Chapter 443: Grand Marshal Escorts the Heir to the Door

Grand Marshal?

Chen Yan blinked, a low murmur rolled from his throat, with a hint of surprise, then he looked at Hongye, his tone instantly became a bit urgent, and he waved his hand, saying, "Please, quickly!"

As soon as the words fell, he turned to the attendant Wen Run standing nearby, his brows slightly unfurrowing yet unable to hide his solemnity: "Go order someone to bring good tea!"

Wen Run lowered his head and replied, "Yes."

Immediately, the four of them stepped out quietly, each going their own way.

Not long after, a figure in red had already turned the corridor first, it was the returning Hongye.

She walked ahead to lead the way, with a group following behind.

In the middle was Yuwen Heng, his dark brocade robe embroidered with shadowy cloud‑crane patterns, a jade belt at his waist, a resolute face; beside him walked a young man in a neat blue shirt, his eyebrows and eyes about seventy percent alike but with a few more youthful vigor, the heir Yuwen Xiang.

Behind them, several Personal Guards in sturdy armor followed in order, their steps light yet unable to hide an air of solemn lethality.

As the party reached the Shufang doorway, Chen Yan, who had been waiting on the steps, immediately stepped forward, a warm smile spreading across his face, and from three steps away he cupped his hands and called, "Grand Marshal!"

Yuwen Heng also hurried forward, "A Yan!"

Chen Yan slightly bowed in a salute, his robe hem fluttering with the motion, his smile even broader than before, his voice full of familiar intimacy: "What wind brings you here, old sir?"

"I have failed to receive you from afar!"

He paused, then continued, "Please forgive my offense!"

He said all that, yet the Grand Marshal was, for Chen Yan in Chang'an, after the Great Treasurer father, the closest elder.

Yuwen Heng grasped Chen Yan's hand with a slight pressure, raised his other hand and lightly patted his shoulder, a hearty laugh rolling from his throat, echoing in the courtyard: "I, the king, did not send a formal letter, yet came boldly!"

"Where is the truth in what you say?"

Chen Yan, hearing that, his smile deepened, the curve of his lips full of ease, he gently shook his head and said, "Your presence here is something I could not ask for enough!"

As the words fell, he smoothly stepped aside half a step, his right hand gesturing toward the Shufang door, palm slightly raised, his posture extremely respectful: "Please, come inside quickly!"

Following behind, Yuwen Xiang kept his gaze on Chen Yan, his fingertips unconsciously twiddling the cuff of his blue shirt, silently muttering, "This Duke of Wei is so different from what I imagined..."

At such close range, his appearance indeed matched the rumors of a heroic, towering figure; aside from a slightly darker complexion, he could be called a handsome man...

Yet he seemed overly smooth and mercantile.

He lacked any trace of the spirit of a contemporary famed general or high minister...

The Shufang door was gently pushed open by Hongye, warm light scented with tea spilling out.

Yuwen Heng followed Chen Yan across the threshold, the hem of his dark robe lifting slightly as it swept over the step.

Yuwen Xiang paced closely behind, his eyes flicking rapidly over the bookshelves and desk, then quickly withdrawing.

The Personal Guards outside the door stood neatly in the corridor, their postures as upright as pines, without a hint of superfluous movement.

Chen Yan walked straight to the main seat in the center of the Shufang, stood aside, raised his hand to signal, his tone both respectful and earnest: "Grand Marshal, please take the seat!"

Yuwen Heng, however, did not move; instead he smiled and waved his hand: "A Yan, this is your residence; this seat is for you!"

"I am a guest today; how could the guest become the host?"

After speaking, he deliberately lifted his chin toward the side guest seat.

Chen Yan gently shook his head, smiled calmly, and said earnestly, "Well, you are the elder; of course you should take the seat!"

After speaking, he stepped forward, his hands lightly supporting Yuwen Heng's arm, gently nudging him toward the main seat.

Once Yuwen Heng sat down, Chen Yan straightened up, smiling, and added, "Is there any elder who wouldn't sit at the main seat?"

Yuwen Heng placed his right hand on his knee, nodded slowly with satisfaction, the smile in his eyes even gentler, praising, "You, child, still understand etiquette as always!"

Yuwen Heng felt very gratified.

A Yan, this child, has not become lofty because of great deeds, nor thinks himself invincible, nor looks down on others; he remains modest, clearly aware of his own position...

In terms of this temperament and resolve, it surpasses all those throughout history who relied on achievements and became proud!

Chen Yan, hearing this, straightened slightly, his face shedding some of the earlier casualness, gaining more solemnity, and said sincerely, "Wherever and whenever, I will always be your junior!"

After speaking, his gaze turned to Yuwen Xiang still standing nearby, his face again breaking into a warm smile, "I suppose this is the heir, right?"

Then he raised his hand to indicate the side seat: "Sit quickly, no need for formalities, treat it as if it's your own home!"

"Thank you, Duke!"

Yuwen Xiang, hearing this, felt slightly restrained, bowed to Chen Yan, then gently sat down, his hands properly placed on his knees.

After sitting, Chen Yan leaned forward slightly, his gaze on Yuwen Xiang, eyes full of admiration, his finger lightly tapped the table, and he said, "Heir, you are graceful, your posture as upright as a pine, truly worthy of a lofty seven‑foot stature!"

He paused, then smiled and added, his appreciation deeper: "Look, heir, your face like a crowned jade, your brows and eyes full of heroism; you are a rare talent among the royal clan, destined to become a pillar of Great Zhou!"

Is this praise really about Yuwen Xiang?

Both yes and no; it's more about flattering the Grand Marshal!

This Duke of Wei really knows how to speak... Yuwen Xiang felt a surge of emotion, a thin blush spreading across his ears, his previously proper hands on his knees unintentionally clenched his robe, his sitting posture tightened a bit, his hands overlapped in front as he bowed, "Duke, your praise is excessive!"

"I truly cannot accept it!"

Chen Yan, seeing this, waved his hand, firmly stating, "I can bear it, I can bear it!"

After speaking, he stood up, reached out and took the purple clay teapot already prepared on one side of the desk.

His left hand steadied the pot body, his right hand lightly lifted the handle, wrist slightly tilted, amber tea flowed slowly from the slender spout into a white porcelain cup, fine tea foam splashing but none spilling outside.

As the tea filled, a crisp tea fragrance instantly spread.

First came the bean‑like aroma unique to pre‑Ming Longjing, lingering at the tip of the nose, and on a delicate sip a hint of post‑rain grass sweetness, making the air feel warm.

He first handed a cup to Yuwen Heng, the rim balanced perfectly at his hand, then picked up another cup and turned to Yuwen Xiang, smiling, "Here, Grand Marshal, heir, have some tea!"

Yuwen Heng lifted the cup, his fingertip touching the warm rim, and took a shallow sip of tea.

The tea slid down his throat, then he set the cup down, smiling at Chen Yan, his tone a bit reproachful: "A Yan, don't tease him!"

After speaking, he turned his head, glanced at Yuwen Xiang beside him, his tone shifting, he complained helplessly, "My son here is dim‑witted, has read to the point of stupidity, only knows nonsensical classical phrasing, truly useless!"

As the saying goes, a father knows his son best.

As a father myself, how could I not know what sort of son I have?

He spends the whole day clutching the utterly useless Four Books and Five Classics and gnawing at them......

Don't even say he can't compare to the well‑rounded A Yan; even the now‑enlightened, strategically superior A Ze can't compare!

What a headache!

Chen Yan lifted his teacup and took a sip; the fresh tea spread on his tongue, and his expression grew a bit more serious as he urged, "Grand Marshal, you must not underestimate yourself!"

He paused, then spoke solemnly, "As a subordinate observing the Crown Prince's demeanor, I can see his extraordinary talent, and also know that much effort has been poured into him; he will surely become a pillar of the state in the future!"

As everyone knows, in any era, praising a leader's son outright, without thinking, is the way to go.....

Even if it's a lump.....

Yuwen Heng's fingertips gently brushed the warm rim of the tea bowl, his finger pads sliding over the dark pattern on the bowl wall; the smile in his eyes faded a bit, and his tone became slower, "A Yan, you're your own child, so there's no need to pick flattering words......"

Then, he let out a soft sigh, his gaze landing on Yuwen Xiang, with a hint of complexity, "How could this king not know how many jin and liang he carries?"

Having said that, he lifted the tea bowl and took another sip.

Often, when looking at the rapidly improving, capable A Ze, and then at his own bitter gourd, Yuwen Heng grew anxious.

Chen Yan smiled calmly, his hands clasped on the table, urging, "Grand Marshal, when teaching a child you must not suppress or belittle them; you need to encourage and guide them more....."

He paused again, then continued the flattery to the end, "Moreover, the Crown Prince carries your blood; he must be a vessel of coral and jade!"

Yuwen Heng listened, nodded slowly, his finger motion on the tea bowl ceased, and he agreed, "Well said indeed!"

He paused, then shifted his tone, his brows lightly furrowing, a hint of feigned difficulty appearing on his face, his voice deepening, "It's just that lately official duties are hectic, leaving me no time to attend to him; this king has only this legitimate son under his knee, and I cannot ignore him....."

So the Grand Marshal had this idea........... Chen Yan took in Yuwen Heng's expression fully, understood it, adopted a solemn look, clasped his fists and said, "Grand Marshal, I have an awkward request; I wonder whether I should speak of it or not!"

"Between the three of us, there's nothing we can't say!"

Yuwen Heng pursed his lips in a light laugh, raised his hand, and loudly said, "A Yan, just speak plainly!"

"Grand Marshal, you know, I have just opened my office recently and still lack officials......"

Chen Yan's fingertips paused briefly, the corners of his eyes curved, and with a quick sidelong glance at Yuwen Xiang, he asked, "If you can, could you allow the Crown Prince to enter my residence?"