It's a rare opportunity to catch up.
"You!..." Tang Feng didn't know what to say, after all, it was he who had run away from home. "I just wanted to get away for a while, I didn't mean to run away from home... Look, who runs away from home and still comes to a teahouse to drink tea! They'd be long gone by now." Zhou Ziliang nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, just getting away for a while. Miss Jiu is worried sick at home! Aren't you going back?" Hearing Qin Jiujiu's name, Tang Feng looked embarrassed. He hadn't been able to control his temper just now and had snapped at Qin Jiujiu. Now that she was asking him to go back, Tang Feng felt really embarrassed. "I... I think I'll pass... How about going back to the Marquis's mansion? I'll be quite busy these days, and Sister Jiu is very strict..."
"Busy?" Zhou Ziliang raised an eyebrow, squinting at Tang Feng. "Uh... well... a little busy." Tang Feng suddenly avoided Zhou Ziliang's eyes, his gaze drifting downwards. Although Zhou Ziliang had been very obedient to him before, since Tang Feng fell ill, Zhou Ziliang had become very concerned about his whereabouts, where he went, what he did, and whether he was tired. Zhou Ziliang sighed, pulled out a chair from under the table, and sat opposite Tang Feng. "Xiao Feng, I know you want to avenge Liu Liu, but... even if you're going to assist the Ninth Prince, you have to take care of yourself. If you don't cherish your health, then I have to make this clear: I will not agree to anything regarding the succession struggle." Seeing Zhou Ziliang's unusually serious expression, Tang Feng couldn't help but shudder. "I know... why do you keep scaring me..."
The next day, Zhou Ziliang was about to return to the Marquis's mansion with Tang Feng when Qin Jiujiu stood outside watching him help Tang Feng into the sedan chair. She then stopped him, saying, "I was indeed a bit harsh yesterday. It's natural that Xiao Feng is angry. Liu Liu is a child Xiao Feng brought back and raised; everyone understands he can't get over this... But I'm just afraid. The Crown Prince is His Majesty's legitimate son, and I've never heard of him being so easily executed for any crime. Xiao Feng is just the child of an ordinary official; if the Emperor wanted him, it would be a piece of cake. I'm afraid..." Zhou Ziliang naturally understood Qin Jiujiu's worries and reassured her, "I understand Miss Jiujiu's concerns, but Liu Liu is Xiao Feng's heartache. If we don't let him do it, I'm afraid his heartache will be difficult to cure in the future!" Zhou Ziliang could sense that since Tang Feng agreed to Li Yunyu's request, putting aside his physical condition, his spirits were indeed much better than before, offering some hope in his days spent bedridden.
Tang Feng returned to the Marquis's mansion and didn't remain idle. He secretly inquired about matters in the palace, but since it was a clandestine affair, he dared not be too open. Just as Tang Feng was thinking of ways to get in, Li Yunye came knocking on his door. Originally, Madam Zhou was extremely unwilling for Li Yunye to come see Tang Feng; she didn't want Tang Feng to have any connection with the royal family. However, Tang Feng, sitting on the bed, preemptively agreed, "I'll see him. Please let the Third Prince in!" Madam Zhou looked at Tang Feng worriedly, "You don't need to force yourself to go..." "See him. Your father still has influence in the court. I'll go talk to him, don't be afraid." Tang Feng shook his head, realizing Madam Zhou had misunderstood. "No, Mother, I never forced myself. It was all of my own free will. Please don't worry. I'll make my own decision about seeing him. Please don't be concerned." Madam Zhou didn't say anything more after Tang Feng finished speaking, so she got up and instructed, "Then be careful. Ziliang is away at the military camp these days. Don't let anything happen to you." Tang Feng nodded.
As soon as Madam Zhou left, Li Yunye was brought up by the butler. Upon seeing Tang Feng, Li Yunye quickly said, "Don't move, I'll come over. I heard you got married and was thinking of going over, but you didn't even give me an invitation, so I didn't feel comfortable visiting. But I didn't expect you to be ill when I came here."
Tang Feng smiled, looked up at Li Yunye, and said, "Your Highness, please sit down. It's true that I got married a few days ago, but did you know that the Princess is currently in mourning? The palace is busy preparing for a national mourning. Although it's customary to celebrate joyous occasions rather than mournful ones, sending out invitations on such a day is somewhat inappropriate." Hearing Tang Feng's somewhat rigid tone, Li Yunye felt a strange unease. "Tang Feng, you weren't like this before."
"Your Highness wasn't like this before," Tang Feng said with a smile, unconcerned by Li Yunye's words. "Did Your Highness come here today just to see me?"
"Yes and no, Tang Feng, I know my visit is somewhat abrupt, but after much deliberation, I've come anyway. I hope you can help me become the Crown Prince." Upon hearing this, Tang Feng looked incredulous. "Become the Crown Prince?" In Tang Feng's memory, Li Yunye was someone who was oblivious to worldly affairs and focused solely on his studies. His desire to seize the throne was something Tang Feng never expected. Although, according to the principle of primogeniture, Tang Feng thought Li Yunye might eventually be made Crown Prince by the Emperor, hearing it from Li Yunye's mouth seemed rather absurd. "Why?"
“I knew you’d ask,” Li Yunye smiled. “Did Li Yunrui tell you about my mother being confined to the palace for reflection?” Tang Feng wanted to nod, but fearing that saying it would implicate Li Yunyu, he shook his head and said, “Confined for reflection? When did that happen? You know I never inquire about royal matters.”
"When you were still in Shanghan, although my mother was indeed at fault, it was Li Yunrui who was unkind first. Now that Li Yunrui is dead, I must obtain the position of Crown Prince. Only by becoming Crown Prince can I rescue my mother from this predicament." Tang Feng could tell that this statement was somewhat nonsensical. Li Yunye seemed to be avoiding the main point and picking out a few irrelevant words to say to him. Tang Feng was quite close to Li Yunye when they were at Lishan Academy. Back then, Li Yunye was a carefree prince who disdained vying for the throne. For him to change so quickly, something must have happened.
"Tang Feng, I have always respected you, respected your talent, and valued your loyalty. Now that I am vying for the throne, are you willing to help me?" Tang Feng looked at Li Yunye, and for a moment, he even saw the shadow of Li Yunrui. "I am not willing. Li Yunrui asked me, and Li Yunheng asked me too. I will not agree."
Li Yunye seemed to understand. After all, he had already known about Tang Feng's temperament back at Lishan Academy. Li Yunrui had begged him for so long but couldn't keep him by his side, so he naturally couldn't do the same. He stood up and said, "Then I won't force you. I hope we can still be like we were at Lishan Academy."
"We can't go back, Your Highness. Both you and I have changed. How much of that sincerity and innocence from Li Shan Academy remains?" Li Yunye looked down at Tang Feng, who was staring intently at him, just as he had when they first met at Li Shan Academy. Li Yunye slowly said, "The mountains remain, the people remain." Then he turned and left. Tang Feng looked out through the wooden door, watching Li Yunye gradually disappear from sight, and shook his head. "The mountains remain the same, but people's hearts have changed, Your Highness. Neither you nor I are the carefree people we once were."
Zhou Ziliang has been incredibly busy at the military camp these past few days, even sleeping there for several nights. Tang Feng, on the other hand, has been quite bored, counting down the days until he can move out. Although he has servants and helpers at the Marquis's mansion, he still feels inexplicably uncomfortable, especially with Zhou Wuhai. Tang Feng always feels that Zhou Wuhai harbors resentment towards him because of the delayed engagement years ago. Moving out in the future would be a way to avoid seeing him and have peace of mind.
The weather has finally warmed up these past few days. A spring rain brings warmth; last night, thunder rumbled, and a spring rain fell until dawn. The fine rain pattered on the banana leaves in the yard. Tang Feng leaned against the window, craning his neck to look outside, a thin shirt draped over his shoulders. Tang Feng's health had improved considerably lately, perhaps because spring had arrived and the weather was warmer. However, he would sometimes cough for no apparent reason. But Tang Feng already knew the cause, so he only took the medicine prescribed by Wu He Zou half-heartedly, much to Wu He Zou's frustration.
Suddenly, Liu Yiwan's head popped out of the window. Unlike usual, Liu Yiwan wasn't as nonchalant as before; instead, he said with a serious expression, "Young Master... Master wants you to return to the manor..." Tang Feng, seeing Liu Yiwan's bewildered expression, got up and asked, "What is it?"
"Hmm..." Liu Yiwan didn't know how to begin. He opened his oil-paper umbrella and, standing in the rain, replied, "You'll know when you get back..." Tang Feng followed Liu Yiwan, wondering why Master Tang had suddenly summoned him back. After all, Master Tang hadn't visited him even once while he was ill, and he wondered what Master Tang was busy with all the time. Tang Feng felt that something serious must have happened. Back at the Tang residence, Tang Feng entered the front courtyard and saw Master Tang standing in the hall, saying, "Kneel down!" Confused, Tang Feng lifted his robe and knelt in the rain. "Liu Yiwan, come back! Don't hold an umbrella for him. He's committed a crime; what face does he have to hold an umbrella? Let him kneel in the rain."
Tang Feng, soaked in the rain, asked, "I don't know where I've offended you, Father. Please enlighten me!" Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly somber, Qin Jiujiu quickly pulled Liu Yiwan aside. "Why didn't Zhou Ziliang come with us?" "When I went to the Marquis's residence... I saw the young master, but I didn't see the young marquis," Liu Yiwan said, not daring to speak loudly for fear of being overheard by Master Tang. He continued, "I... I remember now, the army is recruiting these days. The young marquis might be at the camp. I'll go there now."
"Wait a minute," Qin Jiujiu said, pulling Liu Yiwan along, "Where can we go through the front door? Let's go through the back."
"A clear indication?" Old Master Tang slowly walked downstairs. Seeing this, Qin Jiujiu quickly held up an umbrella for him. "What have you done? Don't you know in your heart? Who told you to collude with the prince! Ah! How many times have I told you to stay away from them? Why don't you listen!" Tang Feng roughly knew what Tang Zhaonan was referring to. He knelt on the ground and said loudly, "Your son has long since come of age and has his own plans. Father has never inquired about your son's daily affairs, not even when your son was ill. Now that the struggle for the throne is involved, is Father afraid that your son will be mired in trouble and worried about his safety? Or is he afraid that if your son gets into trouble, it will implicate the Tang family!" Tang Zhaonan was furious and raised his hand, slapping Tang Feng hard across the face, causing Tang Feng to stumble and sit on the ground. Seeing Tang Feng's cheeks flushed, Qin Jiujiu quickly pulled Tang Zhaonan back. "Godfather! Godfather, please calm down. Xiao Feng is still sick! You..."
"Sick? Sick but still jumping around every day instead of resting at home, colluding with the prince and shamelessly claiming to have his own plans. Do you know what the struggle for the throne is? Do you know what it entails? Once you get deeply involved, you'll lose yourself, and then you won't be able to turn back! Besides, the Crown Prince has so many strategists under his command, what happened in the end? Have you thought about your own future? Have you thought about Zhou Ziliang!"
"What determines my life is not my ability, but my character and conduct. Yesterday's events have shaped who I am today, and today's events will shape who I am in the future. Even if I insist on getting involved in this mess now, I will do so with a clear conscience." Tang Feng slowly knelt down, supporting himself on the floor tiles, and looked up at Tang Zhaonan. "If Father feels that my actions will implicate the Tang family and you in the future, you are welcome to sever ties with me."
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