Conferring the title of King before the Palace
Tang Feng spent the entire night in a daze, unable to sleep a wink. He kept his eyes wide open, afraid to close them, lest Qin Liuliu point at him and berate him in his dreams. Zhou Ziliang, on the other hand, sat by Tang Feng's window all night. When he went out, he sensed something was wrong with Tang Feng's expression, so he didn't go far after closing the door, listening to the sounds inside. Just as dawn was breaking, he quietly pushed open the door and saw Tang Feng leaning against the bed, his arm pressed against his eyes, his face pale. Zhou Ziliang quickly sat down beside the bed and patted Tang Feng... He gently touched Tang Feng's shoulder and asked softly, "Xiao Feng? Xiao Feng, you..." Before he could finish speaking, Tang Feng suddenly threw himself into his arms. Zhou Ziliang wanted to say that he had been outside all night and was covered in cold air, and that he shouldn't let Tang Feng get cold, but before he could speak, he noticed that Tang Feng in his arms was sobbing softly. Zhou Ziliang could roughly guess what was going on and sighed, gently patting Tang Feng's back. "Are you blaming yourself again, Xiao Feng? Liu Liu won't blame you. Some things, you can't predict in advance."
"He won't forgive me," Tang Feng sobbed, his grip on Zhou Ziliang's clothes tightening. "He probably hates me to death. If I hadn't told Han Jiuhua, if I hadn't made him go get the wedding dress, if we hadn't gotten married on New Year's Day, he wouldn't have died." Zhou Ziliang frowned, watching Tang Feng's pained expression, powerless to help. He could only hold him, offering some reassurance. After what seemed like an eternity, Tang Feng's breathing became heavy, and his grip on Zhou Ziliang's clothes weakened. Only then did Zhou Ziliang feel relieved. He knew how important Qin Liuliu was to Tang Feng—a child he had raised since childhood, who had died right before his eyes. And coincidentally, Tang Feng wasn't exactly a heartless person. Although he appeared indifferent, he was constantly overthinking. Zhou Ziliang gently patted Tang Feng's back, afraid to move lest he wake Tang Feng, who had finally fallen asleep.
When Tang Feng woke up again, it was midnight. He slowly sat up, his head heavy, and saw Zhou Ziliang standing guard beside him without moving. "I'm sorry... I made you worry," he said. Zhou Ziliang sighed. "When have you ever put my mind at ease? I don't want to reopen old wounds, but... was there something you were hiding from me about Liu Liu's death?" Zhou Ziliang had thought about it all night. Tang Feng had asked Qin Liu Liu to fetch the wedding dress, which was why Liu Liu was mistakenly killed. He knew about this immediately after Qin Liu Liu's death, even after discovering that the person who killed her yesterday was... There's no need for such a strong reaction from Qin Liuliu's murderer. Tang Feng leaned against the bedside without speaking, and Zhou Ziliang didn't intend to press him. After all, Tang Feng had just woken up and was in extremely poor mental condition. Although he had slept for a whole day, he had been constantly muttering Qin Liuliu's name, sweating profusely, and sleeping restlessly. "During the time you were unconscious, the prefect of Wanliang came to see you once, probably because he was afraid that if something happened to you, he would be held responsible!" Tang Feng said, rubbing his forehead, after a while. "Ziliang, I might..." "I'm not in the mood to think about these things. I've pushed everything away; I don't want to see anyone. As for that murderer…" Tang Feng curled up, hugging his knees, his forehead resting in his arms, and said in a muffled voice, "I told the murderer my location, and I asked Liu Liu to get my clothes. Do you understand? I didn't harm him; I killed him, I used the murderer's hand to kill him." Zhou Ziliang didn't know how to comfort him, his hand hovering in mid-air, until Liu Yiwan climbed in through the window. "Why is the door locked? I've been pushing it for ages and it won't come in!" Then, seeing Tang Feng huddled by the bedside, Zhou Ziliang whispered, "Is Young Master still feeling unwell?" Zhou Ziliang waved his hand, intending to let Liu Yiwan recover for a few days, but then suddenly remembered why he had sent Liu Yiwan out in the first place. He quickly called her back, then patted Tang Feng's shoulder. "Xiao Feng, Liu Yiwan is back. That night, the murderer escaped in the chaos, and I sent Liu Yiwan to follow him. I don't care about anything else, but you should at least hear about this." Sure enough, Tang Feng raised his head, his bangs obscuring his eyes, and said, "Speak."
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Liu Yiwan dropped his playful demeanor. "Young Master, I followed that girl for nearly ten miles. She's very clever; she knew to travel by water. Although her martial arts are quite good, she's seriously injured. The young marquis struck her hard; that sword wound was probably a penetrating one. If it's not treated promptly, she might die. However, she probably discovered me. When we reached the border of Wanliang, she bought horses, so I didn't pursue her any further. But the direction she was heading, I think, was towards Xiling."
Tang Feng's brows furrowed even more upon hearing this. Seeing this, Zhou Ziliang quickly pulled Tang Feng close to comfort him, saying, "Relax. I'll help you search when we get back to Xiling. Don't think about it anymore. Focus on getting better. If you go back like this, Miss Jiu will worry." Tang Feng nodded. Seeing that Tang Feng had agreed, Zhou Ziliang got up and invited Liu Yiwan to come out with him. After closing the door, Liu Yiwan asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"
"Regarding the murderer..." Zhou Ziliang leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, pondering for a moment before asking, "Are you sure the murderer is a woman?" Liu Yiwan tilted her head, recalling for a moment. "Hmm... She always kept her distance from me, so it's hard to say, but judging from her figure, she was definitely a girl. And didn't the young marquis see the assassination attempt that day? Although only her eyes were visible, they were definitely phoenix eyes; she was clearly a beauty."
Zhou Ziliang frowned, somewhat disbelieving. "Xiao Feng is adamant that he's one of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan. She seems to know him quite well, but I've heard that the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan don't have any women... And the strength I gained from fighting her that day was beyond what an ordinary woman could possess." Zhou Ziliang paused, glancing towards Tang Feng's room. "Either this person is a man dressed as a woman, or Xiao Feng has mistaken him for someone else..." Although he said this, Zhou Ziliang didn't intend to tell Tang Feng. Right now, he felt like a puppet, often curled up in bed, lost in thought. Zhou Ziliang knew this was because of his insecurity, so he dared not bring it up again.
Han Jiuhua ran for a whole day and night, but finally couldn't hold on any longer. Zhou Ziliang's sword grazed his heart; two inches more and he would have died there. Han Jiuhua was so exhausted that he couldn't even hold the reins anymore. His body swayed, and he fell off his horse. Looking at the sword across his chest, Han Jiuhua didn't dare to pull it out rashly, afraid that his death would cause trouble for Xu Chang'an. Lying on the wet grass, Han Jiuhua only felt cold all over. For a moment, Han Jiuhua even hoped that if he hadn't come out of the cage alive, would things be a little better? He gritted his teeth, slowly shuffled to the tree, tore a strip of cloth from his clothes, folded it a few times, and put it in his mouth. Then he gripped the sword with his hand, and the sharp blade immediately cut the skin on his hand, and blood flowed down his fingers. With a forceful pull, even biting down on the fabric, she couldn't help but let out a painful groan. The sword had been embedded in her chest for too long; the surface wound had begun to heal, with flesh and blood sticking together. Pulling the sword out brought blood to the ground. Han Jiuhua lay on the ground, taking the piece of fabric she had been biting down on and pressing it tightly against the wound. Waves of pain stimulated Han Jiuhua, and she couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Tang Feng... I so wish I could be like you, with a good family background, a promising career, and a husband who deeply loves you. But..." "I... My first half of life was spent locked in a cage, worse off than a guard dog at home. Now I can't even control my own death." Han Jiuhua knew her assassination attempt had failed, and even if she returned to Xiling, she wouldn't escape blame. Xu Chang'an would inevitably punish her. She quietly called for her horse, pulled on the reins with all her might, covered her wound, and mounted the horse. She collapsed onto the horse's back, unable to sit still. But Han Jiuhua knew that if she lay on the ground, she would freeze to death outside, while the horse's temperature was higher, and she would be warmer by leaning against it.
After sending Liu Yiwan away, Zhou Ziliang thought carefully and then pushed open the door to enter the room. Seeing Tang Feng lying on the bed with his back to him, he assumed he was asleep and sat down beside him without saying a word. "You must be very tired... Come and rest for a while! I'm sorry to have worried you these past few days," Tang Feng's voice was weak. Zhou Ziliang didn't know what to do. He knew Tang Feng's personality well; he knew how loyal and meticulous he was. That's why Zhou Ziliang was at a loss when Tang Feng kept blaming himself. He stood up and sat on the bed, softly asking, "Xiao Feng, are you feeling better today? Does your chest still hurt?" Seeing Tang Feng shake his head, Zhou Ziliang finally relaxed. He paused, then continued, "Can we talk about this?" Tang Feng didn't move or speak. After a long time, so long that Zhou Ziliang thought he might have fallen asleep, he finally spoke, "Talk about what? Talk about why I reacted so strongly, aside from the fact that he killed Liu Liu?" Tang Feng sat up and looked at Zhou Ziliang, who was guarding him. "I'm not sure, but I can't think of anyone else." Tang Feng clutched the fabric in front of his chest, trying to calm the dull pain in his chest, and frowned. "It's too similar." Tang Feng's words were somewhat incoherent, which surprised Zhou Ziliang. Even when Master Tang committed suicide, Tang Feng was exceptionally clear-headed. Tang Feng gave a bitter smile and looked at Zhou Ziliang. "Han Jiuhua is the most beautiful courtesan in Qinghui Fang. That place... you've been there too. I heard her sing there when I was young. I've never seen her face, but I remember what she said." Tang Feng raised his hand to support his forehead, his chest aching, cold sweat trickling down his temples. "It's exactly what the dancer said that day, even exactly the same."
"So you suspect it was her?"
Tang Feng shook his head. "Selling one's art is different from selling one's body. They have their own pride, so they won't suspect anything because of that. I just... I just discovered that every time I contacted her, I would be found by the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan. The first assassination attempt was in the Great Swamp..." Tang Feng paused, pressing his chest pain, "...Sending Liu Liu to get the wedding dress was also... Now that I think about it, it was all my own fault, I brought this suffering upon myself." Tang Feng coughed a few times, blood and foam coming from his mouth and hanging at the corner of his lips. Tang Feng looked at Zhou Ziliang. "I won't let him go, and I won't let myself go either. I will bear this humiliation and watch him be buried with Liu Liu." As Tang Feng spoke, his voice trembled with sobs. Zhou Ziliang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then gently hugged him and patted Tang Feng's back. "Alright, alright, it's all over now. Let's focus on getting better first. We'll talk about this matter when we get back to Xiling." Tang Feng asked in a muffled voice in Zhou Ziliang's arms, "Have they been waiting outside for many days?" Zhou Ziliang wanted to cheer Tang Feng up, so he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Tang Feng's eyes, saying half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Yes, while you were gone, things were in complete chaos outside. The prefect of Wanliang was too scared to take a step, afraid of offending you. Li Yunye also came several times, but I managed to get rid of him each time. As for the Ninth Prince... he didn't come even once."
"It would be unbelievable that His Highness would come to see me after being sown apart by Shen Qinghang!" Tang Feng rubbed his aching forehead, apologizing to Zhou Ziliang. "You've been going in and out these past few days, helping me out of a lot of trouble... I'm sorry, I've been too chaotic these past few days, I haven't been in the mood at all." Zhou Ziliang raised his hand and pressed down on Tang Feng's head. "I understand you. Many things are beyond your control, the assassination attempt, and Liu Liu's death. Xiao Feng, cheer up. Since some things have already happened, let them go." Tang Feng nodded, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I know..."
Tang Feng's illness relapsed several times, showing no signs of improvement. It was unclear whether it was due to his worries or simply that the weather in Wanliang was unsuitable for him. Li Yunye had visited many times, but Zhou Ziliang had always brushed him off. This day, Tang Feng seemed to be in better spirits, nestled in bed, chatting idly with Zhou Ziliang. Just then, Liu Yiwan entered, carrying a fruit platter. "Young Master... where should I put these lychees that the Third Prince sent you?" Tang Feng glanced at the lychees in his hand and couldn't help but smile. "It's obvious Li Yunye really wants my help. Where did I get lychees in March?"
“I say, young master… if you really can’t take it, following the Third Prince wouldn’t be a bad idea. During your illness, the Ninth Prince hasn’t visited even once, let alone asked about you. On the contrary, the Third Prince comes every two days and brings you delicious food every day…” Tang Feng’s chest ached from Liu Yiwan’s anger, and he threw a lychee at Liu Yiwan’s head. “Don’t go spreading rumors outside, understand? Especially about the Ninth Prince. I have my own plans for who I follow.” Zhou Ziliang patted Tang Feng’s hand to comfort him, then looked at Liu Yiwan, “This matter involves too many people. Don’t overthink it, or you might get implicated.” Having said all that, Liu Yiwan naturally understood the gravity of the situation. Holding the plate, she stood there, unsure whether to stay or leave. "Young Master... then these lychees..." "Keep them." Tang Feng picked up a lychee, wrapped it up, broke one open, and popped it into his mouth, almost bringing tears to his eyes from the sourness. "Ugh... What are you doing, sending them away like that? Give them back! Tell them I have no appetite and let the Third Prince eat them himself." Tang Feng spat out the lychee, then looked at Liu Yiwan. "No, wait a minute... go and call him over. Tell him... he's feeling better these past few days, let him come and sit down."
After Liu Yiwan left, Zhou Ziliang asked, "Is Xiaofeng willing to see people now?"
"We're about to go back, so let's put other things aside for now. This can't go on forever, and I can't keep you worrying." Tang Feng knew he'd been living in a daze these past few days, causing Zhou Ziliang a lot of worry. He figured if his suspicions were true, it wouldn't be too late to verify them once they returned to Xiling.
Seeing that Tang Feng was in much better spirits, Zhou Ziliang finally felt relieved and tapped Tang Feng's forehead, saying, "You still remember? I was so worried about you the other day."
"What? Are you afraid I'll tell Mom you didn't take good care of me, and then she'll beat you up?"
"No, it's because I'm afraid you'll leave me. My mother beats me all the time, so there's nothing to be afraid of. You're different."
"Sorry..." Tang Feng had barely finished speaking when there was a knock at the door. "Come in." Seeing Li Yunye enter, Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang exchanged a glance. "Ziliang, I have something I want to discuss with His Highness the Third Prince alone." Zhou Ziliang naturally understood what he meant, patted Tang Feng's shoulder, and instructed, "Don't overwork yourself. Call me if you're not feeling well." Watching Zhou Ziliang leave, Li Yunye sat down, looking at the sickly Tang Feng, and couldn't help but ask, "What happened this time? I asked Zhou Ziliang, and he just said you were frightened, but Tang Feng, when have you ever been this timid?"
"Don't listen to Ziliang's excuses. It's just a family matter, it's understandable that he's still worried. I just didn't expect this illness to drag on for over a month," Tang Feng said, observing Li Yunye's expression before continuing, "That person is very important to me. He killed Liu Liu, so... I must catch him."
A glint flashed in Li Yunye's eyes. For so long, he had been wondering why Tang Feng had sought out Lao Jiu and why he had gone to such lengths to help him. Now that Tang Feng had spoken for himself, he naturally followed up with his question, "What do you mean? Didn't you say you were mistakenly killed by an unknown person? You haven't given up yet?"
"No... I will not let that person go... Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will dig him out." Tang Feng looked at Li Yunye, his eyes full of apology. "I'm sorry... for telling you so much. I've been in a daze these past few days, tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep, and my health hasn't been good, so I haven't been able to see you. But today... I have something to say."
Li Yunye perked up and quickly said, "No rush, you've just recovered from your illness, it's not too late to talk about it in a few days." Tang Feng shook his head. "That day, His Highness asked me if I had participated in the struggle for the throne with the Ninth Prince. Yes, I did." This sentence shocked Li Yunye. He didn't expect Tang Feng to tell him these things, but looking at his clear eyes and logical thinking, he didn't seem to be confused because of his illness. Tang Feng continued, "The Ninth Prince and I have nothing to do with Li Yunrui. It's just that after Liu Liu died, I wanted to climb the ranks urgently so that I could use my official position to find the murderer. At that time, the Ninth Prince happened to come to my residence to find me, and we hit it off immediately, each of us having what we needed." After hearing this, Li Yunye couldn't help but be suspicious. It was true that he desperately needed Tang Feng's help, but it was indeed a bit unlikely that Tang Feng would suddenly open his heart to him after being ill once. Seeing Li Yunye's lukewarm reaction, Tang Feng changed the subject, "Does Your Highness think I'm telling you all this to probe for information?" Seeing Li Yunye remain silent, Tang Feng smiled. "I'm saying this not for any other reason than that I feel very wronged." Tang Feng lowered his head, closing the book on his lap and placing it aside. "I admit my relationship with the Ninth Prince is merely a transaction, but I don't feel I've mistreated him. You know I'm not well, but I still accompany him to handle all sorts of matters, big and small, to gain His Majesty's favor. But this time… Your Highness, just consider it a complaint." Li Yunye knew that during Tang Feng's illness, Li Yunyu had never visited him. Perhaps Tang Feng had truly lost heart? However, he couldn't make a decision immediately. Putting Li Yunyu aside for the moment, Tang Feng was a man of careful planning and strategizing. No matter how much Li Yunyu acted capriciously, in Tang Feng's eyes, it was insignificant compared to Qin Liuliu's death. "If the Grand Tutor is truly disheartened, then properly teach my ninth brother knowledge and tell him not to get involved in these matters again."
The two chatted for a while longer before Li Yunye claimed he had something to attend to and left. When Zhou Ziliang came in, he saw Tang Feng propping his forehead up, seemingly deep in thought, and asked, "Not going well?"
"His Highness is much smarter than I thought. He's probably starting to have suspicions. It seems we'll have to stage a self-inflicted injury for the spring hunt."
The rainy season in Wanliang starts two months earlier than in Xiling. The first rain fell in late February/early March, mingling with the snow on the mountaintops and flowing into the terraced fields. Since their last conversation, Li Yunye hadn't contacted Tang Feng. Tang Feng knew this was a sign of wariness, but he wasn't in a hurry. He went about his business as usual, waiting for news of their return. After the first rain, several more fell, and the seedlings in the terraced fields finally sprouted. Tang Feng figured the time was almost up and said, "Now that the mission is complete, it's time to go back. We've been away for half a year; there's no need to stay any longer." Although their relationship had strained a few days ago, they still had to maintain appearances. After a brief discussion, they packed up and set off for Xiling as soon as possible. Before leaving, the prefect of Wanliang repeatedly apologized to Tang Feng, saying he hadn't thought things through and hadn't handled things well. But Tang Feng didn't care, shaking his head and letting it pass.
In Xiling, Han Jiuhua, unusually, waited for Xu Chang'an at Qinghui Fang. Hearing the madam announce at the door that Young Master Xu had arrived, Han Jiuhua trembled at first, but couldn't refuse. After agreeing, he slowly walked to the door to wait for Xu Chang'an to enter. He knew his mission had failed; he hadn't completed Xu Chang'an's arrangements, and punishment was inevitable. Even though he was prepared, he still took a few steps back when he saw Xu Chang'an enter. "Why?" Xu Chang'an's voice was indistinct, making it impossible to tell if he was angry. Han Jiuhua closed his eyes and knelt down. "Young Master, Feng Yan is incompetent; the mission failed. I should be punished..." Before Han Jiuhua could finish, Xu Chang'an slapped him, pointing at him and saying, "Do you know that the Empress is furious, and even the Fourth Prince has begun to doubt my abilities? How much time did I give you? Before, if you said you couldn't catch him, that was one thing, but now, Tang Feng is a sickly man, easily blown away by the wind! You tell me the assassination failed?"
"Young Master... Young Master, please calm your anger. Tang Feng is currently seriously ill, and Zhou Ziliang is constantly by his side, so the assassination attempt failed. I am willing to take the blame, please calm your anger." Han Jiuhua lowered her head, not daring to look at Xu Chang'an. The wound on her chest throbbed with pain. That day, she was able to return to Xiling entirely thanks to the old horse knowing the way. She only remembered stumbling and crawling back to Qinghui Lane, taking advantage of the absence of others, entering from the back, lying on the bed in a daze for four or five days with a fever. When she woke up on the sixth day, she found that her wound had festered. If it weren't for winter, she would have already died in the wilderness due to infection. She used a small knife to dig out the festering flesh from her chest, fainting several times from the pain, but Han Jiuhua dared not die. She was afraid of causing trouble for Xu Chang'an.
"Useless! What are we going to do if we wait any longer!" Xu Chang'an flicked his sleeve and threw a dagger at Han Jiuhua. "I'll give you one more chance. If you fail, just kill yourself on the spot! Even if you are Second Mother's child, Second Mother has been gone for many years. My Xu family doesn't support idlers. You'd better know your place." Han Jiuhua bit her lip, enduring her grievances, but she didn't dare to disobey Xu Chang'an. She could only nod in agreement and silently pick up the dagger that Xu Chang'an had thrown on the ground.
Tang Feng and his group returned to Xiling at the end of March. Xu Shiwan's prefectural governor reported to the court that the terraced fields were in good condition. Emperor Yun was overjoyed and even specially dispatched Eunuch Feng to greet them at the city gate. Tang Feng lifted the curtain; although it was early spring, the weather was still chilly, and a cold wind seeped into the carriage through the gaps. "Cough cough cough... Finally back. Only my sister remained at home; I'm afraid she didn't have a peaceful year either." Zhou Ziliang patted Tang Feng to help him catch his breath. "Since you're back, stay home for a couple of days. Go now, don't keep Eunuch Feng waiting."
Eunuch Feng hadn't seen Tang Feng for a long time. Seeing Tang Feng come down, he quickly said, "Thank you for your hard work, Grand Tutor. You have to go to the palace again soon; His Majesty will probably reward you." Tang Feng smiled, "I don't care about such things...you know...cough cough cough cough." Looking at Tang Feng's complexion, Eunuch Feng immediately said, "Please get in the carriage quickly. You sound even more ill after your trip to Wanliang." "Don't worry, Eunuch. It's normal to be weak in this fluctuating weather."
On the way to the palace, Zhou Ziliang looked at Tang Feng and asked, "Have you made any plans for the spring hunt? If His Highness isn't yet a prince before the hunt, then everything will be pointless." Tang Feng frowned and said, "But it's really not my place to investigate royal affairs. I haven't interfered, and I might even be accused of treason. However... His Majesty will probably consider his reputation and reward Wan Liang appropriately for his trip."
Upon entering the main hall, Emperor Yun looked at the kneeling prince and Tang Feng, and after a long while, spoke, "These past few days, you have both worked tirelessly for the Wanliang matter. You have worked hard." Li Yunye cupped his hands and said, "It is all thanks to the Grand Tutor. He has also been working tirelessly for the Wanliang matter and has been ill for several days." Emperor Yun looked at Tang Feng and asked, "You have indeed returned from Wanliang looking better." Tang Feng looked at Emperor Yun and said softly, "I only offered some guidance. The Ninth Prince supervised the construction of the terraced fields and comforted the people along the way. He is the one who has worked hard."
"Ninth Brother has indeed made progress," Emperor Yun nodded. "Tang Feng, you have taught very well. In just over a year, Yun Yu's studies have improved, and he has achieved a lot. Yun Yu, how old are you this year?"
"Reporting to Father Emperor, I am seventeen this year."
"Hmm..." Emperor Yun pondered for a moment, then asked, "You are indeed grown up. It's time to settle down and start a family. How can you do without a royal residence? I will allow you to leave the palace and establish your own residence, bestowing upon you the title of Prince, so you can be independent."
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