With the two veteran officials, Grand Tutor Lü and Prime Minister Fang, in the capital, Empress Dowager Kang couldn't stir up much trouble.
Zhao Yanke was right. Marriage alliances were like tying two cats with a string. Neither party could escape once they were bound.
By using his two daughters to tie down Zhao Yanke and the Feng family, it also meant that the two father - in - law's families were firmly tied. If Empress Dowager Kang wanted to stage a coup, Grand Tutor Lü and Prime Minister Fang would never sit back and do nothing.
However, this would put more pressure on Shou'an.
Xiao Jingnan had reason to believe that once Shou'an suffered a military defeat and the news that Zhao Yanke had "personally led the army in the war" but returned in great defeat spread back, those two old foxes would immediately switch sides and surround Empress Dowager Kang to support a new emperor...
"Has Your Majesty ever thought..."
He sighed softly, his voice sounding as if it came from afar. "What if the war in Shou'an goes unfavorably..."
"Then I'll become the laughingstock of the whole world!"
Zhao Yanke casually broke off a branch of flame tree flowers. The bright red petals twirled between his fingers, and there was a glint in his eyes. "But what if we win?"
Xiao Jingnan's eyes flickered slightly.
If they won, Zhao Yanke would be an emperor through the ages.
If they lost, he would be the king who brought about the fall of the country.
This gamble was too big. What was at stake was the vast territory, the century - old foundation, and the young emperor's vibrant life...
"Don't worry."
Zhao Yanke patted his shoulder. "I have faith in you and Feng Xiao! With the two of you and me, when the three of us brothers join hands, we'll surely beat those barbarians from Anluo to hell!"
Xiao Jingnan's breath suddenly hitched.
"Your Majesty... has faith in me?"
These words were so soft that they were almost carried away by the wind, but each word was clear, as if carved out stroke by stroke with a knife tip.
The wind in the alley suddenly changed direction, making the flame tree flowers on the tree rustle.
The bright red petals fluttered down. A few landed on Zhao Yanke's shoulders, glaringly red, just like the last rays of the setting sun on the palace wall last winter.
Only then did Xiao Jingnan remember that he and Zhao Yanke hadn't seen each other for more than seven months.
...
Seven months ago in winter, the Xiao family had submitted a statement of loyalty to the empress dowager. He had agreed to serve in the court. The Lü and Fang families had repented and submitted. Empress Dowager Kang had emerged victorious.
When he stepped out of the palace gate, the twilight had deepened.
He looked back at Zhengyang Tower and saw the young emperor standing on the tower. The setting sun gilded his outline with a scarlet halo, but his expression was hidden in the shadow.
Xiao Jingnan clearly remembered that he had tightened his grip on the official seal in his sleeve at that time. The iron seal handle had dug painfully into his palm.
The cold wind swept the fallen leaves over the palace wall, like unsheathed thin blades, as if they were going to slowly cut to pieces the years of the relationship between the monarch and his subject, and the brotherly affection...
For a long time after that, he didn't dare to think about what Zhao Yanke had been thinking at that time.
After all, in order to appease the empress dowager's anger, he had personally abandoned this young emperor, his once - brother, in the deep palace...
But now, he said to him, "I have faith in you."
Xiao Jingnan suddenly looked up.
The summer sun shone through the leaves of the flame tree, breaking into glittering golden waves in Zhao Yanke's eyes.
His eyebrows were curved like a crescent moon, and the brilliance in his eyes was flowing, just like the lights of thousands of families they had seen when they sneaked out of the palace as teenagers, bright and dazzling.
He said, "I've never doubted you."
These words were as light as a feather, but they made Xiao Jingnan's heart tremble.
He looked up and saw a wisp of the young emperor's hair fluttering in the wind. Even the smile lines at the corners of his eyes were full of vitality, as if the haze in the deep palace was just a passing cloud to him.
"Lord Xiao, we must win."
This voice was still gentle, but it was like the sound of jade shattering on the golden steps, a determination from the emperor who was entrusting his life.
Xiao Jingnan's eyes grew hot, and finally a smile curled up on his lips.
"Yes, we must win."
He slowly knelt on one knee. The corner of his robe swept over the fiery red fallen flowers on the stone slab, as if brushing away the withered yellow leaves that had piled up in his heart that winter.
"We... will surely win."
...
When Xiao Jingnan and Zhao Yanke came out of the alley, both of their expressions had returned to normal. Zhao Yanke even had the leisure to kick a small stone on the side of the road and smacked his lips regretfully. "Ah, I didn't even finish my watermelon..."
Xiao Jingnan strode up to Li Wanming and simply said, "Young Master Zhao will stay in Shou'an."
Li Wanming seemed to have expected him to say this. She didn't ask any more questions, but looked a bit embarrassed. "But we have to set off for Jiangzhong County immediately..."
"Jiangzhong County?" Before she could finish, Zhao Yanke suddenly looked up. "What are you going to Jiangzhong County for?"
Xiao Jingnan briefly explained the whole story and then quickly said, "Brother Pei, take my written order and go to Lu Ping and Wu Yao. They will naturally protect you and Young Master Zhao's safety. In a couple of days, when General Feng's army arrives in Shou'an, you can..."
"I won't look for Lu Ping and Wu Yao!" Zhao Yanke suddenly shouted impatiently. "I'm going to Jiangzhong with you!"
Xiao Jingnan's face darkened. "Don't be absurd!"
As the emperor, it was already absurd enough for him to come to Shou'an alone from afar, but now he even wanted to go to the "enemy - occupied area". He was simply crazy! What if he was discovered by the people from Anluo... Didn't he value his life?
"I don't care! I only trust you. I'll go wherever you go!"
Zhao Yanke raised his head and waved his sleeves, looking just like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.
Xiao Jingnan's temples throbbed, and his knuckles turned white from clenching, but he still forced himself to suppress his anger.
"I was even assassinated in Shou'an City, not to mention Jiangzhong which is under the rule of Anluo. If you follow me, you'll only be in more danger..."
"Well, the fact that you were assassinated in Shou'an City just shows that Shou'an City is not safe either! Then why are you leaving me here? What, do you want to kill the emperor?"
"I..." Xiao Jingnan was speechless for a moment. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a murderous aura emanated from his body. "I think someone should be beaten up again for what happened just now..."
"I'll go too." Before he could finish speaking, Pei Yanqi suddenly said coldly.
"What?"
Both Xiao Jingnan and Li Wanming were stunned.
"Read thousands of books and travel ten thousand miles." Pei Yanqi looked calm as he smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeve. "I've never been to Jiangzhong... I want to go too."
"Ah, then in that case... I, I, I... count me in too!" Liu Yiyi suddenly raised her hand high. The gold bracelets on her fair wrist jingled. "I've never been to Jiangzhong either. I'll go too!"
Li Wanming felt dizzy and was about to lose her temper.
Go, go, go...
Go for what?
Did they think going to Jiangzhong was a spring outing?
It was clearly a matter of putting one's head on the line. Why were they all so enthusiastic?
Did they have an addiction to seeking death?
Li Wanming took a deep breath and patiently advised, "Yiyi, I'm going to Jiangzhong because my identity is not suitable for staying in Shou'an. I have to go. But you don't have to take risks with us..."
"Who says we don't?"
Liu Yiyi raised her eyebrows. "There's a kind of hook - sickle grass that grows abundantly in Jiangzhong County. It's a miraculous medicine for promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, relieving pain, and promoting tissue regeneration! Now that a great war is imminent and we're in great need of medicinal herbs, isn't it just right for me to go to Jiangzhong to purchase some?"