Chapter 62: Rather Live Than Die If Given the Choice

Yang Zhan originally had no desire to see the Empress, especially at this late hour. If he went poking around the old emperor’s harem and some trouble stirred up, the officials of the Censorate would undoubtedly bombard him with countless memorandums of impeachment the moment they found out.

Of course, Yang Zhan couldn’t care less. After all, impeaching people was simply their job.

Still, tonight he had to go!

Yang Wu had once tasked the Empress with investigating the Phoenix God Cult, and Yang Zhan felt it necessary to pry into the matter.

After all, for someone on the verge of death, perhaps their final words carried some truth?

Of course, it was equally possible that a dying person would be filled with malice!

Yet, to rely only on one side is to remain in the dark, while listening to both brings clarity.

He couldn't simply take Chen Lin'er's word for it. At least until he obtained answers from his master, he could not make a rash decision for fear of falling into a trap!

Most importantly, the fact that the emperor had suddenly taken an interest in the Phoenix God Cult three years ago had reignited the suspicions of Yang Zhan, who had previously let down his guard.

And the person in charge of executing that order was the Empress.

This forced Yang Zhan to come and investigate.

Without figuring out the old emperor's true intentions in capturing the three individuals from the Fenglin Kingdom, Yang Zhan could not set his mind at ease.

If he walked into some trap just for the sake of that half a cultivation manual, it wouldn't be very amusing!

By the time Yang Zhan arrived at the Hall of Phoenix Rites, it was already the second quarter of the戌 hour.

This was the first time Yang Zhan had ever set foot in the old emperor's harem.

Along the way, palace towers stood in dense rows.

Countless imperial concubines and consorts resided within them. Yang Zhan even caught a glimpse of one who appeared to be barely twenty years old.

Damn it, the old bastard... wasn't he afraid of snapping his waist?

Though in all likelihood, it was simply the despicable practice of seizing fertile fields only to leave them barren!

As the commander of the Hall of Phoenix Rites, Xu Jin was leading a patrol. Seeing Yang Zhan looking around wildly, Xu Jin suddenly spoke up, "General Yang, do not look at what is improper."

"The Empress isn't afraid of summoning me in the middle of the night, so what are you afraid of? What's wrong with taking a look? Or didn't you look? If you didn't look, how do you know I was looking?"

Xu Jin was instantly rendered speechless.

Yang Zhan suddenly asked, "Are you from the Xiao family?"

Xu Jin remained silent, holding no favorable impression of Yang Zhan.

Unbothered, Yang Zhan asked again, "How long have you served the Empress?"

Xu Jin still did not reply, merely continuing to lead the way.

Yang Zhan dropped another question: "If the Empress dies, where will you and the others go?"

"Audacious!"

Xu Jin instantly flared up in anger.

Yang Zhan chuckled, "Look, you can hear me just fine. Not answering is very impolite."

"If you show any further disrespect to the Empress, be careful you don't walk out of the Hall of Phoenix Rites alive!"

Hearing this, Yang Zhan’s heart settled completely.

It seemed the Empress wasn't actually on the brink of death just to drag him down with her as a scapegoat.

Otherwise, given his few remarks just now, whatever traps were set in the Hall of Phoenix Rites would have already been sprung!

"Brother, I see your cultivation wasn't easily achieved. To bury it all here would be a grave injustice to a talent like you."

Finally, Xu Jin halted his steps and glared at Yang Zhan, his eyes practically wishing he could carve Yang Zhan into pieces.

Yet, he asked, "Are you saying someone is trying to harm the Empress?"

"That's not necessarily true. What if she just can't get over things herself?"

With that, Yang Zhan smiled. "If you belong to the Xiao clan, perhaps you still have a way forward or backward. If not, I'm afraid... it's going to be difficult."

Xu Jin stared silently at Yang Zhan for a moment before coldly uttering, "We're almost there. The General can go on by himself!"

With that, Xu Jin pointed toward a courtyard ahead and showed no intention of following any further.

Yang Zhan looked toward the courtyard and saw a plaque bearing a name: Tranquility!

Yang Zhan smiled. There was no true tranquility in this world, only a tranquil heart!

Not a single guard stood around the courtyard; there were no hidden ambushes.

This actually made Yang Zhan harbor deeper doubts: What on earth did this old sister-in-law of an empress intend to do?

Yang Zhan stepped inside.

It was indeed completely devoid of people, save for a single meditation room up ahead.

The room was vast and empty, stripped of all furniture save for two woven rush mats placed upon the floor.

There was also a woman with loose, disheveled hair, sitting upon a mat and facing a blank white wall.

She seemed to be engaging in wall-gazing meditation!

Standing at the threshold, Yang Zhan asked, "What did Her Majesty the Empress want with me?"

"Come in. Why so much courtesy the moment you arrive at my place? Or are you afraid of this concubine and dare not step inside?"

Since the Empress put it that way, I suppose I simply must come in and take a look. No other reason, I just wanted to keep my old sister-in-law company and chat!"

Xiao Fengyi, sitting upon the rush mat, finally lost her restraint and turned her head. "Are you coming in or not, you brat?"

"If Her Majesty the Empress ordered me to come in, I would feel I ought not to enter. But since my old sister-in-law invited me in, of course I am more than willing, and I'd like to offer my old sister-in-law some counsel."

Xiao Fengyi burst out laughing in exasperation. "You brat, sometimes you're as foolish as a donkey, but right now, you're cunning beyond belief. What, do you insist on claiming the same generation as me just so you can shut me up later?"

Yang Zhan flashed a smile. "I believe that when Her Majesty the Empress chose this hour to summon me, it wasn't merely to persuade me to marry the Fifth Princess."

Hearing this, Xiao Fengyi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Smart. Old sister-in-law it is, then. Come in."

Yang Zhan stepped inside.

Without a word, Xiao Fengyi pointed toward a corner of the room.

Yang Zhan turned his gaze that way and instantly furrowed his brow. It was a wooden rack hung with numerous wooden tablets, each inscribed with various names, including military and official ranks.

Only then did Xiao Fengyi speak in a flat tone, "If I hadn't used Fu'er as an excuse to bring up the matter, His Majesty would never have allowed me to see you."

Yang Zhan looked at Xiao Fengyi. "You still refuse to accept your fate?"

"No, I accept it. If there were a way not to die, this concubine wouldn't wish to die either. After all, entrusting one's son's life to someone else can never compare to protecting him oneself!"

Yang Zhan fell silent.

With an air of utter detachment, Xiao Fengyi said, "I know everything you said to the Crown Prince in the Zhengtong Hall, so you understand His Majesty as well. He will not tolerate me continuing to live. If I stay alive, it will be difficult for him to handle Xiao Rang and the others, and as long as I live, he will worry that Jin'er might threaten the Crown Prince's throne in the future!"

At this, Xiao Fengyi sighed. "Beyond that, the truth is he has always wanted me dead, because I know far too many of his secrets."

Yang Zhan’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them. "Threatening me?"

Xiao Fengyi stood up and walked over to the wooden rack in the corner.

She casually plucked off a single wooden tablet.

"Everyone in the world knows you are a hero of unmatched valor, and they also know that during the Battle of Thousand Absolute Mountains, eight hundred of your soldiers swore brotherhood. After that single battle, only two hundred or so remained, and those two hundred are scattered across military garrisons everywhere. Some hold vital posts, some command their own regions, and quite a few occupy high-ranking positions within the Sixteen Guards."

As she spoke, she slowly read the name inscribed on the wooden tablet: "Han Ding, Colonel of the Qingzhou Prefecture Garrison, Fourth Rank. If I so wished, every time I plucked a tablet, someone would die."

*Slap!*

The sound of a sharp palm strike echoed through the empty room with startling clarity!

Immediately following!

Yang Zhan seized Xiao Fengyi by the throat, shoving her directly back against the wall.

An aura of chilling murder emanated from his entire body: "Even Yang Wu wouldn't dare threaten me this way. You dare?"

Struggling slightly to speak, Xiao Fengyi rasped, "He didn't dare because he feared the army's morale would fracture and the Great Xia dynasty would collapse. I dare because what does the Great Xia dynasty matter to me?"

Yang Zhan stared down at Xiao Fengyi, who was inches away from him. "Although the Xiao clan has deep foundations, it can still be exterminated. The Third Prince is still in my hands; he can also vanish."

A manic light gradually crept into Xiao Fengyi's eyes. "I was married out of the family; what does the Xiao clan have to do with me? If I die, Jin'er will eventually be purged all the same, sooner or later. What do I have to fear about mutual destruction?"

Having said that, Xiao Fengyi abruptly shifted her tone: "But I am not threatening you. I am merely hoping you will help me!"