Yan Xiaohan was almost laughing from anger at this father and son. Yang Sijing was the nephew of the Empress Yang, the Crown Prince’s cousin, who was granted the third-rank Right Nine Gates Guard General due to the Empress’s favor. No matter how fallen Fu Shen was, he was still the eldest son of the Ying Guo Mansion, a first-rank court official, and the Jing Ning Marquis who fought his way through battlefields. What was Yang Sijing? Just a pampered son promoted through nepotism – did he really think the Northern Yan’s 200,000 iron cavalry were dead?
A heir to the throne who could actually think of such despicable means to harm meritorious officials. The mere thought that such a person would become emperor was chilling.
Emperor Yuan Tai continued: “We do not wish to let the Fu family grow too powerful, but we also do not intend to destroy the Great Wall. The Northern Yan cavalry is the northern defense line of the Great Zhou, and the Tartar threat has not been quelled. Rashly changing commanders might shake military morale and requires gradual progress.
The lord who had just been secretly mocking “What is Yang Sijing” suddenly found himself in the same situation – there was no help for it. Before the youngest general of the Great Zhou, peers with lower official ranks were nothing.
He knelt again to beg for mercy: “This subject has no talent or virtue and does not dare to accept Your Majesty’s favor. Please reconsider.”
Emperor Yuan Tai: “You are unwilling?”
Yan Xiaohan: “Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
“Meng Gui,” Emperor Yuan Tai’s face turned cold, “I remember you told me you do not love women. I once promised to find you a satisfactory marriage. Since Fu Shen is like-minded, with an excellent family background and talents, why do you refuse?”
A layer of cold sweat formed on Yan Xiaohan’s back. Just as he was about to close his eyes and fabricate an excuse, Emperor Yuan Tai raised his hand and threw a bright yellow imperial edict in front of him.
The jade scroll hit the blue brick floor with a “dong” sound, breaking half of the relief, and tiny jade fragments scattered into Yan Xiaohan’s sleeve.
“Look,” said Emperor Yuan Tai.
Yan Xiaohan slowly unfolded the imperial edict.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Marquis Fu Shen of the Defending Nation, heir of Lord Fu Jian of the Ying Guo Mansion, has served for six years, accumulated merits, terrified enemies, and been loyal to the country. We view him highly. Left Divine Wu Upper General and Flying Dragon Investigating Commissioner Yan Xiaohan, from a capital noble family, loyal and upright, virtuous and gracious, elegant and talented, we greatly appreciate. The two are a match made in heaven.
We hereby order their marriage, with the relevant officials to choose an auspicious day. May you be united in heart and deed, serve the country, and not disappoint our intentions. So decreed.”
“We have already sent someone to the Jing Ning Marquis’s residence to announce the edict,” he coldly stared at Yan Xiaohan, “If you have thought it through, kneel and accept it.”
Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan – one a famous general, one a spy; one upright, one hypocritical; one with a heart for the world, one calculating; one renowned, one infamous – two people on different paths, now bound together by this absurd imperial marriage.
More absurd than the marriage edict was Yan Xiaohan’s first reaction upon seeing it: not anger, but a cold sense of pleasure.
He thought maliciously about what Fu Shen’s reaction would be when receiving the marriage edict. This pillar of the court, carrying the weight of responsibility and duty, being trampled by the monarch he serves – could he still maintain his broad-minded composure? Would he swallow his grievances or raise the Northern Yan military flag and rebel?
This statement seemed to have a hint of loosening, and Emperor Yuan Tai’s heart secretly breathed a sigh of relief: “Fu Shen is indeed a loyal minister, but he is not loyal to me.”
For a general, he is a sharp weapon in the monarch’s hand.
Fu Shen may be sharp and difficult to stop, but if a knife has too many thoughts, it becomes unreliable. Some ministers are loyal to the monarch, while others are loyal to the world. Fu Shen, like his uncle Fu Ting Xin, is a minister loyal to the world.
Yan Xiao Han cursed Fu Shen in his heart once again. This blockhead had probably done something thankless that offended the emperor. His Northern Yan army was as tight as an iron bucket, and the Flying Dragon Guard found it nearly impossible to gather any information. If he had known what happened earlier and prepared countermeasures, he would not have been caught off guard by the emperor and the crown prince today!
“Meng Gui, you have been by my side for a long time and are my most capable minister,” Emperor Yuan Tai said, “You are different from Fu Shen. As long as you take this step, your future will be limitless.”
“If you are unwilling, I will give you another choice.”
Yan Xiao Han raised his eyes and looked at the emperor sitting high on the dragon throne.
The golden words, cold sentences tinged with murderous intent, rolled down the golden steps one by one.
“Either accept the imperial decree and marry Fu Shen, or personally eliminate Fu Shen for me.”
As times changed, Emperor Yuan Tai was now wary of Fu Shen, to the point of being unable to rest easy until Fu Shen was removed.
Yan Xiao Han picked up the slightly damaged imperial decree and rolled it up. Kneeling, he bowed deeply and performed a kowtow: “This subject… gratefully accepts Your Majesty’s great kindness.”
Weak morning light filtered into the hall, falling on the “Zhong Zheng Ren He” plaque hanging above.
The autumn rain came fiercely, with water accumulating outside the palace gates and yellow leaves falling. Yan Xiao Han walked straight to the upright back, looking down coldly: “His Majesty will not see you, so don’t waste your effort. Go back.”
Fu Shen did not look up, only raising his eyelids to look directly at Yan Xiao Han’s legs: “Did the emperor send you?”
“This matter is settled. It’s useless to say more. Don’t ask.”
“You agreed to him.”
Yan Xiao Han seemed provoked, with the anger accumulated in the palace erupting: “Yes, what else could I do? Everything I have today, my power and status, was given by the emperor. What right do I have to refuse?!” He grabbed Fu Shen’s collar: “How dare you ask me? Aren’t you noble? Aren’t you devoted to the country and loyal to His Majesty? The emperor’s grace is like thunder and rain.”
Now you’re kneeling at the palace gates asking him to retract the decree? Shouldn’t you be happily accepting the order?
The rain grew heavier. Yan Xiao Han leaned close to Fu Shen, so close that he almost touched Fu Shen’s rain-chilled cheek.
“You are the commander of the Northern Yan, why are you enduring this humiliation? Why don’t you fight back?!”
Fu Shen blinked away the water droplets on his eyelashes and suddenly smiled.
All his frustration, helplessness, despair, and deep-seated pain were contained in this smile.
Yan Xiao Han seemed burned by the smile and suddenly let go.
Fu Shen closed his eyes, his face pale from the rain, water droplets rolling down from his hair and eyes, tracing paths along his overly thin jaw and neck, revealing a fragile and heart-wrenching vulnerability: “I know kneeling here until my legs break is useless, but I can’t help feeling wronged… Have I owed you another favor? I’m truly sorry.”
“But Master Yan, a gentleman in this world must have principles. The Northern Yan cavalry has defended the country for decades with a glorious reputation. How could it be reduced to eternal condemnation because of my personal matters?”
“Fu might not be a gentleman, but will never be a criminal.”
The wind howled and the rain poured, the sky dark and gloomy.
