Chapter 293

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

When Zhao Yu personally led the campaign, he reclaimed Xijing 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 and renamed it Jin Nanjing; recently, it seized Shangjing as well, but did not immediately change its name, retaining the old title “Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture,” though it had now become Jin Shangjing.

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

A typical ruler, faced with such a situation, would not merely strive to revive the nation—he would at least be consumed by dread, work tirelessly to restore its glory and reverse its decline. Yet Yelu Yanxi seemed utterly unaware that the doom of his state was already at his doorstep; he remained immersed in hunting and pleasure, spending his days only with hawks and hounds, indifferent to state affairs. He still clung to the illusory dream of imperial grandeur, unwilling to awaken. In his world, the Liao Empire remained vast and powerful, and he, its invincible sovereign.

Many Liao ministers, gazing upon this monarch lost in luxury and devoid of ambition, were filled with anxiety and helplessness. Some sighed in despair; others wept in silence, knowing the great hall was about to collapse and a single pillar could not hold it up.

In the court, the once-vibrant voices calling for reform had gradually fallen silent, replaced by a dead, suffocating quiet.

Occasionally, loyal ministers would step forward, pleading earnestly—but they received only Yelu Yanxi’s dismissive laugh or hollow excuses.

Amid this precarious time, the Liao people suffered unbearably. Heavy taxes, coupled with constant warfare, left fields barren and the people destitute. Refugees were everywhere; the land echoed with wails of despair.

Meanwhile, the high officials, scholar-gentry, wealthy clans, and merchant magnates sold their estates, gathered their families, and fled south to seek refuge under the Zhao Song regime, or north to surrender to the new Jin lord—all they cared for was surviving the chaos and preserving their wealth and privilege.

In an instant, panic gripped the Liao realm; the state was ceasing to be a state.

Even once-loyal generals and soldiers, after repeated defeats and disillusionment, gradually lost faith. They began to wonder: could this pleasure-obsessed monarch still lead them to restore Liao’s former glory? With such doubts, they either surrendered to Jin or joined Yelu Yanxi in flight.

Against this backdrop, a group of Khitan nobles led by Yelu Taha li requested that Yelu Yanxi contact the Zhao Song regime, asking it to mediate the war between Liao and Jin, granting Liao a chance to breathe. Some among them even proposed returning the Five States of Yan, the Three States of Ping, Luan, and Ying, along with Juyong Pass, Gubeikou, Songting Pass, and Yuguan—all territories Zhao Song had long sought to reclaim—to Zhao Song, then borrowing Zhao Song’s troops to crush Jin and recover lost lands.

Xiao Seshe had three sisters; she was the second. Her eldest sister married Yelu Taha li; her youngest married Yelu Yudu.

Originally, Yelu Yanxi had given Xiao Seshe to Zhao Yu as an outlet for his anger, while the son she bore him, Yelu Aoluowan, remained in Liao and was later granted the title Prince of Jin by Yelu Yanxi.

Though deprived of his mother Xiao Seshe’s guidance, the boy was deeply cared for by Empress Xiao Duolilan, who nurtured him diligently. More importantly, he proved himself worthy: even as a child, he was renowned in Liao for his virtue and compassion for the people’s suffering, embodying his mother Xiao Seshe’s spirit—intelligent, wise, and deeply concerned for the realm. He seemed born a sage, steadfast in his principles even amid chaos, untouched by the surrounding decadence. He understood that his father Yelu Yanxi’s indulgence would surrender the empire his ancestors had fought to build. 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 brink of collapse.

Yelu Yanxi had six sons, yet had yet to name a crown prince.

As previously mentioned, Yelu Yanxi’s eldest son, Prince Zhao Yelu Xinili, 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 once considered naming him crown prince.

But later, Xiao Seshe bore Yelu Yanxi Yelu Aoluowan, and Empress Xiao Guige bore him Prince Qin Yelu Ding and Prince Xu Yelu Ning.

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

Thus, Yelu Yali, with no powerful background, had virtually no chance of becoming crown prince—especially after his mother’s death and his adoption of Xiao Guige as his foster mother.

The situation was clear: the crown prince would likely be chosen between Yelu Aoluowan and Yelu Ding.

Xiao Guige was Yelu Yanxi’s most favored consort; her elder sister Xiao Duolilan was his empress; her brother Xiao Fengxian was Yelu Yanxi’s top favorite, serving as Liao’s Privy Councilor and enjoying an exceptionally close relationship with him.

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

Logically, under these circumstances, Yelu Ding’s claim to the crown prince position should be secure, right?

But the problem was, Yelu Aoluowan’s reputation clearly surpassed Yelu Ding’s.

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

Even more critical: the Jin state had risen like a serpent swallowing an elephant, carving away Liao’s northeast, while Liao suffered repeated defeats and teetered on the brink of collapse. At this moment, Zhao Song’s—or rather, Zhao Yu’s—attitude became decisive.

One could say Zhao Yu’s stance alone could determine whether Liao survived or perished.

Under these conditions, would Zhao Yu support Yelu Aoluowan as Liao’s crown prince?

If so, Yelu Ding would never become crown prince.

Since ancient times, the greatest honor for any imperial consort has been to see her son ascend the throne. It is human nature: a mother naturally favors her own child over another’s.

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

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

Xiao Fengxian was Liao’s foremost traitor. Yelu Aoluowan, like his mother Xiao Seshe, despised Xiao Fengxian and longed to see this corrupt minister who ruined the state utterly destroyed.