Chapter 109 The End (Part 1): Together in Life and Death

Yan An, who holds one of the Three Dukes and is the current head of the Yan family, wields real power. The visitor, seeing that he was angry, was unsure of what to do and had no choice but to leave temporarily.

Not long after they left, Yan Ning returned from outside and happened to brush past the people from the palace, but she caught a glimpse of them.

He didn't frequent this place, but he recognized the man as a member of the Inner Court, so he quickly turned into the alley.

"Yan Changjun".

Li Yunru was overjoyed to see him return. She rushed over and threw herself into his arms, complaining with a hint of grievance, "Someone from the palace just came and said that Empress Yang summoned me to the palace with a lot of people and weapons. I was terrified!"

She wasn't a delicate woman and had been through a lot, but that didn't mean she wasn't afraid of these things. However, most of the time she had no choice but to force herself to hide her emotions. In front of her husband, she felt that he was someone she could rely on and felt at ease, so she naturally said everything and revealed her timid and shy side.

Yan Ning held her in one arm and gently patted her back with the other, stroking her dark hair to comfort her: "It's alright, it's alright."

The intense fragrance filled the air, and the burning body heat combined with the warmth of their bodies finally calmed Yan Ning's restless and flustered heart.

He dared not imagine returning to an empty courtyard, a situation no different from three years ago when he woke up and everyone told him she was dead.

Yan An sat there drinking tea, remaining silent. After the two finished their warm greetings, Yan Ning greeted him, and only then did he speak: "So you finally noticed me?"

He wasn't being sarcastic; he was just teasing. Yan Ning could tell whether there was malice in his words.

He sat down, picked up the teapot beside him, poured himself some water, took a sip, calmed himself, and said, "Brother, you've come here this time, surely because of the Crown Prince's matter?"

Yan An looked at him and exclaimed, "You are truly clever, but unfortunately you've fallen for a beautiful woman."

As he said this, his gaze swept over Li Yunru. This sister-in-law was indeed a rare beauty, and she was also very courageous, resourceful, and quick-witted.

He had never disliked her; in fact, he admired her, especially since she caused Yan San to make mistakes time and time again, which helped him and made him even happier.

But the past is the past. Those were just minor squabbles, nothing more than fun, nothing serious. But this time... it's a real problem. He couldn't help but sigh.

If it weren't for her, Yan Ning wouldn't have been in such a hurry to rush back, leaving the young prince stranded on the way, giving others ammunition to plot against him.

Yan Ning subtly dismissed Li Yunru, saying, "This tea is cold, Madam, could you please heat it up for me?"

"good."

Li Yunru left with the teapot, and Yan Ning said, "Actually, even if my brother hadn't come to see me, I would have gone to see him this time."

After the incident, Yan An decisively severed ties with the collateral relatives and punished them. However, this was a rare breakthrough. In the past, the matters concerning Yan Ning and Li Yunru, Yan An himself, and even the mistakes made by Yan Yun, were not insignificant, but not major either. They were merely personal matters, at most subject to whispered comments from colleagues and a few individuals. However, this time, it involved a life, specifically the Crown Prince's life. Although it was not entirely their fault, especially since he had already left the Yan family, the real danger lay in the possibility that someone might use this as an excuse to cause trouble…

Qin Zhan also said that no one would be in the mood to scheme after a child has just died, but look, the news only reached the capital on the second day, and someone came to him.

Finding him and finding Li Yunru are essentially the same thing: someone has to take responsibility for this matter. As for how much responsibility they should bear, that depends on their individual performance.

The Yan family has been too prominent in recent years, which makes them a target for covetousness. This is an excellent opportunity.

"What do you think?" Yan An asked.

They may argue and quarrel in normal times, but they can distinguish between what is important and what is not. At this moment, they are not concerned with such trivial matters as Yan San. His status and honor come from the Yan family and from this identity. Even if he does not like them and has put many people in the clan on trial after succeeding as the head of the family, it does not mean that he wants the Yan family to disappear.

Humans are creatures that weigh pros and cons.

Having grown up in a prominent family for so many years, he understands this point even better.

Yan Ning asked, "Brother, what do you think of Emperor Xuan's reign compared to Emperor Cheng's?"

Upon hearing this question, Yan An suddenly realized how quickly time had passed. In the blink of an eye, he had already been a veteran of two dynasties and was well past the age of thirty.

He was summoned to the court to serve as an official at the age of eighteen, and almost twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Indeed, no one feels this more deeply than him.

Yan Ning said, "Back then, the aristocratic families supported Emperor Cheng's ascension to the throne simply to protect their own interests, but in the past few years... have they managed to protect them?"

Emperor Wucheng did not have much real power, but the Yang family had a large following. They used their status as imperial relatives to amass wealth and expand their territory everywhere, issuing many chaotic decrees. They even secretly hoarded weapons and armor, and engaged in corruption and bribery, causing continuous disasters from south to north that could not be resolved. Refugees and displaced people piled up, causing widespread resentment among the people.

Not only them, but also the major families have some influence.

They objected, but Yang insisted on his own way and refused.

Yan Ning said, "The Jin Dynasty is neither the Jin Dynasty of the Xiao family nor the Jin Dynasty of the Yang family. Since the emperor is unrighteous, why not take his place?"

Yan An was horrified. Panic made him instinctively slam his hand on the table and stand up, "You audacious Yan San, do you know what you're doing...?"

He looked around and whispered, "This is treason, which is punishable by beheading and the extermination of your entire family!"

That's incredibly bold!

Yan Ning simply looked up at him without saying a word. He knew that Yan Ning would agree to his promise.

His second brother was a smart man, but also a ruthless one!

Sure enough, after a short while, Yan An sat down again and said, "Tell me your plan."

Yan Ning said, “I have military power and more than 30,000 troops. As long as I give the order, we can enter the capital immediately. Qin Zhonglang has the troop deployment map of the imperial city, and Lu An, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, is on our side. He can temporarily seize grain and other supplies. As long as you can unite with the aristocratic families to petition for abdication, and have your people guard the national treasury, then the great cause can be accomplished.”

"Li Xun promised that when he ascends to power one day, he will definitely prioritize the interests of the aristocratic families..."

Yan An tapped his long, slender fingers on the stone table and asked in a calm voice, "How long have you been planning this?"

Troops, defense maps, and persuading the Lu family...

These are not things that can be accomplished overnight!

Yan Ning didn't hide anything and said, "Let's begin by taking over military power and assuming the post of Governor of Sizhou."

Even without Li Yunru's deal, if everything had gone smoothly, he would have found an opportunity to bring Li Xun back from the imperial mausoleum.

Li Xun himself was also one of them.

"You're really something!" Yan An said. "Yan San, I only really know you today. You actually dare to think about something as simple as rebellion!"

That's incredibly bold!

That's such a pretentious act!

They usually appear virtuous and upright, even practicing asceticism, seemingly indifferent to fame and fortune—it's all a lie!

They fooled everyone!

Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you?

“Brother won’t,” Yan Ning said with certainty.

Yan An was taken aback by such a firm and unwavering attitude. He chuckled and said, "I never knew you trusted me so much, Third Brother?"

Yan Ning said, "Although we brothers have many disagreements, I know that you are a smart man and can distinguish between what is important and what is not."

"OK!"

Yan An clapped his hands and said, "I'll bet with you on this!"

...

After Yan An left, Li Yunru came out from behind the house, carrying the teapot in her hand, and asked in a trembling voice, "Did it really have to come to this?"

Yan Ning stepped forward to greet her, took the teapot from her hand, pulled her into the house and sat her down, and told her with certainty, "Yes."

If possible, it would be more secure to deploy for another two years, but Xiao Cheng's death was an accident, it came too suddenly!

They have no room for further detailed planning or hesitation.

Emperor Wucheng had long coveted the military power in Yang's hands and had been wary of the Yang family for a long time. If he wanted to break free from their control and the influence of the powerful families, he needed to hold real power in his own hands. The Jiangzuo army, which was completely at his disposal and not under the control of the court, was the best choice.

If we lose the initiative this time, then... all our previous efforts will be in vain. Relying solely on the Huo family, who are far away on the border, will not be enough.

“I’ve discussed it with my brother. You and my sister should go to Jiangzuo for a while. Once everything is settled, I will come to bring you back.”

Li Yunru shook her head, "No, I won't leave, I'll stay with you."

She took the tiger tally that Yan Ning had given her from her sleeve and said in a choked voice, "Look, the tiger tally that you use to issue orders is in my hand. Where am I supposed to go?"

“Liyang…”

"You can't send me away!" Li Yunru was afraid that he would say something to coax her again. People always have a lot of道理 (moral principles) to follow, and she couldn't argue with him, so she simply cut him off before he could speak.

"I've died once, so I'm not afraid of death."

Li Yunru held his hand, tears falling drop by drop onto the rough back of his hand. "Do you know what I'm most afraid of? I'm afraid I'll never see the people I love most one last time."

"I know, maybe I shouldn't say this, it's too discouraging, but I'm really scared!"

She said, "Yan Changjun, when my father passed away, your mother confined me to a separate courtyard, and I didn't get to see him one last time. The same was true when my mother passed away..."

Whenever these memories are mentioned, Li Yunru is overcome with sadness. "They loved me the most, but in the end, I was the only one not by their side. I don't know how they passed away, but they left behind some regrets... I don't want that, I don't want it to be like that with you. We've had such a hard time together, and I think, no matter what..."

She couldn't continue.

Every word felt like a knife's edge, stabbing her so hard that even breathing hurt.

"sorry."

Yan Ning held her in his arms. He had never known about these past events. By the time he found out, the two had already been forced to separate, and their reunions were always rushed. He had never had the chance to understand these traumas in detail.

For so many days, she endured it all alone in silence.

Li Yunru shook her head. "I don't want to hear 'I'm sorry,' I want affirmation and acceptance!"

She looked at him, "I know you're afraid I'll get implicated, afraid I'll get hurt, but my heart is no different from yours. I'm also afraid something will happen to you, and besides..."

Li Yunru paused, her tone inexplicably firm, and said, "Your fears are unfounded. Why don't you think that what you men can do, we women can do too? I am not a delicate woman who needs your protection all the time. I have traveled through the mountains and rivers of Jiangnan, walked through the Cangshan Mountains on the border, and even ventured deep into the lands of barbarians. I can do many things on my own and will not be a burden to you."

Yan Ning's eyes reddened, and she held the person tightly, nodding firmly.

"Alright, this time, we'll be together through thick and thin."