"Cough... cough... Your Majesty knows that Cheng'er is incompetent, but he lost his mother at a young age and is truly pitiful. I have repeatedly wanted to depose him as Crown Prince, but... I could not bring myself to do so each time. It is difficult to decide." Inside the Yan imperial palace, Murong Xi said to Murong Qing.
"Your Majesty..." Murong Qing adjusted the corner of the blanket covering Murong Xi and said, "How can I, your concubine, not know of the Crown Prince's pitiful background? But for an incompetent person to occupy a high position is not a blessing for our Great Yan! Yi'er is intelligent and lively; I still hope he will become a good emperor and bring long-lasting peace and stability to our Great Yan."
"Indeed, the Empress speaks wisely." Murong Xi nodded upon hearing this. "However, Cheng'er has been Crown Prince for a long time. Once deposed, it is feared that it will cause public criticism and opposition."
Murong Xi knew that Murong Cheng was weak and incompetent, but the establishment and removal of a Crown Prince was not entirely up to the ruler. Unless the ruler acted arbitrarily and disregarded everything. If Murong Xi rashly proposed deposing the Crown Prince, it would inevitably lead to fierce opposition from the court officials, especially from the maternal uncle Murong Fu and the Left Virtuous King Murong Boli.
Therefore, Murong Xi was hesitant and procrastinated, which led to the disaster of today.
"Criticism and opposition?" Murong Qing scoffed upon hearing this. "Whoever dares to criticize or oppose, I will eliminate them."
Murong Xi looked up at Murong Qing, as if seeing a storm of blood and gore.
"Empress..." After a long while, Murong Xi could only compromise and said, "There is a saying among the Han people: 'A person's words are good when they are about to die.'"
"Your Majesty has something to say, please speak." Murong Qing nodded upon hearing this.
"If you want the throne, I can give it to you. If you want Yi'er to inherit the throne, I also agree. Whatever you want, I will give it to you. But... I only ask two things of you." Murong Xi said.
If Murong Qing did not agree, Murong Xi would have countermeasures, and that imperial decree was one of them. These measures might not be effective, but they would surely make Murong Qing flustered.
"Your Majesty is the ruler, and I am a minister. If Your Majesty has something to say, issue an edict. Why use the word 'ask'?" Murong Qing said softly.
Not long ago, Murong Qing had been cautious and walked on thin ice before Murong Xi, always trembling with fear. Even when Murong Qing controlled the government, it was still the same. But at this moment, Murong Xi was actually begging Murong Qing.
Tasting the power in her hands for the first time, Murong Qing could not help but reveal a hint of a smile on her face.
"After Yi'er ascends the throne, I hope you will treat Cheng'er and Jinglian well. They lost their mother at a young age and are two pitiful children. After I die, they will pose no threat to you." Murong Xi still said to Murong Qing in a pleading tone.
Murong Xi had been a hero who traversed the world, but at this moment, he was reduced to such a humble position, which was truly poignant and regrettable.
"Your Majesty, Cheng'er and Jinglian are also my children. How could I, your concubine, not treat them well?" Murong Qing nodded.
The grand building was about to collapse, and Murong Cheng and Murong Xiaoxiao were like flowers in a greenhouse, about to lose their shelter. Without their shelter, they would be exposed to storms and be at the mercy of others, their fate uncertain.
Murong Xi naturally understood this, but he was powerless. He could only hope that Murong Qing would keep her word.
"And then..." Murong Xi nodded and continued, "You can deal with others as you please, but there is one person you absolutely cannot touch."
"Who? The Left Virtuous King?" Murong Qing asked.
"Precisely!" Murong Xi nodded. "The Left Virtuous King is skilled in military affairs, troop command, and strategy. He is brave and resourceful, always victorious in battle, and greatly feared by the enemy. With him, the enemy dares not invade our territory. He is truly a pillar and cornerstone of our Great Yan. To move him is to move the foundation of our Great Yan."
"Your Majesty, rest assured." Murong Qing also nodded. "How could I, your concubine, not know that the Left Virtuous King is a loyal and capable minister of our Great Yan? I can overlook past grievances and give him whatever he wants, hoping only that the Left Virtuous King can understand my good intentions."
At this moment, Murong Xi was making his final arrangements.
After Murong Xi's death, Murong Qing did not want to immediately carry out a massacre and eliminate all of Murong Xi's former officials, otherwise, the Great Yan would surely fall into great chaos. However, all this depended on whether Murong Boli and others knew their place and were wise enough to adapt to the times. Otherwise, even if Murong Boli was a pillar minister, Murong Qing would still wield the butcher's knife.
After a long while, Murong Qing finally obtained everything she desired. As she left Murong Xi's sleeping quarters and was about to cross the high threshold of the palace, she suddenly turned to look at Murong Xi and said, "Great Chanyu, you asked me if I hated you, didn't you? I will answer you truthfully today. I have always hated you, and I still do."
After speaking, Murong Qing left Murong Xi's sleeping quarters.
That night, Murong Xi, the Emperor of Great Yan, passed away in the palace due to severe injuries. His imperial decree stated that his second son, Murong Yi, would inherit the throne and be proclaimed emperor of all under heaven. The deposed Crown Prince Cheng would be granted the title of King of Lelang and would reside in a side palace. Murong Qing would be honored as Empress Dowager Huining, and due to the young age of the emperor, she would govern from behind a curtain. Murong Boli would be enfeoffed as the First Rank Left Assistant of the Heavenly Department, Pillar State Great General, Shangshu Pushe, and other official positions. Five regents would be appointed: Murong Boli, Murong Fu, Yuwen Tuluo, Wen Yanda, and Yin Mo. Naturally, those of the Empress's faction, such as Xieli Hu and Murong Kang, would receive generous rewards. According to Xianbei customs, the funeral rites for the deceased emperor would be performed.
Zhou Fugui, who was halfway on his journey, also inexplicably received rewards and was enfeoffed by the Yan court as the Fourth Rank Assistant Minister of the Wei Commandery...
From then on, all power in Yan fell into the hands of Murong Qing, and the struggle for the Yan throne came to an end. However, it was only a temporary end; the real bloodbath had just begun.
...
"Great Chanyu, this old minister is guilty, this old minister is guilty!"
On this day, the maternal uncle Murong Fu went to visit the Left Virtuous King, King of Guanning, Left Assistant of the Heavenly Department, Pillar State Great General, and Shangshu Pushe Murong Boli. As soon as Murong Ya led him into the room where he resided, the sound of Murong Boli's heartbroken cries emanated from within, making one's heart ache.
Murong Fu rubbed his eyes until they were red and swollen, then walked into the room. He saw Murong Boli standing inside, weeping.
After not seeing him for several days, Murong Boli looked as if he had aged a decade. His hair and beard were white, and his appearance was haggard.
"Your Highness, you..." Murong Fu, with red and swollen eyes, choked out to Murong Boli, but his eyes were red and swollen from rubbing them himself... and there were no tears in his sockets.
"Uncle Regent is here? Ya'er, serve tea." Murong Boli saw Murong Fu, stopped his tears and cries, and said to Murong Fu in a hoarse voice.
Murong Ya responded and walked out of the room.
"Your Highness... please do not grieve. If you continue like this, Fu will also..." When only the two of them were left in the room, Murong Fu said to Murong Boli with a choked voice, "Fu has not yet congratulated Your Highness."
Murong Qing had murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, deposed Crown Prince Cheng, and supported Murong Yi to ascend the throne. However, she had not treated Murong Boli and Murong Fu poorly. Neither had they been removed from office nor punished, but rather their official positions had been promoted. Both were regents of the Great Yan.
Although Murong Fu's nephew had not ascended the throne, it did not affect his current status and position. He could continue to act outrageously in the Great Yan, so Murong Fu's dissatisfaction had greatly diminished.
"Congratulate this old man on what?" Murong Boli said coldly. "Congratulate this old man on being a regent? Hmph, it's just a cover-up and a way to win people's hearts."
"Mmm..." Murong Fu nodded. "However, Your Highness... the Empress Dowager... she... has been bestowing titles upon officials, and the cheers from above and below are continuous."
"Mere titles, and you forget the late emperor's injustice? You forget the Crown Prince? What crime did the Crown Prince commit to deserve this?" Murong Boli said angrily.
Murong Boli and Murong Xi were not just ruler and minister but like brothers. Although they were clan brothers, their bond was even stronger than that of sworn brothers. Murong Boli, when leading troops in the field, was always trusted by Murong Xi without reservation. Even during the southern campaign back then, when the Yan army suffered a great defeat at Niuzhu Creek, Murong Xi did not blame him in the slightest.
How could Murong Boli not be enraged by the unjust death of his brother? As the saying goes, "A scholar dies for his confidant." Murong Boli was willing to give everything to avenge Murong Xi.
"Your Highness, there is a saying among the Han people: 'He who understands the times is a wise man'..." Murong Fu advised. "They are powerful, perhaps..."
"Uncle Regent..." Murong Boli interrupted before Murong Fu could finish. "I understand what you mean, which is to lie low. But Uncle Regent, have you ever thought about it? Can the enmity between us and them be easily resolved? The conflict between the two sides has lasted for many years, and we have long hated each other to the bone. She has just grasped power and is not yet stable. Once the court situation stabilizes..."
Murong Boli then drew a line across his neck and asked, "Are your and my heads still on?"
The main reason Murong Boli refused to give up was this. He had to guard against Murong Qing's retribution. The only way Murong Boli could think of to guard against it was to strike first.
If Tang Qingsi were here, he would certainly dissuade Murong Boli, urging him to avoid the sharp edge of the conflict, return to his fiefdom, and plan for the future.
It was a pity that Tang Qingsi was still strictly imprisoned in the great prison of Jinci Ala. He was not released after the new monarch ascended the throne. The excuse, of course, was Tang Qingsi's crime of bullying men and women and disregarding human life.
Murong Boli clearly understood that Murong Qing probably wanted to find leverage against him, collect evidence of his crimes, and then make a decisive move to crush them completely.
"Your Highness, what do you suggest we do?" Murong Fu asked after a shiver.
"A woman in power is a disaster for our Great Yan. This old man cannot just sit and wait for death," Murong Boli said after a long period of contemplation.
...
"Listen, you people on the city wall! The King of Runan is entering the capital by imperial decree. Quickly lower the drawbridge and open the city gate!"
The next day, an army arrived outside Youzhou City. A Yan general with a loud voice shouted towards the high city walls of Youzhou.
"Indeed, bring forth the imperial decree for inspection." The Yan garrison on the city tower responded loudly.
A moment later, after the Youzhou garrison had inspected the decree, they shouted down to the city, "Only the King of Runan and two hundred escorts are allowed to enter the city."
In these tumultuous times, Youzhou City was under exceptionally strict guard.