Chapter 314 - A Visit from the Assistant Minister, Hua Xiangfeng (1/2)

Chapter 314 A Visit from the a.s.sistant Minister, Hua Xiangfeng

King Chu welcomed King Yan, Feng Yulei, at his manor today.

King Chu being injured by an a.s.sa.s.sin was not really news. The news said that King Chu was badly injured but no one actually saw his injuries. The only information that was released was that the physicians were trying their best to treat him.

When Feng Yulei arrived, Feng Yuxuan was lying on the large empty grounds in front of his courtyard, suntanning. Other than his pale complexion and haggardness, he looked fine. On the long soft couch, two large marble screens s.h.i.+elded him from the wind. The sun shone down warmly upon him and it added some life to his dark eyes.

He reached out with his left hand and lifted the pitcher by his side with some difficulty. He poured Feng Yulei a cup of tea, his sleeves hiding the bulging veins of his hand. His hand felt so weak that he almost could not hold on any longer. His wound hurt but he kept a faint smile on his face. Putting down the pitcher, he pushed the cup of tea to Feng Yulei and smiled, saying, “Third Brother, why are you so free to come to my place today?”

Then, he ordered the little eunuch beside him, “Go, bring that chair over for King Yan.”

The little eunuch rushed off to bring over a nanmu wood chair with gold tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. He even put a soft cus.h.i.+on on it especially.

“Big Brother, how are your injuries? Our Royal Father and Mother are worried and told me to come and take a look.” Feng Yulei bowed and took a seat with a smile. He accepted the tea that Feng Yulei pushed over to him and took a sip. Then, he praised, “The tea here is good. The new tea that I have just gotten isn’t as flavorful as yours.”

Feng Yulei said and lifted the cup in his hands, peering at the color of the tea as he praised it.

“Take some back with you when you leave lest you keep saying that my King Chu’s Manor is better than your King Yan’s Manor. Even the same tea leaves have different flavors. I have to go over to your place to have a look to see what good things you are hiding.” Feng Yuxuan glanced at Feng Yulei with a vague smile as he spoke.

“It must be the people here then. They manage the tea leaves with all their hearts. I truly don’t have anything good that you might like.” Feng Yulei joked. Then, he put down his cup and asked with concern, “Big Brother, how are your injuries? Father is truly worried. Shall we get you a royal physician?”

Feng Yuxuan shook his head with a laugh, saying, “I have worried Father. It is no big deal; it is just a small injury to my arm. It’s better now but I have to recuperate for some time. It is hard for me to move around these days, so help me to tell Father this.”

“Of course. Are you figuring out chess plays alone?” Feng Yulei’s gaze landed on the white jade chess table in front of Feng Yuxuan.

“I was bored and playing against myself is considered a form of self-entertainment. It is not anything grand.” Feng Yuxuan lamented and shrugged.

“Big Brother, you have more and more chess play under your belt now. Look at this, you are much better than me now.” Feng Yulei picked up a chess piece and put it down. The chess piece landed in the middle coincidentally and blocked the formation that Feng Yuxuan was going for coincidentally as well. One could tell who was going to win immediately.

“Third Brother, and you were just saying that you are bad at chess. There is nothing else I can do after your move.” Feng Yuxuan picked up a chess piece and hesitated for a moment. He did not put it onto the board straight away. Instead, he knocked it against the board a few times looking like he could not make up his mind.

“I am truly bad at chess. Amongst us brothers, Yuzhen’s the best at chess. You win at having the most chess plays while I know some little tricks. Forget Eighth Brother, for he pokes around without any plays in his mind. He is just playing. Only Yuzhen has the plays of a chess master. He is the best amongst us and even grandmother praises him for it.” Feng Yulei said casually as he lowered his head and picked up the teacup by his hand. He took a sip while looking over the cup at the chessboard.

“No matter how good Yuzhen is, he is not here. He has been gone for so many years. Father once said that he will definitely allow him to come back when he gets married. It should be about time for that.” Feng Yuxuan looked at the chess pieces on the board and said leisurely.

Feng Yuzhen was the hostage prince who had gone to the Yan Kingdom but everyone knew that the hostage son Bai Yihao would eventually return. That meant that Feng Yuzhen would come back as well. However, he could not return before Bai Yihao did unless he got married. The rules of the Qin Kingdom stated that one had to wors.h.i.+p their ancestors before getting married.

Feng Yuzhen’s ancestors were the ancestors of the royal family. He had to go to the family temple to pray and wors.h.i.+p…

Even though the Qin and Yan Kingdoms had exchanged hostage princes, Bai Yihao was given more freedom. He could return to the Yan Kingdom from time to time while Feng Yuzhen rarely returned. On one hand, it was because Bai Yihao’s status was higher than Feng Yuzhen because he was the crown prince. On the other hand, Emperor Zongwen rarely had anything on for Feng Yuzhen to return. Without the orders of the emperor, returning secretly was as good as treason.

Feng Yuxuan smiled. He naturally understood why Feng Yulei had brought Feng Yuzhen up. However, there was no hint of that on his expression. He said with a warm smile, “Third Brother, why are bothering with his matters? Isn’t the Empress Dowager helping King Ning to pick a consort? I heard that the daughter of Grand Secretariat w.a.n.g is known for being demure. She should be the one!”

Grand Secretariat w.a.n.g was an official who worked under the previous Emperor. He was related to the Empress Dowager as well and would naturally be close to her. He would visit the Empress Dowager from time to time at Cining Palace and speak with her. His daughter would accompany him as well and she met with the princes several times as well. Judging by the Empress Dowager’s intent, it would be normal for her to pick w.a.n.g’s daughter.

“Big Brother, I heard that there are a few girls from n.o.ble families in the consort selection this time. Even though we have already picked our main consort, the spots for secondary consorts and concubines are still empty. The Empress Dowager wants us to pick a few for ourselves and for King Ning.” Feng Yuxuan changed the topic.

They had not yet married their main consort and were picking their secondary consorts and concubines. Even though this had happened before, it wasn’t very nice especially since the consorts they picked were n.o.ble young ladies from n.o.ble families. The Empress Dowager sending in more new people was not done very well. Furthermore, according to what they knew, w.a.n.g Xiuxiu was not chosen this time.

The Empress Dowager wanted to pick more women for King Ning.