AYM Chapter 47

Yan Zheng’s brow twitched faintly. He looked at Li Xuanjing in disbelief, never imagining that the secret their family had kept hidden for so many years, a secret even Yihuan himself did not know, had already long been discovered by an outsider!

 

“Have you told Yihuan!”

 

Yan Zheng seized Li Xuanjing’s arm, the force so great that it made him frown in pain, yet Yan Zheng showed no intention of loosening his grip. Li Xuanjing was surprised, 

 

“Yihuan himself doesn’t know?”

 

Seeing that Yan Zheng was truly anxious, Li Xuanjing quickly said, “I was still young back then, I didn’t understand those obscure words and didn’t think much of it. It was only later on that I gradually came to realize, but I never once told Yihuan.”

 

Noticing Yan Zheng’s expression turn even darker, he hurriedly added, “And I’ve never told anyone else either.”

 

Yan Zheng looked at Li Xuanjing coldly, his voice chilling to the bone.

 

“If anyone else comes to know of this, and it brings disaster to Yihuan, no matter who you are, I will make you pay the price.”

 

A chill ran through Li Xuanjing’s heart. Having known Yan Zheng for many years, this was the first time he had seen him so ruthless. He knew Yan Zheng wasn’t just threatening him, he truly meant it.

 

“My care for Yihuan is no less than yours as his elder brother. Of course, I know this matter cannot be spread, or why else would I have buried it in my heart all these years!”

 

If not for being provoked by what had just happened, Li Xuanjing would have continued to keep it hidden deep inside, for he was certain he would become Crown Prince sooner or later, and Yihuan’s Empress destiny was bound to him.

 

After Li Xuanjing finished speaking, Yan Zheng’s grip on his arm finally loosened, but the menace in his eyes remained chilling to behold.

 

“Yan Zheng…”

 

The words reached Li Xuanjing’s lips, but he hesitated. Although he had heard what had just happened in the forest with his own ears, it was vague and half guesswork, without any solid proof.

 

Although their two families had long been close and had already resolved to join forces in rebellion, this matter was certain to provoke a strong reaction from the Yan family, who in their desperation might end up ruining everything.

 

By now, Li Xuanjing had calmed down considerably. He said in a low voice,

 

“In the past, while Yihuan was in the Residence of King Yan, I naturally didn’t have to worry about him. But in these past six months, with so many things happening and him being forced to stay by Li Xuanming’s side, it made me recall this matter.”

 

Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Yan Zheng thought for a long moment before letting out a sigh.

 

“You’re right. Yihuan’s fate is indeed unusual.”

 

In truth, Yan Yihuan’s very birth had come from the King and Consort of Yan’s wish for a daughter. Although their wish had not been granted, the child was still unlike his two elder brothers, born as if carved from jade, soft and delicate, unlike the other two who were strong and spirited.

 

But along with it came frailty and illness from a young age. More than once, his life had nearly slipped away, which only made the whole family treasure him all the more. Other children, when mischievous, might be scolded by their elders, but Yan Yihuan’s mischief was met with overwhelming joy.

 

It was not until Yan Yihuan turned ten that an unexpected guest came to visit the household, a Daoist priest, whose words shocked them beyond belief.

 

“So… all of this was told to you guys by that old Daoist?” Li Xuanjing murmured. Li Xuanjing muttered. “What if he was just a wandering charlatan?”

 

“We didn’t believe it at first, but he truly cured Yihuan, so we had no choice but to believe,” Yan Zheng said firmly, unwilling to lay bare the whole truth. “Yihuan has always been simple in nature. We were afraid that if he knew, he would only be anxious and afraid, so we kept it from him. Since you have already guarded this secret for so many years, then keep guarding it. Don’t bring harm upon him.”

 

At that time, the late Emperor was in the prime of his life. The so-called Empress’s Fate had truly startled the entire Yan family. Leaving aside that Yan Yihuan was only ten years old, the very idea that a man could possess the destiny of an empress was absurd!

 

Although Northern Jin had inherited the more open customs of the previous dynasty, and men could indeed marry in the common folk, the principal consort of the emperor, his empress, had to be a woman, for the sake of continuing the imperial line.

 

Thus, the Yan family would rather spoil Yan Yihuan into becoming a frivolous and unlearned young master than let him brush against the imperial family in the slightest.

 

Everything seemed to be going according to their plan. Yan Yihuan did indeed grow into a pampered and willful little lord, and they had even begun preparing to arrange a marriage for him, to completely shatter this so-called destiny as empress.

 

Yet, man’s plans never keep up with the will of Heaven. No matter how carefully the Yan family plotted, they never expected Yan Yihuan to be suddenly summoned into the palace, or to become the emperor’s personal historian, gradually slipping from their control.

 

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Li Xuanjing gave a solemn nod, “It’s not as though you just met me yesterday. You should know I have no intention of harming Yihuan. I will guard this secret with my life.”

 

Just then, noise drifted from afar, the imperial guards had likely withdrawn. The two exchanged a glance and walked back, each with their own thoughts.

 

The words Consort Yan had carelessly let slip all those years ago had lingered in Li Xuanjing’s heart ever since, from a child’s confusion to rising suspicion, until at last, now, they were confirmed.

 

If Yan Yihuan’s fate truly was that of an empress, then in other words, the one who obtained him must be the emperor!

 

When Li Xuanjing had pondered on his own before, he had naturally thought of this possibility, that sooner or later he would be crown prince, that he would become emperor, and that Yihuan’s fate must be due to him.

 

But what he had just witnessed had instantly shattered the confidence he had harbored for so many years, leaving him with an unprecedented anxiety and fear, not only for Yihuan, but also for the throne itself.

 

Li Xuanjing knew he could not afford to be rash. Since Yan Zheng was unaware of what was happening between Yihuan and Li Xuanming, it was best to keep it a secret for as long as possible, lest they truly chose to submit to Heaven’s will and turn against the Residence of King Qin.

 

With this thought, Li Xuanjing held back Yan Zheng, who wanted to go investigate, and said reassuringly,

 

“You don’t know Yihuan. What could he possibly keep hidden in his heart?”

 

“But I still feel as if something about him isn’t quite right.”

 

“Yihuan may be called a hostage, but Li Xuanming has only just ascended the throne, how would he dare to act against the Residence of King Yan? But if you keep prying, who knows what the emperor will think.” Lowering his voice, Li Xuanjing added, “Besides, the matter between His Majesty and Ming Zhang is something everyone knows.”

 

Hearing this, Yan Zheng hesitated and stopped in his tracks. What Li Xuanjing said was not without reason. He knew better than anyone Yihuan’s level of skill in writing, yet the emperor had not only refrained from blaming him, but seemed to treat him with some favor. If he remained too anxious, it might only provoke imperial suspicion and put Yihuan in danger.

 

In any case, the Residence of King Yan had already decided that once two months passed and the situation had relaxed, they would submit a memorial to the emperor, using Yihuan’s betrothal as pretext to request his return to Linjing.

 

At that moment, as they passed by the main hall, the two of them happened to glance at it, then exchanged a somewhat forced smile. As if by coincidence yet also by intention, they each turned away and headed for separate side halls to rest.

 

What they truly did not know was that although the main hall appeared calm on the outside, within it was a storm of passion. The very person they had just been discussing was now lost in the sea of desire, unable to decide whether to beg for mercy or to plead for more, his tears repeatedly kissed away as he was held in an embrace, which left no space between them.