Big Moon Ballad

Chapter 2654 Palace Change
"What do you mean?"

Chen Yan's expression changed, not because he was afraid of death, but because he sensed danger in Ying Baoyue's words.

"Is someone plotting against His Majesty?"

Jiang Yuanyuan's ascension to the throne was secured by him and the Li family. Given Jiang Yuanyuan's strong foundation, he wouldn't make a move against him at this time. So who in the entire Southern Chu could threaten his life?

"What's wrong with this military order?"

Chen Yan stared at the imperial edict in his hand. Although it was not Jiang Yuanyuan's handwritten order, it was stamped with the jade seal of the King of Southern Chu.

Ying Baoyue pulled back the barrier, enclosing only Chen Yan, Chen Zichu, and Gui Chen within it, and solemnly said, "I suspect that this military order was not issued by the King of Southern Chu."

These words struck Chen Yan like a thunderbolt, leaving him unable to remain calm. "What message have you received?"

Ying Baoyue shook her head. "It's just my speculation."

"Speculation?"

Chen Zichu was so angry that his hair almost stood on end. If he had received internal information from Shan Hai Ju, that would be one thing, but Ying Baoyue was now telling his father to defy the imperial decree based solely on his own guess.

This is putting his entire family's livelihood and lives on the line!

"Chu'er," Chen Yan frowned, "let the former King of Qin finish speaking."

"You're already patrolling the border, so why issue another military order emphasizing that you hold your position?"

Ying Baoyue stared into Chen Yan's eyes, "Could it be that Jiang Yuanyuan is afraid that you will use your military power to your advantage and lead troops back to the capital without permission?"

Does he distrust you that much?

Chen Yan paused for a moment, then said, "It's not that bad yet."

Although Jiang Yuanyuan is young, she is very self-aware.

Jiang Yuanyuan treated these veteran generals with great respect and rarely interfered with their troop deployments. When he left Southern Chu, Jiang Yuanyuan instructed him to take charge of all military affairs at the border and not to consult the court on every matter.

As the saying goes, a general in the field may disobey orders, so it was indeed strange that Jiang Yuanyuan suddenly received an imperial edict ordering him to stay put.

"It's less about you leading troops outside and more about being afraid of you coming back."

Ying Baoyue stared into Chen Yan's eyes and made a definitive conclusion: "If it were Jiang Yuanyuan, whom I know, he wouldn't."

Chen Yan was a protective shield for Jiang Yuanyuan, not a powerful minister who threatened his position.

Chen Yan fell silent.

"Who is that?"

“I’m not as familiar with the internal affairs of Southern Chu as I used to be,” Ying Baoyue sighed. “If Jiang Yuanyuan dies, who in Southern Chu can ascend the throne now?”

"I really can't think of anything right now," Chen Yan said, his brows furrowed. "The eldest prince did not leave any offspring."

Jiang Yuanyuan's eldest brother left no heirs, which was a major reason why Jiang Yuanyuan was able to ascend the throne. Jiang Yuanyuan had no other brothers either. The late king did have brothers, and those brothers had sons, but their order of succession would never surpass Jiang Yuanyuan's.

Ying Baoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "Then it must be a posthumous child."

Jiang Yuanyuan's elder brother had passed away less than half a year ago, and with his wives and concubines still alive, it wouldn't be difficult for him to have a posthumous child.

“But how can this be?” Chen Yan frowned. “There was no news when His Majesty the late King passed away. It’s been so long since then and a posthumous child has appeared. It’s hard to tell if the child is real or not, and the sex is unknown. How can this threaten His Majesty’s position?”

“Relying on just one posthumous child is definitely not enough,” Ying Baoyue took a deep breath. “We must have other members of the royal family to support him. I remember that the former king of Southern Chu had a younger brother who was also enfeoffed as a prince?”

"You mean the Prince of Linjiang?" Chen Yan gasped. "That is indeed true, but the Prince of Linjiang has been cultivating Taoism in the mountains ever since His Majesty the late King ascended the throne, and has been in seclusion for decades."

It's hard to imagine that someone like that would suddenly rebel.

Ying Baoyue had heard of this prince of Southern Chu who was determined to live in seclusion and not concern himself with worldly affairs. It was precisely because he had always shown that he did not covet the royal power that the court and the public had always ignored him.

The Prince of Linjiang was the brother of the former King of Southern Chu, both born of the same principal wife, and their lineage was impeccable. When the former King of Southern Chu was made Crown Prince, he was made a Prince of the Commandery.

This person's relationship with the former king of Southern Chu was comparable to that of Zhao Guang and Zhao Muren, but his lineage was far more legitimate than Zhao Guang's. Regardless of whether it was this person or not, his position within the royal family was enough to shake people's hearts.

If the posthumous son of the former crown prince of Southern Chu were to ascend the throne, with the Prince of Linjiang serving as regent, he might actually be able to replace Jiang Yuanyuan.

"Whether he is the King of Linjiang or not, we will know when you lead your army back to Southern Chu."

Ying Baoyue was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you willing to return to the capital with the Former Qin army?"

Chen Yan froze.

He knew very well that this was not a triumphant return to the capital, but rather a mission to defend the emperor. As the Grand Marshal of Southern Chu, refusing the military order to stay and lead troops back to the capital would be tantamount to a rebellion if Jiang Yuanyuan had not been harmed.

"I……"

“It’s alright if you’re unwilling,” Ying Baoyue understood Chen Yan’s predicament. This matter was too significant, and he, a general of Southern Chu, couldn’t afford to take such a risk. “I will lead the Former Qin army to Danyang myself, and I ask that you do not stop me.”

"Shao Siming, you..."

Chen Yan's hand gripping the saber trembled. "This is tantamount to starting a war with Southern Chu!"

Since the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, the Qin people have not set foot in Danyang City for more than a decade.

When Ying Baoyue, as the ruler of one country, led his troops to the capital of another country, it was tantamount to declaring war.

“I know,” Ying Baoyue smiled faintly, “If the King of Southern Chu were still Jiang Yuanyuan, he would understand me and let me into the city.”

Just as Yelü Hua eventually accepted the entry of the Former Qin army into Luoyang.

Chen Yan's heart trembled upon hearing this, "What if it's not His Majesty?"

The military order in his hand was stamped with the jade seal of the King of Southern Chu. If the order was not issued by Jiang Yuanyuan, it meant that the jade seal had fallen into the hands of someone else.

“If it weren’t for Jiang Yuanyuan,” Ying Baoyue stroked the horse’s head.

"I have no choice but to raze Danyang City to the ground."

……

……

Late at night in Danyang.

In a secluded corner of the Southern Chu royal palace, Jiang Yuanyuan put down her silver needles and stared at the cold food on the tray in front of her.

Even though he had already tried the poison, he still didn't dare to eat it.

This is the fourth day he has been confined, and he has not eaten anything for four days.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

The young eunuch who was serving the food spoke tremblingly, "His Majesty the Regent said that you should eat at least a little."

"The Regent is urging me to eat?"

Jiang Yuanyuan laughed, "I was afraid he would poison me so he could promote that unknown kid to power."

The palace servants who were cleaning nearby were startled and immediately knelt down, afraid of hearing something they shouldn't have.

"Please don't say that."

The oldest-looking female official spoke slowly. She was Jiang Yuanyuan's wet nurse and the most senior person in the palace.

“If the Regent wanted you dead, he wouldn’t have waited until now,” the old woman slowly advised. “You’re harming your health by not eating or drinking, and the person most worried about you is Her Majesty the Queen.”

Jiang Yuanyuan felt a pang in his heart. Today was not only the fourth day he had been confined, but also the fourth day he had been forced to separate from Li Jinniang.

Where is she?!