Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 244: Chapter 242: Master Without a Name_1

Chapter 244: Chapter 242: Master Without a Name_1

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Yet he never expected that his brother’s health had deteriorated to this extent, vomiting blood twice and fainting six times during the journey.

Xiao Rongyan was agitated, his brows tightly furrowed.

His brother’s condition could no longer be delayed.

Xiao Rongyan thought of the doctor from the Bai family with the surname Hong. It was said that this Doctor Hong was the senior of Doctor Huang, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau of Jin, and his medical skills were superb.

Murong Yu smiled and held Xiao Rongyan’s hand, leading him to the gates of Lanfeng Pavilion. On the columns of Lanfeng Pavilion’s corridor, he found the marks of their childhood height measurements.

“Still here…” Murong Yu bent down, his finger touching those carved marks, reminiscing about the times when the four brothers played around their mother. Back then, A Yan was just a little boy who drooled and always quarreled with the third brother. But now… of the four brothers, only the two of them remained.

“Your Majesty, please go inside and rest!” reminded Feng Yao softly from the side. “Though it’s already March, the wind is still cold.”

Murong Yu tightly gripped his younger brother’s hand, stood up, looked at the Haitang tree in the courtyard, and said with a slight broil of his throat, “A Yan… Brother misses our mother.”

Feng Yao’s eyes reddened upon hearing Murong Yu mention Empress Ji. He lowered his gaze and remained silent.

Murong Yu’s pallid face bore a subtle smile, “Uncle, make some tea for me and A Yan. In a while… we’ll sit under the Haitang tree and drink tea.”

Although this Lanfeng Pavilion was still the same Lanfeng Pavilion, the Haitang tree was the only thing that carried their mother’s essence.

“Alright!” Feng Yao dabbed at his tears with his sleeve, “I’ll fetch a soft cushion for the stone bench for Your Majesty and the young master.”

Seeing that Feng Yao had already placed the cushions, Xiao Rongyan intended to help Murong Yu sit down, but Murong Yu pulled Xiao Rongyan’s hand and stood still.

Once Feng Yao left, Murong Yu looked at Xiao Rongyan and said, “If Mother saw how you’ve grown up and how accomplished you are, she would be very pleased.”

Murong Yu did not want to mention their mother in front of Feng Yao, as it always saddened the old man.

“Mother would be even happier to see you recover, Brother!” said Xiao Rongyan.

Looking at his now mature, dignified, and extraordinary younger brother, Murong Yu smiled and waved his hand, “This body of mine, it can only last for a day longer. But you… you’re approaching thirty, and the lost lands of Nanyan have been reclaimed. The matter of starting a family cannot be delayed. Among the three duties of filial piety, the greatest is to have no descendants. This time, I came to ask you if you’re interested in Meng Zhaorong, the talented and beautiful daughter of Minister Meng?”

“You and I pledged before our mother’s tablet to recover the lost lands of Great Yan and fulfill her wish for the unification of the empire. Now that we’ve just reclaimed Nanyan, Dadu City is not yet reclaimed, and the Jin Kingdom still covets us…” Xiao Rongyan’s gaze deepened, “The great cause is not yet accomplished. How dare I talk about starting a family?”

“A grand undertaking requires more than one tree on a hill; peace is achieved through collective effort, not just by one person’s strategy.” Murong Yu paused, gazed gently at his younger brother, and said in a low voice, “Mother’s grand vision is an extremely long and arduous road. It may take generations working with a single heart to achieve. Now, the countries are contending for dominance, entrenched as they are. You and I in this lifetime… may not see the day of unification. That’s why we need to start families, leave descendants… leave future generations to complete this great enterprise. A Yan… this path affects too many lives and must be walked steadily. We can’t rush.”

“This road is difficult and fraught with obstacles. If we leave it to future generations because it’s hard for us, and if they think the same, when will true peace ever arrive… Brother?” Xiao Rongyan’s warm and mellow voice slowly flowed, “There was once a lady who told me that only with the unification of the world can everlasting peace be brought to the people, and I deeply agree.”

Murong Yu’s pupils slightly contracted. A lady? A lady with such insight?

“Currently, in the chaotic times, every country seeks to dominate, initiating wars for their interests, decimating the populace.” Xiao Rongyan bowed deeply to his brother, “With the protection and guidance from Mother and you in this turbulent era, I, fortunate to have no worries for food or clothes, have set my ambition: to set righteousness for Heaven and Earth, to establish life for the people, to inherit the lost teachings, and to bring eternal peace to posterity, unwavering till death!”

Looking at his resolute younger brother, Murong Yu felt that A Yan’s aspirations and character were very much like their mother’s.

But as the elder brother, akin to a father, with their mother gone now… he had to bear the responsibility of taking care of the younger brother. He couldn’t let him forgo his lifelong happiness for the great cause.

Murong Yu helped Xiao Rongyan up and gripped his hand, “Brother must see you start a family, so it can be explained to Mother in the afterlife. Otherwise… Mother would blame me for delaying your lifelong matters for Yan’s sake. She would probably take a switch to me! If you’re not satisfied with Meng Zhaorong, we’ll choose someone else! Is there someone in your heart, A Yan?”

Perhaps, the lady who said to A Yan that only the unification of the world could bring everlasting peace to the people.

For some reason, an image of that calm and composed lady with steadfast and profound eyes appeared in Xiao Rongyan’s mind. Her strikingly beautiful yet frail figure stood firm like a pine or cypress, exuding a noble righteousness.

Murong Yu’s brows showed a hint of a smile, “So, there truly is a girl you fancy? Tell me about her, who is she?”

The girl who says only with the unification of the world can everlasting peace be brought to the people, her knowledge and bearing must come from a prominent noble family.

Xiao Rongyan’s tranquil eyes seemed to reflect a slight smile, and his sharply defined features softened, “Brother, trust me. If one day I’m fortunate enough to win her heart… it’ll not be too late to let you know.”

Murong Yu nodded, “Don’t make me wait too long.”

Xiao Rongyan’s grip on the jade cicada tightened, recalling Bai Qingyan’s resistance that day, and he lowered his eyes with a smile.

“March 28 is the Jin Emperor’s birthday.” Murong Yu looked at the Haitang tree in the courtyard, “This time, Yan took advantage of the entanglement between Jin and Xiliang, swiftly reclaiming Nanyan. The Jin Emperor must be quite displeased. Now that Jin and Xiliang have signed a peace treaty, there is a concern they might join forces against Yan.”

“I’m not sure.” Xiao Rongyan accompanied Murong Yu on a slow walk, “In the battle at the southern border, Xiliang lost tens of thousands of elite soldiers. With the Empress of Xiliang ascending the throne, many factions are ready to act. They lack the energy to deal with Yan. Jin too has suffered greatly, and the Jin Emperor is not a generous person. He won’t forget Nanyan and Xiliang’s invasions. Yan claimed to destroy Nanyan only to restore Yan’s rightful rule, which delighted the people. Even if other states wish to wage war against Yan, they lack a just cause.”