The relationship between Xiao Jingzhao and the Crown Prince was completely different from that between Xiao Yunting and the Crown Prince.
Xiao Yunting had been sent away from a young age. By the time he returned, he was already a grown man, capable of surviving and fighting on his own—cut from a very different cloth than the Crown Prince.
So, between them, there wasn’t much father-son affection.
The Crown Prince, in fact, felt more dislike and distance toward him than anything resembling familial love.
But Xiao Jingzhao was different.
He dared to say anything in front of the Crown Prince.
Now, standing before him, he spoke without reservation: “Royal Father, isn’t the Feng family your in-laws? If you can’t trust anyone else, surely you can still trust the Fengs?”
The Feng family?
The Crown Prince gave him a long, deep look. “You seem to know a great deal about the situation in the capital.”
“I do,” Xiao Jingzhao admitted frankly. “Because I am your son. You will always be my father, my anchor.”
The Crown Prince raised a hand. “Go on.”
Xiao Jingzhao let out a breath of relief, then leaned close to the Crown Prince’s ear and whispered a few words.
After a moment of silence, the Crown Prince raised his eyebrows. “This matter… I know nothing about it.”
By saying “I know nothing,” he was already making his stance clear.
Overjoyed, Xiao Jingzhao knelt and kowtowed deeply, then turned and left.
—
Song Liangdi had been waiting anxiously outside, pacing nervously.
As soon as she saw her son come out, she rushed up to meet him. “Jingzhao! W-what did your Royal father say?”
She was trembling with nerves—her son was far too bold!
Holding her aching stomach, she murmured, “You mustn’t be reckless. Everything must be carefully thought through…”
But young men seldom listen to such cautious words.
Xiao Jingzhao simply said, “I know,” and eagerly walked away.
Song Liangdi bit her lip, took a few steps after him, then stopped. She stared after his retreating figure and sighed heavily.
She didn’t even know when her son had developed such ambition.
But she knew that ambition was never a harmless thing.
Still, she couldn’t say anything more—if the Crown Prince hadn’t agreed, Jingzhao wouldn’t have been allowed to act at all.
The fact that he could act was already proof of where the Crown Prince stood.
—
When Xiao Jingzhao visited the Feng household, Feng Yuzhang was writing calligraphy.
He had been confined at home recently. To avoid being overwhelmed by the grief of losing his grandson, he kept himself busy by poring over years of official bulletins, trying to better understand the political landscape in the capital.
When he heard Xiao Jingzhao had arrived, he was stunned—then a bit disbelieving.
Madam Feng lay ill in bed. When told it was Xiao Jingzhao at the door, she frowned and coughed a few times. “What’s the Nanan County Prince doing here?”
It wasn’t that they were unwelcome.
But even though the Feng family’s one-month confinement had technically passed, their residence remained desolate and rarely visited.
A visit from the Nanan County Prince at such a time couldn’t possibly be for anything good.
Still, whether it was good or bad, a prince had come in person—he had to be received.
Feng Yuzhang went out to meet him, somewhat uneasy.
Xiao Yunting’s attitude toward the Feng family was already abundantly clear—they couldn’t rely on him to wield any of their old prestige.
Feng Yuzhang had no idea what Xiao Jingzhao wanted.
But Xiao Jingzhao was warm and respectful. Seeing him bow, he immediately stepped forward and addressed him intimately: “Uncle, there’s no need for formality. I’ve come to pay respects to my cousin—I must at least send him off properly.”
At this, Feng Yuzhang’s eyes turned red. “Your Highness is too kind… That disgrace of a boy brought shame upon himself. How could we trouble you to come in person?”
Feng Jun had died before reaching adulthood—such a premature death was considered ominous and disqualified him from burial in the family tomb.
So the Feng family had him cremated and placed in a monastery on the outskirts of the capital. After choosing an appropriate date, they would eventually take him back to the ancestral home for burial.
Feng Jun had died disgracefully. Rumors outside were rampant.
And the Fengs had been publicly reprimanded; Feng Yuzhang had been placed under house arrest. So the funeral was conducted simply, with no monks or Daoist priests invited to perform rites—lest it attract more gossip.
There was no talk of relatives or friends holding roadside offerings either.
Now that Xiao Jingzhao had come in person, even Feng Yuzhang couldn’t help feeling some warmth toward him.
Xiao Jingzhao sighed. “My cousin was foolish, but family is still family. You are my Royal father’s uncle—he has always respected you deeply. He couldn’t come himself, but he specifically asked me to convey his regards.”
Was he implying this visit was on the Crown Prince’s behalf?
Feng Yuzhang quickly processed the meaning, but kept a tearful, grateful face. “Please thank His Highness for thinking of us.”
Xiao Jingzhao smiled and shook his head. “We’re all family—no need for such words. My Royal father said he knows how loyally the Fengs have supported him and the Eastern Palace all these years, how much you’ve given. It’s just that… the Imperial Grandson grew up among Daoists and lacks any true sentimentality…”
The meaning was even clearer now.
The Crown Prince wanted to draw the Fengs close.
But Xiao Yunting did not.
Wasn’t that the implication?
Xiao Jingzhao looked straight at Feng Yuzhang. “Uncle, my Royal father says: My elder brother intends to ask His Majesty for the hand of the Yongping Marquis’s eldest daughter.”
So it was true—Xiao Yunting liked Qi Yuan.
Feng Yuzhang’s expression changed slightly, and he sighed deeply.
Now he understood why Xiao Jingzhao had come.
They had always known that the father and son in the Eastern Palace were not close, but hadn’t realized the rift ran this deep.
By sending Xiao Jingzhao here, the Crown Prince was clearly signaling to the Fengs: “You can’t count on Xiao Yunting—nor should you try to. If you still want to board the Eastern Palace’s ship, then come to me.”
But despite this, Feng Yuzhang hesitated inwardly.
He knew that Xiao Yunting had been suppressing the Fengs. But Xiao Yunting was also capable—and deeply favored by Emperor Yongchang.
The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was like a clay idol trying to cross a river—he could hardly protect himself.
Even if the Fengs got close to him, what good would it do?
Xiao Jingzhao watched his face and smiled. “My Royal father asked me to speak to Cousin Caiwei as well. Would that be alright?”
…To speak to Feng Caiwei?
Feng Yuzhang was confused again.
What did the Crown Prince mean by this?
Was he saying: Xiao Yunting won’t marry Feng Caiwei—but he’ll have another son marry her instead?
That wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
After all, even if Xiao Yunting took the throne, Xiao Jingzhao would still be his brother—he’d become a regional king someday.
Given her current circumstances, if Feng Caiwei could marry Xiao Jingzhao, it would be a stroke of fortune.
Feng Yuzhang had no objections to that. He quickly nodded. “Of course, Your Highness. Please, this way.”
Xiao Jingzhao smiled and nodded in return.
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