Chapter 402: The Heir Returns to the Capital

The rebel Great Ming Prince had not yet been escorted to the capital, but the Marquis Prefecture's heir, Chen Guanfu, had returned to the capital first.

The Marquis Prefecture had made full preparations three days in advance: cleaning, decorating the house, arranging personnel, and drafting the banquet menu. In addition to the family's internal welcome, they also had to prepare a banquet to invite friends and relatives.

The entire Marquis Prefecture, from top to bottom, was preparing to welcome the family's successor.

The most excited were the first branch and the eldest young mistress, Lady Lu.

The people of the second branch couldn't help but be sour, running to the old lady to say a few sour words.

The old lady remained silent. What could she do? Chen Guanfu's position as heir was conferred by the imperial court; he was the legitimate successor of the Marquis Prefecture and the eldest son of the primary wife. His status as the orthodox successor was unrivaled. He had gone to the military to train at a young age, and relying on the family's support and his own ability, he had risen through the ranks, becoming a general, and had been leading troops to fight in the south, repeatedly making military contributions.

A tiger father has no dog sons!

"With the heir returning to the mansion, everyone should pull themselves together. The heir has trained in the military for many years and values rules the most. Tell the people below to restrain themselves and not fall into the heir's hands. If the heir wants to punish anyone, don't come to me to plead for mercy; I can't manage it."

The old lady made her attitude clear; she didn't want to participate in the battle, only to watch from the sidelines. She would wait and see the heir's style of conduct before saying anything else.

"I heard that when the heir returned to the capital this time, he also brought several beautiful concubines, as well as several illegitimate sons and daughters."

"These matters are not for you to worry about; that is for the eldest young mistress to worry about. Alright, you may all disperse; I am tired."

The old lady was full of gloom.

The first branch had originally been on the verge of collapse. Who could have imagined that with the rebels causing trouble in the north, the first branch would take the opportunity to rise.

Sigh!

It is a matter of time and fate!

By the day Chen Guanfu officially returned to the capital, although the Marquis Prefecture didn't go as far as hanging lanterns and colored banners, it was filled with a festive atmosphere everywhere. The head steward had arranged for people to wait at the pier the day before, and early in the morning, they picked up the person and returned directly to the mansion.

After returning to the mansion, he didn't even have time to wash up before going to pay his respects to the old lady, then to the elders, and meeting his brothers, sisters, and wives one by one. Only then did he return to his courtyard to wash up and cleanse himself of the dust of the journey. At the same time, he didn't forget to arrange for someone to submit a post to the palace; tomorrow he would enter the palace to see the Emperor and thank him for his imperial grace.

The head steward reminded him privately, "The Emperor's temper has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years. When you see the Emperor tomorrow, be sure to be cautious in your words and actions; do not use the military style to deal with the Emperor. The Emperor has long had suspicions about the Marquis and you, and about the entire Marquis Prefecture. Especially toward the Marquis, his guard is very heavy. The Marquis is far away in the north fighting, also walking on thin ice, with no telling how many of the Emperor's spies are by his side."

Chen Guanfu gave a hum. "For the people I brought back, I trouble the head steward to test them for me."

"Is the heir suspecting that those people are not honest?"

"There must be spies planted by others inside. Who exactly they are depends on the head steward's help to find out. Also, those few women I brought back are probably not very honest either. However, matters of the inner courtyard still rely on the mistress."

"Since the heir knows those people are not very honest, why keep them by your side?"

"There is no such thing as a thousand days of guarding against a thief, only a thousand days of being a thief. If I clean them out, new people will approach me with more hidden and flawless identities. Rather than being busy finding internal ghosts all day, it is better to keep those few fixed by my side, which saves a lot of trouble."

"The heir has great insight!"

"The last shipment of goods didn't go very smoothly at the front. It went smoothly at the back; I heard you found someone from the clan who is so capable?"

"Reporting to the heir, the person I found is your clansman, named Guanlou, who is currently working in the Heavenly Prison. He made a contribution and was originally planning to find him a seventh-rank position, but he didn't want it. He only wants to stay in the Heavenly Prison to earn money and is dead set against entering officialdom. It's a waste of his talent. If the heir doesn't mention this matter, I would have brought it up. As the clan's son and the next clan leader, the heir should stand up and properly manage the clan's affairs. It's rare for a talented young person to appear; we cannot indulge him in continuing to stay in the Heavenly Prison and wasting his time."

Chen Guanfu was very astonished, his expression one of shock and uncertainty. "There are still people in this day and age who don't want to be officials? And a Chen family member at that?"

"It is absolutely true. I chatted with Chen Guanlou, and he is dead set on not changing his mind, saying he only wants to muddle along and wait for death, and that his ideal is to have a lot of money, little work, and be close to home. He said the Heavenly Prison satisfies his requirements and he doesn't want to leave. He doesn't even want to be a prison warden, only a prison clerk, and he is satisfied. It is simply... completely without ambition."

When the head steward spoke of this matter, he was still full of resentment.

Being able to refuse the benefits offered by the Marquis Prefecture, Chen Guanlou cannot be said to be the first, but he is definitely the most bizarre one.

After hearing this, Chen Guanfu laughed. "I didn't expect such an interesting character to appear in the clan. When the mansion holds a banquet in a few days, you send him an invitation and invite him to the mansion for a drink. At that time, bring him before me, and I will chat with him."

"Is the heir planning to...?"

"You say he has talent; I naturally have to weigh his worth myself. If he truly is a talented person, even if he doesn't want to be an official, there will always be a use for him."

"The heir's words are reasonable. Regarding the second branch, does the heir have any instructions?"

"My second uncle's family has great ambition but little talent; they are okay at handling human relations and making connections. For the rest, I trouble the head steward to put in more effort. My father doesn't like to handle mundane affairs, and since I have returned, some things should be changed. However, there is no rush at this moment; wait until after the New Year to slowly come around."

"Understood! And the war in the south?"

"We don't need to worry about it. Since the Emperor is guarding against my father and me, let the Emperor worry about it himself. Hmph, the Prince of Chu is not some mud-legged rebel; he is not that easy to deal with. The several vassal kings in the south are all a bit restless. If they don't move by the end of this year, they will move after the spring next year. By then, there will be plenty of excitement to watch. I am happy to watch the joke."

After several years, Chen Guanfu stepped into the imperial palace again, his heart having slight ripples.

Led by a small eunuch, he passed through palace wall after palace wall and finally arrived at the Taiji Palace.

There was an attendant to announce him.

However, Chen Guanfu was left in the side hall; the old Emperor did not summon him immediately.

He was not in a hurry either.

Having trained in the military for many years and commanded troops for several years, he dared not say anything else, but he did not lack patience. He knew well the principle of waiting for the opportunity to act.

He didn't drink the tea, to prevent needing to use the restroom when seeing the Emperor, which would be disrespectful.

He half-closed his eyes, his ears pricked up, listening to the movement outside. People seeing the Emperor came in wave after wave; those who came later than him had already finished their audience, yet only he was left in the side hall, waiting in vain for a summons.

This is a show of power!

The old Emperor indeed had deep suspicions about their father and son. If necessary, the old Emperor would certainly find ways to kill them; the charge, unsurprisingly, would be rebellion.

Heh!

He lightly tapped the inside of his thumb, his heart churning. He already understood why his father had changed the plan.

This person, the old Emperor, must be speculated upon with the greatest malice. ===== CHAPTER 403 =====