Chapter 99: Yuwen Hu's Greatest Regret in This Life

The Grand Tomb Steward is indeed here… Could it be that he truly harbors deep feelings for my mother? … Led inside by the Imperial Guard, Chen Yan mutters speculation in his heart, stops beside the two, and respectfully bows: "Your servant has seen the Grand Tomb Steward!"

"Your servant has seen the Grand Marshal!"

Regarding Yuwen Hu appearing here, Chen Yan felt both surprised and not that surprised…

He became increasingly curious about the past ties and bonds between them.

Yuwen Heng nodded in acknowledgment, aware that the two had something to say, then silently rose, stepped aside, and made space.

"Spare the formalities!"

Yuwen Hu did not turn back, merely raised his hand in a light wave, his gaze still lingering reluctantly on the tombstone, urging: "A Yan, come quickly, kowtow to your mother…"

Has the Grand Tomb Steward just been crying? … Chen Yan tiptoed, carefully stepping forward, and upon noticing a faint, indistinct tear trace on Yuwen Heng's cheek, replied: "Yes."

The formidable Grand Tomb Steward, whose authority sways the court and whose decisiveness is ruthless, surprisingly shows such a tender, iron‑willed side for his mother…

At that moment, Chen Yan only sensed the Great Gossip, shocked as he was, yet he tried his best to manage his expression.

"A Tang, look, even though your A Yan is on campaign abroad, he still thinks of you…"

"You have cultivated this child's temperament exceptionally well!"

Yuwen Hu stared fixedly at the tombstone, let out a long sigh, and continued to speak to the woman who lies here forever.

"Mother, your child sees you have come…"

Chen Yan paused not at all, and with a "thud" he knelt on the ground, falling half a body length behind Yuwen Hu.

But the moment he drew near and knelt, his emotions became uncontrollable, and he inexplicably wanted to cry…

It seemed to be an instinct of this body.

It is attachment, dependence, longing, bitterness…

It is a child without a mother, crossing the realms of yin and yang, through the River of Forgetfulness, once again seeing that soul‑haunting person.

"These are the specialties I brought back from Qinzhou…"

Chen Yan opened the wooden crate he brought, taking out its contents one by one, and said, "I don't know what you like, so I brought a bit of everything!"

"Please don't disdain them!"

He said, while laying out the stolen precious jewelry, gold and silver wares, Tianshui Walnut, Wushan Mandarin Duck Jade…

Various rare items were neatly arranged before the tomb.

What a filial good child… Yuwen Hu watched Chen Yan's actions, feeling very pleased.

Before A Tang's death, his greatest worry was his own son.

Fortunately, he also kept her in mind…

"Mother, your child has just returned from a great victory in Qinzhou, not letting you down, nor disappointing the Grand Tomb Steward's high expectations!"

"It must be your spirit in heaven, silently protecting your child!"

Chen Yan straightened his body, heavily bowing his head to the ground, and said in a deep voice.

After three consecutive resonant bows, he rose slowly, two streams of clear tears sliding down his cheeks, falling onto the ground.

These melodramatic words were Chen Yan's impromptu performance, directed at the Grand Tomb Steward…

But those tears were not like that; they stemmed from this body's instinct.

He hadn't even used the tear‑inducing medicine he had previously asked Yun Xi for, smeared on his sleeve cuff…

"You stinky brat, a man should not shed tears lightly…"

Yuwen Hu, seeing this, pretended to scold him once, then said, "Stop only crying, burn some paper money for your mother!"

As he spoke, his gaze toward Chen Yan grew softer.

He simultaneously shoved a stack of paper money toward him.

"Mother, rest assured, your child now has the Grand Tomb Steward's protection, and brother A Ze, no longer the once lonely, helpless person…"

Chen Yan placed the paper money one sheet at a time into the blazing fire basin.

These words were carefully crafted by him, yet they were also heartfelt truth.

They were spoken to the Grand Tomb Steward beside him, and also to his former orphan self.

After coming here, they indeed treated him well.

The world is false, but love is real…

Chen Yan deeply understood this statement.

Outside the mausoleum.

"A Yan, do you know what this king's greatest regret in this life is?"

Yuwen Hu turned his head back, looking reluctantly at the woman lying inside, and suddenly asked Chen Yan.

"Grand Tomb Steward, can you still have regrets?"

"It couldn't be…?"

Chen Yan pursed his lips, and his voice abruptly stopped.

Not having taken my mother as a wife?

But he dared not voice that speculation…

"Back then, this king did not yet have the power I have now…"

Yuwen Hu, not noticing Chen Yan's expression, shook his head and sighed deeply, sinking into a deep recollection, murmuring: "So I could only watch helplessly as she—your mother—married that scoundrel Chen Tongyuan!"

As he spoke, his tone grew colder, and a chill radiated from his body.

It was resentment, and also helplessness…

At an age of having nothing, meeting the woman he most wanted to protect, he felt so powerless…

It became a thorn lodged in Yuwen Hu's heart, an eternal hatred!

How could that drunkard, glutton, flower‑fist, embroidered‑leg buffoon match A Tang's precious pearl?

Chen Yan furrowed his brow, a puzzling doubt arising, and after weighing his words asked cautiously, "Grand Dazhou, given your relationship with Taizu, as long as you ask for marriage, it shouldn't …."

Chen Yan remembered that Taizu was indeed the Grand Dazhou's paternal uncle, the younger brother of the Grand Dazhou's father, a truly close family.

Otherwise, before Taizu's death while on a tour, he could not have transferred authority to the Grand Dazhou, appointing him as the head of the Yuwen Clan.

"Although that's what you say, it's correct …."

Yuwen Hu gave a bitter smile, helplessly saying, "But that old brute Chen Hu, your grandfather, also set his sights on your mother!"

"Your uncle, to safeguard the greater picture, had to nod in agreement ……"

At the time, it was the early founding period, with an unstable internal foundation and powerful enemies looming outside.

It was necessary to win over and pacify the various Grand Pillars of State, solidify interconnections through numerous Marriage Alliances, and any fissure was intolerable.

And Chen Hu's eye was extremely sharp and poisonous; he immediately chose A Tang as his daughter‑in‑law …….

When the Zhuguo General spoke personally, Taizu then had no reason to refuse.

In all matters that prioritize the greater picture, you are certainly not part of that picture…… Upon hearing this, Chen Yan felt a timeless classic phrase well up from his heart.

The one you would sacrifice everything for, you are that very price.

Even the now all‑powerful Grand Dazhou once had moments of helplessness.

That was fate's mockery.

Reflecting on this, Chen Yan suddenly understood a principle: only by seizing power can one seize one's own destiny!

"Your mother is, in this world, the best of the best women …."

"Blame me, all blame me!"

Yuwen Hu let out another long sigh, his gaze deepening, "If I had dared to contest then, she would never have married Chen Tongyuan, and would have ended in sorrow ……"

"You wouldn't have been so young, and lost your mother!"

Saying that, he placed his right hand on Chen Yan's shoulder.

In that self‑reproachful voice lay an unspeakable regret.

Recalling the past is like carving a boat to seek a sword in the long river of time.

Gazing toward the future is no different; it's like looking at plums in the long river of time to quench one's thirst.

"Grand Dazhou, this is not your fault …."

"If blame is to be placed, it is on Chen Tongyuan!"

"Chen Tongyuan is the root cause of all tragedies!"

Chen Yan grasped the hand Yuwen Hu had placed on his shoulder, his eyes flashing with Dark Hawk, and said in a deep voice.

Yuwen Hu met Chen Yan's gaze, murderous intent evident, "So he deserves to die!"