Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1518 - 1513: The Great Calamity

The eyes behind Xiao Rongyan’s mask were deep and somber. After a long bow to the Empress Dowager of Yan, he straightened up and spoke with stern authority: "If I didn’t return, I’m afraid Yan Kingdom would face a major crisis!"

As he said this, Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Minister Meng: "Is it true that the prohibition of herbal medicine being sent to the Yan territories ceded by Zhou was due to Meng’s advice to the Empress Dowager?"

Minister Meng heard this and realized that Xiao Rongyan must already have known, making it untenable to deny. Hastily, he bowed deeply and said: "Regent Prince, the two nations are now wagering war. Yan Kingdom has suddenly been struck with an epidemic, which is worsening within the territories ceded to Zhou. This is indeed a heaven-sent opportunity for our Yan Kingdom to secure victory; hence, I proposed to the Empress Dowager to prepare in advance."

The silver mask, gleaming with a cold light, concealed the expression on Xiao Rongyan’s features, and his voice, calm and indifferent, revealed no emotion: "Prepare?"

Minister Meng looked at Xiao Rongyan standing with his hands behind his back, stepped forward, and spoke: "According to the treaty signed back then, calculating the population after three years is also a vital part of assessing national governance and policies..."

"So after three years, Minister Meng intends to turn our Yan Kingdom territories into empty cities?"

Xiao Rongyan’s voice suddenly rose, imposing such power that the court ministers could not stand firm and fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly.

Xiao Rongyan lowered his gaze, staring down at the disheveled Minister Meng kneeling on the ground. He circled him halfway, looking down from above: "Trapping the Yan territories ceded to Zhou, prohibiting herbs from being sent there, Minister Meng, this is killing our own people! In the past, Yan Kingdom was impoverished; if not for these people who lived frugally, how could Yan Kingdom have come this far? The Emperor was young and unaware, the Empress Dowager secluded in the palace might not know, but Minister Meng does not know?"

The Empress Dowager of Yan wanted to speak for Minister Meng, but before she could, she saw Xiao Rongyan directing his gaze to the high steps where they stood: "If those in power cannot protect their own people, how can they be worthy of the taxes and support provided by the people of Yan Kingdom?"

"A Yan, Minister Meng was also thinking of our Yan Kingdom..." The Empress Dowager of Yan spoke hastily, her words lacking conviction.

Xiao Rongyan seemed not to hear the Empress Dowager’s words, and calmly opened his mouth: "Minister Meng, you manipulated the Empress Dowager to confine the Emperor. After the Empress Dowager gained power, you further misled her into abandoning the people. You deserve death..."

"Regent Prince, have mercy! I dare not!" Minister Meng widened his eyes and kowtowed.

Even the Empress Dowager of Yan couldn’t stand and quickly explained: "A Yan, how can you wrong your aunt so? Ah Li clearly left the palace privately and then contracted the epidemic, forcing your aunt to take responsibility in crisis..."

"Since this is the case, now that I’ve recovered, I ask Mother to return to the palace for peaceful retirement!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Murong Li’s voice came from outside the hall, and the Empress Dowager of Yan clenched her hands suddenly. Among the court officials who were kneeling and bowing, some dared to lift their heads, seeing Murong Li, pale and physically weak, being assisted into the hall by Yue Shi and Wang Jiuzhou. Realizing the Emperor had contracted the epidemic frightened them into indecision; surrounded on all sides without escape, they could only lower their heads further, holding their breath.

The Empress Dowager of Yan tightened her fists, glanced at Xiao Rongyan, then looked at Murong Li and hurriedly spoke: "Ah Li, your illness is not yet healed, how come you are out?"

"It was merely a cold. I am fine now and haven’t contracted the epidemic, really... causing Mother too much concern!" Murong Li approached Xiao Rongyan and bowed deeply, "Uncle Nine!"

"You still have remnants of the drug in your system; no need for formalities." Xiao Rongyan bluntly pointed out that Murong Li had been drugged, showing not a shred of respect to the Empress Dowager.

Murong Li understood the meaning behind Xiao Rongyan’s words, and his fists tightened at his side. He thought of how his mother had drugged him and trapped the citizens in the Yan territories ceded to Zhou. Remembering those citizens who had once endured hardships with Yan Kingdom, he resolved, speaking: "The Inner Palace must not interfere in state affairs. Wang Jiuzhou... personally escort Mother back to the palace for quiet retirement. If anyone else tries to disturb her peace like Minister Meng, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

With these words, Minister Meng would have no way to survive.

Minister Meng closed his eyes, having gambled for his life from the outset. He couldn’t match the Regent Prince’s speed, nor did he have the Regent Prince’s resources or royal bloodline; losing was within expectations.

"Ah Li! Ah Li..." The Empress Dowager of Yan saw Wang Jiuzhou and others stride towards her, "Presumptuous! I am the Empress Dowager of Yan Kingdom; who dares touch me!"

"Empress Dowager, please contain your anger!" Wang Jiuzhou maintained his respectful demeanor, brows relaxed, "The Emperor asks you to return to the palace for peaceful retirement. It is for your own good; you are getting older, and it is time for you to enjoy your twilight years peacefully! Empress Dowager, please, this servant’s hands are heavy... if I assist the Empress Dowager, it might hurt you."

The Empress Dowager of Yan retreated two steps, then looked at Xiao Rongyan: "A Yan! A Yan... this Wang Jiuzhou is your servant, and you just watch him violate protocol?"

Yet Xiao Rongyan seemed not to hear, as he lowered his gaze upon Minister Meng lying on the ground, speaking: "I heard Minister Meng wanted to send his daughter to the palace? To become the Empress of our Yan Kingdom? Quite an ambitious aim!"

The Empress Dowager’s face turned pale upon hearing this, almost staggered by surprise; she didn’t expect Xiao Rongyan knew even about this.

"I dare not!" Minister Meng quickly kowtowed, afraid to implicate his daughter, "I have no such intentions at all! I know my place; how could my daughter be worthy of the Emperor? This... this is all the Empress Dowager’s idea, and has nothing to do with me! Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager, please explain this to the Regent Prince!"

"Wang Jiuzhou! What are you standing around for! Escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace!" Murong Li commanded fiercely, his gaze cold.

In the end... the Empress Dowager of Yan was Murong Li’s biological mother; Murong Li once bore the name of betraying the allied nations for the Empress Dowager. Now, even though his mother had conspired with Minister Meng to drug him and imprison him, at this moment... while he was separating himself from his mother, Murong Li still wanted to leave his mother some dignity, unwilling to make her too ashamed.

This act was Murong Li’s final act of filial duty towards his mother, and from then on, he would remove his mother from Yanhuang Palace, ensuring she never set foot inside it again, allowing her to live out her days peacefully in a separate residence, never to see her again.

Wang Jiuzhou accepted the command.

"Empress Dowager, please..." Wang Jiuzhou opened his mouth again, reaching out to support the Empress Dowager of Yan. She tried to shake off Wang Jiuzhou, but felt his grip on her arm tighten, her body grew numb, and she was left without the strength to speak, leaving her at his mercy to be guided off the high platform.

Murong Li looked at his Uncle Nine, gave a deep bow as an apology, then said to Xiao Rongyan: "If it were not for Uncle Nine’s timely return to save the day, Yan Kingdom might have faced a great catastrophe! From now on, Uncle Nine, leave the matters to Ah Li!"