In the central command tent, Yan Ze sat to the left of Yan Chi, his tone slightly cold as he said, "Yan Chi, you truly haven't disappointed me."
Yan Chi occupied the main seat, while Qin Guan sat opposite Yan Ze. Apart from the three of them, there was no one else in the tent.
Hearing this, Yan Chi gave a faint, ambiguous smile. "Third Brother, you're here to persuade us to surrender, yet such words hardly suit your position."
Yan Ze chuckled at this—a genuine laugh that brought a glimmer of brightness to his eyes. "I truly never expected the Empress to abandon the Northern Garrison Army so easily, handing the opportunity right over to you."
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. Qin Guan exchanged a glance with him and couldn't help but interject, "It wasn't the Empress's decision—it was Old General Zhao. The Empress was severely injured and remained unconscious when we headed south. The wound affected her vital organs, and I'm afraid it will take three to five years to fully recover. The old general's health is also deteriorating day by day."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yan Ze's eyes, followed by understanding. "So that's how it is. If that's the case, then I wasn't wrong about the Empress after all."
Muttering to himself as if in reflection, Yan Ze then continued, "But let's return to the main subject. I know you're determined to take Lin'an. Given the current situation, the Emperor has no power to resist. However, I also know both of you are kind-hearted and would prefer to spare Lin'an the ravages of war—otherwise, you wouldn't have camped outside the city."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "So, what can Third Brother do for us?"
As these words fell, Yan Ze's brow lifted slightly. Just moments ago, Yan Chi had called him a persuader for surrender, yet now he was asking what he could do for them—clearly, Yan Chi had known his true intentions from the start.
Noting Yan Ze's thoughtful expression, Yan Chi said, "Third Brother, you are a man of great strategy and countless schemes. Having assessed the current situation and knowing you aren't truly loyal to the Emperor, you certainly aren't here to persuade us to surrender. Since you've come under that pretext, you must have something to say to me personally."
Yan Ze narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Yan Chi. "I was originally unwilling to accept this, but since you've come to Lin'an, so be it."
Yan Chi fixed his gaze on Yan Ze. "If it weren't me who came, would Third Brother have aspired to sit on the imperial throne?"
Yan Ze smiled without answering. Yan Chi then stated, "You painstakingly assisted the Empress in heading north—100,000 troops of the Northern Garrison Army are no small force. You anticipated that the Emperor wouldn't let the Empress go, and dealing with her would require his full effort, especially with the threat from Shuoxi. That's how Lin'an ended up so poorly defended. What you didn't expect was that I would be the one heading south, and that I'd arrive so quickly. You had no countermeasures, and yet, we are aware of the evil deeds you've committed. That's why you've come to 'persuade us to surrender.'"
Yan Chi's words, each one sharp and insightful, struck at the heart of the matter. After a pause, he added, "Though you had your reasons, you implicated too many innocent people. How do you intend to atone for your crimes now?"
The smile faded from Yan Ze's face, for he could tell that Yan Chi's words were no jest.
Yan Chi was one matter, but Qin Guan was a person who clearly distinguished right from wrong. Even if Yan Ze had left no loopholes, the matter was tacitly understood by all. If Yan Chi ascended the throne, how could Prince Yi's royal residence or Yan Ze himself remain as they were before?
Seeing Qin Guan also watching him with a grave expression, Yan Ze remained composed. "I can help you achieve your wish while ensuring Lin'an is spared from the flames of war."
Yan Chi frowned as he looked at Yan Ze, but Yan Ze simply smiled and stood up. "Give me two days. In two days, I will enable you to enter the city without shedding a single drop of blood."After saying this, Yan Ze turned and left. Both Yan Chi and Qin Guan stood up, watching as Yan Ze paused at the doorway without looking back and said, "I'm not trying to atone for my crimes—I just want him to pay the price he deserves. In this world, no one has the right to pass judgment on me."
With these words, Yan Ze strode out.
Yan Chi and Qin Guan exchanged a glance, both filled with uncertainty.
After a moment, Qin Guan asked, "What now? Should we wait two days for him?"
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes and gave a cold laugh. "What harm is there in giving him two days? It won't make much difference anyway."
Yan Ze left the central command tent and walked out under the watchful eyes of the entire camp.
Upon reaching the camp gate, he mounted his horse and glanced back toward the central command tent before turning and riding into the city.
The gates of Lin'an were now under the control of the Nine Gates Garrison. Yue Jia and Duke Peng Huaichu of Wei were on the city wall. Seeing Yan Ze return, they immediately ordered the gates opened. Once Yan Ze entered, the two descended from the wall. Peng Huaichu wore a tense expression. "How did it go?"
Still on horseback, Yan Ze smiled. "Your Grace need not worry. Prince Rui will not attack within two days."
Yue Jia's eyes lit up, surprised that Yan Ze had actually succeeded. Peng Huaichu wanted to ask more, but Yan Ze had already spurred his horse toward the palace gates.
Peng Huaichu sighed. "Only two days... What happens after that?"
Yue Jia pondered briefly before hesitantly saying, "Your Grace, do you truly believe we can hold the city?"
Peng Huaichu looked at Yue Jia. "Heir Apparent, what do you mean...? Since the Emperor has given the order, we must obey. We cannot simply..."
Yue Jia smiled faintly but said nothing more. Yet, seeing the look in Yue Jia's eyes, Peng Huaichu began to form his own calculations. As the head of the three great ducal houses and a military man, Peng Huaichu's mind was no slower than Yue Qiong's. After a moment's thought, he caught up and asked, "Has Anyang Marquis sent any letters home?"
Seeing no one around, Yue Jia replied, "The Rong barbarians have fled to Cangzhou. Father is determined to retake it."
Hearing this, a faint glimmer flashed in Peng Huaichu's eyes, and he let out a long, deep breath.
Meanwhile, Yan Ze rode swiftly to the palace gates. Once inside, he headed straight for Chongzheng Hall. Yan Han was waiting there for his news. Seeing Yan Ze arrive, he didn't even wait for formalities before asking, "What did Yan Chi say?! Did he agree to return to the Northwest Frontier Army?"
Yan Ze clasped his hands. "He hasn't agreed yet! He made a demand!"
Yan Han frowned. "A demand? What demand?"
With a grave expression, Yan Ze said, "He came for two reasons: first, for Prince Rui's death, and second, for the more than ten thousand Northwest Frontier Army soldiers who died in the north. He demands that Your Majesty issue an Edict of Self-Accusation, openly admitting to the people that the recent rumors circulating in the city are true—that they were the result of Your Majesty's narrow-minded and ruthless actions. Only then will he agree to withdraw his troops."
Yan Han slammed the table. "What?! How dare he—"Yan Ze immediately knelt to the ground, trembling with fear as he said, "It is my incompetence. Yan Chi has brought 120,000 troops with the intention of seizing the throne. I tried to persuade him with reason and emotion, but he showed no fear of being branded a rebel or of the historians' judgment. It was only when I mentioned the late Prince Rui, saying that he had been loyal and righteous his entire life and would never wish to see his own son rebel against his sovereign, that Yan Chi showed a hint of hesitation. I then assured him that Your Majesty would not hold him accountable and would even grant him the title of King of Shuoxi. Only then did he show some reluctance. He gave me only twenty-four hours, saying that if Your Majesty does not write the edict, he will launch his attack on the city at nightfall the day after tomorrow."
Yan Han gritted his teeth, his eyes red with fury. He violently swept the inkstone, brush holder, and other items from his desk, snarling, "He... he can forget it! I have not done those things! I will never write such an Edict of Self-Accusation. If I did, how would the people of the world view me? How would future generations judge me?"
Yan Ze hurriedly replied, "Yes... I also told him that Your Majesty would never yield to such threats, but..."
Yan Ze hesitated for a moment, looking utterly perplexed as he continued, "But he actually said that even if Your Majesty does not write it, he will personally draft one for you after he enters the city. Moreover, he claimed that Your Majesty's greatest crime is not what was mentioned, but rather that Your Majesty has wronged his own elder brother."
Yan Ze lowered his head as he finished speaking, then looked up, his eyes filled with confusion. "But Your Majesty is the late Emperor's legitimate eldest son. How could you have an elder brother?"
"You... what did you say..."
Yan Han's face turned as pale as gold paper, and cold sweat poured down like rain. His back stiffened against the chair, and his hand gripping the edge of the imperial desk clenched into a tight fist.
Yet the more he tried to suppress it, the more his hand trembled uncontrollably.
Yan Ze, however, continued to stare at Yan Han. "Yes, those were his exact words. I thought that since Yan Chi is now determined to seize the throne, he would stop at nothing and fabricate numerous excuses to silence me. At the time, I was puzzled, and Yan Chi left no room for negotiation, so I had no choice but to leave."
In Chongzheng Hall, the sound of Yan Han's ragged breathing filled the air. He gasped uncontrollably, as if afflicted by a sudden illness, beads of cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He looked as though he were gravely ill. Outside, the sky had darkened, and vast stretches of fiery orange clouds gathered at the horizon. When Yan Han saw them, his vision blurred, as if he had been transported back to the Battle of Wind Thunder Ridge twenty years ago. Suddenly, Yan Han let out a derisive snort and spat out a mouthful of bloody foam. Then, his body slumped and collapsed from the imperial throne—
OpenNovel