Grand Tutor Rong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty! Yan Zhao came as the son-in-law of the southern barbarians. Could his assassination attempt today have been instigated by them?"
The Emperor immediately turned his gaze to Meng Ji. The young girl shrugged innocently. "Your Majesty, Meng Ji had no idea he bore a grudge against you. Besides, if we truly intended to assassinate you, why would I come here myself? Wouldn’t that be what you Xia people call 'walking right into a trap'?"
The Emperor found her reasoning sound. Amuze had only this one younger sister—how could he bear to send her to her death? With a wave of his hand, he declared, "Guards! Yan Zhao attempted regicide and is guilty beyond pardon. Take him out to the Meridian Gate and execute him immediately! As for the Yan Family, in consideration of the late Great General’s merits, I spare the women from death—the men shall be executed, and the women exiled three thousand li away!"
Grandma Yan and Yan Lin collapsed to the ground in despair. Lady Xue and Madam Li barely opened their mouths before the eunuchs silenced them and dragged them away.
The Yan Family, who had basked in glory mere moments ago, had now fallen into the mud.
The guards hesitated as they looked at Yan Zheng. Did the Emperor’s decree regarding the "Yan Family" include him or not?
Yet the Emperor did not clarify, merely narrowing his eyes at him.
Chu Ruoyan’s heart trembled.
This was suspicion!
No matter whether Yan Zheng had subdued Yan Zhao earlier—he bore the Yan name. With Yan Zhao’s assassination attempt, his elder brother could not escape suspicion!
In matters of life and death, the Emperor would rather kill the innocent than let a guilty man go free!
She glanced at An Sheng, only to see the Princess’s face devoid of any urgency—instead, she seemed to be waiting for him to make a decision...
A chill ran down Chu Ruoyan’s spine.
Was An Sheng forcing Yan Zheng to turn against his own flesh and blood?!
Once the Emperor’s suspicion took root, there was no other way to dispel it except this!
And in doing so, Yan Zheng would sever all ties with the Yan Family—what a ruthless scheme!
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips together and stepped forward, only for her wrist to be seized by her father.
Chu Huaishan gave her a warning shake of his head. At that moment, Yan Zheng moved.
Silently, he wheeled his chair forward until he stood before Yan Zhao.
Yan Zhao glared at him and spat, "You disgrace the Yan name by serving the enemy as your mother!"
Yan Zheng’s expression remained indifferent as he bent down to pick up the dagger Yan Zhao had wielded. "Is that so?"
With those words, he suddenly leaned forward and plunged the blade into Yan Zhao’s chest!
"Yan—!" Chu Ruolan’s startled cry was muffled by Lady Jiang the Younger.
Yan Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You... dare..."
The dagger twisted in his chest, and blood gushed out.
Yan Zhao gasped twice, his mouth agape. "Fine... fine... When I reach the underworld... I’ll tell Eldest Brother of the Yan Family... what a fine brother he had..." With that, he collapsed and closed his eyes forever.
Chu Ruoyan’s face turned deathly pale, her fingers clenched tightly.
But Yan Zheng’s expression remained cold. He pulled out the dagger and turned to present it to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, the traitor has been executed."
Yin Shun hurried forward to check Yan Zhao’s pulse. "Your Majesty! Yan Zhao is dead!"
At this announcement, the entire hall erupted in shock.
Grandma Yan fainted on the spot.
No matter how rebellious Yan Zhao had been, he was still his own younger brother!
To kill him without hesitation—was this even human?
A young censor from the Imperial Censorate could not hold back. "Your Majesty! Yan Zheng has committed fratricide—a crime among the Ten Abominations!"
But the Emperor shook his head. "The Chief Councillor has rid Us of a rebel. His merit is undeniable—how can this be a crime?"
With those words, the matter was settled. In An Sheng’s eyes, a glint of satisfaction flickered.
No wonder he was her son—cutting ties with the useless members of the Yan Family so decisively!
Just then, guards stepped forward to drag away the corpse.
Yan Zheng suddenly spoke, "Emperor, this subject begs for a favor from Your Majesty."
Having regained a capable minister, the Emperor was in good spirits. "Speak freely, Chief Counselor."
Yan Zheng rose from his wheelchair and knelt. "Emperor, though Yan Zhao deserved death for his assassination attempt, he was still my younger brother. I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission to collect his remains and bury him beside our father and elder brother."
For the crime of treason, not even a whole corpse was usually permitted.
But the Emperor nodded. "Very well. To spare you accusations of heartlessness, I will make an exception and allow him a proper burial. You may handle it as you see fit."
Yan Zheng kowtowed in gratitude, then glanced at Meng Yang.
The latter swiftly arranged for Yan Zhao’s body to be carried away.
Once the storm passed, the attendees resumed their seats.
The Emperor took a sip of wine to steady himself before turning to Meng Ji. "Princess Meng Ji, shall we continue the peace negotiations?"
Meng Ji pressed a hand to her chest. "Your Majesty’s divine bearing has left a deep impression on me. In accordance with my father the Khan and my elder brother’s orders, our Nanman tribe is willing to return the Tiger’s Cage and Hangu Pass. However, Great Xia must provide an annual tribute of 300,000 bolts of silk, 500,000 taels of gold, and 200,000 catties of tea."
"What?!"
Before the Emperor could respond, the Minister of Rites leapt to his feet. "300,000 bolts of silk, 500,000 taels of gold, and 200,000 catties of tea? That’s five times the previous tribute!"
The Emperor’s expression darkened. "Princess Meng Ji, does Nanman truly lack sincerity for peace talks, demanding such an exorbitant price?"
Unexpectedly, the young princess smiled sweetly. "Your Majesty, don’t be hasty. This is merely one of the conditions proposed by my father and brother. If Great Xia cannot meet it, that’s fine—there’s a second option."
The Emperor snorted but remained silent.
Chu Huaishan, sensing the tension, asked, "And what might this second condition be?"
Meng Ji swept her gaze across the room before settling on Yan Zheng. "Him!"
The crowd froze. The Nanman princess then declared with a charming smile, "My father and brother said that if I find a man in Great Xia who catches my eye, I may take him back as my second consort—as a form of ‘marriage alliance.’ Your Majesty, I’ve taken a liking to him!"
Chu Ruoyan’s eyelids twitched.
Was this Nanman woman insane? Her consort, Yan Zhao, had just "died," and now she wanted to marry Yan Zheng…
Did she intend to wed two brothers in succession?
An Sheng’s face turned cold, but the Emperor burst into laughter. "Princess Meng Ji, this jest has gone too far! That is my Chief Counselor, second only to the throne. How could he become your consort and follow you back to Nanman?"
He was no fool—the Yan Family’s army was Nanman’s greatest fear.
With Yan Zheng as the last remaining heir of the Yan Family, and his legs gradually healing, he might yet lead troops into battle again. The Emperor would never hand such a valuable asset over so easily.
As Meng Ji opened her mouth to retort, An Sheng cut in, "Princess Meng Ji may not be aware, but my son Yan Zheng is already betrothed."
The revelation sent ripples through the assembly.
All eyes—some ambiguous, others knowing—turned toward Chu Ruoyan.
But Yan Zheng shot a warning glare at An Sheng, who ignored it and rose with a smile, approaching Grand Tutor Rong. "Grand Tutor, your eldest daughter married the Yan heir, but your second daughter, Rong Su, remains unmarried, correct?"
Grand Tutor Rong’s expression turned cold as he guessed the other’s intentions. “My daughter is unworthy of such an esteemed match with Chief Councillor Yan.”
An Sheng, unruffled, turned his gaze to Rong Su. “Is that so? And what does the Second Lady Rong think?”
Rong Su’s heart pounded like a drum. She stole a glance at Yan Zheng—the figure who had haunted her dreams now stood mere steps away…
Suddenly, a surge of courage overtook her. She knelt before her father and pleaded, “Father, I am willing!”
