Yuan Qing entered from outside with a grave expression. "Your Majesty, a letter from Minister Ge."
Yan Han looked up from the imperial desk, his gaze sharpening instantly. After taking the letter and reading it, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. "Prepare the ink and brush."
Yuan Qing immediately stepped forward to grind ink and lay out paper. Yan Han focused for a moment, then picked up the brush and began writing. He wrote two letters in total—the first addressed to Ge Yang, and the second to Lin Zhang. After sealing both letters, Yan Han added, "Have these delivered to them immediately. Instruct them to act according to my orders in the letters."
Yuan Qing took the letters, acknowledged the command repeatedly, and left. When he returned, Yan Han had written a third letter. Handing it to Yuan Qing, he said, "Send this one north to Prince Cheng."
Yuan Qing hesitated slightly. "Your Majesty intends to..."
Yan Han saw no reason to withhold the information from him. "The Northwest Frontier Army and the Northern Garrison Army in the north have joined forces with Yue Qiong. They have already reached the southern part of Cangzhou. Ge Yang and the others have been stationed in Yingzhou for many days—it is time for them to move."
Yuan Qing’s brow twitched. "Your Majesty wants Minister Ge and his men to head west at this time?"
Yan Han nodded. Yuan Qing’s heart tightened, realizing the purpose of the previous two letters.
He bowed and turned to dispatch the letter to Prince Cheng. But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw Yan Li standing at the door.
Startled, Yuan Qing asked, "Why has Your Highness Prince Gong come?"
Yan Li stood rigidly at the entrance, his expression solemn. Glancing at the letter in Yuan Qing’s hand, he replied, "I am here to see His Majesty."
Yuan Qing smiled apologetically. "Very well, this servant will announce you at once."
He reentered the hall and reported, "Your Majesty, Prince Gong has arrived."
Yan Han raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but said, "Let him in."
Yuan Qing went out to relay the order. Shortly after, Yan Li entered, performing a formal bow. Yan Han asked, "What brings you here?"
Yan Li knelt, the hem of his robe sweeping the floor. "This humble official has come to beg a favor of Your Majesty. Although you permitted me to gain experience in the Ministry of Revenue, the northern border is now fraught with conflict. I have come to request permission to join the northern campaign. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to serve in the military up north."
Upon hearing this, Yan Han first frowned, then laughed. "You share Yue Jia’s desire to head north. At least Yue Jia comes from a military background—but you? I’ve never known you to study military strategy, and your rudimentary martial skills would be useless on the battlefield. With that in mind, what could you possibly accomplish up north?"
Yan Li frowned slightly, lowering his gaze. "The Ministry of Revenue oversees military supplies for the northern expedition. I could assist with logistical coordination in the rear."
Yan Han narrowed his phoenix eyes. "The northern campaign currently has no shortage of such personnel. Of course, if you have ambition, it is not impossible for you to leave the capital and gain experience. But as of now, you have yet to familiarize yourself with the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. How can you be sent away? If you go north, you would only cause trouble for the Anyang Marquis."
Yan Li pressed his lips together tightly, about to say more, but Yan Han cut him off. "Say no more. The situation at the front has stabilized for now, and all arrangements have been made. I have no position to offer you. Remain in the capital and focus on your duties here."
With a wave of his hand, he added, "I have state affairs to attend to. You may leave."Yan Li lifted his gaze to glance at Yan Han, his eyes dim as he rose and walked outside.
Yuan Qing stood at the doorway, not daring to enter. Seeing Yan Li emerge, he smiled and asked, "Your Highness Prince Gong, what prompted your thoughts of heading north?"
Yan Li shook his head without saying anything, turned a corner after exiting, and headed toward the Longevity and Health Palace. After just a few steps, he encountered Zhao Yu, the deputy commander of the imperial guards. Since Lin Zhang had temporarily left, Zhao Yu was now in charge of the Inner Palace defense. He was followed by several young imperial guard officers, walking over from the direction of the training grounds.
Upon seeing Yan Li, they all saluted. Yan Li smiled and said, "With Deputy Commander Zhao here, the Inner Palace defenses are even more stringent now."
After Lin Zhang's departure, there had been some changes in the Inner Palace defenses. Initially, Yan Han had been somewhat dissatisfied and personally inquired about it, but he found that Zhao Yu had only increased manpower at several palace gates and ceremonial entrances, making the defenses much tighter than before.
Zhao Yu scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Commander Lin has left, entrusting the imperial guard duties to me. If I make any mistakes, wouldn't I be failing the Emperor and Commander Lin? So, I can only ask the brothers to work a bit harder. Once we get through this period and Commander Lin returns, everything will go back to normal."
Zhao Yu spoke quite directly. Yan Li glanced at the officers behind Zhao Yu and noticed they looked somewhat unfamiliar. However, since he wasn't involved in the inner defense affairs, it wasn't appropriate to ask too many questions. He continued straight to the Longevity and Health Palace. Upon arriving, he was surprised to find Yan Ze already there.
With the Crown Prince having rebelled and left, Prince Cheng supervising the war in the north, and Yan Chi now branded a rebel, the other princes had also become very reserved and reclusive. Thus, among the younger generation of brothers in the capital, Yan Li and Yan Ze were the only ones who frequently met. Yan Ze had been jilted by Yue Ning, and Yan Li had wanted to console him, but he saw no trace of sorrow on Yan Ze's face. Instead, Yan Ze had recently been visiting the Longevity and Health Palace often, spending less time with the Empress Dowager and more with Yan Sui. Today, Yan Ze was teaching Yan Sui how to write.
"Third Brother, you're here early."
Yan Ze glanced at Yan Li and then asked, "Where have you been just now? Why do you look so dejected?"
Yan Li, seeing that he had been seen through, could only force a bitter smile. "I wanted to go north, but the Emperor wouldn't allow it."
Yan Ze frowned slightly. "Of course, he wouldn't let you go. Even Yue Jia can't go, let alone you."
Yan Li casually sat down at the stone table, watching Yan Sui meticulously write the character for "Gong" in "Prince Gong." "Why are you writing this character?"
Yan Ze smiled. "He can write all our titles now, except for this character of yours."
Yan Sui lay sprawled over the stone table, writing stroke by stroke, appearing very well-behaved. A small dagger hung at his waist. Over the past half-year, he had grown taller and become increasingly silent and reserved. Yan Li patted Yan Sui's head and said to Yan Ze, "Aren't you going to find Yue Ning?"
Yan Ze sighed at this. "Ning'er is still childish at heart. I don't want to pressure her."
Yan Li was left speechless, unsure of what else to say. He then entered the hall to see the Empress Dowager. She was being cared for by Mammy Chen, half-lying on a low couch by the window for her nap, covered with a blanket and feigning sleep. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes and murmured groggily, "Han'er—"
Yan Li's pupils trembled. He stepped forward and said, "Grandmother, you've mistaken me. It's me."
The Empress Dowager stared at Yan Li for a moment, then chuckled. "No... I haven't mistaken anyone. Han'er, has your elder brother finished his studies yet?"Yan Li's back stiffened slightly. "He... he hasn't yet..."
The Empress Dowager sighed. "Your eldest brother is to become the Crown Prince. He has too much to learn. Han'er, being Emperor is the most exhausting duty under heaven. Your father demands too much from your eldest brother. You must help your brother more in daily matters. You are blood brothers, something no one else can compare to."
Yan Li nodded with a stiff smile. "Yes, you are right."
A satisfied smile appeared on the Empress Dowager's face. "That's right, that's right...The Empress Dowager seemed extremely weary, leaning against the pillow behind her and closing her eyes again, yet she kept holding Yan Li's hand tightly. Yan Li sat by the couch, cold sweat beading on his forehead. After what felt like an eternity, he slowly freed his hand from the Empress Dowager's grasp and stood up to leave. But as soon as he turned around, he saw Yan Ze standing at the doorway.
It was unclear how long Yan Ze had been standing there, his expression gentle and serene, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Yan Li tiptoed to the doorway and only spoke after stepping outside. "Grandmother seems to be growing increasingly confused by her illness."
Yan Ze smiled. "Indeed. When I came earlier, she mistook the Ninth Prince for you as a child."
Yan Li's footsteps faltered again. Yan Ze placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Although the Emperor is unwilling to let you go north, if you truly wish to go, it's not entirely impossible. Both you and Ning'er are still young—what can't you do if you set your mind to it?"
Yan Li turned to look at Yan Ze. "Third Brother, you mean..."
"You want to see Yan Chi, don't you?"
Yan Ze sighed. "Ning'er has probably gone north to find Yan Chi and Qin Guan as well."
Yan Li frowned slightly but before he could say anything, Yan Ze walked over to where Yan Sui was practicing calligraphy. As he tidied the brushes and ink beside Yan Sui, he remarked, "Now that Yan Chi and Qin Guan are in the north, Shuoxi has been left vacant. I suspect His Majesty won't let this opportunity slip by."
At these words, Yan Sui's small head lifted up.
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