Feng Yuanji also knew about the wandering Taoist priest from years ago, but he didn't believe it.
"It was just the nonsense of a wandering Taoist priest. Why do you all take it seriously?"
He pointed at Xiao Jingnan in disappointment. "You only had a fiancée who died of a sudden illness before. How did the rumor of you being a wife-killer spread later?"
"Don't you really know how you got that reputation for killing your wives..."
"Grandpa Feng!"
Xiao Jingnan interrupted him, turning his head slightly to glance at his father. His face turned cold, but there was a pleading look in his eyes.
Feng Yuanji also realized that he had said something inappropriate in his momentary eagerness.
He couldn't help but look at the Prince of Ning, only to find that the man was still sitting there, slowly scraping the teacup with the lid. His face remained calm, as if he hadn't heard their conversation at all.
"Fine, fine!"
Feng Yuanji was silent for a moment, then waved his hand. "You of the Xiao family must have your own plans. I can't interfere. But as for matters in the army..."
When he mentioned the "army", a sharp light flashed in his tiger-like eyes, as if there was a burning flame.
"Our army of the Great Sheng has bided its time for more than a decade and finally gained its current momentum. I don't care how you all fight in the court, but don't drag those dirty things into the army!"
"If it weren't for the power struggles in the court back then, how could our army of the Great Sheng have suffered a crushing defeat and lost six cities?"
"Two hundred thousand young men, all born of parents, sacrificed their lives in the southern border..."
At this point, the old general in his sixties had red eyes and was almost in tears.
The atmosphere in the parlor turned cold, and everyone looked pained.
That defeat was a knot in everyone's heart.
After a long time, Xiao Jingnan said in a deep voice, "Grandpa Feng, you're overthinking."
"Now you're the Grand General who commands all the troops in the world. No one would dare to make a decision about military matters without asking you first."
"Don't try to coax me!"
Feng Yuanji waved his hand. "I have no objection to your marriage with the Li family!"
"Humph, that Li Rusong is a weakling! I heard from Liang Xiong that his training rating in the military camp outside the capital was only a B. I was too lazy to call him out for the inspection last month!"
"However, thanks to his wife, the Li family has truly made military achievements in Fujian and risen through the ranks. They're clean and innocent!"
"His daughter marrying you as your main wife... is barely a good match!"
"I discussed with your father a few days ago. As you requested, I've also restrained the generals around me and asked them to cooperate with your acting..."
"However,"
His tone suddenly changed, and his eyes were cold. "You guys don't even think about dragging our army men into the fight between the emperor and the empress dowager!"
"Whether they're truly motherly and filial or just pretending to get along well... I don't care! Before we recover the southern border, I only want a stable court situation!"
Xiao Jingnan's face darkened slightly.
Feng Yuanji wanted a stable court situation... which meant no major changes were allowed.
But now the power in the court was in the hands of Empress Dowager Kang. Without major changes, how could Zhao Yanke take over the government?
There's no making without breaking.
If the old and rotten things aren't cleared away, how can there be a new atmosphere?
But judging from General Feng's attitude, he wasn't going to side with the new emperor...
Xiao Jingnan pondered for a while and brought up a more practical issue.
"Grandpa Feng, you're upright for not wanting to be involved in the court struggles. But now the empress dowager intends to make the daughter of Grand Tutor Lü the empress. The Lü family has had three generations of high-ranking officials. I'm afraid..."
"Don't try to lecture me with these big principles! Isn't it just that the mother has chosen a daughter-in-law, but the son doesn't want to marry her?"
Feng Yuanji's gray beard trembled, and a sneer appeared on his lips.
"I'll tell you the truth today! The Lü family is too powerful. Their daughter is definitely not suitable to be the empress. The empress dowager asked me about it in the palace a few days ago. I said the same thing in front of her!"
Hearing this, Xiao Jingnan finally felt a little relieved.
As long as Feng Yuanji didn't support Lü Songyuan as the empress, it wasn't a loss for them...
He stood up, bowed with his hands clasped, and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Feng."
Feng Yuanji glanced at him, picked up the tea on the table, and his tone softened.
"Jingnan, I've watched you grow up since you were a child. I know you have ambitions. But court struggles are not the right path for us in the army."
He leaned forward slightly, and his words were full of persuasion. "Whether it's the empress dowager or the emperor... you have to understand that as army men, we should only be loyal to one thing, which is the Great Sheng."
These words were sincere.
If they were spread out, it might even lead to the execution of the whole family!
Feng Yuanji regarded him as one of his own, so he took a huge risk to say these heartfelt words and advised him not to get too involved in the court struggles.
But, Grandpa Feng...
Without a stable rear, how can there be victory on the front line?
Even if you're as brave as a lion and as resourceful as a strategist in using troops, what can you do if the court sends a document ordering you to retreat and make peace?
In the end, it'll only be like a great building collapsing and all efforts going to waste...
However, Xiao Jingnan kept these words to himself and didn't say them out.
He just lowered his head, bowed more respectfully, and said sincerely, "I'll remember your teachings, Grandpa Feng."
...
After coming out of the Autumn Screen Studio, the Prince of Ning asked Xiao Jingnan, "What do you think?"
"It's okay. As long as General Feng doesn't support the Lü family, we're not at a disadvantage."
After saying these two sentences, Xiao Jingnan sighed. "It's a pity that he doesn't seem to have a good impression of His Majesty..."
"Not just a lack of good impression?"
The Prince of Ning looked around to make sure there was no one around, then pulled him aside and whispered, "You've been busy in the shop these days, so I didn't tell you."
"General Feng came to Pingkangfang to visit me the day before yesterday. I asked him what His Majesty said when he summoned him alone to the inner palace during the Double Ninth Palace Banquet..."
"As a result, the old general blushed, gritted his teeth, and stared for a long time before saying, 'That young whelp is just talking nonsense!' "
"After saying that, he flung his sleeves and left, leaving your father completely confused."
"Later, I asked his deputy general and found out that His Majesty asked him if he had any intention of remarrying and which girl he had his eye on. He said he could help arrange a match..."
What?!
Even though Xiao Jingnan was well-informed and resourceful, he still thought Zhao Yanke was really being irresponsible.
Feng Yuanji and his late wife had a deep and affectionate relationship. After his wife passed away thirty years ago, he had never remarried... This had long been a well - known and praised story in the capital.
But the emperor just came out of the blue and wanted to arrange a remarriage for him?
Xiao Jingnan couldn't help but put his hand on his forehead.
He had repeatedly emphasized to Zhao Yanke that General Feng, who now commanded all the troops in the world, was extremely important and that he must please the old man...
Was this how he tried to please him?
At the palace banquet, trying to arrange a match for an old man in his sixties who had a deep affection for his late wife... Was this something that the supreme emperor of a dynasty should do?!
The Prince of Ning was also a bit dejected. "I think if it weren't for the fact that the Lü family is too powerful and there's a risk of the outer - clan interfering in politics if the daughter of the Lü family becomes the empress, General Feng might not even care who His Majesty marries at all!"
Xiao Jingnan was silent for a while. "It's embarrassing General Feng..."
Indeed!
Seeing the emperor being so unreliable, the old man still had to withstand the pressure from the empress dowager for the sake of the Great Sheng and strive for Zhao Yanke!
From the old man's perspective, it was like having a fly forced into his mouth. He knew it was dirty and unhygienic and that eating it would make him sick, but he still had to swallow it with tears in his eyes while pinching his nose.
It was really not easy...
The Prince of Ning also sighed deeply. "Let's go. The banquet is about to start. We have to go and check on your wife. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
When he mentioned this, Xiao Jingnan's temples started to throb.
He knew that Li Wanming was the highlight of today's banquet.