That night, the lamps had been lit in the study of the Kou Residence.
Kou Yuan settled behind his desk again. Qi Zhao closed the door and stood at his side.
"Lord Feng lies on his sickbed, insensible to the world."
"Who still speaks in the Feng Residence now? Wei Nisheng." Kou Yuan's voice was heavy.
"He said Lord Feng had Shen Duan on his mind, and so Shen Duan received a 'last wish.'
If he changes his tune and says Lord Feng left some other instruction, that little 'last wish' of Shen Duan's becomes a joke.
The Feng Family's protégés, old associates, favors, and prestige-
'Feng Half the Court' now rests entirely on this one young man's tongue."
Qi Zhao frowned slightly. "Grand Secretary, Wei Nisheng belongs to the Feng Faction. He is Shen Duan's honored guest now..."
"Honored guest?" Kou Yuan sneered.
"Being an honored guest is one thing. Each taking what he needs is another.
After all these years I've lived, do you think I cannot tell the two apart?"
"Let me ask you: why did Shen Duan change direction overnight?
Because of that one sentence he brought back from the Feng Residence: 'Border affairs cannot wait.'
But did Lord Feng truly say those words?
Lord Feng cannot even recognize the Crown Prince anymore. Could he have said such a thing?" Kou Yuan looked displeased.
"Most likely, Wei Nisheng put those words into Shen Duan's hands.
Wei Nisheng wants the commander's seal of Ningxia. Shen Duan wants Lord Feng's name.
One supplies the 'name,' the other the 'power,' and they strike a bargain at once."
"And what I want is the position of Chief Minister." Kou Yuan paused.
"Do you know what I must contend for if I am to fight for that position?"
Qi Zhao lowered