Three visits to the Tang Palace

Tang Feng slowly sat up straight, only then realizing he was covered in a cold sweat, clinging uncomfortably to his body. "Ziliang... open the window! It's so hot..." "No! Your clothes are soaked through. How can this illness get better if the window is open? Take off your clothes, I'll help you wipe yourself down." Tang Feng's face was flushed, whether from embarrassment or fever, he didn't know. He clung to the blanket for a long time, unwilling to let go. Zhou Ziliang couldn't help but laugh at his appearance. "Xiao Feng... what are you shy about? The marriage is already arranged, why are you afraid of this? If you weren't unwell, you would be in the bridal chamber that very night." Tang Feng knew what Zhou Ziliang meant by "bridal chamber." If there were a crack in the ground, he would want to crawl into it, but he was too embarrassed. "Who... who said I'm shy? I... I cough cough cough." Just as he was about to defend himself, his throat itched. Tang Feng covered his mouth with his hand and coughed forcefully, his palm... He instantly felt a warm sensation, slowly removed his hand, and looked at the bloodstains on it. Tang Feng smiled helplessly at Zhou Ziliang. "Do you have a handkerchief?" Zhou Ziliang sighed, sat on the edge of the bed, and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to carefully wipe the bloodstains from Tang Feng's hand. "I'll light the stove in a bit. Change your clothes first." Tang Feng knew Zhou Ziliang was upset, so he obediently changed his clothes and sat on the bed waiting for Zhou Ziliang to return. But Tang Feng was too sleepy, and after struggling a few times, he fell asleep against the bed. When Zhou Ziliang returned and saw the sleeping Tang Feng, he gently laid him down, covered him with the blanket, felt his forehead, placed the handkerchief soaked in cool water on Tang Feng's forehead, and sighed. "You're only twenty years old, yet you feel like you're about to face life and death. Xiao Feng, is it because you're too good that the heavens are jealous of your talent..."

The next morning, Qin Jiujiu came to see Tang Feng. She sat by his bedside and asked how he had been these past few days. Tang Feng hadn't asked Zhou Ziliang to tell anyone about what happened the night before. He only said that he was a little uncomfortable sleeping in a different place, hadn't slept well, and now had a slight fever. As they were chatting, Liu Yiwan came over and said, "Young Master... everyone's here! Someone's looking for you at the door."

"Who is it! Ask him. Xiao Feng can't go out right now." After hearing Qin Jiujiu's words, Liu Yiwan looked at Tang Feng on the bed again. "Don't hold back, just say what you need to say." After getting Tang Feng's words, Liu Yiwan lowered his voice and said, "Claiming to be the Ninth Prince... saying he's here to see Mr. Tang... then he must be looking for the young master!" Zhou Ziliang knew why Li Yunyu had come, but he just looked at Tang Feng, waiting for his decision. "Don't see him. Just say I'm ill and not feeling well, so I shouldn't see guests." Tang Feng looked at the book in his hand, showing no intention of looking up. Zhou Ziliang waved his hand at Liu Yiwan. "I'll go with you. After all, he is the Emperor." "Son, it seems disrespectful for you to go there," Qin Jiujiu said, pulling Tang Feng aside after Zhou Ziliang and Liu Yiwan left. "What does the prince want with you? I never ask about your life, but... you're not well now, so don't cause yourself any more trouble." Although Qin Jiujiu rarely went out, she had heard plenty of things. Since the Crown Prince's family massacre, the court had been in turmoil, and with the Crown Prince's position vacant, the princes were starting to get restless. Tang Feng, being from an official family, was naturally forced into officialdom, but the situation was different now, and Qin Jiujiu hoped Tang Feng would prioritize his own safety. Tang Feng, engrossed in his book, paid no attention to Li Yunyu's visit. Hearing Qin Jiujiu's advice, he reassured her, "I have no intention of vying for the throne, sister, you don't need to worry."

Led by Liu Yiwan, Zhou Ziliang entered the main hall and bowed to Li Yunyu, who was sitting and drinking tea. "Your subject Zhou Ziliang greets Your Highness, may Your Highness live a thousand years." Upon seeing Zhou Ziliang, Li Yunyu quickly stood up. "No need for formalities, but sir..."

"Xiao Feng is still ill these days and should not receive guests. Your Highness, please return!"

"Is the master ill?" Li Yunyu had been brought back to the palace since the incident at the Duan Prince's residence, and was completely cut off from news, having no idea what had happened in the past few days.

“Indeed, Xiao Feng is unwell and needs to rest. Your Highness, please return home first.” Seeing that Zhou Ziliang’s words seemed genuine, Li Yunyu cupped his hands in greeting. “My elder brother instructed me to be your teacher before he passed away. Although I am not a great man, I still know how much you were to my elder brother. Now that you are ill, I will not disturb you. I will visit you again another day.” Zhou Ziliang shook his head as he watched the Ninth Prince’s departing figure. Why was this prince so stubborn? Despite having clearly refused, he still visited repeatedly. So, Tang Feng instructed Liu Yiwan, "If His Highness the Ninth Prince comes again, just refuse him directly. Say that Xiao Feng is unwell and cannot receive guests. If he persists, say that you had no intention of getting involved and ask for their understanding." When Zhou Ziliang returned, only Tang Feng was left in the room. "Miss Jiu is gone?" "Yes, she said she went to prepare dinner." Tang Feng put down the book she was holding and pulled Zhou Ziliang's hand, gesturing for him to sit down. "I haven't been out for a long time. I want to go for a walk. I've been lying in bed all this time." "I'm so stuffy... Come out! Ziliang..." Zhou Ziliang touched Tang Feng's forehead. "No, the fever hasn't gone down yet, what's the point of going out? Wait until spring, I'll take you horseback riding, okay?" Tang Feng buried his head under the covers, feeling wronged. "You're lying! If this illness never gets better, will you never let me go out? This is imprisonment! I don't want to talk to you anymore." Zhou Ziliang, seeing Tang Feng like this, was at a loss. He lifted the covers, about to argue, when Liu Yiwan knocked on the door. "Young Master, the meal is ready, please bring it in!"

"No need, take it back, I'm not eating!" Before Zhou Ziliang could speak, Tang Feng interrupted. Seeing Tang Feng throwing a tantrum, Zhou Ziliang had no choice but to walk to the door, take the tray from Liu Yiwan, and let Liu Yiwan go back first. "Why are you angry about the food? I'll take you to sit in the yard tomorrow, okay?"

The next day, seeing the good weather, Zhou Ziliang called Zhang Mobai to keep Tang Feng company in the courtyard. "Alright, alright, Ziliang meant well. I don't even want to go out in this cold weather, and you still want to go out? You didn't actually kick Ziliang out to sleep yesterday, did you?" "No," Tang Feng said, tidying up the chess pieces on the table. "I'm not an unreasonable person, why would I kick him out..." Before Tang Feng could finish speaking, he heard someone outside. He got up to go see what was happening, but Zhang Mobai stopped him. "Someone's here. Let Liu Yiwan go see first. Sigh... Why are you still going?" Zhang Mobai followed Tang Feng to the front yard and saw Liu Yiwan politely declining Li Yunyu's advances. Seeing Tang Feng come out, Li Yunyu... Li Yunyu quickly arranged to meet Liu Yiwan, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sir, I visited you yesterday, but upon hearing of your illness, I dared not disturb you further. Today, I brought you some calming medicine." Tang Feng stepped forward and pushed the medicine back from Li Yunyu's hand. "If Your Highness only wishes to bring me medicine, then there is no need for such trouble. I am unworthy of Your Highness's kindness. Furthermore, I suffer from weakness in my heart and lungs, not from mental distress. The medicine is not suitable for my condition, so please take it back. However, I appreciate your kind intentions. If you wish to discuss the matter of overturning the case, then I am afraid I cannot comply." Seeing Tang Feng turn to leave, Li Yunyu quickly stepped forward and grabbed him. "Sir! I will come again until you agree."

"I still advise Your Highness to give up as soon as possible. I will not agree. Even if Your Highness comes a thousand times, Tang Feng will still say the same thing: I have no intention of getting involved in officialdom. Please don't be so stubborn." Tang Feng gently pulled away Li Yunyu's hand and then walked into the house. Zhang Mobai closed the door, put his hands on his chest, and questioned, "Little brother, explain yourself! How come you're still in contact with the Ninth Prince?" Tang Feng shrugged. "His brother never let me go, even in death. He insisted that I help his brother seize the throne, so naturally I didn't agree. And then you saw it too, he comes to my door every day, and I can't get rid of him."

After being rejected, Li Yunyu did not return to the palace. Instead, he found a stall and ate breakfast. Although Tang Feng's repeated rejections had made Li Yunyu somewhat depressed, it did not mean that he would give up. In Li Yunyu's eyes, his elder brother was an upright and incorruptible prince who cared about the people and was destined to become a wise ruler. Unfortunately, he died unjustly, and Li Yunyu was determined to overturn Li Yunrui's case and clear his name.

"Old Wu, here's your Drunken Spring Wine, and a plate of peanuts. The dishes are all served, please enjoy! Oh? You seem to have a lot of free time lately! Weren't you supposed to be a military doctor in the barracks?"

"Oh dear! I'm resigning. I'm going to the Zhou residence to treat the child."

"Is this the young master of the Tang family? Oh dear, I heard that the Tang family's adopted son passed away. It seems he died a violent death. I wonder who killed him. The young master was heartbroken and fell seriously ill. Is he feeling better now? He used to eat plain noodles here all the time!"

"It's hard to say! This illness... it's difficult!"

Li Yunyu listened intently from behind, unaware of the many events that had transpired at the Tang residence in recent days. After a hasty meal, he was about to return when he found his deputy standing outside the door. "Meng Lie, investigate the Tang residence for me. Although we lack connections, even if it's just inquiries, you must find out the details." Although Meng Lie was a semi-general, he was incapable of such inquiries. After several days of effort, the information he had gathered was of little use. "Your Highness... if you really can't manage, just go and ask! Inquiring about other people's family affairs is truly beyond my capabilities! I've lived an upright life; how could I do such a thing?" Li Yunyu thought about it and realized there was some truth to it. He looked up at the sky; it was overcast, as if it were about to snow. "Your Highness, perhaps you could go another day!"

“No, going today shows more sincerity.” Li Yunyu went to the pharmacy and bought some warm, cough-relieving herbs. Just as he left the pharmacy, snowflakes began to fall, and the cold wind intensified, making Li Yunyu shiver. He knocked on the gate of the Tang residence. Liu Yiwan, seeing Li Yunyu arrive, was already impatient. “Ninth Prince, no offense, but our young master said… sigh! Don’t force your way in!” Li Yunyu pushed Liu Yiwan aside and walked straight to the backyard. He stopped in front of Tang Feng’s gate and shouted loudly… "Sir! Li Yunyu greets you, sir. Although my elder brother has wronged you in this life, he has never wronged the people or the world! Yunyu was not favored by the Emperor since childhood, nor could he be raised by his mother. He could only be cared for by his elder brother. Now that his elder brother has died unjustly, Yunyu only wants to become the Crown Prince and clear his name. I beg you, sir, to grant my request!" Inside the room, the fire in the stove burned brightly. Tang Feng leaned against the bed reading a book, while Zhou Ziliang, hearing the commotion outside, slowly looked at Tang Feng. "Shall I go and talk to the Ninth Prince?"

"It's no use talking, a waste of breath, let him be!" Although Tang Feng appeared to be reading a book, he was actually listening intently to everything Li Yunyu said outside.

"Sir, don't you want to avenge the Tang family's adopted son? Wouldn't it be easier to find the murderer if you held a higher position?" Tang Feng slammed the book shut upon hearing this, fumbling with the words on the cover. He thought for a long time. He really wanted to know the background of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan who constantly hunted him down, why he was being chased, and whether they were the ones who killed Liu Liu. Tang Feng turned to Zhou Ziliang, who immediately understood his meaning. "Xiao Feng, shall we go out?"

Will you blame me, Ziliang?