Ein Bettler bereist die Welt

Kapitel 46

As night fell, the luxurious carriages and convoys slowly made their way to the palace, marking the end of the banquet and the end of everything at the Zhao Prince's residence.

After this incident, Yelü Xian lingered even more by Xiao Xuan's side with the children. Seeing his tender affection, Xiao Xuan would always laugh at him, saying, "Look at you, you've become so lazy that you've neglected state affairs!"

Yelü Xian always replied with a smile, "It's alright, I know you're capable, I'm here for you."

Whenever she heard him say this, Xiaoxuan felt incredibly proud and happy. For a man, a man with supreme power, to be willing to relinquish everything and entrust it all to her to manage—that takes immense magnanimity.

In September, Yelü Xian proposed a hunting trip to Xiao Xuan. On the night before their departure, he kept her awake, insisting that she keep him company and chat with him.

"Yan Yan, tell me one more time that you love me!"

"How annoying!" Xiao Xuan blushed and looked at Yelü Xian. Strangely, he hadn't extinguished the candles tonight.

"I want it, tell me quickly!" Yelü Xian stared intently into Xiao Xuan's eyes, not allowing her to look away in the slightest.

"So what if I say it a thousand times or ten thousand times? As long as you know how she feels, that's enough." Xiaoxuan said, covering her blushing face with her hands.

Gently pulling her hand away and looking at her face, Yelü Xian said, "I want you to speak."

Looking at his earnest face so close to hers, Xiaoxuan sighed and said, "I love you, I love you, I love you..."

His lips suddenly sealed her lips as she kept whispering words of love, without any warning. She had thought he wanted to talk to her about something, but she hadn't expected him to come so quickly and in such a hurry.

In the quiet night, the moonlight spilling into the inner courtyard of the palace seemed somewhat melancholic.

That night, he still loved her. From the first moment he saw her, he had fallen in love with her, but he never imagined that he could love her so deeply and for so long.

The next morning, he prepared to set off with his men, but he remained on horseback for a long time, staring blankly at her and the children who had come to see him off on his hunting trip.

She felt something was off about him, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Xiaoxuan gazed back at him with deep affection. She saw the longing in his eyes, his reluctance to leave. He rode his horse a few steps, then reined it in and looked back at them, then rode off again and looked back again, repeating this several times until he finally left and they could no longer see each other.

Although she felt puzzled, Xiaoxuan never imagined that that last glance would become their eternal farewell.

The large group of people arrived at Jiaoshan Palace in Yunzhou. Yelü Xian, contrary to his usual behavior, hid in the palace and showed no intention of going hunting.

Han Derang, Xie Zhen, and others who were handpicked by him to accompany him this time were all puzzled.

His Majesty's health seems to have been poor lately. Why did he suddenly decide to go hunting? He switched to a carriage not far from the capital, indicating he's feeling extremely unwell. I don't understand why he didn't return to the palace but insisted on traveling this far to hunt. Now that he's in the hunting grounds, he's not hunting but staying in the palace all day. What's wrong with him? Judging from the way His Majesty acted when he left the capital, he seemed to be on good terms with the Empress. Could it be that something is on his mind?

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 86 Death

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:23 Word Count: 3188

Yelü Xian sat in the main tent, coughing intermittently. For a moment, he almost couldn't hold on and wanted to call for help. His sleeves and chest were covered in blood he had vomited. He tried to wipe it with his sleeves, but only made the bloodstains blurry and even more frightening.

Staring blankly at the bloodstains on his clothes, Yelü Xian took out the pre-written imperial edict from his bosom and held it in his hand.

He originally thought he could hold on for a few more days. Over the years, whenever his old illness relapsed or he coughed up blood, he would deliberately stay away from Xiaoxuan and the children, afraid that they would see him and worry or be afraid.

Yan Yan, I'm relieved that Xiao Yan is dead. The biggest threat to you has been eliminated. This is all I can do for you before I die. Yan Yan, I wish you were here with me right now, taking care of me, but I'm afraid you'd be heartbroken and cry if you saw me die. That's why I'm hiding outside. When I die, I want to be far away from you and the children, so you won't see it and you won't be too sad or heartbroken.

I really loved hearing you say "I love you." I loved you too, and I loved our children, but God didn't give me enough time to spend with you and the children any longer. I'm sorry, I can only accompany you this far.

Taking a deep breath, Yelü Xian called out to the door, "Summon Han Derang and Yelü Xiezhen."

The guards standing outside the tent quickly relayed the order, and soon Han Derang and Yelü Xiezhen entered Yelü Xian's bedchamber one after the other. Upon entering the room and seeing Yelü Xian covered in blood, Han Derang was shocked and hurriedly said, "I will go and fetch the imperial physician."

"No need. You two kneel down."

Han Derang hurriedly knelt down with Xie Zhen.

"I know my time is up, and I came to this faraway place to avoid worrying the Empress, the princes, and the princesses. I didn't call Xiu Ge with me this time because I know he has a good relationship with the Empress, and even after my death, he won't do anything to harm her. You two have been with me for many years, and I have always treated my subordinates well. I want you to continue to support the Empress and Prince Liang after my death, to be loyal to your master, and never to rebel."

"Yes!" Han Derang and Xie Zhen replied respectfully, their foreheads touching the ground.

Picking up the imperial edict beside him and handing it to them, Yelü Xian said, "This is my imperial edict. Convey my will that after my death, Prince Liang, Longxu, shall succeed to the throne. Longxu is young and cannot make decisions on anything. He is inevitably unfamiliar with political affairs. All military and important matters shall be handled by the Empress. Everything shall be done according to the Empress's orders."

"yes!"

Yelü Xian took a breath, then looked at Xie Zhen and said, "Xie Zhen, the Empress has always treated you well and values you highly. As a king, which one doesn't want to have more capable ministers and fierce generals? As a general, which one doesn't want to serve a wise ruler and become famous throughout the world? Although the Empress is a woman, she is a reasonable person. I hope that you can wholeheartedly assist the Empress, without any disloyalty, and certainly not conspire with others to rebel or harm the Empress. You are a Khitan, and you should know that it is easy to find a ruler in a chaotic world, but it is much more difficult to find a wise ruler in a peaceful world."

"Your Majesty," Yelü Xiezhen cried, "I will remember Your Majesty's teachings and will never dare to have the slightest thought of acting rashly."

"Okay, you can go out now."

Watching Xie Zhen walk out of the dormitory with tears streaming down his face, Yelü Xiancai said to Han Derang, "Get up, sit down."

"Your subject dares not!"

"What time is it? Why are you still so reserved?"

Upon hearing this, Han Derang stood up and sat down to the side.

“Let’s just have a casual chat,” Yelü Xian said. “I know you were once Yan Yan’s fiancé. I forced her into the palace and broke up your marriage. So, if you have any hatred in your heart, hate me alone. Don’t hurt Yan Yan and the children.”

Han Derang looked at Yelü Xian and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please put your mind at ease. Han Derang is just a military man; how could he possibly be worthy of the Empress's fate? Over the years, I have received the favor of Your Majesty and the Empress, who have valued me and entrusted me with the task of teaching the princes and princesses to read and practice martial arts. In my heart, I love them very much. How could I possibly have any thoughts or intentions of harming the Empress, the princes, or the princesses?"

"Han Derang, do you know why I insisted that you come to accompany me? I always worry that after I die, you might do something detrimental to the Empress because you hate me."

Upon hearing this, Han Derang knelt down again and said, "Your Majesty, if Han Derang truly harbored evil intentions, he could have done so during the Xijing Xiyin rebellion. Why wait until now? Does Your Majesty not trust me, Han Derang? Very well, I, Han Derang, guarantee with my life that as long as I live, I will never do anything to harm the Empress or the princes. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and suffer eternal damnation."

"I also want to know, after my death, will you continue to treat the children and the Empress as before, supporting the young and vulnerable mother? Among the ministers, you and Yan Yan are old acquaintances; you should at least have some affection for her." Yelü Xian finished speaking and coughed again, startling Han Derang, who rose again to call for the imperial physician, but was stopped by him. Looking at Han Derang, Yelü Xian swallowed the blood that rose in his throat again and said, "I don't understand, what are your feelings for Yan Yan? If it's about affection, why didn't you plead for her and dissuade her when Yelü Jing hunted her? Instead, you yelled at her?"

“On that day, I went up to Yan Yan and told her to find a place to hide. It was the only thing I could think of at the time. Because I was close to Yan Yan and spoke to her softly, I was afraid that it would arouse the suspicion of the late emperor. That’s why I whispered the instructions and then yelled at her to cover it up.”

"Hehe," Yelü Xian chuckled twice after hearing Han Derang's explanation, saying, "No wonder, no wonder, my doubts are finally cleared up. I've always wondered, how could she, with her straightforward and frank nature, tolerate your tyranny when you were so harsh to her, and why she kept going to you when I proposed marriage? Now I finally understand, you have feelings for Yanyan, but it's me..."

"Your Majesty, why did you say such a thing?" Han Derang's eyes reddened. Seeing Yelü Xian's face growing increasingly pale and his body increasingly weak, the hatred he had harbored for him for so long vanished in an instant.

"Even now, I can't let go of her, I can't let go of the children. Han De... Rang, don't let me down. Take good care of them... Tell Yan Yan that I love her... No matter what she does after I die... I... won't be angry..." Yelü Xian was already out of breath when he said this, and his body slowly leaned backward.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Han Derang rushed forward, helped up Yelü Xian, whose eyes were already closed, and shouted urgently, "Imperial Physician! Quickly summon the Imperial Physician!"

The imperial physician, who was urgently summoned moments later, was also unable to save Yelü Xian's life. In September of the fourth year of Qianheng, Yelü Xian, while on a hunting trip, left this world forever, leaving behind his beloved empress and princes.

The news shocked both within and outside the Liao Dynasty. For the Liao, a nation that was seeing improvements in agriculture, trade, and other sectors, and whose domestic prosperity was growing, this was undoubtedly a heavy blow. For Xiao Xuan and the young children, it was an even more devastating tragedy.

He was perfectly fine when he left, so how could he have left us like this? Recalling his unusual behavior before he left, Xiaoxuan's red and swollen eyes welled up with tears again.

Hearing the news from the fast horse that he had passed away, she refused to believe it. Watching Han Derang and Yelü Xiezhen escort his coffin and body back to the capital, she still couldn't believe it. Even looking at the imperial edict presented to her, she still couldn't believe it.

"Open the coffin!" she roared at the crowd. The assembled officials were astonished, all turning to look at the newly widowed empress, whose face was now as cold as ice.

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid…” An old minister stepped forward, frowning as he spoke.

"I ordered the coffin opened! Are you all deaf or trying to disobey my decree!" Xiao Xuan roared at the crowd. She refused to believe he was dead; he must have found a woman he loved and was lying to her. He had faked his death and gone to live with that woman; the coffin must be empty. Yelü Xian, don't try to fool me! Don't try to abandon me and the child here!

Seeing Xiao Xuan's anger, the guards had no choice but to grit their teeth and open the coffin lid. Stepping forward, and seeing that it was indeed him lying inside, Xiao Xuan felt a pang of pain in her heart. She said to the coffin, "Get up, it's time for court."

The assembled officials immediately knelt on the ground and wept bitterly in unison.

Empress of the Khitan - Empress Dowager of the Khitan Chapter 87 Succession to the Throne (Part 1)

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:28:17 Word Count: 1422

The young Yelü Longxu stood behind Xiaoxuan, watching the weeping officials and his mother speaking to his deceased father in the coffin. He seemed to understand something. He quietly knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and sobbed softly.

"Someone!" Xiao Xuan whispered to Yelü Xian inside the coffin, then called out again, "Go and get Her Majesty a new set of clothes. I want to change her clothes myself."

"yes!"

Looking around at the assembled officials, Xiao Xuan instructed, "You may all return to your posts. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Tomorrow morning, in accordance with His Majesty's will, Longxu will succeed to the throne. All of you, please attend court on time to hold the enthronement ceremony for Longxu."

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

As the ministers withdrew one by one, tears welled up in Xiaoxuan's eyes once again.

Looking at Longxu still prostrate on the ground behind her, Xiaoxuan walked over and hugged him tightly.

"Mother!" Longxu finally burst into tears, releasing all the grief in his heart.

A somber atmosphere filled the palace. As Yelü Xian was dressed in new clothes, and the coffin lid slowly closed before her eyes, Xiao Xuan could no longer hold on and fainted.

"Mother! Mother!" Longxu cried out anxiously. His mother was his only support at this moment, and he was afraid that something might happen to her.

Together with the others, they helped Xiaoxuan back to her palace. Longxu immediately summoned the imperial physician to examine his mother. After examining her, the physician told him that Xiaoxuan had suffered a sudden attack of anger, but her body was otherwise fine, which put his mind at ease.

The sun gradually set in the west, and the sky grew dark, but Xiao Xuan still hadn't woken up.

Standing guard outside Xiaoxuan's palace, Longxu looked at the darkening sky and murmured, "Mother, what should we do?"

The morning sun pierced through the clouds, casting a dazzling array of colorful rays across the sky.

Longxu, who had stayed by his mother's bedside all night, looked at his mother who was still unconscious, rubbed his eyes, and stood up and left the room with a sensible attitude.

"Guards, dress me properly, I need to go to court!" Longxu said.

When the servants heard his instructions, they were taken aback at first, but then they hurriedly took care of everything for Longxu.

Slowly opening her eyes, Xiao Xuan heard Longxu's voice beside her. She struggled to sit up, gesturing to the people guarding her bedside to remain silent. She quietly got out of bed, signaling to her maid to dress her. She wanted to see how Longxu would behave—how would someone not yet twelve years old face the civil and military officials? She secretly followed behind Longxu, watching his serious expression, devoid of his usual playfulness, solemnly leading the eunuchs towards the main hall. Xiao Xuan felt a pang of heartache.

Longxu, at your age, you should be enjoying yourself to the fullest.

Under the watchful eyes of his ministers, Emperor Longxu walked step by step up to the main hall. Looking at the throne where his father used to sit, he took a deep breath, looked at his ministers, and prepared to receive the enthronement ceremony.

"The official presiding over the enthronement ceremony had just uttered those two words when a man stepped forward from the court and looked at Longxu, saying, 'Your Highness, news of tribal rebellions has come from the northwest and southwest of our territory. The Jurchen, Dangxiang, and other major tribes are also showing signs of restlessness. Please, please...'" Ah Womuda glanced sideways at Longxu and deliberately stopped speaking.

Longxu looked at Womuda, then at the assembled officials all staring at him, and at the stunned master of ceremonies. He clenched his fists, remaining silent. He didn't know what to do; he didn't know what to say at this moment.

He heard slow, soft footsteps approaching. Looking over, he saw his mother walking from the back hall. Seeing his mother in her finest clothes, tears welled up in Longxu's eyes. "Mother," he thought, "I thought standing here would be enough. I thought I could handle everything and make you feel at ease and happy."

Xiao Xuan walked to Long Xu's side and whispered, "Don't cry." Then she walked up to the main hall, looked at the civil and military officials, and gave a cold smile.