I will exterminate their entire clan!”

“Your Highness…” Yan Sikong tried to pull his hand away but found himself unable to move. He said wearily, “Your Highness, I am willing to go through fire and water for you, but this matter I cannot comply with.”

“Is it because of Feng Ye?” Chen Mu asked through gritted teeth.

“No, regardless of Feng Ye, I cannot breach the etiquette between ruler and minister.”

“Sir, with such disregard for propriety and openly defying the world’s norms, how can you still talk about etiquette between ruler and minister? Isn’t that too far-fetched?” Chen Mu said angrily. “Feng Ye once humiliated you, and now he is also using you. Why do you still cling to him?”

Yan Sikong was deeply hurt by this statement. He raised his voice, “Your Highness, you speak more and more absurdly. I only have concerns for the country and the people, not for personal affection. When will you understand my genuine intentions?”

Chen Mu pursed his lips, his expression somewhat grim but struggling to control himself. Reluctantly, he released Yan Sikong’s hand and said dejectedly, “I like you. I cannot help my feelings. If you are angry with me, there is nothing I can do.”

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. “Your Highness should have a child with the Princess. This way, you can mature a bit more.” His implication was that Chen Mu should focus on his concubine and not dwell on him.

“…I will not let her bear my child.”

Yan Sikong was taken aback. “Why? Your Highness should have many descendants.”

“I will not let a woman of lowly birth give birth to my heir.” Chen Mu’s dark eyes fixed intensely on Yan Sikong, his emotions deep and inscrutable. “I can now understand my father.”

Yan Sikong fell silent.

“One day when I ascend the throne, how can I pass the throne to a prince with no strong backing?”

“Your Highness worries too much. When you have a legitimate wife in the future, the heir will naturally be legitimate.”

“What if the legitimate wife has no child?” Chen Mu said with a cold smile. “I wouldn’t want my son to suffer such a tragedy.”

Yan Sikong was suddenly chilled by the coldness in Chen Mu’s eyes. When did this young man, who was just twenty, and whom he had always seen as an immature prince, develop such a gaze?

AN – Recently, he had truly been too busy, and tears welled up. (End of Chapter)