This was the first time that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the initiative to ask for a kiss. The young prince was stunned at first, and then his clear eyes became hot, and he took the initiative to entangle Zhao Mian's lips and tongue.
Wei Zhenfeng supported himself on the ground with both hands, as it was inconvenient for him to exert any strength, so he simply hugged Zhao Mian and sat up, holding Zhao Mian's waist with one hand and the back of Zhao Mian's head with the other, enjoying the rare enthusiasm of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
In the past, every kiss was before going to bed or in bed, but this time it was just a simple kiss.
Zhao Mian was intoxicated by the feeling of lips and tongues intertwined. When he thought that he would not be able to be hugged or kissed by Wei Zhenfeng for three months, Zhao Mian was unwilling to end the joy at this moment, even if he was kissed until he could hardly breathe.
Suddenly, Wei Zhenfeng's ears moved, as if he had sensed something strange. The Crown Prince in his arms didn't feel anything at all, and when he was pushed away, he narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction: "You dare to push me away? I still want more."
"No, no, but someone is coming." Wei Zhenfeng still had his hand on Zhao Mian's waist and listened carefully. "There are three people in total, one of whom seems to be Fu Zi."
Zhao Mian immediately sat up and snapped Wei Zhenfeng's hand away.
Fu Zi was my father's personal bodyguard, and his presence proved that my father had also come. The remaining person should be Ji Jinzhi.
Wei Zhenfeng covered the back of his hand that was red from being beaten, and couldn't help but marvel at how quickly the Crown Prince's expression changed.
Ji Jinzhi pushed open the door of the lecture hall and walked in with Xiao Shiqing and Fu Zi: "The students are all drinking and having fun now, this is the quietest place, it's convenient for you and me to talk..."
Before he could finish his words, Ji Jinzhi was slapped in the face by two bright lights in the hall.
I saw Crown Prince Nanjing and Young Prince Beiyuan sitting side by side under the lamp, with a book spread out in front of them. It was the "Natural History" brought by Zhao Mian.
They seemed to be watching with great interest. The young prince recited aloud: "'A pair of winged birds, one blue and one red, on Mount Canyu'..."
Ji Jinzhi gave Xiao Xiang a meaningful look, then cleared his throat and saluted the two young men of noble status: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and to His Majesty the Prince."
Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng looked surprised as if they had just discovered someone had arrived, and both stood up calmly.
Zhao Mian: "Father."
Wei Zhenfeng: "Prime Minister Xiao."
The atmosphere in the lecture hall froze for a moment, and then Xiao Xiang nodded slightly, ignoring the others, and responded to his son: "It's so late, why haven't you gone home yet?"
Zhao Mian said, "I was so engrossed in reading that I forgot the time. I'll be back soon."
Ji Jinzhi smiled and said, "Your Highness, are you engrossed in reading the book or in looking at the lovebirds?"
Xiao Shiqing said calmly: "That's enough."
The Crown Prince was the child he had brought up, and he had never lied to him before. But now he kept telling lies for Wei Zhenfeng - it was all the fault of the people of Beiyuan.
Zhao Mian asked: "Why did father come to Qingfeng Lecture Hall so late at night?"
"I invited Prime Minister Xiao to come here to reminisce about the past. I didn't expect to meet His Highness and the young prince." Ji Jinzhi said, "If Prime Minister Xiao doesn't mind, why don't you let His Highness and the young prince stay? The four of us can talk about poetry and ancient and modern times together, so that we can spend the holiday in vain."
Zhao Mian's heart moved. His father and Ji Jinzhi were the winners of the last succession competition in Nanjing. If they were willing to give Wei Zhenfeng some advice, there might be unexpected results.
"I haven't had a good chat with my father for a long time." Zhao Mian looked at Xiao Shiqing expectantly, "What do you think, father?"
Facing his son's eyes, Xiao Xiang couldn't refuse, so he could only give the outsider a bargain: "Okay."
The four of them sat down one after another, and Fu Zi served them exquisite tea. The clever little prince seized the opportunity and showed his goodwill to Prime Minister Xiao. He used all the elegance he had learned throughout his life to carefully brew a cup of tea for Prime Minister Xiao, and offered it with both hands with his eyes closed: "Prince Xiao, please."
Xiao Shiqing was unmoved: "No need."
Seeing Wei Zhenfeng's slightly embarrassed expression, Zhao Mian couldn't help but call out to his father: "Dad..."
Xiao Shiqing glanced at Zhao Mian, closed his eyes and sighed, then finally accepted the tea offered by the young prince.
Ji Jinzhi watched the interaction between the three people and wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, so he found a topic to ease the unusual atmosphere: "Your Highness and the Prince came to listen to my class together yesterday. They didn't say a word during the whole class. But my class doesn't suit your taste?"
No. Ji Jinzhi's class was good, but he and Wei Zhenfeng had no intention of listening at that time. Ji Jinzhi brought up this matter again at this time, which was exactly what he wanted.
Zhao Mian asked, "Speaking of that class, the teacher seemed to agree that deposing the eldest son and enthroning the youngest son is the way to chaos?"
Ji Jinzhi nodded: "Of course."
Zhao Mian asked: "If the youngest son must fight for the throne, can he do it without causing chaos?"
"Why do you ask this question, Your Highness?" Ji Jinzhi asked knowingly, "Your Highness is the legitimate eldest son."
Zhao Mian smiled and said, "It's just a casual chat, sir, don't take it to heart."
Before Prime Minister Xiao spoke, Ji Jinzhi did not dare to comment on the imperial family's sensitive affairs. He asked Xiao Shiqing: "What does Prime Minister Xiao think?"
Xiao Shiqing said: "It is impossible not to have chaos, but the degree of chaos may be controlled."
How could Wei Zhenfeng not know the reason why Zhao Mian brought up this matter? He said to Xiao Shiqing, "I would like to hear your opinion, Prime Minister Xiao."
Xiao Shiqing did not comment. Ji Jinzhi knew that Xiao Xiang was tacitly allowing them to discuss this matter, so he opened up: "Since ancient times, there have been only two ways for young sons to seize the throne. One is to stay away from the capital, raise troops and establish oneself, wait for the right time, and then fight all the way back to the capital from the fiefdom; the other is to stage a palace coup in the capital."
The two young people present were very clear about what Ji Jinzhi said. Wei Zhenfeng held military power and made great contributions in the war to destroy the Western Xia, but his prestige was mostly in the Western Expedition Army, and his influence naturally fell to the west. If he was in Shengjing, he would only have one Fuxue Tower, which was under the eyes of Emperor Yuan.
Wei Zhenfeng wanted to destroy Emperor Yuan and Wei Changdu, not Beiyuan, and he didn't have the patience to wait for ten or eight years. Therefore, he had only the second way to go.
Ji Jinzhi unconsciously put on the posture of a master and asked, "What is the core of the palace coup?"
This question couldn't be simpler. Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng said in unison: "Imperial Guards."
Ji Jinzhi smiled and said, "That's right."
No emperor dared to underestimate the importance of the Imperial Guards. Emperor Yuan had always held most of the military power of the Imperial Guards firmly in his own hands. Wei Zhenfeng's influence in the Imperial Guards was not even as strong as Wei Changdu's. He still had a long way to go if he wanted to infiltrate it completely.
Ji Jinzhi continued, "No matter which faction you want to infiltrate, the key is the word 'rebellion', and the same is true for the Imperial Guards."
"Most of the commanders of the Imperial Guards take orders directly from the Emperor. How can they be instigated to revolt just by saying so?" Wei Zhenfeng seemed to be thinking about something. "Does sir mean to infiltrate from the bottom up?"
Ji Jinzhi showed admiration on his face: "Young prince is wise. If the crown prince succeeds to the throne naturally, those middle-level generals can only wait for the day when they can come out on top. Don't underestimate the temptation of following the dragon. Of course, they are not stupid. The one who wants to succeed the throne must let them see the hope of success. Otherwise, if they fail, they will be punished with the death of the entire clan. Who dares to take the risk?"
"These are not enough." Zhao Mian said, "Even if we control the imperial guards and successfully control the capital, it will be difficult to hold on for long without the support of the civil and military generals in the court."
There are more than one Wei Zhenfeng in Beiyuan who have military power. If the situation is not stabilized quickly after the palace coup, the troops stationed outside the capital will have time to come to the king's defense. At the same time, the family soldiers of the generals in the court are also an important part that cannot be ignored. There are many examples of successful rebellions relying on family soldiers in history.
In the final analysis, the battle for succession is still a matter of personal influence.
"Most of the important officials in the court have plenty of money and power." Xiao Shiqing suddenly asked Wei Zhenfeng, "What do you think the heir apparent can use to lure him?"
Facing Xiao Xiang's question, Wei Zhenfeng immediately sat up straight: "I'm not short of money or power, but I'm short of fame."
Zhao Mian agreed, "Many civil officials in Nanjing have devoted their lives to the pursuit of leaving their names in history."
Ji Jinzhi added: "All the countries in the Central Plains value a legitimate reason for their cause. With a 'name', more people will naturally be willing to follow. Therefore, succession disputes often occur when the emperor is about to step down, and the youngest son replaces the elder brother. It is better not to be labeled as regicide and patricide."
Wei Zhenfeng's eyes darkened. Zhao Mian knew what he was thinking and asked, "What if this man and this father must be killed?"
"Then..." Ji Jinzhi blinked, opened his folding fan, and covered his lips with his hands, saying, "Frame someone, change the history books, and don't let anyone know."
Wei Zhenfeng suddenly found Ji Jinzhi very pleasing to the eye and couldn't help but smile: "Mr. Ji, it's a waste of talent to be a teacher in Benquan Academy. Why don't you come back to Shengjing with me to show your talent?"
Without waiting for Ji Jinzhi to answer, Zhao Mian spoke first: "Why, the prince wants to snatch people from us, Nan Jing?"
"I dare not." Wei Zhenfeng said politely, "I am only sending out an invitation. Everything depends on Mr. Ji's opinion."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said coldly, "Mr. Ji is a talented person from my Nanjing. Is it rude or provocative for the prince to invite me in front of me and the Prime Minister?"
The young prince raised his eyebrows and said, "If Your Highness wants to think so, there is nothing I can do."
Ji Jinzhi was really surprised. The two young men had been looking at each other affectionately not long ago, but when it came to business, they turned hostile so quickly. It was obvious that both of them were people who put the overall situation first.
Now Xiao Xiang should be relieved. It is true that His Royal Highness has fallen in love, but his mind is still clear, and he will never do anything to harm Nanjing for the sake of Prince Beiyuan.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is undoubtedly born to sit on the throne. To be disrespectful, he is much more suitable than his father, the Emperor.
Wei Zhenfeng added: "Of course, it's not bad for you to continue to stay in Benquan Academy. Yuzhou is not far from Shengjing, and I can come and listen to your lectures in my spare time."
Ji Jinzhi said ashamedly: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your appreciation of talent. However, as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said, I am a Nanjing person in life and a Nanjing soul in death. Apart from Nanjing, I will not serve any other country in this life. I hope Your Highness will forgive me. Besides, I have already promised Prime Minister Xiao to return to Shangjing to serve the court."
Zhao Mian was slightly surprised: "How did father convince you, sir?"
"I found him a job that he's interested in." Xiao Shiqing looked at Wei Zhenfeng, "Does Beiyuan know about the disappearance of the Dongling royal family?"
Wei Zhenfeng shook his head: "Who is Xiao Xiang referring to?"
"Fuxue Tower should have received the news, but it has not yet reached Shengjing." Xiao Shiqing said, "This matter may have an impact on the three countries, you'd better pay more attention to it."
Wei Zhenfeng was flattered: "Thank you, Minister Xiao, for your advice."
After this chat, the scene could barely be considered harmonious. Late at night, the four of them returned to their rooms, and Wei Zhenfeng never found another opportunity to be alone with Zhao Mian.
The next morning, Zhao Mian and others packed their luggage and finally set out on the journey back south after a year.
Wei Zhenfeng and his confidants escorted Zhao Mian all the way to the gate of Yuzhou City. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two strictly observed etiquette and did not make any intimate moves.
The breeze was blowing gently, and the sky above the pavilion was bathed in the morning sun. They stood face to face under the city gate and said goodbye to each other as gracefully and generously as they had seven years ago.
Zhao Mian: "Farewell, take care of yourself."
Wei Zhenfeng: "You too."
After staring at each other for a while, one of them got on a carriage and headed south, while the other rode a horse and headed north, seemingly walking in an especially elegant manner. However, the man on horseback couldn't help but turn his head back, while the man on the carriage took out a calendar and stared at the month of April for a long time.
(End of this chapter)