C14 Putting His Heart into His Sleeve

Yan Beichen's words were tinged with a hint of bitterness as he spoke. In the court, among the esteemed ministers, the leading civil official Wang Xuanyang held the prestigious position of Crown Prince's Tutor. Emperor Yan Chen had plans to bequeath the throne to Yan Nantian. As the Second Prince, Yan Beichen lacked any real power of his own.

The military commanders in the court, particularly Yan Feng who commanded a formidable army, maintained only a lukewarm relationship with Yan Beichen. The Lord Protector, Chen Dou, was the only one who showed him a modicum of respect.

Now that Chen Dutian had been appointed as the prince's study companion, Yan Beichen was obliged to treat him with the utmost hospitality.

"I'm hardly a scholar," Chen Dutian admitted with a twinkle in his eye, "and in the capital, I'm known more as a playboy. But with the emperor's grace making me the prince's study companion, I'll be sure to follow the Second Prince's lead!" With this, Chen Dutian made his stance clear to Yan Beichen.

The Lord Protector held significant military power and was highly respected, something that Yan Chen was always looking to undermine. Chen Dutian was not one to sit idly by and wait for his downfall. Supporting Yan Beichen's claim to the throne could spare the Chen Family from future conflicts with the Yan lineage.

Born into the royal family, Yan Beichen had never been favored by Yan Chen and was largely ignored by the powerful ministers who were loyal to the Crown Prince. They paid little heed to a Second Prince without clout.

It was unthinkable that Yan Beichen would lack ambition for the throne. Chen Dutian's goal was to elevate him to the seat of power, securing a worry-free future for the Chen Family.

Upon hearing Chen Dutian's declaration, Yan Beichen was visibly moved, his eyes alight with excitement. He nodded firmly and responded, "I'll hold you to that promise. If I, Yan Beichen, ever face adversity, you cannot simply stand by."

"Naturally! But at the moment, my Chen Family is like a clay Buddha crossing a river—barely keeping afloat," Chen Dutian lamented with feigned concern, secretly pleased that the Second Prince was taking the bait.

"Master Chen, what do you mean by that?" Yan Beichen asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "With Lord Protector Chen Dou wielding such influence over the Phethia Dynasty and commanding the Red Banner Army's half a million soldiers, who could possibly threaten your family's safety?" Yan Beichen was genuinely perplexed; he paid little attention to court politics and was unaware of the concerns harbored by Yan Chen and Yan Nantian.

"Alas, since time immemorial, the fate of the cunning rabbit is to be hunted by the hound, and the bird is shot once it's no longer needed. My father commands a formidable army, and the Emperor has long harbored suspicions of him. The Crown Prince's Tutor, Wang Xuanyang, bears a longstanding enmity with the Chen family. By appointing me as the prince's study companion and keeping me in the Imperial City, the Emperor aims to keep my father in check."

Yan Beichen remained silent for a while before nodding in understanding. "Young Master Chen, rest assured. Though I, Yan Beichen, may not be influential, I do hold the status of a prince. As long as I live, I will ensure the safety of your Chen family."

Chen Dutian was seeking precisely this assurance. He quickly stood and knelt in gratitude. "Thank you, Second Prince. I, Chen Dutian, am at your service. My family swears to protect you!"

As evening approached, Yan Chen sat in the Imperial Garden, savoring the aroma of his tea. Wang Xuanyang and Crown Prince Yan Nantian stood before him, neither speaking, casting a solemn air over the scene.

"Have you visited Minister Li?" Yan Chen asked, taking a leisurely sip of tea and opening his eyes with a serene gaze.

"Your Majesty, the matter with Minister Li has been taken care of," Wang Xuanyang replied with a bow.

"Good. Bestow upon Li You the title of First Grade Grand Secretary of the Scribes' Hall and make him the Marquis of the Kingdom," Yan Chen said, nodding nonchalantly.

In the Phethia Dynasty, titles such as Marquis were hereditary, serving as Yan Chen's way of compensating the Li family.

"The Golden Autumn Festival is just three days away... Issue my decree for all officials in the capital to assemble at Cloudwatch Palace. We will have separate courts for civil and military affairs, as I intend to select some talented individuals."

Wang Xuanyang acknowledged the command, bowing as he noted the order. The Crown Prince stepped forward to report, "Father, Lord Protector Chen Dou is expected to return to court in half a month."

Upon mentioning Chen Dou, a sharp intensity flashed across Yan Chen's brow—a name he loathed to speak of and a person he least desired to encounter.

Despite the perils of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and the resistance of the Southern Barbarians Empire, neither had managed to vanquish Chen Dou and his elite Red Banner Army. Now, with this powerful general and his formidable forces returning, a flicker of concern arose in Yan Chen's heart.

"Fret not, Your Highness. Though Chen Dou has ascended to the Skyflight Realm and commands a half-million strong Red Banner Army, as long as Chen Dutian remains within the Imperial City, Chen Dou wouldn't dare to make a move," Wang Xuanyang declared, his voice tinged with malice.

Yan Chen gave a slight nod, yet his furrowed brows remained tense. After a brief silence, he issued his command with an icy tone, "Lord Protector Wang, heed my command. Recall the Jademanes' pavilion master and instruct General Tang Xun to keep a vigilant eye on the Red Banner Army's every move. The Red Banner Army is prohibited from entering the Imperial City!"

Wang Xuanyang felt a jolt of urgency, his expression turning grave as he bowed deeply to accept the order. Yan Nantian, the Crown Prince, also knitted his brows in concern.

The Jademanes was the gathering place for the Phethia Dynasty's most elite martial artists, with its pavilion master possessing the formidable power of the Skyflight Realm's sixth level. In the entire dynasty, aside from the Yan Family in the Imperial City, only the pavilion master of the Jademanes and Chen Dou were considered capable of a true battle.

Three days whisked by in a flash. During this time, Chen Dutian had been in seclusion at the Sunlit Palace, diligently cultivating under the patronage of the Second Prince. His progress was slow, yet he had managed to advance to the sixth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm.

Armed with the martial skills from his past life, Chen Dutian was unrivaled within the Spirit Convergence Stage.

Yan Beichen, the Second Prince, had come to rely on Chen Dutian as a confidant, lavishing him with fine wine and sumptuous meals, treating him with the utmost respect.

"Master Chen, the Golden Autumn Festival is upon us tomorrow. The Emperor has decreed that all nobles gather at the Cloudwatch Palace. Be wary of the Crown Prince's allies," Yan Beichen warned as they shared a convivial evening, wine in hand.

"Don't worry, Second Prince. We're not a threat to the Crown Prince's position right now. He's unlikely to cause us any trouble at the Golden Autumn Festival!" Chen Dutian said with a reassuring smile.

The Second Prince, Yan Beichen, was known throughout the Imperial City as a man of peace, lacking the ambition that drew the favor of Yan Chen. The Crown Prince, Yan Beichen, never even considered him a rival.

In contrast, Chen Dutian, bearing the prestigious title of the Lord Protector's heir, often found himself the target of envy and opposition.

"His Majesty has announced that this time we're to select the nation's pillars of strength. Young Master Chen, with your sixth level of Spirit Convergence strength, you're already among the elite of your generation!"

Initially, Yan Beichen was interested in Chen Dutian for his influential background. With the support of Lord Protector Chen Dou's son, a majority of the court's warriors would likely become his staunch allies.

But after spending a few days with him, Yan Beichen came to see that Chen Dutian was far from the uneducated fool some claimed him to be. Possessing the power of the Spirit Convergence Stage at such a young age, how could the Lord Protector's son be anything but exceptional?