Chapter 1610: The More Harassed, The Safer

"As for Uncle Lou and Consort Jing Tai, strictly speaking, I shouldn't pry. But since Uncle Lou asked me to look after her, I want to ask one thing — Uncle Lou, surely you know she was the late Emperor's consort. If what exists between you two is discovered, I don't know what would happen to you. But she would certainly die! Prince Rui would be implicated as well, and very likely be stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner!"

Empress Chen offered the reminder out of good will.

Chen Chen Guanlou thanked her for the warning, but he was stubborn to the bone. "If I don't die, she won't die! I may be a cold-hearted sort, but since I've become entangled with her, no matter what, I'll protect her life. Besides, for me, this matter isn't difficult at all."

Empress Chen said calmly, "You can indeed protect her life. But would she want that? It would mean she'd have to give up her status and rank, and Prince Rui's status would be dragged down with her, reduced to a commoner. I imagine that's the very last thing she'd want to see.

She sought you out for no other reason than to keep mother and son safe. If, because of you, that safety is lost — and even her status along with it — for her, that would be harder to bear than being killed. The loss outweighs the gain! She would surely hate you!"

"You underestimate her, and you underestimate me too. Wherever I am, no one has any chance of prying into our secret. The reason I'm being frank with you is because I trust you to keep your lips sealed. You're the third person to know of this."

Chen Chen Guanlou was very confident.

With that old eunuch Wei Wubing not showing himself, in all of Jingcheng he had no equal.

No one could approach and spy on their secret without him noticing.

With his Grandmaster cultivation, if even he couldn't keep a secret, he didn't believe any secret in this world could exist.

"Don't the people around her know? Can you really guarantee nothing will leak?"

Empress Chen wasn't as optimistic as he was. She gave a cold snort, unconvinced — not that she distrusted Chen Chen Guanlou, but that she distrusted Consort Jing.

Consort Jing lacked the means to manage things, her situation awkward.

Under such circumstances, for those beneath her to be bought out and betray her would be child's play.

If even one person close to her were bought, the secret would no longer be a secret. In an instant the secret would become a handle, a death knell!

The reason she had specifically summoned him was to lay out the stakes clearly.

If she could make Uncle Lou give up Consort Jing and end the relationship, that would be for the best.

A woman of the Emperor's — even a widow — is not for outsiders to touch.

"The people around her have never even seen my face — what could they possibly know? Let alone meeting, they can't even hear my voice. My territory refuses all prying and eavesdropping. They can't even get close!"

So long as he wished, within a hundred meters, not even a mosquito could approach.

He went on, "You're not a martial artist, so you'll worry and fret, afraid that my relationship with her will be discovered. If you were a martial artist — and a ninth-rank one at that — you'd know just how safe it is. Putting a person into a deep sleep is but a casual matter for me. Without my permission, everyone nearby couldn't even wake up. Everything is as I say."

Empress Chen drew a sharp breath at his words.

"If Your Highness is uneasy, I can let you feel it for yourself."

Chen Chen Guanlou proposed.

Empress Chen was left speechless. "Since Uncle Lou is so certain, I believe you. So, you'll continue to see Consort Jing Tai."

Chen Chen Guanlou considered for a moment. "Within a year, I definitely won't cut ties with her. What happens after a year, I can't promise. But it won't exceed three years."

Empress Chen felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

Only three years — she could set her mind at ease.

Knowing Uncle Lou's fickle nature, he certainly wouldn't last three years.

To this day, no woman had ever stayed by Uncle Lou's side for more than three years.

"How do you want me to help her?"

The danger past, they moved on to discuss specifics.

Chen Chen Guanlou countered, "Before Chen Zi, has the Empress Dowager ever humiliated her?"

"She has!"

Speaking of this, Empress Chen felt a twinge of guilt. Fortunately, her face remained composed. Even if her heart was in turmoil — churning like towering waves — her expression gave nothing away. This was the basic cultivation of a woman of the inner palace: never let joy or anger show on one's face! One must never let others guess one's thoughts.

"Make sure that for the next few years, the Empress Dowager has no time to make trouble for her, and stop summoning her into the palace."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing else." Chen Chen Guanlou was very decisive.

"Just that?" Empress Chen hadn't expected the request to be so simple. "Prince Rui's title and stipend — you don't need my help with those?"

"No need to help. The more she's harassed, the safer she is! Mother and son mustn't draw attention. Maintaining the status quo is best."

Empress Chen nodded in understanding — indeed, maintaining the status quo was the safest course.

Once the Emperor came to his senses and fixed his eyes on Prince Rui, both Consort Jing and her son would be flayed alive.

"Uncle Lou treats Consort Jing Tai with quite the deep affection and loyalty!" Empress Chen teased.

Chen Chen Guanlou had no desire to discuss this bit of gossip with a junior — especially when he was the very center of it.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first!"

"Uncle Lou, wait! His Majesty grows ever more difficult to serve. I'm exhausted."

"Then don't serve him. Rest for a few days."

"I can't exactly chase the man away." Empress Chen said, aggrieved.

"Let your son make a fuss at him. No one likes a child's wailing — after a couple of rounds of it, he won't come around anymore."

Empress Chen frowned in deep thought.

"Do all men dislike children?"

"Well-behaved, obedient, cute little children — those men do like." Chen Chen Guanlou spoke honestly. "A wailing child only breeds annoyance. And men feel nothing for their own children at first, especially when they're the Emperor. Affection is built up through daily interaction. That's why the saying goes: a stepmother means a stepfather."

Men care more about their own feelings, about their desires. It's true that men value their heirs — but that's because of duty, the duty to carry on the line drummed into them from childhood. That heir can be one you bore, or one borne by another woman. In a man's heart, there's no difference.

It's just that everyone reads, learns propriety, righteousness, and shame, abides by the human order and moral code, and so everyone upholds the tradition of the eldest legitimate son inheriting.

Tradition is wonderful — no need to think, no need to scheme. Whoever holds the position of eldest legitimate son inherits the family estate. How deep the bond between father and son is, that's hard to say. Remember — men value tradition above all! If a man takes a liking to something, he'll surely turn that thing into a tradition, beyond all reproach!"

Empress Chen was left speechless once more, another window thrown open, a new thing revealed, and for the moment she had nothing to say.

After much thought, she said, "Uncle Lou means that men will turn their own bad habits into tradition, and then enjoy them with a clear conscience."

"Exactly!"

Chen Chen Guanlou looked at her with a smile. "That is the meaning of discipline! And that is the preciousness of rebellion!"

Empress Chen drew a deep breath.

"The identity of Emperor makes it more convenient to do this. So, when you interact with him, you must keep the proper distance!"