As expected by Ximen Yao, five days later, an urgent report arrived from the border. It requested reinforcements from the court, stating that twenty thousand Xiliang troops had amassed at the border, intending to capture Fengya Pass.
Fengya Pass was the border between Xiliang and Eastern Qin. If Fengya Pass fell, Eastern Qin would lose at least two vassal states. Thus, Fengya Pass had always been heavily guarded. No one expected Xiliang to become restless as soon as the news of Yun Mo's illness spread.
They had been eyeing Fengya Pass covetously, believing this was an opportune moment.
Little did they know the hidden agenda behind it.
Yun Mo was not truly ill; he was merely feigning sickness at home. Once he gave the order, he would have to prepare and march to Fengya Pass to deliver a heavy blow to Xiliang.
If Yun Mo were to die on the battlefield, no one would blame him. If he won, all the better.
Inside Jingfu Palace, Shangguan Yao and Shangguan Lin were discussing Yun Mo taking command. They debated who should be appointed as the副帅 (fù shuài – deputy commander) to monitor Yun Mo.
Because Yun Mo was a veteran general on the battlefield, and the border region was a crucial area, he was sure to have brothers who had fought alongside him. They needed to ensure Yun Mo was controlled immediately; if he made any move, he would be executed without mercy.
"What does Prince Lin think about who should be entrusted with this task?"
Shangguan Yao spoke in a deep voice, asking Shangguan Lin, who was seated below. He had a great deal of trust in his younger brother.
"Your humble subject?" Before Shangguan Lin could reply, a eunuch's voice announced from outside the palace doors, "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
Inside the hall, both Shangguan Yao and Shangguan Lin raised their eyebrows. They were unsure why the Empress Dowager had come. Despite their uncertainty, they dared not delay. Both men rose simultaneously to greet her.
"Your humble son greets Mother Empress."
A graceful figure entered, full and jade-like, elegant and charming. Her opulent robes were beautiful, and her golden hairpin swayed. As she walked in, the room was filled with fragrance.
"Oh, Prince Lin is here too. Rise, both of you."
"Thank you, Mother Empress." The two men stood. Shangguan Lin had received the Empress Dowager's grace, permitting him to address her as Mother Empress along with the Emperor, signifying her affection.
Shangguan Yao rose and stepped forward to support the Empress Dowager's hand. They walked together to the high seats and sat down.
Below, Shangguan Lin remained standing. The Empress Dowager glanced at him and spoke gently, "Prince Lin, please be seated as well."
The Empress Dowager seemed to be in a good mood today, speaking in a gentle and melodious tone.
Shangguan Yao, while observing his mother, asked casually, "Mother Empress, why have you come?"
The Empress Dowager raised her peach blossom eyes and cast a sideways glance at her son. She remained silent for a long time, and the hall was filled with silence. The previous warmth gradually cooled, exuding a hint of coldness.
"This Empress Dowager has heard that Xiliang troops have invaded Fengya Pass and the border is in distress. How is it that the Emperor has not informed this Empress Dowager of such matters?"
There was a hidden anger in her words, though she did not fully unleash it. A hint of blueish light veiled her alluring face.
Shangguan Yao's pupils darkened. He thought to himself, his good uncle must have sent the news to Changxin Palace again. How vexing, how hateful.
"Mother Empress, your son and Prince Lin are preparing to dispatch troops. Therefore, please do not worry. Your son did not wish to disturb you with such matters."
"Yao'er is truly filial."
The Empress Dowager's words were ambiguous, their tone neither commendatory nor sarcastic. However, she changed the subject and spoke sternly, "Whom does the Emperor intend to send to reinforce Fengya Pass?"
"Yun Mo."
Shangguan Yao did not try to conceal it. It was impossible to hide anyway. He found the Ye family's actions too detestable. Why did they always hinder him, an Emperor, in his actions?
Whenever something important happened, the Empress Dowager had to be informed. Shangguan Yao's brows furrowed slightly, a fleeting glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes. The Ye family, he noted it down.
"Didn't Yun Mo fall ill? Imperial physicians were sent to diagnose him, stating his illness was severe. How is he well now?"
The Empress Dowager knew very well why Yun Mo had fallen ill. However, she did not explicitly state it, choosing to preserve the Emperor's dignity.
She had already sent people to monitor the Yun King's mansion. Yun Mo was indeed a master of disguise, appearing as genuinely ill as any patient, leaving her no room to find fault. However, she knew he was not sick; he was merely ceding power to the Emperor.
She had many reasons for not allowing the Emperor to wield full power.
Firstly, Yun Mo possessed prestige and loyalty. While he was in power, Eastern Qin would not experience turmoil for a considerable time.
Secondly, the Ye Mansion would remain safe. If the new Emperor took power, he would likely soon fall under the control of the Ye family, as he would seek to grasp real authority. With Yun Mo currently ceding power, the Emperor held only half the power of Eastern Qin, with the other half in the hands of the Ye family.
Since they were targeting Yun Mo, it was likely they would target the Ye family soon.
Thirdly, this was driven by a mother's selfish desire. Yao'er's strength was insufficient to be a supreme ruler facing the entire world. His capabilities were inadequate, and he still relied on others' wisdom for counsel.
A true emperor must possess vast strategies to govern the nation and bring peace to the world.
He lacked these qualities, and worse, he was unaware of it, only focusing on his arrogant desire for absolute power. Being an emperor was not an easy task.
Shangguan Yao listened to the Empress Dowager's words and gave a faint smile.
"He has recovered somewhat recently. I intend to give him thirty thousand troops to proceed to Fengya Pass for reinforcement. Upon arrival at the border, there will be accompanying physicians, and he will not need to overexert himself. He only needs to provide strategic advice. He is a renowned God of War on the battlefield, and I believe this battle will be victorious."
Shangguan Yao's smile was insincere. As soon as the Empress Dowager heard his words, her face turned as cold as frost, her pupils becoming deeper and more chilling.
"Yao'er, you are too foolish. With Xiliang amassing twenty thousand troops at the border, you are still preoccupied with dealing with Yun Mo, actually assigning him only thirty thousand soldiers. Your actions will surely chill the hearts of many generals on the frontier.
Furthermore, Xiliang must surely know that Eastern Qin is in internal turmoil, and they will attack Fengya Pass even more brazenly. Do you truly wish to lose vassal states and become a ruler of inaction?"
The Empress Dowager pressed him relentlessly. Shangguan Yao's face suddenly turned ashen. He stood up abruptly, glaring at the Empress Dowager.
"Yes, I want to deal with Yun Mo. Is Eastern Qin unable to function without Yun Mo? Why does Mother Empress insist on protecting him so thoroughly? Do you not harbor any selfish motives? If Yun Mo is defeated, I will dispatch another army for reinforcement, so how can we lose two vassal states?"
"Yao'er, you are truly misguided. Yun Mo has already relinquished his power; keeping him is more beneficial than harmful. Why did your father heavily rely on him? Because of his unwavering loyalty. Your intentions are not hidden from the world, nor from the court officials; they are disheartened."
"Disheartened? How many of these people are his men, and how many are the Ye family's? If I were to replace them all, do you think anyone would still be disheartened?"
Shangguan Yao was clearly angered as well. Since his enthronement four years ago, there had not been a single action that his mother had approved of.
She had always believed in others, never in her own son, nor had she given him any opportunities. This was why he hated Yun Mo so much, simply because his mother inexplicably trusted him.
This made him increasingly disgusted, wishing he could dismember Yun Mo a thousand times over to vent his hatred. He simply refused to believe that he was inferior to Yun Mo. If killing Yun Mo would cause the world to descend into chaos, then he would test that theory.
A bloody glint flashed in his eyes. In the hall, mother and son stood at daggers drawn, their rage poised to erupt like a thunderclap.