The Jade Belt Conspiracy

Wei Yenwu has wronged the state.

Exactly what happened in those years is no longer known.

But his very existence and everything he has done were probably things only the late Emperor Yan Wen could tolerate.

Yet…

A new emperor brings a new court.

If Wei Yenwu still refuses to be satisfied, then war may well be inevitable.

With a member of the imperial clan like Wei Yenwu remaining outside the capital, how could the emperor not constantly be wary of the imperial princes within it?

Yan Lu felt his scalp go numb.

Though he normally cared only for pleasure, and was only allowed to indulge in pleasure, he wasn’t stupid.

He knew that if he didn’t state his position today, he’d be in serious trouble.

Only after seeing Yan Fu sheath his sword did he breathe a slight sigh of relief and finally speak.

“Elder Brother… what exactly do you mean by this?”

Yan Fu sat upright, resting the sword across his knees.

“Our third brother behaves recklessly.”

“Three years after ascending the throne, he has accomplished nothing.”

“When a gentleman suddenly changes his nature, great disaster inevitably follows.”

‘What do you mean accomplished nothing? I think Third Brother has done a great job.’

‘You know perfectly well what kind of poisoned chalice the throne is.’

‘He’s been carrying the burden for all of us brothers.’

‘How can you repay kindness with resentment, Elder Brother?’

‘His personal conduct isn’t immoral, he doesn’t overtax or burden the people, and even with Cangting Bo threatening rebellion, he’s still reluctant to resort to war.’

‘That’s genuine benevolence.’

‘If any one of us, backed by our maternal clans, had inherited the throne instead, the Grand Tutor would’ve been the first to oppose it.’

‘Third Brother has been bearing all the pressure for us.’

‘How can you be so ungrateful?’

Yan Lu desperately wanted to say all of that.

But he couldn’t.

Although he knew how to use a sword, his sword wasn’t faster than Yan Fu’s.

He could only nod awkwardly.

Yan Fu looked virtuous on the surface.

In reality, he was ruthless.

The others nodded as well.

They had no choice.

What if the sword came flying over the moment they disagreed?

Yan Fu continued,

“When Jiang Qi’s rebellion was suppressed, was it truly his strategy?”

“No. It was merely because Cangting Bo and Qinglei Bo were formidable warriors.”

‘Damn it, why are you saying the quiet part out loud?’

‘Everyone already knows that!’

‘But Third Brother had the courage to entrust them with the task.’

‘That’s ability in itself!’

“Martial artists rely on force to violate the law.”

“The jianghu is unruly and contemptuous of authority.”

“In time, they will bring disaster upon the state and provoke widespread resentment among the people.”

‘You’re an idiot.’

‘Before this, who knew Third Brother had secretly raised three thousand elite death soldiers?’

‘Who says there are only three thousand?’

‘Do you realize how terrifying that is?’

‘For all you know, everything you’ve said tonight could already be on his desk tomorrow morning.’

Yan Lu silently cursed.

If he weren’t hopelessly outmatched, he’d already be cutting ties with this brother.

“He abducted a young woman in broad daylight, nearly drove her to death, and forced Cangting Bo into rebellion.”

“That is a crime against the nation!”

“How can someone guilty of such crimes continue sitting upon the throne?”

Every word Yan Fu spoke radiated the confidence of someone thinking, ‘If I were emperor, I could do it better.’

Yan Lu almost believed him.

Then he noticed how obsessively Yan Fu kept harping on the rumor that Yan Shou had abducted a civilian girl.

Only then did Yan Lu realize why that rumor had spread so quickly.

So…

Yan Fu had been searching for an opportunity all along.

It certainly hadn’t been easy for him.

After three years on the throne, he’d finally managed to dig up a stain on Yan Shou’s reputation.

“As his elder brother, seeing my younger brother so incompetent and yet still seated upon the throne fills me with sorrow.”

“I cannot help but think of our late father, the emperor.”

As he spoke, Yan Fu wiped the corner of his eye and produced a jade belt.

“A Jade Belt Edict?”

“This…!”

Yan Lu’s mouth fell open.

The jade belt looked strangely familiar.

“This was the jade belt our late father wore during his lifetime.”

“He entrusted it to me before his birthday banquet.”

“Yesterday, while remembering him, I found the belt again… and discovered something unusual.”

Yan Fu walked over, warmly took Yan Lu’s hand, and sat down beside him.

“Come. Have a look with me.”

Yan Lu had absolutely no desire to look.

Once he did, there would be no turning back.

Unfortunately, Yan Fu had drawn his sword again.

With no other choice, he leaned over.

When the jade belt was unfolded, words appeared on the bright yellow silk lining hidden inside.

The handwriting looked remarkably similar to the late emperor’s.

Whether it was genuine, however, couldn’t be confirmed.

“Fu’s talent surpasses Shou’s tenfold. He will surely stabilize the nation and accomplish great deeds.”

“If Shou proves worthy of guidance, then assist him.”

“But if he proves incapable… you may claim the throne yourself.”

Yan Lu was stunned.

His voice caught in his throat.

He suddenly remembered receiving a ceremonial wine vessel during the birthday banquet.

Could there be a similar message hidden inside his vessel as well?

Did only he and his eldest brother receive one?

Or did every member of the imperial clan?

That…

…was a deeply unsettling thought.

“Is this… the late emperor’s final decree?”

After a long silence, Yan Lu finally asked.

Yan Fu slowly nodded.

“It is.”

If the words inside the jade belt were genuine…

Then what exactly had the late emperor intended?

Knowing perfectly well that Yan Fu possessed the stronger foundation…

Why had he still allowed Yan Shou to inherit the throne?

Was it because the Grand Tutor and Grand Commandant had exerted overwhelming pressure?

Or was there another reason entirely?

If Third Brother turned out to be a capable ruler, then none of it mattered.

After all, whether it was the eldest brother or the third brother, both belonged to the imperial clan.

But if Yan Shou also died an untimely death…

Then perhaps the late emperor had prepared this Jade Belt Edict before his own passing, entrusting it to the widely respected Yan Fu just in case.

‘And if Yan Fu also dies young…’

‘Would that make me next?’

‘And if I die too… then Fourth Brother would probably be after me…’

The amount of information was overwhelming.

Yan Lu took a long while to digest it all.

His head began to spin.

“Then… Elder Brother’s intention is…?”

Yan Fu looked him straight in the eyes.

His gaze was unwavering.

“Naturally, we shall carry out our late father’s final command.”

“Brother, are you willing to help me?”

If Bai Dingshan, the only real pillar supporting Yan Shou in court, had already led the army out of Baizao…

If the Grand Tutor and Grand Commandant were preoccupied with dealing with Cangting Bo…

And now, with the imperial consort selection underway, making the capital unusually crowded…

Then it truly was the perfect opportunity to act.

“What about… Longmen?”

“Second Brother, you’ll go to Longmen.”

“If I fail, our entire branch of the family will be exterminated.”

“Take the Jade Belt Edict to Wei Yenwu… and never come back.”

‘No, no, no!’

‘Don’t dump a mission that difficult on me!’

‘Give it to Fourth Brother!’

‘He’s younger and far less likely to attract suspicion!’

‘You and I can die heroically together instead!’

Yan Lu remained silent.

Could he really say he wanted to go to Longmen?

He certainly did.

But Yan Fu’s sword was still lying within arm’s reach.

“Fourth Brother?”

Yan Fu and Yan Lu both turned toward Yan Xi, their eyes burning with expectation.

“Neither elated by gain nor saddened by loss…”

“I shall gladly see my two elder brothers off.”

“Once we part… who knows when we’ll meet again…”

“Fourth Brother, you have my deepest gratitude!”

Yan Fu bowed deeply to Yan Xi.

“E-Elder Brother!”

Yan Xi hurriedly jumped to his feet and immediately grabbed the hand holding Yan Fu’s sword, terrified that it might suddenly stab him instead.

“I… I am willing to undertake this mission for the sake of preserving Great Yan’s realm.”

The clan elders present were completely dumbfounded.

‘Do our opinions not matter at all?’

Inside the Hall of Four Symbols, Yan Shou was reviewing memorials when the junior instructor of the Imperial Guards entered carrying a massive object that looked incredibly impressive despite being completely unidentifiable.

“Finished delivering the decree?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What’s that in your hands?”

“Prince Wucheng gave it to this humble servant. I didn’t dare refuse, so I brought it back to present to Your Majesty.”

“If he gave it to you, then keep it.”

Yan Shou didn’t even bother asking what it was.

“Tell me, what do you think about having Zhong Yue serve as my personal bodyguard?”

“Your Majesty… it’s a waste of his talents.”

The junior instructor never beat around the bush.

“If Prince Wucheng isn’t allowed to fight on the battlefield, it will be Great Yan’s loss.”

‘I knew she’d say that.’

Her personality could be described as straightforward if one wanted to be polite.

Or hopelessly single-minded if one didn’t.

Yan Shou wasn’t afraid of treacherous ministers.

He was afraid of loyal people exactly like her.

Someone like this shouldn’t be allowed out to continue benefiting Great Yan.

As a foolish ruler, he needed this kind of person kept close by.

So Yan Shou asked another question.

“Then where do you think Great Yan still has reason to wage war?”

“Obviously…”

The junior instructor blurted out the answer before swallowing the rest.

The obvious target was Longmen.

But they had never found the right opportunity.

After all, Wei Yenwu was the former crown prince and His Majesty’s imperial uncle.

If things weren’t handled properly…

With his hands clasped behind his back, Yan Shou looked up at the night sky as though confiding in her.

“Were it not for Cangting Bo’s rebellion, Great Yan wouldn’t have mobilized an army of any significant size for fifty years.”

“Huh? Your Majesty… it’s really been that long?”

“That’s right.”

“The realm has enjoyed peace for generations.”

“The armies have remained idle year after year.”

“If this continues… won’t I eventually become a completely useless emperor?”

“With peace across the Four Seas and stability under Heaven…”

“The weakest link in Great Yan is me.”

“That’s not true, Your Majesty!”

The junior instructor immediately objected.

“Your Majesty possesses the strength to shoulder the Nine Cauldrons.”

“Great Yan still needs Your Majesty to govern it.”

She genuinely believed what she’d said.

Not everyone possessed the power to bear the weight of an entire nation.

No matter what, so long as Yan Shou occupied the throne, he was the emperor of Great Yan.

None under Heaven would dare disobey him.

Yan Shou smiled faintly.

“In the past, I would’ve shared your confidence.”

“But the times have changed.”

“The times?”

“The demons.”

“The Seaborn.”

Yan Shou lightly tapped her forehead.

“And Sui as well.”

“If those threats aren’t dealt with, then my life may one day depend on nothing more than a single thought from them.”

“At that point…”

“I, the emperor, would become Great Yan’s weakest link.”

The junior instructor found herself unable to refute him.

Yan Shou lowered his voice.

“Everyone thinks I’m obsessed with beautiful women…”

“But the truth is…”

“I met an immortal in my dreams.”

“…What?”