Chapter 279 – Envoy from the Northern Frontier (5)
Back in the hot spring room, Wei Ci carefully inquired about the other students to understand the entire situation.
He sighed and said, “Feng Huaiyu has truly hit the jackpot of misfortune—suffering for others without reason! But thank goodness it’s like this, or else tonight’s event would have been a complete mess. The Eastern Qing’s situation is already as unstable as a house of cards and can’t withstand such shocks.”
Jiang Pengji listened from the side, her brows slightly raised as she asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Wei Ci, reluctant to answer due to an inexplicable aversion to her, instinctively wanted to avoid too much interaction.
However, after a brief hesitation, the memory of Jiang Pengji whispering in his ear while binding his hands flashed in his mind.
Not wanting her to pay special attention to him, he had to abandon his misgivings and treat her as an ordinary person instead.
Thus, Wei Ci replied mildly, “If I’m not mistaken, those Northern Frontier warriors are planning to cause trouble for the Zhenbei Marquis’s mansion.”
Lü Zheng, listening next to him, suddenly had a realization.
“Right! Among that group, there certainly was a Young Master from the Zhenbei Marquis’s mansion. The Zhenbei branch has contributed greatly to the Eastern Qing, sacrificing lives and blood. Once flourishing, their lineage has dwindled, with many dead in battle or from illness… There are not many left. Today, among those Young Masters, the reclusive heir from the Zhenbei Marquis’s mansion was also present.”
“The Zhenbei Marquis’s lineage guards the Northern Frontier, taking countless brave lives, while their descendants mostly perish on the battlefield, at the hands of the Northern Frontier Generals. Both sides have long harbored deep-seated grudges, so it’s not surprising they clash. Though the Zhenbei Marquis’s family is dwindling, they still wield significant power. The Emperor has been wary for a long time, regarding them as a thorn in his side. If anything were to happen to that heir…”
“Then the three clans of the Northern Frontier would undoubtedly be rejoicing in their dreams, while that tyrannical Emperor would appear enraged on the surface but would secretly be overjoyed, right?”
“I heard you mention that among the troublemakers is someone named Wu Libai. He is one of the few smart generals among the Northern Frontier clans; he appears foolish and reckless but is actually meticulous. Now that they are on Eastern Qing territory, they can’t act too recklessly. But if their target is the Zhenbei Marquis’s young heir, the Emperor might feign anger while covertly backing Wu Libai and his crew…”
This way, he could appease the Emperor while sowing discord between the Zhenbei Marquis’s mansion and the Emperor, leading the two to turn completely against each other.
The Zhenbei Marquis holds too much military power; doesn’t the Emperor understand the wolfish ambitions of the Northern Frontier clans?
But he fears even more the Zhenbei Marquis’s power growing too strong!
Lü Zheng felt a chill run down his spine.
Though he usually discussed the trends of the world with his classmates, never had he felt this cold inside.
“Moreover, this is also one of the reasons the Northern Frontier clans are so confident. With Southern Sheng collapsing like a house of cards, Eastern Qing will have to send troops to assist, and the Northern Frontier border will be perilously close to danger. As of now… the Emperor is likely more eager for a marriage alliance; he hopes to temporarily stabilize the Northern Frontier clans with kinship ties, not realizing they have been eyeing Eastern Qing for years. Why would they care about such a flimsy relationship?”
Jiang Pengji scoffed coldly.
“So you’re implying that the Emperor might lean toward the Northern Frontier clans, working hard to offer them favorable conditions to stabilize them?”
“It’s not a possibility; it’s a certainty.”
Wei Ci sighed lightly. He had feelings for the Eastern Qing royal family, but they were just too reckless.
The more disappointed he became with the Eastern Qing royal family, the more he missed the person who had caused him half a lifetime of suffering.
Not to mention her shocking ascent to the throne, at least she could stabilize the country and prevent humiliation for the common people, keep the court from chaos, and ensure the people’s hearts were at ease… Thinking of these, his own suffering didn’t seem that significant.
【The emperor’s power does not come from the heavens or gods but from the common people and the masses, so the ruler is light, and the people are precious… If an emperor loses face for the sake of marriage alliances, for land to prolong his life, for tribute at the expense of the people, for compensation that compromises the nation’s dignity, how can he face holding onto the throne? An emperor should guard the national borders, a king should protect the nation!】
If given a second chance, he hoped to genuinely support her this time, as a strategist, not… in a way that even he despised!
Jiang Pengji felt a little stifled, sneering, “Heh, that crowd from the Northern Frontier has indeed achieved their goal of testing the limits.”
Wu Libai’s actions seemed arrogant, but upon closer reflection, there were many conspiracies at play.
If the Emperor’s final judgment favored the Northern Frontier, Wu Libai’s purpose was achieved, allowing him to act more brazenly in the future.
“However, Young Master Liu need not worry, as long as your father is still around, the Emperor won’t easily move against you.”
As he said this, Wei Ci’s expression was oddly conflicted but quickly suppressed.
Could he not be conflicted?
Liu Zhi had clearly been… well, how could he possibly become the Governor of Hujun?
If Liu Zhi had that capability, he wouldn’t have ended up like that.
Wei Ci wasn’t sure where the problem lay, but he didn’t probe further since it was unnecessary.
He knew very well that people can change, and at the moment things begin to shift, all that was known becomes irrelevant. Standing firm is the only right path.
As Wei Ci expressed this, Jiang Pengji couldn’t feel happy about it.
Only the weak need protection from the strong. Feeling safe because of Liu Zhi meant she was still not strong enough.
Thinking about this, a strange light flashed in her eyes, and a surge of impulse welled up inside her but was forcibly suppressed.
Jiang Pengji coldly smiled, meaningfully saying, “…he best not touch me…”
If he dares to make a move, he will make that Emperor regret crawling out of his mother’s womb!
Wei Ci fell silent, noticing Jiang Pengji displaying that familiar expression, and he realized his palms were secretly sweating.
Struggling to calm himself, just as Wei Ci was about to rise to take his leave, Jiang Pengji abruptly asked him.
“Zixiao, are you well acquainted with the situation in the court?”
He was about to say he understood a little, but the oblivious Lü Zheng chimed in, exposing him.
“Lan Ting, you don’t know this? Come, come, let me tell you. Zixiao’s strategy and political analysis have always been brilliantly articulated, with profound insights into the world’s trends. He knows the external situation while sitting at home; even the master says he matches the former Chancellor Jiang. It’s a pity, he’s so stubborn, always entangled in his own things, refusing to let his master take him as a disciple.”
Lü Zheng hyped Wei Ci up to the skies, then ended with…
“…Fortunately, more than half a year ago, he hit his head coming down the mountain and finally knocked the water out of his brain, agreeing to become his master’s disciple.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Wei Ci: “…”
Once again, Lü Shaoyin!
You! What! Did! You! Just! Call! Who! Had! Water! In! Their! Brain!?
Suddenly, Lü Zheng rubbed his arms, feeling a chill behind him even in the hot spring room.
“Shaoyin suddenly feels a bit restless. Come, let’s have a game of strategy.”
Without giving him a say, Wei Ci dragged the very unwilling Lü Zheng away.
Jiang Pengji gazed at the bright moon hanging in the sky, suddenly curling her lips, then looking down at the card between her fingers.
Eastern Qing, she must have it!
