Disco de doble caja

Capítulo 51

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:35:26 Word Count: 1307

Han Derang stood frozen in place upon hearing this, realizing he had made a grave mistake. The once lively court assembly suddenly fell silent, just as Xiao Xuan said, "Come, let me toast all the officials."

The ministers, seeing her unfazed expression and composed demeanor, as if she hadn't witnessed Hugu's death, were all deeply shocked. Although they all raised their wine cups and drank them down, they felt extremely uneasy. Next, Xiaoxuan ordered singing and dancing, without glancing at the spot where Hugu lay. The guards had no choice but to carry Hugu's body away. Even after the court assembly ended, Xiaoxuan made no comment on the matter, and the ministers knew she was protecting Han Derang. Although they were also annoyed by Yelü Hugu's excessive words, the fact that the Empress Dowager seemed indifferent to Hugu's death in public showed how popular Han Derang was with her. Despite their thoughts, they could only disperse in the end.

Filled with remorse, Han Derang longed to explain himself to Xiao Xuan and apologize for his actions. However, he waited all night without receiving any summons from the Empress Dowager. This deepened his guilt. Looking at the gradually brightening dawn outside the window, Han Derang resolved to do something to show those arrogant Khitans that, no matter what, he, Han Derang, relied on his own true abilities. This court assembly left the Han Chinese ministers resentful, feeling that Yelü Hugu's words insulted them and negated everything they had done for the Liao Dynasty. It also changed the minds of those ministers who were still skeptical of the rumors between Han Derang and the Empress Dowager, making them convinced that there was indeed an ambiguous relationship between the two, and they began to have some reservations about Han Derang. Many Khitan generals even believed that he had obtained his titles and honors by taking advantage of his past relationship with the Empress Dowager.

Regardless of who harbored their own thoughts, they quickly quieted down. The following year, Shi, a Han Chinese minister, along with Han Derang and others, accomplished several significant feats for the state, causing a sensation in the court and elevating the status of Han officials within the Liao court.

Emperor Xiaoxuan requested permission to build a road, mobilizing 200,000 laborers to complete a rugged and difficult road in a single day, astonishing the entire Liao Kingdom. Meanwhile, Han Derang, Xie Zhen, and Emperor Xiaoxuan, among others, formulated numerous relevant national policies based on the country's circumstances, bringing renewed vitality to the Liao territory. From the death of Yelü and the ascension of Yelü Xian to the present year 2 of the Tonghe era, in just fourteen years, Xiaoxuan, Yelü Xian, and their ministers had reversed the Liao Kingdom's decline and constant vulnerability at the time of Yelü's death.

Xiao Xuan couldn't help but secretly admire Han Derang. No wonder Xiao Chuo had taken a liking to him at first sight; he was indeed a remarkable person, meticulous and diligent in handling matters, never lazy. More importantly, he cared deeply about the growth of Longxu and the other children, frequently providing them with proper guidance. In recognition of his merits, in the third year of the Tonghe era, Xiao Xuan promoted Han Derang to the position of Chancellor, then Grand Chancellor, and further ennobled him as the Prince of Qi, with no further objections from the court.

Everything seemed calm, yet everything also seemed turbulent.

Even after she elevated him to a higher rank, he would still stand guard outside her palace every night; only there could his heart find peace. Days passed, and one night, this situation finally changed. She could no longer sleep soundly; the man's unwavering devotion had completely moved her heart. The door opened gently, and she looked at him, who stood outside, utterly exhausted, and said, "Come in, and close the door behind you."

After quietly rubbing his face a few times, Han Derang chased away the sleepiness that was creeping in, walked into Xiao Xuan's dormitory, closed the door, and looked at her already sitting on the bed.

"Is your injury healed?" Xiao Xuan asked Han Derang softly.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm already well."

"Call me Yan Yan."

Hearing her instructions, Han Derang looked up at Xiao Xuan in disbelief.

"I'm tired, stay with me and rest." After saying this, she got up and went into the tent, without saying another word.

Empress of the Khitan - Empress Dowager of the Khitan Chapter 95: Personal Expedition (Part 1)

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:35:45 Word Count: 1359

For a moment, he stood frozen in place, not believing her words, unsure if the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. Looking at the hazy figure inside the tent and the soft candlelight, he took a step forward, walked to the table, blew out the candle, and headed towards the bed.

Sixteen years later, he finally had her, holding her tightly in his arms, his voice trembling as he called out her name—Yan Yan.

He was content with a night of love and possession.

She woke up in the morning to find herself still being held tightly in his arms while he was asleep, and couldn't help but sigh softly. She gently grasped his arm, trying to move it away, but instead woke him up.

"Awake?" A soft whisper came from beside my ear.

Xiao Xuan looked at Han Derang with a bitter smile and said, "It's time to get up and go to court."

"Yeah, wear more clothes, it's raining." "Yeah."

There weren't many words, just a few simple words of advice, yet they enveloped the previously awkward room in warmth. "Come early tonight, let's have dinner together." Xiao Xuan, dressed neatly, said this and quietly left the room. Han Derang, sitting on the bed getting dressed, felt a surge of emotions. He had thought it would only be a one-night stand, but judging from her words, it seemed they could continue their intimacy from the previous night. A helpless smile appeared on his lips. He said to himself: Han Derang, this must be the end of suffering.

After the morning court session, Xiao Xuan went to Yelü Xian's tomb. She dismissed everyone, knelt before the tomb, and remained silent. She knelt there persistently for two hours before rising and, with the help of attendants, boarding a carriage and leaving the mausoleum. Before leaving, Xiao Xuan cast one last, affectionate glance at Yelü Xian's tomb. From then on, she continued to visit Yelü Xian's tomb frequently and spent every night embracing Han Derang. The children gradually understood; they did not reject Han Derang but instead often gathered around him, teasing him and asking him to play with them. Han Derang's life with the children became increasingly harmonious, and laughter once again filled the palace's inner courtyard, restoring life to this once cold space. Perhaps she was wrong about Yelü Xian, but she was right about the children.

Every evening, Xiao Xuan would quietly watch the children playing with Han Derang. She was enjoying this hard-won springtime when a sudden piece of news shattered the happiness she had just gained.

Some Song Dynasty officials advised Zhao Guangyi that the Liao Dynasty was currently ruled by a female emperor, leaving behind a weak and orphaned mother. Furthermore, the empress dowager neglected state affairs and was having an affair with one of her ministers. They suggested that attacking Liao at this time would surely be successful. Zhao Guangyi took this to heart and thought it was an excellent idea. Therefore, in the fourth year of the Tonghe era, Zhao Guangyi once again launched an attack on Liao, dividing his forces into three routes to attack the Khitan.

Xiao Xuan was furious upon receiving the urgent report.

Before, she understood nothing—nothing about the Han or the Khitan. Perhaps she still doesn't understand now, what the Han or the Khitan are. But she understands her heart; her heart has been completely given to the man named Yelü Xian. That man hasn't disappointed her. He once wanted to befriend the Song and the Han people, but in return, he received Zhao Guangyi's personal campaign. Her heart is now filled with love and regret—love for Yelü Xian and her children, and regret for them. All she wants is a peaceful life, to be with her children in peace and happiness. She no longer cares about the old grievances and the feuds with the Zhao brothers, but after so many years, he is still so persistent, launching another attack.

Zhao Guangyi, do you think I'm deaf or blind? Do you think I don't know how you ascended the throne? How much blood is on your hands? My spies sent out to find Yan Yu didn't find him, but they brought back news of how you forced Zhao Kuangyin's sons, Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang, to their deaths, as well as your own brother, Zhao Tingmei. What a lie, the "Golden Box Covenant"! You forced your relatives to their deaths, and now you're paving the way for your own descendants to inherit the throne. How ruthless you are! Fine, I'll settle all the old scores and new ones with you.

Empress of the Khitan - Empress Dowager of the Khitan Chapter Ninety-Five: Personal Expedition (Part Two)

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:36:07 Word Count: 1454

In the imperial court, looking at the ministers, Xiao Xuan coldly said, "Fine, since he thinks my widow and her orphan are easy to bully, then this time I'll show him who's afraid of whom! Issue the order: any general or soldier who defeats the Song army and fights bravely will be richly rewarded. Anyone who dares not go into battle and deserts in the face of the enemy—there are no such people in my Great Liao! Execute them!" Glancing at the ministers, Xiao Xuan continued, "Prepare for me; I will personally lead the expedition."

In an instant, a large number of court officials knelt down, pleading, "Empress Dowager Chengtian, you must not! If the Empress Dowager is worried, she may send us to fight, but you must not personally lead the expedition."

Standing up, Xiao Xuan straightened her back and said, "I am not someone who has never been on the battlefield, nor am I someone who is afraid of death. The decision to personally lead the expedition has been made, so there is no point in saying more. Court adjourned."

After the court session, Xiao Xuan returned to her study and sat quietly. Looking at the things in the study, she recalled Yelü Xian's every move here when he was alive.

"Mother!" Longxu's call interrupted Xiaoxuan's thoughts.

Looking at Longxu, Xiaoxuan's eyes softened considerably. She took Longxu's hand and asked, "Longxu, didn't you go out to play?"

“Mother, you always ask us the same question.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan froze in her seat, unable to utter a word. Then Long Xu said again, "Mother, Lord Han said you are going to personally lead the expedition, is that right?"

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly and said, "Did Lord Han send you?"

Longxu nodded and said, "Lord Han said that it is dangerous for him to lead the expedition personally, and he asked me to come and persuade Mother not to go, as he will go in Mother's place. Besides relaying Lord Han's words, Longxu has something else to tell Mother."

"What is it?" Xiaoxuan asked softly.

"I want to go to the battlefield," fourteen-year-old Longxu said firmly. Xiaoxuan looked at Longxu, her gaze turning from gentle to icy. "Did Han Derang tell you to say that?"

"No! Mother, it was Longxu who wanted to go to the battlefield." Longxu looked at Xiaoxuan earnestly and said, "Mother, Father once said that he had been out in the world since he was very young. I'm already fourteen, and you've always kept me in the palace studying, writing, and practicing martial arts. You've never let me go out and explore. Mother, do you remember the story you told me about the poor boy when I was little? Because he insisted on doing everything himself, he was able to protect the villagers and repel the bandits. I've been spoiled. Although I train with the guards every day, they don't dare to really compete with me. And I still don't know what the battlefield is like. Mother, I want to be like Father and achieve something. You told me that a good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown and should travel the world. I also heard Lord Han mention that when I was sixteen, I went alone to the Han and Song territories. Mother, think about it, I stay in the palace all day and haven't seen anything. How can I possibly amount to anything like this?"

Xiao Xuan slowly raised her arms and hugged Long Xu tightly, choking back tears. After Xian left, she cherished the children even more carefully; these were the only children she had left who bore Xian's blood. Although she was strict with them, she also loved them dearly. Now, hearing Long Xu speak these words of reason, Xiao Xuan felt a pang of sadness in her heart and couldn't help but cry out, "My dear child, I promise you, I'll take you with me."

Longxu reached out his little hand to wipe away the tears streaming from Xiaoxuan's eyes and said, "Mother, don't cry. Father and Lord Han are afraid to see you cry."

"Yes, Mother, don't cry!"

Han Derang, who had been waiting outside for a long time, finally saw Longxu come out and couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Your Majesty, has the Empress Dowager given her consent?"

"Lord Han, I'm sorry, I have to go on the expedition with my mother."

His body stiffened, and looking at Longxu's stubborn little face, Han Derang shook his head helplessly.

"Your Majesty, I will protect you and Empress Dowager Chengtian." After a moment of silence, knowing that he could not change the outcome, Han Derang said these words.

A few days later, Xiao Xuan and Long Xu, leading a large army, embarked on their journey to the battlefield. Battle reports came in rapid succession: Huanzhou and Shuozhou had both fallen, occupied by the Song army. The Song army advanced with unstoppable momentum, heading straight for Zhuozhou. Xiao Xuan hadn't expected the battle to be so fierce and immediately ordered the entire army to speed up their advance. In just a few days, the Song army had captured several more cities.

Empress of the Khitan - Empress Dowager of the Khitan Chapter Ninety-Six: Yan Yu (Part 1)

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:36:32 Word Count: 1290

With insufficient troops, Xiu Ge, leading the army into battle, looked at the Song army's high morale. He waited for Xiao Xuan to arrive with reinforcements while simultaneously devising a battle plan. He first dispatched two elite groups to harass Cao Bin and Mi Xin, who were encamped at Gu'an, launching feigned attacks during the day and continuing the harassment at night, keeping the Song army on edge and gradually showing signs of fatigue. Xiu Ge then personally led his men into battle, cutting off the Song army's supply lines. Seeing their supplies cut off, Cao Bin and his men panicked and immediately retreated to Baigou. Xiu Ge acted swiftly, pursuing and attacking the exhausted and isolated Song soldiers despite his smaller force. Seeing their soldiers exhausted and without provisions, Cao Bin and Mi Xin ordered their troops to form ranks on the spot, resting and searching for well water. This delaying tactic gave Xiao Xuan considerable time. During Xiu Ge's stalling tactics, Xiao Xuan, along with Long Xu, Han Derang, and the Liao army, joined forces with Xiu Ge. Upon hearing that the Liao Empress Dowager's reinforcements had arrived, Cao Bin and Mi Xin hastily ordered a retreat. However, the main Song army, having not slept soundly since setting up camp and with their supply lines cut off, had been marching day and night, lacking any strength to fight. Hearing of the impending retreat, they groaned in despair, unable even to walk. Cao Bin and Mi Xin, seeing this, were deeply distressed and quickly ordered their troops to remain encamped, surrounding the empty supply wagons as a defense. In the middle of the night, Cao Bin and a few riders abandoned their soldiers and fled on horseback. Hearing this, the soldiers panicked and scattered. Amidst the torrential rain, the Song soldiers struggled to move through the mud, their morale shattered. When they finally managed to retreat to the vicinity of the Juma River, Xiao Xuan and Xiu Ge arrived with their pursuers. Exhausted and panicked, the Song army, in their desperate escape, trampled each other, and many fell into the Juma River and drowned, causing the river to stagnate. Some survivors escaped back to the south of the Yi River, only to be caught up by Xiu Ge's cavalry, resulting in another fierce battle. In this battle, the Song army suffered heavy casualties.

After a great victory, Xiu and Xiaoxuan led their troops westward to aid Xiezhen, recovering Huanzhou and Shuozhou along the way. However, while pursuing the retreating Song soldiers, Xiaoxuan encountered something unexpected.

After successfully intercepting the Song army, which had been ordered to retreat with the civilians, Xiao Xuan saw a familiar figure on the battlefield.

Yan Yu! What's he doing here?

Seeing Yan Yu leading his soldiers, with the large banner bearing the enormous character "Yang," Xiao Xuan's heart sank. She summoned a scout and urgently asked who the opposing general was.

The scout told her that the enemy commander was none other than Yang Ye, the man who had famously defeated the prince consort with a spear and was known as "Invincible Yang." Seeing another familiar face among the Song soldiers, she cried out in panic: "How could this be!" The direction the scout pointed shattered her heart completely. Beneath the banner fluttering in that direction, bearing the character "Yang," rode a horse—it was Liu Jiye!

For so many years, I've been sending people to search for you. No wonder I've never heard from you; it turns out you changed your surname to Yang. Why? Why would you change your surname to Yang for no reason? It's made me search for you so much and still can't find you! A sentence echoed in her mind: "My family's original surname was Yang. When the late emperor was alive, he adopted my father and bestowed upon my family the surname Liu." These were the words Yan Yu had said to her when they first met and camped together. Xiao Xuan was in turmoil. The Han dynasty had fallen, and it was reported that the Han emperor and his ministers had submitted to the Song dynasty. She had thought that perhaps Liu Jiye was among those who surrendered, but she couldn't find any news of them no matter how hard she tried. It turned out that their whole family had reverted to their original surname, Yang!

The historical Yang family generals were all from the Liu Jiye lineage! Xiao Xuan's legs suddenly went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground. Luckily, Long Xu, who was beside her, reacted quickly and caught her, allowing her to regain her balance. "Why you? We haven't seen each other for so many years, is it all for this moment?" Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Liu Jiye! Liu Yanyu! Do you know how long I've been sending people to look for you!"

Empress of the Khitan - Empress Dowager of the Khitan Chapter Ninety-Six: Yan Yu (Part Two)

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:37:07 Word Count: 1393

Seeing Xiao Xuan weeping bitterly, Xiu Ge and Xie Zhen had no idea of the deep connection she shared with the Liu family father and son. They assumed she was heartbroken because she was reminded of Xiao Duoluo, the son-in-law who had been killed by Yang Ye's spear. Seeing Xiao Xuan so distraught, Xiu Ge could no longer contain his anger. He raised his arm, rallied his troops, and led his soldiers to charge towards the Song army.

The grief-stricken Xiao Xuan, seeing the two sides clashing, suddenly realized what was happening and tried to call out to stop them, but it was too late. The two armies were already locked in battle. Wiping away her tears, she hurriedly searched for Liu Yanyu's figure amidst the crisscrossing figures on the battlefield.

Yan Yu, his eyes bloodshot with rage as he watched the soldiers surge forward like a tidal wave, was suddenly struck by a red figure—a woman. At this moment, the only woman on the battlefield could be Empress Dowager Chengtian of Liao. He'd heard she'd personally led reinforcements here; if this woman wasn't her, who else could it be? With this thought, Yan Yu flicked his spear, twirling it in a flourish, sweeping it towards the Liao soldiers around him. Taking advantage of their dodge, he spurred his horse towards the red figure. "Shoot the horse first, capture the king first," he reasoned. "If I kill Empress Dowager Chengtian, the Liao army will be thrown into chaos and forced to retreat, relieving my army's predicament."

Since Father surrendered to the Song Dynasty, Zhao Guangyi outwardly bestowed upon him many honors, but behind the scenes, Father bore the stigma of a surrendered subject, enduring countless jeers and ridicule. This time, Pan Mei and Wang disagreed with Father again. With the Liao army approaching, His Majesty unexpectedly issued an urgent order, commanding Father and the generals to cover the evacuation of the people from four nearby prefectures. This evacuation was already fraught with danger, and carrying so many civilians would make it even more difficult. To save the people and turn the tide of battle, Father suggested a feint attack, sending elite troops to attack another location to temporarily divert the Liao army's attention. However, this suggestion was opposed by Pan Mei and Wang, leaving Father no choice but to lead the troops into battle. Only by killing Empress Dowager Chengtian can the Song army reverse its current predicament.

Liu Yanyu rode swiftly towards Xiaoxuan, and the Song soldiers behind him seemed to understand his intention, following as they fought their way through the enemy lines. Suddenly, Yanyu stopped his horse; he recognized her. Their eyes met, and he saw tears welling up in her eyes.

Why you? The Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao Dynasty is actually you? Why?

Yan Yu stared blankly at Xiao Xuan, when at that moment, an arrow struck his leg.

"Yan Yu!" Seeing Yan Yu wounded by an arrow, Xiao Xuan cried out loudly and ran towards Yan Yu's direction. Long Xu and Han Derang were shocked and grabbed their weapons, quickly protecting Xiao Xuan on either side of her to prevent any harm from happening to her.

"That woman over there is Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao Kingdom. Brothers, charge! Kill her, and we won't have to fight anymore!"