Feng Xiao hadn't even set foot on the carriage shaft when Zhao Yanke pushed him off.
The folding fan in his hand rested on the window, and his face wore a serious expression. "Lord Cheng, I have something to talk to you about."
An Fuquan nodded slightly, stepped off the carriage using the small stool, and with a smiling gesture towards Xiao Jingnan, said, "Lord Cheng, please."
Xiao Jingnan looked at Zhao Yanke for a while, his eyes narrowing slightly, then stepped forward and got into the carriage.
An Fuquan quietly stepped aside, smiling calmly. It was as if he wasn't the chief eunuch who had accompanied the emperor out of the palace secretly, but a wealthy man strolling in his own garden. He showed no sign of nervousness or impatience.
Seeing Xiao Jingnan get on the carriage, he turned around and led Feng Xiao and Li Wanming towards the inn.
"Madam Cheng's wine is well - known far and wide. I've long heard that her tea is also excellent. I've come here today just to bother Madam Cheng for a cup of tea."
"Oh... alright... Please come in."
Even though Li Wanming didn't understand politics, she could sense that something was amiss today.
Normally, when the emperor wanted to act recklessly, those around him would try to dissuade him.
Because all empress dowagers liked to take action against those around the emperor.
Whenever there was the slightest sign of trouble from the emperor, they would target the chief eunuch or the bodyguards as a warning to others.
An Fuquan was that chicken to be killed to scare the monkeys and that mountain to intimidate the tigers.
Logically speaking, his head was already on the verge of being chopped off by Empress Dowager Kang at any moment. But he acted unusually. Instead of being anxious, he even had the mood to inquire about the quality of her family's tea.
When something seemed out of the ordinary, there must be something fishy going on. Something was wrong.
As Li Wanming followed him inside, another thought crossed her mind. She asked Feng Xiao, "Why does His Majesty call you Young Master Feng the Third?"
"Because when we were kids, before he became the emperor, we often played together." Feng Xiao said, "I was the youngest, ranked third, so I was called Young Master Feng the Third. He was ranked second, so he was called Young Master Zhao the Second. And there was another... another eldest brother. Well, I'll introduce you to him later."
Li Wanming nodded, then frowned in confusion. "But what does Young Master Zhao the Second want with my husband?"
Feng Xiao had often come to the wine shop to drink in the past few months. Gradually, he and Xiao Jingnan had become familiar with each other. Li Wanming had even caught them drunk a few times, hugging each other and spouting nonsense while discussing the affairs of the state.
After that, when she saw Feng Xiao and Xiao Jingnan walking arm in arm, she was no longer surprised.
However, when Xiao Jingnan showed the same familiarity with Zhao Yanke as he did with Feng Xiao, it seemed strange.
Because Zhao Yanke was different from Feng Xiao. He was the emperor.
No matter how unconventional he was, he was still the emperor.
Feng Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then forced a laugh. "Maybe... maybe it's because Brother Cheng is so imposing and elegant that His Majesty has been captivated by his charm..."
...
Inside the carriage, Xiao Jingnan lowered the curtain, then turned around and knelt on one knee, giving a fist - clasping salute. "Your humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise..."
Before Zhao Yanke could finish the word "up", Xiao Jingnan had pounced on him. He grabbed Zhao Yanke's arm, twisted it behind his back, and pinned him against the carriage wall.
The whole set of movements was clean and swift, leaving Zhao Yanke no room to resist.
Xiao Jingnan growled, "You're getting bolder these days! How dare you sneak out of the palace without telling Feng Xiao!"
But Zhao Yanke wasn't angry. Instead, he turned his head and grinned.
When they were kids, every time he caused trouble, Xiao Jingnan would use this move to subdue him with one strike.
However, since he became the emperor, Xiao Jingnan had changed.
Whether in public or private, Xiao Jingnan always wore a humble and respectful face of a courtier. He was always proper and polite, no longer as intimate as in their childhood.
Unexpectedly, his trip out of the palace had made Xiao Jingnan shed that respectful courtier's mask.
Zhao Yanke felt relieved and said with a grin, "Brother, you haven't beaten me for years..."
Realizing that he had overstepped his bounds, Xiao Jingnan immediately let go of his hand. His tone became humble, and he was about to kneel again. "Your humble subject has offended Your Majesty. I deserve to die..."
"Stop it!"
Zhao Yanke rubbed his arm and said, "Outside the palace, we're just brothers, not monarch and subject. I've told you this many times... It's you who never listens! If you keep this up, I'll count it as disobeying my order!"
Xiao Jingnan smiled bitterly. "Then does Your Majesty want your humble subject to treat you as the emperor or as a brother?"
"I..."
Zhao Yanke was at a loss for words for a moment, then waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. Just handle it as the situation requires. It's not important!"
"Your Majesty..."
Zhao Yanke raised his hand to stop him. "I know what you want to say. It's nothing more than that it's too dangerous to leave the palace rashly. And staying outside the palace overnight will surely cause a stir if the empress dowager finds out... But think about it. I left the palace this afternoon. It's very likely that I won't be able to go back tonight. For such a big matter, if I didn't have her tacit approval, would I be able to get out?"
Xiao Jingnan frowned. "The empress dowager allowed you to come out?"
"It's not exactly allowing." Zhao Yanke rubbed his shoulder and murmured, "But her behavior has been a bit strange recently. She doesn't urge me to study anymore, nor does she remind me to attend to state affairs diligently. It seems that the more irresponsible I am, the happier she is..."
Xiao Jingnan lowered his eyes slightly and fell into deep thought.
The political situation had been rather delicate recently.
First, Grand Tutor Lü and Prime Minister Fang had quietly tried to adjust their stances. Then, Empress Dowager Kang had calmly counterattacked through Chen Jinde.
The two sides were engaged in a silent battle, with only hidden schemes and tricks.
Even Zhaoyu Academy, far outside the palace, had been implicated for no reason...
"The empress dowager wants to find Your Majesty's faults."
Xiao Jingnan's eyes narrowed slightly.
When Zhao Yanke was still young, she always urged him to study hard and attend to state affairs whole - heartedly, obviously playing the role of a dutiful and kind mother.
But now, Zhao Yanke had grown up.
She felt that a wise emperor would pose a great threat to her. So, instead, she hoped that Zhao Yanke would be a debauched and foolish emperor...
Only when the emperor was absurd enough could she hold the power in her hands for as long as possible.
"So, I came out!"
Zhao Yanke said happily, "A few days ago, I deliberately told Feng Xiao about your bet with the Imperial College and said that I wanted to come out and have fun to see her reaction. As a result, she didn't scold me!"
"What else was there to wait for? Today, I just decided to go all the way. I asked An Defu to assign a few reliable bodyguards, and I came out of the palace openly to have fun!"
"Guess what? It was a smooth ride!"
"The imperial guards at the palace gate just took a quick look at the token and let me through without asking a single extra question!"
Zhao Yanke was beaming with excitement and gesturing wildly in the carriage, like a domineering little dragon showing its claws.
"On the one hand, it can reassure the empress dowager. On the other hand, I can come out of the palace to have fun. It's a win - win situation. Isn't it great? Quick, tell me. Am I awesome?"
Xiao Jingnan didn't answer him. He just lowered his eyes and remained silent.
He understood Zhao Yanke's thoughts.
With Zhao Yanke's current ability to control the political situation, he was still far from being able to match Empress Dowager Kang.
Their previous attempts to make Zhao Yanke attend to state affairs diligently and win over important court officials had already alerted Empress Dowager Kang. Now, it seemed that they had achieved the opposite effect.
It might be better to let Zhao Yanke act recklessly as he pleased. Maybe it would make Empress Dowager Kang lower her guard...
However, this would surely damage the emperor's reputation.
"Let it be damaged." Zhao Yanke said indifferently, "It wasn't that good before anyway. If I really anger the empress dowager, my days will be truly difficult."
Xiao Jingnan was silent for a while and had to admit that he was right.
Their power was still too weak at the moment. It would be better to bide their time and wait for a better opportunity in the future.
He frowned slightly, and another thought came to his mind. Would Zhao Yanke's high - profile visit to the Changxing Inn attract Empress Dowager Kang's attention? Could he still keep his identity a secret...
"Brother Xiao, rest assured."
After hearing his concerns, Zhao Yanke snorted and said, "Don't think that just because the empress dowager can control me like a weasel catching a chicken, she has a way with those two old foxes, Grand Tutor Lü and Prime Minister Fang.
Among all the court officials now, except for that fool Chen Jinde, who would dare to tell the empress dowager that the Changxing Inn was opened by you?"