Chapter 542: All settled?

These days, have you figured it out?

Chen Hao lowered his head silently: "What do you mean, Father?"

Chen Wang snorted: "You are my eldest son; though you have been a hostage in Jingcheng these years, as your father I have never shortchanged you."

"Food, clothing, housing, travel—your daily expenses, which of these haven't I provided? When have I ever withheld even a fraction?"

"You've done well, growing up in Jingcheng, learning nothing but utter loyalty and devotion!"

He frowned, staring at his eldest son: "Back then, if I hadn't sent you to Jingcheng, how could my Prince's Mansion have survived these years unscathed?"

"Your grievances, I, as father, am not unaware, but this is also the duty befitting your status as eldest son."

Chen Hao spoke softly: "Son understands, thank you, Father."

His words were unclear, and Chen Wang instantly wanted to flare up.

"Understand? Understand what?"

"Is it to avoid the grievances of being a hostage, or to avoid the fact that I haven't shortchanged you these years?"

He took a deep breath, softened his tone: "Your younger brother has grown up by my side, bringing joy to my knees; I inevitably dote on him a bit more."

"But you must understand: these years you have been far away in Jingcheng, while it is your brother who has fulfilled filial duties in the mansion on your behalf."

"You two brothers each fulfill your duties; you are both my flesh and blood, and I have never slighted you."

"But he is ultimately born of a concubine; the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate means he cannot block your path."

"If the brothers are at odds, it only gives Qing Wang a laughingstock and causes officials to look down on our Prince's Mansion."

"Yes." Chen Hao clenched his teeth: "Son understands."

Chen Wang's brows knit tight; this child has been away too long, and he just can't feel close to him.

His way of speaking is always like this: although you can't find fault, he remains cold and distant.

He rose, walked to Chen Hao's side, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Think it over—where exactly should you stand?"

"Yes, Father." Chen Hao's fingers twitched slightly, the corner of his eye glancing at the letter covered by a book.

This morning the letter had just arrived; he hadn't had time to look when Chen Wang came, without letting a servant report, and in the rush Chen Hao could only cover it with a book on the table.

Now he only hopes Chen Wang will leave quickly.

No matter what Xiao Ran's letter says, Father must never see it.

Chen Wang casually flipped through the books on the desk, his eyes scanning: "Analects," "Mencius," "Classic of Loyalty"...

Chen Hao's heart pounded.

Chen Wang snorted: "Not bad, all good books." He lifted his hand and opened another.

Chen Hao's palms began to sweat.

Chen Wang snapped the book shut with a slap: "Loyalty to the ruler?"

"Since you know this principle, you should be clear about it."

He paused, looking at his son, his eyes deep: "Whoever sits on that dragon throne is the ruler."

Chen Hao's pupils contracted slightly, his breath nearly stopping.

Chen Wang turned and walked toward the door: "Think it over well; don't give me reason to punish you again."

Only after his footsteps faded completely did Chen Hao realize his back was soaked in cold sweat.

He slowly rose, walked to the door, closed it, and let out a long breath.

He walked back to the desk, reached out and pulled Xiao Ran's letter out, his back to the door, and glanced over it.

"I heard you actually confronted Chen Wang face to face, frankly advising him not to repeat his mistake."

"Good! Truly worthy of being my good brother!"

"I am safe and sound in Xibei."

"The army's supplies are ample; the troops Jingcheng sent, however many they send, we beat back that many, leaving them now only able to defend Jingcheng—truly satisfying!"

"We will surely take it back someday; when that time comes, you must be sure to support me well!"

"You probably won't believe this, but the reason our army can hold its ground in Xibei is entirely thanks to the little one's efforts."

"Even when I wanted to write you a letter, she especially urged: 'Brother Chen Hao is a good person!'"

"If anything changes on the Jingcheng side, send a letter if you can; if not, don't force yourself."

"Above all, don't provoke Father's anger again, or you'll be asking for suffering."

"Take care!"

The letter bore no signature, but that intimately familiar handwriting warmed Chen Hao's heart.

Memories of skipping school together with Xiao Ran, getting punished together, and causing trouble together slid through his mind.

He read it again; it seemed that although Xibei lacked the Imperial Court's provisions, the army remained elite and well-supplied—Tuan Tuan, you really are astonishing.

Chen Hao sat slowly, took out a sheet of paper, ground ink, and lifted his brush.

He pondered for a long time, but only wrote four characters: "Awaiting good news."

He blew the ink dry, carefully folded the letter, and said: "Someone come."

"Here."

"Bring in the man who just delivered the letter."

"Yes."

Chen Hao handed the letter to the man: "Thank you for your trouble."

The man clasped his fists in salute: "Young master, rest assured, I will not fail the trust." Then he turned and left.

After a while, the big man was trussed up and kneeling in Zichen Hall.

Chen Wang placed his son's letter before the Masked Man.

Masked Man looked at the four characters "respectfully awaiting good news" on the letter, a smile appearing in his eyes.

He pondered carefully for a moment, then, following the handwriting on the letter, picked up his brush and wrote a letter: "Send it to Xibei."

The sturdy man gritted his teeth and did not answer.

The Masked Man spoke softly: "Your family are all in Jingcheng."

The sturdy man's whole body tensed.

"You have already given birth to three daughters, and only at the beginning of the year did you joyfully obtain a son; if you refuse, or act obediently on the surface while defying below, I will take him into the palace to become a eunuch."

The big man suddenly lifted his head, face full of panic: "No! Sir!"

Chen Wang's face darkened: "Then obey my orders, this prince guarantees that from now on your whole family will have food and clothing without worry!"

The big man showed struggle, his eyes flickering incessantly, finally he lowered his head: "Yes!"

The Masked Man threw the letter onto the ground, waved his hand: "Go."

The sturdy man crawled to the letter, reached out, picked it up and placed it in his bosom, turned and walked out.

Chen Wang showed a guilty expression: "This prince's son is truly useless."

"Today this prince specially went to reprimand him, which can be considered giving him his last chance."

"Yet he is so unappreciative, still committing this rebellious act, truly causing this prince heartache."

He shook his head: "After all, he is still young; he doesn't even think, after that day when he spouted nonsense, how could this prince not pay him extra attention?"

The Masked Man looked at him: "Chen Wang has long ceased to care about this son; his being disposed of is perfect for you to legitimately appoint your young son as heir apparent—what's not good about that?"

Chen Wang smiled: "Still, it is your excellency's wisdom; lifting his house arrest allowed him to reveal his true colors. However, what about Lord Song?"

The Masked Man raised his hand to interrupt him: "I have my own plans."

Chen Wang hastily and respectfully performed a salute: "Everything will follow the arrangements of the Exalted One."

In his mind, as clear as a mirror, over the years, without the Exalted One's Netherworld Peak, the Black Medicine Gate, the Blood Blade… and those countless hidden posts, they have constantly been shuttling back and forth between him and the Prince of Celebration.

This time it is utterly impossible to seize the capital while Xiao Jieyun is personally leading a campaign.

So profound and unfathomable, yet not greedy for power and position, he is indeed an excellent aid for me to control the court.

The Prince of Celebration is violent and rash, absolutely not a person capable of great undertakings; the emperor nowadays is merely a puppet, and in the future the authority to solely rule the land will inevitably fall into my Chen Wang's mansion.

The Masked Man lifted his eyes to look at him: "Has the matter of grain in Xibei been settled?"