Feng Jingteng arrived at the Western Palace in a state of panic, and bowed respectfully, bending all the way to the ground.
"Your humble servant Feng Jingteng, greets Your Majesty."
Xiao Cheng sat upright with a serious deanor, offering no response.
Feng Jingteng raised his head and said with a choking voice, "I implore Your Majesty to imdiately contact the Jin Court, abide by the alliance between our two nations, and promptly release the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat..."
Xiao Cheng slowly lifted his sleeve.
"Bestow a seat upon Minister Feng."
Feng Jingteng’s eyelids twitched ever so slightly.
The Emperor showing no emotion, yet offering a seat from the start?
"Your servant dares not." Feng Jingteng bowed his head low, his voice softened, "With my brother’s safety weighing on my heart, I returned to the Capital without Your Majesty’s decree, and I beg Your Majesty to punish for my transgression."
In the Western Palace, the flickering light of the lamps cast upon Xiao Cheng’s placid face, gentle and handso, yet devoid of joy or anger.
"Does Minister Feng know what cris the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat has committed?"
Feng Jingteng did not dare to look up, his gaze fixed on a corner of the Emperor’s robe, cleared his throat, and said, "According to your humble servant’s view, this matter is a trap set by the Jin Court, and it cannot be trusted."
"Oh?" Xiao Cheng scoffed coldly.
Feng Jingteng’s heart trembled again, and he forced himself to continue, "The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is insightful about the current situation, and deeply knowledgeable of diplomatic principles, he would never commit such foolish acts..."
"Minister Feng." Xiao Cheng fixed his gaze on him, "The evidence is irrefutable; our dynasty cannot deny it."
After a pause, his tone was indifferent as he said, "The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, out of personal interest, has made such a grave mistake. If it leads to conflict between the two nations, he will be a sinner for all eternity."
Feng Jingteng’s heart was pounding wildly.
He was sowhat confused, "Doesn’t the envoy mission of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat co from... Your Majesty’s assignnt?"
Xiao Cheng’s face grew stern, "Audacious! Are you questioning , neglecting our dynasty’s safety, sending the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat on an envoy mission, using despicable ans, to engage in espionage, and ruining the alliance with a brotherly nation?"
Feng Jingteng’s complexion changed, and he bowed deeply, "Your servant does not dare."
"Hmph!" Xiao Cheng said coolly, "Feng Jingyao has caused such a disaster, leaving with a ss, he deserves more than death, and yet you still hope for to save him? Do you know that the Northern Yong Army has already lined up at Xinzhou, ready for battle, prepared to strike at Hengqu Pass at any mont, and the hard-earned peace could turn to ashes in the blink of an eye."
Feng Jingteng had not thought that much about it before.
Hearing this, it seed the Emperor had a point.
Thinking about the prospect of war again cast a shadow over his heart; he couldn’t help but feel an uneasy sorrow.
"The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is muddled, alas, what to do? What to do? My Daqi has just been at peace for a few years, we can’t afford to start another war."
Xiao Cheng rested his hand on his forehead, glancing at him faintly, "I too am worried, wondering how to explain this to Xijing."
Explain?
Yes, without explanation, execution would follow on the fifteenth day of the fourth month.
Feng Jingteng’s mind cleared up a bit more.
"Your Majesty, by all ans, ensure the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat’s safety; even if just for the sake of our Daqi’s dignity, we cannot let Jin Court act wantonly and behead our envoy."
Xiao Cheng thought for a mont, then raised his eyes, "How about sending Minister Feng to Xijing to negotiate with the Jin Court?"
Feng Jingteng trembled with fright.
"This... Your servant is not articulate and lacks eloquence, I fear it would jeopardize the situation."
Xiao Cheng watched his nervous deanor, his lips pursed slightly.
"Minister Feng is Pei Jue’s father-in-law; looking throughout the civil and military ranks of the court, there is no one more suitable than you."
If it weren’t for Feng Jingyao’s incident, Feng Jingteng would have volunteered to gain so favor, just as he did previously with the affair at Huaxi, boasting before the Imperial Carriage.
He is Feng Yun’s biological father, Pei Jue’s father-in-law.
This is true...
But Feng Jingyao is also their elder uncle.
If they dare sentence the elder uncle, would they be lenient with his own father?
He dared not gamble with his life.
"Your Majesty, frankly, my eldest daughter is sowhat critical of ; although I have the heart to serve our nation and share Your Majesty’s concerns, I fear my incompetence may backfire."
Xiao Cheng sized him up.
An attractive visage by nature, a pity that from head to toe he was filled with fear.
No matter what, his first thought was always of himself.
Wife, daughter, elder brother—all were people he would abandon when necessary.
"Very well." Xiao Cheng’s voice was indifferent, "You’ve returned to the Capital without authorization, showing contempt for imperial authority, a grave offense of deceiving the monarch. I acknowledge your concern for your brother, and it’s forgivable, so for now, I won’t hold you responsible. However, the state has its laws, and the entire court is watching ; I want to protect you, but cannot act with favoritism..."
Word by word, Feng Jingteng listened with a heart full of fear, his back bending lower and lower.
Only to hear Xiao Cheng continue, "Since you’ve co back, there’s no need to go. Stay at ho and reflect on your actions."
Feng Jingteng’s heart gave a thud.
Did the Emperor just strip him of his Black Gauze Cap?
He had been accustod to smooth sailing, bolstered by his family and elder brother; he dared even to abandon Andu City and flee without consequence, and this ti it was just his habitual defiance of order, which he thought, as always, would be overlooked after a plea for rcy...
How could he have expected Xiao Cheng to take it seriously?
"Your Majesty..." Feng Jingteng imdiately knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground, looking up to beg for rcy, "Your servant will return to Bingzhou imdiately and will not co back to the Capital without a decree."
Pei Jue looked on warmly, the corners of his lips slightly raised.
"Go back and enjoy your remaining years in peace. This way, you might be able to prolong your days a bit."
His words were almost spoken with a smile, but upon hearing them, Feng Jingteng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
The Feng Family...
""
It’s all over.
His Majesty has no intention of rescuing his elder brother. His black gauze cap has also fallen. The remaining mbers of the Feng Family might not be able to save themselves...
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
Feng Jingteng’s legs grew weak, and he couldn’t stand for a long ti.
Xiao Cheng waved his hand, "Take him away."
Two guards responded and helped Feng Jingteng up from the ground.
Before he could steady himself, an anxious voice from Jixiang ca from outside.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine had a dispute with Lady Huaxi outside Xianyang Hall, and even resorted to violence. Lady Huaxi is seriously injured, unconscious, and bleeding on the ground..."
Xiao Cheng’s eyelids twitched slightly.
His hand played with a thumb ring, turning it slightly.
"Summon the Imperial Physician."
Jixiang responded and withdrew.
Feng Jingteng stood there, baffled, looking at the cold and heartless face of Xiao Cheng, feeling at a loss.
The Emperor before him was a far cry from the mory of that unmatched, radiant Third Yong Master Xiao.
Even compared to Xiao Cheng at the start of his reign, he was completely different.
At that ti, who wasn’t saying the New Emperor governed with benevolence, ruled with virtue, was open to advice, and a great gentleman of promise?
But now...
Harboring ambitions and biding his ti for years, Xiao Cheng, now securely on the Dragon Throne, is no longer the Third Yong Master Xiao, not the Prince of Jingling, but a sovereign wielding absolute power.
Whose advice would he need to listen to now, to whom does he need to show benevolence and virtue?
A chill rose from the soles of his feet, quickly spreading through his body.
Feng Jingteng vaguely realized that he had made a mistake, the Feng Family had also made a mistake...
"Your Majesty, this official has sothing to say, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask..."
Feng Jingteng’s voice burst out from his throat, and only after hearing his own words did he beco startled. Seeing that Xiao Cheng was not angered and looked over calmly, gesturing for him to speak, he then took a deep breath and slowly perford the ritual bow.
"May Your Majesty dismiss everyone present?"
Xiao Cheng’s lips twitched and he raised his hand.
The palace attendants withdrew slowly.
Xiao Cheng remained motionless, his expression unreadable.
Feng Jingteng let out a bitter laugh, then falteringly said: "Please forgive my boldness, but may I ask Your Majesty, do you intend to doom the Feng Family?"
The question was very brazen.
Feng Jingyao would certainly not dare to speak like this.
But this fit Feng Jingteng’s character.
Xiao Cheng’s piercing eyes narrowed slightly, "I will handle this fairly."
The statent was made, but it was as good as saying nothing.
Feng Jingteng lowered his gaze, nodding in a disheveled manner, finally asking the question that had been buried in his heart for a long ti, "The person Your Majesty has always wanted to marry...has it always been Shi’er Niang?"
Xiao Cheng did not speak.
His gaze was deep, yet his expression very cold.
Feng Jingteng was silent for a mont, "If back then, the Feng Family had not offered Shi’er Niang to Pei Jue, had not traded a marital alliance to force Your Majesty to marry Aying when Your Majesty was in a difficult position, would the Feng Family...have avoided today’s predicant?"
"Yes." Xiao Cheng’s voice was cold and unfluctuating, as if he was narrating soone else’s story, "I would have made Feng Shi Er Niang the Empress, the crown prince born of the Feng Family would inherit my kingdom... The Feng Family of Xuzhou would have been illustrious for generations, unparalleled."
Feng Jingteng lifted his head in shock.
At that mont, the Emperor’s eyes were bright, as if a glint of light swept across the depths of his pupils.
"Your Majesty..."
n understand n best.
Feng Jingteng didn’t understand, how could Xiao Cheng harbor such deep feelings?
Xiao Cheng, his voice subdued, stared at him, "Does Minister Feng know, I already had a na for my prince?"
Feng Jingteng stiffened.
At that mont, Xiao Cheng’s gaze was terrifying.
It was a look Feng Jingteng had never seen before, as if the Feng Family had killed his prince, almost bleeding with hatred and an underlying sadness.
Feng Jingteng tensed up, beads of sweat seeping from his scalp, not sure if it was his influence, or out of sorrow for himself. In this weighty atmosphere, tears stread down unexpectedly.
"I too, regret it. But Your Majesty, this is all fate, it’s Heaven’s will."
Again lifting his robe’s hem, he slowly knelt before Xiao Cheng.
"I beg Your Majesty’s rcy, please give the Feng Family another chance."
Xiao Cheng glanced at him, chuckling low.
Gradually, he took up the teacup and flung it down from the desk.
"Do you see? Spilt water can’t be collected; all is in ruins. It’s too late! Everything is too late."
One wrong step leads to many; one delay leads to many.
His Yuchu, his and Ayun’s prince, can never return.
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