C12 He Had Given You a Lot of Face

Chen Dutian's father wasn't in the capital, and Chen didn't have the strength to challenge the Yan family alone. His only support was the 500,000-strong Red Banner Army. Yuan Liu quickly understood Chen's intentions and nodded firmly, saying, "Don't worry, sir. I'll handle this personally!"

"No, you have more important matters to attend to," Chen replied, waving his hand dismissively. "If my guess is right, the House of Protector is already under surveillance. You need to leave the capital and head to the Great Mountains to find my father. Tell him to bring the troops back to the capital!"

In this new life, after Chen had publicly executed Antler Marquis Qin Fan, everything had changed. Only Lord Protector Chen Dou's power could rival the Yan family's formidable elder.

Once the Lord Protector returned to the capital, all crises could be swiftly resolved.

"I understand! Please take care, sir!" Yuan Liu's eyes reddened, and a fierce determination emanated from him. After a quick change of clothes, Chen Dutian left the House of Protector alone. Lee Yu was waiting impatiently outside, and a crowd had gathered at the gate. As Chen emerged, all eyes turned to him.

"I heard the Lord Protector's heir killed the Antler Marquis and the Minister of Personnel's son yesterday. He's probably going to be thrown in jail today!"

"Serves him right. That guy's been throwing his weight around because of his status as the Lord Protector's heir. It's about time someone put him in his place!"

"Don't speak recklessly. Chen Dutian is the only son of the Lord Protector. Who in this capital would dare to touch him?"

Amidst the murmurs, Chen Dutian settled into the carriage. With a wave from Lee Yu, eight guards in golden armor, swords at their sides, cleared the path ahead, and the crowd quickly stepped aside.

The House of Protector was about an hour's ride from the royal palace. As Chen Dutian sat in the carriage, his mind was consumed with thoughts of how he should handle his meeting with Yan Chen at the Crystal Palace.

Eliminating Antler Marquis Qin Fan might not provoke Yan Chen, given the Lord Protector's influence. However, taking out Lee Huai'en would likely stir trouble with Lee Yu and the Crown Prince. And Wang Xuanyang, especially, wouldn't miss such a prime opportunity to get rid of Chen Dutian.

Upon arriving at the Crystal Palace within the royal grounds, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Chen Dutian stepped out with a calm demeanor.

He glanced around and noticed many high-ranking officials of the realm standing outside the palace. The Imperial Guards, clad in golden armor, lined both sides, their expressions solemn.

Ascending over fifty steps, Chen Dutian finally saw Yan Chen seated at the head of the hall. More than a dozen regional governors stood respectfully inside, with Crown Prince Yan Nantian standing deferentially beside Yan Chen. Wang Xuanyang, as the chief among the civil officials and the esteemed Grand Preceptor, held the most prominent position.

"Your Majesty, the Lord Protector's Heir, Chen Dutian, has arrived!" Lee Yu announced loudly, bowing deeply as he entered the grand hall.

Seated on the throne, Yan Chen nodded slightly, while the nearby attendant called out in a sharp voice, "Chen Dutian, the Lord Protector's Heir, enter the hall!"

It was Chen Dutian's first visit to the capital, yet he appeared calm and composed, showing no sign of fear. He strolled confidently into the hall, bowed slightly, and greeted, "Long live Your Majesty!"

"How dare you! In the presence of His Majesty, you should kneel immediately!" Yan Feng, clad in golden armor, barked at Chen Dutian, attempting to assert his authority.

Wang Xuanyang, stroking his half-foot-long white beard, smirked coldly at Chen Dutian. Everyone in the hall, except for Yan Chen on the throne, was watching Chen Dutian intently.

"My father, the Lord Protector, has special permission from His Majesty to enter with armor and sword. As his heir, shouldn't I also be exempt from kneeling?" Chen Dutian replied nonchalantly, clearly unfazed by Yan Feng. Although Yan Chen held the throne, his intent to eliminate the Chen family was well-known, and Chen Dutian had no intention of kneeling before him.

"Hmph, you insolent child! Even your father, Chen Dou, wouldn't dare speak so boldly in this hall!" Wang Xuanyang scoffed.

The surrounding ministers watched Chen Dutian with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Everyone knew he was notorious in the capital for being a spoiled brat, and even his father, Chen Dou, couldn't control him. Now, as he faced the emperor, his arrogance was on full display, leaving many to wonder if the emperor would charge him with disrespect.

Sitting on the throne, Yan Chen slowly opened his eyes. After a brief glance at Chen Dutian, he casually waved his hand and said, "Enough. In honor of the Lord Protector, I'll spare you the courtesy of kneeling."

Chen Dutian calmly lifted his head, meeting Yan Chen's gaze. He could clearly sense a sharp, murderous intent in the emperor's eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Chen Dutian said, bowing slightly.

"But Chen Dutian, your youthful recklessness won't excuse you. While I'll overlook the kneeling, I can't ignore the matter of you killing the Antler Marquis and the prince's companion, Lee Huai'en!"

Yan Chen's tone shifted as he finally addressed the murders of Lee Huai'en and Qin Fan. Qin Fan, the newly appointed Antler Marquis, was a pawn in Yan Chen's plan to undermine the Chen family, and Lee Huai'en, a high-ranking official's son, was killed in broad daylight for offending Chen Dutian. Yan Chen couldn't let this slide.

"Your Majesty, the newly appointed Antler Marquis, Qin Fan, was secretly crafting imperial robes and seals, clearly plotting treason! It was only right that I took action and executed him," Chen Dutian replied with a slight smile, his voice steady and confident.

"Where's my son? He was the prince's companion, and just because he crossed you at the Crimson Moon, he deserves to die by your sword?" Lee Yu turned, his eyes bloodshot with rage, and demanded loudly of Chen Dutian.

"And Lee Huai'en is well-read, recently appointed as a third-level scholar at the Scribes' Hall. You killed a high-ranking official in broad daylight. How can the Phethia Dynasty tolerate you?" Wang Xuanyang stepped forward, accusing Chen Dutian with a heavy charge.

But Chen Dutian sneered dismissively, "A third-level scholar at the Scribes' Hall? You call that a high-ranking official? He insulted me in public, showing no respect for the Lord Protector. Why shouldn't I have killed him?"

The Lord Protector is a key figure, without whom the Phethia Dynasty wouldn't exist as it does today. Yan Chen once promised that the Lord Protector's status was second only to the emperor. Disrespecting the Lord Protector is akin to defying the Yan family.

"My father has rendered great service to the Phethia Dynasty and was granted the title of Lord Protector. The emperor once promised that anyone who dared offend the Chen family could be executed on the spot! Not only did I kill your son, but if I led the Red Banner Army to wipe out the Lee family, it would be your own fault!"

As Chen Dutian spoke, his presence grew more imposing. Mentioning the Red Banner Army was meant to intimidate Yan Chen.

When Yan Chen first ascended the throne, the Phethia Dynasty was beset with internal strife and external threats. To ensure Chen Dou's unwavering loyalty in stabilizing the empire, Yan Chen granted him numerous privileges.

Hearing Chen Dutian's words, everyone in the grand hall instinctively frowned, including Yan Chen, who sat on the throne, clenching his fists unconsciously.

"Lee Huai'en insulted me in the street, which is a direct challenge to the Lord Protector of the Phethia Dynasty. I've already shown your Lee family considerable leniency by not pursuing the matter further!"