Chapter 4, The Transience of Life and Glory

These words, I should have told you after two or three years, but... I fear it may be too late. You are precocious and can understand to some extent, but I do not insist on it. When Mingzhe sent you to the palace, I did not fully agree, but he had lost his three souls and seven spirits, and it was difficult for him to take care of you properly. Seeing you reminds me of your late consort, which only adds to the sorrow. I initially wanted to bring you to my side, but I, Feng, although my name is well-known and everyone flatters me with titles like 'Sir' and 'General', am ultimately just a rough man from the military. Back then, you were only a year old, and when I held you in my arms, I was afraid of hurting you. The young master of the Nanning Wangfu is of such precious status; if he fell into my hands, I feared I would not be able to raise you well, so I gave up the thought, planning to wait until you grew a bit older

The Grand Prince Helian Zhao finally had the opportunity to insert his hand into the military power, which was as solid as a copper wall and an iron bastion, and he was exceptionally pleased.

Feng Yuanji shook his head. Although the Grand Tutor Zhou Ziyi's name suggests elegance, he is, in fact, a very rigid person. In three sentences, he would not stray from the words of the sages, and he would certainly not engage in reckless discussions about current affairs with children. Moreover, as a mere scholar, a pedantic literati, he is not necessarily well-versed in the principles of warfare.

The "Inspector General" is currently the emperor's most favored, a parrot that has nearly scolded all the civil and military officials. However, upon hearing the child's seemingly sarcastic words, Feng Yuanji felt a sinking sensation in his heart, pondering how such thoughts could arise in someone so young.

It is merely ... a delusion. Feng Yuanji is well aware that Jing Beiyuan is ultimately just a child raised in the depths of the palace

Jing Qi sighed: "I am merely an unworthy junior, speaking these words is beyond the bounds of propriety and shows great disrespect, which I should never do, but..." He raised his long and overly delicate eyebrows, revealing a hint of sharpness, and with a cold laugh, he said, "General, if you do not act for yourself, will you just watch as the Emperor is deceived by petty individuals, leading to the destruction of the great wall?"

The only regret is that General Feng Yuanji died in battle, and nearly all of the 400,000 elite troops of the Daqing army were lost in the southern frontier

Jing Qidao: "I am not concerned; does the general know that the battle in the southern border is a deadlock?"

Feng Yuanji felt a jolt in his heart and could not help but ask, "What do you mean?"

This world is like the withered blossoms scattered across the ground in late spring, where those caught in the midst are dazzled by the chaotic flowers, unable to see the approaching bitter summer with its menacing claws. There are no enlightened rulers above, nor wise ministers below, and even if he were to be reincarnated, he would merely be a powerless child. The title of Prince of Nanning is conferred upon him, yet he is no different from the puppets adorned in gold and silver.

What should you learn from those people? He was taken aback, not knowing how to continue the conversation. Should you not learn from them, who are full of schemes and engage in sinister deeds?

However, for the most precious man sitting in the grand hall of the imperial capital, this was merely a small shadow behind victory. Four hundred thousand people and a general, buying him a hollow title to leave a mark in history, could be considered a worthy death. Moreover, without that man glaring at him and pointing out his faults, life became more pleasant.

Gazing at his low brow and gentle smile, there was an air of languor and heaviness, which surprisingly bore no trace of youthful appearance

Jing Qi felt a sudden jolt in her heart. Before she could speak, she saw Feng Yuanji turn his head and say in a deep voice: "It is not appropriate for me to say this, so you may consider it as if you have not heard it, do you understand?"

Jing Qi said softly: "General, one who is too strong is easily broken."

Thus, softening his voice, he said: "The rebellion in the southern border has prompted the Emperor to issue an edict for me to quell it. This journey... it is likely to be long and arduous, and I will not be in the capital to look after you, so you must take care of yourself." After a pause, still feeling uneasy, he added, "I know you have always been close to the Crown Prince, and he is indeed a good person, but..."

Jing Qi was taken aback... Where does this come from?

It is beyond one's control

Just as Jing Qi was about to speak, he was interrupted by a raised hand.

Feng Yuanji rarely spoke at such length with patience. Jing Qi listened intently, not daring to miss a single word, and suddenly realized that losing this elder was too soon, so soon that he actually did not understand this person at all.

Naturally, he did not need to recount history. From the moment Feng Yuanji received the imperial edict, he had resolved to die, yet he did not expect that this young man would articulate it. He could not help but interrupt him, saying: "Who taught you to say such things?"

Jing Qi smiled gently and added some paper money to the fire pit: "I am merely a leisurely prince relying on my ancestors' legacy, just a young child raised in this imperial capital, occasionally providing some amusement to my imperial uncle. In the eyes of the esteemed officials, I am no different from that 'Inspector Censor' in the study. Who still takes me seriously? The Grand General is overthinking it" The Grand General is overthinking it

He regards Jing Beiyuan as half a nephew. Now that Jing Mingzhe has thrown down his tools, he is about to venture to the southern frontier. This departure is uncertain in terms of life or death, and he can only feel the image of this precocious and wise young man, dressed in mourning attire, appearing particularly frail and lonely in the mourning hall.

Jing Qi thought for a moment and realized that General Feng was not someone of his kind. Therefore, the words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back, and he only softly said: "General, the southern border is far away, please take care of yourself."

No, you need not say more." Feng Yuanji scrutinized him, filled with many exclamations, "Beiyuan, you resemble your mother more in this way, only your pair of eyes take after Mingzhe, yet your temperament is unlike anyone else's.

Even at the end of a hero's journey, he remains a hero. Jing Qi chuckled at himself, realizing that he was reluctant to part with such talent and had spoken thoughtlessly, thus offending him

Feng Yuanji smiled and said: "Better to break than to bend"

Jing Qi merely smiled without speaking

Unable to stop his generous sacrifice, unable to halt this precarious state of the great Qing dynasty

At the end of this year, news of the great victory in the southern frontier arrived. Feng Yuanji, truly a peerless general, negotiated peace with the Grand Sorcerer of the southern frontier, agreeing to send his successor, the sorcerer apprentice, to the imperial capital as a hostage, leading to nationwide celebrations

Feng Yuanji turned around, his gaze piercing as he looked over: "Jing Beiyuan, a man born into this world, does not seek to be renowned among the lords, but only to stand tall and firm. He does not seek wealth and glory, but only to live and die without regret. I, Feng Yuanji, eat the salary of the sovereign, and I feel ashamed to be called the General of Pingxi. What I do is to repel foreign invaders and maintain order against bandits. The tricks and schemes you have seen in the palace, and the matters of * maps * and * books * that are so vile, ha! I, Feng Yuanji, am not incapable, I simply disdain them!"

Pity the empty seat at midnight, asking not the living but the spirits and deities

In the mourning hall, the white candles flickered gently in the breeze, and half a sheet of paper money burned in the brazier. The youth's complexion seemed to borrow a hint of warmth from the flames, as he sat quietly, his eyes as dark as lacquer, gazing deeply over. It was as if he knew everything. Feng Yuanji felt his heart soften involuntarily at the sight.

It is said that a centipede, despite being dead, does not stiffen. Yet, a dam that stretches a thousand miles can collapse due to an ant hole

Feng Yuanji sighed, his expression softening. He reached out with his hand, resembling a fan, and gently stroked his hair: "At your young age, do not emulate those people..."

If the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and the weather is favorable, I would not mind being a child for a lifetime

"General. " The child's soft and milky voice brought him back to his senses. Feng Yuanji felt a softness in his heart, thinking how difficult it was for such a young child to understand loyalty and treachery, wisdom and folly, and that he was also considering his own well-being. The words were heavy, and he feared that this already burdened child would overthink it. Thus, he softened his expression and responded gently.

But this child... is fundamentally different from oneself

Jing Qi suddenly felt that the man standing there was even taller than she remembered, always obstinate and self-willed, refusing to listen to advice, disregarding words, determined to walk a path even if it led to the underworld, not turning back even when hitting a wall, not shedding tears even upon seeing a coffin, clearly a foul stone in a latrine

As the year-end approaches, everyone is filled with joy

Greetings, Jing Qi suddenly smiled and said: "After all, I am the Crown Prince's tutor. Now that the Crown Prince has reached the age of attending court, I may not be privy to all matters, but I am at least aware of some things."

Feng Yuanji paid no heed to his sharply piercing words, but merely asked softly, "Then according to your meaning, what should I do?"

Although Feng Yuanji has not read much, he has been in the officialdom for decades. When he spoke these words, he hesitated, but Jing Qi understood his meaning. The current emperor appears to be in the prime of his life, yet he is merely a hollow shell drained by indulgence in pleasures. The fate of the country remains uncertain, and it is unclear who will take charge. At that time, the three princes will surely vie for power, and General Feng is concerned about getting entangled in this mess.

He spoke each word with a resonant clarity, yet Jing Qi remained silent for a long time, unwilling to respond. In the mourning hall, the only sounds were the occasional crackling from the fire pit. The two of them, one large and one small, one sitting and one standing, remained in silence for a considerable time

At this time in his previous life, Jing Qi was still a true young boy. In a single night, he lost his father. Seven parts of him were filled with fear of the uncertain road ahead, while three parts were consumed by sorrow over his circumstances, feeling deeply saddened. There were too many things that a child could not comprehend, and when they piled up together, it led to a complete breakdown. He was unable to keep vigil for the late Lord Wang even for the first seven nights, and thus he was unaware of General Feng's visit under the cover of night.

Yet ... ... it is also deserving of the phrase "iron-willed and resolute"

Feng Yuanji and the old prince have been friends for many years. He is a person who does not adhere to conventional etiquette, and he comes to pay his respects to the deceased under the stars, revealing a hint of genuine emotion that is rare to encounter amidst the insincerity of these years.

He stood up, hands clasped behind his back, looking down from a height at the youth kneeling there—still not fully grown, having undergone such a great change, and appearing frail, with delicate features resembling those of a girl. Yet, as he sat there, slightly tilting his face to look back, for some reason, an indescribable sense of certainty gave him the illusion of being in a peer-to-peer conversation.

It is merely a disturbance caused by an external force, a mere eruption from the heart

I never expected that in this lifetime, I would be able to see him for the last time before he leaves the capital

Feng Yuanji was willing to listen to him, so he said: "Please continue speaking."

"Yet I cannot wait for you to grow up." Feng Yuanji chuckled self-deprecatingly, his voice suddenly turning stern, "You were born in a wealthy land, raised by the hands of women; it is all due to fate and circumstance, and it is nothing remarkable. However, you must not forget, you were born a man!"

Although the southern frontier is small, since the founding emperor gained the world and traversed the nine provinces, this place has been like a thorn in the throat. The Taizong favored martial prowess and reigned for thirty-six years, conducting two northern campaigns, compelling the northern nomads to bow and pay tribute, yet ultimately he harbored resentment towards the southern states, a hero meeting his end. The southern frontier is characterized by mountains and treacherous waters, with miasma and dense forests, making travel inconvenient. Setting that aside, our soldiers from the Central Plains struggle to adapt to the local conditions, which is already quite challenging, let alone...

"Zhou Taifu."

Before he finished speaking, Feng Yuanji sternly shouted: "Is the current emperor someone you can slander? Such words are utterly treasonous!"

Feng Yuanji looked at him, his face shrouded in gloom, his expression difficult to discern. After a long while, he finally sighed softly: "Clearly just a child, yet why must he always burden himself with adult concerns and speak like an adult?"

Feng Yuanji remained silent and tranquil

Feng Yuanji smiled lightly and, without intention, pointed out the central issue to Jing Qi with a single sentence. In that moment, the expression of grief and indignation on his face was so intense that he could hardly contain it. However, being a man of strong character, he was unwilling to show such emotions in front of this young boy. He turned his head away, gazing at the dim sky outside the mourning hall, and after a moment of silence, he managed to control his voice and expression. Lowering his voice, he spoke as calmly as possible: "Even a little child like you is concerned about this matter, yet those who should be listening are precisely the ones who cannot hear it."

This winter has been particularly cold, yet the capital remains vibrant with music and dance

Jing Qi extended his hand, gently pressing down to signal him to remain calm. The plain long sleeves stirred a wisp of cool breeze. The general spoke in a sharp tone, yet the young man remained unfazed, continuing to say: "... Therefore, it is necessary to take some actions to be recorded in the annals of history, so as to demonstrate his contributions to the preservation of the state. The general is not an outsider; let me speak frankly, those people have long been eyeing the half military token in your hand. Yet you are as unyielding as a copper wall and iron bastion, impervious to both soft and hard approaches. Moreover, you hold military power and carry yourself with dignity, which inevitably makes you a target of jealousy. Thus, they are contemplating how to remove you... General Feng, is there any error in this statement?" General Feng, is there any error in this statement?

Jing Qi struggled to rise, and as he moved, his head felt somewhat dizzy. He exerted effort to steady himself, stood up to close the door of the mourning hall, and then returned to his original position. It was as if he had just completed a heavy task, and he let out a long sigh to relieve himself. After a moment, he lowered his voice and said: "The current emperor indulges in pleasure, appearing foolish, yet he is not entirely insincere in his heart..."