Kapitel 139: The Romance of Feng and Lan
In the grand hall of the Lan Kingdom's Yu Xuan Palace, Lan Yi Xuan sat majestically at the center. Today, he shed his regal purple robes for a resplendent golden dragon robe, adorned with a delicate jade belt, his hair bound in a crown. His lips, pressed together yet hinting at a subtle upward curve, exuded a sense of warmth that made him approachable, even as the majesty of a king commanded distance—daring a mere glance could feel like an act of sacrilege.
On either side of the hall stood ministers clad in official attire, exchanging furtive glances, each hesitant to speak, their heads bowed in silence.
The seemingly relaxed atmosphere concealed tumultuous undercurrents.
Leaning against the dragon throne, Lan Yi Xuan had a eunuch by his side announcing the decrees, while Lei Yun and Lei An stood to his left and right, respectively, their smiles more pronounced as they observed the whispering ministers below.
"Gong Shaohua has held the position of Empress for decades, her influence cannot be underestimated. This is an opportune moment to gauge her true strength," Lan Yi Xuan mused. "It will reveal which ministers are closely aligned with her interests, which ones are fickle and easily swayed, and those who are either indifferent or outright adversarial. With this understanding, I shall know how to navigate this court."
All related interests? It was merely a matter of having leverage over her; he possessed evidence that could counter her power.
Suddenly, all he desired was to remain in her shadow, witnessing her resolve problems on his behalf, observing her righteous fury and the genuine care she displayed—how it warmed his heart.
With this parting, he could not fathom when they might meet again. Though he yearned to keep her close, he understood it was impossible, yet he cherished that warmth, wishing for it to last just a moment longer. Even he, Lan Yi Xuan, could experience such vulnerability.
"What do the esteemed ministers think?"
Lan Yi Xuan gently raised his little finger atop the dragon head, addressing the ministers who hesitated, exchanging glances without anyone stepping forward.
The youth seated above them was their king, unlike the other princes. He had not grown up in the Lan Palace, and from a young age, his unpredictable nature and conduct had left them bewildered. Renowned as a virtuous hero, none dared overstep their boundaries, as his complex temperament remained a mystery. Behind that gentle smile, could there be hidden schemes?
"Since you have no objections, let us proceed as decided. Lei Yun, convey—"
Before Lan Yi Xuan could finish, an elder minister stood up: "Your Majesty, I believe this course of action is ill-advised."
Lan Yi Xuan's smile widened, a long, ambiguous "oh" escaping his lips.
Xu Anxin felt a pang of anxiety. His close association with Gong Shaohua had made him acutely aware of how the former Empress held little regard for this son. Her favored choice, the Second Prince, had suffered much during these years away from home; his survival attested to his capabilities.
Last time at the Wei Yang Palace, the Queen had created a scene with the late king and Lan Yi Xuan regarding the Second Prince. Xu had witnessed the entire affair. The situation surrounding the Second Prince was too peculiar; since the Queen had insisted on a thorough investigation, it was evident that this matter could not be divorced from the king. Xu had some knowledge of the Queen's abilities, and the lack of any evidence terrified him. He felt trapped, much like a grasshopper tied to the same string as the Queen.
"Xu Aiqing, what do you find objectionable?"
Lan Yi Xuan asked calmly, his friendly tone and warm smile sent shivers down Xu An's spine. The last time he had seen such a smile, it had been when the Queen accused him of being obsessed with his brother.
"The Queen is the monarch of the Feng Kingdom; how can she represent Your Majesty and lead the armies of the Lan Kingdom into battle? I find this exceedingly inappropriate."
Xu hesitated momentarily before stating his concerns, and soon other ministers echoed his sentiments.
"I believe what Xu An has stated is quite reasonable. When the Lan Kingdom dispatched envoys to the Feng Kingdom for negotiations, we offered Yunzhou, Lingnan, and Yingzhou as dowries. Yet the Queen said, 'Feng City has a temperate climate and picturesque landscapes, my brother has always cherished it. We are compelled to offer the Lan Kingdom, which borders the Feng Kingdom, as part of the agreement.' Her heart clearly lies with the Feng Kingdom; how could she lead our Lan Kingdom's troops into battle?"
"If the Queen is not to command, should we allow the son of Lord Hu to take the helm?"
"Cheng Qiang, cease your nonsense!"
Hu Hai's face turned ashen, his small eyes wide with fury as he glared at Cheng Qiang.
Lan Yi Xuan shot a casual glance at Hu Hai, who immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
Unlike Xu An, Hu Hai was not corrupt or malicious; he merely had a wayward son who had given him countless troubles.
Hu Hai had eight daughters and had been blessed with a son late in life, whom he named Hu Wei, showering him with excessive affection.
Hu Wei was notorious for his reckless behavior, believing his father's influence shielded him from consequences. He often resorted to violence against anyone who crossed him. A couple of years ago, he even killed Lord Zhou's son over a woman, causing a significant uproar. It was only thanks to Gong Shaohua that Hu Wei had escaped punishment, and Hu Hai became aligned with her faction.
His son was merely stronger than average, but if he were to lead against the Xuanyuan army, it would surely end in tragedy.
"The Feng and Lan kingdoms are united; the King and Queen are but one entity. Does it truly matter who leads the troops into battle? The Queen is both learned and martial; her wisdom and strategy rival any man's. I believe she is more than capable of handling this important task."
Cheng Qiang shot Hu Hai a stern look before bowing to Lan Yi Xuan.
As a general, Cheng Qiang spent most of his time defending the borders, distinctly different from the civil officials who remained stationed in Lan City.
"What do you know, General Cheng? The union of the Feng and Lan kingdoms is but your wishful thinking. Although the Queen has married into our Lan Kingdom, her heart still belongs to the Feng Kingdom. Who doesn't know of the deep bond between the Queen and the Crown Prince of the Feng Kingdom? If the interests of both kingdoms were to conflict, who knows if she would sacrifice our Lan Kingdom?"
Cheng Qiang snorted, "You are misjudging the queen's character. Her Majesty is straightforward and would never resort to such schemes."
"Indeed, I believe Her Majesty is not that kind of person," echoed the military officers led by Cheng Qiang.
"Your Majesty, since the queen married into our Feng Kingdom, she has not brought a single soldier with her, which shows her wariness towards us," one remarked.
"Her casual demeanor raises doubts about her ability to command the army. The Xuanyuan forces are approaching with great menace, and we cannot afford to underestimate them!"
"There has never been a precedent in our Lan Kingdom for a woman leading troops into battle!"
"Just because it has never happened before does not mean it cannot happen now. In the chaos of battle, the capable are the ones who can protect themselves," another countered.
"The soldiers of Lan Kingdom will undoubtedly resist this," a dissenting voice chimed in.
Xu An knelt on the ground, "I beseech Your Majesty to reconsider."
As soon as Xu An's words fell, many other ministers also dropped to their knees, echoing, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty, please consider!"
Xu An glanced back cautiously, and seeing so many people kneeling before him, he felt a surge of confidence and continued, "Your Majesty did not grow up in Lan Palace, and the citizens of Lan Kingdom are not very familiar with you. This is a perfect opportunity for you to achieve great feats. If you lead the troops yourself, it will surely boost the morale of our kingdom."
In his eyes, a passionate youth like Lan Yixuan must have a burning desire to make a name for himself and etch his legacy in history.
After finishing his speech, Xu An cautiously raised his gaze to gauge Lan Yixuan's expression. Their eyes met, and Xu An felt a shiver run down his spine.
What kind of gaze was that? It resembled the icy snow that had crystallized atop a mountain, sharp as a blade, piercing straight towards him. Without a moment's hesitation, Xu An hurriedly lowered his head.
He silently thanked his lucky stars that the current queen was prone to sleeping; if she were present, the thought alone made him shudder, his palms breaking out in cold sweat.
Having killed at four years old and eliminated Li Wei'an at fifteen with alarming swiftness, such ruthless methods were rumored to have been employed by the queen when she proposed leading the army into battle. If she were here, he might incite her ire—
Lei Yun stood quietly behind Lan Yixuan, listening to the discussions, and couldn't help but frown.
Lei An's hands, concealed beneath his sleeves, had formed tight fists. Had it not been for the fact that they were in Yuxuan Hall and that those below were ministers of the Lan Kingdom, he would have charged forward to teach them a lesson, especially Xu An, who was clearly colluding with the queen and shifting the blame onto Miss Xuan Yue.
While Miss Xuan Yue could be somewhat capricious and her actions overly casual, to deny her abilities based on that was rather ludicrous. With just a flick of her finger, she could easily dispose of these men, and they seemed to have become too complacent in their comfortable lives.
Lan Yixuan quietly regarded the ministers kneeling in a row below. He had anticipated such a scenario, yet now, he felt no desire to act.
In truth, he would rather have followed Xu An's suggestion and accompanied her into battle; at least they could be together. Alas, it seemed impossible.
"By your suggestion, Xu Aiqing, who do you think should handle the affairs of the Lan Kingdom?"
Xu An looked up, stealing another glance at Lan Yixuan, feeling a secret joy within.
The queen had stated before giving him instructions that the king had deep feelings for her and would never allow her to venture into danger alone. If they held their ground, the king would surely follow the queen into battle. How prescient the queen was!
Lan Yixuan observed Xu An's concealed delight and wore the same smile as before, his lips curling into a cold, mocking arc.
"I am willing to assist Your Majesty—"
"This place is quite lively," a voice interrupted, laced with fatigue.
Xuan Yue stood outside Yuxuan Hall, gazing at the sea of ministers kneeling. As those ministers turned to see her dressed in white, lazily stretching, they beheld her surrounded by over twenty young women of similar age standing in two lines behind her.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein