The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1688: 821 The Truth of That Year (Second Update)

Chapter 1688: 821 The Truth of That Year (Second Update)

Lord Yun Shan was silent for a long while before he solemnly said, “The fate of Dayan’s kingdom is coming to an end!”

At this moment, the three seemed to understand something.

If it were only, “The Purple Star appears, the emperor emerges from Xuanyuan,” then Shangguan Yun, with half the Xuanyuan bloodline running through her veins, could completely fulfill this prophecy.

But if you add, “The fate of Dayan’s kingdom is coming to an end,” then Shangguan Yun, being the Princess of Dayan, could not be the emperor mentioned in the prophecy.

The Xuanyuan family would replace the Shangguan royal family and become the new royal family; this is the true reason the king wants to exterminate the Xuanyuan bloodline.

Shangguan Yun turned to look at Lord Yun Shan, who was sitting on the stool beside her: “You knew this long ago?”

Lord Yun Shan shook his fan: “Not that long ago, I overheard it incidentally outside His Majesty’s Imperial Study Room a few years back.”

Shangguan Yun asked, “What else did you hear?”

Lord Yun Shan sighed heavily: “I heard that this prophecy was not told to His Majesty by the National Master willingly; it was leaked by someone. Do you think His Majesty exterminated the Xuanyuan clan solely because of this prophecy? It is not so. The prophecy was just one of the factors; in reality, there were many other underlying reasons.”

Hearing this, the first doubt in the three’s hearts was resolved.

Though the three did not say it, due to the unique nature of the situation, they had once doubted whether this prophecy had any elements made up out of thin air.

Now it seemed that the National Master indeed divined this prophecy and might have paid a great price for it.

“The National Master understood what this prophecy would bring to the Xuanyuan family; he did not intend to tell the Xuanyuan family to avoid breeding rebellion in their hearts, nor did he plan to tell the king to prevent the king from developing a murderous intent towards the Xuanyuan family. But what he did not expect was that a spy from Jin Country had infiltrated the National Master Hall.”

The spy was selected into the National Master Hall at the age of eight and had been lurking for ten years. During these ten years, he had not revealed a trace of flaw, finally gaining the National Master’s trust and becoming the National Master’s first disciple.

He was also present when the National Master divined the prophecy.

When the news spread, the National Master realized he had been betrayed.

The National Master dealt with him, but it was too late; both the king and the Xuanyuan family had already heard the prophecy.

Initially, the Xuanyuan family had no grand ambitions, but they knew with the king’s suspicious nature, it would be hard for him not to be wary of them.

The Xuanyuan family was ready to hand over their military power and retire to the countryside, but at this time, Jin and Liang countries made their moves.

Jin Country was the first superior country among the Six Nations; it was the one that defined the ranks of the Six Nations. During Jin Country’s heyday, no country could rival its dominance; it held absolute hegemonic status.

Subsequently, Liang Country rose and, with Jin Country’s acknowledgment, became the second superior country.

For Dayan to ascend to a superior country, it also needed the recognition of Jin and Liang Countries.

Of course, these two countries were unwilling. During those years, to prevent Dayan’s rise, Jin and Liang Countries waged several wars at the border pass. Not only that, they secretly supported local forces in Dayan to cause trouble.

Little did they expect that the Xuanyuan family would hold up Dayan Country, beset with internal and external troubles, in such turbulent times.

Xuanyuan Li’s Red-Tasseled Spear terrified everyone with its lethal might.

Countless valiant generals from Jin and Liang Countries fell under Xuanyuan Li’s Red-Tasseled Spear. Jin and Liang Countries’ armies were defeated and routed, and for several years, they dared not invade again.

However, the good times did not last long.

Jin and Liang Countries continuously refused to accept Yan Country as a superior country because they understood that with the Xuanyuan family, Dayan Country was too formidable. If allowed to develop, there would be a day when the Xuanyuan Army would trample over Jin and Liang Countries.

Everything was so coincidental.

While they racked their brains on how to deal with Dayan and the Xuanyuan family, the National Master’s prophecy appeared.

Their emissaries took the initiative to come to Yan Country and offered the king of Dayan an alluring condition—exterminate the Xuanyuan family, and they would accept Dayan as one of the Three Superior Countries.

Not only would they share the maritime rights and various island exploitation rights with Dayan, but they would also permit Dayan to join them in plundering the remaining three subordinate countries.

Becoming a superior country was not only a matter of honor but also brought substantial benefits. It would be a lie to say the king was not tempted.

At that time, the king had two choices.

One, let Xuanyuan Li lead the army to attack Jin and Liang Countries until they succumbed.

Two, accept the conditions offered by Jin and Liang Countries.

“The king chose the second path,” Gu Jiao said.

“That’s right,” Yun Shan sighed regretfully.

Back then, the Xuanyuan family had the strength to contend with the armies of both countries, but if they truly triumphed, their reputation among the people would grow even greater. They were already too influential; could the king afford to let them achieve the honor of becoming a superior country too?

Considering the prophecy, how could the king dare to let the Xuanyuan family expand?

Yun Shan continued, “There was also a minor reason; Dayan had been at war for many years, and the national treasury was empty. They truly could not afford to wage another war.”

Gu Jiao glanced at him and said lightly, “Wouldn’t raiding a few more corrupt officials’ residences fill the treasury?”

Lord Yun Shan coughed lightly and said, “Ahem, that’s why I said it’s a minor reason, not the main cause.”

Gu Jiao remembered what Nangong Li said to her before he died.

So he was not talking about “Jingyang,” but “Jin and Liang.” He knew it was the spies from Jin Country who spread the National Master’s prophecy, and he also knew that Jin and Liang Countries had lured the Yan Emperor.

Gu Jiao touched her chin and murmured thoughtfully, “Indeed, how could a minister call the emperor by his name?”

However, although it felt strange that Nangong Li addressed the emperor this way, no one thought of it at that level at the time.

If it were true that Jin and Liang Countries had stabbed so many knives in the back, no wonder she saw in her dreams that the two countries would take advantage of Yan’s internal turmoil to launch an attack.

From the beginning, Jin Country and Liang Country had never sincerely accepted Yan Country as their superior. It was all just a stalling tactic. Once the Xuanyuan Family was destroyed and the Xuanyuan Army was split, the major families would then overhaul the remaining Xuanyuan forces—

Then Dayan would lose its strongest shield and sharpest sword, and no longer have the strength to compete with Jin and Liang Countries.

By then, Jin and Liang Countries could easily swallow Dayan in one gulp.

These years, Jin and Liang Countries allowed Yan Country to develop, on one hand, waiting for the fall of the Xuanyuan family’s military power, and on the other, nurturing Yan like a fat little rabbit.

It was the best prey when it was plump but had no attack power.

Could the Yan Emperor not understand the intentions of Jin and Liang Countries?

He was mad, but he wasn’t stupid.

The reason he still resolutely eradicated the Xuanyuan Family was first to prevent the prophecy of the Xuanyuan Family proclaiming the empire from coming true, and second, because he had enough confidence in himself.

—— He believed that even without the Xuanyuan Family and Xuanyuan Li, he could still cultivate an invincible Dayan elite army in the coming years.

Gu Jiao thought he was overconfident.

Jin and Liang Countries, with their ambitious plans, had always been waiting for the right moment to annex Dayan. Originally, they would act after three years of internal turmoil in Dayan, when it was severely weakened. Now that the turmoil had been prematurely stopped,

They had endured three years already, until Dayan’s military strength was reduced to just a shell. The current robust army of Dayan wouldn’t have Jin and Liang Countries foolish enough to act now.

During the conversation, the carriage arrived at the Duke Residence.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen directly took Shangguan Yun and Lord Yun Shan to the Feng Courtyard.

Today, the weather was hot again. The adults were all indoors, cooling off, except for two little kids playing in the courtyard under the scorching sun.

It was Gu Xiaoshun who brought in the sand pile.

The two squatted by the sand pile, using the small iron shovels that Gu Xiaoshun had made for them, scooping shovel by shovel and filling the miniature wooden buckets beside them.

The two played with sweaty faces, tirelessly enjoying their game, occasionally chatting in childish language.

The innocent appearance of the two children made others feel joyful.

… Except for the father, Lord Yun Shan.

Hey, kid, stay away from my daughter!

Your heads are almost touching!

And don’t just casually hold her hand!

“I’ll help you,” said Little Jingkong to the Little Princess.

“Okay,” the Little Princess happily handed over her small shovel to him.

They both grabbed the small shovel together and scooped the sand.

Fine, one more person taking care of my daughter.

… No way! From now on, I’ll raise my daughter myself!

Lord Yun Shan strode over with his large body, imposing himself between the two little kids.

The Little Princess looked at Lord Yun Shan blankly, “Daddy! You’re back!”

Lord Yun Shan smiled, “Yes.”

“Oh? Teacher! You’re back too!”

The Little Princess decisively dropped her small shovel and flew towards Gu Jiao like a fledgling bird.

Lord Yun Shan’s outstretched arms embraced nothing but air.