Chapter 116: Is This Bowl of Water Really Worth Balancing?

"Young master, you're back?"

At the Weinan Bo Fu, Qing'er greeted him happily, "Do you need me to ask Aunt Zhang to prepare some food for you?"

Chen Yan looked up at the sky and realized it was almost noon.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Prepare a bit more, pack it up; I'm taking Sizi out for a while."

Since he couldn't figure out why Li Shimin wanted him to go to Da'an Palace to see Li Yuan, but Li Shimin had already spoken, he couldn't just decline.

Moreover, with noon approaching, Chen Yan thought that the old man Li Yuan was under house arrest and probably didn't get good meals usually.

He should bring him something tasty.

"Oh, okay, young master, I'll ask Aunt Zhang to prepare it right away."

Although Qing'er had grown up with Chen Yan since childhood and sometimes acted quite casually, she always remembered that she was just a maid.

There were some matters a maid like her simply couldn't ask about; she just had to do as told.

Then, Chen Yan found Sizi in the backyard playing with Xiao Qingyue and spent some time frolicking with the two youngsters.

After Qing'er brought over the prepared food box, Chen Yan set off with Sizi.

Da'an Palace, located in an isolated palace complex on the western side of Chang'an City, is one of the main palace districts of Chang'an.

It was originally the residence "Hongyi Palace" that Li Shimin used when he was Prince of Qin, built in Yongjia Lane on Chang'an's western side, far from the court's center.

Li Yuan was indeed under house arrest there.

At the gate of Da'an Palace, Chen Yan produced the waist token Li Shimin had given him, and the two gate guards glanced at it before letting him pass.

Along the way, Chen Yan was inspected several times before finally reaching the core area of Da'an Palace, where Li Yuan resided.

A very young eunuch led him to a lotus‑filled pond, where he saw Li Yuan fishing.

"Retired Emperor, the Marquis of Weinan and the Little Princess of Jinyang have arrived."

"Oh?" Li Yuan turned his head and saw Chen Yan standing not far away, holding Xiao Sizi.

"Sizi, quick, come over so Grandfather can see you."

"Grandpa~" Xiao Sizi, seeing Li Yuan apparently delighted, let go of Chen Yan's hand, ran a short distance, and leapt into Li Yuan's arms.

"Your humble servant bows before the Retired Emperor; may the Retired Emperor be safe!"

Looking at the respectfully bowing Chen Yan, Li Yuan casually pointed to a small stool beside a fishing rod, saying, "Come sit, keep me company while I fish for a while."

"Sure." Chen Yan replied, sitting down beside Li Yuan with confidence and picking up the nearby fishing rod.

Li Yuan's eyes showed a hint of smile, and he chatted with Xiao Sizi for a while; the grandfather‑grandchild pair seemed to get along very well.

Chen Yan sat nearby, undisturbed, quietly acting as a fisherman.

Soon, Li Yuan cradled Xiao Sizi in his arms, looked toward the pond and asked, "Chen lad, how many fish do you think I caught today?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment and replied, "I guess you didn't catch a single fish."

"Hmm?" Li Yuan seemed intrigued, "Why do you think I didn't catch any fish?"

Chen Yan pursed his lips, "Because there are no fish in here."

In palace ponds like this, they usually keep koi, and the viewing platform is also where they feed the fish.

If there were fish, these artificially raised ones would surely gather there and be visible.

But Chen Yan saw no fish at all, proving there were none inside.

Li Yuan laughed heartily, "You're right; this pond has no fish at all."

"I'm also bored, so I'm just passing the time."

Chen Yan didn't want to upset Li Yuan, so he quickly replied, "Then what's the fun in fishing?"

"I'll have someone catch a batch of fish and raise them in the pond someday, so you can fish to your heart's content."

Li Yuan smiled and sighed, "In the end it's just killing time; whether the pond has fish or not makes no difference to me."

Chen Yan fell silent instantly.

He hadn't intended to raise the matter, but Li Yuan completely ignored the usual protocol.

That sentence was essentially saying he was under house arrest.

Li Yuan glanced at Chen Yan and smiled lightly, "Chen lad, I've heard from Lìzhì and Cheng Qian that you're very talented yet unconventional."

"Then how do you view the present Tang Dynasty?"

Chen Yan replied offhand, "I'm watching while seated now; I suppose I'll be standing to watch later."

Li Yuan was slightly taken aback, his gaze shifting to the small stool beneath Chen Yan's backside, and he let out a dumbfounded laugh.

"You lad are quite amusing; no wonder my Lìzhì has been led astray by you."

Chen Yan joked, "Thanks to the Retired Emperor's favor, perhaps she'll soon become my great Lìzhì."

Li Yuan sounded a bit surprised, "Then you'll need to work harder; although I consent to your affair with Lìzhì, her father probably won't agree."

"At most I can only prevent him from meddling in your matters."

"No problem, His Majesty will agree," Chen Yan said confidently.

Li Yuan examined him carefully, nodded slightly, "It's good you have that confidence; it wasn't for nothing that Lìzhì came to me daily, pleading earnestly."

Without waiting for Chen Yan's reply, he added, "What do you think of Emperor Li Shimin's rule?"

Chen Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling utterly helpless.

When he arrived, he had already considered what to do if the old man Li Yuan brought up the old matters.

After all, being old and with Xuanwu Gate always a sore spot for Li Yuan, seeking someone to vent to was understandable.

He thought for a moment and replied, "Earlier today, while chatting with Cai Duke, he mentioned that Lord Fang Xuanling seemed to want his second son Fang Yiai to marry a princess."

"I was puzzled, sir; you say Fang Yiai is merely a second son, why have him marry a princess?"

"Wouldn't it be better for Lord Fang to give the heir apparent, the legitimate eldest son, a princess to marry?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan fell silent for a while, his grip on Xiao Sizi's hand tightening unconsciously.

Perhaps... Fang Xuanling wants to keep the water level even, the legitimate eldest son inherits the title, and the younger son can't be left with nothing.

But can a bowl of water really be leveled? Chen Yan's gaze turned to the distance, his voice showing no emotion.

Lord Fang's legitimate son is exceptionally capable; despite his youth, he already moves through the officialdom like a fish in water.

If nothing unexpected occurs, he will very likely become a high minister in the future, a good official like Lord Fang.

And what about Fang Yiai? He has been utterly mediocre since childhood; apart from being somewhat tall, he is almost good for nothing.

A man like that marrying a Princess, besides gaining the Imperial son‑in‑law title, what else could he obtain?

Chen Yan paused, then continued: "But if Fang Yizhi were to marry a Princess, that would be different."

As a Princess, she has countless connections; Fang Yizhi could use those networks, making his future path much easier and broader.

Perhaps Fang Yizhi could rise even higher, maybe even to his father's position.

Yet Lord Fang insists on keeping the water level even, causing the younger son to gain nothing, while the elder son loses too many opportunities.

You ask, is this bowl of water really worth leveling?