Two days later, Wei Zhenfeng agreed to Chan Nian's conditions, but only one of them.
"I can give Yu Lin a chance to live and treat the people of Xixia well." Wei Zhenfeng said, "Forget about the rest."
Wan Huameng was in Nan Jing's hands, and he had no right to make the decision. As for the remaining people in the Imperial City Division, he could kill them if he wanted to, or keep them if he wanted to. Why should he let himself be bound by a promise and feel unhappy
He is the winner, and winners can do whatever they want to losers.
Chan Nian was a little surprised: "Don't you want to know the truth about your mother's death as soon as possible?"
Wei Zhenfeng said slowly, "I have almost guessed it, but I am just missing a piece of evidence. Whether there is this evidence or not will not affect what I will do next. But I also admit that I want the letter, so I am willing to stand here and discuss the conditions with you."
Chan Nian frowned, and his originally numb and calm expression became quite complicated.
Three years ago, Master Gu once said that the death of Concubine Mei might be the only thing that could make Wei Zhenfeng panic. They had to seize this rare opportunity and save as many people as possible.
Master Gu was very good at predicting things, and he would not make mistakes. However, the Wei Zhenfeng standing in front of her was no longer the young man who cried silently in front of the imperial concubine's coffin. He could even wait for two days to negotiate with her calmly, as if he really just wanted the letter, not had to have it.
"If you are not satisfied with my conditions, you can refuse them." Wei Zhenfeng laughed, "Of course, I can also kill Yu Lin right now in front of you."
Chan Nian's face turned pale. At this moment, she further understood why everyone in the Imperial City who had fought with Wei Zhenfeng hated him to the core but was also afraid of him.
She obviously had the bargaining chips in her hands, but now it was Wei Zhenfeng who was threatening her. While she was proposing the conditions, she also exposed the importance and uniqueness of Yu Lin to Gu Taifu.
In the final contest between Taifu and Wei Zhenfeng, there was no loser or winner, and in the end, they were evenly matched.
Chan Nian had to admit that she had no power to choose.
The negotiations failed, Wei Zhenfeng lost a piece of evidence, and Yu Lin lost his life.
"Okay." Chan said, "I promise you."
Afterwards, Chan Nian revealed the location of the imperial concubine's letter - Benquan Academy in Yuzhou.
"You take Yu Lin to Benquan Academy and hand him over to the dean of the academy. He will give you the letter from the imperial concubine." Chan Nian said.
After Zhao Mian learned about this, he couldn't help but sigh that Gu Ruzhang was good at choosing a place.
Yuzhou was a famous place of outstanding people in the former Western Xia. It produced countless top scholars and talents who could assist the king in successive dynasties. Benquan Academy was the dream place for scholars in the former Western Xia. Even students in Nanjing who wanted to study abroad would choose Benquan Academy as their first choice. Gu Ruzhang also studied there when he was young.
It has only been three years since Beiyuan destroyed Xixia. The Yuan army may be able to slaughter all the Xixia soldiers, but they dare not go too far with the scholars. Beiyuan not only wants to rule the territory of Xixia, but also wants the people to submit and the Western Border to return to their hearts. To achieve this, they cannot do without the support of Xixia's great scholars.
Moreover, Benquan Academy has a place in the hearts of scholars in the four countries. If Wei Zhenfeng dares to break his promise and act recklessly in Benquan Academy, it will inevitably make people all over the world laugh at him, and then Beiyuan will lose the support of the people.
Wei Zhenfeng found Zhao Mian and said, "I will leave for Yuzhou immediately, you..."
Zhao Mian turned and left.
Wei Zhenfeng asked behind him: "Where are you going?"
"Let Bai Yu pack my luggage for me." Zhao Mian said, "Where else can we go?"
It takes at least three to four days to get from Shengjing to Yuzhou, and he would definitely not be able to make it in time for the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. He could only go with Wei Zhenfeng.
Wei Zhenfeng was stunned for a moment and said, "I'm sorry for asking you to follow me around." He originally wanted to take Zhao Mian back to Nanjing to celebrate the Lantern Festival.
Zhao Mian said calmly: "It's okay, I just want to go to Benquan Academy."
There was a man in Benquan Academy who was a talent that the court of Nanjing had wanted for a long time. The prime minister had sent people to invite him to come out of retirement several times but was rejected for various reasons. If he could persuade the man to go back to Nanjing to serve with him, the prime minister and his father might be able to calm down and forget about him not going home for the New Year.
"Just focus on your own business and don't worry about me." Zhao Mian said, "You are doing well now, keep it up."
He had always been worried that Wei Zhenfeng would be distracted by his concern and be led by Chan Nian. As it turned out, his worry was unnecessary.
Wei Zhenfeng did not hide the fact that he was not strong enough, and said frankly: "Actually I am very anxious, I just pretend to be good." Wei Zhenfeng laughed at himself, "Don't be afraid of you laughing at me, I can't sleep well every night."
According to Zhao Mian's competitive character, under normal circumstances he would definitely laugh at Wei Zhenfeng, but this is not a normal situation.
Wei Zhenfeng was in a bad mood, he should have spoken more gently.
"No wonder." Zhao Mian looked at Wei Zhenfeng, "I was wondering why your teardrop mole is not as obvious as before."
It turned out that it was covered by dark circles.
Wei Zhenfeng subconsciously touched his lower eyelid: "It will return to normal after a good sleep."
Zhao Mian hummed, and then said, "You haven't told me jokes much lately."
He was not used to Wei Zhenfeng, who was not rude and did not tell jokes to him.
Wei Zhenfeng sighed: "I'm really not in a good mood. I can't be completely calm and composed. Tell me, am I a little weak?"
Zhao Mian nodded: "Yes, a little bit."
Zhao Mian continued: "But you have done a good job."
Putting himself in his shoes, if something happened to his father, he probably wouldn't even be able to remain calm.
Wei Zhenfeng finally smiled: "Then let's go, Zhao Mian, let's go to Benquan Academy together. After we finish our business, I will take you to play in the academy."
Zhao Mian didn't expect that his casual praise could bring back some of Wei Zhenfeng's usual youthful spirit. In this case, he could speak to Wei Zhenfeng in his usual tone.
"Benquan Academy is one of the four great universities in the world. How many scholars yearn for it? How can you take me there to play?" Zhao Mian said disdainfully, "It's insulting."
Wei Zhenfeng then changed his words: "After we finish the work, I will take you to the academy to read more history books and write more policy papers?"
Zhao Mian nodded in satisfaction: "It's a deal."
Zhao Mian, Wei Zhenfeng and his party rode at full speed all the way and arrived in Yuzhou on the eleventh day of the first lunar month.
Benquan Academy is located at the foot of Yushan Mountain, built beside a waterfall. At a glance, you can see green mountains and pine and cypress trees.
The academy has been established for a hundred years. The walls are old but not broken. On the plaque are the two characters "Benquan", which are vigorous, powerful, simple and dignified. The sound of reading in the academy is heard. Outside the academy stand two young men who are reading and guarding the gate.
They were all dressed in the same plain white clothes. When they saw Wei Zhenfeng and his companions coming on horseback with a young man with a broken arm behind them, they knew that they were not friendly. One of them immediately went into the courtyard to report to the commander.
Wei Zhenfeng was very considerate and did not force his way in. They sat on horseback and waited patiently for a while, then saw a group of students in white clothes rushing out.
Most of these students were teenagers and men in their teens to twenties, the same age as Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng. After they finished their studies, they could take the imperial examinations like ordinary scholars, or they could find their own masters in the Three Kingdoms and realize their ambitions.
These students looked at Wei Zhenfeng who was sitting high on his horse. They could tell his identity at a glance by the two conspicuous moles under his eyes, and the looks they gave him were definitely not friendly.
In their view, Xixia was innocent, and Beiyuan attacked it, which was a barbarian act. When Wei Zhenfeng led his troops to attack Xixia, he often used sinister and mean tactics. Even if he was invincible, he was not worthy of the word "gentleman".
But it is really a pity that such a young prince who would do anything to win actually has a rare and handsome young man with extraordinary temperament sitting next to him.
Soon, a student came out pushing a wheelchair. Sitting in the wheelchair was an old man with white hair and a youthful face, who looked like a Taoist immortal. The old man looked at Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng, then looked at Yu Lin who was dying from days of running around, closed his eyes and sighed.
Zhao Mian turned to Wei Zhenfeng and said, "This person should be the dean of Benquan Academy, Qu Bai."
The two men dismounted together, and Wei Zhenfeng walked towards Qu Bai. The students standing around Qu Bai all showed vigilance, fearing that he would go to war with their dean if they disagreed with him.
A brave student said, "This is a land of scholars, Your Majesty, please respect yourself!"
Wei Zhenfeng didn't bother to pay attention to such a small character. He briefly explained his purpose to Qu Bai, without much respect or contempt in his words, and he was completely businesslike.
Qu Bai was silent for a long time, and then said, "Your Highness, could you please let my student take Master Yu downstairs to rest? Master Yu doesn't look well."
Wei Zhenfeng nodded.
After Yu Lin was taken away, Qu Bai said, "Three years ago, Master Gu did send a letter to Benquan Academy. At that time, he told me that if the prince sent someone to pick up the letter one day, it would prove that..." Qu Bai sighed again, "Prince, please follow me."
Wei Zhenfeng led Zhao Mian and others into the academy. They followed Qu Bai, passed through lecture halls and corridors, and came to the Imperial Library where books were stored.
There were tens of thousands of books in the Imperial Library, and the bookshelves were as tall as a man. Qu Bai stopped in front of the last bookshelf and said, "Bring the ladder."
"No need to bother." Wei Zhenfeng's voice was filled with urgency, "Tell me where the king is."
Qu Bai pointed to an ancient book on the top shelf and said, "Beitang Book Collection, I will keep it here."
Wei Zhenfeng leaped up and easily took down the Beitang Book Collection. He turned to a page by feel, and a letter was quietly sandwiched between the pages. On the envelope was the beautiful handwriting that he was very familiar with - My son Zhenfeng personally wrote.
Wei Zhenfeng had his back to Zhao Mian, so Zhao Mian could only see his back. He thought that Wei Zhenfeng might not want to be watched by so many people at this time.
"You go down first." Zhao Mian ordered in a low voice, "Close the door."
What about him? Can he accompany Wei Zhenfeng
Zhao Mian was a little unsure. He didn't know whether his relationship with Wei Zhenfeng had reached that point.
After the others left, Zhao Mian hesitated for a long time, but still chose to stay where he was. He stood quietly aside, not too close to Wei Zhenfeng, but if Wei Zhenfeng called him, he would definitely hear it.
Wei Zhenfeng still had his back to him, his face hidden in the shadows, and he couldn't see his expression clearly.
He didn't know how long it had been before he heard Wei Zhenfeng calling him, his voice so soft that it seemed like an illusion: "Zhao Mian."
"… Um?"
"She didn't hear it," Wei Zhenfeng slowly lowered his hand holding the letter, "She didn't hear anything."
(End of this chapter)