He Yan Beifeng spent the whole day with the empress and then sauntered back home. He wondered who Xiang Beizheng was. Why did his father treat that guy so well when they were kids, and even let him become the consort when he grew up?
So what if Xiang Beizheng became the consort? He was still just a lackey for the empress. He wasn't as favored as He Yan Beifeng by the empress.
Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan were hiding in the shadows. So this was the person Xiao Jinghan had in mind.
It was not easy to leave Cixi City. They had to make full preparations so that they could leave smoothly after everything was done.
Just as Xiao Jinghan was about to make a move, a group of guards came over.
"Sir, the master wants to see you," a guard bowed.
He Yan Beifeng looked impatient. "Got it, got it. It must be because of his precious adopted son." After saying that, he turned around and headed for another courtyard.
Different from the high - ranking families in the Great Jin Dynasty, the mansions in the Southern Border were completely separated. A family formed a cluster of courtyards. The terrain here had a large drop, and there were no big roads or carriages.
"Does the patriarch of the He Yan family treat Xiang Beizheng better than his own son?" Yi Qing wondered.
"Let's go and have a look," Xiao Jinghan said and led Yi Qing there.
There were many bamboo buildings in the Southern Border. Most of the roofs were thatched. Even the houses of the wealthy families were just more exquisitely decorated. It wasn't suitable to hide on the roofs. Fortunately, there was dense vegetation on one side of the house, which was suitable for hiding people.
"Father," He Yan Beifeng called out lazily with his hands at his sides.
He Yan Mulei turned around angrily and stared at He Yan Beifeng. "You went to accompany the empress again today?"
"The empress summoned me. Could I refuse?" He Yan Beifeng said and looked away.
"I've told you many times that you must help your elder brother secure his position. But what have you done? Instead of helping your brother, you've been sowing discord between him and the empress."
"My elder brother, my elder brother," He Yan Beifeng repeated impatiently twice. "What kind of elder brother is he? He's just father's adopted son. Why does father treat him so well?"
"You don't need to worry about this. All you need to know is that your brother's position is related to the glory of our He Yan family."
"He's just a consort," He Yan Beifeng said indifferently. "Maybe one day I'll be the consort."
"Shut up!" He Yan Mulei was really angry this time. "You're so short - sighted."
"I'm short - sighted. Then what are you, father?" He Yan Beifeng scoffed.
He Yan Mulei was so angry that he was speechless. Maybe he was just getting his just deserts. He only had this one son, and he always went against him. "Starting tomorrow, you'll stay at home and are not allowed to leave even a single step. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
"You won't be able to inherit the He Yan family," He Yan Mulei threatened.
"I don't even care," He Yan Beifeng stiffened his neck. "Everyone in the Southern Border knows that you colluded with the deposed emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty to kill your father and elder brother in order to inherit the He Yan family. You still think the He Yan family is a glory, but in others' eyes, it's a disgrace."
"You..." He Yan Mulei trembled with anger.
"If I become the consort and the empress gives birth to my child, my child will be the emperor of the Southern Border. Who will care about the mere He Yan family then?"
"Short - sighted, short - sighted," He Yan Mulei was so disappointed with his son.
"I'm short - sighted. Then tell me what great ambitions you have," He Yan Beifeng mocked even more.
He Yan Mulei held back his anger again and again, and finally managed to control himself. "One day, you'll understand my good intentions."
"I hope it won't be too late. By then, you might not even see your son."
He Yan Mulei was so angry that he didn't know what to say.
There were many mosquitoes in the Southern Border. Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan were wearing insect - repellent sachets, so the insects flew around them. This aroused Meng Di's curiosity. She walked over slowly with a plate of fruits.
Just as she was about to discover Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan, He Yan Beifeng shouted.
"What are you doing?" He Yan Beifeng looked impatiently at Meng Di.
Meng Di quickly brought the fruits over and carefully placed them on the table. She still curiously peeked at the banana tree.
He Yan Mulei picked up a wax apple and took a bite. "If there's nothing else, father, I'll leave. I don't have your great ambitions." With that, he left.
He Yan Mulei was so angry that he knocked over the fruit plate. Meng Di beside him was so scared that she quickly knelt down.
"Everyone, leave," He Yan Mulei realized he had lost his temper.
When Meng Di left, she glanced at the banana tree again. She always felt that there was something strange there, which made Yi Qing's heart skip a beat.
Yi Qing signaled to Xiao Jinghan that they could leave, but Xiao Jinghan pressed Yi Qing down even lower.
At this time, Xiang Beizheng walked out from the inner room. He Yan Mulei bowed to Xiang Beizheng.
Yi Qing was completely stunned. What was going on?
"My son is ignorant. Please forgive him, Crown Prince," He Yan Mulei said respectfully.
"Forgive those who are unaware," Xiang Beizheng stood there with his hands behind his back, looking quite self - assured. "Since he wants to be the consort so much, let him be."
He Yan Mulei was so scared that he immediately knelt down. "Please spare Beifeng, Crown Prince."
Xiang Beizheng was raised by He Yan Mulei. He knew that Xiang Beizheng was a vengeful person. If Beifeng really became the consort, when Xiang Beizheng cleaned up the royal family of the Southern Border, his son would surely be among the victims.
Xiang Beizheng sneered. This He Yan Mulei was quite perceptive. "Adoptive father, don't be too nervous. The empress doesn't care about me anymore. I need someone to influence the empress. If Beifeng is capable of this, he'll be a great contributor."
He Yan Mulei knelt on the ground, his eyes darting around. "You know Beifeng's character, Crown Prince. He definitely won't be able to handle it. Please find a more reliable person."
Yi Qing didn't know what Xiao Jinghan was thinking, but he was really shocked. He Yan Mulei called Xiang Beizheng the Crown Prince. Which crown prince was he?
"Adoptive father, don't be modest. Now that the Ruyi Grass has been burned, we'll encounter some troubles. Someone needs to stabilize Chen Yuqing. This matter is settled," Xiang Beizheng wouldn't tolerate anyone who went against him.
He Yan Mulei had no choice. "Then please, for the sake of this old man, spare my son's life in the future."
"What are you saying, adoptive father? My father named me Beizheng, which means I'm destined to march north and conquer the Great Jin Dynasty. Then I'll take back what belongs to me. According to the previous agreement, the Southern Border belongs to the He Yan family. I won't interfere," Xiang Beizheng said to reassure He Yan Mulei, but he didn't promise not to kill He Yan Beifeng.
He Yan Mulei naturally understood the implication, but things had come to this point. He had no way back. He could only try to persuade his useless son again.
This time, even Xiao Jinghan was too shocked to speak. He didn't expect that there was a son of the deposed emperor in the Southern Border, who even called himself the Crown Prince here. He wanted to control the Southern Border to attack the Great Jin Dynasty.
Fortunately, Yi Qing had saved Zisu, which had disrupted Xiang Beizheng's plan. As a result, he was still struggling in the Southern Border and had no strength to attack the Great Jin Dynasty. Otherwise, the Great Jin Dynasty would be attacked from both sides, and even he, the God of War, wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Who's there?" Xiang Beizheng suddenly turned his head and stared outside.