I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 301 Jade Flower Pavilion: The Silent Contest Between the Eastern and Western Empress Dowagers
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Upon entering the Yuhua Pavilion, Yelü Aoluwo immediately noticed two beautiful women dressed in magnificent palace attire sitting side by side at the head of the table.

Yelü Aoluwo knew that he had come to see his mother, Xiao Sese, so he deduced that one of the two beautiful women must be Xiao Sese.

However, when Xiao Sese left the Liao Kingdom, Yelü Aoluwo was not even two years old. How could he possibly remember what Xiao Sese looked like?

After observing carefully for a while, Yelü Aoluwo noticed that the beautiful woman to the west became somewhat agitated after seeing him, while the beautiful woman to the east maintained a stern expression throughout.

Only then did Yelü Aoluwo confirm that the beautiful woman in the west should be Xiao Sese, but he didn't know who the beautiful woman in the east was.

Having made his judgment, Yelü Aoluwo slowly stepped forward, his steps tinged with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. He first bowed respectfully to the two beautiful women, his gaze involuntarily falling on the face of the woman to the west, trying to find a trace of a vague childhood memory in her gentle features.

Unfortunately, time flies and the past fades like smoke. Although that gentle face stirred a soft corner in his heart, it was ultimately difficult for it to overlap with the blurry figure in his memory.

Yelü Aoluwo felt a mix of emotions, including the joy of reuniting with his biological mother, but also a sense of estrangement due to the passage of time.

The beautiful woman to the west was none other than Xiao Sese. Her eyes were slightly red, and a gentle smile was forced onto her lips, as if she was trying hard to hold back her tears. Her hands were gently clasped on her knees, her fingertips trembling slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

Yelü Aoluwo noticed this detail and felt a warm current well up in his heart—an indescribable pull between blood relatives.

“My son has grown up.” Xiao Sese’s voice was slightly choked, but full of love and joy. Her voice seemed to travel through time and space, bringing Yelü Aoluwo back to that distant but warm memory—even though those memories were blurry, they were enough for him to feel the warmth of his mother’s love.

“Mother,” Yelü Aoluwo whispered, his voice filled with endless longing and pent-up emotions. It was as if, at this moment, all the unease and unfamiliarity in his heart had vanished, leaving only the pure and sincere bond between him and Xiao Sese.

Not to mention Xiao Sese couldn't hold back any longer when she heard "Mother," the beautiful woman on the east side, Xiao Puxian, also sighed softly when she saw this, and the sternness on her face gradually softened.

The pain of separation between mother and child is unbearable for any mother and child. Seeing this mother and child finally reunited after going through so much hardship, Xiao Puxian, who is also a mother, was deeply moved.

After more than ten years apart, Xiao Sese had a lot to say to Yelü Aoluwo. However, this meeting between Xiao Sese and Yelü Aoluwo was not just a simple reunion of mother and son; it was also a test—a test of whether or not to let Yelü Aoluwo inherit the throne from Yelü Yanxi.

Therefore, Xiao Sese tried her best to control her excitement and asked Yelü Aoluwo purposefully: "My son, the Liao priest ordered you to commit suicide. Why did you obey his orders? If it weren't for the timely rescue by Commander Liu and others, you would probably have already left this world. Did you ever think of launching a coup to protect yourself at that time?"

After speaking, Xiao Sese looked at Yelü Aoluwo with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

Yelü Aoluwo didn't think much of it and answered truthfully: "If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject is disloyal if he does not; if the father commands the son to die, the son is unfilial if he does not..."

Next, Xiao Sese asked Yelü Aoluwo many questions.

These questions covered a wide range of topics, including Liao politics, military strategies, and Yelü Aoluwo's ​​personal character and aspirations.

Yelü Aoluwo answered calmly and resolutely, his voice loud and firm, as if every word had been carefully considered. His answers sometimes quoted classical texts, demonstrating his profound knowledge; at other times, they combined theory with practice, revealing his keen insight.

Xiao Sese listened and nodded repeatedly, her heart filled with unspeakable joy and pride. She knew that her son had not only grown into an outstanding young man, but also possessed remarkable talent and virtue.

Xiao Puxian, on the other hand, remained silent as she observed Yelü Aoluwo.

Although Yelü Aoluwo found Xiao Sese strange, as he kept asking her tricky and sarcastic questions, he always answered Xiao Sese's questions without reservation because he valued filial piety and respected his mother, who had always had a good reputation.

This made Xiao Sese even more satisfied with her son, Yelü Aoluwo.

After asking all the questions that needed to be asked, Xiao Sese summoned Yelü Yuliyan and her three sons with Zhao Yu, and asked them to take Yelü Aoluwo out for a stroll.

After Yelü Aoluwo left, several eunuchs pulled back the screen behind Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian, revealing Zhao Yu and a group of ministers of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian bowed before Zhao Yu, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Zhao Yu casually gestured for Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian to rise, and at the same time asked Cai Jing, Su Shi and other ministers: "What do you think of this boy? Can he be made the ruler of Liao?"

Cai Jing's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "This young man speaks earnestly, and his loyalty and filial piety are evident. He is clear and logical in his discussions of politics and military affairs, and his insight is extraordinary. He is truly a rare talent. If we establish him as the ruler of Liao, it will be a mixed blessing for our Great Song. On the one hand, the Liao people will be happy to have him as their ruler, and they can quickly gather the troops of Liao to unite and fight the Jurchens for control of the grasslands. Our Great Song can reduce its investment and sit back and watch the tigers fight. On the other hand, if this young man really defeats the Jurchens, I fear that he is young and impetuous, difficult to control, and there will be endless troubles in the future."

Su Shi also said, "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. This child is about to come of age. If he becomes the ruler of Liao, it will be what the Liao people hope for. He should unite the Liao people in a decisive battle against the Jurchens, so that our Great Song can benefit from the conflict between the two sides. Moreover, this child's intelligence and talent have already begun to show. If he can be properly guided, he may become a solid bulwark for our Great Song in the north. However, as the Prime Minister said, his potential is also accompanied by risks. Once he has grown strong, he may not continue to be willing to be protected by our Great Song. If he turns against us in the future, or colludes with the Jurchens, our Great Song's northern border will be in danger. Therefore, whether to establish him or not requires careful consideration and planning."

The other chief ministers shared similar views, namely, they felt that Yelü Aoluwo was a suitable candidate, but they were also worried that Yelü Aoluwo would become too powerful to control in the future.

This is normal. Yelü Aoluwo is now fifteen years old and will soon be in the prime of his life as an emperor.

The best age for an emperor to ascend the throne is seventeen. If he is too young, with an orphan and a widow, the country is prone to suspicion and powerful ministers will hold sway. If he is too old, he will die after only a few days on the throne.

The most typical example is Zhao Yu, who ascended the throne at the age of seventeen and revived the Zhao Song Dynasty, which was on the verge of collapse.

Yelü Aoluwo is about to reach the prime of his life as emperor.

Therefore, it was only because the ministers of the Zhao Song Dynasty had such concerns that they were acting responsibly for the Zhao Song Dynasty and for Zhao Yu himself. Zhao Yu looked at Xiao Sese and Xiao Puxian and asked, "What are your opinions?"

Xiao Puxian, disregarding Xiao Sese's feelings, bluntly stated, "I still maintain my original opinion that the best option is to establish Prince Xu."

Prince Xu, Yelü Ning, is Yelü Yanxi's youngest son, and he is only three years old.

Xiao Puxian calmly analyzed, “Prince Xu is young and ignorant. Establishing him would make him easy to control. The advantage is that a young ruler cannot govern personally and will rely on advisors. I can place trusted confidants in charge, using both kindness and strictness to easily educate him. He will learn to rely on me for security, and when he governs personally, he will be loyal to me. Even if Liao retreats from the Jurchens, the young ruler's kingdom will be difficult to escape my control and will not pose a threat. The disadvantage is that a young ruler leads to instability in the country, and the Liao's royal family and former officials may harbor resentment. However, I can intervene forcefully to help Prince Xu secure his position and suppress those who disagree. Initially, there may be difficulties in implementing policies, which would be an opportunity for me to deeply control the government. Comparing the two, establishing Prince Xu, although with minor flaws, is a much better choice than establishing an adult with his own opinions, as the risks are manageable.”

Xiao Puxian's idea was that Yelü Ning was only three years old, innocent and ignorant. The biggest advantage of making him the Liao emperor was that he would be easier to control. Since a young emperor couldn't rule personally, the court would inevitably be controlled by a regent or the empress dowager. The Song Dynasty could then use this opportunity to install its confidants and control Liao's military and political affairs. Furthermore, Yelü Ning was still young and his mind was not yet fully developed; a combination of kindness and strictness would make him easier to educate. From a young age, Yelü Ning would understand the Song Dynasty's protection and that only by relying on the Song Dynasty could he be secure. This would deepen his sense of identification with the Song Dynasty when he came of age to rule.

Xiao Puxian even hinted that when Yelü Ning grew up, he could be deposed and his son installed as the new emperor. In short, the imperial power of the Liao Dynasty was kept in the hands of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

In this way, the Liao Dynasty would remain under the control of the Song Dynasty.

Of course, this wasn't without its downsides. Making Yelü Ning, a mere child, emperor would inevitably cause discontent among the Liao people, who would feel that the court was being controlled by outsiders.

However, this was not without a solution. The Song Dynasty could intervene directly with a strong stance, assisting Yelü Ning in consolidating his position and suppressing his opponents.

In short, Empress Xiao advocated for the establishment of Yelü Ning as emperor, followed by a deeper involvement of the Song Dynasty in the Liao Dynasty's political affairs, firmly grasping its governing power.

It is not difficult to see from Xiao Puxian's propositions that she is both far-sighted and has strong methods.

Every word she uttered mentioned "easy to control," indicating that she genuinely wanted the Song Dynasty to take the initiative. Of course, you could also say that she wanted to take the initiative.

Furthermore, considering that Xiao Puxian was not swayed by Yelü Aoluwo's ​​talent and always regarded the Zhao Song Dynasty's ability to control the situation as fundamental, it is not difficult to see that she was sensible, could distinguish between what was important and what was not, and was by no means the kind of soft-hearted woman.

Furthermore, Xiao Puxian's schemes were all about weighing the pros and cons, treating the Liao Kingdom as a pawn and the Liao emperor as a tool, revealing her ruthlessness and toughness.

Fortunately, Xiao Puxian did not shy away from the suspicion that she wanted to seize power, and directly stated her thoughts, which showed both her loyalty to Zhao Yu and her toughness.

In short, for Zhao Yu, Xiao Puxian was likely a useful and capable assistant; but for the Liao royal family, clan members, and former officials, Xiao Puxian was probably their nightmare in the future.

Zhao Yu nodded secretly, 'This woman is shrewd and calculating, always prioritizing practical benefits. I knew I hadn't misjudged her; she can definitely become a formidable opponent for Wanyan Aguda.'

Zhao Yu shifted his gaze from Xiao Puxian to Xiao Sese.

Xiao Sese knew very well that she couldn't say anything at this moment, let alone fight for the throne for Yelü Aoluwo, otherwise it might backfire.

Therefore, Xiao Sese bowed gracefully to Zhao Yu and said in a calm tone, "Your Majesty, I will obey your will."

Xiao Sese wasn't passing the buck to Zhao Yu; rather, she could only rely on Zhao Yu, considering their past relationship and the credit she had given for devising this plan.

In fact, Xiao Sese knew very well that Xiao Puxian's proposal was actually more in line with the interests of the Zhao Song Dynasty. Even if Zhao Yu really chose to establish Yelü Ning as the emperor of Liao, it would be understandable. After all, an emperor, especially an ambitious monarch like Zhao Yu who was determined to rule the world, would naturally consider issues from the perspective of the overall situation, and everything would serve the supreme imperial power and the stability of the country.

Xiao Sese was also aware that once Zhao Yu chose Yelü Ning, she would be out of the game, and Xiao Guige would become the one to form the Liao Kingdom's dual empress dowagers with Xiao Puxian. She might never be able to participate in Liao Kingdom's politics again and would never be able to realize her political ambitions in this life.

However, even with all this information, Xiao Sese could only place her bets on Zhao Yu. This was because, apart from Zhao Yu, she currently possessed absolutely no political power or support.

Seeing that he would ultimately have to make the decision himself, Zhao Yu didn't hesitate too much and said, "Establish the Prince of Jin."

Then, Zhao Yu joked, "That Xiao Guige hasn't slept with me for over ten years, nor has she given me a single child. What merit has she made? How can her son receive such a benefit?"

When Zhao Yu said this, many ministers who thought Yelü Ning should be made the empress were greatly disappointed.

However, at the same time, many people secretly praised Zhao Yu for his approach of prioritizing the country's stability while also showing humanity, remembering old friends, recognizing merit, and clearly distinguishing between rewards and punishments. After all, in the treacherous political arena, an emperor who doesn't forget old friends and values ​​those who have quietly contributed is undoubtedly a rare and precious quality. This also reassured those who remained loyal to their former master and diligently served the country.

As for Xiao Sese, she looked at Zhao Yu with deep affection.

Xiao Sese thought to herself that although she was with Zhao Yu because of circumstances, upon closer reflection, Zhao Yu had actually treated her quite well over the years. At least being with Zhao Yu was much better than being with the incompetent and ruthless Yelü Yanxi.

'If I hadn't been snatched away by the emperor, I might have been killed by that tyrannical ruler long ago, just like Taheli and Xiao Yu…'

In fact, the reason why Zhao Yu chose to establish Yelü Aoluwo instead of Yelü Ning was not only because he genuinely cared about his relationship with Xiao Sese and because this strategy was proposed by Xiao Sese and he didn't want to discard her after she had served her purpose, but also because he knew very well that even if the Liao Kingdom worked together, it would most likely be unable to defeat the Jin Kingdom, let alone with their internal strife and infighting.

Therefore, Zhao Yu definitely had to stop Xiao Puxian and the others from making a mess of things and ending up in a mess...

……

(End of this chapter)