715 Prince Dabao, Throw Down The Gauntlet (3)
Because Eunuch Li had kidnapped Dabao, the Empress could retreat. Moreover, Nangong Yan had appeared in time and issued a challenge to the Eldest Princess. If there was a way out, she would naturally not take the step of mutual destruction.
Eunuch Wang sighed. “His Highness used himself to save the lives of the civil and military officials, but what should we do next?”
Yu Wan said, “Let’s see what the battle invitation says first.”
Prince Yan opened the battle invitation.
The battle invitation was written by Nangong Yan in a hurry. The handwriting was messy, but it was finally recognizable. It roughly said that three days later, she would arrange a battle of Yunzhou with the Eldest Princess at the altar.
“What do you mean by the battle of Yunzhou?” Yu Wan asked in confusion.
Xiao Zhenting also widened his eyes in a daze. Obviously, he had heard of the Battle of Changping, the Battle of Yanmen, the Battle of Julu… What the hell was the Battle of Yunzhou?!
Yan Jiuchao quietly said, “It’s said that the first Emperor to sit on the throne in Nanzhao was not the founding Emperor.”
A trace of admiration flashed across Prince Yan’s eyes. “It seems that Cong’er also knows about the battle of Yunzhou.”
Yan Jiuchao said, “Uncle mentioned it, but he didn’t say much.”
Yu Wan had a resentful expression. “Why didn’t Uncle mention it to me?” Was she still the most favored daughter in the family?
Prince Yan looked at his daughter-in-law gently and considerately pushed her favorite snacks to her side. Then, he continued, “That’s right. Back then, when the ancestor conquered the country and established himself as the Emperor among the commoners, he decided to establish the Capital at Yunzhou. However, after moving to the Capital, there was a cousin who was unconvinced. He said that everyone fought together to build the country and that everyone should sit on the throne together. Since ancient times, there has never been such a logic. Naturally, the ancestor did not agree, but that cousin had indeed made a great contribution and had a high reputation among the commoners and the army. In the end, the ancestor thought of a way to compete with his cousin in the old city of Yunzhou. The winner would be the emperor. But the ancestor lost.”
Yu Wan was stunned. “Then…”
Prince Yan sighed. “He’s willing to bet and admit defeat. The ancestor really gave up the throne. However, that cousin is not tactless. He became the Emperor for more than ten years and returned the throne to the ancestor’s son before he died of old age.”
Yu Wan hummed. At least that person had a conscience. However, on careful thought, this did not seem to have anything to do with conscience. Back then, when he challenged the ancestor, the ancestor could have not agreed, but he still agreed.
Prince Yan continued, “After that, the tradition of the Battle of Yunzhou was retained after some changes. If there are princes who are dissatisfied with their brothers being the Crown Prince, they can challenge the other party. If they win, the position of Crown Prince will be his. Of course, the Crown Prince can agree or refuse. However, once he agrees, there’s no room for regret.”
“Ordinary people won’t agree, right?” Yu Wan said.
“Yes.” Prince Yan nodded.
It was not like they would lose anything if they did not agree, but they might lose the position of Crown Prince if they did. Their current situation was different. Dabao was in Nangong Yan’s hands, so they had to agree no matter what.
Yu Wan asked, “What are we competing for? Do we have to fight personally?” Her mother was so weak and would lose very badly!
Prince Yan shook his head. “No, there are a total of three rounds in the Battle of Yunzhou. Gu techniques, sorcery, and martial arts. Two out of three rounds.”
In that case, Yu Wan understood. The time to compete in the lineup had arrived. Nangong Yan and Nangong Li had the State Preceptor and three Asuras in their hands. The latter two were almost guaranteed to win. No wonder Nangong Yan had the confidence to issue them a challenge.
This was Nangong Yan’s only chance to win back the position of Queen, and also their only chance to save Dabao.
“What else did the invitation say?” Yu Wan asked.
Prince Yan looked at the invitation and said, “He said that if the Eldest Princess wins, the throne will belong to her. If the Eldest Princess loses, they will return Dabao to her.”
Yu Wan frowned. “Wait, you mean if we win, they won’t return Dabao? We have to lose to her?”
Prince Yan shook his head again. “I don’t think that’s what she meant.”
With Prince Yan’s understanding of Nangong Yan, she was too anxious to write and did not express it accurately enough. What Nangong Yan really wanted to say was that even if you lost, the child would be returned to you. In short, you did not lose out.
Yu Wan was not interested in the position of the Princess at all. She believed that her mother was the same. Nangong Yan was really digging her own grave. After they obtained the medicine, they would leave Nanzhao. Can’t she just obediently be her Princess?
When Nanzhao had no successor, how could the Emperor not pass the throne to her? Why did she have to court death? Did she think that everyone was like her and valued the throne more than gold?
They had a mine!!!
This time, Nangong Yan had angered everyone. Originally, no one wanted to interfere in Nanzhao’s matters, but she had actually kidnapped their beloved Dabao. Then, they would not let her obtain what she dreamed of.
“Yan Jiuchao.” Yu Wan looked at her husband.
Yan Jiuchao nodded knowingly. “Back to the Helian Manor.”
Since this invitation was for the Eldest Princess, it had to be handed over to her.
“Where’s Dabao?” Xiaobao woke up and walked in in a daze, rubbing his eyes.
Er’bao went with him. The two little fellows held hands. They usually liked to tease Dabao, but they liked him the most. Without Dabao around, they could not sleep well.
Yu Wan rubbed their little heads. “Dabao went out. Dad and Mom will bring him back soon.”
“Okay.” Xiaobao scratched his stomach and opened his pocket. “I left candy for Dabao.”
“Er’bao left some too.” Er’bao left two behind.
“Good boys.” Yu Wan hugged the two little fellows. She thought of Dabao, who had been captured alone. She wondered if he would feel afraid without his parents and brothers by his side.
The carriage sped all the way, and the Empress’s intestines were about to break. Her balaclava had long fallen off, revealing an ugly bald spot. She could not stabilize herself if she covered her baldness with her hand. She could not cover her baldness if she stabilized herself.
However, the child actually fell asleep after such a bumpy ride.
The Empress : “…”
The Empress couldn’t take it anymore and panted. “Can-can you slow down?”
“No,” Nangong Yan said as she hugged the snoring Dabao.
“Yan’er…” She should have been happy that her daughter had woken up, but so many things had suddenly happened. The Empress was really not interested. The Empress thought of Eunuch Li, who had been killed by her daughter’s arrow, and could not let go. “Why did you kill Li Yu? Li Yu is smart and capable. If it weren’t for him today…”
Nangong Yan interrupted the Empress. “If it weren’t for him today, things wouldn’t have reached an irreversible point!”
Was her daughter… scolding her? The Empress looked at Nangong Yan in disbelief.
Nangong Yan did not have the time to care about her tone. She said coldly, “Mother, do you know who that eunuch is?”
The Empress was puzzled. “Isn’t he just my eunuch?”
Nangong Yan’s eyes turned cold as she said, “He’s a remnant of the previous dynasty. He hid beside Mother with the goal of instigating Mother to rebel and cause chaos in Nanzhao. He’s just waiting to reap the benefits!”
