The capital city, the Yang residence.
The night was deep, but the mansion was far from peaceful as usual.
Yang Yan sat in his study, the north wind howling outside the window, just like his state of mind at that moment.
He learned of the disastrous defeat in Hejian Prefecture even earlier than the palace—he had his own channels.
With 140,000 elite troops wiped out in a single day, their commander-in-chief Ma Zongliang fled in panic, and the Northern Di cavalry could soon drink from the Yellow River...
Each message was like a heavy drumstick, striking his heart.
With the Great Feng Dynasty on the verge of collapse, how could he not be anxious?
However, his face remained calm and composed, even more so than usual.
He slowly ground the ink, as if he were refining his own thoughts.
The more critical the situation, the more we need to remain calm.
Impulsiveness solves nothing and only pushes oneself and one's family into utter ruin.
"My husband!"
His wife, Li Juan, the emperor's younger sister and a princess, turned pale and rushed into the study, disregarding all etiquette.
"News has come from the palace: My brother... My brother heard the news of the defeat in court, and he was so angry that he vomited blood and fainted!"
Yang Yan paused slightly as he ground the ink, the ink stick making a soft scraping sound on the inkstone, before resuming his work without even raising his head.
"Has the imperial physician gone? Is His Majesty's health still good?"
"The imperial physicians have treated him, and my brother has woken up, but... but the court is in complete chaos, and Feng Liang and the others have no idea what to do!"
"The officials are in a state of panic. Some have proposed moving the capital, while others advocate for peace talks... What should we do?"
Li Juan's eyes reddened with anxiety, and she grabbed Yang Yan's arm:
"Husband! You can't stand idly by any longer! I know you have grievances in your heart, but now is a time of national crisis. Your brother needs you, the Great Feng needs you! You... you should take the initiative to ask your brother for an audience!"
Yang Yan put down the ink stick, looked up at his wife, his gaze deep and calm:
“Juan’er, I am a criminal under arrest. I am not allowed to enter the palace without an imperial edict, let alone interfere in politics. This is the law of the court. Important matters of the court are to be handled by Prime Minister Feng and other officials who assist His Majesty in planning and strategizing. It is not my place to interfere as an idle person.”
"Laws? What kind of time is this to talk about laws!"
Li Juan's voice trembled with tears, "Feng Liang? He's just a bookworm! Ma Zongliang's 140,000 troops are all gone, what can he possibly do?"
"My lord, who doesn't know your abilities? Although Xijing has fallen, I know it's not entirely your fault!"
"Only you can turn the tide now! Even if... even for my sake, for the sake of our Yang family, you can't just stand by and watch the country fall!"
Yang Yan held his wife's cold hand, his tone softening slightly, but still firm:
"It is precisely because of the Yang family, and for your sake, that we cannot move now."
"To volunteer is to overstep one's bounds and to use this opportunity to blackmail. If His Majesty suspects me, it will not only be of no use, but will also bring about my death. Moreover..."
He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Some pain, if it doesn't penetrate to the bone, won't be remembered. The imperial court needs this lesson."
"you……"
Looking at her husband's calm, almost cold face, Li Juan felt both angry and helpless, but she also knew that he was telling the truth.
Just as she was about to offer further advice, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded outside the mansion, accompanied by the eunuch's high-pitched, shrill announcement, breaking the silence of the night.
"Imperial decree has arrived—His Majesty summons Left Chancellor Yang Yan to the palace for an audience immediately!"
It's here!
A sharp glint flashed in Yang Yan's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
He suddenly stood up and whispered to his wife, "Quick! Help me back to the bedroom! Tell her that I suddenly fell seriously ill this afternoon, with a persistent high fever, and I'm already delirious and unable to receive the imperial decree!"
Li Juan was taken aback: "Why? Your brother has summoned you; this is an opportunity!"
"If you want me to come out of seclusion to help your imperial brother and protect the Great Feng Dynasty, you must listen to me now!"
Yang Yan's tone was firm and unquestionable, "There's no time to explain in detail, just do as I say! Remember, no matter who asks, your expression must be naturally sorrowful, and you must insist that I am seriously ill!"
Seeing her husband's unprecedentedly serious and resolute expression, Li Juan was full of doubts, but after many years of marriage, she knew Yang Yan's meticulous nature and knew that this was not the time for him to act impulsively.
She gritted her teeth and nodded, then quickly helped Yang Yan, almost dragging and carrying her husband, who could draw a three-stone bow on the battlefield, back to the bedroom.
Yang Yan moved swiftly, taking off his outer robe, letting his hair down, lying on the bed, pulling the brocade quilt over himself, taking a few deep breaths, and his face actually turned a sickly flush, his breathing becoming heavy and weak.
When the envoy was led into the bedroom, he saw the once imposing Prime Minister Yang lying on the bed, "on the verge of death," with his eyes closed and his brows furrowed due to "illness."
Princess Li Juan sat on the edge of the bed, holding a wet towel, silently shedding tears, looking extremely worried.
"Father-in-law, please forgive me," Li Juan said, her voice choked with tears, "My husband... he suddenly caught a cold this afternoon, it came on fiercely, and now he has a high fever and is delirious, unconscious..."
"I really can't get up to receive the imperial decree, let alone enter the palace to meet the emperor... What, what should I do?" As she spoke, she picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eyes.
The eunuch carefully examined Yang Yan, who was lying unconscious on the bed, and seeing that the princess's emotions were genuine and did not seem to be feigned, he could only sigh:
"In that case, I will report this truthfully to Your Majesty. I hope that Prime Minister Yang will be blessed with good fortune and recover soon."
Having said that, he shook his head and hurriedly returned to the palace to report back.
......
Ziwei Palace, side hall.
Li Jin had just taken the calming medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, but his face was still pale. He leaned against the couch, forcing himself to stay awake and wait.
He placed all his hopes on Yang Yan.
However, what arrived was a report from the eunuch that Yang Yan had "suddenly fallen seriously ill and was bedridden."
"Are you sick?"
Li Jingang was taken aback at first, then his face darkened visibly, and his chest began to ache again.
He slammed his hand on the bed, his voice hoarse: "Why did you have to get sick now of all times? Are you trying to deceive me?!"
Feng Liang, Li Yuan, and several other senior officials standing in the hall exchanged glances, and a suppressed murmur arose.
"What a coincidence! Could it be that they're afraid of war?"
"I think so. Prime Minister Yang has always been loyal and brave. Perhaps he was so angry and upset upon hearing of the defeat?"
"Hmph, anger overwhelmed? I think he's harboring resentment and deliberately feigning illness to embarrass His Majesty!"
"If that's true, their intentions are despicable!"
Feng Liang's eyes flickered. He stroked his beard, stepped forward, and whispered:
"Your Majesty, regarding Prime Minister Yang's 'illness'... in my humble opinion, it is more of a 'mental ailment' than a 'physical ailment.' He was sidelined in the past, so it's no wonder he felt depressed. Now that the country is in crisis, Your Majesty has summoned him, and his illness... seems rather strange."
Upon hearing this, Li Jingang's face turned even uglier, and a surge of anger rushed to the top of his head.
Normally, given his temper, he would have already ordered Yang Yansuo to be arrested and questioned.
But at this moment, the cold reality of the annihilation of his 140,000-strong army was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing his rage.
He took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and qi. He knew that now was not the time to lash out.
He struggled to sit up straight, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "No need for further discussion! Court adjourned! Yuan Di, Prime Minister Feng, come with me to the Yang residence! I wish to personally visit the ailing patient!"
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