C12 I Give You Face

Chen Dutian's father was absent from the Imperial Capital, leaving him without the power to stand against the Yan Family. His sole support was the formidable Red Banner Army, half a million strong.

Yuan Liu grasped Chen Dutian's intent and gave a firm nod. "Rest assured, Young Master, I'll take care of it myself!"

"No, there's something more critical for you to do," Chen Dutian interjected, his tone icy. "If I'm not mistaken, the Lord Protector's Mansion is now under surveillance. You must leave the Imperial Capital immediately and seek out my father in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Tell him to pull back his forces to the Imperial Capital!"

In this new life, the moment Chen Dutian publicly executed Marquis Deer Cauldron, Qin Fan, the course of events shifted. Only his father, the Lord Protector Chen Dou, could match the Yan Family's Skyflight elder.

With the Lord Protector's return to the Imperial Capital, all crises could be swiftly addressed.

"I understand! Young Master... please take care," Yuan Liu said, his eyes brimming with emotion as a fierce energy radiated from him.

Chen Dutian slipped into a new set of clothes and departed the Lord Protector's Mansion alone. Li You was waiting outside, clearly growing impatient. A crowd had gathered at the mansion gates, and upon Chen Dutian's appearance, all eyes were fixed on him.

"Did you hear? The Lord Protector's heir killed the Marquis of Deer Cauldron's son and the Minister of Personnel's son yesterday. He's likely facing a severe prison sentence today!"

"Serves him right. He's been throwing his weight around as the Lord Protector's heir for too long. It's high time he was put in his place!"

"Watch what you say. Chen Dutian is the Lord Protector's only son. Who in the Imperial Capital would dare lay a finger on him?"

As the murmurs continued, Chen Dutian settled into his sedan chair. With a gesture from Li You, eight golden-armored guards with sabers cleared a path, and the onlookers stepped aside.

The journey from the Lord Protector's Mansion to the Imperial City took about an hour. Seated in his sedan chair, Chen Dutian's thoughts were consumed with his upcoming encounter with Yan Chen at the Crystal Palace and how he would navigate the situation.

Despite having slain Marquis Deer Cauldron, Qin Fan, Chen Dutian pondered whether Yan Chen might overlook the incident out of respect for the Lord Protector. However, with the death of Li Huaien, neither Li You nor the Crown Prince would be inclined to forgive and forget, especially Wang Xuanyang, who would undoubtedly seize this chance to eliminate Chen Dutian.

Upon arriving at the Crystal Palace, the sedan curtain was lifted, and Chen Dutian emerged with a composed demeanor. He surveyed his surroundings and noticed numerous high-ranking officials of the empire stationed outside the palace, each clad in golden armor and armed with a saber, their faces etched with solemnity.

Ascending over fifty jade steps, Chen Dutian at last laid eyes on Yan Chen, seated in the throne's place of honor. A dozen territorial officials stood within the hall, heads bowed, while Crown Prince Yan Nantian stood respectfully at Yan Chen's side. Wang Xuanyang, the foremost among the civil servants and the Crown Prince's tutor, occupied the most prominent position.

"Your Majesty, the heir to the Lord Protector, Chen Dutian, has been brought forth," announced Li You, bowing as he entered the hall before kneeling and proclaiming loudly.

Yan Chen, perched on the Dragon Throne, narrowed his eyes and gave a slight nod. A eunuch at his side called out shrilly, "Lord Protector Chen Dutian, enter the hall!"

It was Chen Dutian's inaugural visit to the Imperial City, yet he bore an air of unruffled confidence. He strode into the grand hall with ease and bowed, "Peace be upon Your Majesty!"

"Insolent! Kneel before His Majesty at once!" bellowed Commander Yan Feng, adorned in golden armor, attempting to intimidate Chen Dutian.

Wang Xuanyang, caressing his half-foot-long white beard, watched Chen Dutian with a mocking sneer. Aside from Yan Chen on the Dragon Throne, all eyes in the hall were fixed on Chen Dutian.

"My father, the Lord Protector, has been granted the privilege by His Majesty to enter the hall in armor, bearing his sword. Surely, as his son, I am entitled to the same exemption from kneeling," retorted Chen Dutian, undaunted by Yan Feng's challenge. Despite Yan Chen's imperial status and his intent to obliterate the Chen family, Chen Dutian would not yield to subjugation.

"Hmph, insolent youth! Even your father, Chen Dou, would not dare such impudence in this hall," Wang Xuanyang scoffed.

The other ministers watched the scene unfold with a mix of anticipation and amusement. The young scion was notorious in the capital for his debauchery, and even his father, Chen Dou, seemed powerless to rein him in. Now, facing the Emperor with the same brazen attitude, many speculated whether he would be reprimanded for his irreverence.

Yan Chen, seated upon the Dragon Throne, slowly opened his eyes and cast an indifferent glance at Chen Dutian. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he declared, "Enough. In consideration of the Lord Protector, I shall waive the kneeling ceremony for you."

Chen Dutian looked up with composure, meeting Yan Chen's gaze. He distinctly sensed a sharp flash of murderous intent in Yan Chen's eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Chen Dutian said, bowing respectfully.

"However," Yan Chen continued, his tone shifting, "while I can overlook the kneeling, I cannot so easily dismiss the killing of Marquis Deer Cauldron and the Crown Prince's study companion, Li Huaien."

Yan Chen had finally broached the subject of Li Huaien and Qin Fan's deaths. Qin Fan, the newly appointed Marquis Deer Cauldron, was a pawn Yan Chen had intended to use against the Chen family. Li Huaien, a high-ranking official, had been executed in the street for crossing Chen Dutian, an act Yan Chen could not ignore.

"Your Majesty, the newly appointed Marquis Deer Cauldron, Qin Fan, was crafting a counterfeit imperial robe and seal, clearly harboring treasonous intentions. My actions in executing him were justified," Chen Dutian asserted with a slight smile and a confident tone.

"And what of my son? He was the Crown Prince's study companion. Just because he offended you at the Crimson Moon, he deserved to die by your sword?" Li You turned to Chen Dutian, his eyes bloodshot with fury, and demanded an answer.

"Furthermore, Li Huaien was a learned man, recently appointed as a third-grade scholar of the Scribes' Hall. You publicly executed a senior official of the dynasty. The Phethia Dynasty cannot condone such behavior!" Wang Xuanyang also stepped forward, leveling a serious accusation at Chen Dutian.

Chen Dutian, however, sneered dismissively. "A third-grade scholar of the Scribes' Hall? Is he to be considered a senior official? He insulted me in public, showing no regard for the Lord Protector. What consequence is his death to me?"

The Lord Protector was a high-ranking official with immense influence. Without Chen Dou, there would be no Phethia Dynasty as it stood. Yan Chen himself had promised that the Lord Protector's status was second only to the emperor. To disregard the Lord Protector was to show contempt for the Yan family.

"My father earned his stripes for the Phethia Dynasty, earning the title of Lord Protector. The Emperor himself assured our Chen Family that anyone who dared to cross us would face immediate execution! It's not just about me killing your son—if I were to lead the Red Banner Army to obliterate your Li Family, it would be by your own doing!"

Chen Dutian's presence grew increasingly commanding as he spoke, invoking the Red Banner Army to deter Yan Chen.

At the time of Yan Chen's ascension to the throne, the Phethia Dynasty was beset by strife both within and without. To secure Chen Dou's unwavering loyalty and stabilize his reign, Yan Chen had granted him numerous special privileges.

Upon hearing Chen Dutian's declaration, a wave of unease rippled through the assembly, prompting even Yan Chen on his throne to involuntarily clench his fists.

"Li Huaien's public insult was a direct challenge to the Lord Protector of the Phethia Dynasty. By not pursuing the matter further, I have already shown considerable restraint and respect towards your Li Family."