The Dingguo Prince’s Manor
“Your Highness, Third Young Master Feng has arrived.”
Hearing the guard’s report, Mo Xiuyao put down his painting brush with a slight frown and said, “Let him in.”
Soon after, Feng Zhiyao appeared at the study door with the demeanor of a pampered noble son, grinning as he said, “With your wedding approaching, how can you sit here so calmly?” Mo Xiuyao didn’t look at him, merely saying coolly, “What are you doing here? It won’t do you any good if people know you associate with me.” Feng Zhiyao shrugged helplessly, “It’s not like I wanted to come. Someone wants to see you. Since your Dingguo Prince’s Manor’s threshold is too high, they came to me instead.” Mo Xiuyao put down his brush, and pondered for a moment before looking up and said, “Xu Qingchen.”
“The Dingguo Prince’s intelligence network is indeed worthy of its reputation,” someone laughed from outside as Xu Qingchen, dressed in white robes, entered with otherworldly grace. The study suddenly felt cramped with three exceptional men of distinct characteristics occupying the space. Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingchen in silence for a moment before finally sighing, “Many thanks for Master Xu’s troubles.”
Xu Qingchen nodded with satisfaction, saying, “That’s unnecessary. Even if it weren’t you, Father would still have to make a trip to the capital personally. You should know that Li’er… is our Xu family’s only daughter.” Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow and found himself a seat, watching Mo Xiuyao with amusement. He’d known the future Princess Consort had powerful backing.
Xu Qingchen had no intention of standing on ceremony either, taking a seat in an empty chair and studying Mo Xiuyao as he said, “I never imagined that the capital’s most brilliant young general of those years would become so… refined and cultured now.” Back when Xu Qingchen was making his name, it was also when Mo Xiuyao’s reputation was at its peak, and they had some acquaintance. However, one favored martial arts while the other preferred the literary arts, and their vastly different personalities prevented any deep friendship. Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyes with a faint bitter smile, “For a cripple, is Master Xu trying to pour salt on old wounds?” Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow with a smile, “If Your Highness can’t accept your current situation, why should the Xu family entrust Li’er to you? Besides, I don’t see Your Highness feeling wounded at all.” Mo Xiuyao looked up, his eyes carrying a faint indifference, “If I truly felt wounded, would Master Xu refrain from mentioning it?”
Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes at the two men before him, “Say, are you two planning to continue with this meaningless chatter?”
Xu Qingchen smiled apologetically, “Very well, I was being discourteous. But I trust Your Highness will forgive the feelings of a brother who is about to send his sister into marriage, right?”
Mo Xiuyao could only smile bitterly, “Actually, I’m rather curious… why would the Xu family agree to marry Miss Ye to the Dingguo Prince’s Manor?”
Xu Qingchen glanced at Feng Zhiyao, who gave him a lazy smile in return. Xu Qingchen understood that Feng Zhiyao was someone Mo Xiuyao trusted, though he didn’t understand why Mo Xiuyao would trust a son from the Feng family who sided with the Emperor. However, he had no intention of pursuing that matter, “Because His Majesty won’t give us the freedom to choose. The Li Prince was never a good choice to begin with, and fortunately, Li’er didn’t like him either. Even more fortunate was His Majesty’s agreement to dissolve the engagement. So why not agree? Although His Majesty took it upon himself to arrange another marriage for Li’er, both my father and I trust the Dingguo Prince more than the Li Prince.” Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows, “The Li Prince is the top choice for a husband among the capital’s noble young ladies.” Xu Qingchen dismissed this carelessly, “That doesn’t change the fact that he’s a fool.” Was the Li Prince a fool? Of course not. But the Xu family’s eldest young master thought otherwise. So Feng Zhiyao could only give him a look that said ‘You’re ruthless.’
“His Majesty still can’t tolerate the Xu family? Binding the Xu family with the Dingguo Prince’s Manor, then swallowing them whole. Isn’t his appetite too big?” After a while, Mo Xiuyao asked quietly.
The temperature in the study seemed to drop instantly. Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but withdraw his carefree smile, frowning as he looked at Mo Xiuyao.
“Hehe… Your Highness has good insight.” Xu Qingchen laughed, his long fingers gently tapping the armrest, maintaining boundless elegance in his gestures, “His Majesty probably believes the Xu family and Dingguo Prince’s Manor are not as powerful as before. Dealing with them separately might alert the prey. Better to… catch them all at once. After all, the Xu family controls Da Chu’s premier Lishan Academy, and at least half of the court officials are graduates of Lishan Academy. How could such a monarch with grand ambitions feel at ease?” For some reason, Feng Zhiyao felt the words ‘grand ambitions’ from Xu Qingchen’s mouth sounded more like sarcasm.
Mo Xiuyao nodded, “The Dingguo Prince’s Manor has indeed been severely weakened. No wonder His Majesty has such confidence.”
Xu Qingchen smiled, “I don’t believe His Majesty should have such confidence. Otherwise, how would the Dingguo Prince’s Manor still exist these years?” The Dingguo Prince’s Manor was a thorn in His Majesty’s side. When the manor faced its great catastrophe, if it weren’t for the man before them supporting it through his illness and turning the tide, the Dingguo Prince’s Manor would probably only exist in people’s memories now.
Feng Zhiyao looked at the two equally refined men before him and couldn’t help but shudder internally. By making his two most feared families into in-laws, was His Majesty intent on destroying his vast empire?
“I say… could you two discuss something that normal people can accept?” He was just a pampered noble son, why did they have to discuss such treasonous matters in front of him?
Xu Qingchen nodded in agreement, very considerately changing the subject, “Very well, I just feel there might be some changes regarding Your Highness’s marriage with Li’er. Of course, the Xu family, being far from the capital now, is powerless in these matters. So we’ll have to trouble Your Highness. Consider it… a test of Your Highness’s sincerity.” Mo Xiuyao nodded, “Thank you for Master Xu’s reminder. I know what to do.”
Xu Qingchen stood up with satisfaction, “In that case, I’ll take my leave. We’ll talk more another time.”
Mo Xiuyao nodded, his fingers lightly tapping the wheelchair’s armrest a few times. A young man in brown robes appeared at the door, “Your Highness.”
“See Master Xu out.”
Xu Qingchen raised his fine eyebrows slightly, following the young man out without further words.
With only two people left in the study, Feng Zhiyao looked at his friend in confusion, “Yao, why do I feel this Xu Qingchen is quite different from the rumors?”
“Is Third Young Master Feng the same inside and out?”
Feng Zhiyao fell silent. Who in this world didn’t live wearing several masks?
“What did Xu Qingchen mean? Does His Majesty want to catch both the Xu family and the Dingguo Prince’s Manor in one net?” Feng Zhiyao asked.
“The Xu family leads Da Chu’s scholars, while the Dingguo Prince’s Manor has historically commanded military power. Indeed, it’s quite an eyesore for him.”
“But did he have to bring the two families together? Isn’t he afraid you’ll truly unite and pull him down from above?” Was it overconfidence, or did the Emperor have his trump card?
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, “The Xu family won’t rebel. He just needs to implicate them when the Dingguo Prince’s Manor falls. He knows very well that as long as Master Qingyun lives, the Xu family will never betray Da Chu. Even as in-laws, the Xu family won’t provide much help to the Dingguo Prince’s Manor.”
Feng Zhiyao shrugged, secretly thinking he hadn’t seen anything in Xu Qingchen that suggested such loyal devotion.
“Have people keep a close watch on Mo Jingli,” Mo Xiuyao picked up his brush again to complete the unfinished painting.
Feng Zhiyao lazily fanned himself, “Mo Jingli is quite busy now. Who do you think spread those rumors?” When Feng Zhiyao first heard those street rumors, he thought Mo Jingli must have burned some bad incense this year to be so unlucky.
Mo Xiuyao didn’t look up, “The Xu family, the Murong Manor, Duke Hua’s Manor, the Liu Manor, the Censorate, the Chuxiang Pavilion, and… myself.”
Feng Zhiyao was immediately speechless. Well, he shouldn’t have asked. Having offended so many people, who else but Mo Jingli would be so unfortunate?