Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1588 - 1583: Defeat

Xiao Rongyan, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything, lifted his foot and walked towards the jade platform...

Murong Li saw his ninth uncle, his nostrils flaring, but he held back, reminding himself that he was the Emperor of Yan.

He lowered his eyes to look at his mother’s breathless body in his arms. Suppressing his tears, he first took his mother’s body back to the bedchamber to settle her in, then ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange the funeral. Without even having time to change his clothes, he returned to the hall to discuss the matter of the Zhou’s army attacking Yan Kingdom.

When Murong Li returned, he heard the officials who accompanied Xiao Rongyan back to Yan Capital speaking with the court officials about the danger the Regent Prince faced on this trip.

"Fortunately, the Regent Prince had his carriage follow the original designated route, while he traveled incognito to other cities to inspect the epidemic, thus thwarting the King of Jiujiang. Otherwise... the Regent Prince might not be standing here now!" The accompanying officials, speaking of this, still wore expressions of lingering fear.

Those oil and feather arrows from the Jiujiang army headed straight for the Regent Prince’s carriage, nearly destroying it completely.

If the Regent Prince had been in that carriage, he would likely have had no chance of survival.

"The Imperial Clan allied with the Vassal Kings to create chaos, aiming not only to kill me but primarily to assassinate the Emperor of Zhou. I’ve received information that after seizing Xiping, the Emperor of Zhou has taken over Jiujiang and has already dispatched troops towards the borders of Yan Kingdom..." Xiao Rongyan, sitting in the Regent Prince’s seat below the Emperor, rotated a thumb ring with a heavy voice, "Perhaps, as we speak, the armies of Zhou have already invaded Yan territory!"

The court officials recalled previous reports from Xiping stating that the Regent Prince captured the family of the King of Xiping and killed the king’s two sons and Crown Princess Consort to save the Emperor of Zhou. The ministers wanted to ask... but did not dare, so they could only discuss the possibility that Zhou had already begun to attack Yan Kingdom.

"Now, with the epidemic in Yan Kingdom still ongoing, and war erupting, this is my fault!" Murong Li entered from the back of the hall, lifting the hem of his garments as he walked towards the jade platform, "Back when Yan Kingdom had no choice, we sent envoys to Zhou to seek peace, establishing a strategy of wagering the nation. Now, it is again the Yan Imperial Clan and the Vassal Kings causing chaos, seeking to control me internally, and secretly ambushing externally... nearly costing the Emperor of Zhou his life! My fault lies in... failing to restrain the Imperial Clan and the Vassal Kings as Emperor, and not discovering the hidden dangers of Yan Kingdom sooner as Emperor."

"Your Majesty..." The court officials of Yan Kingdom hurriedly said when they heard their Emperor speak this way, "If not for Your Majesty proposing the strategy of wagering the nation, Yan Kingdom might not have lasted until now. How can this be Your Majesty’s fault!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty! Although Your Majesty is young, you have already shown the demeanor and vision of a great ruler; it is we, your ministers, who have failed to properly assist Your Majesty, it is our failure!"

The ministers kneeled across the room, confessing guilt one after another.

Murong Li glanced at his ninth uncle, seemingly making a significant decision, his fist tightly clenched, his mouth filled with the taste of blood before he quietly spoke: "Now is not the time to assign blame because once war breaks out, it is the common people who suffer, and the soldiers who sacrifice! Therefore... I’ve decided to send envoys to seek peace with the Emperor of Zhou, and to cede territory to secure peace! If... Zhou is unwilling, then Yan Kingdom will retreat, henceforth paying tribute to Zhou and acknowledging it as sovereign."

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you cannot!"

"Tribute and submission... our great Yan will become a vassal state like the Dongyi Kingdom!"

Ignoring the officials’ cries, Murong Li spoke again: "I... will issue an edict confessing my sins, praying for the heavens’ forgiveness, hoping the epidemic will be eradicated soon, freeing the people from suffering."

Murong Li knew he might not be a qualified Emperor, but he was striving to be a good one, one who could reduce the suffering of the people.

The mistakes of the past had already been made, and Murong Li couldn’t let this lead to his downfall. Since he was the Emperor of Yan Kingdom, he had to take responsibility, unable to rely on his ninth uncle for everything.

Xiao Rongyan returned in a hurry, not having discussed this matter with Murong Li, yet Murong Li had already made a decision.

Xiao Rongyan had initially intended to persuade Murong Li to surrender.

After the incident where the Vassal Kings ambushed Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan realized that the Vassal Kings posed a significant threat to Yan Kingdom, a problem not easily solved. Several Vassal Kings were consolidating power, echoing the Imperial Clan in the court, capable of overthrowing Murong Li at any moment.

In such a Yan Kingdom, even if by some stroke of luck Yan Kingdom won the gamble for dominance, if the fiefdoms weren’t reduced... the threat of the Vassal Kings would only grow larger.

Xiao Rongyan had to admire Bai Qingyan’s foresight, dealing with the menace of the Vassal Kings early in the establishment of Zhou.

Xiao Rongyan raised his eyes to look at his nephew, judging from his expression that Murong Li doubted his own abilities, lacking the confidence and vigor he had when Xiao Rongyan had once asked him if he dared to become the Emperor of Yan.

But Murong Li had already done quite well; Yan Kingdom had many such issues.

If Yan Kingdom were still facing the former Jin Kingdom and not the present Zhou, Xiao Rongyan would dare say... that Yan Kingdom would surely unify the world!

But the opponent was Zhou.

Zhou had an Emperor like Bai Qingyan, with a long vision, able to unite the people of Zhou towards a common goal, aligning everyone together, whereas Yan Kingdom... if it weren’t bogged down with so many problems, with the court working in unison, perhaps it could contend with Zhou.

Yet, each member of the Yan Imperial Clan and Vassal Kings had their agendas, holding only their interests close to their chest.

The defeat of Yan Kingdom was not unforeseen.

Xiao Rongyan felt that at Murong Li’s age, to bear his mission, choosing to surrender and submit to Zhou for the sake of the people and soldiers’ lives showed great courage and responsibility.

"All my lords, please rise!" Murong Li spoke gently, "Zhou could invade Yan territory at any moment, time is of the essence. We must immediately draft the national letter, dispatch envoys to meet with the Emperor of Zhou, Ninth Uncle..."

Murong Li looked at Xiao Rongyan: "This time, let’s not trouble Ninth Uncle to personally meet with the Emperor of Zhou, lest someone use this matter against you, throwing mud on you. In Ninth Uncle’s opinion... who would be the best to send?"

"The chamberlain of the Honglu Temple can go! The Minister of Revenue has dealt with Zhou’s officials before, let the Minister of Revenue personally make this journey as well..." Xiao Rongyan looked at the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue had dealt with those officials of Zhou, aware that Zhou was full of talented people. Not to mention the eloquent Liu Rushi, even that Lu Fenglang wasn’t easy to deal with!

Especially that Fan Yugan, who came off as a rogue yet left people without temper. Luckily, he has dealt with these people before, so being prepared is alright. If others were to go, the Minister of Revenue truly wouldn’t be assured, fearing his colleagues might be tricked by Zhou people.

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward, solemnly bowing his head: "Your Majesty, Regent Prince, please rest assured, I... will not fail the mission!"