Chapter 293: Self-Destruction of the Realm, Deservedly So

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The Liao Empire originally had five capitals: Shangjing of Liao, Zhang Zhongjing of Liao, Dongjing of Liao, Xijing of Liao, and Nanjing of Liao.

When Zhao Yu personally led his army in campaign, he reclaimed Xijing of Liao and all its subordinate prefectures and counties, renaming them Yunzhong Prefecture.

At that time, the Liao Empire's five capitals became four.

When the Jin state rose, it first captured Dongjing of Liao and renamed it Jin Nanjing; recently it seized Shangjing of Liao as well, but did not immediately change its name, still using the old title "Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture," though it had now become Jin Shangjing.

Thus, the Liao Empire was left with only two capitals: Zhang Zhongjing of Liao and Nanjing of Liao, and the latter had already lost Yi and Zhuoerzhou to Zhao Yu.

A typical ruler, faced with such a situation, would not only strive to revitalize the nation but at least feel profound anxiety and work diligently to restore its glory and reverse its decline. Yet Yelu Yanxi seemed utterly unaware that national ruin was already at hand, still indulging in hunting and pleasure trips, spending every day among hawks and hounds, utterly indifferent to state affairs. He remained trapped in the illusory dream of imperial grandeur, unwilling to awaken. In his world, Liao was still the vast, powerful empire it once was, and he was still its invincible sovereign.

Many Liao ministers, gazing upon this monarch lost in luxury and devoid of ambition, felt nothing but worry and helplessness. Some sighed deeply, others wept in secret, knowing the great hall was about to collapse and a single pillar could not hold it up.

In the court, the once-vigorous voices calling for reform had gradually fallen silent, replaced by utter stillness and silence.

Occasionally, loyal ministers would step forward to plead earnestly, but they received only Yelu Yanxi's dismissive smile or perfunctory replies.

Amid this precarious time, the Liao people suffered unbearably. Heavy taxes, coupled with constant warfare, left fields barren and the populace destitute. Displaced refugees were everywhere; cries of despair filled the land.

Meanwhile, high officials, aristocrats, wealthy clans, and powerful merchants sold their estates, took their families, and fled south to seek refuge under the Zhao Song regime or north to surrender to the new Jin ruler—all they cared for was surviving the chaos and preserving their wealth and luxury.

In an instant, the people of Liao were gripped by panic; the state was no longer a state.

Those once-loyal generals and soldiers, after repeated defeats and growing disillusionment, gradually lost faith. They began to wonder: could this monarch, lost in pleasure, still lead them to restore Liao's former glory? With such doubts, they either surrendered to Jin or competed with Yelu Yanxi, the fleeing emperor, in who could run faster.

Against this backdrop, a group of Khitan nobles led by Yelu Tahaoli petitioned Yelu Yanxi to contact the Zhao Song regime, requesting mediation in the Liao-Jin war so Liao could catch its breath. Some even proposed returning Yan's Five Prefectures, Pingluan and Ying's Three Prefectures, and the passes of Juyong, Gubeikou, Song Ting, and Yu Pass—all territories Zhao Song had long sought to reclaim—to Zhao Song, then borrowing Zhao Song's troops to annihilate Jin and recover lost lands.

Seeing Xiao Sese had three sisters; she was the second. Her eldest sister married Yelu Tahaoli; her youngest sister married Yelu Yudu.

Originally, Yelu Yanxi had given Seeing Xiao Sese to Zhao Yu as a scapegoat, while Seeing Xiao Sese's son by Yelu Yanxi, Yelu Ao, remained in Liao and was later granted the title Prince of Jin by Yelu Yanxi.

Though deprived of his mother Seeing Xiao Sese's guidance, Crown Empress Xiao Duoluan still cared deeply for him, nurturing him diligently. More importantly, he proved himself exceptionally capable: even as a child, he was renowned in Liao for his virtue and compassion for the people's suffering, embodying his mother Seeing Xiao Sese's spirit—intelligent, wise, and deeply concerned with the realm. He seemed born a sage; even amid chaos, he held fast to his principles, untouched by the surrounding decadence. He understood the state teetered on collapse, that his father Yelu Yanxi's indulgence would surrender the empire his ancestors had built. He frequently offered counsel, and during court deliberations, his insights stunned ministers and earned their admiration. He was a gleam of light beneath Liao's darkening sky, his presence offering a sliver of hope to a land on the verge of ruin.

Yelu Yanxi had six sons, yet had not yet named a Crown Prince.

As mentioned earlier, Yelu Yanxi's eldest son, Prince Zhao Yelu Xinielie, was mentally impaired and could never be Crown Prince.

Yelu Yanxi's second son, Prince Liang Yelu Yali, was born to a palace maid with no powerful lineage. When he was seven, Yelu Yanxi had only two sons and had once considered naming him Crown Prince.

Later, Seeing Xiao Sese bore Yelu Yanxi Yelu Ao, and Empress Xiao Guige bore him Prince Qin Yelu Ding and Prince Xu Yelu Ning.

Both Seeing Xiao Sese and Xiao Guige were Khitan nobles, their families wielding considerable influence in Liao.

Thus, Yelu Yali, lacking any powerful background, had virtually no chance of becoming Crown Prince—especially after his mother died and he came under Xiao Guige's care as his adoptive mother.

The situation was clear: the Crown Prince's position would likely be decided between Yelu Ao and Yelu Ding.

Xiao Guige was Yelu Yanxi's most favored consort; her elder sister Xiao Duoluan was Yelu Yanxi's Empress; her brother Seeing Xiao Fengxian was Yelu Yanxi's top favorite minister, serving as Liao's Privy Councilor, and held an exceptionally close relationship with Yelu Yanxi.

Regardless of Seeing Xiao Sese's former influence in Liao, she was now Zhao Yu's consort, no longer Yelu Yanxi's.

Logically, under these circumstances, shouldn't Yelu Ding's claim to the Crown Prince position be secure?

But the problem was, Yelu Ao's reputation clearly surpassed Yelu Ding's.

Crucially, Seeing Xiao Sese had merely left Liao—she was not dead—and she had climbed the high branch of Zhao Yu.

Even more crucially, Jin's rise had swallowed Liao's northeast like a snake devouring an elephant, while Liao suffered repeated defeats and teetered on collapse; at this moment, Zhao Song's—or Zhao Yu's—attitude became decisive.

One could even say Zhao Yu's stance would determine whether Liao survived or perished.

Under these conditions, would Zhao Yu support Yelu Ao as Liao's Crown Prince?

If so, then Yelu Ding could never become Crown Prince of Liao.

Since ancient times, the greatest honor for an emperor's consort has been to see her own son ascend the throne. It is human nature: a mother naturally favors her own child, never another's.

Though Xiao Guige was kind-hearted, she was no exception to this rule, and thus she was deeply troubled.

But Xiao Guige was not the most troubled person. The most troubled was her brother, Seeing Xiao Fengxian.

Seeing Xiao Fengxian was Liao's number-one traitor; Yelu Ao, like his mother Seeing Xiao Sese, despised Seeing Xiao Fengxian and longed to eliminate this corrupt minister who ruined the nation.