cleaning

Li Linglan took a few steps back, his mind replaying countless moments with Su Zili. Tang Feng's words pierced his heart, yet he feigned composure. "He already said so before he left. It's normal that we have nothing to say now." Tang Feng didn't reply, only saying to Zhou Ziliang, "Let's go..." Zhou Ziliang was somewhat surprised, but still complied. He instructed Lin Siwen and Li Yunyu to take Rong Ji and Li Yunye into prison, while Zhou Ziliang followed Tang Feng out. "Little Feng, aren't you going to ask Li Linglan for the imperial edict of succession?"

"He will give it to you. Have Eunuch Feng convey His Majesty's oral decree, saying that His Majesty is unwell, that Pu Yuan, a spy who has been lurking in the palace for decades, has now been caught red-handed, and that the Dingbei Army returned from the border because they were worried about His Majesty's safety, not because they were forcing the abdication. As for the Fourth Prince and Consort Rong, they colluded with foreign envoys to frame the former Crown Prince, and their crimes deserve to be punished."

Zhou Ziliang smiled. "You're still giving Li Linglan some face." Tang Feng stood on the platform, looking down at the palace below. "After all, the Ninth Prince is still going to be the emperor. Naturally, I have to leave him some leeway. Pushing him too hard won't do him any good. Although Emperor Yun has wronged me and his son, he has never wronged the people. So, the people's hearts are more important now. As for how to deal with him, let him fend for himself in the palace. Perhaps, atonement is the most painful way. Wouldn't it be too easy for him to die?" Zhou Ziliang also thought there was some truth to this. He turned back to look at the closed gates of the Hall of Longevity. "Then let's go back first. Brother Meng should be all settled by now. What do you think?" Tang Feng nodded. "Alright, they've probably captured Xu Chang'an. Let's go take a look."

After leaving the palace, Tang Feng looked at the captured imperial guards, walked over to Meng Lie, and whispered, "What's going on here?"

Meng Lie scratched his head, utterly puzzled that Tang Feng would ask such a question. "Grand Tutor... why would you ask such a brainless question?" Tang Feng sighed. "How is it brainless?"

"These are obviously prisoners of war! It's alright, Grand Tutor, you're a civil official, it's normal that you don't know, hahaha." Hearing Meng Lie's hearty laughter, Tang Feng's mind went blank for a moment, and he quickly said, "You're undermining me! I just sent Eunuch Feng out to deliver the imperial decree, saying that our attack on the city was not to force the emperor to abdicate, but to capture the traitor Pu Yuan. You arrested His Majesty's soldiers, so it makes me look like I lied!" Hearing Tang Feng's words, he seemed to think that what Tang Feng said made a lot of sense, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Grand Tutor, you're so cunning."

"Tsk," Tang Feng rolled his eyes. "This is tactical. Besides, 'water that's too clear has no fish, and a person who's too discerning has no followers.'" Seeing Meng Lie's seemingly confused expression, Tang Feng sighed and walked to Zhou Ziliang's side, muttering softly, "This... are all you military generals like this? So naive and lacking in cunning?" Zhou Ziliang pinched Tang Feng's cheek helplessly and smiled. "What do you mean 'we military generals'? Do I look that lacking in cunning?"

Tang Feng, with Zhou Ziliang's arm around his waist and surrounded by people, felt a little shy. He tried to push Zhou Ziliang away but couldn't, so he tried to smooth things over, saying, "Okay, okay, you're the most cunning one. Can you let go of me first..." Zhou Ziliang, considering Tang Feng's feelings, let go, but then felt he was being taken advantage of, so he whispered in Tang Feng's ear, "We'll talk to Xiao Feng about it when we get home. I'll let you off the hook for today."

After Tang Feng finished his work, he saw Lin Siwen tie Xu Chang'an up with rope and lead him to Tang Feng. "Grand Tutor, how do we resolve this?" Tang Feng looked at Xu Chang'an and smiled. "Xu Chang'an, sit down. We're old acquaintances, aren't we?" Xu Chang'an looked at Tang Feng calmly. "Since I bet on the wrong person, I'll accept the loss. You don't need to say anything more." Tang Feng hadn't expected Xu Chang'an to say that. He paused for a moment, then smiled. "What... what is this?" Tang Feng smiled knowingly. "Never mind... since that's the case, then... it's easier to discuss. Xu Chang'an, in the end, I can at least admire you a little." Xu Chang'an didn't speak. Lin Siwen nudged him, signaling him to hurry up. Seeing Xu Chang'an almost gone, Tang Feng suddenly called out to him, "Xu Chang'an!" Seeing Xu Chang'an stop, Tang Feng continued, "Xu Fengyan... is dead."

“I know.” Xu Chang’an’s expression didn’t change, but his heart ached upon hearing that name. Tang Feng, seeing this, wanted to continue, “Xu Fengyan actually…” but Xu Chang’an interrupted him, “Tang Feng, he was my brother. Since he’s dead, respect for the dead is paramount. Don’t use him to threaten me anymore. I’ve said it before, a bet is a bet.” Tang Feng pursed his lips and didn’t speak, only waving his hand to let Lin Siwen take Xu Chang’an away, while he returned to Zhou Ziliang’s side. Zhou Ziliang looked at Tang Feng with some confusion, “Xiao Feng, what are you trying to tell him?” Tang Feng gently shook his head and smiled helplessly, “I promised Xu Fengyan I wouldn’t tell Xu Chang’an these things, but I’ve thought about it again and again. If Xu Chang’an dies without knowing that someone has been working hard behind the scenes to love and protect him, then… Xu Fengyan is really… too pitiful.”

"Then why didn't you say anything more in the end?"

"It's probably because he already knows everything. What I'm saying makes me seem superfluous. Xu Chang'an may have done everything, but he's just never responded to his brother... Oh well, this is for the best. At least it's much better than not knowing at all."

"Little brother!" Tang Feng had barely finished speaking when he heard Zhang Mobai calling him from afar. Before Tang Feng could react, Zhang Mobai rushed into his arms. "Where have you been all these years?!" Hearing Zhang Mobai's tearful voice, Tang Feng remembered that he hadn't told Zhang Mobai anything during their brief meeting in the palace. He gently patted Zhang Mobai's back, comforting him. "I'm back now... I was taken to a mass grave, but there happened to be people from Ning Luo there. They were skilled in medicine and saw that I could still be saved, so they took me back... I've been in a coma for so many years, and now, as soon as I woke up, I'm back... I didn't mean to hide it from you."

Zhang Mobai wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes before letting go of Tang Feng. Yang Fei, carrying Li Lin'an, walked over and chuckled, "You're so good at closing your eyes and dumping everything on us. My Baibai cried for days after returning home, and you're still alive? Hey, when His Majesty saw you, were you scared out of your wits?" Tang Feng took Li Lin'an and rolled his eyes, "Who's like you! Afraid of ghosts... You haven't done anything wrong, have you, Lin'an..." Li Lin'an hugged Tang Feng tightly and rubbed against his neck, calling him "Uncle" in a childish voice.

Tang Feng's heart softened. "Such a sweet tongue?" Zhang Mobai smiled. "It's probably because you held him before. He's usually so timid, not letting anyone hold him. You're quite lucky." Tang Feng tapped Li Lin'an's forehead. "I hardly ever held him. How could I have lifted him back then? But then again, he's handsome, taking a lot of the Crown Princess's looks. I hope he doesn't resemble Li Yunrui... he's so annoying..."

Yang Fei burst into laughter upon hearing this. "What? You're scared of being tricked by Li Yunrui?" Tang Feng didn't refute, but simply hugged Li Lin'an and coaxed him. "He's quite obedient. Ziliang, look, isn't he adorable?" Seeing Tang Feng's happiness, Zhou Ziliang chimed in, "Yes, yes, very adorable. But what do you plan to do with Lin'an's identity?" Zhang Mobai glanced at Li Lin'an. "Although I'm a little reluctant... he is, after all, a royal child. When the Crown Princess handed him over to Yang Fei, it was merely a temporary measure. Now that the matter is resolved, let's hand him over to His Highness and see how he decides to handle it. Although Lin'an is the child of the former Crown Prince, His Highness will ascend the throne in the future. Whether the child stays in the palace is naturally his decision."

After chatting for a while, Tang Feng remembered he needed to go home to visit his parents. After all, Emperor Yun had caused the Zhou family a lot of trouble because of him, and even though he had eventually gotten rid of Zhou Ziliang, the elderly couple must have suffered quite a bit. Tang Feng took Zhou Ziliang's hand and shook it, "Let's go home first! I was thinking of visiting them as soon as I entered the city, but I was afraid of causing them trouble. Now that things have calmed down, it's time to go back and see them, so they can rest assured." Zhou Ziliang naturally had no objection and nodded, "Then let's go back first. They must be very worried about me after all these years."

As soon as Zhou Ziliang entered the Zhou residence, Madam Zhou rushed to greet him, pulling him close and looking him over repeatedly, her eyes slightly red. "Why did you come back?" The Zhou residence was under the surveillance of Emperor Yun, so they were kept in the dark. They only knew that a fight had broken out outside. When Madam Zhou saw Zhou Ziliang return, she assumed that he had fought his way into Xiling for Tang Feng. Just as Madam Zhou was about to explain Tang Feng's situation to Zhou Ziliang, he interrupted her, "Mother, look, who's back?"

Madam Zhou looked behind Zhou Ziliang and saw Tang Feng standing there. Her lips trembled slightly as she quickly walked over. "Xiao Feng? Is it really you?" Ever since Madam Zhou learned from Zhang Mobai that Tang Feng had died in the palace, she had been crying every day. As for Zhou Ziliang, Zhang Mobai had also said that Tang Feng didn't want him to know, so over the years, she had kept many things to herself, and her hair had turned quite gray. Tang Feng saw Madam Zhou and quickly helped her up, hugging her. "Mother... I'm back. Don't worry."

Madam Zhou gently stroked Tang Feng's cheek, looking at him with heartache. "Why did you have to take such a risk...? How foolish..." Tang Feng didn't tell her what he had experienced in the palace, afraid of upsetting Madam Zhou. He simply said he was unwell. "Mother, don't worry, I'm better now... nothing else will happen." Madam Zhou hugged Tang Feng, gently patting his back. "Mother knows you've suffered... Now that you're back, you can live peacefully... with Zi Liang, okay?" Tang Feng nodded, his eyes red, and hugged Madam Zhou tightly. "I know... Don't worry!"

With Tang Feng back, Madam Zhou felt much more at ease and started preparing more dishes for the evening. Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang sat in the main hall chatting with Zhou Wuhai. Zhou Wuhai looked at Tang Feng and felt much more at ease, but he still stubbornly said, "If he's not dead, he's not dead. Why make such a fuss?"