Empress Dowager Xiaoxuan

Chapter 36

She looked at him, and he looked at her.

"Your Majesty," Xiao Xuan called out, then bowed slightly to him.

"Yes, you're back." His voice was still quite low and gentle. He had so much he wanted to say to her, but why couldn't he utter it? Yelü Xian steadied himself, looked at Yelü Xiu, and said sternly, "Xiu-ge, what kind of work are you doing? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Ge smiled slightly and said, "It's not that Xiu Ge is slow, it's that Her Majesty the Empress doesn't allow Xiu Ge to walk so fast, and besides, Xiu Ge doesn't dare to walk fast."

Frowning, Yelü Xian asked Xiu Ge, "Why?"

"Well, Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant, so Brother Xiu dares not rush." After saying this, Brother Xiu looked at Xiao Xuan, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips.

Yelü Xian was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, staring blankly at Xiao Xuan, then asked with a beaming smile, "You're pregnant?"

With a long sigh, Xiaoxuan blushed and lowered her head, saying, "I'm tired, I'm going to rest."

Then he walked past Yelü Xian without lingering. Watching her departing figure, Yelü Xian felt indescribably happy. He handed the Guanyin girl in his arms to Xiao Jixian, asking the imperial uncle to take the princess to play, while he sat in his chair, chuckling to himself every now and then.

Seeing his unusually excited state, Yelü Xiuge and Xiao Hulian had no idea what he would instruct them next. Han Derang, however, didn't care about his emotions; he was more concerned with his own. Seeing the Emperor ask her, "Are you pregnant?" Her shy, downcast expression was deeply etched in his eyes and heart. Unlike Yelü Xian's excitement, his heart was filled with bitterness.

The Empress and the princes have all returned safely. The next step for Yelü Xian is to figure out how to deal with the people who brought him this nightmare, those people who almost ruined his happiness.

But she stopped him when he made this decision. She forbade him to kill King Zhao and Queen Zhao.

"You're talking nonsense. Even if it's the King of Zhao who's going to rebel, what does that have to do with my sister?" Xiao Xuan became very agitated when she heard him say that he was going to punish her sister.

"Yan Yan, don't be anxious. Let me explain things to you clearly." Yelü Xian said, pointing to the letter he had just shown to Xiao Xuan on the table. "That letter proves that Princess Zhao harbors ill intentions towards you."

“That’s not how it is!” Xiaoxuan said. “Second Sister is far away in the capital, how could she know about what’s going on here? It’s not impossible that someone deliberately lied to her and made her write this kind of thing.”

"Why do you always think so highly of her? Do you know how many times Xi Yin has committed treason? He's still alive because he's lucky. I don't believe that as his wife, she didn't know about the first rebellion, let alone these repeated ones. I'm afraid she might have been secretly encouraging these things!"

Xiao Xuan strode to the table, gritted her teeth, picked up the letter Xiao Yangan had written to her, and tore it to shreds.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter Sixty-Six: Loving You

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:08 Word Count: 3085

"Yan Yan, you!" Yelü Xian raised his voice when he saw that she had torn up the letter proving that Princess Zhao was an accomplice.

With a long, soft sigh, Xiao Xuan looked at Yelü Xian and said, "Xian, I've finally managed to return to your side with my child. We've faced countless dangers and anxieties along the way. I only want to ask you one question, and you must answer me honestly and sincerely." Looking into Yelü Xian's eyes, Xiao Xuan asked softly, "If my child and I were now in Xi Yin's hands, would you be willing to exchange your empire for us?"

"Why do you ask that? You're all fine now, why are you asking such a question?"

“Xian…” Xiaoxuan took a breath and said, “Xian, please tell me the truth. No matter what the answer is, I will not blame you or complain about you. I understand important matters. I just want a real answer, an answer from the most honest part of your heart.”

"I will exchange the entire empire for him." Yelü Xian looked at Xiao Xuan and said calmly, "I don't want to deceive you, and I am also reluctant to give up this empire. If I said that I wouldn't feel the pain of exchanging the empire for you, that would be a lie. I will bring you back first, and then make other plans. I am not the kind of person who is willing to admit defeat. These days you have not been by my side, and I have thought about it repeatedly. You are very important to me."

Gently nestled in his arms, Xiao Xuan said, "Since you're so determined to give up this empire, why can't you give the Zhao Prince's family another chance? You said you'd feel bad exchanging the empire for us. Everyone wants to sit on the throne, but if you're going to sit on it, you should sit on it securely. Although Xi Yin has rebelled several times, his first rebellion was during Yelü Jing's time. You know his character; he probably rebelled because he couldn't stand Yelü Jing's actions. This time, he's probably just misunderstood you. Let's give them another chance. We're all back safe and sound now, so please let them go this time."

Looking at Xiao Xuan, Yelü Xian didn't know what to say. He knew perfectly well that Xi Yin was not the kind of person who would give up easily, nor was he the kind of person who would change his ways after just one attempt. But looking into Xiao Xuan's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

She knew that her "second sister's husband" and "second sister" had gotten themselves into serious trouble this time, but she naively thought that perhaps they had only misunderstood Yelü Xian for a moment, which was why they had acted this way. Recalling the days she spent with Xiao Yangan at the Xiao residence, how her sister had lectured her endlessly, she simply couldn't believe that her second sister would do such a thing. Besides, her child was also her family. It must be that her second sister had been bewitched by someone to do this, Xiao Xuan thought naively.

"Sigh." Yelü Xian sighed deeply, hugged her tightly, and suddenly felt something pressing against his chest. He looked down at Xiao Xuan's chest and asked, "What are you carrying in your arms?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan blushed, took out a palm-sized jade seal from her bosom, handed it to Yelü Xian, and said, "This is your jade seal. I was afraid of losing it after you left, so I kept it with me. I'm returning it to you now that you're back."

Taking the imperial seal, Yelü Xian looked at Xiao Xuan and asked, "Yan Yan, since the imperial seal is in your hands, why don't you take it to the garrison commander of Xijing? With this imperial seal, you can issue orders on my behalf and turn the tide! I thought that the imperial seal was stolen by that Xi Yin person, and you had no way to mobilize the army, so you chose to stay away. Alas, how could you be so foolish!"

Xiao Xuan looked at Yelü Xian, lowered her eyelids and said, "At that time, no one knew who was going to cause trouble. How could I dare to take the imperial seal to Xiao Yuanhai? What if he was the one plotting the rebellion? Wouldn't I be walking into a trap? Besides, only one person in the Liao territory could have this imperial seal, and that was you. It is because only you can use it that its value is shown. If I take it and use it without authorization, where will your dignity be?"

Something churning within him, Yelü Xian frowned as he looked at Xiao Xuan and said, "Yan Yan, you've suffered these past few days. I know you're good to me, and I understand your feelings. I don't want this to happen again, but if it does, I want you to take the Imperial Seal and do what you're supposed to do. Whatever you do, I won't blame you! I understand now that in my heart, you and the children are the most important. I won't gamble with your and the children's lives; I can't afford to. What imperial seal, what imperial majesty—those are just illusions; they mean nothing."

Like thunder roaring in her ears, hearing his words caused Xiao Xuan unbearable pain. She had protected his mark for him, and all her hard work had finally paid off. He finally understood the significance of her and the children. As an emperor, he was willing to exchange his empire for her and the children; what more could she ask for? Thinking of this, tears streamed down her face like a burst dam. Seeing her tears, Yelü Xian slammed the imperial seal onto the table and embraced her tightly.

“You gave me the imperial seal and entrusted me with its safekeeping. When trouble came, I wanted to do something with it. But I was also afraid, afraid that if I used it improperly, it would bring even greater disaster. So I could only keep it hidden on my person. I can ignore myself while I'm on the run, but I can't ignore our children. I hate myself for watching them live in fear with me.”

"It's all my fault, I was too playful! I didn't think things through for you, which is why you and your son are in danger," Yelü Xian said, tears welling up in his eyes many times, but he forced them back. He wanted to be a strong and upright man in front of her, and he absolutely could not shed tears in front of her.

"Yan Yan, I will never leave you again. I will stay by your side and the children's side," Yelü Xian said softly.

Without a word, Xiaoxuan was choked up and unable to speak. She pressed her head against his chest and could only nod to tell him that she understood his feelings.

"You must be tired from your journey, and you're pregnant, go and rest," Yelü Xian said. His words brought a pang of sadness to both of them. To avoid shedding tears, he helped Xiao Xuan to bed. After tucking Xiao Xuan in, Yelü Xian picked up the jade seal from the table, left the room, and went into Longxu's room. Looking at the infant Longxu, he sulked silently.

Yelü Xian, you're a scoundrel! Your hunting trip, all you cared about was your own pleasure, while you terrified that mother and child. It's all thanks to Yan Yan's unwavering devotion to the child and the worthless jade seal. If anything had happened to her or the child, how could you face her? Do you know the hardships she endured these past few days, sleeping in the open? Do you know how terrified she was when danger repeatedly threatened her? Yelü Xian, you're her man, where were you then? He cursed himself inwardly. Last time, in this Xijing city, you failed to protect her, allowing her to be captured by the Song people. She went through so much to return to your side, and you raised your whip against her. This time, it was again your lack of foresight that caused this blunder, endangering her and the children, yet she has no complaints against you… The more Yelü Xian thought about it, the more bitter he felt. He got up and went back to his and Xiao Xuan's bedroom.

The door was gently pushed open and then gently closed. Yelü Xian walked to the bed, where she lay sobbing alone. Quietly leaning close to her, Yelü Xian gently stroked her arm and whispered, "It's my fault, I've come back to be with you. It's all my fault. I'll grant all your requests, and I won't make things difficult for Prince Zhao and Princess Zhao. I'm the one who made you cry, I've come back to wipe away your tears."

Turning over, she looked into his tender eyes, which were filled with love and affection. Xiao Xuan cried, "Xian, I'm sorry for making the children worry. I hate the traitor too, but Father is dead. I only have these two blood-related sisters left. Please forgive me for being so willful."

Holding her trembling, weeping body, Yelü Xian said, "I know what you're thinking. After all these years, how could I not understand what you're thinking?"

The two people, embracing tightly, each admitted their own faults, unwilling to utter a single word of apology from the other. This was their love—a love that could forgive everything about the other. Xiao Xuan, who had initially thought she had only married him out of obligation, finally understood why she had thought of him constantly during her days of wandering, why she had cared so much about the things he had entrusted to her for safekeeping. She realized she had unknowingly fallen in love with this man, which explained why she cared so much about his words and was so attentive to everything he did. "Yelü Xian, from now on, I will do my best in everything, to be a good wife to you."

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter Sixty-Seven: Nameless

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:08 Word Count: 3192

A few days later, the large contingent left Xijing City. Surprisingly, this kind of rebellion, which usually resulted in severe punishment, took an unexpected turn. Yelü Xian did not kill Xi Yin, who had failed in his rebellion; he merely stripped him of his title and demoted him, sparing his life and exiling him to the border to herd horses and guard the frontier. Even the guilt of the Princess Consort of the Zhao Prince's residence was not investigated; instead, the matter was dismissed as someone had misled her.

The rebellion was resolved, but Yelü Xian could not forget the suffering that Xiao Xuan and her child had endured. Upon returning to Shangjing, he immediately dispatched Yelü Xiuge with a large army to attack the Dangxiang tribe. Xiuge did not disappoint Yelü Xian; he achieved a great victory, adding another brilliant chapter to his life.

After this incident, Xiao Xuan seemed to have become a different person. In court, she became more mature and composed, increasingly preferring silent contemplation and speaking sparingly. She always listened quietly to the ministers' opinions on various aspects of the situation, observing Yelü Xian's expression to guess his decision. Not only was she more cautious and composed in court, but she was also quieter around the children. She spent more time with them than before, reading and learning to read with them, listening to lectures from scholars appointed by the Emperor. She cared about the children's studies and even their play. In that quietude, she quietly absorbed knowledge and slowly grew.

Among the scholars who lectured the children was Han Derang.

Ever since Han Derang escorted Xiao Xuan back to Xijing, Yelü Xian had treated him with special favor, bestowing upon him many rewards. Looking at Xiao Xuan beside him, Yelü Xian knew that her heart now belonged only to him, Yelü Xian, and their children; there was no room for anyone else. Therefore, he confidently appointed the accomplished Han Derang as the children's teacher, instructing them in both martial arts and literature. His confidence was not without reason. Since that night when he and Xiao Xuan confessed their love, his empress's heart had been filled only with tender affection for him and boundless love for their children. Her greatest interest now lay in accompanying him in handling state affairs and watching the children study and practice martial arts.

Han Derang was quite satisfied with this arrangement. Since becoming the children's teacher, he had become even more respectful and courteous to Yelü Xian and Xiao Xuan. This arrangement was already a great joy for him; how could he not be content? All he wanted was to see her often, and now he could not only see her frequently but also teach her children. How could he not be happy? Han Derang had never consummated his marriage with Li Ruoyun and therefore had no children. So, when teaching the princess and princes, he devoted himself wholeheartedly, secretly treating those children as his own.

In the eighth year of the Baoning era, Xiao Xuan, now pregnant again, was a mother of three: her eldest daughter Yelü Guanyin, her eldest son Yelü Longxu, and her second son Longqing. One afternoon, Xiao Xuan was telling Longqing a story, and had just lulled him to sleep when she noticed a small head peeking in from outside his room. Xiao Xuan quickly got up and went to the door, where she saw Yelü Longxu hiding there.

"Longxu? Why aren't you taking a nap? What are you doing here?" Xiaoxuan asked in a low voice.

"Mother!" Four-year-old Longxu said to Xiaoxuan, "Sister is going to die."

What? Guanyin?

Xiao Xuan was shocked and frowned, asking Long Xu, "What happened?" But as soon as she asked the question, she wished she could find a place to bang her head against the wall. What could this four-year-old boy possibly explain? So she hurriedly looked at the attendant following behind Long Xu and asked, "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has betrothed the daughter of the Bohai Consort to the young imperial brother-in-law. The eldest princess was unhappy and went to His Majesty to throw a tantrum, but was reprimanded by His Majesty. So she hid in the garden and cried, which was seen by the eldest prince."

"Mother, my sister is crying her eyes out! Her snot is so long, so very long..."

"Alright!" Xiao Xuan said to Long Xu, her face tense. She gently stroked Long Xu's nose with her hand, then asked the attendant, "Why did Your Majesty decide to betroth the daughter of the Bohai Consort to the Imperial Brother-in-law?"

"Your Majesty, the Consort of Bohai is critically ill and requests Your Majesty's presence for a talk. It seems the topic of discussion is the princess's marriage."

"Where is His Majesty?" Xiao Xuan asked.

"Your Majesty, we are currently in the palace of Consort Bohai."

Looking down at Longxu, Xiaoxuan said, "Go find your sister and don't let her cry herself to death. Tell her that Mother said if she cries herself to death, I will find the ugliest man to marry her and make him her husband."

"Oh," Longxu replied, then took off running towards the back garden. Sister, Mother won't let you cry yourself to death; Mother is going to find you the ugliest husband imaginable.

Watching Longxu's figure disappear into the distance, Xiaoxuan pondered for a moment and then walked towards the palace of the Bohai Consort.

Consort Bohai was terminally ill, and although Yelü Xian had always been indifferent to her, he couldn't bear not to visit her. Looking at the daughter Consort Bohai had given birth to for him standing by her bedside, he felt a slight pang of guilt. He sat down by her bedside, talking to her as he always had, rambling on and on. Just then, a voice announced from outside the door: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."

Everyone in the room paled. Why had the Empress arrived at this time? Yelü Xian's heart pounded wildly. He had come to the Empress's side without even informing her of the imperial physician's report that the Bohai Consort was on the verge of death. That in itself wasn't the problem; the real issue was his impulsiveness in arranging the engagement for Liu Zhi Ge without consulting her. Liu Zhi Ge was her younger brother, and their relationship had always been harmonious. She always consulted him on everything, but this time he had made the decision behind her back. He feared she would misunderstand his intentions.

Consort Bohai's already pale face turned even more ashen upon hearing of Xiao Xuan's arrival. She had finally managed to exchange a few words with Yelü Xian, and now Xiao Xuan had come; the Emperor's expression had changed drastically, clearly wary of her arrival. "Xiao Chuo," she thought, "I'm about to die, and you still want to compete with me? Are you trying to make things difficult for me? Can't you let me be alone with His Majesty for even a moment? Remember, I am also his wife!"

Wuming stood in front of his mother's bed, looking towards the door. Had the Empress arrived? The maids said she was very powerful, and that his father liked her very much. She even gave orders to the court officials. Had she come?

Xiao Xuan walked in from outside the door. She bowed slightly to Yelü Xian and said, "Your Majesty."

Her respectful manner made Yelü Xian feel awkward, and he quickly said, "Yan Yan, you've come."

Xiao Xuan smiled at him, then walked towards Bohai Fei, who was struggling to sit up on the bed.

"Consort Bohai greets Your Majesty the Empress..." Consort Bohai finished speaking and coughed painfully twice.

Xiao Xuan sat on the edge of her bed and said, "Lie down quickly, don't be so polite. Have you seen the imperial physician?"

Consort Bohai nodded, gave a wry smile, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have seen that your days are numbered, so I dared to ask someone to invite His Majesty. I have no other intention than to entrust Wuming to His Majesty."

Knowing her time was short, Consort Bohai was also thinking about her unfortunate child. The reason she sought out Yelü Xian to arrange the marriage between Wuming and Xiao Jixian was because Xiao Jixian was Empress Xiao Chuo's younger brother. Although he was adopted into the Xiao family, Empress Xiao Chuo's affection for him was well-known. After her death, her daughter Wuming would likely have a difficult life. If Wuming could find a good place to live, that would be good fortune; the real fear was that Empress Xiao Chuo, who constantly bore children for the Emperor, would despise Wuming as an unwanted child and make things difficult for her at every turn. After all, Wuming wasn't her biological daughter, but she still possessed royal blood. As a mother, she couldn't ignore her child's well-being. By marrying Wuming to Xiao Jixian, even if Empress Xiao Chuo disliked her daughter, she wouldn't hold it against Wuming too much out of consideration for her brother.

"Nameless?" Xiao Xuan was surprised when she heard what Bohai Fei said.

Looking at the beautiful and dignified empress before him, Wuming wondered why his father liked her so much; she was so beautiful. Hearing her call his name, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Wuming greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Xiao Xuan turned her head to look at the kneeling Wuming and said, "Get up quickly." Then she turned to Yelü Xian and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you give the child such a name?"

"This..." Yelü Xian was momentarily embarrassed.

"This is a name that Consort Bohai took upon herself to name the child. Your Majesty, please don't take offense. When Wuming was born, Consort Bohai asked His Majesty to name her, but His Majesty was busy at the time and told Consort Bohai to name the child herself. Consort Bohai was not very knowledgeable and didn't know what name to give the child, so it was delayed. Later, because she didn't have a name, the maids and boys all called her Wuming."