Chapter 302: The Rivalry of the Two Empress Dowagers in the Jade Flower Pavilion

…

After entering the Jade Flower Pavilion, Yelu Aoluan immediately saw two elegant ladies in luxurious palace attire seated side by side at the head.

Yelu Aoluan knew he had come here to meet his mother, Xiao Sese, so he deduced that one of these two ladies must be Xiao Sese.

But when Xiao Sese left Liao, Yelu Aoluan was barely two years old—how could he possibly remember what she looked like?

After observing carefully for a while, Yelu Aoluan noticed that the western lady showed visible emotion upon seeing him, while the eastern lady remained stern throughout.

Only then did Yelu Aoluan confirm that the western lady was likely Xiao Sese; as for who the eastern lady was, he had no idea.

Having made his judgment, Yelu Aoluan stepped forward slowly, his steps tinged with nervousness and anticipation. He bowed respectfully to both ladies, his gaze involuntarily fixed on the western lady's face, trying to find in her gentle features a trace of the hazy memory from childhood.

Alas, time flew like a shuttle, past events vanished like smoke—though her gentle face stirred a soft corner of his heart, it could not fully merge with the blurred figure in his memory.

Yelu Aoluan's heart was filled with mixed emotions: the joy of reuniting with his biological mother, yet also a faint sense of estrangement born of years apart.

The western lady was indeed Xiao Sese; her eyes were slightly red, her lips forcing a tender smile as she struggled to hold back tears. Her hands lay gently folded on her knees, fingertips trembling slightly, betraying the turmoil within.

Yelu Aoluan caught this detail, and a warm current surged through him—the ineffable pull of blood ties.

"My son has grown up," Xiao Sese said, her voice slightly choked yet brimming with maternal love and pride. It seemed to transcend time, carrying Yelu Aoluan back to that distant yet warmly familiar memory fragment—though hazy, it was enough to let him feel the warmth of a mother's love.

"Mother," Yelu Aoluan whispered those two words, his voice heavy with boundless longing and accumulated emotion. In that moment, all his nervousness and estrangement dissolved into nothingness, leaving only the pure, sincere bond of blood between him and Xiao Sese.

Hearing him call her "Mother," Xiao Sese could no longer hold back; even the eastern lady, Xiao Puxian, sighed softly, her stern expression gradually softening.

The agony of mother and child separated for years was unbearable for any pair. Seeing this mother and son reunite after so much suffering, Xiao Puxian, herself a mother, could not help but be moved.

Having been apart for over a decade, Xiao Sese had countless things she wanted to say to Yelu Aoluan, but this meeting was not merely a mother-son reunion—it was a test: a test of whether Yelu Aoluan should inherit Yelu Yanxi's throne.

Thus, Xiao Sese restrained her emotions and asked Yelu Aoluan purposefully: "My son, the Liao Emperor ordered you to commit suicide—why did you obey? Had it not been for Liu Dutong and others rescuing you in time, you would already be dead. Did you ever consider launching a coup to save yourself?"

After speaking, Xiao Sese watched Yelu Aoluan with both tension and anticipation.

Yelu Aoluan did not overthink—he answered honestly: "If the sovereign commands a minister to die, the minister who refuses is disloyal; if a father commands a son to perish, the son who refuses is unfilial…"

After that, Xiao Sese asked Yelu Aoluan many questions.

These questions covered everything: Liao state affairs, military strategy, and Yelu Aoluan's personal character and aspirations.

Yelu Aoluan answered calmly and steadily, his voice clear and resolute, as if every word had been carefully weighed. His replies sometimes cited classics, revealing profound learning; at other times, they grounded themselves in reality, showing sharp insight.

Xiao Sese nodded frequently, her pride and satisfaction evident. She knew her son had not only grown into an outstanding youth but had also achieved remarkable talent and virtue.

Meanwhile, Xiao Puxian observed Yelu Aoluan without expression.

Though Yelu Aoluan found Xiao Sese strange, asking him sharp and harsh questions, he respected filial piety and his mother's longstanding good reputation, so he answered every one of her questions openly and fully.

This made Xiao Sese even more satisfied with her son.

Once she had asked all she needed to, Xiao Sese summoned Yelu Yuliyan and her three sons by Zhao Yu, instructing them to take Yelu Aoluan out for a walk.

After Yelu Aoluan left, several eunuchs drew back the screen behind Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian, revealing Zhao Yu and the entire Song court's chancellors.

Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian stepped forward and bowed to Zhao Yu: "Your humble servants pay homage to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Yu waved his hand slightly, signaling them to rise, then asked Cai Jing, Su Shi, and the other chancellors: "What do you think of this boy? Is he fit to be Liao Emperor?"

Cai Jing's gaze was deep as he said slowly: "This boy speaks with sincerity; his loyalty and filial piety are plain to see. In matters of state and warfare, his reasoning is clear and his insight exceptional—a rare talent. If we install him as Liao Emperor, it would be a mixed blessing for Great Song. The benefit: the Liao people will gladly accept him as ruler, swiftly uniting their forces to confront the Jurchens on the steppe, allowing Great Song to reduce its investment and watch the two sides fight. The risk: if this boy defeats the Jurchens, his youth and ambition may make him uncontrollable, leading to endless future troubles."

Su Shi added: "The Chancellor speaks truly. This boy is nearly of age; if he becomes Liao Emperor, he will be the Liao people's hope, uniting them in a decisive war against the Jurchens, fulfilling Great Song's goal of letting the two sides weaken each other while we reap the benefits. Moreover, his intellect and talent have already begun to shine—if properly guided, he could become a solid northern bulwark for Great Song. Yet, as the Chancellor warned, his potential carries risk. Once his wings are full, he may no longer wish to remain under Great Song's protection. If one day he turns against us or allies with the Jurchens, our northern frontier will be in grave danger. Thus, whether to install him or not requires careful deliberation and meticulous planning."

The other chancellors held similar views: they considered Yelu Aoluan a suitable candidate, yet feared he might one day grow too powerful to control.

This was natural—Yelu Aoluan was now fifteen, approaching the ideal age for an emperor.

—The best age for an emperor to ascend the throne is seventeen. Too young, and the realm risks instability under a child ruler and powerful ministers; too old, and he may die after only a few years on the throne.

The most typical example is Zhao Yu himself—he ascended at seventeen and revived the Song Dynasty, which had nearly collapsed.

And Yelu Aoluan was about to reach that ideal age for an emperor.

Thus, the Song chancellors' concerns were precisely what was owed to Great Song and to Zhao Yu.