Even Zhuo Yi, the usually calm and self - composed Prince Xuanning of Xiliang, lost his composure for a moment because his painstakingly cultivated son had been killed. He didn't stop Princess Yunxi from breaking into the palace.
One couldn't tell whether Feng Linche was just unlucky or his own doing. Now that he was in trouble, not a single court official in the entire court came forward to save him.
This forced the usually low - key Fifth Prince, Feng Jingyi, to come out and seek help.
Feng Linyuan remained silent in deep thought. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "If you trust me, I can ensure the safety of Concubine Chen. As for the affairs in the palace, it's not your place to interfere."
Perhaps Zhuo Yi was also worried that he was still within the territory of the Great Zhou and didn't dare to go too far. He only detained Feng Linche, trying to control the emperor to command the vassals.
This was also the reason why although Feng Linyuan was angry about the current situation, he wasn't in a hurry.
If Zhuo Yi dared to kill innocent people and harm the people of the Great Zhou, Feng Linyuan had plenty of ways to make sure he could never return to his base in Xiliang!
Therefore, he had no intention of agreeing to Feng Jingyi's plea. He just smiled faintly, non - committal.
"Your Highness, you're overestimating. The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has been greatly weakened since the Battle of Yan City six years ago. It's no longer the prestigious Dingyuan Marquis Mansion it used to be. Even without the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the Great Zhou has enjoyed good weather and national peace in the past six years.
It's because there are still other capable officials in the court.
Now, Your Highness, instead of seeking help from them, why come to me, the current Dingyuan Marquis Mansion that has little power?"
Mo Li wasn't as polite as Feng Linyuan. He didn't have a good impression of Feng Linche's family. He coldly interrupted, "For the sake of the Great Zhou, the Marquis Mansion has fought so hard that now only the Marquis remains. Your Highness comes to the Marquis. Do you really want to wipe out the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion completely before you're satisfied?"
"I don't!" Feng Jingyi quickly defended himself loudly. "I don't mean that... It's just that there's really no one available in the Great Zhou court..."
"Isn't this situation also caused by our Emperor himself?" Bai Zheng said lightly.
It wasn't that she didn't want to help Feng Jingyi. It was just that she couldn't feel any sympathy for the self - inflicted Feng Linche.
Feng Jingyi was speechless.
He also knew that the current situation was caused by Feng Linche himself and he couldn't blame anyone else. A struggling look appeared on his face.
"I know that Father Emperor has done wrong. But now the court of the Great Zhou is unstable. When foreign enemies invade, there's no one to rescue the Emperor. It's really... really an unprecedented absurdity."
Feng Jingyi said with difficulty.
"Marquis, I admit everything you said. But after this battle, Father Emperor has also been greatly weakened. As far as I know, he was stabbed by the Prince Xuanning of Xiliang. So far, he can't even invite an imperial doctor. I'm afraid he won't last long..."
Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Feng Linyuan's eyes. "He's injured?"
Actually, Wang Lin had been secretly sending out news from the palace. But for some reason, no one had told him about Feng Linche being stabbed.
Feng Jingyi seemed to see what was on Feng Linyuan's mind.
In fact, he had always liked this man who he once regarded as an idol. He had admired his talent and brilliance since childhood.
Later, when Feng Linyuan was seriously injured and went into seclusion, and he himself gradually grew up, he slowly saw through everything in the court.
If one were to ask who knew Feng Linyuan best in Yongding, perhaps even Feng Linyuan himself didn't know that it was this always low - key Feng Jingyi, whom everyone might even forget about.
He was quiet, lurking in the corner, carefully watching everything that happened.
So he knew that deep down, Feng Linyuan had the upbringing from childhood to adulthood, the loyalty to the Great Zhou and the love for the people that had been passed down in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. It would be easier to kill him than to make him betray the people of the Great Zhou.
But he also knew that Feng Linyuan hated Feng Linche. It was Feng Linche who had framed the old Marquis Feng Zhen and the 100,000 Changping Army. He had lived in seclusion for six years with a deep - seated hatred for revenge.
"Marquis, actually I know, I know everything. You hate Father Emperor and wish he were dead. But I also know that no matter how much you hate him, you won't ignore the lives of the people!
Now everything has just begun. As long as you take action, you can save the Great Zhou with the least loss in time. But if we delay any longer, once the reinforcements from Xiliang arrive, it will be too late!"
As Feng Jingyi spoke, he got a little excited and his voice became high - pitched.
"Really?" Feng Linyuan looked at Feng Jingyi with a half - smile and cold eyes. "I suppose you and your Father Emperor are so sure that I won't ignore the lives of the people of the Great Zhou and will definitely take action to save them, so you have the nerve to come and plead with me?"
Feng Jingyi caught his breath. "No, it's not..."
But his eyes clearly showed that his thoughts had been seen through by Feng Linyuan.
"Hehe."
Feng Linyuan laughed softly, with undisguised mockery in his voice. "Over the years, the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has fought desperately on the front line. What have we gained in the end? Just to ensure the stability of your Feng family's throne? To let Feng Linche enjoy supreme imperial power? To have a sword hanging over the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion that could fall at any time?"
Feng Jingyi slumped to the ground.
He knew he was in the wrong, that his Father Emperor was in the wrong. The entire Dingyuan Marquis Mansion had sacrificed too much for the Great Zhou and for them, but in the end, they were almost wiped out.
"Marquis..." He trembled his lips, his eyes filled with bloodshot eyes, and murmured, "What on earth do I have to do? What does Father Emperor have to do to... to get your forgiveness?"
"A decree of self - reproach." This time, Feng Linyuan didn't beat around the bush and replied straightforwardly.
Feng Jingyi looked up in shock. "A decree of self - reproach?"
"Tell the world what really happened in the Battle of Yan City six years ago. Make public all the crimes he has committed to future generations." Feng Linyuan said coldly, word by word.
"What!" Feng Jingyi was stunned.
Wouldn't such an action clearly push Feng Linche into a situation where he would be reviled by everyone?
Not to mention others, Feng Linche had always cared most about his reputation. Would he agree?
"Marquis, Father Emperor made a mistake, but a decree of self - reproach is really... really too harsh. Is there, is there any other way... As long as it's not a decree of self - reproach, anything is negotiable..."
Feng Jingyi wanted to refute, but thinking about the current situation, he could only hold his breath and try to find another way.
Hearing this, Feng Linyuan laughed softly. "Your Highness is joking. Can't the life of my father and the souls of the 100,000 Changping Army even be exchanged for a decree of self - reproach? Can it all be simply dismissed with a light 'I made a mistake'?"
"No, I don't mean that..." Feng Jingyi's face instantly stiffened and he quickly shook his head.
"If in our Emperor's eyes, his reputation is more important than the people of the Great Zhou, then why should I take action to protect the good reputation of my father's murderer?"