I only wish your heart were like mine.

Tang Feng shook his head. Perhaps he had been too hasty. He knew perfectly well that Li Yunyu had been left unsupervised at the Duan Prince's residence, yet he had still forced him to participate in disaster relief. Tang Feng felt a pang of sympathy, but then hardened his heart. Without rules, there can be no order. If he let this go unpunished this time, and something went wrong later, wouldn't he be the one to bear the blame and anger? Tang Feng stood up, ignoring Li Yunyu kneeling before him, and turned back to his bedroom. He found several books and began carefully selecting one, thinking that after Li Yunyu admitted his mistake, he should teach him some practical principles.

Zhou Ziliang had finished his work and, thinking of Tang Feng, rushed back as fast as he could. But upon entering the gate, he didn't see Tang Feng; instead, he was startled by Li Yunyu kneeling before him. He hurried over to help him up, but Li Yunyu pushed him away, asking, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Yunyu looked up and saw Zhou Ziliang return, as if seeing a savior. "Master's temper is still flaring up. I hope Young Marquis can go and persuade him..." "This..." Zhou Ziliang hadn't expected Tang Feng to be so angry this time. After all, they had known each other for so long, and he had seen Tang Feng angry before. But in the past, after so many days, the anger would have subsided long ago. "Go and persuade him. Master will definitely listen to you. It's right that Yunyu was punished, but I don't want Master to get sick from anger." Zhou Ziliang couldn't help but smile wryly. What kind of talk was this? If Tang Feng really listened to him, he wouldn't have to suffer here with his illness. "I'll go and talk to Xiao Feng. Please rest assured, Your Highness, Xiao Feng is all bark and no bite. He's probably just bluffing."

Zhou Ziliang walked into the backyard and saw Tang Feng's house door wide open, so he went straight in. "Ziliang?!" Tang Feng also heard the noise, looked up and saw Zhou Ziliang return, and hurriedly went to greet him. "Why are you so slow to come back?"

"Wasn't I just cleaning up your mess?" Zhou Ziliang tapped Tang Feng's nose and smiled indulgently. "One of you fell ill halfway through, and the other was in a complete mess." Seeing that Tang Feng's complexion had improved considerably, Zhou Ziliang could finally relax, knowing he had been taking good care of himself recently. "What does my illness have to do with me?" Tang Feng pushed Zhou Ziliang away and sat back down. Zhou Ziliang glanced to the side and saw a mountain of books piled on the table. He picked one up and looked at it. "Little Feng, are you still angry with the Ninth Prince?" Tang Feng didn't answer, but his hands didn't stop working. He picked through the books and stacked them aside.

"Your Highness knows he was wrong, so don't be angry with him. Getting angry will only make you feel worse, won't it?"

"I didn't even know I had such a temper! Everyone has to take turns trying to calm me down," Tang Feng said, putting down the book he was holding and looking at Zhou Ziliang. "Did His Highness send you?" Zhou Ziliang smiled helplessly, realizing his plan had been exposed. "Since you know, just forgive His Highness..." He then picked up the book Tang Feng had taken from the table and continued, "Besides, I suppose you won't hold it against him anymore. These books were specially chosen for His Highness, weren't they?" "Yes, to encourage him to read more, lest he drive me crazy one day." Tang Feng stood up, pointing to the books. "Move these to my study. Don't interfere with the rest." Tang Feng picked up a twig from the ground; it was quite heavy. He walked to Li Yunyu, not letting her get up but sitting down himself, setting the twig aside. "Has His Highness made up his mind?"

"Sir... it was Yunyu who oversimplified the matter, failed to consider the lives of the people, and couldn't prioritize. Please... forgive Yunyu," Li Yunyu said sincerely, and truly recognized his mistake. Tang Feng, chin in hand, said, “Your Highness speaks so lightly, but I do not think so. There are three faults in this matter. First, you listened to slander and failed to distinguish right from wrong. I know Mo Bai is straightforward, and his words may have offended Your Highness, but as the saying goes, honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial. Second, although Your Highness did not say it, I know that you have never had a teacher. It was indeed difficult for you to be entrusted with disaster relief this time. However, everyone has a first time. Instead of facing the challenge head-on, Your Highness sought divine protection. Your Highness, everyone thinks that Qi Ming was stirring up trouble. If Your Highness had no fear, how could you have believed his slander? In ancient times, there was a flower called sunflower, which grows towards the sun. Nothing is difficult for a willing heart, Your Highness. Third, it was my fault.” Hearing Tang Feng say this, Li Yunyu suddenly looked up at his tutor, his eyes filled with disbelief. "It was my fault for pushing things too hard and being too impatient. Your Highness has been to the Luo River, so you must know the plight of the disaster victims! I also know that I visited the Great Swamp a few years ago; mountains of corpses, people living in misery. Dead people were everywhere." Li Yunyu didn't interrupt, but listened attentively. "I used to think that if you have no worries on your mind, then every day is a good day. But after visiting the Great Swamp, I realized that this statement is truly selfish. The so-called 'no worries' only applies to me. As the young master of the Tang family, I have enough to eat and wear, and I'm bored out of my mind. But not everyone is like me. Some starved to death, some died of disease, and some froze to death. Your Highness, when I went there, I saw terrified eyes and frail bodies. So when I came to the Luo River, I always thought of the Great Swamp. That day at the Mazu Temple, I really couldn't control myself, and I'm truly sorry."

"Why do you say that, sir!" Li Yunyu was a little anxious when he suddenly heard Tang Feng apologize, thinking that Tang Feng was still thinking of returning to Xiling to resign from his post with the Emperor. "Your Highness, there's no need to be anxious," Tang Feng gestured with his hand, indicating that Li Yunyu should calm down. "I originally intended to return to Xiling to resign, but I really said those words in the heat of the moment. I apologize to you only to tell you that no matter what your status or the time, a mistake is a mistake. Today I apologize to you, and I will also apologize to the beggar. So, please remember in the future that no matter who you are or what your status is, all life deserves respect. Your Highness, because of the people's support, Yan Yun has become strong. Correspondingly, as a prince, you should also cherish them."

Li Yunyu's body trembled, then she lowered her head. "Sir, your intentions are profound. Yunyu understands and will certainly not let you down."

Tang Feng nodded. "Then starting tomorrow, Your Highness, please go to the study every morning. I will read with you. If you have any questions, you can ask me. The struggle for the throne is no easy task; it may seem simple, but it is fraught with difficulties. As long as Your Highness's mind remains unchanged, I will naturally stay by your side. I only wish that Your Highness's heart is like mine, and I will certainly not disappoint Your Highness..."

Emperor Yun looked at the memorial Tang Feng had sent from Luohe, nodded in satisfaction, placed it on the table, and pointed at it, saying, "It seems Tang Feng is indeed very capable." Eunuch Feng, standing nearby, placed some snacks on the table and echoed, "Although Grand Tutor Tang wasn't outstanding at Lishan Academy, he can be considered someone who has accumulated knowledge and experience over time. Moreover... His Highness the Ninth Prince is also very diligent, which is why the disaster relief was completed so quickly this time." Emperor Yun nodded, "Ninth Prince, I truly didn't expect this... However, this small achievement is only the first step; he still needs more practice and refinement in the future."

"A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold. This old servant believes that with the guidance of Grand Tutor Tang, the Ninth Prince will surely become a great man in the future." Hearing Eunuch Feng's flattering words, Emperor Yun was pleased on the surface, but he was wary in his heart. Tang Feng did have some skills, otherwise he would not have been able to stabilize the disaster situation in Luohe in just one month.

The next morning, when Emperor Yun held court, he looked at Li Yunye and Li Yunheng standing below and said, "The disaster in Luohe River is under control, and post-disaster reconstruction has begun. Although Yunyu is a prince, he knows how to stand with the people in times of crisis. I am very pleased. Grand Tutor Tang has done a good job in teaching him; Yunyu has made rapid progress in just a few days. When they return, I will reward them handsomely." He noticed that Li Yunheng's expression didn't change much, but Li Yunye was clearly losing face. Emperor Yun had achieved his goal. Although he was wary of vying for the throne, he didn't object to infighting. The palace was, after all, a place where the strong prey on the weak. The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. The one who survives to the end becomes the crown prince, which is naturally better.

After the morning court session, Li Yunye was stopped by Shen Qinghang. "Your Highness, please wait." Shen Qinghang stepped forward, bowed, and then tucked his official tablet into his sleeve, saying respectfully, "Your Highness, a few months ago, I said that Tang Feng would help the Ninth Prince seize the throne. I wonder if you still remember?" "Of course." Li Yunye didn't know what Shen Qinghang was up to. When Li Yunrui was alive, Shen Qinghang was the most loyal. Now, with Li Yunrui's body barely cold, Shen Qinghang was turning around and showing him goodwill without any grief, which was indeed suspicious. But thinking about what Wen Yunsheng had told him, he had been recruiting talented people, but he hadn't found anyone useful. In recent years, unlike Li Yunheng, he had been traveling and enjoying life, and his friends were mostly idle people. They were certainly good at composing poetry and painting, but when it came to court intrigue, they were definitely lacking. Thinking of this, Li Yunye said again, "Lord Shen, I've been thinking about this for the past few days, and what you said makes sense. As for why Tang Feng helped Lao Jiu, I don't want to delve into it. Right now, I just want to do my job well. Lord Shen, you said you wanted to help me, does that still stand?"

"Of course, Your Highness, if you don't mind, I will follow you." Shen Qinghang smiled slightly, then whispered in Li Yunye's ear, "Your Highness, if you want to become the Crown Prince, it's not too late to start now." Li Yunye looked at Shen Qinghang's confident appearance, and although he had some doubts, he still chose to listen to what he had to say. "Come with me to the carriage. It's too unsafe here. Who knows how many ears are listening to us?" Shen Qinghang did not refuse and followed Li Yunye into the carriage. "Tell me, is it too late for me to act now?"

"Indeed, I understand that Tang Feng wanted the Ninth Prince to make a name for himself in this disaster relief effort, but he was also afraid that showing too much talent at the outset would displease His Majesty. So he did it quietly. Your Highness, you can use the Ninth Prince as a pawn, as you see fit."

"What's the meaning?"

"Compared to His Highness the Ninth Prince, I believe His Highness Prince Cheng is far more dangerous, as he is extremely cunning. Tang Feng may already be targeting you; you could easily shift the blame to His Highness Prince Cheng."

"Then what should I do?"

"I have heard... that General Lin is ill. Your Highness, why not give him some encouragement?" Lin Cheng, General Lin is the father of Crown Princess Lin Xiaomei. Since the Crown Prince's family was wiped out, the General's family's position in the court has been severely damaged, and he has been ill ever since.

"Your Highness and the old general haven't seen each other for a long time. The general is seriously ill and harbors resentment. Your Highness should go and see him. Your Highness, why don't you go and be the good person?" Li Yunye looked at Shen Qinghang, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. He chuckled, "Very well, I understand what you mean. Wen Yunsheng said you were a rare talent, and now it seems it's true."

After their conversation, Shen Qinghang said that if he went back to the Prince's mansion with Li Yunye, people would probably gossip behind his back. So he casually got off the carriage and watched it disappear into the distance. Shen Qinghang sneered, "Tang Feng, you should understand the tricks I used! Don't fall into the trap. You're carrying the weight of over a hundred innocent souls from the Eastern Palace case! Don't disappoint His Highness the Crown Prince!"