"The Feng Family..." Emperor Jianming paused for a moment, "Feng Changqing's eldest daughter is betrothed to Xie Zhang, and Jiang Yang broke off the engagement with Feng Changqing's second daughter?"
"Indeed!" Chen Mo replied. "After all, they are in-laws. This matter has spread all over the Capital City. The young marquis might just want to stand up for his family."
Emperor Jianming sneered coldly, "I didn't expect their brotherly bond to be quite strong."
"Although Xie Zhang is a concubine-born child, he was recorded under the name of the Marchioness at birth and treated as her own. The Marquis also raised him as the Princely Heir. If it hadn't been for the imperial edict appointing Xie Xun as the Heir, Xie Zhang would have been the rightful Marquis Mansion Heir."
Emperor Jianming pondered in silence.
Chen Mo asked, "Your Majesty, how should we handle Jiang Yang?"
The autumn wind swept through the corridor, making the flame inside the bronze tripod flicker and the calming incense from the burner lull people into drowsiness. The emperor closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep, and Chen Mo dared not interrupt.
The night wind extinguished one of the lamps, leaving the hall silent except for the sound of the wind. Emperor Jianming finally spoke, "Just watch him for now. Xie Xun is stirring things up, so let's see whether this top scorer ends up in the Hanlin Academy or as a petty ninth-rank official in the frontier."
The night was cool as water. In the Plum Garden, autumn roses bloomed under the night's veil, their fragrance intoxicating. The competing roses stretched endlessly into a sea of pink, and Xie Xun sat quietly in the courtyard, playing with a dagger, his gaze fixed on the roses.
Fengyu's taste was... rather vulgar.
She loved jewelry. The gems on her accessories were always larger than others. In the Capital City, young ladies typically preferred delicate beauty—things small, intricate, and refined. Fengyu valued size, considering bigger to be better. No wonder his neck felt sore all day; the ruby on Fengyu's hairpin, crafted from pure gold, was as big as a thumb.
Her flower arrangements too. His mother's garden featured a variety of blooms arranged to complement each other, with colors transitioning from light to dark, occasionally forming intricate designs, sparse yet elegant with layered beauty. Fengyu, on the other hand, had planted a massive patch of roses—all one color—creating a pink ocean. Each season, she'd grow only one type of flower, which when bloomed transformed into a floral sea.
Qiuxiang, holding a cloak, timidly squatted in the corner and pleaded earnestly, "Young Marquis, the autumn wind is chilly. Your health can't bear this. Let's go back inside and wait. Your cold hasn't fully recovered; you shouldn't expose yourself to the wind."
Xie Xun curled his lips indifferently, a wicked and mischievous smile playing across his face. "Once the bracelet is fixed, I'll leave. It's not me that's suffering anyway."
Qiuxiang became anxious and upset, knowing that Xie Xun was intentionally tormenting the girl. Summoning her courage, she said, "Fine, then I won't fix the bracelet. I'll wait until you're fully recovered before you leave."
Xie Xun shot her a sharp glare. Qiuxiang, unable to withstand the aura of the battle-hardened young general, was frightened out of her wits but stubbornly clutched the cloak, refusing to back down.
Two shadows soundlessly landed in the courtyard. Qiuxiang froze with terror. The two knelt simultaneously, saluting Xie Xun, "Greetings, master."
The pair of newcomers were dressed in tight-fitting outfits—it was Feiying and Nuanyang.
Feiying was slightly taller, with a chiseled, handsome face—he was Xie Xun's Guard Captain. Nuanyang, being younger, was of smaller stature. His face still bore traces of childishness, plump and round, radiating a particularly endearing charm.
"Come in!" Xie Xun sheathed his dagger and turned to head inside. Feiying and Nuanyang followed him. As they passed Qiuxiang, Nuanyang flashed her a bright smile and quickly tossed something into her arms.
Once the three master-and-servants entered the room and shut the door, Qiuxiang clutched the cloak while keeping watch in the courtyard. She opened her palm—what Nuanyang had tossed her was a piece of malt candy. Qiuxiang clutched the candy tightly and tucked it into her sleeve.
Feiying reported everything about Fengyu's palace affairs to Xie Xun in detail. Xie Xun leaned lazily against the redwood chair with an air of indifference. When Feiying finished discussing the palace matters, Xie Xun asked coolly, "Feiying, she doesn't understand court politics, and you're just as blind. When she slapped Jiang Yang, why didn't you stop her?"
Feiying hung his head miserably, while Nuanyang chuckled cheekily, tattling, "Master, he was the one who slapped him."
Xie Xun raised a brow with a half-smile, "Someone's grown bold."
Feiying shot Nuanyang a glare. Nuanyang, unbothered, grinned mischievously in return. Feiying protested, "Master, the lady gave the order, and I failed to recognize her temporarily... I dared not disobey your command."
"Ten years under me, and you still can't recognize people? You might as well live without your eyes." Xie Xun's tone turned icy. "When you return, kneel before her and accept twenty lashes."
"Understood!" Feiying heaved a sigh of relief. It was his fault, after all. The fact that his master was willing to punish him also meant he was still valued. If not even punishment was forthcoming, his days in the Marquis Mansion would surely be numbered.
Xie Xun pondered, his fingers rhythmically tapping the chair's back. Feiying and Nuanyang stood silently beside him. The autumn wind rustled the courtyard, extinguishing one distant lamp's light. Xie Xun asked, "How's she doing in the Marquis Mansion?"
Feiying looked like a mute drowning in his silence, practically curling into himself.
Nuanyang answered instead, "The Third Miss is delightful. She's made the Marchioness beam with joy, flirts with the maidservants in your courtyard, and is thoroughly enjoying herself."
Fengyu's enjoyment served as a stark contrast to Xie Xun's frustration.
Neither dared meet Xie Xun's gaze; his expression was as ominous as ever. Feiying braved himself and asked cautiously, "Master, when do you plan to reclaim your position?"
"Tomorrow!" A coral bracelet adorned with a Soul Suppressing Pearl had developed a crack upon impact and needed to be sent to Xiangguo Temple for repair and preservation—not a quick process. "Reschedule the meeting for tomorrow."
Feiying's face tensed with urgency as he hastily declared, "Master, I came precisely for this matter. The Prince Sangnan heir has caused quite a stir in the Capital City, fearing his identity might be revealed. He plans to leave the city at dawn tomorrow. He requested to meet you tonight at midnight, won't wait beyond that."
To the north, the Yanyang Dynasty faced threats from Beiman, ever watchful. To the south lay Sannan, prosperous with a strong navy. To the west resided smaller affiliated nations. The dynasty was surrounded by formidable adversaries. Following two consecutive reigns, the dynasty endured internal strife—father against son, brother against brother. Once glorious, it struggled for two years against internal discord, leaving the treasury empty, borders ablaze with conflict, and governance monopolized by aristocratic clans. Amidst unrest in Beiman, the dynasty's treasury couldn't even sustain its needs; the spring's military supplies were filled with impurities. Xie Yuan, stationed at the borders, was too distant to intervene. To rectify border conflicts, Xie Xun had negotiated with Sannan to utilize the Southwest Grain Road for logistics.
For three months, Xie Xun and Prince Sangnan had been exchanging letters regarding this matter—it couldn't be abandoned halfway. After reflecting briefly, Xie Xun said, "Send her, but make sure she understands the basics."
"What if the Third Miss refuses to go?"
"Tell her that if she ruins this, I'll take Feng Shu's life as compensation." Xie Xun unsheathed the dagger, its chill glint reflecting his phoenix-like eyes that sharpened like arrows in the autumn wind.
Feiying's expression turned solemn. "Understood!"
After reaching an agreement, neither Feiying nor Nuanyang moved a muscle. Sensing an oddity, Xie Xun shot them a cold glare. Feiying kicked Nuanyang, who stumbled, barely maintaining his balance. Xie Xun frowned as Nuanyang cleared his throat, mimicking Fengyu's tone: "Please convey to the Young Marquis to conduct himself properly in the Feng Mansion: respect the elders, cherish the youth, uphold the dignity befitting a noblewoman, and spare me from disgrace. Otherwise, I shall treat him as he treats me."
Once done, Nuanyang shrank like a frightened quail; neither of them dared to look up. Xie Xun, enraged to the point of bitter laughter, let a trace of deeply buried hatred flare through his mischievous smirk. "Tell her, if she wants to repay me in kind, she can start by returning one of my legs."