Poisonous olive branches
The storm in the capital has subsided temporarily, and the bloodstains have been washed away, but a rusty tension still lingers in the air.
The deposed emperor, Wei Jie, was placed under house arrest. The Huo family used swift and decisive measures to intimidate the court and the public, but power abhors a vacuum, and a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. All eyes were turned to the silent villa in the Western Hills, and to the seemingly most unlikely candidate residing there.
This time, it was Minister Huo Mingguang who personally came to visit.
The convoy stopped silently outside the villa gate. There was no gong to clear the way, only a heavy, suffocating sense of oppression.
The first man to alight from the carriage was around fifty years old, of medium build, not particularly burly, yet possessing an air of authority befitting someone accustomed to being in a superior position. He wore a navy blue brocade robe with cloud patterns, made of extremely fine materials, but the color was subdued and not flashy; only when the light shifted could one glimpse the exquisite and expensive nature of the subtle patterns.
This man had a lean face and very well-maintained skin, almost without wrinkles. Only his tightly pursed thin lips and a few deep nasolabial folds at the corners of his eyes revealed years of contemplation and a stern, unsmiling demeanor. His jawline was sharp, and his beard was meticulously trimmed, each hair in its proper place, displaying an almost obsessive rigor.
What is most striking about him are his eyes, hidden beneath thick, neatly trimmed eyebrows. His gaze is sharp and calm, as if he can peel away layers of pretense to see right through people. But upon closer inspection, this sharpness is not a genuine air of ruthlessness and decisiveness, but rather a calculated scrutiny, an extreme familiarity with and application of the rules of power.
Deep within his gaze lay a barely perceptible weariness and...caution—the demeanor of someone who had long navigated the delicate balance between those in power and the outside world, walking on thin ice.
Under the respectful yet assertive guidance of Elder Yang, Huo Mingguang entered the courtyard.
The scene inside the courtyard was completely different from what he had imagined as the place where the powerful minister's successor would hide in seclusion.
There was no gloom or despair, no constant anxiety.
The vegetable patches were lush and green, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard. Not far away, the "spoiled" lord Shen Yan, whom they had investigated thoroughly, was squatting unceremoniously by the stream, directing several teenagers to scoop fish with winnowing baskets, shouting and yelling, his trousers rolled up to his knees, splattered with mud.
Meanwhile, his legendary "fierce wife," Ling Zhan, was practicing boxing with the older children, including Shen Xing and Chen Chen, on an open space nearby. Her movements were crisp and clean, powerful and swift, her eyes sharp as an eagle's. When she swept over Huo Mingguang and his group, she didn't pause for a moment, as if they were just an insignificant gust of wind.
Huo Mingguang's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
Yes, that's the atmosphere. Seemingly relaxed and uncontested, yet self-contained and impenetrable.
This Shen Yan is even more... elusive than described in the intelligence.
"Hahaha! A big one has come! Zhang Wu, quick! Get a bucket!"
Shen Yan seemed to only then notice the commotion at the door. He looked up, a nonchalant smile on his face, casually tossed the fish he had caught into the bucket, washed his hands in the stream water, and shuffled over in his slippers.
"Oh, what a rare guest! Lord Huo's presence is an honor to my humble abode."
His tone was languid, with a touch of vulgar slickness, sounding utterly insincere, and he didn't even bother to hide it. "Old Yang, hurry up and brew some tea. Use my treasured pre-rain Longjing tea. Don't neglect our distinguished guest."
Inside the study, or rather, a room filled with a few books, but mostly with various novelties and children's doodles, the aroma of tea wafted through the air.
Huo Mingguang didn't waste time with pleasantries and went straight to the point. He began by recounting with great sorrow the various "absurdities and immoral acts" of the deposed Emperor Wei Jie, emphasizing the "helplessness" and "loyalty" of the Huo family in having no choice but to depose and install emperors for the sake of the country.
Finally, his gaze, heavy with sorrow and earnestness, fell upon Shen Yan.
“A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Among the imperial family, there are very few who can inherit the throne and live up to the expectations of the late emperor and the people.”
Huo Mingguang sighed, “Looking at all the princes, some are arrogant and extravagant, some are muddle-headed, and some are young; none of them are good choices.”
He then changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely solemn: "There is only one person, of noble lineage, the eldest grandson of the valiant Emperor, and a direct descendant of the deposed crown prince. Although he has been living among the common people, he is kind-hearted and chivalrous, often helping the orphans and the weak, and assisting the border troops. He has an excellent reputation and is especially respected by some insightful people in the army. This is the will of Heaven and the will of the people."
Shen Yan held his teacup, blew on the steam, as if listening to a story unrelated to himself, and even yawned slightly.
Looking at him like this, Huo Mingguang's judgment that "this person is easy to control" became even more firm, and he continued, "After careful consideration by the Empress Dowager and the old ministers, we unanimously believe that only you, Lord, are capable of undertaking this important task."
Shen Yan finally looked up, her face showing just the right amount of surprise and...fear?
"Me? Lord Huo, you must be joking!"
He waved his hands repeatedly, leaning back as if he wanted to avoid it at all costs. "I know myself very well. Cockfighting and dog racing can earn me a little money to support my family. Being an emperor? That's a deadly job! Too many rules, exhausting, and you old men would be watching over me and nagging me every day. How can I be as happy as I am now? No way!"
He counted on his fingers: "You see, I'm talentless and immoral, I just like to enjoy myself, and I have no ambition. My wife is just a country bumpkin, she doesn't know any rules, and she has a terrible temper. We don't even have a child of our own, raising a bunch of kids is enough of a headache. Let whoever wants to be emperor be emperor, I can't take on this responsibility."
These words were crude and blunt, perfectly reflecting the mindset of a wealthy, down-to-earth man from the city.
Huo Mingguang's face showed an expression of "If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen you."
His tone became even more candid: "Your Excellency is too modest. Your reputation for benevolence is known throughout the land. As for the rest... they are all minor matters." He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered, yet carrying an undeniable authority, "At the beginning of the new dynasty, everything is in need of rebuilding, and we need a benevolent ruler like Your Excellency to stabilize the people's hearts. As long as Your Excellency nods, everything will be done according to the rules, and Your Excellency will not have any worries."
Then, he threw out the carefully prepared, honey-coated poisonous stinger.
"To consolidate the foundation of the nation, ensure the continuation of the imperial line, and better assist His Majesty," Huo Mingguang said with a burning gaze, "the Empress Dowager and the old ministers believe that after Your Excellency ascends the throne, you should choose a virtuous and noble woman to be your empress, a model for the nation. Our Huo family is willing to follow the example of wise ministers of the past and marry our most outstanding daughter from our direct lineage to His Majesty, making her empress. When she gives birth to a son, he will be the crown prince, and in this way, the country will be secure forever, and His Majesty can rest easy."
The true intentions are revealed when the map is unrolled.
In the warm indoor environment, the air suddenly dropped to freezing point.
The conditions are naked and cruel. The throne may be yours, but you must wear the shackles forged by the Huo family. Your blood must be infused with the blood of the Huo family, and your heir must have half of the Huo family's genes. In this way, the Huo family's power will be completely imprinted into the core of imperial power from the level of maternal relatives, leaving no room for doubt.
Upon hearing the words "established as Empress" and "Crown Prince," the nonchalant smile on Shen Yan's face instantly froze, then shattered and peeled away like an ice shell, disappearing without a trace. He didn't answer immediately; his fingers, gripping the teacup, tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.
His gaze suddenly turned to the window...
Silence is spreading.
Huo Mingguang waited patiently, believing that no one could resist the allure of the throne.
This is especially true for someone who has fallen on hard times and suddenly been hit by a huge windfall.
The so-called refusal is merely the prelude to bargaining.
After a long while, Shen Yan suddenly chuckled softly, but the laughter revealed no emotion.
"Lord Situ is truly... thoughtful." He said calmly, "He even considered the issue of my offspring. Miss Huo is a golden branch and jade leaf; I, a rough countryman, am afraid I am not worthy of her."
"Your Majesty, please do not underestimate yourself."
Huo Mingguang immediately changed his tune, his tone respectful yet threatening, "This is a matter of state, not an ordinary marriage. It is for the sake of the long-term stability of the country."
In the warm indoor space, the air seemed to be instantly sucked out and frozen into solid ice.
However, it was completely different from the surprise, refusal, or feigned hesitation and haggling that Huo Mingguang had anticipated—
All the languor, nonchalance, and even the slick, mercenary air on Shen Yan's face had vanished without a trace.
Instead, there is an almost tangible coldness.
That wasn't anger, but something deeper and more absolute, as if it had touched a bottom line that he absolutely could not cross.
He stopped looking at Huo Mingguang and abruptly turned his gaze to the window, precisely locking onto the figure in the courtyard who was instructing Shen Chen on adjusting the angle of his punches—Ling Zhan. His eyes became extremely complex at this moment, containing an unshakable determination, a deep-seated cherishing, and a trace of burning passion that only he himself understood, stemming from long-term effort, waiting, and a vow.
Huo Mingguang was taken aback by his sudden reaction, which was completely out of character for a "playboy".
The next second, Shen Yan turned around, her gaze piercing Huo Mingguang like cold lightning.
He leaned forward, no longer in his lazy posture, but like a ferocious beast whose scales had been touched. Though he did not roar, he exuded a chilling pressure, and his answer left no room for negotiation.
"Master Huo, this matter is off-limits."
Huo Mingguang's expression changed slightly, and he tried to intimidate others with his power: "Your Majesty! This is a matter of national importance, not child's play! Miss Huo..."
Shen Yan interrupted him without any politeness, his tone resolute and unwavering: "I know it's the foundation of the nation. Therefore, my foundation of the nation can only be her." He raised his hand and pointed to Ling Zhan outside the window, his movements slow and heavy, as if his fingertips carried the weight of a thousand pounds.
“I, Wei Jin, have been living among the common people, barely surviving until now. I am able to stand here entirely because of her protection and unwavering loyalty all the way. Without Ling Zhan, I would have long been a pile of bones in a mass grave. How could I possibly be ‘beloved by Heaven’?”
His gaze returned to Huo Mingguang's face, sharp as a knife, as if to cut through all of the other's schemes.
"The throne, you can give it to me, or you can take it away. I never cared for it. But she is my life. Anyone who wants to take this position," he pointed out the window again, "will have to step over my dead body."
He leaned back in his chair, but his imposing aura did not dissipate; on the contrary, the content of his words made him even more awe-inspiring.
"As for offspring?" Shen Yan's lips curled into a faint, yet icy smile. "No need for Huo Situ to worry about that. In my life, Wei Jin will only have children born to Ling Zhan. Only her son is worthy to be my heir. If not..."
He paused, his tone indifferent as if he were talking about someone else, yet carrying a kind of fanatical obsession: "Then let this empire change its name. Anyway, this dragon throne is too hot to sit on."
These words were no longer a refusal, but a blatant declaration and threat!
This completely exceeded the attitude a "candidate" should have, and even exceeded the thinking logic of a normal person vying for power.
Huo Mingguang was completely stunned, and for the first time, a crack appeared on his usual expression of complete control.
He anticipated that the other party would bargain, pretend to refuse, and even demand more benefits in exchange... But he never expected that the other party would so decisively, fiercely, and even at the cost of destroying everything, reject this political marriage and the biggest olive branch offered by the Huo family for the sake of a "village woman"!
This Shen Yan (Wei Jin) isn't a playboy, he's a madman! A madman who values women more than the empire!
The study was deathly silent.
Huo Mingguang could clearly hear his own somewhat disordered breathing. He realized that all his contingency plans had failed in the face of the other party's completely unconventional and almost self-destructive statement.
Shen Yan watched his changing expressions, the coldness in her eyes fading slightly, replaced by a lazy facade, but the force in her words remained undiminished:
“If Lord Situ finds this difficult, he may seek another capable person. I think there are still a few people in the capital eyeing this chair.” He picked up his slightly cooled tea, took a sip, and said calmly, “As for me? I’d rather continue fishing and spend more time with my wife and children.”
Huo Mingguang's throat went dry; he realized he had made a huge mistake.
They assessed this person's background, experience, wealth, connections, and even personality traits, but they overlooked one thing—or rather, they simply couldn't calculate it—what was the most untouchable, absolute core of this person's heart.
That wasn't power, it wasn't wealth, it wasn't even revenge.
It was just that woman outside the window, dressed in simple clothes, with a cold expression.
The poison on this olive branch seemed more potent than anticipated; before the other person could even take a bite, it had already burned the hand that had offered it. Huo Mingguang took a deep breath, knowing he had to reassess everything. He stood up, his face so grim it could drip water.
"...Your words, Lord, I will relay them back verbatim."
His voice was a little hoarse. "Goodbye."
He left the villa almost unsteadily, all the composure and imposing aura he had exuded upon arrival gone.
After seeing Huo Mingguang off, a fleeting look of weariness crossed Shen Yan's face, but more so a sense of relief and determination. He walked to the door and looked at Ling Zhan in the courtyard.
Ling Zhan seemed to sense something and turned to look at him as well.
Across the courtyard, their eyes met in the air.
Shen Yan smiled at her and silently mouthed something across the courtyard.
The lips clearly read: "We've lost a lot of money, we need to pay more tonight."
Ling Zhan's gaze met his in mid-air.
The smile in her eyes deepened, and she nodded very slightly, almost imperceptibly.
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