Chapter 332: Chapter 322 Ting Feng
"Impossible!" Xie Xun abruptly stood up, his face changing drastically. "You’re spouting nonsense. My second brother is a member of the Xie Family, he’s my full-blood brother. Stop trying to confuse everyone."
"He is your full-blood brother, but he is also the only son of the Sannan Princess." Lin Helin dropped another bombshell, "He is also Sannan’s first-in-line heir."
Xie Xun’s head throbbed sharply, throwing him into chaos. How could this be possible? Aunt Mudan is the Princess of Sannan? No one at home had ever mentioned this. Aunt Lan had only teased Aunt Mudan for being pampered and overly particular. Aunt Mudan had never revealed she was of royal lineage. Did Father know?
Did Second Brother know?
With the Xie Family in rebellion, if anyone found out that Second Brother was tied to the Sannan Royal Family, it would be tantamount to forcing him into a death sentence! The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry’s morale would collapse.
A son of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion with Sannan royal bloodline would solidify the charges of treason and collusion with the enemy.
"So, Zhixu, how do you plan to negotiate with me?"
"I understand now. It’s because Aunt Mudan is from Sannan, so you plan to use this against Second Brother, trying to fabricate a story about his origins? Anyway, she’s already dead. Without proof, just like how you’re using public opinion against me now, the same tactic would apply to Second Brother."
"Zhixu, your cousin would not make groundless speculations," Lin Helin said. "Sannan’s direct royal bloodline only has two members remaining: the late King of Sannan and the Princess. The late King of Sannan had no heirs. After the Princess’s death, the throne passed to Han Zong, chosen from the royal clan as Crown Prince and now the King of Sannan. According to Sannan royal inheritance laws, direct princesses also possess succession rights to the throne, and their offspring inherit the same right. Years ago, amidst royal power struggles, the Princess drowned but actually escaped to Yanyang. She was later chosen by my aunt to enter the rear court of the Marquis Mansion. Ting Feng only needs to take on the surname Han and acknowledge his ancestry to become the sole direct bloodline of Sannan."
Lin Helin looked at the shocked Xie Xun and calmly said, "Your uncle holds military power, and your aunt comes from the Lin Residence. She showered affection on both of the concubines. In the Marquis Mansion, the two concubines held a status in the capital greater than many legitimate wives of officials. Aunt Lan frequently accompanied your aunt to various banquets. When have you ever seen Aunt Mudan attending social gatherings where Yanyang’s elite congregate? Her seclusion, avoiding even the Marquis Mansion’s banquets—doesn’t that strike you as odd?"
"This is just your one-sided story, insufficient to be believed!" Xie Xun glared at Lin Helin fiercely. "He is only my brother!"
Outside Jiaozhou City.
The army’s encampment was not far from the city gates. Provisions were sufficient, yet Fengyu couldn’t shake an indescribable sense of dread. It was the same unease she felt on the streets on the sixth day of June when she heard that the Marquis Zhenbei had killed the Emperor. A foreboding sense bubbled, her heart restless and nervous. As the sun set behind the West Mountain, the warhorses neighed into the dusky twilight. Fengyu led a team of men out of the forest and stood not far from the city gate.
Why was there not a single signal?
What had he encountered inside the city?
He had clearly said there would be a signal as nightfall descended. Fengyu clutched the Soul Suppressing Pearl, worry etched across her face.
Negotiation was not Xie Xun’s strong suit. He had entered Jiaozhou alone to give the people an explanation and to show them the sincerity of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry.
But what if something truly went awry?
As the night deepened, still no news came from the city.
General Xu Zhou reassured her, "Miss, please do not worry. A few days before the Prince entered the city, Jiaozhou’s gates operated as usual. There’s an elite guard unit within the city to protect him. If there is any unusual development, there will be signals sent. For now, all is calm. Perhaps something unexpected delayed the Prince, but he should be safe."
No news is good news.
"I understand!" Fengyu’s composure held firm. "If another hour passes without any signals, move the Iron Cavalry camp forward by a mile. Set camp just outside Jiaozhou."
"Understood!" Xu Zhou obeyed. Before entering the city, Xie Xun had left control of military affairs to Xu Zhou. He’d also given Xu Zhou an instruction: when in doubt, consult Fengyu, and follow her lead.
Xu Zhou exchanged a glance with Fei Ying. Though Fengyu may lack hands-on military experience and only command strategy on paper, her intellect in planning rivaled anyone’s. With Xie Xun still in the city, if no information emerged, the Iron Cavalry’s presence would certainly unsettle Jiaozhou.
The Jiaozhou State Mansion would not dare harm Xie Xun; doing so would endanger the lives of the entire city’s people.
An hour slipped away noiselessly. The moon climbed above the willow tips, its cool light washing the land.
Still no message from the city. Fengyu’s heart pounded as she sternly ordered, "Move the Iron Cavalry forward. Set camp outside the city."
"Yes!"
Inside Jiaozhou City.
Xie Xun remained skeptical of Lin Helin’s claims. Lin Helin threw out another revelation, "The iron ore from the Twelve States was once transported to Sannan. Who do you think orchestrated that?"
"Are you suggesting it was my Second Brother?"
Lin Helin gently shook his head, "No, it was at your father’s behest. Sannan has scarce mineral resources, nearly all acquired from Yanyang. After trade negotiations, officials from the Salt and Iron Department were tasked with oversight, making it hard for Sannan to acquire iron ore for military use. Yet, iron from the Twelve States—controlled jointly by the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion and the Su Family’s Trading House—was still transported to Sannan. On the surface, it seemed like the West State Salt and Iron Department greedily exploited high prices to sell Sannan iron for profit. But without your father’s approval, the Department wouldn’t dare act during the peak of the Mansion’s influence. Discovery of this scheme would result in charges of treason and collusion with the enemy. Your father permitted the iron transportation to Sannan to protect Ting Feng. In return, the Sannan Royal Family kept Ting Feng’s identity a secret."
"You’re lying!" Politicians’ words—not a single one did Xie Xun trust. "My father is loyal and righteous, willing to stake the entire Mansion for the Yuwen Royal Family. With the Beiman looming and Sannan growing stronger, he wouldn’t betray Yanyang by supplying a large shipment of iron to Sannan."
"He had no choice. When your father agreed to this, peace with the Beiman had not yet been achieved. The Beiman King was still a threat, not yet eliminated. The Beiman forces were poised to bypass contested regions and march on Ningzhou City. Your father had no alternative. If Sannan rose up and Ningzhou was trapped, that would be the worst possible scenario," Lin Helin explained. "Supplying Sannan with iron ore at least delayed their actions. While defeating the Beiman, your father calculated that the iron supply could only arm fifty thousand troops, a manageable threat. Compared to Sannan, the Beiman at the time was the more immediate danger."
"And how did my cousin know about this?" Xie Xun’s eyes burned sharply as he sneered. "If true, it must be top secret. How could you know? Does my father trust you more than his own sons? That’s impossible!"
"Where I obtained the information is irrelevant!" Lin Helin sighed. "But bring Ting Feng to Jiaozhou. Zhixu, if you and I cannot reach an agreement, there’s no further conversation to be had."