Chapter 1272: Loyal Dog Care Guidelines 36

Jin Chen patted the box behind him, "It's been a long time since I came to the capital; I specially came to bring you a gift, Imperial Uncle, are you still satisfied?"

Such a gift, Jin Xuan Zhang, having reigned for several decades, had never seen it.

He never expected that Chen'er's growth speed would be this fast.

Jin Chen also didn't rush to continue, giving Jin Xuan Zhang ample time to react.

After all, he was an emperor; Jin Xuan Zhang quickly figured out the seriousness, furrowed his brow and asked Jin Chen, "You tell me, did you do something wrong, hence needing to plead in this way?"

Jin Chen: "……"

He frowned, speechless, "You've been thinking this long, just pondering this matter!"

Jin Xuan Zhang: "Then you tell me, what's the reason?"

Jin Chen spoke frankly, his expression very sincere, "Imperial Uncle, I already know you want to cultivate me as the future Crown Prince."

"I don't want to be Crown Prince; I just want to live carefree. So I captured remnants of Prince Cheng as leverage to plead with you."

"So that's the reason."

Jin Xuan Zhang glanced at Yajiu, who had remained silent and dared not raise his head, already forming a judgment in his mind.

"Your several cousins are fighting tooth and nail to become Crown Prince, yet with you it's just not good?"

Jin Chen pinched his ear, "The Crown Prince position is naturally excellent, but Chen'er simply refuses."

He turned his head, looking pitifully at his affectionate uncle.

"Just like Father Emperor, you tolerated Father Emperor staying away from the capital's strife, so have pity on me as well."

Jin Xuan Zhang laughed angrily, "You made a big show of helping me with a great deed, further proving your abilities, yet you refuse to become my heir."

"Aren't you afraid I'll grow wary, from now on not only preventing you from becoming Crown Prince, but also from living carefree as Heir Apparent?"

Jin Chen shook his head, "Not afraid."

He was full of confidence, flaunting his spoiled upbringing to the fullest, "If you do that, Chen'er and Father Emperor will no longer be on good terms with you."

"Yellow-haired brat, you're even threatening me now."

Jin Xuan Zhang scolded in words, but actually wore a smile, and his anger had considerably subsided.

"Then tell me, what other treasures are in the box?"

Jin Chen had Yajiu present the wooden box, then patted it again, "It's the head of Prince Cheng's most powerful aide, plus the identity tokens of all his remnants."

As for its use, Jin Xuan Zhang naturally understood; Jin Chen stopped after pointing it out, saying no more.

"By the way, I haven't killed Prince Cheng yet; I'm leaving him for you to handle."

"Good lad, every step was calculated perfectly."

Jin Xuan Zhang clapped his hands and laughed heartily, feeling moved, "If even half of my sons had your qualities, there wouldn't be a need to consider you as Crown Prince candidate."

Jin Chen accepted the praise without guilt, and returned the compliment, "Imperial Uncle, your mercy—just sparing me would be best."

"Alright, you've been weary from the journey; go rest."

Jin Xuan Zhang couldn't wait to go see that scheming cousin.

He was preoccupied with his thoughts, so he didn't notice that when Jin Chen went out, he was actually holding hands with the secret guard Yajiu.

——

"This is the imperial palace; Yajiu never expected the master to be so unreserved, but thinking back to the master's conversation with His Majesty earlier, he felt that in this world, there was nothing the master dared not do."

"In the past, while on duty, not even one of the three princes would dare speak like that in His Majesty's presence."

"Watch the road, what are you daydreaming about?"

Jin Chen pulled Yajiu into his embrace as they walked, noticing he'd been tense all the way, "Are you afraid, unwilling to walk alongside this Heir Apparent?"

His tone was dangerous; Yajiu had his own set of observation methods for the master, and at times like this, saying the wrong thing easily earned punishment.

He relaxed his body, leaning on Jin Chen's shoulder, "A little, but with the master beside me I'm not afraid."

"Hmph, always good with glib talk,"

Jin Chen was indeed satisfied, he raised a hand to pinch Yajiu's nose tip, his tone turning more serious.

"Rest assured, once Father Emperor and Mother arrive, I'll go beg Imperial Uncle to grant our marriage, and I'll certainly not let you go without name or status."

Yajiu never tires of hearing those words, no matter how many times, because he knows the master never speaks falsely.

At that moment, his heart filled with sour yet moving emotion, Yajiu plucked up courage, tiptoed to wrap his arms around Jin Chen's neck, lips about to kiss but still shy, so he simply buried himself in the embrace, "I like you, I really like you."

Jin Chen heard the little guard's trembling voice confessing, the smile in his eyes about to spill over, and he ruffled Yajiu's hair.

"I heard."

——

Jin Chen knew that once his handsome old dad learned the full story, he would be furious.

But he hadn't expected him to be this angry!

It's downright terrifying!

"Imperial Uncle!!"

Jin Chen rushed straight to the Imperial Study, running while dodging; behind him, Jin Xuan Qi no longer had the slightest semblance of a refined prince, his whip cracking with a whistling sound as it lashed.

Such a scene is common in the prince's mansion, but in the strictly regulated imperial palace, it's utterly shocking and scandalous.

But it also stirred some old grandma's memories, sighing, "Once upon a time, the young His Majesty and Prince Han were like that, daily frolicking in front of the Imperial Study door, utterly intimate."

"Imperial Uncle!!"

Jin Chen let out another howl, "Quick, save me!"

Jin Xuan Zhang watched this scene, already beginning to get a headache.

"Xuan Qi! What are you doing?"

Jin Xuan Qi snorted, "Imperial Elder Brother, don't stop me; today I must properly teach this clueless brat a lesson!"

Jin Chen hurriedly hid behind Jin Xuan Zhang's Dragon Throne, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"No way! No way no way! If I get knocked stupid, what will the old Xu and Jin families do afterwards? Not a single smart one!"

Jin Xuanqi's chest heaved with anger, "... Jin Chen!"

Jin XuanZhang laughed loudly, hurried to stop Jin Xuanqi's whip, "All right! I haven't even blamed you for not disciplining the child properly; Chen'er has been willful since childhood—isn't it all learned from you?"

Jin Xuanqi pondered the meaning, "Imperial older brother, you're scolding me indirectly, aren't you?"

The two brothers almost came to blows.

The old eunuch couldn't hold back, flicked his whisk and laughed, "Both masters, please calm down."

Jin Chen poked his head out from behind the dragon throne, "Exactly, what's the point of shouting about fighting and killing all day? A gentleman settles things with words, not fists."

He brushed off the dust, stood up, and swayed as he walked between the two of them.

"This matter is already settled; please, Father Emperor and Imperial Uncle, don't make things difficult for Chen'er any further."

"Who knows what will happen later? Better to focus on another matter at hand."

Jin XuanZhang wondered, "What else is there?"

Jin Chen bowed low, clasped his hands, and shouted, "Reporting to Imperial Uncle, Chen'er asks you to grant a marriage."

"Oh? Which family's lovely lady have you taken a liking to?"

Jin XuanZhang found it strange, laughed again, and said, "Your demeanor is exactly like your father's back in the day."

Jin Chen gave a hehe laugh and lifted his gaze to him.

"Azure Sky Guard Yajiu—I want to marry him as my principal husband!"

Jin XuanZhang: "... Who?!"