Chapter 483: The Emperor is Good at Hiding!

Dusk gathered, and the setting sun plated the eaves of the Jin Prince Mansion with gold and red.

Inside the Ya Pavilion, the carved beams and painted pillars reflected the candlelight, the window lattices masking the noise of the streets. Delicacies were laid out on the desk, and steam wreathed the pillars.

A celadon plate held crispy roasted lamb, the fat congealed but not greasy, sprinkled with cumin contributed from the Western Regions, the aroma mellow and rich.

In a white porcelain bowl floated crystal shrimp sashimi, thin as cicada wings, drizzled with ginger and tangerine juice, fresh and refreshing.

A jade cup held wine, the amber-colored grape brew shimmering, and beside it, a bronze pot simmered camel hoof soup, the gurgling sound light, the soup thick as honey.

There was also steamed shad garnished with water shield, oil-braised bamboo shoots lined with mushrooms, and eight exquisite side dishes arranged around, either sour and crisp to whet the appetite or salty and fragrant, all delicacies carefully cooked in the kitchen.

Candlelight illuminated the hall. Yuwen Hu was dressed in plain silk casual clothes, his waist tied with a jade belt, sitting in the main seat.

Yuwen Ze was in a green shirt, located on the right side.

Yuwen Hu's face contained a slight smile, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes relaxed. His gaze swept gently over the delicacies on the desk and finally landed on Chen Yan on the left, his tone carrying the intimate teasing of an elder toward a junior: "You brat knew this king had good wine, so you came smelling it, right?"

Chen Yan had changed into a brocade robe before coming, his posture upright. Upon hearing this, he clapped his hands and laughed: "Then I have come to the right place!"

Yuwen Hu looked at the pottery wine jar placed on the ground beside the desk; the jar was plain and unadorned, yet carried a heavy texture.

He leaned over and raised his hand, steadily lifting the wine jar. His wrist turned lightly, and the wine in the jar hit the jar wall, making a clear gurgling sound.

His fingertips brushed over the mud seal at the jar mouth, and with a little force, he peeled it off. In an instant, a mellow and long-lasting wine aroma broke out of the jar, not as crisp as grape brew, but carrying the grain fragrance and aged charm unique to Central Plains fine wine, permeating the Ya Pavilion.

Yuwen Hu's smile deepened, and he raised the jar to signal the two, saying loudly: "It is perfect that the three of us taste it today!"

Having said this, he took three pottery bowls and personally poured the wine.

The amber-colored wine flowed slowly along the jar mouth, splashing fine wine foam when it fell into the bowl, and the wine aroma grew even stronger.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan immediately raised the pottery bowl in front of him, the wine shaking out fine ripples, and said loudly: "Grand Tutor, I toast you!"

His voice was resonant and full of respect.

Yuwen Ze also raised his cup, his green shirt moving slightly, his tone humble yet carrying filial piety: "Father, your son toasts you!"

Seeing this, Yuwen Hu raised an eyebrow and feigned reproach, scolding: "There are no outsiders, why bother with these cumbersome formalities? It makes things distant."

Although he said this, the wine bowl in his hand had already been raised steadily, clashing heavily with the rims of the other two bowls with a crisp "clatter."

"Drink!" He shouted, his tone hearty.

All three tilted their heads, the pottery bowls tilted, the amber wine sliding down their throats, the grain fragrance and aged charm exploding on the tips of their tongues.

Yuwen Hu put down the empty bowl, his fingertips picking up silver chopsticks, and he picked up a piece of crispy roasted lamb. The fat melted between his teeth, the aroma filling his mouth.

He chewed slowly, but his gaze inadvertently landed on Chen Yan, his tone flat and waveless, asking like casual conversation: "I heard that you two investigated the Detai Money Shop for usury, and incidentally handled the Prince of Qiao?"

"Exactly." Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ze took over the conversation, saying decisively.

Immediately, he stood up, leaned over to take the pottery wine jar from the side of the desk, his wrist tilted slightly, and the amber wine filled the three empty bowls again. The wine foam splashed and then quietly dissipated, and the wine aroma permeated again.

"That Detai Money Shop in Chang'an County was doing evil and harming the people. Your son specifically asked A-Xiong for help!" He put the wine jar back in its place, bowed with both hands on his knees, and looked at his father with burning eyes, "We wiped them out!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hu nodded slowly, the smile in his eyes becoming a bit more genuine. He raised his hand to signal Yuwen Ze to sit down, praising: "Brothers working together, their sharpness can cut metal; it should be like this!"

Having said this, he picked up the wine bowl and took a sip, the wine sliding down his throat, mellow and sweet.

His gaze turned to Chen Yan, the candlelight flickering in his pupils, his tone suddenly dropping, carrying a touch of inquiry and deep meaning: "A-Yan, do you still harbor wariness toward the Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan's hand holding the chopsticks paused suddenly, the crystal shrimp sashimi held by the silver chopsticks shaking slightly, almost slipping off.

His gaze darkened, then he steadily placed the shrimp sashimi back into the white porcelain bowl, the porcelain chopsticks tapping the rim of the bowl, making a crisp sound.

Chen Yan looked up at Yuwen Hu in the seat of honor. The hearty smile on his face had already faded, his expression grave yet not lacking in respect, as he slowly asked, "Grand Preceptor, why do you say that?"

Yuwen Hu smiled, his fingertips still rubbing the rim of the pottery bowl, his fingertips feeling the texture of the bowl wall.

The candlelight reflected in his eyes, the smile seeming shallow but deep, his tone carrying a touch of understanding and certainty: "I know that brat A-Ang..."

"Arrogance and domineering are true, the rebelliousness in his bones cannot be hidden, but he still has some brains, knowing what can be manipulated and what he absolutely cannot afford to offend."

Chen Yan cupped his hands, his waist slightly bowed, his face full of smiles, frankly admitting: "Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from your old man's wise eyes!"

In his words, there was undisguised flattery, the tail end rising slightly, carrying a perfectly measured submissiveness and admiration.

As he spoke, he picked up the wine bowl and leaned forward slightly to signal, his expression growing even more respectful.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Yuwen Hu's face grew even brighter. He raised his hand and pointed vaguely at Chen Yan, without any intention of blaming him, instead teasing: "If I were old and dim-sighted, how could I have discovered a piece of raw jade like you back then?"

Having said this, he picked up the wine bowl and took a shallow sip, his fingertips still rubbing the rim of the bowl, the smile in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a touch of interesting playfulness. His gaze locked onto Chen Yan, and he said in a low voice: "So, in your probing before the Emperor, what did you find out?"

Chen Yan's gaze condensed, and without a moment's hesitation, he blurted out: "The Emperor is good at hiding!"

The two words were resonant, echoing in the Ya Pavilion.

He paused and added: "The Emperor is not only able to keep his composure, but also deeply understands the way of giving and taking..."

Yuwen Hu listened quietly, his fingertips stopping on the rim of the wine bowl, and he slowly said "Hmm," his nasal sound heavy, carrying agreement.

He raised his eyes to look at Chen Yan, sharpness and understanding intertwined in his pupils. Chen Yan also looked back, and the two said no more, only exchanging a glance, full of tacit understanding that could not be told to outsiders, knowing it without speaking.

Chen Yan sat upright before the desk, his fingertips tapping lightly on the rim of the bowl, his expression growing a bit more solemn. After careful consideration, he said in a low voice: "Grand Tutor, after coming out of the Wude Hall, the Emperor stopped me and summoned me alone to the Linshui Pavilion in the forbidden garden..."

Yuwen Hu picked up silver chopsticks and picked up a piece of oil-braised bamboo shoots, slowly sending it into his mouth, the bamboo aroma mixed with the fresh mellow taste of mushrooms spreading between his teeth.

He chewed slowly, a meaningful smile suddenly rising in his eyes, as if he had already seen through everything, and replied lightly: "I know!"

After the words faded, he put down the silver chopsticks, raised his hand to pick up the wine bowl, but did not drink, only shaking the remaining wine in the bowl lightly, his tone carrying a touch of playfulness and certainty, looking at Chen Yan and asking: "The Emperor bestowed pills upon you and asked you for a strategy to pacify Qi, right?"

The candlelight reflected on his face, the depth of the smile indistinguishable, but his words were as precise as if he had heard them with his own ears.

A flash of shock passed through Chen Yan's pupils, then he nodded heavily, his tone carrying a touch of admiration and respect, resonant: "Exactly!"

Chen Yan was a bit surprised, but it was also within his expectations...

After all, the one in front of him was the Grand Chancellor Father who held great power!

How could his control over the imperial palace not be in every aspect?

At that moment, Chen Yan only felt that his choice was so wise!

Yuwen Ze sat in the seat, originally listening intently, when suddenly his body paused, a flash of confusion passing through his pupils, and in an instant he realized something. He stood up abruptly, patted his palm lightly on the desk, and said in surprise: "So, A-Xiong, you came straight to the mansion right after leaving the imperial palace. Could it be that you felt Father would suspect you?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hu couldn't help but roll his eyes, his fingertips tapping lightly on the desk, his tone carrying a touch of reproach: "What kind of words are you saying, you silly brat!"

"How could Father suspect your A-Xiong?"

Having said this, his tone shifted, his expression sank, and his gaze fell on Chen Yan, his pupils full of undisguised appreciation: "A-Yan is just not wanting to create any rift because of this kind of thing!"

Although he said this, Yuwen Hu was increasingly satisfied with Chen Yan...

His own child was not only intelligent but also loyal and extremely sensible!

Yuwen Ze's face turned red, revealing a touch of awkward smile. He hurriedly picked up the wine bowl in front of him, his waist slightly bowed, and said repeatedly: "It was your son who spoke wrongly!"

"I will punish myself with a cup!"

Before his voice had faded, he tilted his head and drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp, the bottom of the pottery bowl facing the sky, and some wine slid down the corners of his lips.

"The Emperor, as the talent of Great Zhou, is a good thing to be willing to study military affairs!"

Yuwen Hu picked up a piece of steamed shad and chewed it carefully with water shield, the tenderness of the fish meat mixed with the fragrance spreading between his teeth.

He swallowed slowly, his expression quite indifferent, saying calmly: "Idling all day, where is the appearance of a monarch?"

That brat A-Yong, unlike Yuwen Yan, has no small movements or crooked thoughts, and does not touch military and political power. Let him study if he wants to...

It's just right to find something for the young man to do!

Consume some energy, so as not to use his mind in places where it shouldn't be used...

No wonder Yuwen Yong would openly discuss the strategy to pacify Qi with me; it turns out he had grasped the Grand Chancellor Father's mind... Chen Yan suddenly realized upon hearing this, and said in a low voice: "I understand!"

Sure enough, one cannot judge a person by their appearance.

This young emperor is also a person who is good at observing words and colors and guessing people's hearts!

Letting him grow, after time settles, and his wings are full, he will surely become a great disaster in the future!

Fortunately, he had already used means...

Yuwen Hu picked up the wine bowl and took a sip of the aged wine, the wine mellow and sweet, soothing his throat.

He put down the bowl, his fingertips rubbing the rim of the bowl, his gaze suddenly cast toward the deep night outside the window, his tone carrying a touch of distance, yet hiding an ambition that could not be underestimated: "Actually, I also have the intention to conquer Qi!"

After the words fell, the Ya Pavilion was instantly silent. Amidst the flickering candlelight, ambition for territory and the desire to unify the north flashed in his pupils.

Completely different from the calmness during casual conversation, the ambition of the powerful minister was undisguised at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan's expression changed drastically, his previous calmness instantly dissipated. He stood up abruptly, his voice hurried, carrying a touch of panic, bowing and cupping his hands: "Grand Tutor, you must absolutely not!"

One could dig a pit for Yuwen Yong, but one must dissuade the Grand Chancellor Father!

After all, the good father's talent was not in military affairs...

Those few campaigns to conquer Qi in history were all great embarrassments!

And it was precisely because of the repeated failures that led to the loss of prestige, which gave Emperor Wu of Zhou an opportunity.

This kind of thing Chen Yan must prevent before it happens!

Seeing this, Yuwen Hu slowly stood up, raised his hand and patted Chen Yan's shoulder, his palm force steady, laughed lightly, and comforted: "Look at how scared you are, sit down quickly."

After Chen Yan sat down as ordered, Yuwen Hu turned and paced to the window, pushing open half of the wooden window. The night wind wrapped in a cool breath surged in, blowing his plain silk robes.

He looked at the deep night outside the window, the ambition surging in his pupils gradually calming down, replaced by a touch of restraint and depth, saying in a low voice: "I know it is not the time yet!"

"The reform of the palace soldiers has just been completed. Let's wait a few years and save up more family foundation before talking about it!" ===== CHAPTER 484 =====