Crown Prince ascends the throne

Tang Feng had been back in Xiling for two or three weeks. He thought everything was over, but one day, while chatting with Qin Jiujiu in the courtyard, his grandfather suddenly appeared in the backyard. Tang Feng knew his grandfather was a particularly proud and aloof person. You might think he didn't care about you, but sometimes his actions were quite heartwarming. And yet, he would stubbornly deny caring. Generally, his grandfather wouldn't actively seek out Tang Feng unless it was something important. Tang Feng bowed to his grandfather, "Father... you came right after the morning court session... This is..."

"Kneel down! I'm asking you, do you have any connection with Prince Duan?" Tang Feng was so frightened by Old Master Tang that he knelt down with a thud. Based on his experience, he knew to admit his mistake first, regardless of whether it was right or wrong.

"Father, I was wrong, but... I... don't understand what you're saying." Old Master Tang sat on the stone bench, staring at Tang Feng without speaking. Tang Feng felt a strange sense of unease.

"I'm asking you!! Have you gotten involved with Prince Duan and his group?! What's so hard to understand?!" Old Master Tang slammed the teapot on the stone table, startling Tang Feng. Tang Feng bowed and whispered, "I work at the pawnshop, so it's only natural that I have contact with Prince Duan. My trip to the Qiang and Hu tribes a few days ago was also arranged by the pawnshop. If what you mean by getting involved with the prince is that, then it's unavoidable! If it's something else... I really don't understand."

After listening, the old man thought about it and felt that what Tang Feng said made sense, so he let him stand up. "Today at court, His Majesty praised Prince Duan for his meritorious service against the Qiang and Hu people. The prince mentioned you frequently and even asked His Majesty for a reward before the court. Feng'er! Don't get involved with these princes. It will only harm you and bring you no benefit. If you really can't handle this official position, I will give you some money. You can go into business, or after you marry Ziliang, you can obediently stay in the Marquis's mansion as a young master. The royal family and nobles are not people that you or I can afford to offend. Feng'er, did you hear me?"

"A reward before the emperor? That little bastard Li Yunrui, didn't he promise not to drag me into this again?" Tang Feng frowned, completely ignoring what Old Master Tang said afterward, simply nodding perfunctorily. After seeing Old Master Tang off, Tang Feng sat in his rocking chair. It seemed Li Yunrui had no intention of letting him off the hook. But why had he promised him those things in the Prince's mansion? Just as Tang Feng was pondering this, Zhang Mobai jumped down from the wall, clapping his hands. "Little brother, you're so carefree! You've been away from the Qiang and Hu for so long, and you haven't even come looking for me when you got back!"

Tang Feng knew with his eyes closed that Zhang Mobai had come to see him. He patted the stool next to him and said, "Where would I have time? I was terrified after escaping death from the Qiang and Hu tribes. On the contrary, you know I'm back at home recovering, but you haven't come to see me." Zhang Mobai pouted and said, "You'd better stop now! Yang Fei saw it all. On your first day back, you didn't even go inside your own home, you went straight to the Marquis's mansion. Tsk tsk tsk, is our friendship so worthless in the face of love?"

Tang Feng got up, took a pastry from the table, and stuffed it into Zhang Mobai's mouth. "Eat up, shut your mouth, and stop nagging. I'm really annoyed right now! Let me tell you, Li Yunrui mentioned me to the Emperor. I told him before that I didn't want to get involved in these things anymore, but he brought it up again. And he didn't even know how to be discreet about it. My father found out, and he came to interrogate me as soon as court was over."

"I heard that too." Zhang Mobai had been working at the Ministry of Revenue since leaving Lishan Academy, and he attended court every day. So, when Zhang Mobai was busy, he sometimes neglected Tang Feng. Today, during court, he heard Li Yunrui mention Tang Feng several times, and Emperor Yun also praised Tang Feng highly. Zhang Mobai felt that this matter wasn't so simple. "A reward is a good thing, but young brother... I still maintain my advice: stay away from Li Yunrui. Better safe than sorry. Li Yunrui might be made Crown Prince."

"What?" Tang Feng stood up abruptly. Zhang Mobai tugged at Tang Feng's sleeve, gesturing for him to sit back down. "Little brother, could you please keep your voice down... His Majesty has been wanting to make Prince Duan the Crown Prince for quite some time now. Besides, Li Yunheng has been much more well-behaved these past few years, and Prince Duan has gained even more support. It's only a matter of time before he's made Crown Prince."

Tang Feng was right; Li Yunrui's risky move had succeeded. His sending him to the Qiang and Hu tribes was a pavement for his own ascension to the throne. "I already knew that, but hearing it from you is still a bit surprising."

"I'm not just telling you this; I'm also telling you that the investiture ceremony is in a few days, and you have to come."

"Why would I go? I'm not going. Just seeing him makes me angry."

"No, no, you have to go! You're an official, after all!" Zhang Mobai rolled his eyes. "I just don't have time for you right now, otherwise I would definitely come to your house to drag you away that day. I've already notified you, you have to come, you hear me? Someone will deliver your official robes in a couple of days."

"Am I the only one still wearing official robes?"

"How novel! I'm going to change my clothes first; I came to tell you without even changing out of my court robes. Aren't you loyal enough?"

"That's enough, that's enough. Let's go out for breakfast later! It's on me."

Zhang Mobai perked up immediately. "Oh, you're usually so stingy! What's gotten into you today? Fine, just for that, I'll have to have at least two bowls of wontons. Wait for me! I'll be back in a bit."

Tang Feng sat up from the recliner, fed the fish, and then saw Qin Liuliu rush towards him, almost knocking him over. Tang Feng tapped Qin Liuliu's head, "You, you! You're always so reckless. Can't you be a little more steady? You're not an eight or nine-year-old anymore. How can I stand being startled like that?"

"Brother, I heard everything! You're going out to eat with Brother Mo Bai, aren't you?" Qin Liuliu hugged Tang Feng and looked at him. "I want to go too!"

"No way! I have important business to attend to. You stay home, otherwise who will feed your sister? I'll bring you candied hawthorns when I get back, okay?" Seeing Qin Liuliu's reluctant expression, Tang Feng gritted his teeth. "Two skewers, that's the most I can do. Go find your sister now."

After seeing Qin Liuliu off, Tang Feng went to find Zhang Mobai. The two sat down at a breakfast stall, and Tang Feng learned that during his year away, Xiling had been secretly churning with intrigue. "Although Prince Cheng has been much quieter this year, he hasn't stopped trying to undermine Li Yunrui. The investigation into the pawnshop account books was almost complete, and now he's secretly instigating his officials to defect to Prince Duan. On the surface, everything seems calm, but in reality, things are already turbulent... I think Prince Duan, despite his kind heart, won't have a good ending in the future."

"If even a kind-hearted person doesn't have a good outcome, then who will?" Tang Feng took a bite of his steamed bun, somewhat nonchalantly. He'd seen this kind of thing countless times in novels before, so he was already used to it. "Actually... I could roughly sense it back in Qianghu. Prince Duan wanted to be the crown prince, and he certainly had the qualifications. Looking at these princes, aside from the third prince who doesn't care about worldly affairs... the others..."

"Ahem, young man, you know what's going on. It's not appropriate to do this in broad daylight on the street," Zhang Mobai tugged at Tang Feng's sleeve. "You're a pawnshop official; you could be beheaded if you mess this up."

Just as Tang Feng and his companions had predicted, the news of the crown prince's investiture spread throughout the streets and alleys in less than half a month. The streets were bustling with activity, and the casinos were significantly more crowded than usual. Tang Feng, however, had no interest in any of this. He took some pastries and headed to the Marquis's residence to visit Madam Zhou. This time, Tang Feng had sent word a day or two in advance. Madam Zhou was delighted and busied herself in the kitchen early in the morning, preparing crystal pork knuckle, braised duck, truffle soup, walnut and almond cake, red date dumplings, and stir-fried beef—all of Tang Feng's favorite dishes. Madam Zhou kept adding food to Tang Feng's plate, saying, "Little Feng, eat more! If you're still hungry, Auntie will make more. This braised duck is from my hometown; you absolutely have to try it."

Tang Feng held a duck leg in his left hand and scooped a spoonful of Bodhi Truffle with his right, smiling at Madam Zhou, "Auntie, I'd like another bowl of rice. Your cooking is amazing!"

Zhou Ziliang wiped Tang Feng's mouth with a handkerchief and sighed, "Xiao Feng...did you eat a bit too much? It's not that I don't want you to eat, it's just...I'm afraid you'll feel uncomfortable from being too full."

"Xiao Feng, eat whatever you want. You're just like your father, always talking so much nonsense." Madam Zhou took Tang Feng's bowl and filled it with rice. "I heard the day after tomorrow is the investiture ceremony for Prince Duan." The old Marquis suddenly blurted out this. Tang Feng's hand, which was picking at his rice, gradually stopped. He then asked, "That's to be expected. Didn't we say it was already agreed upon a few days ago?"

"What are you children discussing about national affairs? Besides, how would a lowly official like you know such things?" Hearing the old marquis's displeased expression, Tang Feng chuckled, "I... I just heard it from someone else."

"Don't keep asking about these things for no reason. Are you just too idle?"

Tang Feng dared not speak after being spoken to. After all, the old Marquis was not like Madam Zhou, who would not indulge him. At this moment, Madam Zhou glared at the old Marquis and scolded, "No one will think you are mute if you don't speak. Xiao Feng is timid to begin with. Why are you scaring him? Do you think he is one of the soldiers in your camp?"

"He will be the son of my Marquis's mansion in the future. What kind of behavior is this, cowering like a mouse all day long! What's wrong with him! He gets upset just because I raised my voice a little?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Feng quickly apologized, "Uncle Zhou, it's my fault, please don't be angry, I have nothing to be aggrieved about."

Madam Zhou held Tang Feng's hand and whispered, "Don't pay him any mind. That's just how he is. But your Uncle Zhou is right about one thing: we shouldn't meddle in court affairs. Just focus on marrying into our Marquis's mansion in peace. Your aunt will adopt one of her children to keep you company. Just be happy."