Chapter 220: Fame Shakes the Capital

"This... I don't really understand."

Liang Kai's eyes flickered, and he picked up his chopsticks to eat his food in silence.

Everyone present was a seasoned veteran of the officialdom.

Liang Kai acting this way only made them more suspicious.

Regarding the firearms of the Divine Machine Battalion, the Liang Family claimed they were novel gadgets collected from overseas, specifically presented to the Imperial Clan.

At the time, Zhao Heng was greatly pleased and even bestowed heavy rewards upon the Liang Family.

Seeing that Liang Kai was unwilling to bring it up, the others naturally knew better than to ask further.

However, they all had their own calculations in mind.

Next, they would have to probe the secret of this Artillery, whether from the Liang Family or Yan Wang.

"Hahaha..."

Seeing the banquet atmosphere become somewhat awkward, Dou Wei suddenly laughed out loud.

These people were all invited by him.

As the host, he naturally had the duty to ease the atmosphere.

But like the others, he also felt that the Liang Family seemed calmer than them.

And there must be something fishy about this.

The Great Song had banned the sea for a hundred years, not allowing a single plank to set sail.

However, in recent years, there had been constant petitions to reopen the seas.

But under the obstruction of the Liang Family, Zhao Heng ignored them all.

In the imperial court, the Liang Family repeatedly stated that the dangers of opening the seas were greater than the North Territory Di moving south.

And in these two years, the sea pirates along the coast had indeed shown an increasingly fierce trend.

In view of this, Zhao Heng did not even mention the matter of opening the seas.

It was just that the Liang Family almost monopolized the sea trade of the Great Song.

What secret they had, he was also interested in.

"Gentlemen, no matter what, Yan Wang has now become a force to be reckoned with," Dou Wei said. "Inviting you all here today is also for this matter."

With Dou Wei saying this, everyone's attention was once again drawn to Yan Wang.

Liang Kai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and he said: "Just as Prime Minister Dou said, the most urgent matter right now is Yan Wang. If Yan Wang grows strong, it means the Imperial Clan grows strong. If the Imperial Clan restores the strength of its peak years, none of us will have an easy life."

"Minister Liang is absolutely right. Although the Emperor treats us politely, he does not like us in his heart after all," Han Zheng said.

Qizhou is adjacent to Yanzhou, so he naturally worried more about Yan Wang.

Like Han Zheng, Wang Zi'an now harbored wariness toward Yan Wang.

This battle in Yanzhou was enough to prove that Yan Wang's military strength was not inferior to any powerful clan.

"Exactly, so regarding Yan Wang, you should not argue in the imperial court, but work together," Wang Zi'an said.

Like the Han Family, he also harbored wariness toward Yan Wang.

The others heard this and nodded one after another.

Dou Wei was overjoyed; his goal was to have everyone reach a consensus on curbing Yan Wang.

Raising his wine cup, he said: "May the powerful clans flourish forever!"

"May the powerful clans flourish forever!" everyone raised their cups.

But the moment they drank the Wine, their eyes wandered, and their thoughts were different...

Jinling City.

The news of Yan Wang defeating the Yuan Family and repelling the North Territory Di also spread here, becoming a topic of conversation for the people of Jinling after tea and meals.

Storytellers even went everywhere to inquire about the news, lighting candles to weave it into stories,

Talking eloquently on the streets and alleys, as if they had experienced it themselves.

The national strength of the Great Song had been declining in recent years, and what they heard most was that the land in the west had been occupied by Gaochang.

The mountains in the south had been occupied by Jiaozhi and Piaoman.

The war in the North Territory was even more of a mess; Ningjin Dusi was lost, and Jinzhou had been beaten to a pulp by Xiliang.

And the victory achieved by Yan Wang undoubtedly lifted their low spirits.

Even the restaurants that hung signs saying "Do not discuss state affairs" had taken them down in the last two days, letting the patrons talk about the war in the North Territory.

"I didn't expect that this Yan Wang not only brews good Wine, but also fights battles well. How many years has it been? Finally, we can hold our heads high for once."

"Isn't that so? If you ask me, guarding the borders and expanding the territory still depends on the Imperial Clan. These powerful clans, besides seizing and plundering in their own prefectures and fighting for power in the court, what use are they?"

"From now on, we should drink more of Yan Wang's Wine, just to support Yan Wang."

"..."

Yi State Duke Mansion.

Yang Feng drank three large bowls of Wine and was still not satisfied.

He was happy.

Yan Wang won, and he even killed the Great King Sa'erge of the North Territory Di.

This person was present at the Ningjin Battle back then, and how many sons of the Yang Family died at his hands.

Yan Wang killing him was equivalent to avenging his Yang Family.

"The Emperor has so many Imperial Princes, I didn't expect this foolish Imperial Prince to actually amount to something." Yang Feng wanted to pour more Wine, but it was snatched away by a pair of fair hands.

"Grandfather, you cannot drink anymore." A young girl in red hummed.

After a pause, the girl continued: "Furthermore, Yan Wang's brain illness has recovered, why do you still call him a foolish Imperial Prince?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Yang Feng laughed and looked at the girl in front of him with doting eyes.

Ten years ago, in the Ningjin Battle, all members of the Yang Family aged sixteen and above died on the battlefield.

Only a few young boys and girls were left behind.

The Yang Family, once as renowned as the Mo Family, declined from then on.

If not for this old wretch with a lame left foot still being around, who knows what the Yang Family would have withered into.

Thinking of the Yang Family's current situation, he suddenly looked the young girl up and down.

"Grandfather, what is wrong?" The young girl looked herself over as well, finding nothing amiss on her person.

Yang Feng examined her for a moment and nodded slightly, "Grandfather remembers that you and Yan Wang seem to have been born in the same year; now that Yan Wang has yet to take a wife..."

Upon hearing this, the young girl's face turned as red as the dress she was wearing, "Grandfather, what are you thinking?"

"A man should marry when he is grown, and a woman should marry when she is of age; what is wrong with this? Or could it be that Yan Wang is not good enough for you?" Yang Feng teased the young girl.

"Yan Wang's prestige is currently at its peak, and there are countless people wanting to propose marriage to him, so don't you go thinking too much..." After saying this, the young girl turned and walked away in embarrassment.

"Susu..." Yang Feng heard this, was stunned for a moment, then sighed and began to drink his wine in silence.

Yang Susu returned to her boudoir, her heart still thumping.

At this moment, the maid Yue'er came before her and said, "Young Lady, Miss Liyuan and Miss Qifeng have arrived."

Upon hearing this, Yang Susu hurriedly ordered Yue'er to invite them in.

Before long, the two young women arrived, giggling as they walked.

Once they reached Yang Susu's boudoir, one of them took a portrait from her bosom and said mysteriously, "Susu, let me show you a good thing; I spent ten taels of Silver to buy this."

After speaking, she spread a portrait on the table; it was actually a portrait of a man.

"Which young master is this?" Yang Susu looked puzzled.

"It is naturally Yan Wang, otherwise how could it be worth ten taels of Silver? It is said to have been leaked from the palace, and now in Jingshi, this painting is hard to come by; who knows how many young ladies of noble families are scrambling for it." The other woman giggled incessantly, "It is said that Yan Wang has yet to marry, and now who knows how many people are going before Imperial Concubine Mi Fei in the palace to propose marriage."

"Indeed, this Yan Wang is truly a golden turtle-in-law; everywhere in Jingshi is talking about him now," the woman said, "As the saying goes, a fine horse deserves a fine saddle, and a beauty deserves a hero. This Yan Wang is certainly a hero, and right now, one wonders which family's daughter will become the Yan Princess."

The two continued talking, and Yang Susu recalled what her grandfather had said, the blush that had just faded rushing back to her face once more.