Chapter 136: Must You Be Emperor No Matter What?
“Little Eight, I think I may have gotten the big boss into trouble,” Nan Xun said guiltily.
Little Eight comforted her. “Someone with ulterior motives just happened to take advantage of the incident. Even if it hadn’t been you, it might have been someone else poisoning the pond.”
The day Little Eight had mentioned—the day the big boss would be taken down—was drawing closer and closer. Yan Mohan remained calm, as if he sensed none of the undercurrents, while Nan Xun was the one growing increasingly restless.
The big boss’s malice value was stuck at 23 and hadn’t budged. She was afraid that if things continued like this, he would really die. She couldn’t let Yan Mohan die—and in her heart, she didn’t want him to die either.
Just as Nan Xun was hesitating over whether to take some kind of action, Cui Huan suddenly dismissed the servants, leaned in close, and whispered in her ear, “Your Highness, this servant has received word. Madam requests to meet you tomorrow at the Hour of Si at White Horse Temple.”
Nan Xun looked at Cui Huan in surprise.
Under her gaze, Cui Huan grew uneasy and quickly explained, “There are some secret lines Madam informed this servant of before I entered the palace. Because Your Highness is rather impetuous by nature, Madam instructed me not to tell you.”
Nan Xun nodded and didn’t press further.
Cui Huan let out a sigh of relief. She suddenly felt like an ungrateful wretch—Her Highness treated her so well, yet she was hiding these matters from her. But… back then, her life had been saved by Madam Qin.
Early the next morning, Nan Xun had someone leave a message for the Emperor, then traveled lightly to White Horse Temple.
She had thought her mother would be the one waiting for her, but when she reached the side chamber, her mother was nowhere to be seen. Instead, standing there was Prince Xian, Yan Moyu—whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
He was still dressed in white brocade robes, a faint smile at his lips, giving off a gentle, jade-like air.
Nan Xun turned to leave at once. Yan Moyu suddenly called out, “Imperial Sister-in-law, could you hear me out before you go?”
Nan Xun really did stop. She got straight to the point. “Prince Xian, the assassins who came to kill this palace last time—were they sent by you?”
Yan Moyu’s expression shifted slightly. He looked at the woman before him with complicated emotions, then directly nodded in admission. “Although the decision was made without authorization by one of my retainers, that retainer was my man. It is still my fault.”
Nan Xun hadn’t expected such frankness. She didn’t know whether he was telling the truth or merely deflecting blame, but since he was the Heaven’s chosen son of fortune, his character probably wasn’t too bad.
She plopped down into a seat and poured herself some tea to drink.
Yan Moyu shook his head and chuckled softly. “Seeing you like this leaves this prince unsure how to treat you.”
Nan Xun shot him a glance. “Is this place secure? Are you certain no one is eavesdropping?”
Hearing that, Yan Moyu grew solemn and nodded. “Rest assured, Your Majesty the Empress. This room is extremely well soundproofed. Even His Majesty’s highly trained shadow guards wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation.”
“Good. Then let’s speak plainly,” Nan Xun said sternly. “You had my mother trick me into coming here—what exactly do you want this palace to do?”
Yan Moyu answered forthrightly, “Your Majesty, I know you are straightforward, so I won’t beat around the bush either. Do you believe Yan Mohan is fit to rule the realm? He is cruel by nature and harbors hostility toward everyone. How could such a person shoulder the great responsibility of the world? I beg Your Majesty to consider the common people of the realm.”
Nan Xun sneered. “You covet the throne yourself, yet insist on dressing it up with such high-sounding excuses.”
Yan Moyu sighed softly. “To be honest, when Father Emperor decreed that the crown prince be chosen by seniority rather than merit, this prince did feel it was unfair. Just because Imperial Brother was born before me, I was cut off from everything. But later I came to terms with it. As long as Imperial Brother governed Great Yan well, I would gladly be an idle prince.”
As he spoke, his tone shifted. “But as you can see, he is not suited to this position. All I seek is a prosperous and strong Great Yan, not one ruined in his hands. If Your Majesty believes my intentions impure, you may choose someone else from the collateral branches of the imperial clan to take the throne—so long as that person governs diligently, this prince is willing to dismiss all the retainers in my household…”
Nan Xun studied his expression for a long time and found not a single flaw.
Little Eight said, “Stop staring. Everything he said is true. The Prince Xian title isn’t for nothing—he really does have a heart that pities the world.”
Nan Xun exclaimed internally, Wow. “Little Eight, did I just run into a legendary saintly white lotus?”
Little Eight replied, “A saintly white lotus plus a stud. Supposedly this guy recently captured the heart of some reclusive master’s daughter—they’re already at the ‘that stage’ and just one step away from marriage. Once he ascends the throne, beauties will pop up one after another.”
When Yan Moyu had finished speaking at length, Nan Xun cut him off. “After saying all this, what exactly do you want me to do?”
Yan Moyu said, “Your Majesty, this prince only hopes you can persuade Imperial Brother to abdicate voluntarily. That is the best solution at present. I do not wish to turn blades against him—after all, he is my half-brother of the same father.”
Nan Xun fell silent for a long time before finally replying, “I can give it a try.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Moyu suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed deeply. “This prince thanks Your Majesty on behalf of all under heaven.”
Nan Xun: “…No need to thank me. Whether it succeeds or not, I don’t know.”
After their discussion, Nan Xun left through a secret passage that led to another room, where her mother, Madam Qin, was already waiting.
Yan Moyu’s preparations were extremely thorough. Nan Xun was certain that the big boss’s planted insiders or shadow guards had no idea she had met and spoken with Yan Moyu.
When Nan Xun returned to the palace, the big boss indeed showed no sign of anything amiss, and she relaxed slightly.
That night, after a bout of intimacy, Nan Xun began whispering into his ear. “Brother Han, do you remember what I once told you? You dismissed the harem for me, and I’m very happy, but…”
Yan Mohan looked at her tenderly, reaching out to caress her face. The pads of his fingers lightly scraped over her delicate skin, a faint smile lifting his lips, his voice especially gentle. “Yaoyao, how can you be so greedy? I’ve already done all this for you—still not enough? You said you wanted me to favor only you. Now the entire harem has only you. I fear you’d be lonely, so the moment court is dismissed, I come to keep you company…”
Nan Xun nuzzled into his arms. “Brother Han, but I also said I want to travel and see the world. As long as you are the ruler of Great Yan, that wish can never be fulfilled.”
After a pause, she probed carefully, “Brother Han… is being emperor something you truly must do?”
Yan Mohan had one arm around Nan Xun’s waist. His other hand, resting idly on the bed, suddenly clenched into a fist. A dark, unreadable light flashed through his eyes, something stirring deep within them. Only after a long while did it finally settle back down.
