Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Feng Jin waited until Wuma Jun found an excuse to send Princess An Yina away, then he suddenly sighed and said to Jiang Pengji, “You shouldn’t have come to Shangjing.”

The uproar downstairs died down with Fang Pangzi’s departure. It returned to its quiet and elegant atmosphere.

Once she entered, Jiang Pengji unapologetically changed to a new tea set and steeped her tea. She swallowed a sip at lukewarm temperature and said, “Father is far off at Chongzhou; he cannot be at two places at a time and is unable to attend sister’s wedding. I am the only male representing the family. If I am absent, who will come in my stead?”

Feng Jin said, “In that case, after your sister’s marriage, please depart if you can.”

Jiang Pengji became speechless and stopped smiling. She said, “We have been good friends for long time. Why are you chasing me away when we’ve just reunited?”

Feng Jin glanced impolitely at Jiang Pengji, as if saying, “If you refuse wise counsel, you will suffer the consequences later.” He laughed helplessly. “All right. I will not chase you away, okay?”

Both talked about recent happenings and the atmosphere was warm.

Feng Jue, Huang Song, and Xu Ke, who were at the side, listened silently and they occasionally looked like they were deep in thought.

Feng Jue was the most puzzled. He knew his older brother’s temper very well.

On the surface, he looked gentle and amicable, and it seemed like he could talk to anyone. However, Feng Jin was very cold, distant from others, and unapproachable.

On the contrary, Jiang Pengji was not as gentlemanly and refined as was rumored. She had a rebellious streak.

Both became good friends, which was truly weird.

“Since the capital city and its surroundings are in disorder, why did you bring your whole family here?”

His wife was about to give birth. Feng Jin was magnanimous, indeed.

The conversation topic returned to the situation in Shangjing. Jiang Pengji recalled that Wei Jingxian was pregnant, which was concurrent with the dawn of distress. Feng Jin did not bring his wife to his old house to rest and give birth, but instead came to Shangjing. If something happened, there would be no escape.

Feng Jin smiled bitterly. He spread out both hands, saying, “This matter was not decided by me.”

Jiang Pengji did not understand at first, but seeing Feng Jin’s expression, she seemed to understand. Her pupils became somewhat rounder. She asked, “The situation has worsened?”

“If not?” Feng Jin raised his brows and asked in return.

To put it plainly, Feng Jin represented the Feng family as a hostage and stayed in Shangjing to put the Emperor’s heart at peace.

The power of nobles and eunuchs was controlled by the Emperor; they were like two ferocious dogs used against the scholars.

Some years ago, the Emperor became more muddle-headed, allowing the joint marriage between the Northern Borderline and Dongqing. That move caused many scholars to smell change in the air. In order to protect their families, some chose to remain an official and experience its ups and downs, while others acted ignorant and slowly faded into the background.

Feng Ren resigned from his post and retired; thus, he was classified under the latter. But the Emperor did not trust the Feng family at all. Perhaps because of that, Feng Jin and his wife had to reside temporarily in Shangjing city and live a secluded life after marriage.

As the situation in the capital city got even more intense, his wife was getting further along in her pregnancy, which put a lot of pressure on Feng Jin.

Both did not dwell in depth on the topic, as Huang Song was still around. Some words needed to be said privately.

Huang Song stayed for a while and secretly knew that he was uninvited. Thus, he found a reason to leave the teahouse, and was sent off by Feng Jue.

Feng Jue said softly, “Second brother has been very stressed recently. Bogao, please don’t take it to heart.”

Even though Huang Song descended from eunuchs, his god-grandfather was Secretary Huang, a mighty figure. Secretary Huang was unique in the hierarchy of eunuchs. He was well-loved by the Emperor, and was in the business of selling ranks and titles. He secretly also made peace with the scholars.

Indeed, Huang Song’s god-grandfather, to put it bluntly, sat on the fence. He befriended both sides and dared not offend them.

It if was not so, Feng Jue wouldn’t be friends with Huang Song.

Huang Song shook his head, but his eyes inevitably turned towards the private room and whispered, “Grandfather helped Song find a job earlier on, which found him favor with the guards in the capital city… If second brother Feng faces any trouble in Shangjing, please find me and I will help as much as possible.”

Feng Jue nodded his head silently, acknowledging the favor. “I will let second brother know about this. I thank Bogao on behalf of second brother for your goodwill.”

After sending Huang Song off, Feng Jin finally heaved a sigh of relief and spoke freely, “Lanting really shouldn’t have come to Shangjing. Even if you had to find a lame excuse, you should have declined. Did Lanting not notice that the Emperor has been finding reasons to summon scholars from various tribes to congregate in Shangjing in recent times? Even those who are holding official positions abroad were ordered to come back… I am terrified in my heart…”

Regardless if it was Jiang Pengji, Feng Jin, or Feng Jue, the sons of noblemen and scholars who stayed in Shangjing were hostages. Even though the Emperor hadn’t revealed his true purpose, his actions were already causing his subjects to worry.

“Since we are already here, can we escape overnight?” Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes and snorted mockingly. “Before coming to Shangjing, more than one person told me this, but I still came. I am waiting expectantly to see the events unfold.”

Feng Jin had a headache. He whispered, “The imperial guards have some unusual movements. I am afraid someone wants to usurp the throne.

Jiang Pengji’s eyes sparkled, and her heart became clear with understanding suddenly.

The imperial guards were commanded by Army General Fang. He was the royal relative the emperor promoted personally, and was a loyal servant of the emperor. If the imperial guards had any unusual movements, chances were the emperor wanted to subdue the scholarly families and threaten them to surrender their power.

Intriguingly, Feng Jin added, “Someone may have intentions to usurp the throne.” Thus, the movements of the imperial guards were interesting.

Usurp the throne? The princes vying for the throne were powerful. There was also Prince Changshou, who became a marqius, and was eyeing the throne.

Who was the one intending to usurp the throne? It was hard to predict.

“In conclusion, this is an act of pursuing short term goals while neglecting long term dangers.” Feng Jin had been in Shangjing for some time, and he understood the situation. “I am curious––who’s the mantis? Who’s the cicada? And who’s the yellow sparrow? It depends on each of their abilities. Lanting, listen to Jin’s advice: These days have been peaceful, but prize your safety above all else. After this period passes, the situation will be clearer.”

Xu Ke heard Feng Jin’s words. He had a complicated expression on his face. It felt foreboding. After setting up the flag, it wouldn’t backfire, right?

“I know.” Jiang Pengji replied as such, but as for how her heart felt, only she knew.

The teahouse was owned by Prince Changshou, after all. Even if Jiang Pengji was able to guarantee the secrecy of the conversations, she didn’t want to disclose important information at such a location. Feng Jin understood without any words being said. Both had tacit understanding and the conversation ended here.

At that moment, Feng Jue returned to the private room.

Feng Jin noticed the vexation in his younger brother. His lips were pursed, and he seemed unhappy. Feng Jue did not feel anything. H smiled as he sat down.

“One must know their ability before saving another. If one overestimates himself, there will be trouble. Did your teacher not teach you this? Father dislikes that you are fooling around with these complex people, but you refuse to listen. Huang Song is not one with pure intentions. You acknowledged him as your brother and nearly got yourself in trouble today.” Feng Jin frowned unhappily. He disciplined his brother with a flat tone. “If Lanting wasn’t present to save you from this predicament, tell me how you were going to resolve it.”

Feng Jue was not afraid of Feng Jin. He smiled. “I feel that Bogao is very sincere, and he is worthy of befriending.”

Upon hearing that, Feng Jin smiled coldly.