The moon sets and the stars fade.
Tang Feng chuckled awkwardly and moved behind Zhou Ziliang. He had never known how to deal with Zhou Wuhai, so he could only hide behind Zhou Ziliang and let Zhou Ziliang handle it. Zhou Ziliang smiled and protected Tang Feng behind him, saying, "Father, Xiao Feng just got back, so please say less... Mother is still busy in the back... If Mother hears you say that, she won't be happy."
Hearing his son threaten him for Tang Feng's sake, Zhou Wuhai became even more displeased. He kicked Zhou Ziliang and yelled, "Get out! Don't let me see you two before dinner!" Zhou Ziliang pulled Tang Feng out, saying to Zhou Wuhai as they walked, "I'll call Daddy when we eat." Then he looked at Tang Feng and said, "Let's go back inside first. My dad has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He probably worried a lot about you when you got into trouble. Don't be afraid of him."
Tang Feng naturally understood, but he didn't know how to face Zhou Wuhai. Seeing Zhou Ziliang comfort him, he smiled and said, "I know... I have to go to the palace tomorrow." Zhou Ziliang frowned obediently, "What? Is there anything else that needs your attention over there?"
"Hmm... After all, our public narrative is about rescuing the emperor and protecting the ruler, so naturally we need Li Linglan's edict of succession. The Ninth Prince will likely only anger Li Linglan because of the late Crown Prince's affair. We're not exactly in the right here; without the edict, His Highness's ascension to the throne isn't legitimate. It's best to be humble..." Zhou Ziliang felt a pang of sympathy for Tang Feng. "His Highness is all grown up now. You don't need to pave the way for him in everything... He's the future ruler of the country. Aren't you... spoiling him too much? Besides... Li Linglan is the one who drove your uncle to his death... He's your sworn enemy. Wouldn't it be too much of a humiliation for you to go and ask for the edict?"
Tang Feng shook his head and smiled faintly, "When have you ever seen me wrong myself? Don't worry... I'll be fine. Oh, by the way... I'm planning to write a letter to Sister Jiu, to reassure her and let her come back. Shanghan is already dangerous, I'm afraid something else might happen to her." Zhou Ziliang gently kissed Tang Feng's forehead, "I understand. Write the letter first, and I'll have Ake go pick up Sister Jiu right away."
The next morning, Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang rode their horses towards the palace. Although Tang Feng repeatedly emphasized that he was only going to take a look, Zhou Ziliang was worried and insisted on coming along. Tang Feng could not persuade him otherwise, so he had no choice but to agree. As soon as they entered, they saw Lin Siwen carrying a stack of books and walking out with Eunuch Feng one after the other. "Grand Tutor?"
"What are you trying to do?"
"Oh, don't even mention it! Eunuch Feng insisted on retiring to his hometown, and I'm just helping him pack up!" Tang Feng looked at Eunuch Feng after hearing this. Although he roughly guessed what Eunuch Feng meant, he still asked, "Why must you leave, Eunuch? If you have any difficulties, just tell me, and Tang Feng will definitely help you." Eunuch Feng quickly waved his hands, "No, no, no... Your Excellency... This old servant is already so old... Please let this old servant retire to his hometown!" Tang Feng looked at Lin Siwen, "Does Eunuch Feng have family?" Lin Siwen shrugged, indicating that he didn't know. Tang Feng sighed and advised, "I think I understand what you mean. You're afraid that the Ninth Prince will punish you when he ascends the throne... Don't worry, three years ago, you were the only one who was kind to me in the palace, and now I'm willing to repay that favor."
Eunuch Feng's legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "Lord Tang Feng... this... a subject cannot serve two masters!" Tang Feng quickly helped Eunuch Feng up. "What 'two masters'? His Highness the Ninth Prince is His Majesty's child. You are a veteran of two dynasties, utterly loyal. His Highness will give me face, don't worry." He then told Lin Siwen to carry all the luggage back and to pass a message to Li Yunyu, inviting him to a small gathering at the Zhou residence that evening. "Ah? We have to carry it back... we're about to get on the carriage..." Lin Siwen tossed the books and luggage in his hands, somewhat displeased, but still obediently walked back, saying to Eunuch Feng as they went, "You're so old... don't try to run away from home. The Grand Tutor will ask me to carry your luggage back again. You have too much stuff... it's incredibly heavy." Eunuch Feng followed Lin Siwen, smiling apologetically. "Then thank you for your trouble, Young General Lin!"
Seeing the two walk away, Tang Feng told Zhou Ziliang to wait outside while he and the others headed towards the Hall of Longevity. Ever since Tang Feng's night raid on Xiling, Li Linglan had been staying in the Hall of Longevity, and Tang Feng had people guarding him day and night. After all, he was the future nominal Emperor Emeritus, so naturally he had to be served with good food and drink. Tang Feng walked up the steps of the Hall of Longevity and saw several servants on guard. "How is it? Is His Majesty alright?" The servants knelt down and bowed when they saw Tang Feng. "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, Your Majesty, everything is fine."
Tang Feng nodded. "You may all leave now. His Majesty and I have something to discuss. Keep an eye on things down there and don't let anyone in." Seeing the guards acknowledge the order and leave, Tang Feng pushed open the vermilion wooden door of the Hall of Longevity. He saw Emperor Yun sitting on the throne high in the hall. Unlike the imposing emperor he had been when he first entered the city, Emperor Yun now looked much older, with many gray hairs on his head. Tang Feng walked to the front of the hall and knelt down neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Emperor Yun snorted coldly. "Tang Feng, you've won. Why bother with this pretense?"
"Your Majesty? Why do you say that? The respect I show you is only to give Su Zili some face. Since I'm giving you respect, just accept it. After all, you are the future Emperor Emeritus, and it's normal for you to enjoy wealth and honor." Emperor Yun looked at Tang Feng and didn't say anything more, but only asked, "What brings you here today? You wouldn't come here without a reason, would you?"
Tang Feng smiled. "Of course, as you know, His Highness's ascension to the throne requires your approval..." Tang Feng spoke, walking up the steps and laying the imperial edict from his sleeve flat before Emperor Yun. "The imperial decree... has already been drafted for you... only your imperial seal remains. I'll present it to you for your perusal. If it's acceptable, please affix your seal..."
"Hmph... You're quite efficient..." Li Linglan looked at the contents of the imperial edict without making a move. Seeing Li Linglan's unwillingness, Tang Feng also stopped smiling. "You're unwilling? That's fine. It doesn't matter who signs this imperial seal. But you should think it through. If you sign it, you'll be guaranteed a lifetime of glory. If you don't... I can't guarantee anything... After all, as far as the Ninth Prince is concerned, you have no kinship with him..." Seeing that Li Linglan was still unmoved, Tang Feng sighed and said nothing more. He picked up the imperial seal next to Li Linglan and stamped it heavily on the edict, then turned to leave.
"I, too, once held Yunyu... Yunrui... and once sat on my shoulders to fly kites..." Tang Feng stopped and looked at Li Linglan. "They all once aspired to be like you, to become emperors as successful as you... but Your Majesty was too suspicious... and ultimately, through meticulous planning, pushed them to their doom. Ninth Prince... was merely forced here step by step by Your Majesty... So, whether it was Su Zili leaving you, the Crown Prince's wrongful death, or the Ninth Prince's coup, every step was your own choice... But there is one thing I should thank you for. Regardless of who you see through me and Ziliang, I thank Your Majesty for bestowing the marriage. Take care of yourself!" Tang Feng finished speaking and turned to leave, leaving behind Li Linglan's sigh.
In the evening, after finishing his work, Li Yunyu heard from Lin Siwen that Tang Feng had invited him to a small gathering at the Zhou residence, so he and Lin Siwen hurried over. "Sir, is there something you need? Why are you calling us over so late?" Lin Siwen put his hands behind his head and walked beside Li Yunyu. "The Grand Tutor only said it was a small gathering, who knows what good food there might be. Besides... what is Your Highness afraid of? Everything has been resolved, and the Grand Tutor won't speak ill of you like before. I reckon it's a victory celebration banquet. I heard General Meng is going, and Lord Zhang and Lord Yang are also there."
Hearing that there were so many people, Li Yunyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid that the Grand Tutor might scold me at the slightest provocation... After all... he hasn't disciplined me since he came back... I'm a little unaccustomed to it..." Lin Siwen laughed a few times after hearing this, but was glared at by Li Yunyu. "What are you laughing at... What's so funny? The Grand Tutor dotes on you... You've never been scolded before." Seeing that Li Yunyu was angry, Lin Siwen quickly explained, "No, Your Highness, aren't you being too cautious? The Grand Tutor only wanted what was best for you. Now that you're grown up, there's no need for him to hold a grudge against you. He's not the type to nitpick... What do you think?"
As the two were talking, they saw Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang standing at the entrance of the Zhou residence. "We've been waiting for you two! Come on over!" Li Yunyu and Lin Siwen ran over and, seeing that Tang Feng wasn't going in, asked, "Weren't you having a small gathering at the Grand Tutor's house?"
“I made an appointment with Taibai Tower. I was afraid you would feel awkward at home, so I sent Xiao Fengzi and the others over first. In case you didn’t know, Ziliang and I stayed here to wait for you. As for you, you’ve been dawdling. Have you even finished handling things?” Hearing Tang Feng’s words, Li Yunyu nodded quickly and followed Tang Feng.
Zhou Ziliang and Lin Siwen walked at the front, discussing how to deal with the criminals, while Tang Feng and Li Yunyu walked one after the other. "A few days ago, I contacted Uncle Zhang and asked him, as the Minister of Rites, to request a few auspicious days for your ascension to the throne. What does Your Highness think?"
"ah?"
Tang Feng stopped when he saw that Li Yunyu hadn't heard him clearly, and turned to look at him. "What does Your Highness think?"
"Are you asking for... my opinion?"
Tang Feng nodded. "Why not? You'll be the ruler of a country soon. Do you expect me to pave the way for you?" Li Yunyu shook his head. "Isn't that enough? Besides, once you ascend the throne, let me retire to my hometown as soon as possible..."
"You...you're leaving?" Seeing Li Yunyu's incredulous expression, Tang Feng couldn't help but smile. "What's wrong? Your Highness, who brought me into the court as an official, has now fulfilled your wish, so naturally I should resign and go back to rest... Of course, if Your Highness needs my help with anything, I will lend a hand, after all, we are teacher and student..."
Li Yunyu pursed her lips and looked at Tang Feng. "Sir... thank you... I..."
"Alright, alright, it's not like I'm no longer in Xiling... Don't worry, I'll wait until you're fully capable before resigning. After all, you've just ascended the throne, and there must be quite a few memorials to submit."
Li Yunyu smiled after hearing this and quickly followed Tang Feng, looking up at the starry sky. "Sir, it's a clear day today, we can see the stars..."
"The weather in Xiling has cleared up..."
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