C13 Take Me as a Hostage

Chen Dutian's words were so cutting that Lee Yu's face turned beet red, leaving him speechless. Wang Xuanyang's brow furrowed deeply. He had never expected Chen Dutian, notorious as the Imperial Capital's top wastrel, to possess such verbal acuity.

Anyone else who had slain the Antler Marquis and a scholar from the Scribes' Hall in broad daylight would have been executed without delay.

Yan Chen had summoned Chen Dutian ostensibly to warn him and to put pressure on Chen Dou. Yet, in the brief time it took to sip a cup of tea, Chen Dutian had deftly deflected all blame, leaving his accusers without a leg to stand on.

"How dare you be so insolent! Your father may be the Lord Protector, and he certainly earned his laurels in the Phethia Dynasty, but you, a mere boy, have the audacity to slay a high-ranking official. You may escape death, but you won't avoid punishment!" Yan Feng stepped forward to defend Lee Yu.

The Lee family was, after all, of royal blood. Chen Dutian showed them no respect, even threatening Lee Yu in the grand hall, which was more than Yan Feng could stomach.

"Oh, really? It was the Emperor himself who granted my father those privileges. Commander Yan Feng, have you ever heard of the sanctity of an imperial edict?" Chen Dutian sneered, clearly unimpressed by Yan Feng.

"Enough! I did indeed promise that anyone who offended the Chen family could be executed on the spot! Chen Dutian is young, and I will not hold him accountable this time," declared Yan Chen from his throne.

Chen Dutian was not the good-for-nothing everyone claimed. He had invoked the special privilege granted by Yan Chen to Chen Dou. To press the issue further would be tantamount to the Emperor contradicting himself.

With the death of Lee Yu's son, Yan Chen offered some consolation and benefits to the Lee family to silence their grievances.

But to openly confront the Chen family was to risk the tiger-shaped tally, which controlled the formidable Red Banner Army, currently in Chen Dou's possession. That was a gamble Yan Chen was not willing to take.

With the Emperor's word as the final say, Lee Yu and Yan Feng could do nothing but hold their tongues. Wang Xuanyang cast a cold glance at Chen Dutian before turning away, choosing silence over confrontation.

Seated upon the Dragon Throne, Yan Chen cleared his throat and, with a hint of a smile, spoke deliberately, "Lord Protector Chen Dou is yet to return from his campaign, having earned significant merit on my behalf. Chen Dutian, henceforth, I appoint you as Yan Beichen's reading partner. You shall reside permanently in the Imperial City!"

Chen Dutian was momentarily taken aback. Yan Chen had not only spared the Chen family from punishment but had also elevated his status. What could be his motive?

Chen Dutian's bewilderment was mirrored by the other ministers in the hall, all of whom displayed looks of astonishment.

After all, wasn't Chen Dutian notoriously known throughout the Imperial Capital as a wastrel? He was infamous for his lack of scholarship and penchant for trouble. Having recently slain the newly appointed Antler Marquis and the son of the Minister of Personnel, the Emperor had not only refrained from reprimanding him but had also appointed him as the prince's reading partner. The turn of events seemed almost too abrupt.

In the hall, only Wang Xuanyang remained unperturbed, his eyes briefly betraying a glint of malicious glee.

After a considerable pause, Chen Dutian bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude, "I thank Your Majesty and humbly accept this honor."

"Could it be that Yan Chen has rewarded me solely out of respect for my father?" Chen Dutian pondered with a furrowed brow as he departed the Crystal Palace.

In his recollection, Yan Beichen had led an unambitious life, devoid of any aspirations for the throne. Among the princes, his talents were unremarkable, hardly enough to endear him to Yan Chen.

What could possibly be Yan Chen's intent in assigning him, Chen Dutian, to serve as a reading partner to such a prince?

As Chen Dutian prepared to exit the Imperial City, his path was obstructed by two golden-armored guards brandishing sabers. Their expressions stern, they commanded, "Mr. Chen, halt. Without the Emperor's consent, you are forbidden from leaving the Imperial City henceforth."

Chen Dutian's initial surprise quickly gave way to understanding. It appeared that Yan Chen's apparent favor was a facade; in reality, he was confining Chen Dutian within the Imperial City to leverage against his father.

"What cunning," Chen Dutian mused with a sneer, silently lambasting Yan Chen. "It's clear he remains wary of my father, intending to use me as a pawn in his game."

As the Lord Protector of the Phethia Dynasty, Chen Dou wielded considerable military power, his achievements so formidable they could shake the throne itself. Moreover, he possessed the tiger-shaped tally, granting him control over the five hundred thousand strong Red Banner Army. He was on the verge of returning to the Imperial Capital. Should he harbor any rebellious intentions, Yan Feng's one hundred thousand Imperial Guards would stand no chance against him.

Yan Chen's insistence on keeping Chen Dutian within the Imperial City was a strategic move to leverage against Chen Dou.

"Mr. Chen, Prince Yan Beichen requests your presence. Please come with me," said a man clad in palace attire, approaching Chen Dutian with a courteous smile.

Unable to leave the Imperial City at present, Chen Dutian felt no urgency. He nodded and followed the man toward Prince Yan Beichen's residence, the Sunlit Palace.

The Sunlit Palace, situated in the northwest corner of the Imperial City, was modest in size, even smaller than the House of Protector, and paled in comparison to the grandeur of the Crown Prince's Yongrui Palace.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Sunlit Palace, Chen Dutian surveyed the surroundings and noted the absence of guards, save for two palace-dressed men stationed at the gate, their prowess merely at the Fifth Heaven of Spirit Convergence. It was evident that Prince Yan Beichen held little esteem in Yan Chen's eyes.

The two men pushed open the vermillion gates, and Chen Dutian entered, traversing corridors and ascending a flight of stairs to reach the main hall.

However, Prince Yan Beichen was nowhere to be seen in the hall. The palace-attired guide halted and spoke with deference, "Mr. Chen, if you would kindly wait here, I shall summon His Highness."

After a short while, roughly the duration it takes to sip a pot of tea, Chen Dutian was finally greeted by Prince Yan Beichen. Lacking the typical imperial presence, the prince was dressed in a simple long robe, a three-foot longsword at his waist, and a green jade crown atop his head. His demeanor was calm, exuding a scholarly elegance.

Chen Dutian bowed in respect, and Yan Beichen, with a warm smile, stepped forward to lift him to his feet. He then addressed the attendant in a clear voice, "Please leave us. Until I give permission, no one is to come near this main hall."

The gentleman nodded subtly and exited the grand hall. Yan Beichen guided Chen Dutian to sit beside him on an oak chair and whispered, "I've long admired the Lord Protector's Heir's renowned name. Meeting you today is indeed a stroke of good fortune!"

Chen Dutian was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't anticipated such courtesy from Yan Beichen. In his past life, their paths had never crossed, and Chen Dutian knew little about him. Seeing Yan Beichen's affable demeanor now, he couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.

Yan Chen and Yan Nantian seemed eager to dispose of the Chen family at the earliest opportunity, yet Yan Beichen appeared to harbor no such animosity towards him. Regaining his composure, Chen Dutian responded with a warm smile and a respectful gesture, "Your Highness flatters me. I, Chen Dutian, have been appointed as the Emperor's reading partner, and I will certainly depend on your support in the future!"

Yan Beichen gestured dismissively and sighed, shaking his head, "Though I bear the title of prince, I've never won my father's favor. I've never aspired to vie for the throne against my elder brother. Here in the Imperial Capital, my influence is minimal; nobody really takes me into account."