Chapter 49

Yan Donghuang arrived at the front yard and heard a commotion coming from outside the mansion. Led by Prime Minister Pei, a large group of ministers crowded at the gate, resembling the scene of a court assembly, all filled with righteous indignation, creating a grand and crowded spectacle.

“We request an audience with the Princess! We request an audience with the Grand Princess!”

Yan Donghuang paused and turned to Feng Yaoguang, “Are they planning to use the same tactics they used against the Emperor on me?”

“Probably.” Feng Yaoguang’s expression was subtle, with a hint of mockery, “After all, those old officials in the court are best at dying remonstrance.”

Especially those who considered themselves loyal but were actually stubborn and inflexible old fogies, particularly a few censors, who spoke with grandiose righteousness but were already rotten to the core, full of hypocrisy.

Yan Donghuang’s gaze turned cold as he stepped forward. The guards on both sides knelt on one knee, saluting in unison.

Dressed in dark military attire, Yan Donghuang stepped out of the gate, looking at the dozen or so ministers gathered outside. Her gaze was cold, and her presence was imposing. Even the old ministers who had stood in the court for decades couldn’t help but shiver.

“Greetings, Grand Princess.” Prime Minister Pei was the first to salute, and his attitude was respectful and composed: “We came uninvited due to special circumstances. We hope the Grand Princess will forgive us.”

Yan Donghuang’s expression was displeased, “Please leave.”

“Grand Princess, we wish to contribute to the state of Yong.” The Minister of Personnel spoke passionately, “Mobilizing troops without an edict is considered rebellion. Please withdraw the troops immediately!”

“Please prioritize the state and the people.” A censor spoke sternly, “Duke Zhen has ulterior motives and should be handed over to the
Emperor for legal punishment! As the commander of the Qingluan Army and the Grand Princess of Yong, you have no right to privately detain nobles, let alone punish them or decide their life and death!”

“Grand Princess, the soldiers of the Qingluan Army are loyal and protect the country. You must not involve them in charges of rebellion. Please withdraw the troops immediately!”

“Please consider the bigger picture for the sake of the state and the people!”

Yan Donghuang stood silently on the stone steps, looking at these hypocrites with cold and mocking eyes, “If I don’t listen to you, what will you do?”

Censor Yan sternly said, “Grand Princess, rebellion is a serious crime, intolerable by the world!”

The Minister of Rites sighed and gently advised, “Grand Princess, you are the daughter of the late Emperor. If the late Emperor’s spirit in heaven saw this scene, how heartbroken he would be. Could the Grand Princess consider the bigger picture, sit down, and talk with the Emperor to perhaps resolve the misunderstanding?”

The old general, who had fought on the battlefield, spoke with deep sorrow, “If Yong falls into civil strife, foreign enemies will take the opportunity to invade. We will be attacked from both sides at that time, and Yong will face great calamity!”

“Please withdraw the troops, Grand Princess.”

“Please withdraw the troops, Grand Princess.”

More than a dozen ministers knelt down, collectively requesting Yan Donghuang to withdraw the troops, half pleading, half pressuring, and stating that they would not get up if she did not agree.

Yan Donghuang looked at them calmly, her eyes cold, “You are all righteous people who cannot empathize with what I have experienced. I do not blame you.”

“Grand Princess…”

Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold, “But I was poisoned and plotted against by the person I trusted the most. This is a fact. Since it didn’t happen to you, you think I should consider the bigger picture. In that case, I can give you a choice.”

Hearing this, the ministers thought Yan Donghuang was about to relent and looked at her with renewed hope.

“If you are willing to bring your wives and children before me and personally end their lives, I might believe that you are truly considering the state and the people.”

The civil and military officials’ expressions changed. Looking at her in shock and disbelief, they said, “Grand Princess, this… this is impossible!”

The Minister of Personnel frowned, “Who would harm their own family?”

Prime Minister Pei was puzzled, “Grand Princess…”

“Under normal circumstances, no one would be so heartless as to harm their own family, but the situation is special now.” Yan Donghuang lowered her eyes and casually brushed her sleeve, “You are doing this for the state and the people. If you use your family’s lives to persuade me to withdraw the troops today, it will surely be recorded in history.”

Prime Minister Pei understood her meaning.

Yan Donghuang confirmed that the poisoning incident was related to the Emperor, and she was the biggest victim of the poisoning. Perhaps at that moment, life and death were not the greatest pain. The betrayal and calculation by close relatives were the most unacceptable.

“Grand Princess.” Prime Minister Pei stepped forward and saluted Yan Donghuang, “I do not know the full cause of the matter, but the Grand Princess is a meritorious official of Yong, the most valued daughter of the late Emperor. Over the years, you have defended the country and fought on the battlefield, earning great merit. The civil and military officials all admire your literary and martial talents. The poisoning during your wedding was unexpected. I dare not criticize your actions, but I hope you can consider the state and the people of Yong and not—”

“This is between me and the Emperor. It will not involve the people of Yong.” Yan Donghuang interrupted him, her tone calm, “I understand your character, Prime Minister, so no matter what happens in the next few days, please keep your residence closed and ignore what happens outside. I can guarantee the safety of the Pei family.”

Prime Minister Pei frowned deeply, looking at Yan Donghuang earnestly, “Grand Princess, will you watch the country you have defended so hard fall into chaos because of a misunderstanding?”

Yan Donghuang asked in return, “What if it’s not a misunderstanding?”

Prime Minister Pei was stunned.

“Do you trust Yan Ming so much, thinking he wouldn’t betray you?” Yan Donghuang’s lips curled slightly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes, “Yan Ming is the king I recommended to my father, but now I admit I was blind and misjudged him. Prime Minister Pei, you have served two dynasties and should see a person’s true nature better than I do.”

Prime Minister Pei lowered his eyes, speechless.

“My decision is unchangeable.” Yan Donghuang’s tone was indifferent, “Let them all go back. This is between me and Yan Ming and will not involve innocent people.”

“What about the Chu family—”

“The Chu family is not innocent.” Yan Donghuang interrupted him, “Last March, the scheduled rations were deliberately delayed by Minister Chu, causing the Qingluan Army to fall into a food crisis for two months. The soldiers were starving, eating wild vegetables and tree bark, consuming everything edible around… If not for merchants providing emergency rations, I cannot estimate how many Qingluan soldiers would have returned today.”

Yan Donghuang stood straight, her slender figure exuding great strength, “Prime Minister Pei, the silver confiscated from the Chu family’s warehouse, if converted to food, would be enough to feed and pay the Qingluan Army’s 200,000 soldiers for two years.”

The livelihood of 200,000 people.

The Chu family lived in luxury, forgetting that the soldiers defending the country at the border not only risked their lives but even struggled to have enough to eat.