The Blood Crown - Chapter 115

Yan Sikong intended to discuss the assessment of General Feng Jianping with Yan Zilian, but this time Yan Zilian behaved unusually and repeatedly claimed to be busy with official duties, avoiding meeting him.

Initially, Yan Sikong thought Yan Zilian genuinely had no time, but after several attempts, he realized Yan Zilian was deliberately avoiding him.

After contemplating for a day, Yan Sikong faintly guessed Yan Zilian’s intentions but dared not conclude. Thus, one morning, shortly after Yan Zilian returned from morning court, Yan Sikong visited the Wen Yuan Pavilion directly.

To avoid suspicion, Yan Sikong had not visited Yan Zilian at the Wen Yuan Pavilion for a long time. Yet, without doing so, he feared he would not meet Yan Zilian at all.

Yan Zilian wasn’t surprised to see him and simply nodded. “Come inside with me.”

Once inside, Yan Sikong looked flustered. “Is Teacher avoiding me? Have I done something wrong?”

“Do you truly not understand why I’ve been avoiding you?” Yan Zilian stared at Yan Sikong without blinking.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. “But… is it because you fear I will come to you regarding the matter of Prince Jingyuan?”

“You know, and that suffices.”

“Teacher…”

“No need for further words.” Yan Zilian waved his hand. “This matter of the imperial assessment is crucial to the nation. Since Emperor Taizu’s time over two hundred years ago, it has never been neglected. Now, with no military engagements in Datong, General Feng’s refusal to return to the capital for his assessment is an act of defiance, evident to all in the court.”

Yan Sikong bowed slightly, his tone becoming calm. “Teacher, there are dozens of large and small tribes in Mongolia. While the Wala tribe was once dominant and capable of balancing each other out, their decline might lead these tribes to regroup and continue to threaten the border. Datong may be peaceful, but the danger still lurks.”

“Sikong…”

“This is one aspect,” Yan Sikong interrupted Yan Zilian, “Teacher, please allow me to finish. Secondly, you and I both know that Prince Jingyuan will not return to the capital. If we forcibly demand his return or even issue an imperial edict, it might backfire, which I believe you would least want to see.”

Yan Zilian spoke in a solemn tone. “Are you suggesting General Feng might resist?”

“I dare not say so,” Yan Sikong replied, “nor do I know how Prince Jingyuan will respond.”

Yan Zilian stroked his beard. “Did Feng Ye tell you that General Feng will never return to the capital?”

“No need for the Crown Prince to say so. Prince Jingyuan’s delay in departing already speaks volumes.”

Yan Zilian narrowed his eyes.

“Thirdly…” Yan Sikong stared at Yan Zilian, guessing that what followed would be what Yan Zilian wanted to hear, “with Prince Jingyuan present, he can remotely restrain the eunuchs, making them hesitate. Otherwise, chaos would have long since engulfed the world.”

Yan Zilian slowly picked up the cup on the table and took a sip of tea. “That makes sense. But General Feng, as both the military commander and governor, controlling three hundred thousand troops in Datong, just six hundred miles from the capital… How long do you think the Emperor can tolerate him? If he refuses to return for his assessment this time, won’t it unsettle everyone?”

“If he does return for his assessment,” Yan Sikong met Yan Zilian’s gaze directly, his eyes burning, “what then?”

Yan Zilian pursed his lips and remained silent.

“The three generations of the Feng family have been loyal and righteous, with their patriotism evident. Doesn’t Teacher trust Prince Jingyuan either?”

Yan Zilian spoke earnestly, “Sikong, I am the Prime Minister of the country. How can I make decisions based on personal preferences? General Feng wields great military power but seems only concerned with protecting himself. For years, the eunuchs have caused turmoil in the court and harmed the people. He turned a blind eye. In the past, when the Wala tribe was powerful, he was far in Datong and couldn’t intervene even if he wanted to. But now that the Wala are weakened, how can General Feng continue to ignore this?”

Yan Sikong thought to himself. He had indeed guessed correctly. Yan Zilian wanted to use Feng Jianping for his own purposes! He spoke in a deep voice, “I believe Prince Jingyuan is not ignoring this. As Teacher said, he has the will but lacks the power. Like the recent case of the Crown Prince’s unjust imprisonment, although it was my request that the Crown Prince respond, without Prince Jingyuan’s tacit approval, the Crown Prince would not have agreed. The Feng family is certainly going to assist the Crown Prince.”

“Tacet endorsement?” Yan Zilian slowly said, “The silent endorsement, how can the masses know that the Crown Prince has the assistance of three hundred thousand troops from Datong? Although Wen You has temporarily retreated, Wei Zhongren is still in the court and the field, and Wen is still favored. The prince’s position is still a mirror flower and moon, which can be broken at any time. The prince is weak, afraid that this will go on for a long time, and even more people will go to the guard against.”

Yan Sikong drew a deep breath. “Teacher’s words…makes sense.” He thought back to his last private conversation with Yan Zilian, and he had noticed Yan Zilian’s dissatisfaction with Feng Jianping’s self-protection. But there is an opportunity that.

Yan Zilian glanced at Yan Sikong and saw his pale complexion, softening his tone. “Sikong, I’m getting old. I don’t know when my end will come, whether by death or retirement. I cannot allow the eunuchs to continue corrupting our Great Sheng Jiangshan. I only wish to eliminate harm for the country, stabilize the Crown Prince’s position as heir. This matter is of great importance; it cannot succeed without General Feng’s assistance.”

Yan Sikong clenched his teeth inwardly. “I understand. I will convey your message truthfully.”

Yan Zilian nodded satisfactorily.

When Yan Sikong left the Wen Yuan Pavilion, he saw the sun still shining brightly outside, yet he felt cold and shivered.

Feng Jianping did not wish to be involved in factional struggles because his military power attracted too much attention. He needed to maintain a low profile everywhere to protect himself. However, the currents of the situation were sweeping everyone forward. As Yan Zilian said, it was impossible for Feng Jianping to remain aloof.

Yan Sikong also did not want the Feng family to get involved in factional struggles because it was too dangerous. Originally, the Feng family maintained a stance of self-protection. Regardless of who ascended the throne in the future, the Feng family would continue to guard the border for the new emperor. However, once they entered the fray, they would have to fight to the death to ensure their survival.

What Yan Zilian wanted was to drag Feng Jianping into the fray and use him to counter the eunuchs. It was a move executed with exceptional cunning, but it was also the last thing Yan Sikong wanted to see.

Yan Sikong halted in his tracks, unable to help but raise his head. The glaring sun caused him to squint, and he felt waves of dizziness. A sense of fear and anxiety crawled up from the soles of his feet, seeming to penetrate every fiber of his being before relenting.

—

“That old fox!” Feng Ye’s face was flushed with anger. He swept his arm, knocking the tea set off the table.

Yan Sikong’s expression was grim. “I have been seeking an audience with him frequently these days, but he refuses to see me. I had a vague suspicion…”

“What else did he say?”

“Just that. His intentions are quite clear now. He will only intervene in the matter of the imperial assessment if His Highness makes a statement.”

Feng Ye gritted his teeth. “Damn it! Now only he can help my father.”

“That’s right. Liu An has already approached him, and the Emperor will soon become aware of this. If His Highness’s memorial reaches the capital, it will play right into his hands. Everything will be within his control.”

Local officials’ memorials, delivered through relay stations, had to pass through various layers before reaching the capital. Although ministers could not suppress a memorial from reaching the Emperor’s eyes, they could decide when to present it to him. What harm could a few days of delay do? However, in those few days, rumors could easily engulf the Prince Jingyuan’s residence.

If Feng Jianping continued to delay his return to the capital, those memorialists would undoubtedly be watching closely. Each day of delay was exceedingly perilous. Yan Zilian had seen this clearly, which was why he refused to see Yan Sikong until they had no other choice.

“This bastard…” Feng Ye said fiercely, “This teacher of yours is even more cunning than the eunuchs! Just a few days ago, we were conspiring together, and now, he’s set his sights on my Feng family.”

Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, “As I said, he is the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and he prioritizes the nation and the family. He is indeed cunning in pressuring His Highness, but it’s not entirely unjustifiable.”

“What do we do now?” Feng Ye clenched his fists. “My father least desires to be embroiled in factional struggles.”

Yan Sikong sighed, “Feng Ye, you should draft a letter immediately, urgent and fast, to be delivered eight hundred miles to His Highness’s hands for a decision.”

“Don’t you have any other ideas?” Feng Ye gritted his teeth. “Aren’t you the cleverest one?”

Yan Sikong shook his head wearily. “I am just a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel, and Yan Zilian is my teacher. I really can’t think of any other way.” He had already pondered for a long time before meeting Feng Ye, but there seemed to be no good strategy. If Feng Jianping did not want to bear the accusations of “disloyalty” and “intent to rebel,” he had to let this matter of returning to the capital for assessment pass smoothly. Currently, only Yan Zilian could accomplish that.

Feng Ye pressed his hand to his forehead. He also knew that there seemed to be no other way at the moment. He couldn’t risk refusing to return to the court. If something happened while he was in the capital, the consequences would be unimaginable. After a long silence, he said, “Prepare pen and ink for me.”

Yan Sikong personally ground the ink and laid out the paper.

Feng Ye sat down at the desk, hesitated with the pen for a long time, and then began to write the letter.

Yan Sikong watched quietly beside him, observing his furrowed brow and worried eyes, feeling deeply unsettled.

After finishing the letter, Feng Ye tucked it into his chest. He looked at Yan Sikong. “If my father refuses to return to the court, what do you think will happen?”

Yan Sikong’s eyes darkened. “Feng Ye, I don’t want to speculate on that.”

Feng Ye did not press further. He stood up, his gaze determined. “What must come cannot be avoided. Let my father decide.”