Chapter 364: No Owing Favors
On the second day after the Emperor’s return to the Capital, Yang Feng presented his request to resign in person. This was not a strategic retreat; his attitude was very resolute.
When lunchtime arrived, Han Ruzi dined within Soaring Clouds Pavilion and also granted a meal to Yang Feng, though the two did not eat in the same room. Han Ruzi finished early and had the eunuchs clear away the food, then walked to the window to gaze outside.
The noble attendants had all arrived again, in even greater numbers. Many of them had followed the Emperor on his journey and participated in the Battle of Jincheng. Quite a few sons of powerful families had been killed or wounded, and the survivors had all received rewards. Compared to the money and land given to ordinary soldiers, they cared more about titles and official positions. Within a few years, many of those people outside the window would become generals. As for civil officials, they would still have to compete with scholars who had passed the imperial examinations.
Cui Teng had become the absolute center of the group. Beside the Emperor, he was merely a follower, but outside, he had resumed being a true member of the Cui clan. He sat in the only chair beneath a tree, with two nobles fanning him, looking extremely pleased and not ashamed in the least.
More than ten people surrounded him, while many others could only gaze enviously from a distance.
Prince Donghai did not participate in such activities and stood somewhere unknown—Han Ruzi could not see his figure.
A cough sounded from behind.
Han Ruzi turned around and said to Yang Feng as he entered, “Is Lord Yang worried about facing retaliation?”
With Yang Feng, he did not want to beat around the bush. The Emperor was completely indifferent to the matter of establishing another heir, but Maiden Wang could not achieve such detachment. She cared deeply, even harboring hatred. For her, it must have been an extremely torturous period.