Disco de doble caja

Capítulo 43

After listening to Xiao Xuan's words, Yelü Xian remained silent. Xiao Xuan felt a pang of sadness when she saw that he was ignoring her words, so she could only lower her head and remain silent.

The hall was completely silent, filled with kneeling ministers, a sight that made everyone feel extremely uncomfortable.

Kneeling among the courtiers, Xiu Ge secretly glanced at Xiao Xuan, seeing her head bowed in dejection, and a pang of sadness struck his heart. Too far away, the distance between them was still too great. When would he be able to get closer to her, to stand closer to her...?

"Everyone heard what the Empress said," Yelü Xian finally said. "The Empress just said that many soldiers have already died in battle, why add two more? I think the Empress is right, so I will now spare Han Kuangsi and Yelü Sha from the death penalty! But with so many soldiers killed, this matter cannot be left like this. I must at least give the people of Liao an explanation! They may be spared the death penalty, but they cannot escape punishment. I will spare their lives and instead give them fifty strokes of the cane each! Alright, court adjourned!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" the ministers bowed and reported.

Looking at Xiao Xuan, Yelü Xian said, "Yan Yan, come with me." After saying that, he and Xiao Xuan left the main hall and entered the back courtyard.

The two walked slowly down the corridor. Seeing that Yelü Xian remained silent, Xiao Xuan whispered, "Did I make you angry again? I know that war is a man's business, and it's not my place to interfere..." She was interrupted by Yelü Xian, "Yan Yan, what you said in the main hall made a lot of sense." Both stopped and looked at each other in the corridor. Yelü Xian said, "I am simply unwilling to accept this."

"Why are you unwilling?" Xiao Xuan smiled, looking at Yelü Xian. She said with a smile, "There are still many days ahead. Everything can be done slowly. Why rush things at this moment?" Looking at the radiant smile before him, Yelü Xian felt much better. He smiled back and nodded. The two strolled hand in hand along the corridor, savoring the tranquility and sweetness of the moment.

Back at his residence, Han Derang waited for news, until the news that did not disappoint him arrived. Fifty lashes saved his life, Yan Yan, thank you.

"What does Your Majesty mean by this? In our Great Liao, who doesn't know that His Majesty listens to Her Majesty? She advised His Majesty to spare Father, so why not simply exempt him from the fifty strokes of the military rod? Father is old, how can he endure fifty strokes of the military rod?" A voice complained from behind Han Derang. Without turning around, he knew that the person speaking was Li Ruoyun, who had always served by his father's side and studied medicine under his father, who was proficient in medicine.

"What do you know?" Han Derang suddenly turned to look at Li Ruoyun and asked.

Li Ruoyun overheard a report that the Empress had persuaded the Emperor to spare her father-in-law's life and instead punish him with fifty strokes of the military rod. She thought that by saying this, she could win Han Derang's favor, but to her surprise, he still gave her a cold look. She lowered her head and said, "I've upset you. I'll go back to my room first." Seeing that he didn't answer, she had no choice but to walk back to her room alone.

Watching Li Ruoyun's departing figure, Han Derang's brows slowly relaxed. This woman never understood others; she only understood herself. How could she know how difficult everything Yan Yan had done was? Did she think the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers who died could be resolved with a few words? Absurd! Ignorant!

Yan Yan, I owe you again. How can I ever repay the kindness I owe you? Han Derang walked into the courtyard and looked up at the sky. Watching the clouds drift by, he recalled the girl who had spoken to the sky.

God, you're so cruel! Why did you put me in this weird place? In modern times, I'd be living the high life, what's the point of putting me here? I'm all alone and helpless, how can you bear to see me suffer like this? Please, God, have some mercy! Did you pick the wrong person? Please, have some compassion and send me back home!

Her words seemed to echo in his ears again. Listening to her inexplicable words and thinking of her radiant smile, Han Derang felt a pang of heartache. In her eyes and in her heart, there was now only that man named Yelü Xian. There was no room for any other man. He had once possessed her, but now he had completely lost her.

After being punished, Han Kuangsi was helped back to his residence, still seething with anger.

"Father!" Han Derang walked to his bedside to check his injuries, only to hear Han Kuangsi shout angrily, "Get out!"

"Father, let me see your injury so I can find some doctors to treat you," Han Derang said hurriedly.

"Get out of here!" Han Kuangsi, who was lying on the bed, almost roared. After roaring, he coughed rapidly. Seeing this, Han Derang quickly turned around and left his father's room to avoid making Han Kuangsi even angrier.

Han Kuangsi, who had hoped to bring glory to his ancestors and prove himself as a skilled healer and warrior, had suffered a crushing defeat. His anger simmered, and he couldn't understand why. He thought that if he hadn't so readily believed the Song army's surrender, things might have been different; perhaps he would be receiving imperial rewards right now. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The elderly Han Kuangsi suddenly felt dizzy and fainted. This incident weighed heavily on his heart, like a boulder he couldn't shake off. In his old age, Han Kuangsi was ultimately punished for his greed for merit, and a deep-seated resentment took hold. Although his injuries healed soon after, his heartache was incurable, and he died the following year, in the second year of the Qianheng era.

In the same year, Yelü Xian, seeking revenge, once again dispatched a large army to attack Yanmen Pass in the south, but this time the price he paid was the death of his son-in-law, Xiao Duoluo.

Sitting by the bed, Xiaoxuan gently stroked Shuge, who was crying in her arms.

She hadn't misheard; the man who killed Shuge's husband was named Yang Ye, known as "Invincible Yang." Could Invincible Yang be the legendary Yang family generals from history? How did he come to be? Why had she never heard of him before?

As Xiaoxuan was pondering to herself, she heard Shuge crying out again.

"Mother, what should we do about Shuge?"

Seeing Shuge weeping bitterly, Xiaoxuan quickly comforted her, "Shuge, don't cry. I will take care of things for you. The death of the prince consort is something no one wanted to happen. I know you are sad, but life must go on. In two years, when you have forgotten about this, I will find you a good husband."

"Mother, I don't want it, I only want Duoluo." Shuge knelt down in front of Xiaoxuan and shook Xiaoxuan's knees as she spoke.

Xiao Xuan helped her up and said, "Listen carefully to your mother, the dead cannot be brought back to life. You are still young. If you love Duoluo and wish not to marry in this life, your mother will naturally not force you to find someone else. But your life has just begun, and you are at the prime of your youth. How can your mother ruin your youth and make you spend your life as a widow for your deceased husband just because he died in battle? Your mother will not say anything now. We will talk about the future later."

After offering some heartfelt comfort to Shuge, Xiaoxuan left Shuge's room. Walking slowly down the corridor, she carefully recalled her memories of the Yang family generals. Why did she know absolutely nothing about Yang Ye? It was as if he had suddenly appeared on the battlefield between the two sides.

"Your Majesty the Empress!" A call interrupted Xiao Xuan's thoughts. She looked up and saw a guard standing beside her.

"What's up?"

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Xiping is critically ill and requests an audience with Your Majesty."

"Xianshi?" Xiaoxuan remembered Yelü Xianshi, who was seriously ill, and hurriedly asked, "Have the imperial physicians gone to see him?"

"Your Majesty, with Your Majesty's decree in place, how could the imperial physicians dare to neglect their duties? It's just that the Prince's condition is truly serious..."

"Get the car ready!" Xiaoxuan shouted decisively.

"Her Majesty's carriage is ready! His Majesty has already gone to the Prince's residence and said he would be waiting for Her Majesty there."

"Understood. Lead the way!"

After boarding the carriage, Xiao Xuan hurried to Yelü Xianshi's residence. Led by a servant, she arrived at Yelü Xianshi's bedside.

Yelü Xian was comforting Xian Shi when he saw Xiao Xuan arrive. He stood up and offered her his seat. This small gesture warmed Xiao Xuan's heart. She gave Yelü Xian a grateful smile, sat down slowly, and looked at Yelü Xian Shi, who had white hair and beard, on the bed.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 81 Prince

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:23 Word Count: 3092

"Your Majesty the Empress has arrived." When Xian Shi saw Xiao Xuan arrive, she gave Xiao Xuan a warm smile.

Before Xiao Xuan could speak, Yelü Xian said, "Xian Shi hasn't seen you in a long time and misses you very much. I still have some official business to attend to, so I won't stay here with you. You and Xian Shi have a good chat." After saying that, Yelü Xian smiled slightly at Xian Shi, who was lying on the bed, before turning and leaving.

Seeing Yelü Xian leave, Xiao Xuan looked at Xian Shi with a gentle smile and said, "The imperial physicians told me that your health is gradually improving, and I was just about to select some pretty girls to serve you."

"Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, Xian Shi burst into laughter, feeling extremely happy. "Your Majesty is truly considerate, but I fear I will never have the fortune to enjoy it again."

Xiao Xuan chuckled softly again and said, "It's still early, why say that?"

"It's getting late! I'm afraid I'll never see you again, so I beg Your Majesty to bring the Empress here so that I can see her one last time. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to die in peace."

Listening to Xian Shi's words and looking at him, now over fifty years old, Xiao Xuan's eyes welled up with tears. Among the many veteran officials, Xiu Ge was the one she trusted most, and Xian Shi was undoubtedly the most loyal to her. She remembered when she first took over the reins of government from Yelü Xian, the court and the public were in an uproar, and many officials resisted her arrangements. Only Xian Shi consistently supported her decisions and arrangements, overcoming all opposition and providing her with immense help. If Xiu Ge was a general who made the Liao Dynasty famous on the battlefield, then Xian Shi was a meritorious official who gradually perfected the national system through policy and fulfilled his duties to the Liao Dynasty.

"Look at what you're saying, spouting such unlucky things!" Xiaoxuan lowered her head and looked away, not wanting Xianshi to see her tearful eyes.

"I truly wish I could live a few more years to accompany His Majesty and the Empress in doing more for our Great Liao. But everyone is subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death, and I am no exception. I invited Your Highness here today because I have something to tell you." I always felt a special connection with this Empress. From the first moment I met her, I found her very interesting and always had a good impression of her. Now that I know my time is up, I feel there are some things I must tell this Empress, otherwise I will not be able to rest easy.

Nodding, Xiaoxuan replied softly, "Okay, go ahead."

"Xian Shi is about to leave. I only ask that Your Majesty do one thing in the future: never be soft-hearted again."

Xiao Xuan suddenly stared wide-eyed at Xian Shi, not understanding the meaning of his words.

“The princes and princesses are still too young, and His Majesty is often ill,” Xian Shi said slowly. “There are many restless officials among the ministers. How can we suppress them without a ruthless person? Although Your Majesty is reasonable, you must also have the courage to suppress those people. Not only will the lives of the princes, princesses, and His Majesty be in danger, but this territory may also change hands.”

Listening to Xian Shi's admonition, Xiao Xuan said, "If it really has to change hands, then there's nothing we can do about it. Why fight for a throne? Every time someone fights for it, the people suffer. What's the point? Since someone wants it, we might as well give it to them."

"Nonsense!" Upon hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Xian Shi coughed. Xiao Xuan quickly helped him sit up and patted his back. This old man, without her noticing, had taken the place of her late father, Old Man Xiao, offering her silent support. Not wanting to further hurt the old man's feelings, she quickly said, "This is just Xiao Chuo's nonsense. Why must you take it so seriously, Lord Xian Shi? Look at your health, don't you want to go through with this?"

"You utter such spineless words, it doesn't matter whether I live or die!" Xian Shi said, coughing incessantly. "Changing dynasties is not such an easy thing. If we encounter another Yelü Jing, it won't just be a matter of whether the people suffer or not; at that time, whether we can even protect the territory of our Great Liao will be a question." Grabbing Xiao Xuan's hand, Yelü Xian Shi said, "You are the Empress of our Khitan. The blood flowing in your veins is that of the Khitan people. Shouldn't everything you do be for the benefit of our Khitan? How can you be so cowardly?"

Looking back at Xian Shi's fiery eyes, Xiao Xuan desperately wanted to say, "I'm not a Khitan, I'm a Han Chinese." But she couldn't say it to the old man, and she knew that even if she did, it would be futile; he would only think she was joking.

"Your Majesty, promise Xian Shi that you will treat all the people of Khitan as your own children. So many years have passed, and the territory of our Great Liao has expanded, but the lives of the people have not been good. Now we finally have a wise ruler and an empress as reasonable as you, yet you say such things, alas!" Xian Shi slammed her hand heavily on the edge of the bed and fell backward.

"Master Xianshi, Master Xianshi!" Xiaoxuan hurriedly supported him and called out to him urgently.

His hand was still tightly gripped, and Xian Shi, breathing heavily, looked at her, weakly opening his eyes, and said, "You must be ruthless, you must. For yourself, for the Khitan, you don't know what awaits you. Only by being ruthless, only by being ruthless can you protect yourself. Only by living...do you have the right to talk about protecting others..."

Seeing that Xian Shi's breath was growing weaker and weaker, Xiao Xuan cried out, "I remember, I remember!" Then she looked towards the door and shouted urgently, "Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician!"

The door opened, and the imperial physician rushed into the room. At the same time, the large hand that had been tightly gripping hers fell limply to its side.

"Xianshi!"

He could no longer hear any cries and screams. Yelü Xianshi, the old man who had cared for Xiaoxuan like Old Man Xiao, could no longer hear the shouts around him. He left this world amidst her words of consent.

That night, watching Xiao Xuan sitting alone in the bed curtains, weeping, Yelü Xian had no other way to comfort his empress except to gently embrace her from behind. For he harbored resentment.

Ta Lie died young, and now Xian Shi has passed away, only to be caught up in the chaos of the Song-Liao War. He sent troops out twice, and both times he suffered defeats. The second time, he even lost a prince consort for nothing. The hatred in his heart was extraordinary. It was only because she was there, and he didn't want to see her frown because of him, that he buried that hatred deep in his heart.

At night, the two people lying in bed were both preoccupied with their own thoughts and could not fall asleep.

Xiao Xuan was thinking about Xian Shi's dying words, while Yelü Xian was thinking about his third battle.

He was the emperor, but he was also a man, a man of flesh and blood. Surrounded once, defeated twice—how could he swallow this humiliation? With a sudden movement, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him, savoring her touch. "Yan Yan, am I greedy?" "I want you, I want revenge, otherwise I'm never happy." "Yan Yan, I know you love me, and you wouldn't want me to be unhappy, right? Let me be selfish this once. After I've vented my anger, I'll come back to be with you and the children."

In October, Yelü Xian finally made his decision: he would personally lead an expedition south to attack the Song Dynasty.

As the army left the capital, Xiao Xuan came to Xiu Ge, who had been promoted to the position of King of the Northern Court. Looking at the handsome Xiu Ge, she said to him, "On the battlefield, I only trust you. I'm entrusting him to you."

Looking at the face that only appeared in his dreams, Hugh nodded. He understood her words and knew what she meant. The troops around him had begun to emerge from the city gates, and Hugh turned his horse around, took a few steps, and then suddenly pulled on the reins.

"Don't worry, unless I'm dead." Turning back to look at Xiaoxuan, Xiu Ge smiled and said, "Don't forget, you still owe me a wife."

"I'll give it to you when you come back!" Xiaoxuan replied with a smile.

He hadn't forgotten his promise to her. Throughout the journey, although Xiu Ge remained silent as usual, he paid extra attention to Yelü Xian's movements. The army marched all the way to Xiong Prefecture and began the war against the Song Dynasty. Xiu Ge took the lead and didn't give Yelü Xian any chance to go to the battlefield.

Zhao Guangyi, who had nearly lost his life in the Battle of Gaoliang River, was overjoyed by the Liao army's repeated defeats. Upon learning of this, he decided to personally lead the expedition. He directed the deployment while simultaneously gathering troops to head towards Xiongzhou. Meanwhile, the situation in Xiongzhou had changed.

Empress of Khitan - Chapter 82: A Glorious Return

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:23 Word Count: 3282

The valiant Xiuge led his troops southward like a thunderbolt, quickly besieging the important Song Dynasty town of Waqiao Pass.

In early November, to relieve the siege of Waqiao Pass, Song generals summoned troops from all directions to assemble in one place, attempting a nighttime crossing of the Nanyi River to launch a surprise attack on the Liao camp. However, they were repelled by the Liao general Xiao Hangan and his men, who were well-prepared. Two days later, the Song army prepared to relieve the siege of Waqiao Pass again. However, Zhang Shi, the defending general, failed to seize the opportunity and, before reinforcements could act, personally led his soldiers in a breakout eastward. Yelü Xiuge had already made preparations near Waqiao Pass, and Zhang Shi's departure from the city resulted in a direct confrontation with Yelü Xiuge. In the ensuing melee, Zhang Shi was killed, and the remaining soldiers had to hastily retreat back into the city. The second attempt to rescue the Liao army also ended due to Zhang Shi's unexpected death. Afterwards, the Song army was forced to deploy its troops on the opposite bank of the river, establishing a stalemate with the Liao army. Ostensibly, this was a strategy to resolve the crisis, but secretly, they were waiting for Zhao Guangyi to arrive with a large army.

Yelü Xiuge didn't believe the Song army could remain calm at this point. After pondering for a while, he guessed they must be waiting for reinforcements, and he told Yelü Xian his speculation.

Upon hearing Xiuge's speculation, Yelü Xian sighed repeatedly. "It seems that I really cannot have my way. Alas, back then, I wanted to avenge the siege of Nanjing, but the Empress advised against it, and I did not listen. Now, after two consecutive defeats, I am afraid that this time will be the same. How can I face the Empress?"

Hearing Yelü Xian's words, Xiu Ge felt a pang of sadness. He was most afraid of others mentioning her in front of him. Looking at Yelü Xian's worried face, Xiu Ge said, "Your Majesty need not worry. The Song Dynasty army has not yet arrived. Our Great Liao can launch an offensive immediately. There is no need to confront them. If we wait for their reinforcements to arrive before making plans, we may miss the opportunity to win the battle."

"But their formation is well-organized, and even if we launch an offensive, we may not have any hope of winning." Yelü Xian was still very worried.