Feng Qingheng had always enjoyed playing the filial son in front of Emperor Jingyou, usually doing as he was told without question.
But this time, whether he had lost his mind or not, after being reprimanded by Emperor Jingyou, he still insisted, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble servant is willing to be confined and reflect, but Da Qian and the Tianxuan Sect absolutely cannot fall out.
At least thirty percent of Da Qian's annual taxes are paid by merchants who travel between Da Qian and northern kingdoms like Da Qin.
If the Tianxuan Sect were to sever this vital artery for merchants, the national treasury's revenue would plummet!"
Regardless of whatever Feng Qingheng had done before, these words held some truth.
The ministers also tentatively tried to chime in, but before they could speak, Emperor Jingyou's words caught their attention.
He said, "Regent, do you still not intend to reveal your secret?"
Suspicious eyes darted back and forth between Emperor Jingyou and Feng Xiwu, wondering what these brothers were up to.
Just as the crowd was filled with doubt, Feng Xiwu slowly spoke, "This humble subject needs a map of the area around Tianxuan City."
Emperor Jingyou gestured to Tang Xiao, who quickly withdrew. Moments later, a map, ten feet square, was presented.
Six soldiers from the Shence Camp unfolded the map. Feng Xiwu leisurely stood up, "Tianxuan City is not the only passage for Da Qian, Xiliang, and Bei Wei to the northern kingdoms."
"How is that possible?"
Feng Qingheng interrupted Feng Xiwu in a huff, "For centuries, merchants from all nations have traveled through Tianxuan City to the northern kingdoms. Are all those people fools?"
The Tianxuan Sect was his greatest reliance. If Da Qian no longer feared the Tianxuan Sect, what leverage would he have against Feng Xiwu?
"Prince Chen, it's best you shut up. No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!"
After saying this, she flicked a peanut at Feng Qingheng's mute acupoint, and he immediately fell silent.
Feng Xiwu smiled at her and continued to elaborate, "Over the years, people have habitually traveled through Tianxuan City because it is situated in the middle of the Yunzhong Forest.
On both sides of Tianxuan City are deep mountains and dense forests, filled with miasma and inhabited by wild beasts.
However, it so happens that three years ago, when this humble subject was gravely injured and being pursued, the Xuanjia Army, escorting me during my retreat, inadvertently stumbled into the Yunzhong Forest. It was then discovered that the Yunzhong Forest is not as terrifying as the rumors suggest.
Moreover, there are at least three, or even more, paths within the forest leading to the northern kingdoms. However, two of them have been concealed by special formations.
As for the remaining path, the initial section entering the Yunzhong Forest is blocked by a collapsed mountainside.
Once the weather warms up next year, within three months at most, the Xuanjia Army will be able to clear these blockages."
As Feng Xiwu spoke, he used Tang Xiao's sword sheath to trace the approximate routes on the map.
"Of the three routes, the one buried by the landslide is a bit far from Tianxuan City. Traveling from Da Qian to the northern kingdoms via this route would be a detour.
But the remaining two paths are both less than thirty li from Tianxuan City, yet they have been concealed by formations, remaining unknown. Do you all think this is a coincidence?"
Feng Xiwu of course knew it was deliberate. A fool would know that formations wouldn't just appear out of thin air to block a path.
Therefore, as soon as Feng Xiwu finished speaking, an impatient censor blurted out, "There are clearly paths, yet they have been hidden. The one who benefits most from this is the Tianxuan Sect!
For so many years, relying on the sole strategic pass, how much they have extorted from various nations.
Could it be that the people of the Tianxuan Sect deliberately hid the other two paths to create this sole strategic passage?"
Conspiracy theories always found an audience. After the censor spoke, the Crown Prince of the Southern King, eager to stir up trouble, chimed in, "Perhaps they hid the other path as well!
The Tianxuan Sect has an abundance of experts, and there are few people around. Pushing down a small peak or two to block that path is not impossible, right?"
...
Once they realized the Tianxuan Sect was no longer a threat to Da Qian, the atmosphere gradually shifted.
Feng Qingheng could no longer find an excuse to linger and was escorted out by Tang Xiao.
As he left, his eyes, filled with resentment, fixed on Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan.
His gaze did not waver until the two of them had completely disappeared from his sight.
The celebratory banquet thus concluded, and everyone dispersed. Feng Xiwu remained seated and said, "Prime Minister Wen, Grand Scholar Chi, and the Prince of Southern King, please remain. Your Highness and I have matters to discuss with you."
The three officials agreed to stay. Emperor Jingyou raised an eyebrow, as if asking Feng Xiwu, "What else are you planning?"
Feng Xiwu smiled without answering, took Lu Qingwan's hand, and stood up. He also instructed Xiao Baozi, "You go back to the manor first. Your father and I will return later."
Xiao Baozi was very understanding. Seeing that his father and mother had something to discuss, he blinked and nodded obediently.
This made Lu Qingwan so fond of him that she pinched his chubby cheeks again before he reluctantly left.
In the Weiyang Palace, as soon as Emperor Jingyou returned, he removed his broad, thick outer robe and lay down on the dragon couch.
Seeing Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan enter, he raised an eyebrow, "Even Prime Minister Wen was left outside the palace. What matter is so important that it requires such solemnity?"
"It does require solemnity. Your Highness might feel the urge to go on a killing spree after seeing this."
As Feng Xiwu spoke, he took out the confession of Feng Qingheng, which he had prepared earlier, from his embrace. "This is the result of an interrogation conducted by this humble subject and the Princess Consort last night. Your Highness, please examine it yourself."
Emperor Jingyou looked at Feng Xiwu's solemn expression and also became serious.
However, upon actually seeing the contents written on the silk cloth, he was still extremely shocked.
After all, he was his own son. Emperor Jingyou still held a sliver of hope, "Is there perhaps some misunderstanding?
When the eldest prince died, Prince Chen was only thirteen years old. The seventh prince was at the hunting ground, while Prince Chen was at Tianhe Academy at the time. How could he have harmed the seventh prince when he was so far away?"
Feng Xiwu's gaze was fixed on Emperor Jingyou, causing Emperor Jingyou's eyes to flicker before he slowly spoke.
"Your Highness, who is in charge of court affairs, surely knows that if princes and nobles wish to harm someone, they have countless methods. Why would they need to act personally?
Furthermore, this is what Prince Chen himself confessed. The previous interrogation of Madam Zhang, Jiang Dingkun, and Yu Chuwei today all used the same medicine as Prince Chen.
Their confessions have all been verified. Does Your Highness truly believe that only Prince Chen's case has gone awry?"
Emperor Jingyou had personally witnessed the effects of the Truth Serum and knew its efficacy.
He just couldn't accept it, "This unfilial son, how could he be so cruel?
I only thought he was eager for the throne. This is acting like a tyrannical ruler who punishes those who oppose him and prospers those who follow him!"
Feng Xiwu stood calmly before Emperor Jingyou's couch, "The past cannot be undone. He is currently the sole heir to Da Qian, and accountability cannot be pursued.
What this humble subject worries about is the future. If Your Highness is no longer present, and he holds a high position with no one to restrain him, I fear that this humble subject, the Princess Consort, and Prime Minister Wen, all those who have disagreed with him, will face retribution.
At that time, it will be far more than just a few deaths."