AFDPIRAB Chapter47

On the second day, when Yun Jiangli told Prince Cheng about Yan Muning’s decision, the two men who had always been resolute looked at each other silently for a long time.

 

“Has Lao Qi… ever told you about our brothers?”

 

Prince Cheng showed a tired look and interrupted the silence between the two.

 

Yun Jiangli calmly said, “He didn’t say much, but he mentioned it a few times when he was still in Jinzhou, and then when Prince Yi returned to the capital, he told me that Prince Yi treated him very well.”

 

Prince Cheng raised his head, as if trying to hold back some emotion, and said, “Yes, Third Brother loves him very much.”

 

“So tomorrow… no matter what Third Brother says, the one who will find it hardest to accept it should be Lao Qi.” Prince Cheng sighed, raised his hand, and patted Yun Jiangli’s shoulder. “You… spend more time with him.”

 

.

 

Since he decided to listen to Prince Yi’s words in person, the emotions that Yan Muning had been avoiding for some time came back with a vengeance.

 

He didn’t sleep well last night. At this moment, the little prince was lazily nestling in the warm pavilion, reading the book in his hand. Half an incense stick of time had passed, but he still hadn’t turned a page.

 

After Yun Jiang left to meet Prince Cheng, he went to the small kitchen, took some oranges, and brought a bowl of freshly cooked soup to the warm pavilion.

 

“What are you looking at so seriously?”

 

Yun Jiangli left the warm pavilion for a long time, and Yan Muning was staring at the book in his hand in a daze. Suddenly he heard the sound and came back to his senses.

 

The little prince pursed his lips, shook the book in his hand, and said, “Just take a look.”

 

Yun Jiangli didn’t want to expose the youth’s absent-minded state, so he just sat beside him and coaxed him softly: “You vomited everything you ate in the morning. Are you hungry? I’ll feed you a few sips of the freshly cooked soup in the kitchen, alright?”

 

Although he didn’t have much appetite, Yan Muning knew that even if he didn’t want to eat, the baby in his belly still needed nutrition. So he obediently rubbed against Yun Jiangli, leaned against him softly, and said coquettishly, “Then I’ll just drink a little, is that fine?”

 

When the little prince is not showing off his teeth and claws, he always looks so obedient and soft, which makes Yun Jiangli’s heart melt. How can he say no?

 

Seeing that the youth was holding back his nausea and drinking it with great difficulty, Yun Jiangli felt so distressed that he fed him half a bowl and stopped. He took a fresh tangerine, peeled it, and stuffed a slice into the youth: “Come, eat some fruit to refresh your taste.”

 

The little prince was very picky. He looked at the orange slices in the big beauty’s hand and insisted on removing all the pith.

 

“Don’t be picky. The orange pith is good for you. Eat them obediently.”

 

Yun Jiangli gently slapped the little paw that was picking at the orange pith and stuffed another orange slice into his mouth.

 

The little prince stopped arguing and ate two or three slices with his head down.

 

Yun Jiangli thought that the little guy was throwing a tantrum again and was about to coax him when he heard him whisper, “When I was a kid, I didn’t like sour tangerines, and my third brother would always pick out the sweetest ones for me.”

 

Yun Jiangli’s fingers that were peeling tangerines paused.

 

“At that time, my Empress Mother also did not allow me to pick the pith of the orange.”

 

Yan Muning raised his eyes and looked at Yun Jiangli, as if he wanted to force a smile but failed. He shrugged and continued: “But my Empress Mother just felt that as a prince, I should not be too spoiled, so she never tolerated my bad habits.”

 

“Later, I became irritable and refused to eat properly. To appease me, my third brother brought the sweetest tangerines, ate the tangerine skins himself, and peeled out the crystal-clear tangerine segments for me to eat.”

 

Yun Jiangli could hear the sadness in the youth’s words, but he didn’t know what to say to comfort him. He could only hold him in his arms and gently pat his back to comfort him.

 

“There were many such incidents until my third brother… third brother went to lead the troops.”

 

Yan Muning snuggled in his lover’s arms, looking up at him, with tears in his eyes: “But, Ah Li, why did we become what we are now? I can’t figure it out.”

 

Yun Jiangli raised his hand and stroked the youth’s cheek, saying softly, “If you can’t figure it out, then forget it. Xiao Qi, everyone has his own path to take. Maybe he has his own difficulties, but in the end he just chose the path he wanted to take. Don’t bother with it.”

 

Yun Jiangli gently touched the youth’s forehead with his lips, leaving a reassuring kiss.

 

“I will be with you tomorrow, don’t be sad.”

 

.

 

At the beginning of Sishi[mfn]9-11am[/mfn], the emperor was already sitting in the Linhua Palace, with Prince Cheng and the chief minister of the inner cabinet sitting on either side of the emperor.

 

In the compartment behind the screen on the west side, Yan Muning and Yun Jiangli sat on a low couch.

 

In fact, Prince Yi’s crimes had already been investigated, and today was just the last frank conversation between brothers.

 

Soon, heavy footsteps were heard from outside the palace, followed by the sound of handcuffs rubbing against the ground. Yan Muning unconsciously tightened his grip on Yun Jiangli.

 

“The guilty minister, Yan Muhan, kowtows to Your Majesty.”

 

Prince Yi’s hoarse voice echoed in the palace.

 

Prince Yi was no longer as dashing as before. He was wearing only a plain robe, his hands and feet were shackled, his hair was slightly messy, his face was barely clean, but he had lost a lot of weight, and his eye sockets were dark and bloodshot.

 

The emperor felt really bad when he saw this and raised his hand: “Stand up and talk.”

 

“The guilty minister is not worthy of this.” Prince Yi refused.

 

The emperor closed his eyes: “Alright, if you want to kneel, then kneel.”

 

“Yan Muhan, you asked to see me a few days ago. Now, if you have anything to say, just say it.”

 

After the emperor finished speaking, the Linhua Palace was silent for a long time, so long that Yan Muning thought no one would speak again, and then Prince Yi slowly spoke.

 

“Second Brother, aren’t you curious about why I have come to this point today?”

 

When he called out “Second brother”, the three brothers in the palace tearing up, and even the chief minister of the inner cabinet turned his head away with some pity.

 

The chief minister of the Cabinet is an old man who has been assisting the late emperor. He has watched these princes grow up. Now, seeing this scene, he can’t help but sigh in his heart.

 

Yan Muhan did not wait for the emperor to speak and continued: “Second Brother, I have been by your side since I was a child, following you wholeheartedly. I have never thought of betraying you, but Second Brother, why do you have to force me? Why do you have to take away everything I cherish one by one?”

 

“When has Zhen ever forced you?” The emperor asked coldly.

 

But Yan Muhan seemed to have not heard this and continued to speak to himself: “When I was young, I studied with you. No matter how good my essays were or how hard I worked on my homework, I could never compare to you. From then on, you were the one I wanted to follow.”

 

“Emperor Father and Master praised you for your extraordinary intelligence and said you were born to be an emperor. But one time, you and I made a mistake together, Master favored you and only punished me. From that day on, I realized the gap between us, and for the first time I understood that maybe it wasn’t because I wasn’t good enough.”

 

“But my mother consort tells me to tone down my ego everyday, to be humble and yield, and to stop being so casual when dealing with you. I should learn to respect and honor you.”

 

“I didn’t understand at that time. Aren’t we brothers?”

 

“Later, Emperor Father made you the crown prince, and in the same year he gave me the title ‘Yi’. Second Brother, do you know what my title means?”

 

The emperor frowned and looked at his brother, who was kneeling in the hall with reluctance. After a long while, he spoke: “Zhen knows.”

 

“Hahaha…”

 

Yan Muhan suddenly laughed out loud: “Emperor Father gave me the character ‘Yi’ to warn me to recognize my position and to assist you. And I, Yan Muhan, ask myself, have I ever done anything wrong to you before? Even though, even though I don’t think you are really much better than me!”

 

“Since the day you were crowned the crown prince, you have been the king, and I am the subject. There is no longer any brotherhood.”

 

“Zhen has never stopped treating you as a brother!”

 

“Then when did you start wanting to remove my military power?” Yan Muhan’s voice suddenly rose.

 

Prince Cheng finally couldn’t help but speak: “Yan Muhan! Haven’t you figured it out yet? The person who came to tell you the news from the capital was not from the Ministry of War at all! It was the heir of the Wu family on the northern border who deliberately spread the news to you!”

 

Yan Muhan suddenly seemed to lose his temper, and he no longer knelt straight. He stared at Prince Cheng in disbelief: “But isn’t it true that His Majesty wants to take away my military power?”

 

“And Lao Qi, I have loved him the most since childhood. He just noticed something strange and sent a letter to you from afar. Did he ever think of asking me a question? Did he ever care about my life or death?”

 

He became even fiercer as he spoke: “And you as well! If it is said that Second Brother was able to easily obtain the crown prince position, it is because his mother is the empress.”

 

“What about you? Lao Wu, what the hell are you capable of? How did you get what you have now? How are you better than me? It’s just because you were raised by the Empress that Emperor Father thinks highly of you!”

 

“Yan Muhan! You think you’re smart, then where’s your brain? Don’t you know what those old bastards from the Wu family are planning? Are you willing to be used as a pawn by them?”

 

Prince Cheng was also furious. He slammed the table and stood up, pointing at the person and cursing, “Imperial Brother wants to reform the military system! The country is peaceful, and the people are safe. There has been no war for a long time. Among the brothers, you have been in the army the longest! Imperial Brother wants to take away your military power. He wants to transfer you back to the capital to assist him in the reform of the military system, because no one knows better than you!”

 

Yan Muhan was completely silent. He stared at the emperor blankly, as if he wanted to get a definitive answer from him, and he was stubborn and refused to look away.

 

Behind the screen, Yan Muning, who was in the compartment, had already gnashed his teeth, and his eyes reddened.

 

The people of the Wu family were so despicable as to instigate Prince Yi.

 

“If he hadn’t already had resentment in his heart, no one would have been able to instigate it either. In the end, no one is to blame for this.” Yun Jiangli seemed to understand Yan Muning’s thoughts and comforted the youth in a low voice.

 

.

 

Yan Muhan didn’t expect that he would get such an answer after hating for so long.

 

He suddenly felt that he was not even as good as a joke. Yes, the Wu family was not worth anything, but if he hadn’t been blinded by resentment…

 

If he hadn’t had the resentment buried deep in his heart for many years, how could he be easily provoked by outsiders?

 

“Second Brother, do you know why I suddenly left the capital to lead the troops that year?” Yan Muhan seemed to have lost all his strength, and his voice was hoarse.

 

The emperor narrowed his eyes and recalled, “That year you suddenly volunteered to lead the troops to war… Zhen really doesn’t know the reason.”

 

Yan Muhan’s tone was much calmer at this time: “I have never been the best at fighting among our brothers since I was young. But that year, Dachun and Beijin suddenly joined forces to attack our border, and the war became urgent. But you were already the crown prince at that time, Lao Da was cowardly, Lao Si was useless, and Lao Wu was young. Emperor Father needed a prince to lead the troops to the border, so it could only be me.”

 

“I did not make the request suddenly; Emperor Father had already discussed it with me before the morning court session that day. Since that year, I have led troops to fight against foreign enemies time and time again.”

 

The emperor suddenly remembered something and spoke hesitantly: “Lan Yi, he…”

 

When he mentioned this name, Yan Muhan’s tone suddenly became a little gentler: “Yes, when Lan Yi left, it was the time for me to go to war again.”

 

“That year, before I led my troops out of the capital, I had already agreed with him that when I returned victorious, I would ask Emperor Father for permission to marry him legally! But…”

 

Yan Muhan suddenly choked up. He clenched his fists and continued to speak: “I was far away at the border. We won the battle, but not only did I not see Lan Yi for the last time, but I didn’t even receive the news of his death until nearly a month after he passed away as well!”

 

“Zhen sent people to deliver letters to you twice, but you never showed up…” The emperor was also full of regret. “Zhen later learnt about the hardships you experienced that time…”

 

Yan Muhan interrupted the emperor and said with his eyes downcast, “Lan Yi loved me wearing armor and riding a horse the most when he was alive, so I vowed to stay in the army for the rest of my life.”

 

Yan Muning shed tears behind the screen and whispered, “Brother Lan Yi was Third Brother’s lover. He suddenly fell seriously ill and… died.”

 

Yun Jiangli nodded and raised his hand to wipe Yan Muning’s tears.

 

“So, Second Brother.”

 

Yan Muhan choked up as he spoke the last sentence: “All the military exploits I fought for on the battlefield and the oath I made to Lan Yi, you just took them away from me not long after you ascended the throne. I will not accept this, Second Brother!”

 

.

 

Linhua Palace fell into silence for a long time again.

 

Yan Muhan seemed to be relieved, kneeling in the palace, his face no longer had the previous anger and madness, and after letting go of the hatred and resentment in his heart, he seemed to have returned to the elegant Prince Yi.

 

His peach blossom eyes, which should have been gentle and charming, instead took on a deeper heroic spirit because of his years of military experience.

 

He looked at the emperor sitting in the hall calmly, then tilted his head to look at Prince Cheng, and then his eyes fell on the screen on the west side, lingering for a long time.

 

“Second Brother, I have failed you after all.”

 

The emperor’s eyes suddenly became sore as he looked at the person in front of him, who was smiling as brightly as when he was fifteen years old.

 

Yan Muhan knelt straight and bowed respectfully.

 

“Your Majesty, Chendi has two final requests. Chendi hopes Your Majesty will grant his requests for the sake of his many years of fighting for the country and… our brotherly friendship since childhood.”

 

The emperor took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Say it.”

 

“Your Majesty, Lao Liu[mfn]fyi it was referring to Prince Huai, the one kidnapped YMN[/mfn] knows nothing about what the guilty minister did. He is just a useless idiot. He doesn’t have a brain. Please spare his life.”

 

The emperor had no intention of killing Prince Huai as well, so he nodded and agreed.

 

“My last wish is that Your Majesty can give me some dignity.” Yan Muhan was relieved, and he felt much lighter after saying these words.

 

Yan Muning was already crying, and he knew that this ending could not be changed.

 

He once thought that he hated his third brother for being so cruel and that he would never forgive him again, but when he really faced it, he found that he didn’t remember the pain and hurt at all.

 

The scenes in his mind were all about the laughter and joy he had with his third brother. The person who had been so gentle and loved him so much ended up with a… self-imposing ending.

 

Yan Muning bit his lip and cried until his whole body was shaking, but he heard his third brother’s voice coming from the hall again—

 

“Lao Wu, bury me next to Lan Yi.”

 

Yan Muhan smiled affectionately, raised his head, and took a long breath: “I’m finally… going to see you, Lan Yi.”

 

Prince Cheng sat aside, gritting his teeth, with tears in his eyes.

 

As if hesitating, Yan Muhan turned his head and stared at the screen on the west side of the hall, raised his voice a little, and said in a pretentious and cheerful tone—

 

“Xiao Qi, I know you are here. Don’t cry, and don’t hate Third Brother either.”

 

“Third Brother has never coveted your Yun Jiangli. In Third Brother’s heart, there is only your Brother Lan Yi. Now that I’m finally going to meet him, can you be happy for me?”

 

Yan Muning tightly grasped Yun Jiangli’s hand, resisting the urge to rush out to meet his third brother.

 

“Xiao Qi ah, if you are still willing to be my brother in the next life, Third Brother will take you on a boat trip to admire the lanterns, drink tea, and listen to music. In the next life, Third Brother will keep my promise and take you to see all the beautiful scenery in this world…”

 

.

 

When Yan Muning heard the last two sentences, he could no longer bear it. He threw himself into Yun Jiangli’s arms in grief, biting his shoulder, trying to suppress his wailing in his chest, and his tears burst out like a dam breaking.

 

With tears in his eyes, he seemed to see his childhood again, when his third brother took him to fly kites, row boats, climb trees, and climb over walls to pick fruits; when he was punished by their master for not completing his homework, his third brother taught him to recite and accompanied him to copy with a lamp; when he and Yuchi climbed over the wall and were punished by their Emperor Father to kneel, his third brother secretly brought cakes to them in the dark at night…

 

Later, his third brother started to go to war, and every time he returned victorious, he would bring him some new and interesting things.

 

If he was on vacation in the capital, he would teach him how to protect himself or take him to the busiest street market…

 

He still clearly remembered that once when he read about the tragedies in history books where royal families fought against each other and had infighting for power, he and his brothers had vowed solemnly that they would never see such a day, but now… it has come to this.

 

Yan Muning’s tears seemed to flow endlessly. He was extremely bitter, and his ears were buzzing, and he could not hear the sounds around him.

 

He didn’t know when Prince Yi was taken back to the prison, nor when his second and fifth brothers came in.

 

He only knew that when he struggled to see his third brother, Yun Jiangli held him tightly in his arms and whispered something in his ear.

 

Later, he cried until he was exhausted, lost consciousness, and fainted in Yun Jiangli’s arms.

 

When he woke up again, Yan Muning had returned to Prince An’s mansion. He couldn’t help the ups and downs of his emotions, and he had a fever and was dizzy.

 

In a daze, he vaguely heard someone say that Prince Yi had drunk poisoned wine in the prison…

 

.

 

This year is the third year of Jingxing.

 

It was only a few days before the beginning of the twelve lunar month, and on this day, heavy snow fell in the capital.

 

The emperor’s decree was passed on in the palace—

 

Prince Huai, Yan Muyin was demoted to a vassal state and was not allowed to return to the capital in his lifetime.

 

At the end of the year, Prince Huai took his only concubine and left the capital in the snow.

 

He didn’t know that his brothers were standing on the towers in the palace behind him, watching his frail carriage from afar.

 

As for Prince Yi’s matter, the emperor, under pressure from several ministers, finally made a rare decision on his own.

 

On the day when Prince Huai left the capital, the young emperor stood by the window, staring at the falling snow for a long time.

 

Finally, with gritted teeth and tears in his eyes, he personally wrote a line of words—

 

On the 24th day of the 14th month of the 3rd year of the Jingxing reign, Yan Muhan, the third son of Emperor Jingren, died.

 

The author has something to say:

Prince Yi is dead.

He is not that hateful… (whispering)