Chapter 724

First Volume, Chapter 724: Preventing Trouble Before It Arises

The reconciliation in the Grand Hall has been classified as the highest secret; no one outside those involved may inquire about it.

First, this matter concerns the imperial family's dignity; second, it concerns the Liang Emperor's strategic layout toward the Jiangnan Lin Family and the southern frontier powerful clans.

Yet the news of Qin Feng's enfeoffment as Tianlu Marquis rode the wind and spread throughout Jingdu within just two days.

Orange-yellow leaves drifted onto the surface of Mingyue Lake.

Autumn had grown deep.

At the strong insistence of Liu Hongyan and Xie Yun'er, Qin Feng had no choice but to change into autumn attire.

Beside him, besides Zhao Yuxiong, was another young man with a unfamiliar face.

The man wore a black bat-patterned cotton robe, no more than early twenties in age, yet built powerfully, every gesture radiating a fierce, rugged aura.

"Lord Qin, my father sent me here to ask: why have the Tianji Camp troops outside the city been moving so frequently lately?"

Qin Feng stared at the lake, his mind filled with images of his mother and his Elder Sister and Fourth Sister.

Since returning to Jingdu, he had exchanged only a few letters, and had since lost all contact—he did not know how his mother and sisters had been lately.

After a moment, Qin Feng spoke slowly: "Young Master Ma, in this capital, you must be cautious, even more cautious in your words and deeds. Without iron-fisted authority capable of standing against a thousand, every word spoken to anyone must be measured. Too sharp a tone invites misunderstanding and unnecessary trouble."

Ma Yu froze. As the son of East Camp Da Dutong Ma Mo, he held considerable status among Jingdu's Powerful Noble Sons, yet now, facing Qin Feng, he felt unable to hold his head high.

After all, at Qin Feng's age, being enfeoffed as Tianlu Marquis—whether there had been predecessors was unknown, but it was certainly unprecedented.

Ma Yu spoke bluntly, unsure what he had said wrong, and immediately bowed with clasped fists.

"Lord Qin, I have no disrespect whatsoever. If I spoke improperly, please enlighten me."

Qin Feng nodded, deliberately forcing a faint smile to ease Ma Yu's tension: "Young Master Ma, I know you are a man of genuine nature, which is why I warned you."

"Words like 'movement'—don't use them lightly. This capital, beneath the Son of Heaven's feet, holds the pinnacle of Liang's entire authority; correspondingly, everyone's nerves are hypersensitive."

"Especially now, the Jingji Garrison has split Heaven in two."

"The Western and Eastern Camps under the Imperial Party constantly watch the Dragon Tiger Army and Tianji Camp. If a single phrase sparks a misunderstanding that leads to Ji Zhan Bing Zhong, the joke will be far too large."

Only then did Ma Yu awaken to reality: the situation in Jingdu had changed utterly. The Dragon Tiger Army and Tianji Camp appeared to coexist peacefully with the Eastern and Western Camps, but in truth, they balanced and distrusted each other.

Between them, caution must be extreme.

Ma Yu quickly corrected himself: "Then what is the purpose of Tianji Camp's recent troop movements?"

Qin Feng smiled, his tone light and detached: "I'm about to depart for Beidi, aren't I? I'm merely drawing a small contingent of escort troops—no more than a thousand or so."

"If your father has any concerns, I'll send someone to report it to the East Camp Camp."

At this, Ma Yu immediately smiled apologetically: "Lord Qin, you overstate it. My father sent me privately to ask you directly, bypassing the Ministry of War and not reporting to His Majesty, precisely to avoid damaging harmony."

"Lord Qin's loyalty to the Emperor is known throughout Heaven. Any troop movement is surely for official business. My inquiry is merely a formality."

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Lord Qin, take care."

Just as Ma Yu turned to leave, Zhao Yuxiong blocked his path.

Ma Yu froze, realizing it was easy to meet Qin Feng but hard to leave—he turned back and asked softly: "Lord Qin, do you have something else?"

Qin Feng did not answer immediately, merely observing the leaves drifting on the lake's ripples.

His seemingly casual gaze sent waves of tension through Ma Yu.

Qin Feng remained silent; Ma Yu dared not press further, standing quietly by.

After a long while, Qin Feng finally spoke slowly: "Young Master Ma, how close are you to Brother Yuxiong?"

At this question, Ma Yu's mind churned—he could not fathom Qin Feng's intent.

Yet for safety's sake, Ma Yu chose an honest answer.

"If I must say, we're neither close nor distant."

"We are both sons of the Jingji Garrison. Zhao's father is Dragon Tiger Army Grand Commander; mine is East Camp Da Dutong. In official rank, we are roughly equal."

"But in terms of youthful achievements, I cannot possibly compare to Brother Yuxiong."

"He leads the Black Cavalry on the Front Line, slaughtering left and right, while I have never even set foot on a battlefield."

Ma Yu deliberately lowered his posture, terrified of offending Qin Feng by accident.

Under Ma Yu's careful watch, Qin Feng's lips moved slightly, his voice soft yet commanding without anger.

"Young Master Ma, don't evade. Answer my question directly."

Ma Yu swallowed hard and replied bluntly: "We merely know each other. Beyond that, no other relationship."

Hearing this direct answer, Qin Feng nodded with satisfaction, then asked: "So, after I leave Jingdu, you won't rely on personal ties to incite rebellion against Yuxiong and strike at the root."

At these words, Ma Yu's back turned icy.

This wasn't addressed to Ma Yu—it was aimed squarely at his father, Ma Mo!

Ma Yu immediately bowed deeply, lowering himself even further: "Lord Qin, you humiliate me. Throughout all of Liang, who doesn't know Zhao Yuxiong is your trusted confidant, your brother in all but blood? Even if I possessed heaven-shaking power, I could never incite Zhao Yuxiong to rebel."

"Besides, now that His Majesty and you have reconciled, our shared goal is the Jiangnan Lin Family and the southern frontier powerful clans. How could we possibly engage in internal strife now?"

"Rest assured, Lord Qin: when you leave, things will be as they are; when you return, they will be unchanged."

Sensing the sincerity in Ma Yu's words, Qin Feng believed only half—he turned to face Ma Yu, a strange smile curling at his lips.

"Young Master Ma, do you know? In my journey so far, I've learned one invaluable lesson."

"The most unreliable thing in this world is human words."

"Words alone mean nothing. How am I to believe you?"

Ma Yu cursed inwardly—he should never have come to Qin Feng. Now he had walked straight into the pit.

Qin Feng's methods had even the Imperial Party ministers and the Liang Emperor struggling to withstand.

How could a green youth from a Military Clan like him possibly cope? His palms were already sweating.

"Lord… Lord Qin, just tell me—what must I do for you to be at ease?"

Qin Feng glanced sidelong at the lake, and instead of answering, asked: "Tell me—how cold do you think this deep autumn lake water is?"

Faced with Qin Feng's unpredictable behavior, Ma Yu was even more flustered, but he could only force a reply: "You'd definitely freeze solid!"

Qin Feng smiled: "I don't believe you."

Ma Yu clenched his fists tightly; he understood Qin Feng's meaning. He turned slowly, gazed at the calm lake surface, took a deep breath, and leapt forward.

Just before hitting the water, a large hand grabbed Ma Yu's nape from behind and yanked him back.

Zhao Yuxiong's face was expressionless: "Young Master Ma, it's freezing cold out. If you catch a chill, how will Lord Qin explain to your father?"

Qin Feng's sternness vanished; he laughed and patted Ma Yu on the shoulder: "Young Master Ma, you're too honest. I was just teasing you—why take it so seriously?"

"Heh, you're the son of the East Camp Commander-in-Chief, a future National Pillar. No one knows what the future holds. If Li and I die in battle, you'll be the reserve commander—you'll have to step up. Men like you, honest and straightforward, are destined never to be Corruption. But you'll surely become a fine general. Now, go back. Don't make your father worry."