At this time, Wen Mingfeng was paying a visit to Duke Cheng.
Duke Cheng’s expression did not look good. This romantic affair from many years ago had long been forgotten by him; if Wen Mingfeng had not come to his door some time ago, he would have completely forgotten that such a matter even existed.
Even after learning about it, he only found it troublesome.
The Wen family was, after all, a prestigious clan; if this matter were blown up, it would do him no good.
In the past, he had been friends with Duke Chu, and the two families were long-time associates.
After Duke Chu got into trouble, although he withdrew in time and did not end up like Zhu Bin and the others, losing both head and life, he had since then only dared to keep a low profile.
If at this time the matter of an illegitimate son were exposed, it would not benefit him at all.
For this reason, he had sent Wen Mingfeng off to the Guozijian.
Now, seeing Wen Mingfeng, he immediately felt a headache: “What are you here for?”
Wen Mingfeng’s attitude was calm. Kneeling on the ground, he gave a neat and firm kowtow: “Father, I have an improper request.”
Hearing him call him father, Duke Cheng felt his head ache even more.
One should know that Wen Mingfeng was the same age as Ling Chuhan…
He coughed, waved his hand impatiently: “Speak!”
Because of Wen Mingfeng’s matter, Duchess Cheng had recently been tormenting people in different ways every day; he was thoroughly fed up.
What men fear most is trouble.
He did not want this matter to affect the household.
Wen Mingfeng did not beat around the bush. He said clearly, “I wish to ask Father to grant my request and help arrange for me to marry the eldest young lady of the Qi family.”
……
Duke Cheng immediately recalled the incident at the gate of Duke Chu’s residence, when Duke Chu had been so enraged that he collapsed to the ground, striking the back of his head until it bled.
Behind that matter, Qi Yuan had certainly played a role in fanning the flames!
He stared at Wen Mingfeng in disbelief: “What did you say?!”
Has he gone mad?!
Of all people to fancy, why that female yaksha killing star?
Duke Cheng slapped the table: “What do you like about her? Her top-tier ability to stir up trouble, or how quickly she offends people?”
Qi Yuan, wherever she went, trouble followed!
At any banquet she attended, few passed without incident.
Wherever she went, there was bloodshed.
If this were coincidence, Duke Cheng would be willing to take off his own head and kick it like a ball!
Wen Mingfeng gave a half-smile: “Father, I like her capability. You also know my background cannot be brought into the open. If Miss Qi is capable, my mother will suffer less bullying.”
At the mention of this, Duke Cheng nearly failed to catch his breath.
Back then, when he escorted His Majesty on a southern inspection tour, while visiting the Wen family he had mistaken one of their concubines for a singing girl and acted foolishly for a moment.
Who would have expected that Wen Mingfeng would be left behind as a result?
The Wen family raised him as an illegitimate son, but in reality not a single person looked up to him.
These years had not been easy for Wen Mingfeng.
Naturally, Duke Cheng could not acknowledge him either.
He said irritably, “That girl is not someone easy to deal with!”
Wen Mingfeng remained unmoved: “That’s fine. I never liked people who are easy to deal with anyway.”
…..
Duke Cheng fixed his gaze on this unfamiliar son for a long moment without speaking.
At this moment, besides Duke Cheng, there was another person looking at his son, the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince leaned against a bolster pillow, his face pale, even his lips lacking color. Hearing the movement, he lifted his eyelids slightly and asked lightly, “Have you paid respects to your imperial grandfather?”
Xiao Yunting responded yes, kneeling on the ground without moving.
The Crown Prince gave a low laugh: “You’ve certainly made something of yourself. In Jiangxi, the officials who lost their heads from top to bottom add up to a full one hundred and sixty-seven.”
Xiao Yunting lowered his eyes and said nothing.
The Crown Prince immediately began coughing again: “One hundred and sixty-seven officials, you’re truly impressive, far more impressive than me, the Crown Prince!”
The tone sounded off, yet Xiao Yunting’s expression did not change. He only kowtowed: “Royal Father, extraordinary times require extraordinary methods. The officialdom of Jiangxi has long been plagued by deep-rooted corruption; only by cutting through the mess with a sharp blade could some losses be recovered.”
The Crown Prince gave an “mm,” slowly lowering his eyes: “Yes, you are such a good imperial grandson, naturally whatever you do is correct.”
After saying this, he closed his eyes. “Enough. It’s good that you’ve returned. I happen to have a matter to tell you.”
Xiao Yunting answered softly, “Please instruct me, Royal Father.”
He had long known that upon returning this time, he would not hear any kind words from the Crown Prince.
Not to mention that the Crown Prince had always been wary of his favor with the emperor and had remained distant and cold toward him.
Just the death of Song Liangdi and the misfortune of the Song family alone were enough to make the Crown Prince turn hostile.
But even though he had expected it, the Crown Prince’s next words still caused his expression to darken instantly.
The Crown Prince drank a sip of tea while breathing heavily, then said with effort, “A major incident has just occurred in your maternal grandfather’s family.”
Xiao Yunting immediately realized something and slowly lifted his head.
A trace of satisfaction flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes as he tugged at the corner of his mouth: “Your maternal grandfather has been smuggling horses and iron. Now that it’s been exposed, the matter has become very serious…”
Xiao Yunting immediately clenched his fists.
The Lu family were military officers but had never been heavily favored.
Nor had they received any privilege for being the Crown Princess’s natal family.
These years, the Crown Princess’s father, Lu Ting, had always been raising horses in the northwest, with the entire Lu family serving in posts there, never participating in court affairs.
Yet now, the matter of the Lu family’s smuggling had suddenly surfaced, who would believe it?!
Moreover, smuggling horses and iron was a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans!
His heart burned with anger.
He knew that the fall of Song Liangdi and the Song family must have made the Crown Prince extremely displeased, but he had not expected the Crown Prince to direct his anger toward the Lu family!
All these years, Crown Princess Lu had endured mainly because of him and the Lu family.
Now that the Lu family was implicated in such a matter, he, as the imperial grandson, would inevitably be dragged into it as well.
This was clearly a strike meant to destroy the Crown Princess emotionally!
Xiao Yunting raised his eyes coldly to meet the Crown Prince’s gaze: “Royal Father, I do not believe it!”
At last, a breath of anger in the Crown Prince’s chest dissipated.
He raised his brows, his face carrying a trace of mockery and ridicule: “You’ve spent years up in the mountains, how could you possibly know what’s happening far away in the northwest?”
After saying this, he pressed his hand to his chest and coughed violently: “The Lu family’s actions truly betray His Majesty and me above, and betray the common people below! You must not let personal feelings override public duty or confuse right and wrong!”
Although he spoke this way, his eyes were cold, filled with pressure and sarcasm.
Xiao Yunting sneered inwardly.
Such a matter was no different from treason; something this serious would certainly need to be tried by the Three Judicial Offices. Yet it had not even been investigated, and in the Crown Prince’s mouth, the crime was already decided.
How ridiculous.
He slowly stood up, met the Crown Prince’s gaze, and then said softly: “Royal Father, if something happens to the Lu family, what benefit would it bring you?”
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