When the good news of Chen Xuan's victory reached the capital, the emperor happened to be awake.
Hearing the eunuch's report of the good news, the emperor burst into laughter. With a wave of his hand, he bestowed a whole cartload of gifts on the Marquis of Wu'an's Mansion and ordered the Eldest Princess to deliver them in person.
Madam Bai led Chen Tingfeng and Fu Zhen to kneel and pay their respects. After thanking the eunuchs and closing the door, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Madam Bai was overjoyed, but not because of the gifts.
There had been no news from Chen Xuan for a long time, and suddenly came the news of his victory. It seemed that he had established a firm foothold in the army and stabilized the morale of the troops.
There was no news that could make her more relieved.
Fu Zhen helped Madam Bai sit down with a smile. "Now we can rest assured."
Madam Bai patted her chest, a charming smile creeping into her eyes and brows. "As long as your uncle is safe and sound, that's better than anything."
Chen Tingfeng poured two cups of tea. He first served one to Madam Bai, then felt the wall of the cup before handing the other to Fu Zhen.
"Have a cup of tea to calm your nerves."
Madam Bai gave him a reproachful look, then became a bit worried. "Although we've won this battle, I'm afraid..."
Now all the eyes in the court were on Chen Xuan. If he did well, everyone would be happy, just like today. But if he made a single mistake, there would surely be a barrage of scolding.
It was no exaggeration to say that he was the target of public criticism.
Chen Tingfeng comforted her. "Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. After the prosperity comes the downfall. Since we're aware of it, we don't need to be afraid."
Fu Zhen nudged him in the elbow.
What kind of comfort was that? His mouth was so unruly!
Chen Tingfeng rubbed the place where he'd been nudged and glanced at her, then wisely shut up.
Fu Zhen then continued to comfort Madam Bai. "Our Marquis's Mansion has been like a thorn in the side of others for so many years. But look, Auntie, how many people in the capital can outshine us now?
"Now this is just a hurdle in front of us. We'll get over it. Besides, we have Cousin. There are only a handful of young men as outstanding as him in the court. With his smart brain, he'll surely get through this safely."
Madam Bai was so happy that she hugged Fu Zhen tightly like a precious treasure. "Our Zhen Zhen is still so sweet-tongued. Oh!"
Chen Tingfeng shook his head and smiled softly. A gentle look stole into his downcast eyes.
The three of them were chatting when suddenly they heard the announcement from outside. "Madam, the Eldest Princess is here."
"Quickly invite her in." Madam Bai let go of Fu Zhen and straightened her clothes.
Fu Zhen walked over and sat down beside Chen Tingfeng. Chen Tingfeng reached out his hand, tidied up her sleeves, and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
Fu Zhen gave him a smile, her eyes and brows curving. Her smile softened Chen Tingfeng's heart.
But when he saw Xie Yan beside the Eldest Princess, his heart hardened again.
Xie Yan: "What! Don't want to see me?"
Just as Chen Tingfeng was about to nod, Fu Zhen pinched him hard. She didn't hold back at all. Chen Tingfeng was caught off guard and gave a start.
Chen Tingfeng: "Hehe."
It was a forced smile, exactly like the expression he'd had when he'd tricked Xie Yan out of a thousand taels of silver.
The Eldest Princess covered her mouth and laughed. She stopped Xie Yan, who was about to go up and fight with Chen Tingfeng. "Congratulations! I picked these gifts from the emperor's private treasury myself. They're all good things. You can play with them on weekdays. Even if you break them, it doesn't matter. I'll ask Xie Yan to steal another set."
"Xie Lingyun!"
The Eldest Princess suddenly slapped Xie Yan on the head. She still had a smiling face but said something terrifying in a soft voice. "You're so disrespectful. If you call me that again, I'll tear your mouth apart."
Xie Yan: "..."
Chen Tingfeng laughed this time. He poured a cup of tea and offered it to the Eldest Princess.
The Eldest Princess graciously accepted it. After taking a sip, she got down to business. "Now the whole court is keeping an eye on the Marquis's Mansion. When are you going to take action?"
Chen Tingfeng held Fu Zhen's hand and played with it gently, but his eyes were fixed on Xie Yan. "Second Prince, what do you think?"
Xie Yan instantly got goosebumps all over his body. He gave Chen Tingfeng a disdainful look and said in a deep voice. "Wait until the next defeat."
Now that Chen Xuan had won, it was reasonable. If he'd been defeated as soon as he arrived at the northern border, even a three - year - old child could tell that there were traitors in the court and the army.
The current prosperity of the Marquis's Mansion was exactly what Xie Guang wanted.
"They've been smuggling a lot of private salt to recruit troops and buy horses. They've sold it at high prices. The money in the national treasury has long been repaid. Now they're making a fortune and feeling extremely self - satisfied." A look of disgust flashed across Xie Yan's eyes.
Under the huge profit, the common people were living in dire straits.
Moreover, a large sum of money had been sent to the Xiongnu. They said they were buying horses from them, but in fact, they were just secretly sending money.
The Eldest Princess nodded thoughtfully. "But Young Master, the Marquis has an old injury. If he suffers a defeat, it will surely damage his health. You..."
She was being very euphemistic.
Chen Xuan had always been reckless in battle. When he was young and unmarried, he was full of vigor and would directly lead a group of soldiers to sneak into the enemy's headquarters to burn their粮草. After he got married and had concerns, his temper had mellowed a bit, and he no longer took such great risks. But he was still as fierce in battle.
He had done many things that would cost eight hundred of his own men to kill a thousand enemies.
He used to always say that Chen Tingfeng was arrogant and used all his wits on devious schemes. In fact, he was also very arrogant, but he just showed all his wits openly.
These two father and son were like two peas in a pod. Neither of them could criticize the other.
Chen Tingfeng lowered his eyes. This was exactly what he was worried about.
Before Chen Xuan set off on the expedition, he had told him that this battle was just a trap. If he was no match for the enemy, he should just retreat.
At that time, Chen Xuan just smiled and said. "I know what I'm doing."
But Chen Tingfeng immediately understood that Chen Xuan would not retreat.
For him, he had spent half his life in the military. The number of common people he had protected was not less than hundreds of thousands. If he retreated, countless common people would be killed or injured.
He was a general.
He couldn't retreat.
So even though he knew it was a trap, the Xiongnu were coming on fiercely, and the deaths of the soldiers and common people were real.
The rulers were playing chess, but it was always the common people at the bottom who suffered.
Whether the country prospers or declines, the common people always suffer.
Chen Tingfeng knew he couldn't persuade him. He just let out a soft sigh in his heart.
This was a hurdle they had to get over.
He raised his eyes and looked at Xie Yan. "When the news of the defeat comes, I'll volunteer to go on the expedition."
Madam Bai suddenly dropped her teacup. "Shao Chuan!"
Fu Zhen quickly went to support her. She looked up at the maids beside her, signaling them to quickly clean up the fragments.
Chen Tingfeng comforted her. "Mother, don't worry. If I don't go, Father's life will be in danger and his fate will be uncertain."
Only when he went would Xie Guang's faction feel at ease to stir up trouble in the capital. And only when he went could he really ensure Chen Xuan's safe return.