She wasn’t familiar with all these twists and turns. After chatting with him for a while, Miao Fengxian left.
The Crown Prince was now busy with affairs of state, no longer able to steal time for leisure as he did a year ago.
At this moment, Princess Hanyue was wondering: how long had Feng Miaojun stayed in Yao Capital, and why did she only notify her after leaving?
Watching her husband’s handsome profile as he departed, she could guess that her best friend was probably avoiding certain “unnecessary” complications. Whether or not her husband had completely abandoned his former feelings, even she, his bedmate, wasn’t certain—how could Feng Miaojun know? Miao Fengxian’s status and position had long determined that he wouldn’t be as devoted to one person as women tended to be.
Moreover, after the kidnapping incident during the previous wedding ceremony, her relationship with Feng Miaojun had become somewhat awkward and delicate.
Perhaps it was better not to meet than to meet under such circumstances.
She sighed softly.
But why had Feng Miaojun left Feng’s shop to her after departing?
Hmm, recalling the scene of their last parting, Feng Miaojun had left with Yun Ya. Although she felt envious about this, she could still see her friend’s unwillingness.
But now, while Yun Ya was still wielding power in the Wei Kingdom, Feng Miaojun had secretly returned to Yao Capital. These two had separated. Could it be…
Had Feng Miaojun slipped away from the State Preceptor?
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Haha, truly worthy of being her best friend—just like her, fond of running away!
Then, if Feng Miaojun had now left Yao Capital and wouldn’t even tell her whereabouts, could it be that she had to flee because Yun Ya had discovered her location?
If that’s the case, Yun Ya’s people should be arriving soon, or perhaps have already reached Yao Capital.
For Feng Miaojun to leave Feng’s shop to her at this time…
Princess Hanyue thought for a moment and instructed the elderly maid who had accompanied her from Jin: “Go and take possession of Feng’s Trading House in the southwestern quarter of Yao Capital on my behalf. Let everyone know that it now belongs to the Crown Prince’s Consort, and don’t let anyone harbor improper thoughts. If anyone sneaks around asking questions, arrest them and bring them to me!” She would do this favor for Feng Miaojun and also cause some trouble for the great State Preceptor Yun, as a way to vent her anger about being kidnapped.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As battle reports arrived, Xiao Yan slammed the table and stood up: “The Crown Prince has left Jiyang and marched to attack!” He then clutched his right shoulder and cried out in pain.
Recently ambushed, he had been wounded in the right shoulder, which had not yet fully healed.
There was an immediate commotion as attendants found imperial physicians to examine, change medicines, and dress his wound, taking nearly half an hour.
Yun Ya sat to the side, leisurely observing. Only after Xiao Yan dismissed everyone did he casually set up a barrier, lift a teacup from the small table, and take a sip: “It’s good that he has rebelled.”
Xiao Yan still couldn’t contain his excitement. He paced around for two circles before saying, “Since he has raised troops, he cannot blame me for striking back.” He had promised the old man never to raise a blade against his brother first, but now that the Crown Prince had sent troops to attack, he couldn’t be blamed for “self-defense.”
Though he felt somewhat guilty about nominally keeping but breaking his promise to the late king, the brothers had been at odds for years. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the first person he would deal with would likely be this second brother.
Xiao Yan smiled, “Now the Crown Prince must have discovered that the intelligence he received was false.”
“Even knowing this, he’s caught in his trap,” Yun Ya said calmly. “He can only persist in his error and forcefully attack the Wei capital. Even if he can’t kill you, he must at least defeat you.” If not for elemental power constraints, the Wei Crown Prince could simply establish a government in the secondary capital and declare the Wei court invalid, then face off against Xiao Yan, as he was the rightful heir to the throne.
This would mean division.
However, the existence of elemental power forced him to obtain the imperial jade seal to be considered heaven-mandated and approved by the people.
In other words, from the moment Xiao Yan obtained the Wei Kingdom’s jade seal, unless he immediately handed it over, there was no possibility of reconciliation between him and the Wei Crown Prince.
The Wei King knew this, which was why he had demanded that Xiao Yan submit to his elder brother.
Seizing this excellent opportunity, Xiao Yan naturally was unwilling to comply.
Now that the brothers were engaged in armed conflict, they had to determine a winner.
The victor would take all, while the loser would suffer ruin.
“Thanks to the State Preceptor for intercepting communication between Empress Zheng and the Wei Crown Prince, and forging intelligence for him,” Xiao Yan sighed with satisfaction. “Otherwise, with insufficient evidence on our side, he could have strutted into the capital and taken control of the royal court.”
Among the intelligence the Wei Crown Prince had received from Empress Zheng was a fake letter!
Yun Ya had secretly entered the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace and found the “Qianyuan Precious Records” without alerting anyone. Since the assassin Xu An had placed correspondence between himself and the Crown Prince on his person, how could they not complete the entire charade?
After the Wei King had just passed away, Xiao Yan asked Yun Ya, “Was the murderer the Crown Prince?”
Yun Ya shrugged and asked in return, “What do you think?”
At that time, even in his extreme grief, Xiao Yan keenly sensed that Yun Ya’s attitude held a deeper meaning. The Wei King’s death was sudden, and the State Preceptor was theoretically a transcendent existence outside the state system, but historically, when had State Preceptors detached themselves from politics? So, was Yun Ya beginning to assess him now to decide which side to ultimately support—him or the Crown Prince?
Xiao Yan pursed his lips: “Although I dislike my elder brother, the murderer is not him.”
“Oh?” Yun Ya raised an eyebrow.
“Just as the State Preceptor just said, the timing is wrong,” Xiao Yan looked toward the Wufu Snow Mountain. “He’s still intercepting Jin troops in the Chikan Forest. I think he wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics before returning to the capital.” If the Crown Prince were in the capital, then upon the Wei King’s death, he could rightfully ascend the throne; but now he was thousands of li away from the capital, and this journey back would inevitably encounter many complications. Not to mention, if Xiao Yan could return to the capital before him, he could certainly make some maneuvers.
The succession to the throne was of utmost importance; even if the Crown Prince had such intentions, he would never choose a time when he was absent from the capital to harm his royal father. “Of course, it’s not the third brother either; his prestige isn’t enough to command obedience, and he has no right of succession. Therefore—” Xiao Yan sighed heavily, “Whoever it is, is it the Yao Kingdom? I’ve promised Father that I will avenge him!”
Yun Ya slowly shook his head: “I’m afraid it’s not the Yao Kingdom either.”
The Wei King had sent troops to attack Yao, and the Yao people hated him to the bone, with ample motive. Could the assassin not be sent by them? Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said dejectedly, “Indeed, if the assassin was sent by them, Miao Fengxian wouldn’t have withdrawn his troops so decisively.”
But excluding the above candidates, the Wei Kingdom and the Wei King still had countless enemies, each with a motive. “Take your time to search for clues calmly, and you’ll eventually find them. However—” Yun Ya patted his shoulder, “Since someone has opened a path, do you want to follow it?”
From that moment, Xiao Yan knew he had no other choice.
What considerations did the person who instructed Xu An have in framing and incriminating the Crown Prince?