Indeed, they were close as brothers since childhood, even sharing the sa pair of pants. Zhang Boju sat beside him, "If Xie Er were willing to pay attention to you, would you even have ti to co find ?"
"Did he say anything during court today?" Fang Chuning coughed lightly, asking curiously.
"Not a single word from start to finish, the atmosphere was heavy. Even when the Emperor ntioned the duel, Xie Er didn’t say a thing and wore a stern, coffin-like face. Just like when he was a child—when he’s upset, he doesn’t like to speak." Zhang Boju complained, "With him silent, even the Emperor didn’t dare provoke him. He just ordered the cabinet to arrange the duel event. Beiman will likely send a team to the Capital City. This whole back-and-forth ans the actual duel won’t happen until a month later. The timing is awkward too; the Empress’s wedding is imminent. After court, the Ministry of Rites approached the Emperor—there’s no way the duel can clash with the wedding date."
"The timing doesn’t overlap? So he truly didn’t say a word?"
"Why would I lie to you!" Zhang Boju snapped, "He left court faster than anyone else—as expected of soone with no friends."
"He has , doesn’t need friends."
Zhang Boju: "..."
He didn’t even know where to begin roasting Fang Chuning, "You ca to find just to ask if Xie Er said anything in court today?"
"No, I missed you and ca to drink wine with you."
Zhang Boju looked at the only flask of wine that Fang Chuning had nearly finished, his face wooden as he asked, "Where’s my wine?"
"This is your house. You’re asking for wine? Why don’t you have so sha?"
If he could beat Fang Chuning in a fight, Zhang Boju would have already thrown punches. Instead, he called for an attendant to bring over two more flasks of wine. Zhang Boju said, "Though Xie Er may seem cold, he wouldn’t go so far as to agree to this kind of wager with Dugu Jing. This wager essentially forces either you or Xie Xun to your deaths. This bet—it was your doing, wasn’t it?"
Fang Chuning pressed his lips together, the picture of silent resignation.
Zhang Boju felt his guess was right, "If Xie Er had set the wager, he wouldn’t have been so silent in court. From the beginning, he would’ve made clear that you were going to the duel. When the Emperor suggested going himself, Xie Er would have opposed him. None of this adds up—it’s more likely that he’s angry at your self-serving decision. Growing up, you were the only one capable of angering him. Be careful. He’s now officially a Prince."
"What about being a Prince? He’s still Ting Feng."
"His status isn’t the sa anymore. Back then, you were both sons of first-rank military lords. You, as the Marshal’s sole heir, were even more esteed. Speaking thoughtlessly was excusable then, but now things have changed..."
"You’ve been in the cabinet for how many years now, and look how petty you’ve beco. Are you even speaking to without layers of calculation?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Did I offend you? We’re equals, why wouldn’t I provoke you!?"
"Is that how ’equals’ works?"
Zhang Boju: "..."
Zhang Boju was so infuriated by Fang Chuning that he nearly jumped to his feet, clenching his fists in long-lost recklessness. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he couldn’t help but vent his grievances, "Do you realize how maddening it is in the cabinet? In the days of the Yuwen Dynasty, we had to serve a lunatic emperor—every day, coming up with ways to stop his madness, every day advising him to act like a normal person. And that wasn’t even the worst of it—endlessly negotiating whether to deploy troops was a nightmare. The clan elders in politics were always impossible to work with. Irrelevant matters flew around everywhere, and sotis I even had to go begging for money alongside Minister Gong. Do you think my life’s been easy? Even now, those sa old ministers are just as difficult. When pushing for reforms, Elder Li nearly threw a teacup at my head. Look, look..."
He parted his hair to show a scar. "This cut is still visible! Court intrigue is far harsher than your battlefield hardships. If you don’t go to Jiangnan as stationed commander one day, just try attending court for a few days—you’ll see what it’s like."
Fang Chuning offered a shallow gesture of comfort, "At least now you don’t have to beg for money anymore."
"That’s true—the new dynasty is truly rich!" Zhang Boju chuckled, "Ever since the new dynasty ca into being, Minister Gong seems to be glowing every day. He signs off on silver allocations so easily; he doesn’t even haggle anymore."
Fang Chuning: "Wait, why would I have to go station in Jiangnan?"
"What do you an you wouldn’t go station in Jiangnan?" Zhang Boju looked more surprised than Fang Chuning.
"You’re telling the cabinet decided this without consulting ?"
"Why do you keep distinguishing ’the cabinet’ so sharply? Must we civil officials and military generals remain this divided? We discussed this together—you know the Marshal’s temperant. He would never bow his head and submit. If he retires and steps down, you’d have to take over the command. Otherwise, what happens to the army in Jiangnan? If you send Ningzhou’s generals to Jiangnan, that region would undoubtedly erupt into chaos. If Zhongzhou generals were sent, no one would trust them after the Emperor just finished pacifying Zhongzhou. Ningzhou and Zhongzhou’s forces simply cannot be sent there; only you are suitable. The Marshal sent you to train in Ningzhou so that one day you could inherit Jiangnan’s military power." During the cabinet discussions, this conclusion was practically set in stone—Fang Chuning had no real chance to reject Jiangnan’s stationing.
Zhang Boju’s heart raced. Surely, Fang Chuning wouldn’t refuse outright?
"Whoever wants to go station Jiangnan can go. I’m not going."
"Then where would you go?"
"I’ll roam freely, live carefree. Why should I care where I go? You in the cabinet are so tyrannical, arranging military assignnts behind my back?" Fang Chuning raised his brow. "Who made the arrangents—Lin Helin?"
"No!" Zhang Boju said, "It was at the Emperor’s direction. If the Marshal retires, you’ll be sent to Jiangnan."
Fang Chuning: "..."
Xie Xun had always been disdainful of him and seed to have gleaned part of the truth. Last ti, when Xie Xun saw him and Ting Feng returning early in the morning from the riverbank, his expression had been peculiar. To be stationed in Jiangnan while Ting Feng goes to Ningzhou—one north, one south—years may pass without eting again.
The Emperor’s calculations were truly shrewd!
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