Free Web NovelChapter 340: Chapter 340: Interrogation
Capital City, Imperial College.
"Class dismissed."
With those words, Liu Hexuan walked out of Guangye Hall.
The many students rose in unison and bowed to see him off.
Only after his figure had receded into the distance did a few of the younger students begin to buzz with excitement.
"The ten-day holiday is finally here!"
Everyone began discussing their plans to go out and have fun, and a good number of them gathered around Ye Yunfeng, inviting him to join them.
Ye Jingyan excelled in his studies and poetry, earning everyone’s admiration and respect. However, his quiet, scholarly demeanor created a subtle sense of distance, so no one dared to be too rambunctious around him.
Ye Yunfeng, on the other hand, was different. He could blend in and have a good time with anyone, anywhere, so people were much more inclined to seek him out for some excitement.
However, Ye Yunfeng, who was usually keen on such things, was sitting at his desk, staring blankly at a book as if lost in thought.
He didn’t snap out of it until Qiao Zimo clapped him on the shoulder. He looked listless as he said, "I’m not going. You guys go have fun without me."
A disappointed sigh went through the crowd.
But seeing that Ye Yunfeng genuinely wasn’t in the mood, they didn’t press him further and went their separate ways.
Only Qiao Zimo was bold enough to sidle up, look Ye Yunfeng up and down several times, and ask curiously, "This is strange. Ever since you got back to the Capital City, you’ve been completely out of it. What’s wrong? Did something happen?"
He patted his chest. "If you’re in any trouble, just say the word. Your brother here will help you out!"
Ye Yunfeng lifted his gaze to glance at him before dropping it again. "You can’t help."
Qiao Zimo felt deeply insulted.
He asked indignantly, "Hey! What do you mean I can’t help? You haven’t even told me what it is, so how do you know I can’t do it?"
’I’m the son of the Chief of Staff, after all. If I can’t help, I can still ask my old man!’
’Of course, whether his dad would actually help was another matter entirely.’
’But for Ye Yunfeng to completely dismiss his earnest intentions like this was just too much!’
Ye Yunfeng simply began to pack his things and stand up, clearly unwilling to say any more.
Qiao Zimo had no choice but to turn to Ye Jingyan for help. "Jingyan, what on earth is wrong with him?"
’Could it be some kind of trouble at home?’
’He’d known Ye Yunfeng for so long and had never seen him this dispirited!’
Ye Jingyan smiled. "It’s nothing. Our older sister just gave him a difficult problem recently, and he hasn’t been able to solve it."
"Huh? That’s it?" Qiao Zimo was even more confused. "It can’t be that serious, can it?"
Ye Yunfeng shot him a resentful look.
’He had no idea that this so-called ’difficult problem’ was to find a way to break the siege at Tongtian Pass for Huo Yucheng!’
’How could that not be serious? It was extremely serious!’
But it wasn’t something he could easily talk about, so no matter how frustrated Ye Yunfeng felt, he could only swallow it down.
After all, he was the one who had eagerly promised his sister that if he couldn’t figure out a solution, he wouldn’t take that Military Book!
Ye Yunfeng held his breath, planning to go home and study the sand table some more.
He hadn’t taken more than a few steps before he saw Feng Zhang walking toward him.
Now, even Qiao Zimo couldn’t press the matter. He quickly straightened up and bowed respectfully. "Lord Master."
Feng Zhang smiled at Ye Yunfeng, a flicker of faint surprise in his eyes.
’It’s only been a month, but this boy seems to have changed somehow.’
’But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.’
’Perhaps escorting his father and brother back to Qingzhou had matured him a little.’
He looked at Ye Yunfeng and said,
"I was just looking for you two. The autumn hunt is in a few days, and you’ll be going."
"What?" Ye Yunfeng froze for a moment, subconsciously pointing to himself. "M-Me? Us?"
"That’s right. This is the Eldest Princess’s wish. Your older sister probably already knows."
Feng Zhang wasn’t surprised by this. The Eldest Princess was very fond of Second Miss Ye, and since her two younger brothers were also exceptionally talented, it was natural that the Eldest Princess would hold them in high regard as well.
An invitation to the Royal Family’s autumn hunt was something that would make countless people envious.
However, Feng Zhang was quite curious to see how this boy, Ye Yunfeng, would perform when the time came.
Hearing it was by the Eldest Princess’s decree, Ye Yunfeng instantly understood. Ye Jingyan, however, didn’t seem surprised at all. He smiled and cupped his hands in a salute. "Thank you, Lord Master, for informing us."
Feng Zhang laughed heartily and pointed at Ye Yunfeng. "I remember the Princely Heir gave you a fine bow. Don’t you dare embarrass me when the time comes!"
Ye Yunfeng naturally agreed.
Just as Feng Zhang was about to leave, Ye Yunfeng suddenly remembered something and called out, "Lord Master!"
Feng Zhang turned back. "What is it? Is there something else?"
Ye Yunfeng opened his mouth, but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat.
Ye Jingyan glanced at him and spoke up, "A Feng, if you have a question about your studies for the Lord Master, Zimo and I will take our leave first."
Qiao Zimo: ?
’Wait, I never said I was leaving!’
’Everyone at the Imperial College knew how fond the Lord Master was of Ye Yunfeng, having personally coached him in archery and martial arts on more than one occasion. Even if he wasn’t as good as Ye Yunfeng, it would still be beneficial to listen in!’
However, before he could voice his desire to stay, Ye Jingyan was already leading him away.
Feng Zhang smiled. "What is it?"
Ye Yunfeng deliberated for a long moment before taking a deep breath, as if he had made a great resolution. He raised his head to meet Feng Zhang’s gaze and said, word by word,
"I would like to ask: during the battle at Tongtian Pass, under what circumstances would you have dispatched reinforcements ahead of schedule?"
The smile on Feng Zhang’s lips instantly froze.
Like dark, heavy clouds silently blanketing the sky, the color in his eyes turned cold in an instant. When he spoke again, his voice was sharp.
"What are you talking about?!"
Very few people dared to mention this past event in front of him. He never would have thought that Ye Yunfeng, this wet-behind-the-ears brat, would be so audacious!
But Ye Yunfeng paid no mind to his barely suppressed rage. For the past ten-odd days, he had replayed the battle of Tongtian Pass countless times, imagining endless possibilities, but all to no avail.
With that terrain and that disparity between their forces and the enemy’s, there was no way to win unless reinforcements arrived swiftly!
Ye Yunfeng met his gaze directly, persisting, "If you had led reinforcements to pincer the enemy from the east and west of Little Gu Mountain, circling around to their rear to form an encirclement and attacking with General Huo from both inside and out, it might not have been impossible to—"
"Ye Yunfeng!"
Feng Zhang roared, cutting him off, the fury in his eyes looking as if it could incinerate everything.
"Do you have any idea what you’re doing!? Who gave you permission to speak to me like that!"
Ye Yunfeng stared at him, a certain suspicion in his heart finally confirmed. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
He said, "I was wrong. I shouldn’t have asked it that way."
However, before Feng Zhang’s anger could subside, he spoke again. "It’s not that you didn’t go early. It’s that... you were late."
A vein in Feng Zhang’s temple throbbed violently.
Ye Yunfeng enunciated each word: "In other words, it wasn’t that General Huo advanced rashly back then—that was the pre-arranged time to dispatch troops. Am I right?"
’As for who it was pre-arranged with?’
’Naturally, it was with Feng Zhang, who at the time was the Assistant General of the Southwest Three Armies!’
...
Long Princess Mansion.
Ye Chutang was summoned and once again visited the mansion to tend to the Eldest Princess’s health.
"The autumn hunt?"
Ye Chutang paused the brush she was using to write a prescription and looked back.
The Eldest Princess said with a smile, "That’s right! Feng Zhang is fond of that fourth brother of yours, so it’s a perfect chance to have them come along and liven things up."
An unknown thought crossed Ye Chutang’s mind, and her red lips curved into a slight smile.
"Is that so?"
