I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 303 The Decisiveness of a Mature Villain
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Not long after Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige led a group of Liao women to move into Chengping Palace, they learned from the Liao beauties who were still living there that most of the Liao beauties who had previously lived in Chengping Palace had entered Zhao Yu's harem and become his concubines. The few of them were still staying because of their deep obsession or attachment.

Hearing these Liao beauties say that Chengping Palace was the selection area for entering Zhao Yu's harem, many Liao women were greatly surprised! They never expected that Zhao Yu would actually take them into his harem.

Ok.

As women of the grasslands with a tradition of bride kidnapping, they could understand why they were taken into Zhao Yu's harem as spoils of war.

They simply never imagined that the Zhao Song Dynasty, known as a land of etiquette, would have such blatant and undisguised acts of plunder.

However, on the other hand, if we allow nomadic peoples to do things on the first day of the lunar month, we must also allow agricultural peoples to do things on the fifteenth day.

Back when the Liao Dynasty was powerful, every year it would invade the south to raid and plunder the Han people, taking them as slaves and using their wealth for its own enjoyment.

Otherwise, why do you think that the total population of the Liao Dynasty was about ten million, of which five or six million were Han Chinese, accounting for more than half of the total population of the Liao Dynasty, more than all other ethnic groups combined?

At that time, the iron hooves of the Liao Kingdom trampled across the land of the Zhao Song Dynasty. The sons and daughters of Han people cried out under the blades of the Liao cavalry, countless families were broken, and countless tears were shed.

Now, the tables have turned. The Song Dynasty has become powerful, while the Liao Dynasty has perished. What's wrong with Zhao Yu capturing them for his own enjoyment?
This can only be described as the cycle of karma, where retribution is inevitable. Although they were unwilling, they understood that this reversal of fate was like the wind on the prairie, sometimes gentle and caressing, sometimes wild and raging. No one could predict its direction, and they could only go with the flow.

Fortunately, the Liao beauties all said that the Liao beauties who entered Zhao Yu's harem before all voluntarily threw themselves into Zhao Yu's arms because they couldn't resist. Zhao Yu never forced any of them. Even if they stayed in Chengping Palace, Zhao Yu did not deprive them of their food and clothing, nor did he mistreat them.

This brought a sigh of relief to many Liao women, who even felt that Zhao Yu still possessed some benevolence, not ruthlessly slaughtering or trampling upon them, the people of a fallen kingdom, but rather preserving some respect and dignity for these spoils of war. The fear and resentment they felt from being taken to a foreign land were somewhat alleviated, offering them a sliver of comfort amidst their anxiety and unease.

Xiao Duolilan and Xiao Guige, along with a group of Liao women, waited anxiously in Chengping Palace for three days. They did not receive any good news from Yelü Yanxi, nor did they receive any summons from Zhao Yu to serve him in bed. Instead, Xiao Fengxian came to see Xiao Duolilan and Xiao Guige.

Upon learning that Xiao Fengxian had come to see them, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige, who were extremely anxious, immediately went to meet him.

Upon seeing each other, Xiao Fengxian preemptively exclaimed, "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Consort, things have gone awry..."

Then, Xiao Fengxian told Xiao Duolilan and Xiao Guige about how Zhao Yu forced Yelü Yanxi to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo.

Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige were both greatly surprised when they heard this!
After the initial shock, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige felt that this was perfectly reasonable.

The current situation is that the house of our neighbor, the Liao Kingdom, is on fire, and the fire is clearly out of control.

Logically, Yelü Yanxi, as the head of the family, should have led his family members to do everything in their power to put out the fire.

However, Yelü Yanxi chose to ignore the fire and only focused on saving his own life.

The neighboring Zhao Song Dynasty was afraid that the fire would set their house on fire as well, so they certainly couldn't just sit idly by and wait to die.

The Song Dynasty could only try to help the Liao Dynasty put out the fire, or try to prevent the fire from spreading to its own territory.

Right now, the best solution is to remove the head of the household who only cares about escaping and doesn't care how badly his own and his neighbors' houses will be burned, and replace him with a new head of the household who is willing and capable of putting out the fire.

Yelü Aoluwo, who is suitable in every way, is a very good choice.

Furthermore, Yelü Aoluwo was Zhao Yu's stepson. If he were to ascend to the throne, it would be easier for the Liao Dynasty and the Zhao Song Dynasty to unite. This might be the Liao Dynasty's only chance.

Therefore, from the perspective of the Liao Dynasty, Zhao Yu's support for Yelü Aoluwo to ascend to the throne should be considered the best option at present.

However, this is only from the perspective of the Liao Dynasty, not from the perspective of Xiao Fengxian, Xiao Duolilan, and Xiao Guige, especially from the perspective of Xiao Fengxian and Xiao Guige.

It's important to know that in order to help Yelü Ding defeat Yelü Aoluwo, Xiao Fengxian forced Yelü Yudu into rebellion and eliminated all the political forces behind Yelü Aoluwo (mainly Xiao Sese's family). He even almost killed Yelü Aoluwo himself.

Although Xiao Guige was not involved in this matter, she was one of the biggest beneficiaries behind it, and it was inevitable that Yelü Aoluwo would hold a grudge against her because of her.

Even Xiao Duoli Lan might be implicated by Xiao Fengxian and Xiao Guige, and later be purged by Xiao Sese and Yelü Aoluwo, a mother and son who will surely seek revenge.

Upon learning of this outcome, even the usually mild-mannered Xiao Guige couldn't hold back anymore. She angrily rebuked her brother: "As the person in charge of state affairs and assisting the monarch, how could you lead the country to this state? How can you still have the face to live?"

Xiao Fengxian was speechless.

Because he married his two younger sisters, Xiao Duolilan and Xiao Guige, to Yelü Yanxi and was good at winning Yelü Yanxi's favor, Xiao Fengxian rose to the position of Privy Councilor and Minister of Works, and was granted the title of Prince of Lanling. He was definitely a powerful minister in the Liao Dynasty, second only to the emperor, and controlled the Liao Dynasty for a long time.

However, under Xiao Fengxian's rule, the Liao Kingdom was on the verge of collapse, and the people's hearts were on the verge of disintegration.

Xiao Fengxian was absolutely unforgivable.

Xiao Fengxian knew the terrible things he had done, and he knew that if he didn't save himself, not only would he be torn to pieces, but his entire family would also suffer a terrible fate. Therefore, Xiao Fengxian didn't argue, but simply admitted his guilt.

Then, Xiao Fengxian changed his tone and said, "My crimes are heinous and I deserve to die. However, Prince Qin and Prince Xu are innocent people, and many members of my clan are also innocent. If we do not find a way to protect ourselves, the day will come when Consort Wen and Prince Jin take power in our Great Liao Dynasty, we will be purged."

Having gone through so much, especially the purge of Yelü Aoluwo's ​​backers by Xiao Fengxian, Xiao Guige was well aware that Xiao Fengxian's words were true. Once Xiao Sese and Yelü Aoluwo, mother and son, seized power in the Liao Dynasty, given the grievances and persecution they and their families had suffered, they would surely seek revenge against Xiao Fengxian and his family. Furthermore, Yelü Ding and Yelü Ning, who were vying for the throne with Yelü Aoluwo, would also certainly suffer attacks from Xiao Sese and Yelü Aoluwo.

Thinking of this, Xiao Guige couldn't help but turn pale, and even the usually calm Xiao Duoli showed a worried expression.

Although Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige had long wanted to sever ties with Xiao Fengxian because of his actions, within the ethical framework and social structure of this era, kinship was never a superficial bond that individuals could easily sever; rather, it was a destiny imprint deeply rooted in the very fabric of life, like blood ties. Like an invisible giant net, it tightly bound family members, sharing both honor and disgrace, fortune and misfortune, their fates intertwined from the moment of their birth.

This symbiosis is particularly brutally revealed in the vortex of power shifts and the struggle for interests.

It's important to understand that families in this era are never simply a collection of independent individuals, but rather a shared destiny where honor and disgrace are intertwined. An individual's achievements are seen as the family's glory, benefiting their relatives; similarly, an individual's sins are seen as a stain on the family, implicating everyone above and below. The sayings "when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven" and "when one person is convicted, the entire family is executed" are merely two sides of the same coin, essentially reflecting the inseparable bond of kinship.

The existence of the system of collective punishment further pushed this kinship bond to its extreme. With the rigidity of the system, it extended the responsibility of an individual's behavior infinitely to the entire family, using blood ties to build the deterrent power of the ruling order.

Under such rules, Xiao Fengxian's political enemies would not distinguish whether Xiao Duolilan and Xiao Guige had participated in the things Xiao Fengxian had done; they would simply categorize them as the opposing camp because they were Xiao Fengxian's sisters.

Just as the extermination of a wolf pack on the grasslands never spares the entire pack because of the innocence of a single wolf, the power purges in feudal times never show mercy to "exceptions" in kinship.

This indivisibility stems from the fact that the basic social unit in feudal times was the family, not the individual. The value and significance of an individual were often manifested through the survival and status of the family. A person's name was always preceded by the family's surname; a person's words and actions were always seen as a reflection of the family's upbringing.

Even as imperial concubines, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige remained fundamentally Xiao Fengxian's sisters, a status that wouldn't fade due to marriage or personal will. When their family faced collapse, their individual fates inevitably followed suit—not a result of individual choices, but an inevitability dictated by the rules of the era.

Therefore, although Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige also disliked or even hated Xiao Fengxian, for the sake of their family and themselves, Xiao Guige still had to ask Xiao Fengxian for advice: "Do you have a good plan?"

Xiao Fengxian's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice, saying, "The Prince of Jin is young, and His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty intends to appoint the two empress dowagers as regents. The empress dowager in the west is Consort Wen, while the empress dowager in the east is Puxian Nu..."

Upon learning that Xiao Fengxian planned to side with Xiao Puxian to counter the threats posed by Xiao Sese and her son Yelü Aoluwo, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of doubt in each other's eyes. 'Can Puxian defeat Consort Wen and her son? And will she truly protect my family?'

Seeing Xiao Duoli's and Xiao Guige's doubts, Xiao Fengxian explained, "The Empress Dowagers of the East and West will surely respect the East. However, the Prince of Jin is the son of Consort Wen and has no relation to Puxian. Puxian is not even one of His Majesty's concubines. Therefore, those who yearn to restore their kingdom will surely follow Consort Wen and her son. If Puxian does not want to be sidelined by Consort Wen and her son, she must first have the protection of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, and second, she must have someone to support her..."

After Xiao Fengxian's explanation, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige suddenly realized that their relationship with Xiao Puxian was one of mutual need.

In this way, they could indeed rely on Xiao Puxian's power to ensure that their family would be preserved during the upcoming change of regime.

Xiao Puxian also needs their support to solidify her position and counter the threat posed by Xiao Sese and Yelü Aoluwo.

Thinking of this, a resolute glint flashed in Xiao Guige's eyes: "If that's the case, we need to make plans as soon as possible, lest things get complicated."

Xiao Duoli nodded in agreement: "Indeed, this matter should be handled sooner rather than later."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Fengxian was secretly delighted, but outwardly he said with some difficulty, "I have already made contact with Puxian. She is willing to accept my family and even intends to recommend me as an envoy to Liao to pave the way for the new emperor in Nanjing. However, she has one harsh condition..."

Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige both felt a chill in their hearts, sensing that Xiao Puxian's conditions were definitely not simple. Otherwise, Xiao Fengxian, who had already become second only to the emperor, would not have had this expression.

Xiao Guige asked in a deep voice, "What are her conditions?"

Xiao Fengxian said slowly, "She hates that Your Majesty gave her to the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, so she wants to... wants to offer all of Your Majesty's concubines to the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty to avenge her hatred."

A good listener is worse than a good talker.

Although Xiao Fengxian put it tactfully, Xiao Duoli and Xiao Guige understood perfectly well that he wanted them to take Yelü Yanxi's concubines to sleep with Zhao Yu.
Xiao Guige flew into a rage and blurted out, "How dare she be so rebellious?!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiao Guige knew she had made a mistake. Back when Yelü Yanxi gave Xiao Puxian to Zhao Yu, Xiao Puxian had already severed all ties with the Liao Kingdom. No, judging from the way Xiao Puxian left, it was clear that she had already come to hate the Liao Kingdom and Yelü Yanxi at that time.

Xiao Fengxian said leisurely, "Your Majesty still doesn't understand. Puxian is teaching my family to pledge allegiance, to make me bear the name of betraying the original master and forcing the original master's mother to serve the new master in order to accept my family's service. Otherwise, why would she trust my family?"

Xiao Guige thought about it and realized it made sense. Xiao Duolilan was Yelü Yanxi's empress, and she was Yelü Yanxi's primary consort. Xiao Fengxian was Yelü Yanxi's most favored minister. Xiao Sixian was once the commander-in-chief of the Liao Kingdom, and Xiao Baoxian was once the garrison commander of Liao's Tokyo. It could be said that all members of their family held important positions in the Liao Kingdom under Yelü Yanxi's rule. Even the dogs used by Yelü Yanxi for hunting were presented by their family.

In this situation, if their family doesn't offer a reliable pledge of loyalty, who would dare to hire them?
The problem is, no matter how incompetent, foolish, or wronged the other Liao people Yelü Yanxi was, he was still kind to her family. Moreover, Yelü Yanxi was her husband and the father of her children, and he had always doted on her. For her to personally lead Yelü Yanxi's concubines to Zhao Yu's bed was not only a moral stain, but also an unbearable burden on her heart. Xiao Guige bit her lower lip tightly, her face as pale as snow, and her hands unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. Her inner struggle and pain were evident.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Xiao Duoli, who rarely spoke, suddenly said calmly, "One should not conceal one's mistakes, nor evade punishment. Things have come to this point; what choice do we have? So be it, I am willing to serve His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty..."

……

(End of this chapter)