Chapter 529
Gan Tang shook her head. “It’s not just a matter of military strength. There’s also the people’s support.”
She glanced at Lan Xuan’er. Seeing that her emotions had stabilized somewhat, she continued, “The people of Nanzhao no longer stand with the Nanzhao court. Their hearts belong to Dayan. After the floods and the Divine Maiden’s descent of healing dew, who do you think the people of Nanzhao will believe now?”
“You’ve forgotten that before the rains came, the court issued an edict ordering every city to close its gates and forbidding the people from going outside. How many people died because of that decree?”
“That edict... it definitely wasn’t issued by Mother Empress. Judging by the timing, she should still have been ill then! My mother was always compassionate toward her people. She would never...” Lan Xuan’er desperately tried to defend her late mother.
Gan Tang gently patted Lan Xuan’er’s hand, soothing the agitated girl. Her voice was tender. “Silly girl, when did I ever say that the edict was issued by Her Imperial Majesty? According to the information my people gathered, control of the government had already fallen into the hands of several of your older siblings by then.”
“But the world doesn’t know that. The people don’t know. My mother will never be able to shake off the blame!”
Gan Tang gave a confident little laugh. “Who says she can’t? As long as you live well, you can plead with the Divine Maiden someday to set the record straight. Wouldn’t that be resolved with a single word from her?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? The people of Nanzhao stand with Dayan. Nanzhao won’t merely fall—it will fall soon. Lan Xuancheng himself is a loser. As for the historical records concerning your mother, they will certainly be written by Dayan!”
“So you have to stay alive. You have to live well! For the sake of your mother’s reputation after death, you absolutely cannot let anything happen to you.”
Lan Xuan’er, who had been unable to make up her mind, finally settled on an answer. After drinking a cup of hot tea, she felt much more at ease. It seemed that she had once again found a reason to stay and keep living.
She carefully studied Gan Tang’s complexion. Her skin was fair, her cheeks rosy, and her eyes and brows were filled with smiles. “Sister Tang, it seems your husband really is just as wonderful as the rumors say.”
Lan Xuan’er was genuinely happy for Gan Tang. Although their marriage had begun because the former emperor of Nanyue had harbored ulterior motives and forcibly made Gan Tang marry him, judging from the situation now, his ill intentions had accidentally resulted in something good.
Gan Tang smiled. “My husband and I don’t have to worry about state affairs. After all, His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Divine Maiden are all holding up the sky in Dayan. Even if it collapses, someone will shield us from the storm.”
She playfully winked at Lan Xuan’er. “These days, deciding what to eat has become the biggest problem I face!”
Lan Xuan’er cupped her face and looked her over from side to side. “You really have filled out a little!”
Gan Tang lightly slapped her hand away. “Why are you stating such an obvious truth?”
She had heard their prince say that the Divine Maiden possessed a kind of weight-loss pill. He had told her to eat without worry—if she really grew too fat, he would kneel and beg the Divine Maiden to grant him one.
To win the Divine Maiden over, he had already begun secretly collecting all sorts of exquisite treasures.
While things were harmonious between Gan Tang and Lan Xuan’er, the Xi brothers sat facing each other next door, the atmosphere heavy and tense.
“Are you really going back?” Xi Ling poured Xi Yuanshan a cup of water.
Xi Yuanshan gave a helpless, bitter smile. “Father has summoned us. This is already the third letter urging us to return. We can’t delay it any longer.”
Xi Ling’s expression darkened. “He just wants to drag us back there to serve as... cannon fodder. Yes, cannon fodder!” That was the inner voice he had heard the last time he met Goddess Yue.
After witnessing the power of Dayan’s gunpowder, Xi Ling had to admit that the comparison was painfully apt.
Xi Yuanshan treated the tea in his cup like wine meant to drown his sorrows and downed it in one gulp. “What difference does knowing that make? We are his sons and his subjects. How could we disobey an order from our royal father?”
“Why couldn’t we?” Xi Ling slammed his fist onto the table. The teapot and teacups rattled with a crisp clatter. “If you ask me, you’re just too honest!”
He looked at this nominal older brother—his actual cousin—with an exasperated, frustrated expression. “He may be your father, but he gave you barely any parental care. Though you are a prince, you have neither military power nor the emperor’s favor. What can you do if you go back?”
“Become some minor official and lead a group of cannon fodder into battle?” Xi Ling sneered. “By the time you get there, you probably won’t even touch the hem of a Dayan soldier’s robes before you’re killed by their gunpowder!”
When Xi Yuanshan lowered his head and said nothing, Xi Ling continued driving the point home. “If you die, that’s the end of it. But what about your mother and your uncle? You’re their only child.”
“But don’t worry. If the worst comes to pass, I’ll support them in their old age!” Both their families had few children. Xi Ling had only two full siblings.
“Nanzhao...” As a former citizen of Nanzhao, Xi Yuanshan knew the strength of the Nanzhao army all too well. Nanyue would be followed by Nanzhao. He felt a pang of regret. “I should have brought them out sooner.”
He glanced at Xi Ling. “And... Uncle and Aunt...”
Seeing his cautious expression, Xi Ling smiled. “Did you really need to ask? I had already secretly brought them to Huacheng. Did you think I would let them keep soaking in floodwater?”
“When did this happen? Why has Mother never mentioned it in her letters?” Xi Yuanshan was so excited that he nearly jumped out of his chair.
Seeing that Xi Yuanshan finally no longer looked so lifeless, Xi Ling calmly smiled. He slowly finished his cup of tea before saying, “I told Aunt not to mention it.”
He raised an eyebrow at Xi Yuanshan. “Your side isn’t exactly clean. If someone who shouldn’t hear about it happened to learn the news, we’re thousands of miles apart. We might not be able to protect them.”
He had never dared underestimate Xi Yan’s methods. Their father, like Bei Ji, was a shrewd and calculating emperor.
By comparison, Emperor Mingxi of Dayan seemed much more simple-minded.
Emperor Mingxi: “You’re calling me simple-minded? Your whole family is simple-minded!” [Image of a screaming marmot]
“So you really intend to go back and serve as cannon fodder for that so-called father of yours?”
Xi Yuanshan nodded. “One of us has to return. Given your identity... I have no choice but to go.”
“Xiqiang hasn’t declared war on Dayan yet. As long as Father insists, Emperor Mingxi can’t very well force us to stay.”
Dayan had no reason to clash head-on with Xiqiang over the two of them at this critical juncture. It simply wouldn’t be worth it!
Xi Ling’s face was full of indignation. “Who doesn’t know that war between the two countries is inevitable?”