He pointed to the white cloths and asked Liu Kai in surprise, "What is going on? According to our ancestral law, even though the Crown Prince's funeral is a state funeral, it should not be like this."
Liu Kai hesitated for a moment. He stopped and pulled Fang Zheng's arm, lowering his voice to say, "Old Prime Minister, there's something I need to tell you first."
Seeing Liu Kai's strange behavior, Fang Zheng was taken aback.
"Liu Kai, why are you so unusual today? Just say whatever you need to say..."
Liu Kai nodded. "Old Prime Minister, Minister Feng, to be frank, it's not just the Crown Prince's state funeral. My young master also unfortunately perished in an attack by the Great Tu people..."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng's entire body trembled, and Feng Pengju was also stunned.
"What did you say? Yuanwen, he?"
Liu Kai nodded. "Yes, Old Prime Minister. Young Master died from poisoned arrows, just like the Crown Prince."
Feng Pengju stomped his foot fiercely. "Abominable, truly abominable."
"If I catch the murderer, I will tear them into a million pieces."
Liu Kai said with a bitter expression, cupping his fists. "Minister Feng, to be frank, the murderer has already been caught. It was my son-in-law, Chen Xiaobei, who used himself as bait to lure the murderer into the驸马府 that the Emperor just bestowed upon him, thus capturing the culprit alive."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng and Feng Pengju exchanged a glance and fell silent.
Fang Zheng had originally prepared a thousand and one reasons to persuade the Emperor to revoke the marriage arrangement for Chen Xiaobei. But after hearing that Chen Xiaobei, disregarding his own safety, had captured the murderer who assassinated Xiao Jingyun and Liu Yuanwen, Fang Zheng found himself beginning to admire Chen Xiaobei.
Seeing that the two men remained silent, Liu Kai pointed forward. "Your Excellencies, let's go. My master is waiting in the reception hall."
Fang Zheng turned, glanced at Feng Pengju again, and they nodded in understanding before following Liu Kai forward.
Upon entering the reception hall, they saw Liu Xiangnan sitting there with a haggard expression.
When Liu Xiangnan saw them arrive, he leaned on the table and stood up shakily. "Old Prime Minister, Minister Feng, please sit down quickly."
Fang Zheng and Feng Pengju both cupped their fists and bowed to Liu Xiangnan. "Thank you, Marquis."
Fang Zheng continued, "Old Marquis, we have just learned of the news. Please accept our condolences."
Liu Xiangnan nodded. "Riches and honor are in heaven, life and death are by fate. Yuanwen's fate was sealed."
"Alas, it is all my fault. I have fought battles for so many years, killed countless people. Now the retribution has finally fallen upon me. It is all my own doing, Liu Xiangnan."
As Liu Kai served tea, he took the opportunity to change the subject. "Your Excellencies, you rushed here from outside the city. Please have some tea and rest your feet."
Fang Zheng took a cup of tea and took a sip. Then he changed the subject. "Old Marquis, we heard in other places that the Emperor intended to bestow a marriage upon your son-in-law, Chen Xiaobei. We found it rather peculiar and came to investigate."
Liu Xiangnan nodded slightly. "Yes, it was peculiar. At first, I also found it unbelievable. According to our dynasty's ancestral laws, Chen Xiaobei has already married three wives. How could he marry a princess?"
"But the Crown Prince insisted, saying that during the resistance against the Great Tu people, the Emperor had promised that the princess would be married to whoever had the greatest merit. He did not say that the person married could not have other consorts."
"So, in the end, the Emperor acceded to the Crown Prince's wishes and bestowed the marriage between Chen Xiaobei and Her Highness the Princess."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng and Feng Pengju breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.
Fang Zheng even felt a trace of emotion, as he had some connection to the princess.
The princess's mother was his niece, which meant he was related to the royal family. And not long ago, when the Grand Tutor and the Crown Prince were fiercely contending for the throne, Fang Zheng had even intended to promote Princess Xiao Jingfeng to rule the land. Now that Xiao Jingyun was dead, it was only a matter of time before Xiao Jingfeng took the throne.
If Chen Xiaobei's involvement could lead Liu Xiangnan to change his attitude and support Xiao Jingfeng, it would be a great thing.
Human thoughts could be so strange. In a very short time, Fang Zheng had changed his mind. He nodded slightly.
"Old Marquis, you are right. The Emperor must keep his word. If he breaks his promise, how can he gain the trust of the world!"
Feng Pengju next to him was stunned. On the way here, he and Fang Zheng had been discussing how to persuade the Emperor, but now Fang Zheng had agreed.
However, he then thought that perhaps Fang Zheng was just trying to comfort Liu Xiangnan, who had just experienced the grief of losing his son. With this thought, he followed Fang Zheng's lead and said, "Indeed, Marquis Liu. Since the Emperor has spoken, then this bestowed marriage is reasonable. Whether it violates ancestral law is not that important!"
Liu Xiangnan was also slightly relieved to see that both of them supported this matter.
After all, Fang Zheng still held considerable influence among civil and military officials. If he supported it, then there would naturally be no problem.
"Your Excellencies, you have traveled all this way from Xiaojia Town. Surely it wasn't just for this matter."
Now it was Fang Zheng and Feng Pengju's turn to feel a bit awkward. Coming all this way for this reason would seem like making a mountain out of a molehill.
Feng Pengju was quick to react. "Oh, it's like this. When I first petitioned the Emperor to return to my hometown to visit my family, the leave granted by the Emperor has expired, and I should return to report to the Emperor. I have decided to retire from public life!"
Liu Xiangnan waved his hand. "Minister Feng, that's not right. The Crown Prince has just passed away, and the Emperor is not in good spirits. He likely doesn't have the energy to handle court affairs. This is precisely when we old fellows should contribute. You cannot simply leave!"
Fang Zheng beside him secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He still admired Feng Pengju.
Feng Pengju's ability to adapt to situations was indeed very fast. Of course, Feng Pengju's reason was a bit far-fetched, but as long as Liu Xiangnan believed it, it was fine.
Seeing Liu Xiangnan trying to persuade Feng Pengju to stay, Fang Zheng quickly seized the opportunity to say, "Yes, I also told Minister Feng when we arrived that if the court needs us, we should stay."
Liu Kai next to them refilled their tea and added, "Your Excellencies probably don't know yet, but the Emperor has reinstated my master to his original official post and has appointed him to temporarily manage the army and maintain order in Wannian City."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng and Feng Pengju instantly understood why Liu Xiangnan had said that. Liu Xiangnan was now equivalent to the Grand Marshal, commanding the army with the title of Marquis. He had considerable influence with the Emperor. If he suggested that Feng Pengju stay, then Feng Pengju would naturally be able to stay.
Feng Pengju also understood the implications. He cupped his fists to Liu Xiangnan and said, "Marquis, you are absolutely right. If the court needs my services, I will not shirk my duty!"
Liu Xiangnan nodded. "The Ministry of Law has always been short-handed. Sima Wu Zhong unfortunately died in the Great Tu people's attack a few days ago!"
"If Minister Feng is interested, he can take over the position of Sima of the Ministry of Law."
The Ministry of Law was in charge of all laws in the land, making it a very important department. Liu Xiangnan directly proposed that Feng Pengju take this crucial position, which showed his trust in Feng Pengju and also indicated that the court was indeed short-handed.