Chapter 821 The Truth of What Happened Back Then (Second Update)
After a long silence, Lord Yanshan said solemnly, "The fate of the Great Yan dynasty is drawing to a close!"
At that moment, the three of them seemed to understand something.
If it were simply a matter of "the Purple Star appears, and the Emperor emerges from Xuanyuan," then Shangguan Yan would have half of Xuanyuan's blood flowing through her veins, and she could perfectly fulfill this prophecy.
However, if the prophecy "The Great Yan dynasty is nearing its end" is added, then Shangguan Yan, as the crown princess of Great Yan, could not possibly be the emperor predicted.
The Xuanyuan family will replace the Shangguan royal family and become the new royal family. This is the real reason why the king wants to exterminate the Xuanyuan family bloodline.
Shangguan Yan turned to look at Yanshan Jun, who was sitting on the stool beside her: "You knew a long time ago?"
Yeonsan-gun shook his fan: "It wasn't very long ago. I overheard it by chance outside His Majesty's study a few years ago."
Shangguan Yan asked, "What else did you hear?"
Lord Yanshan sighed, “The prophecy was not told to His Majesty by the Grand Preceptor; it was leaked. Do you think His Majesty destroyed the Xuanyuan clan because of this prophecy? In fact, the prophecy was only one factor; there are many other reasons behind it.”
Hearing this, the first question in the three people's minds was answered.
Although the three didn't say it aloud, due to the unusual nature of the matter, they once suspected that the prophecy might be fabricated out of thin air.
It now appears that the imperial advisor did indeed divine this prophecy, and may have even paid a heavy price for it.
"The Grand Preceptor understood what this prophecy would bring to the Xuanyuan family. He neither intended to tell the Xuanyuan family, lest it incite their rebellious intentions, nor did he plan to tell the King, lest the King harbor murderous thoughts towards the Xuanyuan family. But what he never expected was that a spy from the Jin state had been lurking in the Grand Preceptor's palace."
The spy was selected to enter the Imperial Preceptor's Hall at the age of eight. He remained in hiding for ten years, during which time he never revealed the slightest flaw. Finally, he gained the Imperial Preceptor's trust and became the Imperial Preceptor's first senior disciple.
He was also present when the imperial divination was performed.
Only after the news spread did the Imperial Advisor realize that he had been betrayed.
The Grand Preceptor dealt with him, but unfortunately it was too late; the King and the Xuanyuan family had already heard the prophecy.
The Xuanyuan family originally had no intention of rebelling, but they also knew that given the king's suspicious nature, it would be difficult for him not to be wary of them.
The Xuanyuan family was prepared to relinquish their military power and retire to their fields, but just then, the states of Jin and Liang mobilized.
The State of Jin was the first of the six states to rise to a superior position, which determined the relative status of the six states. At its peak, no other state could rival Jin's dominance, and it held an absolute hegemonic position.
Subsequently, the State of Liang rose to prominence and, with the recognition of the State of Jin, became the second superior state.
For the Great Yan to become a member of the upper states, it must also gain the recognition of the Jin and Liang states.
Naturally, neither of these two countries was happy about this. In those years, in order to stop the rise of the Great Yan Kingdom, the Jin and Liang countries launched many wars on the border. Not only that, they also secretly supported the unrest of the civilian forces in the Great Yan Kingdom.
However, they did not expect that the Great Yan Kingdom, beset by internal and external troubles and on the verge of collapse, would be able to withstand the pressure from the Xuanyuan family.
Xuan Yuanli's red-tasseled spear instilled fear in everyone.
Countless valiant generals from the states of Jin and Liang perished under Xuanyuan Li's red-tasseled spear. The states of Jin and Liang were utterly defeated and dared not invade for several years.
But the good times didn't last long.
The states of Jin and Liang have always refused to accept Yan as a superior state because they understand that the Great Yan, possessed by the Xuanyuan family, is too powerful and unstoppable. If it is allowed to develop unchecked, one day the Xuanyuan army will trample the lands of Jin and Liang.
And everything was such a coincidence.
Just as they were racking their brains trying to figure out how to deal with the Great Yan Kingdom and the Xuanyuan family, the Grand Preceptor's prophecy appeared.
Their envoys took the initiative to come to the State of Yan and offered the King of Yan a tempting condition—if the Xuanyuan family was destroyed, they would accept Yan as one of the three superior states.
Not only did they share the right to use the sea areas and the right to exploit many islands with Great Yan, but they also allowed Great Yan to join them in depriving the remaining three lower kingdoms.
Becoming a superior nation is not only an honor, but also brings a great deal of tangible benefits; it would be a lie to say one is not tempted.
The ruler at that time had two choices.
First, let Xuanyuan Li lead troops to attack the states of Jin and Liang until they submit.
Second, accept the conditions proposed by the states of Jin and Liang.
“The king chose the second path,” Gu Jiao said.
“That’s right.” Lord Yanshan sighed regretfully.
Back then, the Xuanyuan family possessed the strength to fight against the armies of two countries. However, if they were to win, it would further enhance the Xuanyuan family's prestige among the people. They were already so powerful that they overshadowed the emperor. Should the credit for becoming the superior nation also be given to the Xuanyuan family?
Considering that prophecy, how could the king still dare to allow the Xuanyuan family to grow stronger?
Lord Yanshan continued, "There is another small reason: the Great Yan has been in war for many years, and the national treasury is depleted, so it really cannot afford to fight any more wars."
Gu Jiao glanced at him and said indifferently, "Wouldn't confiscating the mansions of a few more corrupt officials fill the national treasury?"
Lord Yeonsan coughed lightly and said, "Well, that's why I said it was a minor reason, not the main cause."
Gu Jiao thought of what Nangong Li had said to her before he died.
Therefore, he did not refer to "Jingyang" but to "Jin and Liang". He knew that it was a spy from the State of Jin who spread the Grand Preceptor's prophecy, and he also knew that the States of Jin and Liang had seduced the King of Great Yan.
Gu Jiao stroked her chin, muttering thoughtfully, "Indeed, how could a subject address the ruler by his given name?"
However, although they found it strange that Nangong Li addressed the king in this way, no one thought of it at the time.
If it really was the states of Jin and Liang that stabbed her in the back so many times, then it's no wonder that she saw in her dream that the states of Jin and Liang would take advantage of the internal strife in the Great Yan to send troops to attack it.
From the very beginning, the states of Jin and Liang never genuinely accepted Yan as a superior state; it was all just a delaying tactic. Once the Xuanyuan family was destroyed and the Xuanyuan army was fragmented, the various powerful families would then drastically revive the Xuanyuan army they had acquired.
Then the Great Yan lost its strongest shield and its sharpest sword, and it would no longer have the strength to contend with the states of Jin and Liang.
At that time, the states of Jin and Liang will be able to swallow up the Great Yan in one gulp.
Over the years, the states of Jin and Liang allowed the state of Yan to develop, partly to wait for the decline of the Xuanyuan family's military power, and partly to feed the little fat rabbit that is Yan.
It is plump and strong, yet has no offensive capabilities, making it the best prey.
Would the ruler of Yan be unaware of the intentions of the states of Jin and Liang?
He may be crazy, but he's not stupid.
The reason why the king still resolutely destroyed the Xuanyuan family was twofold: first, he wanted to prevent the prophecy that the Xuanyuan family would become emperors from coming true; and second, the king had enough confidence in himself.
He believed that even without the Xuanyuan family and Xuanyuan Li, he could still cultivate an even more invincible and unbeatable Great Yan army in the years to come.
Gu Jiao felt that he was overconfident.
The states of Jin and Liang were ambitious and had been waiting for the most opportune moment to annex the Great Yan. Originally, the two states planned to take action after the Great Yan had been severely weakened by three years of internal strife, but now the internal strife had been quelled ahead of schedule.
They patiently waited three years for the internal strife, until the Great Yan Kingdom's military strength was reduced to a mere shell. Now, the Great Yan Kingdom is strong and well-equipped, and the Jin and Liang Kingdoms should not be foolish enough to send troops now.
During the conversation, the carriage arrived at the Duke of Anguo's residence.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng took Shangguan Yan and Yan Shanjun directly to Fengyuan.
It's hot again today. All the adults are staying indoors to cool off, while only two little ones are out in the yard shoveling sand under the scorching sun.
It was Gu Xiaoshun who brought the sand pile.
The two squatted beside the sand pile, using the mini shovels that Gu Xiaoshun had made for them to dig, one shovel at a time, and then put the dug sand into the mini wooden bucket next to them.
The two played until they were covered in sweat, having a great time, and occasionally exchanging a few words in baby talk.
The innocent and playful relationship between the two of them was a delightful sight.
...except for his elderly father, Yeonsan-gun.
Hey kid, don't get so close to my daughter!
Your heads are practically touching!
And don't hold her hand casually!
“I’ll help you,” Xiao Jingkong said to the little princess.
"Okay." The little princess happily handed over her little shovel.
The two of them grabbed small shovels and shoveled sand together.
Never mind, it's good to have another person to take care of my daughter.
No way! From today onwards, he's going to raise his daughter himself!
Yeonsan-kun strode over and forcefully squeezed between the two little ones with his enormous body, which was enormous for a child.
Xiao Jingkong stared blankly at the strange uncle who had suddenly barged in.
The little princess exclaimed in a daze, "Daddy! You're back!"
Yeonsan-kun smiled and said, "Yes."
"Oh? Teacher! You're back too!"
The young princess decisively put down her shovel and pounced on Gu Jiao like a fledgling bird.
Yeonsan-kun's outstretched arms embraced nothing but loneliness.
(End of this chapter)
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