Rice and terraced fields
From the moment Tang Feng returned from the palace until he arrived at his residence, his brows were furrowed and his head was bowed. Zhou Ziliang, unsure of his thoughts, tentatively asked, "Are you worried about the Third Prince's trip to Wanliang?" Tang Feng shook his head. "I'm not worried about him going; I'm just a little worried about why he's going." Tang Feng stopped and saw Li Yunye waiting for him at the entrance of the Tang residence. He looked up and exchanged a glance with Zhou Ziliang before stepping forward to bow and say, "Third Prince, what brings you to my humble abode?" Li Yunye smiled, placed his hand on Tang Feng's shoulder, and patted him. "A few days ago, your father strongly recommended me for the position of Crown Prince, so I intend to lend you a hand this time as well."
"Your Highness's words are ambiguous; I don't quite understand."
"My ninth brother isn't particularly clever or quick-witted. I heard that when you went to the Luohe Bridge, he made a mistake that angered you so much that you fell ill for several days. I'm only here to help you along the way. After all, we've been classmates for three years, and I can't bear to see you so young and burdened by illness. Besides, I hope Father will give me an important position. So, Grand Tutor Tang, you won't think I'm hindering your trip to Wanliang, will you?"
Tang Feng frowned slightly, but quickly recovered and smiled, "Your Highness, what are you saying? It's a good thing that you're sharing His Majesty's burdens, so naturally I won't say anything."
"Yes, after all, you had no ambition to seize the throne. You only devoted yourself to teaching my ninth brother. My eldest brother would probably be very pleased if he were alive." Seeing Li Yunye's somewhat smug look, Tang Feng didn't say anything, but just stared at Li Yunye intently until he felt a little uncomfortable. "Grand Tutor Tang, is there something you need?"
"It's nothing, just a bit of curiosity. I feel your family is all quite inexplicable. Li Yunheng's temper is unpredictable, making him hard to fathom. Li Yunrui's death was inexplicable, the truth is unknown. And your succession struggle was also inexplicable. Third Prince, regarding the Crown Prince's death, who do you think was responsible? This humble subject is foolish, and after much thought, I still have no idea." Li Yunye's hand tightened slightly in his sleeve, forcing a smile. "Instead of dwelling on the past, Grand Tutor, you should worry about yourself. The journey to Wanliang is long and arduous; don't fall ill again."
"No, no," Tang Feng waved his hand and laughed, "I heard about my illness at Luohe Bridge from a palace maid! It's alright, I've already had her dealt with. Without her, I'd probably be much better off. As for the rest, Your Highness, he's your brother after all, not a prisoner. If you want to send someone to investigate, forget it." After saying that, Tang Feng bowed to Li Yunye and turned to return to his residence.
"It seems he has ulterior motives," Zhou Ziliang said, tilting his head to stand up and whisper in Tang Feng's ear. Tang Feng lowered his eyes, fiddling with the box of fish food in his hand, remaining silent for a long time. "Let's take it one step at a time. I hope His Highness the Ninth Prince doesn't cause me any trouble. I'm really afraid he'll anger me to death one day. One person is already enough; if Li Yunye comes along, it's like he's afraid I'll live too long and eat too much of the court's food."
Tang Feng originally intended to discuss the matter of Wanliang directly with Li Yunyu, but Li Yunye's commotion made Tang Feng more wary. He tossed and turned in bed for a long time, disturbing Zhou Ziliang's sleep as well. Helpless, Zhou Ziliang asked Liu Yiwan to brew some calming medicine. "Xiao Feng, it's late at night, get some rest. You can think about it during the day. I'll have Liu Yiwan brew some calming medicine. Drink it and go to sleep early. You won't be able to sleep well in Wanliang." Although Zhou Ziliang's words made sense, Tang Feng still couldn't sleep. He suddenly sat up and said to Zhou Ziliang, "Go call Meng Lie, no, call Ning Wan out. I have something to arrange."
Although Zhou Ziliang wanted to refuse, Tang Feng nudged him, so he had no choice but to get up. "I'll go tell them, but it's too late today. There's a curfew in the palace, and you don't want Ning Wan to be implicated by this, do you? I'll go deliver the message now. You stay home and get some sleep." Tang Feng nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice, obediently lay down, and waved to Zhou Ziliang, "Go ahead."
Yunlan hadn't slept late into the night. Though deep within the palace, she had overheard some of the morning court proceedings. As she pondered these matters, Suxi entered carrying a bamboo basket. "Your Majesty, I don't know what's going on, but the guards brought us pastries so late at night." Yunlan glanced at the basket and gestured for Suxi to take it away. "Wait!" Yunlan seemed to remember something, stood up, and took the basket from Suxi. She opened it, took out the pastries, and broke them open one by one until she found a letter inside the last pastry. It read, "Prince Yu's motives for following Wanliang are impure. Tomorrow morning, have Ning Wan come to the Tang residence." Yunlan placed the letter on a candle to burn. "Suxi, tomorrow morning, have Ning Wan come to see me."
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Ning Wan went to the Tang residence. Because she had never left the Misty Forest Garden while in the palace, very few people knew her, so she no longer concealed her face. Liu Yiwan had never seen Ning Wan before, so he turned his head and looked around at the only girl nearby, and asked, "Miss... what brings you here..."
"This humble woman seeks the presence of the Grand Tutor."
"Ah? Oh, okay, come in first, I'll go call them." Learning from Wen Yunsheng's experience last time, Liu Yiwan knew that those coming to the mansion were probably important people, so she didn't dare to delay. She ran to Tang Feng's room and was about to knock on the door when it opened. Tang Feng, dressed neatly, stood in the doorway and asked, "Tell her to wait for me in the study. I'll be there in a bit."
Ning Wan waited in the study for a while. When Tang Feng arrived, she stood up and bowed. "Grand Tutor, I wonder if you have something to convey to Her Majesty?" Tang Feng shook his head. "I've only come to see you today. I previously considered placing you with His Highness, but His Highness is impetuous and childish, and I was afraid he would cause trouble, so I sent you to Consort Yun. Now I'm taking the Ninth Prince to Wanliang, and you will accompany him."
Ning Wan thought for a moment, then hesitated to agree, asking instead, "Sir, has something happened?" After all, Ning Wan had been with Yun Lan for some time, and during that time, whether Tang Feng had rescued Lin Siwen or later feigned illness, he hadn't contacted Yun Lan or her again. Tang Feng smiled, not telling her about Li Yunye, but simply saying to Ning Wan, "Don't worry, it's just that Wanliang Mountain is high and the road is long, and His Highness doesn't have anyone trustworthy to take care of him, so... that's why I asked Consort Yun to bring you here." Seeing Ning Wan nod, Tang Feng continued, "His Highness is still young, and with Consort Yun not by his side, he has no one to look after him. His temperament is unpredictable, so I hope you will persuade His Highness when the time comes."
Ning Wan thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Sir... is it true that you and His Highness are at odds?"
"What do you mean by that?" Tang Feng was amused by Ning Wan's serious expression. Ning Wan lowered her head and pondered for a moment before replying, "In the palace, I heard quite a bit about you and the Ninth Prince. Although I also think it's hard to judge based on public opinion, just now... instead of warning me to be careful with my words and not offend His Highness, you asked me to advise him. Ning Wan doesn't quite understand. Compared to a servant who's serving you for the first time, His Highness should trust you more. What is it that His Highness needs to bypass you and listen to me?"
Tang Feng hadn't expected the young girl to be so thoughtful. He gestured to the stool in front of him, indicating for her to sit down, and said, "I, Tang Feng, am a man who goes all the way. I've said that once I've helped someone, I won't help anyone else. However, His Highness the Ninth Prince is stubborn, and there are some things I can't say openly. This trip to Wanliang is uncertain, and the journey is long. I'm afraid someone might try to sow discord between us. I only hope you can offer some words of advice."
Ning Wan roughly understood what Tang Feng meant, so Tang Feng allowed her to stay longer and let her go back while there were many people around at noon.
Tang Feng hadn't originally intended to bring so many people to Wanliang, but when he saw Li Yunye and Shen Qinghang waiting for him on horseback outside the city, along with the large entourage behind them and the Ninth Prince all alone at the back, Tang Feng sighed, "This time, I'm afraid we can't escape their scheme. Even ten of me wouldn't be enough to handle so many people." Zhou Ziliang glanced at the somewhat lonely Li Yunye in the distance, then looked at Tang Feng reassuringly, "After what happened with the Lin family, His Highness will surely understand your good intentions to some extent."
Before Tang Feng could speak, Li Yunye stepped forward and said, "Grand Tutor Tang, if you're not feeling well, you shouldn't be out in the wind. I've lit some charcoal in my sedan chair; it'll be warmer. Come and sit with me!"
Tang Feng waved his hand, "That won't be necessary. How can a subject like me ride in the same carriage as a prince? Besides, I have my own carriage, Your Highness need not worry." Although Tang Feng refused each time, Li Yunyu, watching from a distance, felt a great deal of affection. Although she felt a sense of inexplicable grievance, she also felt that it was normal for Tang Feng to deal with things outside and that there was no need to take it too seriously. Although she was trying to convince herself of this, when she saw Tang Feng, her words couldn't help but turn colder. "Why are you being so close to Third Brother, sir?" Not to mention that Tang Feng had been claiming illness and hadn't told her since he saved the Lin family, and that he even learned about Wanliang's matter through his mother, Li Yunyu, who was already somewhat awkward, felt even more displeased seeing Tang Feng chatting and laughing with Li Yunye.
Tang Feng, perhaps taken aback by Li Yunyu's cold words, paused for a moment before laughing and saying, "It's not about being close. After all, your third brother is a prince, and there are some things I have to say in return. He invited me to ride in the carriage with him, but I declined. Your Highness need not be suspicious."
Seeing Li Yunyu let out a sigh of relief, nod to him, and return to his sedan chair, Tang Feng pulled Ning Wan aside and whispered, "You should stay with His Highness. Since the Third Prince is here, it's not appropriate for me to travel with him. I'll trouble you along the way, young lady."
"Look at what you're saying, this is my business. If Your Highness has anything to say, I will tell you." Ning Wan bowed slightly and followed Li Yunyu into the carriage. Tang Feng sighed and followed Zhou Ziliang. He heard Zhou Ziliang say, "Our Ninth Prince is not only a rash person, but also a very thoughtful one. How old is he, still getting jealous?"
"Ha, the way he looked just now, he resembled a husband catching his wife cheating. Sigh, such a narrow-minded attitude. I don't know if Li Yunrui is truly desperate or if he has no other choice but to take his place. I'd rather he tell me that Ninth Brother is incompetent and that the Four Books and Five Classics are now in your hands than hear that 'Ninth Brother is in the family, and the succession and overturning of the case depend on you.'" Tang Feng was helped into the carriage by Zhou Ziliang, then looked at Zhou Ziliang with surprise as he followed. "You're not riding a horse?"
"The mountains are high and the road is long, I'm afraid you'll get sick. Taking care of you along the way will surely make you feel better." Upon hearing this, Tang Feng leaned back in the carriage, closed his eyes, and said, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have let Liu Yiwan come along."
"It's not too late to send Xiaofeng back now."
Tang Feng suddenly opened his eyes and met Zhou Ziliang's smiling face. He snorted, "Don't bother. Let him go back. From now on, it'll be my sister coming with me. Sigh, am I really that weak? I don't even dare to stay out too long when I leave, afraid that if I stay too long, my sister will really come. You know, she's never been away for a year or two before and nothing happened. Why am I so worried this time?" Zhou Ziliang didn't reply. He was afraid that saying something would hurt Tang Feng's sore spot. He just held Tang Feng's hand tightly. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "You must be tired. You've been up so early. Lean against me and sleep for a while. If anything happens, Liu Yiwan will come to tell you." Tang Feng probably realized that he had said the wrong thing. He buried his head in Zhou Ziliang's arms, smelled the soap on his clothes, and fell into a deep sleep.
Perhaps he was truly exhausted. By the time he got up, the sun had already set. He opened his eyes and saw Zhou Ziliang resting with his eyes closed. He was about to sit up when Zhou Ziliang spoke before he could even move, "Awake?"
"Hmm... have you been traveling all this way?"
"No, there was one break in between. I saw you were sleeping soundly so I didn't wake you, but the Ninth Prince and the Third Prince met."
"What did you say?"
"I'm not sure, I didn't go down, and I couldn't hear it."
Tang Feng sat up, rubbing his slightly throbbing forehead, and then said, "It's late, let's not travel any further. Let them stop."
After the carriage stopped, Tang Feng originally didn't want to go out, but felt there was too much trouble outside, so he figured it was better not to go out. However, as soon as Zhou Ziliang got off, Shen Qinghang sat down and said, "Grand Tutor Tang, won't you get off and sit down?"
"What are you going down there for, to watch me dig a hole? Ugh, out of sight, out of mind," Tang Feng said, but he still moved aside to make room for Shen Qinghang.
"Now that you know we're trying to frame you, it's unbelievable that you still came." Shen Qinghang looked at the several braziers burning brightly in the car, then at Tang Feng's pale lips. "Do you really think you'll live to see the Ninth Prince ascend the throne?"
Tang Feng slowly opened his closed eyes, looking at Shen Qinghang with a wry smile, "Probably! If you don't cherish me, be careful, I might just pass away one day."
"Perhaps only Brother Ziliang will be heartbroken," Shen Qinghang said, turning his head away to avoid Tang Feng's gaze.
"Don't say that," Tang Feng said with a smile, his arm resting on the carriage window frame and his hand supporting his forehead. "You'll need me for this trip to Wanliang, won't you? At least you should curry favor with me before you do, let me experience the joy of having a higher-ranking official domineering over you."
"No one in the court flatters you?" Shen Qinghang couldn't help but laugh when Tang Feng shook his head. "Wouldn't that be too incompetent? But it makes sense. You didn't know how to handle interpersonal relationships when you were in Lanxi. You had no sense of propriety and wanted to offend everyone." Seeing Tang Feng roll his eyes at him, Shen Qinghang ignored him and said seriously, "Tang Feng, do you still remember Lu Changyuan?"
Who is it?
“The one from Lishan Academy who played the 'Flying Flower Order' game with you,” Shen Qinghang sighed. “He came to see Li Yunye a few days ago, probably about his future or something, but I didn’t listen carefully.” Before Tang Feng could figure it out, Zhou Ziliang, carrying a lunchbox, lifted the curtain and led Tang Feng into the carriage. Tang Feng shivered from the cold. Seeing Zhou Ziliang return, Shen Qinghang got up and got out of the carriage, reminding him before leaving, “When we get to Wanliang, let’s go see the rice paddies there.” Seeing Tang Feng nod, Shen Qinghang turned and left.
Tang Feng immediately lifted the curtain to glance at Li Yunyu in the distance, but Zhou Ziliang interrupted him, "Don't look. I've been keeping an eye on things outside for you. The Ninth Prince hasn't been looking this way, so don't worry."
Wanliang wasn't far to begin with, but there were many mountains and many twists and turns. It took almost half a month of rushing to get there. Zhou Ziliang unloaded the carriage at the post station and saw Tang Feng sitting obediently at the door waiting for him. He asked, "Aren't you going up?"
"I'm too lazy to go upstairs, their nagging is driving me crazy." This wasn't Tang Feng's fault. For the past half-month, Tang Feng had basically spent his time in the midst of the power struggle between Li Yunye and Li Yunyu. Li Yunye seemed to have taken some kind of spell, suddenly becoming obsessed with Tang Feng, constantly nagging him about getting in the carriage and not having eaten, making Tang Feng's head buzz. As for Li Yunyu, he wouldn't listen to any kind words, only increasingly sarcastic remarks, making Tang Feng even more uncomfortable. Although he said this, Tang Feng still stood up, went upstairs, and knocked on Li Yunyu's door. When Ning Wan opened the door, he said, "If Your Highness is ready, I'll wait for him downstairs. The disaster in Wanliang can't be delayed."
Although Li Yunyu didn't open the door, he was quite happy to hear that Tang Feng was waiting for him to go together. A few days ago, Li Yunye suddenly became very attentive to Tang Feng, which made him feel uneasy. Coupled with Tang Feng's lukewarm attitude along the way, he was even more worried. He was not good at speaking and was easily swayed by his emotions, often saying hurtful things to Tang Feng. But once the words were out, it was hard to take them back. Although he felt guilty, he could never bring himself to say it until today when Tang Feng gave him a way out.
Going downstairs, Li Yunyu saw Tang Feng sitting next to Zhou Ziliang drinking tea. He quickly took a plate of pastries from the waiter and handed it to Tang Feng. Tang Feng looked up and saw it was Li Yunyu, then lowered his eyes and chuckled, "Your Highness, you've finally calmed down? You're not giving me the cold shoulder anymore?" Li Yunyu scratched his head and quickly explained, but before he could speak, Tang Feng stood up and said, "These past few days I've roughly surveyed the terrain of Wanliang and observed the environmental changes along the way. Wanliang is probably a place that doesn't get much rain year-round." Tang Feng then walked out, and Li Yunyu quickly followed. As they walked, Tang Feng said, "If I explain now, Your Highness might not understand. Let me show you their fields, and you'll get a general idea."
Tang Feng approached an elderly woman who had just returned from farming, spoke a few words to her, and then prepared to lead them up the mountain. Li Yunyu had never seen farmland before, let alone farmland affected by famine. Standing on the mountain, he saw only patches of yellow earth, with a few small seedlings standing forlornly, as if telling him that this was a vegetable garden. Tang Feng, helped up by Zhou Ziliang, coughed for a while and, after a long pause, finally said, "Your Highness, why don't you bend down and take a look at this soil?"
"Yellow..."
Hearing Li Yunyu's words, Tang Feng sighed deeply, squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil, and held it up in front of Li Yunyu. The strong northwest wind easily blew the soil away from Tang Feng's hand. "Don't you think this soil is like sand? Although it doesn't rain much here year-round, there is a rainy season. This kind of soil doesn't clump together; it's very loose. During the rainy season, the rain washes away the soil. And since the soil here is like sand, it doesn't absorb water. The crops don't get enough water and soil, which is why this happens."
Li Yunyu nodded. "Do you have any good ideas?"
"We'll switch to rice cultivation. The slopes here are gentle, making them suitable for terraced fields, which is why I asked His Majesty to allocate more funds for this purpose."
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