Chapter 44: The Return of the Conqueror

After Ji Xiao returned to the palace, Zhao Lingqian tried to hand over power and return to his own residence, the Min Prince’s Mansion.

Ji Xiao shook his head. “I’m tired from the journey. I’ll trouble you, Imperial Brother, to continue residing in the palace and overseeing the state on my behalf. Let me rest and recuperate.”

“This…”

Before Zhao Lingqian could refuse, he met Ji Xiao’s exhausted yet deeply trusting gaze. He could only nod.

“Very well. Imperial Brother, rest well. I will not let you down.”

“There are many affairs in the palace. I came mainly to see you. Seeing that you’ve adapted well, I’m relieved.” A smile curled at the corner of Ji Xiao’s eyes. “I’d like to go to the detached palace for a while and rest until General Yan returns in triumph, then come back.”

Zhao Lingqian thought that although his brother had returned first, Yan Wangchen wouldn’t be far behind. Once the appointed people took over there, he should be back soon.

He nodded again. “Fine.”

Ji Xiao ordered arrangements at once, leaving the palace immediately for the nearest detached palace.

Two days later.

The Yan family led forces to attack the Yun Kingdom and the Mo Kingdom separately. Yan Wangchen had already gone to the Yun border. News came that they would take Yun first, then Mo. Zhao Lingqian’s vision darkened. When would both kingdoms fall? How long did his brother intend to rest?

Already, some in the court hinted that he was more suited to be emperor than his brother—a true wise ruler!

At the detached palace.

“Imperial Brother,” Zhao Lingqian said with a gentle, sincere tone. “My consort is now pregnant. I want to spend more time with her. Is your health better now? Can you return to court and govern?”

Ji Xiao lay on a lounge chair, basking in the sun. He sighed softly. “These days, I keep dreaming of the bloody scenes at the border. The cries of fallen soldiers, the weeping of their families… I can’t sleep at night.”

“Imperial Brother…”

“I need more rest. I’ll have to trouble you a while longer.”

Zhao Lingqian pressed, “My consort…”

“I understand you’re worried about her. How about this: bring her to live in the palace. You can see her every day, attend to her, and call the imperial physician anytime.”

“Imperial Brother, that’s not proper.”

“Go ahead. That is my oral decree. Do I need to write an imperial edict?”

“…Thank you, Imperial Brother.” He sighed.

Zhao Lingqian brought his consort to the palace and confided, “I know why Brother doesn’t want to return. Those ministers… they annoy me. And the memorials are so many, and they write so long, rambling without getting to the point. Every time I finish approving them, I feel exhausted.”

The consort held his hand sympathetically. “If that’s the case, why not set a format for the memorials? Have them list the key points, be concise. You could even set a word limit for each matter…”

Zhao Lingqian sighed. “I’ve thought of that too, but changing the format of memorials is a big thing. How could I bring it up to Brother?”

The consort frowned. “Why not?”

He shook his head and didn’t answer.

When the next batch of memorials came, they were again long, convoluted, and hard to understand. He couldn’t help but send a message to Ji Xiao at the detached palace.

Ji Xiao replied: “You decide.”

Zhao Lingqian: “…” Fine.

Zhao Lingqian was gifted, intelligent, and had always favored calligraphy and painting over power. Now, with Ji Xiao’s indulgence and delegation, he couldn’t help but make some reforms.

At the detached palace.

“That younger brother of yours is quite capable,” Black Cat said. “He’s changed the memorial system and recently the morning court system—court now meets once every three days, starting at nine in the morning.”

Ji Xiao: “There was never a need to get up so early, nor to have court every day.” According to the old schedule, ministers had to wake up in the middle of the night, wash, dress, and slowly make their way to the palace. Why bother?

“The day before yesterday,” Black Cat continued, “when he left the palace to visit the two princesses at his mansion, a commoner blocked his sedan chair to report a corrupt official. Now he’s planning to establish a Surveillance Bureau to oversee officials.”

Ji Xiao: “A good idea.”

Black Cat: “…” It seemed his host wasn’t very interested in listening.

Ji Xiao: “I wonder if the general has finished the war. When will he conquer this world?”

Black Cat: “Aren’t you curious how I knew all that? I heard it from the servants attending you! Don’t you get what that means?”

Ji Xiao: “I do. So what?”

He closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

Black Cat: “…”

Eight months later, the Min Consort gave birth to a son.

The ministers in the court grew restless.

Faced with their veiled suggestions that the Min Prince should ascend the throne himself, Zhao Lingqian was annoyed.

He earnestly said, “Imperial Brother, you’ve rested for a whole year. Now I’ve changed some systems. Approving memorials won’t tire you, you don’t have to wake up early, and there are many advantages…”

But Ji Xiao said, “The detached palace is comfortable. I don’t want to return to the palace now.”

Zhao Lingqian: “…”

Zhao Lingqian returned to the palace exhausted and said to his consort, “I don’t think Brother is ever coming back.”

The consort tilted her head. “Why?”

“He keeps finding excuses not to return. How can I not see his intention?” Zhao Lingqian’s eyes reddened slightly. “He wants to give me the throne.”

The consort was startled. She put down their son and came to his side. “Are you serious?” She paused, then asked, “Then… what should we do?”

Zhao Lingqian felt a pang of sorrow. His fifth brother had harmed the eldest and second brothers for the throne, while his third brother, after gaining supreme power, was willing to give it up.

“Victory reports have never stopped. The Yun Kingdom has been taken; the Mo Kingdom will fall soon.” He took a deep breath. “This realm rightfully belongs to my brother. I can’t take it.”

The consort found it a pity but nodded in agreement. “Then let’s wait until General Yan returns. He can persuade him. He and Brother have always been close.”

“That’s the only option.”

If that failed, they would have to disturb the Empress Dowager at Qitai Mountain.

A month later.

The Mo Kingdom fell.

Word spread that Yan Wangchen would soon lead the army back to receive rewards.

In Fengcheng.

Wei Yan watched his little sister crawl around on the bed. Although she wasn’t the brother he’d hoped for, he loved her dearly and often played with her.

“Little sister.”

She kept crawling, not paying him any attention.

Wei Yan stood beside her, his expression resolute. “Brother is going to do something great.”

Finally, the girl glanced at him, babbled “Ah ah” in response, and continued crawling.

“General Yan is such a war god. He shouldn’t be subjugated and humiliated like this. Even if I die, I must tell the world about that tyrant’s deeds!”

The general shouldn’t be bound like this!

Wei Yan picked up the girl and kissed her cheek deeply. “Mother is pregnant again. This time, it will be a brother. I… even if I die, I will have no regrets.”

The girl slapped his face with both hands, finding it fun, and continued slapping harder and harder.

Wei Yan silently put her down, his pale face marked with red handprints. “Little sister, I’m leaving.”

…

The day Yan Wangchen returned to the capital.

Ji Xiao finally left the detached palace.

Together with Zhao Lingqian and a host of ministers, they went outside the city to welcome the great army.

The ministers were excited; the people cheered.

Now the world was unified. Their emperor had become the sovereign of the realm, and their general was the invincible war god!

This time, not only Yan Wangchen returned but also his father, three elder brothers, and other meritorious generals.

Yan Wangchen and the Yan family army had fully demonstrated their valor. Even though they were no longer at the border, no one dared to cause trouble now—unless they weren’t afraid of retribution.

And they had left trusted people in place, so nothing would go wrong.

Yan Wangchen sat on his horse, clad in armor, holding the reins. His face was cold and hard, his killing intent astonishing.

This was the aura he had accumulated from nearly two years of continuous battle.

Most of that time he had been drenched in blood, and even suppressed, his murderous aura was terrifying.

He looked up and instantly saw Ji Xiao waiting ahead. A fierce emotion surged in his heart. Only the cheers of the people kept him steady.

When they reached the front, they dismounted and paid their respects.

After rising, they gazed at each other.

Emotions churned in Yan Wangchen’s eyes, while Ji Xiao’s eyes held a smile that betrayed little.

Just as they were about to return to the palace, a man suddenly rushed out, his voice loud and his tone mournful.

“General Yan Wangchen is brave and skilled in battle! He conquered the world, making other kingdoms part of our Qin Empire, making His Majesty the sovereign of all! Such a loyal and courageous general is the pride of Qin! Isn’t he?”

The people, stirred by his words, roared, “Yes!”

Ji Xiao: “…”

He cast a cold glance at the man who had appeared. It was Wei Yan. This brat was courting death again?

Wei Yan interpreted that look as a threat. Then he saw Yan Wangchen turn his head and look at him expressionlessly, almost making him cry. But he steeled himself.

“The Yan family has generations guarding Qin. Their family motto is loyalty and love of country. Every generation has made outstanding contributions to our nation’s stability. They are a family of loyal subjects, aren’t they?”

The people didn’t know Wei Yan, but his words were true. Delighted by General Yan’s victorious return, they eagerly supported him: “Yes!”

Wei Yan raised his voice. “Then I beg Your Majesty to release General Yan Wangchen!”

The crowd suddenly fell silent, exchanging glances and murmuring.

Release? What release? Could it be that because Yan Wangchen had conquered three kingdoms in one go, his merit was too great, and he had won the hearts of the army and the people, the emperor feared he would rebel and thus intended to eliminate him?

Zhao Lingqian reacted first. “Guards! Seize this madman talking nonsense!”

The reason Ji Xiao hadn’t spoken was because he saw the look in Yan Wangchen’s eyes.

‘Your Majesty, you wanted me to personally take the three kingdoms. Not my father, not my brothers. You wanted me to conquer the world myself. Was it because you wanted me to die in battle, or because you planned to deal with me afterward?’

Ji Xiao felt utterly helpless. ‘Damn Wei Yan, jumping out like this and ruining my plans.’

Black Cat said, “Look at your general. He clearly doesn’t trust you, suspects you’ll deal with him, yet he’s so devoted to you, willing to die.”

Ji Xiao thought, ‘It’s because I didn’t give him trust.’

If Yan Wangchen thought this way, wasn’t it because of Ji Xiao’s own guidance?

When the guards approached to seize Wei Yan, he saw the tear glistening in the corner of Yan Wangchen’s cold, hard eyes. He immediately shouted with abandon:

“You tyrant! General Yan is a great hero of our Qin! The Yan family has lost so many on the battlefield for Qin. Because you wanted this world, the general conquered it. And how have you treated him? You forced him to submit to you! You are nothing but—Mmph!”

Wei Yan was gagged and dragged away by the guards.

But he had spoken too fast. What shouldn’t have been said was already out.

The ministers, soldiers, and commoners all stared in disbelief at Ji Xiao and Yan Wangchen. A cacophony of whispers merged, almost deafening.

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