Although nominally father and son, the relationship between Chang Yan and the Imperial Court was not really close.
The past few days of calling father and going to the Shexian Palace were all just to plot against Noble Consort Ju.
Today, the Imperial Court invited him in the middle of the night. Could it be that he saw through his plot and was angrily going to settle accounts after the autumn harvest?
Chang Yan was not afraid of these things.
Now in the previous dynasty he had the Dou family, the Jiang family, the Yao family, the He family replaced the Fang family, and the Zhu family and Tao family were not in power, otherwise they would not be so hidden and tolerant.
The military power in the north was controlled by General Jiang, and some scattered old Ministry of Fang were picked up by Fang Heng and gradually formed a climate.
The biggest problem before was the Ju family, the decades of affection in the emperor's heart.
With a bowl of white magnolia seed soup with poison, even if the Ju family could retain its status, it would no longer be favored as before.
At this point, he had thoroughly planned behind the scenes.
The teenager tidied his clothes and opened the door with a faint smile under everyone's gaze, "I'm sorry to trouble the commander of the Forbidden Guards to lead the way."
The night was still deep, and no matter how many candles or lights illuminated the way forward, just as life would always be bewildered.
But as long as you have a clear conscience, every step you take is firm.
West Third Court was an annexed palace of Chengqian Palace. After the Fourth Prince moved out, only Chang Yan still lived there. The short distance only took a few moments to reach.
Steward Wu was on duty at the gate, and Eunuch Wu was accompanying him. It should have been the time when one was tired to yawn, but the two were more spirited than the other.
Especially when they saw Chang Yan, this spirit turned into a shock. Eunuch Wu, who was not very old, even showed horror.
"Steward Wu, how come you are on duty in person?" Chang Yan probed unmoved, "Does Father want to handle some important matters?"
"No, no." Steward Wu immediately shook his head with a smile, "Just wanted to sit outside for a while, Your Highness please go in."
That would be strange.
From Wen Zhiyun to the guards, to Steward Wu and Eunuch Wu, there was something strange about them tonight.
Chang Yan frowned, subconsciously took a defensive stance, and slowly stepped into Chengqian Palace Hall.
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but the whole hall was so empty that it was a bit scary. Although there were burning coals in the corners, it still revealed a chill.
It was a bit like the dilapidated temple in Shili Pub Village. After he and his siblings left, it quickly withered. Jiang Sheng said it was because it lost popularity.
Popularity huh.
Thinking of his elder brother and younger sister, Chang Yan's eyebrows relaxed, and he also calmed down a lot.
But as the residence of the emperor, Chengqian Palace should not lack popularity.
He frowned again and walked into the east hall in three steps. On the dragon bed, he saw a middle-aged man lying flat.
The golden dragon quilt was covered to his chest, and his two arms were placed on the outside. The slightly curled five fingers were strangely thin, like withered branches sun-dried in the wilderness.
This man... was it still the Imperial Court he remembered?
Chang Yan doubted that he had seen it wrong, but this was indeed Chengqian Palace, and it was indeed the dragon bed in front of him.
He took two more steps forward before finally seeing the slightly undulating chest under the quilt, before putting his heart back in his stomach.
Chang Yan disliked this biased father at a very young age - sitting alone by the pond as a child, he could always see Zhu Changhong being held and walked by, but he could hardly even be glanced at.
At first, when he was young and ignorant, he would chase after and ask his mother, "Why doesn't Father hold me? Why doesn't the newcomer Night Glowing Pearl have a share for me?"
Yan Empress smiled bitterly and shook her head, unable to say a thousand words and ten thousand, and finally had to hold the child herself.
Later, little Chang Yan understood that because his mother was not favored, he could not get his father's favor, let alone his father's embrace, and a dazzling array of treasures.
Gradually, the heartfelt admiration was replaced by disgust. He would no longer climb up staggering from the side of the pond to follow them, nor would he crave the shining Night Glowing Pearl. He would just coldly feed the fish, and then coldly watch Zhu Chang receive his father’s affection.
If you can't get it, don't get it. If you can't find it, don't find it. His feelings for his father gradually dried up, and have never recovered to this day.
What he admired and respected was only his father's image, never the specific person, let alone the person lying on the dragon bed.
He thought he was indifferent enough, especially after his mother's death and his escape from the Imperial City alone.
In fact, it was true. Whether it was returning to the palace to recommend Xu Mo to be the top scholar, or plotting against Noble Consort Ju at the Shexian Palace, there were no waves or emotions in his heart.
He had been waiting all this time, waiting to legitimately succeed to the throne, control the world, and protect the peace of the people.
Until just now, when the person on the bed lay flat like a withered tree, his heart beat violently, and his emotions spread wildly along with it.
It wasn't joy or nervousness, but fear.
He was actually afraid of losing...
It was ridiculous. He and the Imperial Court only had a nominal relationship left, they didn't have any feelings for each other.
The neglect in childhood, the biased favoritism, and the absence in life, stood between them, and could never be eliminated.
If there were any feelings left, it would probably only be admiration for a weak emperor who could still maintain the court and borders.
He did not respect his father, but he was willing to respect the emperor.
Chang Yan stabilized his emotions and looked back at the person on the dragon bed, only to find that the Imperial Court had woken up.
The gaunt face of the middle-aged man still had bright and piercing eyes, with the power to absorb people's hearts, staring straight at his pupils.
If he hadn't gone through thousands of trials and tribulations, Chang Yan would really not be able to withstand it.
Fortunately, he had withstood it.
The two of them just stared at each other quietly in this silent hall, neither willing to retreat, nor willing to admit defeat.
After an unknown period of time, the Imperial Court's cheerful laugh sounded, "Good, very good, you kid have guts."
How many people in the world could stare at the emperor without being timid?
"Although it's a bit late, I still want to say, you're very good, you're all very good." He struggled to sit up, swallowing several times as if to suppress something, "I really didn't expect that Hong who enjoyed favor from thousands could not become strong. On the other hand, the few neglected children each have their own abilities.”
Perhaps this is also the shortcoming of human nature - the more smooth sailing a person is, the harder it is to have ambition and achievement.
Chang Yan did not comment on this.
Outsiders only saw the ambition and strength that grew out of frustration, but never asked the child whether he was willing to eat that bitterness or not.
"Chang Yu has some ability, but his birth limits his vision. Although the second branch of the Fang family holds power, they are on a downward path." The Imperial Court still analyzed, "Him being a lone prince cooperating with the Fang family, in the future the only achievement will be the Fang family’s, while he himself will be sidelined as a puppet."
"Besides..." The man paused for a moment, "Anyone who can forcibly cause the death of his sister-in-law and harm his nephew can't be anything good."
It was just seeking the tiger’s skin while riding the tiger.
The Imperial Court spoke lightly, but it made Chang Yan's hair stand on end to hear it.
He almost instinctively took two steps back, "You... you know everything? You know everything but still allow the Fang family to do evil, allow the eldest son of the principal wife to wander outside?"
