The Emperor of Great Yan, Murong Xi, as he aged, became increasingly erratic and tyrannical. His temper was violent, his moods unpredictable. This applied to the imperial clan and high officials, and even more so to commoners and slaves, whose lives were precarious and filled with constant danger.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Emperor Yan, Murong Xi, his eyes bloodshot, wielded a whip, lashing it repeatedly onto General Yan Zhongjian, Da Ye Jian. It was as if he wished to unleash all his troubles, his unwillingness, his anger, and the pain of his beloved son's death onto Da Ye Jian.
An emperor is the lord of all living things, the root of prosperity, supreme and honored, holding the power of life and death. A decree issued by him is obeyed by all under heaven. He is a favored son of heaven, incomparably noble.
However, even emperors have their troubles, just like Murong Xi now.
To the south lay the Xia Dynasty. Although they had signed a peace treaty with Yan and outwardly appeared as close as brothers, their hearts were divided. Once Xia quelled the rebellion in Jiangnan, once a wise ruler with ambitions emerged, they would surely march north, reclaim lost territories, and restore the empire of their ancestors. Small-scale border skirmishes between Xia and Yan were ongoing.
To Yan's west was Zhao. The Zhao Hu tribes also frequently raided the borders. At this time, the capable and seasoned general of Great Yan, the Zuo Xian King Murong Boli, was like a firefighter, rushing to and fro, suppressing unrest throughout Yan.
To the east, there were pirate raids. To the north, the Xiongnu army was fiercely attacking the Three Passes. At present, Great Yan was beset by numerous external threats, and Murong Xi was utterly overwhelmed. With external threats came internal troubles. The Crown Prince's faction and the Empress's faction were locked in a bitter struggle for the position of heir apparent, with constant overt and covert conflicts occurring daily. The forces of the Three Princes and others also got involved. Under this immense pressure, Murong Xi was on the verge of collapse, which led to his eccentric and outrageous behavior. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Great Khan of Tiansheng, stop hitting him! The Prince is gone, and I, your subject, am also filled with grief..." Da Ye Jian, the Zhongjian General, could no longer bear the beatings. If he continued, he would be whipped to death. He roared, "But what does the Prince's misfortune have to do with me?"
Murong Xi had decreed that his officials were not to address him as "Your Majesty" or "Great Chanyu" anymore, but as "Great Khan of Tiansheng."
"Grandfather says it has something to do with you, so it does," Murong Xi, in his fury, actually used a commoner's dialect.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Murong Xi continued to whip Da Ye Jian furiously.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng, the greatest sage ruler throughout history, spare me..." Da Ye Jian cried out loudly, "Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! I have five sons, I'll give you one... no... I'll give all of them to you, Great Khan of Tiansheng! Wuwuwu..." The fifty-year-old, dignified Zhongjian General of Great Yan sobbed uncontrollably.
"Hahahaha!" Murong Xi was greatly amused upon hearing this. He tossed aside his golden whip and pointed at Da Ye Jian, laughing heartily until tears welled up in his eyes.
Murong Xi suddenly burst into laughter. A gentle spring breeze seemed to stir in the Golden Throne Hall, yet no one could feel happy. They all felt a chill. Murong Xi's laughter sounded as if it came from hell.
"Is this true?" Murong Xi then asked, pointing at Da Ye Jian and laughing loudly.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng, do you truly want my sons? If Great Khan of Tiansheng truly wants them, I will send them into the palace." Da Ye Jian said to Murong Xi with immense pain in his heart.
"Hahahaha!" Murong Xi laughed again, pointing at Da Ye Jian and saying, "What use do I have for your sons? A bunch of freeloaders, I cannot afford to feed them! Zhongjian General, for your loyalty, integrity, and upright character, I hereby appoint you as a Scholar of the Imperial Ancestral Temple."
He's gone mad, he's truly gone mad. In the Golden Throne Hall, everyone sighed inwardly. Da Ye Jian was a military official. If the Emperor of Great Yan hadn't rewarded him, it would be one thing, but to appoint him as a Scholar of the Imperial Ancestral Temple? Scholars of the Imperial Ancestral Temple were typically civilian officials, and Da Ye Jian was hardly a virtuous person, having engaged in corruption and oppressing the common folk. How could he be described as upright and just, with integrity and character?
He looked like a spinning top, sent reeling by Murong Xi's whip.
"Ah?" Da Ye Jian was stunned for a moment. Then, enduring the excruciating pain from his injuries, he performed a somersault, flipping himself over on the golden bricks. He sobbed profusely and expressed his gratitude, "Your humble servant thanks the Great Khan of Tiansheng..."
At this moment, let alone the significant official position of Scholar of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, even a position as an "Rujing Shi" (a caretaker of toilets, commonly known as a "poop scooper") would have been joyfully accepted, and he would have feigned immense gratitude. Only in this way, under this capricious tyrant, could he perhaps preserve his life.
"The Xiongnu are raiding the border, the Three Passes are in grave danger. Go and repel the Xiongnu army," Murong Xi then said to Da Ye Jian.
"What?" Da Ye Jian heard this and sat down on the ground with a thud, staring blankly at Murong Xi, unable to speak.
This is too much bullying, Da Ye Jian thought, his heart bleeding. After just being appointed to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he was to lead an army to battle?
Even the veteran general Hu Yan Sheng couldn't handle the Xiongnu. To lead an army out himself would be to court death, Da Ye Jian lamented inwardly.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng, stop this foolishness." Just then, Empress Murong Qing, accompanied by a host of eunuchs and maids, entered the Golden Throne Hall. She happened to witness this scene and frowned, advising,
The jewel-laden and magnificently adorned Empress of Great Yan, Murong Qing, was tall, beautiful, with fair and plump features. She stood in the hall, a stark contrast to Murong Xi, whose dragon robe was stained with wine and looked disheveled.
"The Empress is here?" Murong Xi said with a sheepish smile upon seeing her.
Murong Xi seemed to be somewhat afraid of Murong Qing. A ruler's fear of someone naturally breeds aversion and even hatred.
Murong Xi's erratic and tyrannical behavior made it almost impossible for him to manage state affairs. During this period, it was Murong Qing who presided over the court and managed it in an orderly fashion, preventing Great Yan from falling into major chaos. Otherwise, it was uncertain if Murong Xi could have maintained his hold on Youzhou.
During her tenure, Murong Qing naturally seized the opportunity to strengthen her own influence. Her power base had grown considerably. This was why Murong Xi both hated and feared her, yet could not do without her.
Murong Qing gave Da Ye Jian a meaningful look. Da Ye Jian, feeling as though he had received a great pardon, endured the pain in his body and fled the Golden Throne Hall as if escaping for his life.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng..." Murong Qing then curtsied and began to change Murong Xi's robes, taking off the foul-smelling dragon robe. She cast a faint glance at a young maid named Zanyue who was attending to them in the hall, and asked softly, "Who served Your Majesty today?"
"It... it was this servant..." Zanyue's heart sank. Helplessly, she took small steps forward to Murong Xi and Murong Qing and replied fearfully.
"Your Majesty's health concerns the entire realm. If Your Majesty is unwell, the realm cannot be at peace. How dare you be so negligent towards Your Majesty? Drag her out and give her one hundred lashes." Murong Qing ordered calmly.
"Your Majesty... no... Great Khan of Tiansheng..."
Two strong eunuchs stepped forward upon hearing this and ferociously dragged Zanyue towards the hall's exit.
Let alone one hundred lashes, even a few, if administered by someone with a cruel hand, could take Zanyue's life. The executioners were, of course, all confidants of Empress Murong Qing. Thus, Zanyue could only cry out to Murong Xi, hoping he would speak to save her.
Zanyue was a subordinate of Consort Yan, Hu Liu Shi. Hu Liu Shi had placed her by Murong Xi's side, the intention of which was self-evident. Zanyue, relying on the fact that she was from Consort Yan Hu Liu Shi's faction and had already been favored by Murong Xi, no longer paid attention to Empress Murong Qing. She constantly spoke ill of others and sowed discord in front of Murong Xi. Today, Murong Qing used this as an excuse to remove her.
Murong Qing's action was like killing a chicken to scare a monkey. Perhaps, before long, Murong Qing would remove the monkey as well.
Consort Yan Hu Liu Shi had lost her son, and with it, her foundation for standing in the Yan palace.
Zanyue hoped Murong Xi would speak to save her, but Murong Xi hesitated and said, "Empress, this... it's not her fault, it's me..."
The Empress is the mistress of the inner court, and it is her prerogative to deal with a lowly palace maid. Even the emperor could not interfere. However, Murong Qing executing Zanyue in front of Murong Xi was indeed a bit overbearing. Murong Xi felt a loss of face.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng..." Murong Qing, along with her two young maids, changed Murong Xi's robes and said softly, "The Son of Heaven is the parent of the people, the ruler of the world. You are the lord of the world, the parent of all people under heaven. How can you present yourself like this? How can you rule the realm like this?"
As she spoke, Murong Qing and the two young maids finished changing Murong Xi's robes. These two young maids then took the opportunity to remain by Murong Xi's side, becoming Murong Qing's eyes and ears.
After changing into a clean and fragrant dragon robe, Murong Xi felt exceptionally comfortable. He sat on the dragon throne, patted his belly, which was as large as a pregnant woman's, and laughed, "The Empress is right, I was wrong. Why has the Empress come here today?"
Murong Xi wished for Murong Qing to leave soon and attend to her state affairs, so he could enjoy himself with the beautiful palace maids. However, Murong Qing's presence in the hall was an impediment.
"Great Khan of Tiansheng..." Murong Qing hesitated for a moment before replying, "The border guard Marquis Zhongluo reports that the Xiongnu army has retreated."
"Retreated? Haha, Heaven aids me!" Murong Xi exclaimed with great joy. "Why have they retreated for no reason? Has Hu Yan Sheng defeated the Xiongnu army?"
In the past few days, urgent reports from the border had been flooding into the Yan imperial palace. As the saying goes, too many lice make the scalp itch. In a fit of anger, Murong Xi simply washed his hands of the matter and handed everything over to Murong Qing for her to handle.
But within a few days, Empress Murong Qing came to report that the Xiongnu army had suffered a defeat and retreated?
The Xiongnu army's retreat was indeed good news for Great Yan and for Murong Xi. A weight had been lifted from his heart.
"Not so!" Murong Qing shook her elegant head and said, "Marquis Zhongluo dispatched a brave general into the Xiongnu heartland, the Xiongnu royal court. The Xiongnu were intimidated and retreated. This brave general's surname is Zhou and his given name is Fugui."
"Zhou Fugui?" Murong Xi asked, greatly astonished.