The Crown Prince heard his mother's words, paused in his steps, did not turn back, wiped away tears from his face with his sleeve, and walked alongside the Second Prince toward the carriage below the high steps.
Inside the great hall, only Empress Dowager Yan's sobs remained.
After a long pause, Empress Dowager Yan turned to look at Murong Li.
"That is your elder brother! If you send your brother to be an envoy to Zhou, and Zhou does not send anyone to our Yan Kingdom, what if three years later Zhou loses and uses your brother as leverage, his life will be in danger!" Empress Dowager Yan looked at the expressionless Murong Li, weakly slumping onto a chair, tears in her eyes, "That is your own brother!"
