In the winter of the 31st year of the Zhaowu reign, the Governor-General of Datong, the General Zhenwei, and the Prince of Jingyuan, Feng Jianping, returned to the capital. The streets were deserted, and the people lined the streets to welcome him.
The chief minister of the inner cabinet, Yan Zilian, the second-in-command, Huo Li, the acting minister of the Ministry of War, Feng Che, the general, Zhao Fuyi, and other ministers were all ordered by the emperor to go to Yongding Gate to welcome Prince Jingyuan. Of course, the crown prince Feng Ye was also among them.
Yan Sikong and many officials who were there to make up the numbers stood on both sides. Seeing Prince Jingyuan coming with a dozen guards, he couldn't help but recall that more than ten years ago, he and Yuan Nanyu hid on the wall of Guangning City and secretly watched the wolf flag of the Feng family rise from the horizon. Even if they were just riding slowly across the frozen land of Liaoning, they still had an invincible momentum.
And that world-famous general with a red sash on his head, wearing a battle robe, and with a reputation known throughout the world, was riding ahead, approaching majestically. Just like he was in the past, no one could stop his surging aura of a king or a hero from a distance.
Yan Sikong's heart trembled slightly, and the lofty ambition of his youth seemed to be awakened in an instant. Yuan Nanyu's childish voice slowly echoed in his ears.
When they got closer, Feng Jianping jumped off his horse swiftly, holding his helmet with one hand, and laughed out loud.
Yan Sikong looked carefully across the crowd. More than ten years had passed. His temples were gray and his forehead was wrinkled, but his eyebrows were sharp and his eyes were bright. His spirit was heroic, his back was straight, and his steps were steady and strong. The years had not erased any of his heroic spirit.
Yan Sikong couldn't help but imagine what Feng Ye would look like thirty years later. He would definitely be as heroic and extraordinary as this.
The ministers gathered around him and saluted each other.
Yan Sikong looked at Feng Yepengtong kneeling in front of Feng Jianping and called out "Father" in a trembling voice.
"My wolf boy." Feng Jianping helped Feng Ye up and patted his strong arms. Looking at his son who was already taller than him, his eyes were full of admiration and pride: "You have grown up."
People couldn't wait to praise Feng Ye and flatter him.
Yan Sikong was neither too far away nor too close, so he could only hear fragments of what was said, but he could guess most of it.
They exchanged pleasantries for a long time, and suddenly, Feng Jianping asked loudly, "Has Princess Wanyang's future husband arrived?"
Everyone turned their heads at once and looked at Yan Sikong.
Yan Sikong was caught off guard, and froze for a moment, his heart screaming "not good". He didn't expect to suddenly face Feng Jianping. If Feng Jianping saw his appearance and his name, it would not be difficult for him to associate his true identity. Sure enough, he saw that Feng Ye's face looked a little strange.
Yan Zilian said with a smile: "Sikong, why don't you come and greet General Feng quickly."
Yan Sikong had no choice but to walk over. He saw that Feng Jianping's eyes changed when he looked at him. They became strange, then inquiring, and finally even his brows wrinkled.
Yan Sikong walked closer and bowed deeply: "I am Yan Sikong, your humble servant, and I am honored to meet His Royal Highness Prince Jingyuan."
"...Thank you for your courtesy." Feng Jianping stared at Yan Sikong with his sharp eyes.
Yan Sikong stood up straight. Even though he felt guilty, he had to face it.
Feng Jianping looked Yan Sikong up and down: "...Where are you from?"
"I am from Panyang."
"Pan Yang?" Feng Jianping was skeptical. He suddenly remembered something and looked at Feng Ye with a questioning look.
Feng Ye pretended not to see it and looked normal.
Yan Zilian was puzzled and asked, "Is there anything wrong with appointing him as a general?"
Feng Jianping suppressed his strange expression and said, "There is nothing wrong. I am just happy for the princess to see that her future husband is so handsome and elegant."
"Haha, I am a student who is famous for my handsomeness in the capital. If I am not like this, how can I be worthy of the princess?"
"That makes sense, haha." Feng Jianping returned to normal and bowed, "Master Yan, please."
"General, please."
A group of mermen entered the city, and Yan Sikong mingled among the ministers, trying his best to make himself less conspicuous. However, he could have anticipated that when the father and son of the Feng family were alone, Feng Jianping would definitely question Feng Ye. From the look in Feng Jianping's eyes, he could tell that Feng Jianping had recognized him.
On that day, Emperor Zhaowu received Feng Jianping in the Hall of Supreme Harmony with the highest etiquette and praised him for his military exploits. It seemed that the emperor and his ministers were in harmony.
Prince Jingyuan was the last prince to arrive in Beijing. According to the imperial edict, all princes within a thousand miles had gathered in the capital to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
After desperate preparations, the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple had selected a new location in a very short time and prepared a more grand funeral. With the lessons learned from the past, everyone knew that if they made a mistake on this business trip, they would definitely lose their heads.
The funeral is scheduled for the seventh day of next month, which is still half a month away.
Emperor Zhaowu wanted to choose a date to hold a banquet for the princes, and the capital was bustling with activity. Yan Sikong looked at the peaceful scene in the hall, secretly hoping that he was overthinking.
——
On the second day after Feng Jianping returned to the capital, a servant was sent from Prince Jingyuan's mansion to invite Yan Sikong to visit.
Yan Sikong knew that he could not avoid what was coming, so he changed out of his court robes and put on casual clothes when he got home, then followed the servant to the palace.
Yan Sikong had not entered the palace openly for a long time. Now that Feng Jianping had invited him, it seemed reasonable. After all, Princess Wanyang was his niece.
When they arrived at the mansion, the servant led him to the back courtyard. He was very familiar with this road. When he first came to Prince Jingyuan's Mansion, he and Feng Ye drank under the big locust tree in the back courtyard. Now it was just the beginning of winter, and the dead leaves of the locust tree had not yet fallen completely, appearing a bit bleak.
The Feng family father and son were standing under the tree, talking about something.
Feng Ye saw Yan Sikong first and winked at him secretly, without looking nervous.
Yan Sikong felt a little relieved.
Feng Jianping turned around and stared at Yan Sikong.
Yan Sikong bowed and said, "I have met His Royal Highness Prince Jingyuan and the Crown Prince."
Feng Jianping waved his hand and dismissed the servants: "No need to be so polite." His voice was calm, but he was intimidating without being angry.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Yan Sikong stood up straight.
Feng Jianping walked over, looked Yan Sikong up and down, and then said directly: "You are Yuan Sikong."
Yan Sikong cupped his hands and said, "I dare not hide it from you, Your Highness. That's right."
Feng Jianping sighed: "I sent people to the northwest to look for you, but I was told that you had died of illness in the quarry. How did you escape back, and how did you become a Panyang person?"
Yan Sikong's heart choked. No matter how many times he heard about Yuan Nanyu's death in the quarry, no matter how many years had passed, he would be extremely heartbroken. After he saved up enough money, he asked someone to inquire about it, but it was too long ago, and the news he got was even vaguer than Feng Jianping's. He took a deep breath and said, "I... took the opportunity to escape, and then wandered around. In order to pass the imperial examination, I forged an identity. It's a long story."
"You faked your identity and entered the court as an official. Was it for... revenge?"
Yan Sikong gritted his teeth and said, "That's right. My father was wrongly killed and my family was destroyed because of him. How can I not avenge such a blood feud?"
Feng Jianping looked at Yan Sikong deeply for a long time, and said: "In the Battle of Guangning, if it weren't for the Yuan generals who led the troops to defend, the Jin army might have broken through Liaodong and directly captured the capital. Such a great achievement was unjustly killed by a treacherous little man. It is really a regret that will last forever."
Yan Sikong nodded tremblingly.
"How are you going to get revenge?"
Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye. He couldn't guess how much Feng Ye had told Feng Jianping.
Feng Ye said: "Dad, he..."
"Shut up." Feng Jianping looked at Yan Sikong: "I want to hear what you have to say."
Yan Sikong had no choice but to say, "I want to eliminate the eunuch party, let Xie Zhongren and Han Zhaoxing be executed, and clear my father's grievances. This is not only for revenge, but also to eliminate harm for the people."
"Well said." Feng Jianping praised, "The eunuch party deceived the emperor and flattered him, disrupted the government, and oppressed the people. Everyone can punish them. Now they are even plotting to usurp the throne. They must be eliminated."
"Your Highness means..."
Feng Jianping narrowed his eyes. "I was ordered by the late emperor to guard Datong. For more than 30 years, Your Majesty has never been suspicious of me. Now Your Majesty insists on my return to the court. It must be because of the slander of the eunuchs. So I return to the court, firstly to show my loyalty to Your Majesty, and secondly, it is time to clean up the court."
Yan Sikong's mind was full of thoughts, and he asked abruptly, "Where are the two thousand soldiers that Your Highness brought from Datong?"
Feng Jianping was startled: "...Why do you ask that?"
Yan Sikong did not give a direct answer: "Your Highness is loyal to the court, and the sun and the moon can testify to that. However, if Your Highness participates in the party struggle, the court will surely be in turmoil. At that time, everyone will be dancing on the edge of a knife, and their lives will hang by a thread."
Feng Jianping groaned for a moment and said, "Those two thousand soldiers are stationed thirty miles outside the suburbs. They are all elite soldiers of my Feng family army and they only obey my orders."
Yan Sikong bowed and said, "It seems that Your Highness has made up his mind. With Your Highness's full support, Teacher will surely be able to wipe out the treacherous and corrupt officials and return our great kingdom to Dasheng."
Feng Jianping said sarcastically, "Your teacher used the imperial examination to force me to pledge loyalty to the crown prince. In fact, I was the one who supported the crown prince. His actions really angered me. Now, His Majesty has ordered me to return to the court in the name of national mourning. I am somewhat helpless to have come to this point today, but it is also the unforgivable fate."
"The teacher's methods were indeed inappropriate, but he worked hard and cared about the country and the people. I hope Your Highness will not blame him."
"Don't worry." Feng Jianping looked up at the yellow leaves left on the tree and said with emotion, "Although Mr. Yan is a bit overbearing, he is still a wise minister. If I can work with him to eliminate the eunuchs and support the crown prince, I can rest assured even though I am far away at the border."
"Dad." Feng Ye glanced at Yan Sikong, "If we join forces, we will be invincible."
Feng Jianping smiled bitterly, "I have fought on the battlefield for forty years, and I never dare to say that I am invincible. Wolf, in every battle we fight, no matter how big or small, no matter whether it involves swordplay or verbal battles, we must never underestimate the enemy. We must move forward step by step, be cautious, and not relax even a little bit until the enemy really dies."
Feng Ye said in a resounding voice: "My child understands!"