The Demon Lords

Chapter 792 174: National Letter_2

Because the ones who collectively challenged you this time are those Jinshi officials. For the sake of your eternal imperial rule, you wouldn't lay a hand on them. Instead, you sacrificed Hsu Guanghuai, who had been somewhat useful to you.

Our relationship as father and son no longer forms a specific bond. It's said that even a vicious tiger won't eat its cubs, but with my own father, he won't devour his son; he merely ignores me. So, I can only target what you're most unwilling to relinquish, to force you to yield, to force you to tolerate me. Am I being insolent? Alright then, when I came to the capital this time, I had already reached a clear understanding of things.

Though this was what he thought in his heart, Ji Chengjue still replied in feigned terror, "Your son dares not."

The Yan Emperor stared at his son without saying a word.

He greatly disliked this concise style of conversation. With a word from each party, they understood each other perfectly; no matter how complex the matter, after a few exchanges, everything seemed to have been discussed. This hardly fit the normal pattern of 'communication' and 'reporting to the throne,' yet they both knew in their hearts that just a sentence or two could convey the entire meaning. Plus, there were no outsiders present. Did this mean the father and son were supposed to deliberately put on a show, a back-and-forth, just to waste more breath?

Putting everything else aside, for a monarch of his stature, having his thoughts completely fathomed by another was, in itself, an extremely sensitive matter.

Just then, Eunuch Wei came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

"Let him in."

The Crown Prince entered. However, when he saw Ji Chengjue also standing in the Imperial Study, he was inwardly a little surprised, but his face immediately showed a warm and gentle smile as he said, "Ji Chengjue, you're here too. We haven't seen each other for so many days; I've missed you dearly."

Ji Chengjue stood there without moving, his gaze drifting off to the right. If one had observed closely at that moment, the Yan Emperor also made a similar gesture.

Evidently, this father and son duo both chose to bypass the Crown Prince's transparently false 'warmth' and 'courtesy.'

It wasn't that Ji Chengjue was arrogant. In fact, on a normal day, he wasn't usually so pointedly sharp; it was just that, at this moment, he hadn't quite shifted out of the earlier mode of interaction with his own father.

The Yan Emperor felt similarly. Watching the Crown Prince stand before Ji Chengjue, making solicitous inquiries and presenting an image of brotherly harmony, the Emperor—who had just moments before felt uncomfortable with how curtly his sixth son had spoken to him—suddenly felt an even deeper sense of disgust.

He even had an impulse to ask the Crown Prince: If I gave you a sword right now, would you kill your Ji Chengjue? Would you be willing? Of course, these thoughts could only stir in his mind, never to be voiced—much like Eunuch Wei, who had been standing by the door earlier, likely had his own unspoken thoughts. The toughest barrier in the world is a person's own skin, for it can conceal the heart within. It's incredibly difficult to guess what thoughts a person truly harbors beneath their outward appearance.

Having received a cold shoulder, the Crown Prince didn't show any anger, merely turning to the Yan Emperor and saying, "Father, all the details of the treaty have been finalized."

The Crown Prince had poured immense effort into this treaty. It could be said that this was the first truly significant undertaking since he had taken up residence in the East Palace; he valued it greatly and had handled it with utmost care. Although Hsu Guanghuai's downfall had caused some minor turbulence for the treaty, the overall impact wasn't too significant.

The Yan Emperor nodded and said, "You've worked hard, Crown Prince."

"Your son does not deserve such praise; it is merely my duty."

Wei Zhonghe approached and presented a memorandum to the Yan Emperor.

The Yan Emperor reached out, flipped through it, and then said, "Alright, all of you may withdraw. I am tired."

The Crown Prince was stunned for a moment; he hadn't expected this outcome. A simple acknowledgment of his hard work, followed by his own brief, polite reply, and that was it? He was dismissed just like that? He had toiled day and night for so long, and this was how he was casually brushed aside? Of course, the Crown Prince wasn't seeking any material reward. As the heir apparent to the throne, he was already at a level where further rewards were virtually impossible—it wasn't as if the Yan Emperor could abdicate, become the Retired Emperor, and cede the throne to him, could he?

Ji Chengjue observed the Crown Prince's expression and felt a laugh bubbling up. What's wrong? Still hoping for praise from the old man? Want him to kiss you, hug you, and lift you high like a child? But soon, Ji Chengjue frowned slightly. Hah, who was he to look down on the Crown Prince? We're clearly eggs from the same old bastard's clutch. How is it that for you, he's 'father,' but for me, he's just a 'bastard'? Of course, at their age, there was no point in vying for favor or feeling jealous anymore. Besides, strip away that outer layer of the Crown Prince's ceremonial robes, and what are we? Both our matriarchal clans were crushed by the man on the throne. My mother died young, and his mother has gone mad. What kind of twisted game are we two little bastards playing at here? At this thought, Ji Chengjue looked up at the Yan Emperor seated above him. Heh, old bastard.

Everyone harbors their own secret thoughts. They might be dark, perhaps even treasonous, but all are cleverly concealed behind a facade.

"Your son takes his leave!"

"Your son takes his leave!"

Ji Chengjue and the Crown Prince exited the Imperial Study together. Outside the study lay the imperial garden.

The Crown Prince seemed to have no intention of continuing the charade of brotherly affection and respect. He simply stopped first, and Ji Chengjue followed suit.

"You know about Minister Hsu's situation, don't you?"

Ji Chengjue nodded and replied, "I've heard a little."

"Weren't you assigned to the Ministry of Revenue to observe? The head of your Ministry of Revenue was ousted, and you've only 'heard a little'?"

"Your Highness jests. Your younger brother here is merely marking attendance at the Ministry of Revenue. Beyond that, there isn't much else for me to do."