Chapter 181: The Cultural Consort Surely Does Not Wish Her Kin in the City to Come to Harm

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Xiao Duoli Lan never imagined that Yelu Yanxi would hand Xiao Sese over to Zhao Yu for disposition.

Yes.

Xiao Sese was too domineering, too talkative, always trying to reform Yelu Yanxi and hoping to revive Liao, with clear suspicions of meddling in Liao's state affairs.

But Xiao Sese acted this way precisely because Yelu Yanxi was unworthy—otherwise, why would a woman burden herself with such concerns?

In the end, it was because after Yelu Yanxi ascended the throne, Liao's politics grew even more corrupt, its internal affairs plagued by contradictions; Yelu Yanxi failed to take effective measures to rectify official misconduct and reform systemic flaws, causing the court to sink deeper into chaos and national strength to gradually decline.

Worse, Yelu Yanxi became addicted to hunting, drinking, and revelry, neglecting state affairs, squandering vast human, material, and financial resources, increasing the people's burdens and further intensifying social tensions.

Externally, facing the revival of the Song dynasty, Yelu Yanxi gave it insufficient attention and devised no sensible response strategy, leading to Zhao Yu personally leading an expedition.

Moreover, after military defeats, Yelu Yanxi failed to organize effective resistance, proved incompetent in appointing capable officers, causing Liao forces to retreat step by step until they were finally besieged within Yanjingcheng.

Yelu Yanxi's conduct caused the Liao dynasty to rapidly decline under his rule; unless he swiftly corrected his faults, he risked becoming one of those monarchs whose personal failings led to the collapse of their state.

Xiao Sese saw this clearly—loving him deeply, she blamed him fiercely, constantly urging him to reform.

Yet in the end, her heartfelt efforts failed to change Yelu Yanxi, failed to save Liao, and instead cost her everything.

Crucially, Xiao Sese was carrying a child.

How could Yelu Yanxi still hand Xiao Sese over to Zhao Yu, making her bear the blame for provoking the Song dynasty? Could Yelu Yanxi still be saved?

Xiao Duoli Lan suddenly felt the sorrow of a rabbit mourning its fallen kin; she couldn't help wondering: "If sending the Cultural Consort ensures survival, His Majesty sends her—then if sending the Empress ensures survival, will His Majesty also hand me over to the Song Zhu?"

Seeing her sister's low spirits, Xiao Guige defended Yelu Yanxi: "His Majesty does not wish this, but the Song army stands at the city gates, on the verge of breaching them—he has no choice but to sacrifice the Cultural Consort."

Xiao Duoli Lan thought this true—if the situation were not so desperate, even Yelu Yanxi's incompetence would never have driven him to give away a woman.

Xiao Duoli Lan sighed deeply: "Alas! Since you understand His Majesty so well, come with me to see the Cultural Consort and persuade her to prioritize the state's welfare."

Xiao Guige did not wish to see Xiao Sese either.

It was not because Xiao Sese's son was her own son's greatest rival for the throne, nor because Xiao Sese's downfall had been orchestrated by her brother Xiao Fengxian.

Rather, Xiao Guige was inherently kind-hearted (once, when a servant stole her sable fur during her afternoon nap, she noticed but said nothing); though she understood Yelu Yanxi, she truly could not bear to see Xiao Sese reduced to such a pitiful fate.

But the matter could not be avoided—someone had to persuade Xiao Sese to cooperate; otherwise, in her rage, Xiao Sese might ruin Liao's last chances. Xiao Duoli Lan was indifferent to everything, and Xiao Shigu's health was too poor—there was no choice but for her to take this burden, despite her lack of skill in such matters.

To Xiao Duoli Lan and Xiao Guige's surprise, when they arrived at Xiao Sese's quarters, Xiao Sese, regardless of whether her one-year-old son Yelu Ao could understand, was giving him his final lesson:

"One day, if my son ascends the throne, he must reflect on today's calamity, abolish corrupt policies, welcome loyal advice, rectify officialdom internally, lighten taxes and corvée; externally, he must judge the times wisely, sharpen weapons and prepare troops."

"Now, beneath Yanjingcheng's walls, Song banners blot out the sun, while our Liao people within the city await slaughter—all because the monarch has done nothing."

"My son must never emulate his father's folly, discard our ancestors' legacy like worn-out shoes, indulge in wine and hunting, ignore border threats, bring ruin to the land and suffering to the people, and fail even to protect his own consorts!"

"Yet heaven's cycle turns—rise and fall follow fixed fate. If my son cannot turn back the tide, cannot hold up the collapsing edifice, even in utter despair, he must never lose the dignity of an emperor—never sell his wife for glory, as that is shameful to all."

Xiao Sese's eyes brimmed with sorrow, tears falling like rain, her voice cold as a mountain spring.

Xiao Duoli Lan and Xiao Guige stood outside the door, hearing Xiao Sese's words, their hearts heavy with grief.

Xiao Duoli Lan nearly wept, sighing only at heaven's capriciousness—Xiao Sese's loyal heart had all been wasted.

After Xiao Sese finished speaking to her son, Xiao Duoli Lan and Xiao Guige entered.

After much hesitation, Xiao Guige said: "Cultural Consort, do not resent His Majesty—he is truly out of options, forced to…"

Xiao Sese calmly interrupted: "Sisters, no need to persuade me. Life and death are fate; wealth and honor are heaven's will. I am but a young woman—going to the Southern Court may not mean death. But it will burden His Majesty with eternal infamy."

Xiao Duoli Lan and Xiao Guige felt Xiao Sese was speaking in anger.

To be blunt, if Xiao Sese truly believed this, she would not say it aloud—she would instead pour all her energy into pleasing Zhao Yu.

Precisely because she spoke these words, it proved she would never act that way.

This caused Xiao Guige to swallow the words she had planned to use: "The Cultural Consort surely does not wish harm to come to her kin within the city," for there was no need—Xiao Sese would surely prioritize the state's welfare.

Xiao Guige silently watched this tragic yet admirable woman.

Xiao Sese disliked Xiao Guige's gaze; she snapped: "Do not look at me like that. If I fail to change Song Zhu's desire to destroy Liao, he will surely break Nanjingcheng—then perhaps you three sisters will still be sisters under Song Zhu."

At Xiao Sese's words, Xiao Duoli Lan's heart leapt. Though she knew Xiao Sese spoke in anger, she could not shake the feeling that it might be possible.

After venting many angry words, Xiao Fengxian sent messengers to urge Xiao Sese to depart immediately—they had no time left.

If they delayed until nightfall, the Liao people within Yanjingcheng would lose all hope.

Xiao Sese wore no makeup, changed no clothes, took nothing of her own—she simply walked out barefaced with the messengers.

Before leaving, Xiao Sese did not turn back as she said to Xiao Duoli Lan: "I will do all I can to persuade Song Zhu to negotiate for my Great Liao, to preserve our Khitan ancestral temples. I beg you, Empress, to care for my son despite my shameless act."

Seeing Xiao Sese furious yet still deeply loyal, Xiao Duoli Lan felt both sorrow and injustice; she could not help thinking: "He treats you this way, yet you remain so foolishly faithful—you are a fool."

Xiao Duoli Lan's nose stung, tears blurred her vision; she lowered her head solemnly: "I will treat him as my own."

With Xiao Duoli Lan's promise, Xiao Sese walked from the palace as if marching to sacrifice, joining the three hundred beauties selected by Yelu Yanxi and his ministers for Zhao Yu.

Soon after, Xiao Fengxian led Xiao Bodi and the Liao Han minister Liu Yanzong to accompany Song envoys like Lin Shu to the Zhai Palace to seek an audience with Zhao Yu.

The group arrived at the Zhai Palace before noon.

But upon arrival, they learned Zhao Yu, who had personally overseen frontline combat the previous night, was asleep.

Xiao Fengxian and the others dared not disturb him—they could only wait anxiously for him to wake.

Xiao Sese and the three hundred girls of various ethnicities also waited anxiously for their fate.

Fortunately, though Zhao Yu had not slept all night, he did not sleep until evening.

Around the hour of Shen, Zhao Yu finally rose.

Learning Zhao Yu had awakened, Xiao Fengxian immediately requested an audience.

But Zhao Yu did not immediately receive Xiao Fengxian; instead, he first ate while receiving Zeng Bu, Han Zhongyan, Su Zhe, Cai Bian, Zhao Liangsi, and Li Chuwen.

They immediately reported to Zhao Yu that Liao had returned Lin Shu and his envoys, and since morning, Liao had been sending gold, silver, and silk to the Zhai Palace—so far, nearly 300,000 taels of gold, 500,000 taels of silver, and over 100,000 bolts of brocade had arrived, with more still coming. Additionally, Liao had sent Yelu Yanxi's Cultural Consort Xiao Sese and three hundred multi-ethnic maidens, hoping to negotiate peace with the Song dynasty.

Zhao Yu paused, asking: "Why did Yelu Yanxi send Xiao Sese?"

Zeng Bu replied: "Minister Xiao says the Cultural Consort claimed Liao and Xia are interdependent—only by allying can they survive. She misled the Liao monarch into allying with Xia, persuaded him to marry a royal daughter, Yelu Nanxian, to Xia as empress, and incited him to aid Xia against our Great Song—she is the chief culprit in breaking the peace treaty. Thus, they send her to apologize…"

Seeing Yelu Yanxi and his ministers shamelessly shift all blame onto Xiao Sese, Zhao Yu thought: "This Xiao Sese is truly a woman of talent and beauty, devoted to her country, yet tragically fated—unfortunately, your earnest intentions will not be accepted by Yelu Yanxi; instead, they will enrage him, and you will be ordered to die—and so will your son."

Xiao Sese's literary talent and concern for the nation moved Zhao Yu to sigh; he said to Ceng Bu and others: "Have the Imperial Consort Wen and those three hundred young women go to the inner palace to seek out Imperial Consort Zhang and Imperial Consort Li—politics is a man's affair; why burden women?"

How could Ceng Bu and the others not see that Zhao Yu was pitying the fair sex?

Moreover, who could fail to see that Xiao Sese was merely a stepping stone, a gesture of humility by Yelu Yanxi? In truth, she was nothing more than an expendable pawn.

The question now is whether Zhao Yu should take the stepping stone that Yelu Yanxi and his ministers have laid out for him.

Whether Zhao Yu wants Xiao Sese is merely a minor matter.

At this critical juncture, Ceng Bu and the others had no time to concern themselves with such a minor matter.

Han Zhongyan gave a glance toward the door; Lü Yihao, standing there, understood and went to handle the matter of Xiao Sese and the three hundred young women of various ethnicities.

After Lü Yihao left, Ceng Bu bowed and said: "The Liao court is now terrified. General Guo is willing to sign a military pledge: tonight, we shall breach the walls of Yanshan City. What is Your Majesty's decision?"

Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, and others had long hoped the Song army would breach Yanshan City, eliminate the Liao garrison within, and prevent them from coordinating with the Liao reinforcements sure to arrive, thereby posing a threat. Of course, this was merely their initial strategic objective. If the coming battles proceeded smoothly, they hoped Zhao Yu would lead them in reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

But Han Zhongyan, Su Zhe, and others believed that once the Song army breached Yanshan City, it would be tantamount to open war with the Liao—contradicting the original strategy of the Zhao-Song dynasty, which aimed to contain the Liao forces to reclaim Xi Xia. It might even plunge the Zhao-Song dynasty into the danger of fighting on two fronts.

In truth, Zhao Yu had already decided their strategic objective: to fight to force peace, not to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and to deny the Liao any chance of desperate resistance.

But the problem was, the Song army had advanced too smoothly—this stirred restlessness in the hearts of Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, and the other hawkish faction.

Especially Ceng Bu.

In truth, Ceng Bu had always been a cautious man; he had never been as radical as Zhang Dun.

But this time was different: seeing the Zhao-Song dynasty's chance to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, Ceng Bu could not help but be tempted.

Ceng Bu's lifelong dream had always been to become Chancellor.

Yet he had always been one step away from the Chancellor's seat.

This filled Ceng Bu with bitter resentment.

If there had never been such an opportunity, it would have been fine.

But if Zhang Dun failed to reclaim Xi Xia, while he assisted Zhao Yu in reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun—the very lands the Zhao-Song dynasty had desired since its founding but never captured—his merit would surpass Zhang Dun's.

Indeed, even if Zhang Dun reclaimed Xi Xia, his merit would still not match that of assisting Zhao Yu in reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

For the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were of paramount importance to the Zhao-Song dynasty; with this barrier, the dynasty would no longer fear becoming the Hu Ren's backyard.

Without exaggeration, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were the greatest obsession of the Zhao-Song people—without exception.

Originally, to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, Zhao Kuangyin had specially established the Fengchun Treasury.

And before his death, Emperor Shenzong had left a final edict: "Whoever reclaims Yanshan shall be granted princely rank, even if of another surname."

In Ceng Bu's view, if he could assist Zhao Yu in reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the Chancellor's seat would surely be his.

Precisely because of this, Ceng Bu had become extremely aggressive on the matter of reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

In fact, Ceng Bu was not the only one who had become aggressive; too many others had, especially within the military, who, seeing the Zhao-Song army's smooth advance, hoped Zhao Yu would change the strategic objective to reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun and the Three Prefectures of Pingluan, so they might earn military merit, promotions, and wealth.

Of course, there were also conservative figures like Han Zhongyan and Su Zhe, who continually urged Zhao Yu to proceed cautiously.

Previously, Zhao Yu had always listened to Han Zhongyan, Su Zhe, and others, and had not altered the previously established strategic objective.

But last night, the Song army had nearly breached Yanshan City.

This gave Ceng Bu and the others renewed hope that they might sway Zhao Yu's mind.

That was why Ceng Bu and the others had come to press Zhao Yu.

And Han Zhongyan, fearing Zhao Yu might be swayed by Ceng Bu and the others, stepped forward to warn him: "Your Majesty, think thrice—if you take Yanshan City, the bow is drawn and cannot be unstrung; our Great Song may face two enemies at once and fall into passivity…"

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(End of Chapter)