The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 139 Turmoil
On the sixteenth of the fourth lunar month, a grand banquet was held at the Fengtian Hall, where imperial relatives and officials gathered to celebrate the marriage of Princess Huayang and her diplomatic mission to marry into the Northern Liang kingdom.
After the banquet, the Shizi to the Duan Wang Mansion, Feng Subei, represented the Great Xia imperial family. He led six thousand elite soldiers to escort Princess Huayang and her bridal entourage by water, heading toward Northern Liang.
The capital city was adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, with crowds of people stopping to watch the event.
The extravagant dowry prepared by the Great Xia imperial family and the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion for Princess Huayang stretched from the imperial city to the eastern dock outside Chongren Gate in the capital city. From a distance, it was impossible to see either the beginning or the end of the procession, a sight that left onlookers in awe.
“Tsk, tsk, Princess Huayang is remarrying, and she’ll still become the Empress of Northern Liang!”
“She was the most beautiful woman in the capital city back in the day. Even as a second bride, she’s more than worthy of being called Empress.”
“Her daughter is now the Taizifei and will be the future Empress of Great Xia. This mother-daughter pair is truly extraordinary!”
“Who could argue with that?”
……
————
At the end of the fourth lunar month, a series of imperial edicts sealed with Empress Dowager Xiao’s golden seal were dispatched to all the provinces of the Great Xia and to foreign kingdoms.
The contents of these edicts were nothing short of shocking, leaving people utterly speechless.
Yizhou officially declared its independence from the Great Xia, with Empress Dowager Xiao assuming the role of regent.
In the edict, the Empress Dowager condemned the current Emperor and the Taizi for their disrespect toward her, accusing them of placing her under house arrest and even attempting to take her life.
In the final paragraph of the edict, the Empress Dowager lamented, “Together with some loyal officials, I have served the Great Xia Dynasty with utmost dedication for decades. The actions of the Emperor and the Taizi, who show no regard for our past contributions, have deeply wounded those who have worked tirelessly for the Great Xia.”
She continued, “The famine and floods that plagued the kingdom last year were a divine warning to the rulers of the Great Xia.”
To prevent further calamities from befalling the Great Xia, the current Emperor and the Taizi must issue a self-reproach edict, abdicate the throne, and allow someone more capable to rule, so that the Great Xia may return to peace and stability.
————-
When this edict was issued, it sent shockwaves throughout the entire court.
The following news was equally startling, the two main gateways to Yizhou, the Jianmen Pass to the north, which is the land route, and the Tang Pass to the east, which is the water route, had both been closed. No goods or people were allowed to enter Yizhou, effectively severing any communication between Yizhou and the rest of the Great Xia.
At this point, Yizhou’s separation had become an undeniable fact.
Emperor Hui and the Taizi were furious. They immediately ordered the Hanlin Academy, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Cabinet to draft a proclamation, which would be sealed with the imperial seal and sent to Yizhou. However, the proclamation was only delivered to the areas outside Jianmen Pass and Tang Pass for public announcement.
The proclamation read:
“Yizhou is an inseparable part of the Great Xia, and it must not be allowed to break away due to the personal grievances of the Empress Dowager.”
“If Empress Dowager Xiao comes to her senses and reflects on her years of service to the imperial family, we will forgive the past and make no further accusations.”
“However, if the Empress Dowager persists in her misguided actions, then one hundred thousand iron troops will march to Yizhou and restore the territorial integrity of the Great Xia.”
At the same time, Taizi Feng Zhan ordered the Ministry of Rites to issue diplomatic notes to all other countries, making a formal declaration regarding Yizhou’s unilateral declaration of independence:
“The matter of Yizhou is an internal issue of the Great Xia, and no foreign power is to interfere.”
“If any foreign power recognizes Yizhou as an independent nation, the Great Xia will never tolerate it.”
As expected, there were indeed foreign nations eager to stir the pot and exploit the situation.
The Turkic Khagan Ashina Qigu and the Western Rong Emperor Jiang Quyi jointly issued a statement expressing their deep sympathy for Empress Dowager Xiao’s plight and strongly supporting Yizhou’s independence.
Following this, the Western Rong announced plans to form a political marriage with Yizhou, while the Turkic Khagan also arranged for his Ninth Princess, Ashina Mingzhu, to marry the Western Rong Emperor.
These announcements only stirred up further turbulence in an already unstable situation. It seemed as though the more one wished for peace, the more chaos would arise.
———-
In the imperial study within the Imperial City.
Emperor Hui sat solemnly behind his desk, and on the large chairs scattered around the room sat Taizi Feng Zhan, Taizifei Qin Yan, Duke of Zhenguo Shen Changshan, and Minister of War, He Yanming.
Minister He Yanming had yet to fully recover from the grief of losing his eldest son, He Xiao. Despite his sorrow, he forced himself to steady his emotions and quickly focused on the urgent state affairs at hand.
He Yanming spoke up, “The Turkic Khaganate lies to the north and northwest of the Great Xia, while the Western Rong is adjacent to our northwestern border. Yizhou is situated in the southwestern region of Great Xia.”
“These three powers are neighboring territories. On the surface, it may seem like a political marriage, but in reality, it’s a close alliance, and their intentions are far from innocent,” He Yanming remarked.
“I must speak bluntly, Your Majesty. With the current state of affairs, the Empress Dowager’s actions have effectively dealt a harsh blow to Great Xia.”
“Yizhou is surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it a natural stronghold, difficult to breach. If we are to take military action, the cost will be immense.”
The imperial study fell silent for a moment. Finally, Taizi Feng Zhan spoke in a low, resolute voice, “From today onwards, the Ministry of War will begin recruiting soldiers in all the provinces of Great Xia and intensify their training. We will prepare food supplies, horses, and weapons, and be on high alert.”
“The soldiers of the Pingxi Army who had returned to their farms will be recalled under the command of Duke Shen Changshan, and they will head immediately to the northwest camp. Some troops will also be sent to the northern entrance of Yizhou at the Jianmen Pass.”
“I have ordered the eldest son of the Pingnan Marquis, Gu Junyan, to lead his troops to the eastern entrance of Yizhou at the Tang Pass and stand by.”
The Taizi’s stance on Yizhou was incredibly firm. Minister of War He Yanming and Duke Shen Changshan immediately stood up to take their orders.
Meanwhile, Emperor Hui remained silent throughout, his face expressionless. He did not voice either agreement or opposition to the Taizi’s arrangements.
After all, Empress Dowager Xiao had been a great benefactor to Emperor Hui, his adoptive mother and Empress Dowager. How could he bring himself to issue orders to take action against her?
————-
Yizhou Wang Mansion.
After being under house arrest for five days, Madam Yan finally had her first visitor.
When she saw the Wangfei, Song Yin, dressed in luxurious brocade robes, stepping into the room, A Yan grabbed a nearby teacup and hurled it at her. However, Song Yin sidestepped, avoiding the cup with ease.
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, Song Yin was not one to be outdone by A Yan. She calmly wiped the tea stains from her sleeve and then looked up at the woman sitting at the table, glaring at her with fury. Song Yin spoke coldly, “I came to inspect the merchandise. Hmm, the condition is good.”
“Make sure you’re ready. Tomorrow, you’ll be sent to Western Rong. If we delay any longer, you might find it impossible to leave the pass smoothly.”
A Yan abruptly stood up, bracing her hands on the table and leaning forward. She yelled at Song Yin in a sharp voice, “I won’t go! Why do I have to go to Western Rong? I don’t want to marry the Emperor of Xirong!”
“I want to see my brother! I want to see Brother Qinghe!”
Song Yin gave a faint, mocking smile.
“Sorry, your Brother Qinghe has been unwell lately and needs to rest.”
A Yan shouted, venting the anger that had built up inside her, “You are imprisoning my brother! This is a power grab!”
Since Empress Dowager Xiao arrived in Yizhou, many of the old ministers there, including Song Yin’s father, had supported the Empress Dowager’s regency.
Meanwhile, Yizhou Wang Ye Qinghe, who was supposedly recuperating, was effectively sidelined. A Yan’s once prosperous life had plummeted to rock bottom, and now she was being forced into a political marriage with Western Rong, being married off to a man old enough to be her father, the Emperor of Western Rong.
Song Yin calmly watched the agitated A Yan and spoke in a flat tone, “The Empress Dowager despises any imperial scandals. She was like this in the imperial city, and now she is the same in Yizhou.”
“Your affair with Ye Qinghe displeased her greatly.”
“If we don’t deal with you, then who should we deal with?”
“However, congratulations. You’ve regained your status as the younger sister of the Yizhou Wang. Oh, no, I meant adoptive sister.”
“Your marriage to Western Rong is the only way to show Yizhou’s sincerity to Western Rong.”
A Yan picked up another cup and hurled it toward Song Yin, but once again, Song Yin deftly dodged the thrown object with ease.
A Yan cursed Song Yin, “Song Yin, you are just deliberately taking revenge on me and Brother Qinghe!”
“You vicious woman, Brother Qinghe is your husband, how can you treat him like this?”
Song Yin chuckled and said, “Husband?”
“Are you speaking up for Ye Qinghe? Or are you reluctant to give up the indulgence and love he brings you?”
“You just gave birth to a child, right? Have a good rest and leave tomorrow.”
Song Yin turned around and prepared to leave, but A Yan rushed towards Song Yin with angry eyes, “Song Yin! You bitch!”
Before A Yan got close, Song Yin slapped her backhand loudly.
“Pah!” With a sound, Song Yin slapped A Yan against the wall with great force.
Before A Yan fell to the ground, her forehead hit the side table and blood instantly came out.
Song Yin pulled out a towel to wipe her hands, then called the maid, and ordered in a low voice, “Treat Madam Yan, oh no, now Young Lady Yan.”
“Treat Young Lady Yan’s wounds, she still has to look beautiful when she gets married,” Song Yin said coldly as she left.
After Song Yin left, A Yan pushed away the maid who tried to help her and struggled to get up on her own, supporting herself on the ground with effort.
With a look of hatred on her face, she glared at the door as it closed once again. In her heart, she swore silently.
One day, she would make those who had humiliated her pay for everything.
———–
After returning to the Taizi Mansion in Xishan, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan went straight to the Chunhua Hall study.
Since the day Qin Yan spent the night at the Taizi Mansion, she has moved into the Taizi Mansion.
Once inside the study, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan stood at either side of the desk, where a detailed map of Great Xia was laid out in front of them.
After briefly discussing the current situation, Qin Yan sat back down in the large chair, picked up a teacup, took a small sip, and then spoke, “From the looks of the situation, Western Rong has become the link between Yizhou and the Turks.”
“The Turks and Western Rong have stepped forward to support Yizhou, likely hoping to take a bite out of Great Xia before the marriage alliance with Northern Liang is firmly settled.”
“Moving Yizhou now will not solve the fundamental problem, and it is not very meaningful.”
“And the Turks and Western Rong are the hungry wolves, so it is better to take down Western Rong first.”
Feng Zhan also sat back, leaning against the back of the chair, narrowing his narrow eyes, and looking at the woman in front of him who spoke wildly.
The power of Western Rong is not weak, and this woman casually said “Take it down”?
As expected, it is his Yanyan.
Qin Yan didn’t know what Feng Zhan was thinking, and continued, “Now Great Xia’s troops are scattered, and if they want to move Western Rong, there is no legitimate reason, so Pingxi Army is not convenient to come forward.”
“I have the chess piece of Jiang Mu, the orphan of the former emperor of Western Rong, in my hand, so, just like dealing with Gu City at the beginning, I will take care of Western Rong.”
“Because of the famine in Great Xia last year, the Turks and Western Rong will not think that Great Xia will take action before the autumn harvest this year.”
“But there is no guarantee that the Turks and Western Rong will not take action. To pay the smallest price, this matter cannot be delayed, and it is better to be early than late.”
Feng Zhan took a sip of tea, paused in silence for a moment, and then spoke slowly, “Aren’t you going to wait for the autumn harvest? Don’t you need the Pingxi Army?”
“Should I guess that Yan Yan has money and grain in hand, and even a private army?”
Qin Yan did not directly respond to Feng Zhan’s question, but of course, she had no intention of hiding the truth for much longer.
“Your Highness once promised that if Empress Dowager Xiao were to harm the Great Xia, Your Highness would not be lenient. Is that promise still valid?”
Feng Zhan answered decisively, “Of course.”
Qin Yan smiled slightly and said, “Well then, to be frank, I do have personal motives, and Your Highness knows the old grudge between Empress Dowager Xiao and my mother.”
“Now that Empress Dowager Xiao is entangled with the Western Rong, I’ll handle Yizhou and the Western Rong. Your Highness, could you consent to this?”
Feng Zhan lightly tapped the armrest of his large chair with his fingers, paused for a moment, then spoke, “I will personally go to the Shuobei to restrain the Turks.”
“You may go ahead and do as you please, but remember, behind you stands me, and the entire Great Xia.”
Qin Yan smiled with satisfaction, “Your Highness is straightforward.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Zhan’s sharp brows furrowed slightly.
He stood up, walked around the desk, and approached Qin Yan. With a swift motion, he pulled her slender waist into his arms, holding her tightly. With his other hand, he tilted her delicate chin, bringing his lips to hers. His voice was low, husky, and rich, “Your Highness? Not ‘Brother Taizi’ then, hmm?”
Qin Yan was somewhat surprised that this was what Feng Zhan was going to say. She was about to speak when her red lips were instantly sealed by his.
Inside the Chenghua Hall, the room was filled with sensuality, a moment of indulgence before their parting.
As for whether their journey would succeed, that remained uncertain…