Chapter 323: The Reason Princess Gao Yang Is Favored

"So, you mean......."

Chen Yan hesitated for a long while, then lowered his voice and said, "Is the source of danger His Majesty?"

He doesn't think Li Shimin currently has any thoughts about him, but as Du Ruhui said, the man is already so old and has experienced so much; a youngster like him can't compare.

In some respects, it's better to listen more to these people's opinions.

Du Ruhui shook his head and denied, "I never said that."

Chen Yan: "......"

You didn't say that?

Then what were you talking about just now?

"Cai Duke, can we speak frankly?"

Chen Yan said softly, "You make me feel uneasy, I'm nervous."

"You still know what nervous feels like?" Du Ruhui laughed, "That day, when you were on the Court cursing 'damn it' repeatedly, why weren't you nervous?"

Chen Yan fell silent, his gaze fixed on him.

"Alright!" Du Ruhui tapped his hand, "Don't be impatient; listen as I tell you slowly."

"But there's something I have to tell you first: whatever I say today, once we step out of this door, you should act as if I never said it, understand?"

Chen Yan solemnly nodded in agreement.

Seeing Du Ruhui's attitude, it was clear that what he was about to say must not be spread, indicating the following words were important.

He wasn't foolish, so he obviously understood what he should do.

"I've followed His Majesty for so many years, considering myself to know him well, yet sometimes I suddenly feel I know nothing about him."

A flash of memory passed through Du Ruhui's eyes; his tone softened as he spoke to himself, "People of your generation probably don't understand much; they hold an extreme reverence for His Majesty, seeing him as a ruthless emperor."

"After all, the Xuanwu Gate incident... although no one mentions it, you all certainly know it well."

"An emperor who rose to power by killing his brother and imprisoning his father; people of your generation naturally fear him."

"For example, my son is just like that."

"But originally, we all regarded His Majesty as someone who deeply valued old relationships and was very emotional; when Crown Prince Li Jiancheng oppressed him, and the brothers who had shared life and death with him were being sidelined, he would even hide alone in a room and weep, missing his mother."

"Furthermore, his affection for Empress Changsun was profound, one could say he regarded her as his spiritual pillar; for the children Empress Changsun bore, he was even overindulgent."

"He has a very sentimental side, yet also the ruthless ferocity of a warlord."

"But!"

Du Ruhui said gravely, "His Majesty's emotions are abundant, unlike ordinary emperors, that's true; however, when feelings clash with political power or imperial interests, he will choose the latter without hesitation. His 'feelings' have clear boundaries and limits."

"I don't quite understand," Chen Yan said puzzled, "Earlier I said, is the source of danger His Majesty? Your meaning is that it's not."

"Now, after hearing you, can I take it that you think it's not because His Majesty has some feeling toward me, therefore he wouldn't do anything to me?"

"You may understand it that way," Du Ruhui nodded slightly, "Your father died saving Empress Changsun and the Crown Prince; later you saved Empress Changsun and the Little Princess of Jinyang once, and both of His Majesty's daughters married you, making you the son‑in‑law of His Majesty and the Empress; the ties are indeed deep."

"Moreover, you yourself are exceptionally outstanding, highly valued by His Majesty; therefore, as long as you don't form cliques, don't meddle with military authority, and don't threaten imperial power, you are absolutely safe."

"Even if you commit some out‑of‑line deeds, as long as they're not excessively severe, Empress Changsun will protect you."

After finishing, he said jokingly, "Don't underestimate your standing in Empress Changsun's heart; she feels indebted to the Chen family and treats you as a half‑son."

"Back then, if Princess Changle hadn't privately made a verbal marriage pact with the eldest son of Changsun Wujie, and Princess Chengyang was too young, she would probably have married her own biological daughter to you."

"Later, settling for the next best, they chose the age‑appropriate Princess Gao Yang."

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Chen Yan said, a bit incredulous.

Who is that?

The renowned Empress Changsun, treating him as a half‑son?

"Or what else do you think?"

Du Ruhui sighed lightly, "At that time there were actually many marriage‑eligible princesses in the Imperial Family; why do you think Empress Changsun was so determined to arrange your marriage with Princess Gao Yang, even going so far as to summon Cheng Yaojin and others to speak on your behalf?"

"Moreover, with so many princes and princesses in the palace, why could Princess Gao Yang, whose biological mother died early, receive such favor from His Majesty?"

"Why?"

Chen Yan became somewhat curious.

"That involves an old incident..." Du Ruhui thought for a moment and said, "I won't tell you the details; just remember that Princess Gao Yang's biological mother's death wasn't that simple, and His Majesty feels deeply guilty about it."

"Precisely because of that, he dotes especially on Princess Gao Yang."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yan suddenly understood.

So it turns out his own daughter‑in‑law's favor had this extra layer of reason.

Du Ruhui, regardless of his thoughts, continued, "Emotionally, His Majesty won't do anything to you; in terms of interests, His Majesty also has no reason to act against you."

"After all, His Majesty still expects you to keep devising plans, counting on you to make money for him…"

"That… wait a moment."

Before Du Ruhui could finish, Chen Yan suddenly interrupted him awkwardly.

"You said earlier that as long as you don't move the military authority, nothing will happen; so what if… you do move it?"

Du Ruhui was startled, staring blankly at the youth before him.

After a while, incredulously, he asked, "You've meddled with the military authority of Zhe Chong Fu?"

"Not really…"

Du Ruhui let out a sigh of relief.

However, the next thing Chen Yan said almost scared him to death.

"But I asked His Majesty for eight hundred men, intending to train eight hundred heavy cavalry, and they've been under Uncle Niu's cultivation at Zhe Chong Fu for a long time."

Du Ruhui: "......"

"Damn it......"

He sprang up from the stool with a whoosh, his face flushed red, he opened his mouth, then closed it, pointing at Chen Yan, not knowing what to say.

If not for the life-saving favor, he truly wants to stay far away from this ill-omened thing.

Damn it!

Don't you know what your own position is?

Several illustrious generals in the court all treat you like their own son; the Crown Prince shares an inseparable bond with you, and he also owes me a life-saving favor; moreover, the older generation has left you with so many connections.

You still dare to meddle in military authority, and you even dare to command heavy cavalry, damn it!

You... you... sigh!

Du Ruhui let out a heavy sigh.

Chen Yan, fearing he might overthink, hurriedly explained to Du Ruhui clearly how he had obtained these eight hundred men, how he had trained them, and even what he planned to do with them afterward, leaving nothing unclear.

Du Ruhui listened, dazed, his face alternating between pale and red.

"........."