C14 Putting His Heart at Ease

Yan Beichen's words were tinged with a hint of bitterness as he spoke. In the court, among the esteemed ministers, Wang Xuanyang stood as the Grand Preceptor, the head of the civil officials. Emperor Yan Chen had plans to bequeath the throne to Yan Nantian, leaving Yan Beichen without any personal power base.

The military commanders within the court, such as Yan Feng who commanded a significant force, were only on cordial terms with Yan Beichen. The Lord Protector, Chen Dou, however, showed him a degree of courtesy.

Given that Chen Dutian had recently been appointed as a reading partner, Yan Beichen was obliged to extend to him the hospitality due to a VIP.

"I'm hardly a scholar," Chen Dutian said with a twinkle in his eye, "and in the Imperial Capital, I'm often dismissed as a wastrel. Now that I've been graced with the Emperor's favor to serve as a reading partner, I will certainly look to you for guidance!" With this, Chen Dutian made his stance clear to Yan Beichen.

The Lord Protector, a man of considerable military achievements, was someone Yan Chen wanted to eliminate at every opportunity. Chen Dutian was not one to sit idly by and await his fate. Supporting Yan Beichen's rise to power could potentially spare the Chen family from future conflicts with the Yan family.

Yan Beichen, a prince of the royal household, had never been favored by Yan Chen and was largely ignored by the court's influential ministers who were loyal to the Crown Prince. They paid little heed to a prince with neither power nor influence.

It was unthinkable that Yan Beichen lacked the ambition to ascend to the throne. Chen Dutian's goal was to elevate him to the seat of power, ensuring the Chen family's future security.

Upon hearing Chen Dutian's declaration, Yan Beichen was visibly moved, his eyes alight with excitement. He nodded earnestly and said, "Mr. Chen, I will not forget your words. Should I, Yan Beichen, ever face adversity, I trust you will not stand idly by."

"Of course not! But my own Chen family is currently navigating treacherous waters," Chen Dutian replied with a feigned sigh of concern, while internally, he celebrated; Yan Beichen was taking the bait.

"Mr. Chen, what do you mean by that?" Yan Beichen asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "With the Lord Protector, Chen Dou, wielding immense power across the Phethia Dynasty and commanding the formidable Red Banner Army, who could possibly threaten the Chen family's safety?" Yan Beichen was genuinely perplexed; he paid little attention to the political intrigues of the court 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 brought down by the bow. My father commands a powerful army, and the Emperor has harbored suspicions for some time. Wang Xuanyang bears a grudge against the Chen family. By appointing me as the prince's reading partner and having me reside in the Imperial City, the Emperor aims to keep my father in check."

Yan Beichen was silent for a considerable time before nodding in understanding. "Mr. Chen, rest assured. Though I, Yan Beichen, may not be influential, I possess the status of a prince. As long as I draw breath, I will ensure the safety of your Chen family."

Chen Dutian had been waiting for this very assurance. He quickly rose and half-knelt on the ground, expressing his deep gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness. I, Chen Dutian, am ready to serve you wholeheartedly from this day forward. The Chen family pledges its loyalty to you!"

As evening descended upon the Imperial Garden within the Imperial City, Yan Chen sat poised at a stone table, savoring the aroma of his fragrant tea. Wang Xuanyang and Crown Prince Yan Nantian stood before him, both remaining silent, contributing to the somber mood.

"Have you visited Grand Preceptor Wang?" Yan Chen inquired, taking a leisurely sip of tea and opening his eyes with a serene gaze.

"Your Majesty, the affairs concerning Minister Li have been duly settled," Wang Xuanyang replied with a bow.

"Good. Bestow upon Lee Yu the position of first level scholar at the Scribes' Hall and the noble title of Marquis of An Kingdom," Yan Chen said with a nod, his tone nonchalant.

Within the Phethia Dynasty, noble titles were hereditary, and granting Lee Yu the title of Marquis was also a gesture of recompense to the Lee family.

"The Harvest Festival is just three days away... Issue my decree for all officials in the Imperial Capital to convene at Cloudwatch Palace. We will set up dual platforms for civil and military talents, as I intend to select some capable individuals."

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

Upon the mention of 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.

Chen Dou had not perished in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, nor had the Southern Barbarians Empire halted the advance of his Red Banner Army. Now, with such a powerful general and his formidable forces returning, a sense of unease crept into Yan Chen's heart.

"Fret not, Your Highness. Though Chen Dou has ascended to the Skyflight Realm and commands half a million soldiers, he wouldn't dare cause trouble with Chen Dutian in the Imperial City," Wang Xuanyang remarked with a sly grin.

Yan Chen gave a slight nod, yet his furrowed brow remained tense. After a brief silence, he issued a stern command, "Grand Preceptor Wang, heed my order. Recall the head of the Jademanes and instruct Tang Xuan to keep a vigilant eye on the Red Banner Army's every move. Prohibit their entry into the Imperial City!"

Wang Xuanyang felt a jolt of seriousness surge through him, his expression turning grave as he bowed and swiftly acknowledged the command. Beside him, Crown Prince Yan Nantian's own brow was tightly knotted.

The Jademanes was a sanctuary for the elite warriors of the Phethia Dynasty, and its head was a Sixth Heaven Skyflight Realm powerhouse. Apart from the Yan family patriarch within the Imperial City, only the head of the Jademanes and Chen Dou possessed the might to contend in battle.

Three days whisked by, and during this time, Chen Dutian had been sequestered in the Sunlit Palace, devoted to his cultivation. Though his power grew at a measured pace, he had advanced to the Sixth Heaven of the Spirit Convergence Realm.

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

Yan Beichen had come to regard Chen Dutian as a trusted ally, lavishing him with fine wine and sumptuous meals daily, treating him with the utmost respect.

"Mr. Chen, the Harvest Festival is upon us tomorrow. The Emperor has decreed a gathering of all officials' progeny at the Cloudwatch Palace. Be wary of the Crown Prince's allies," Yan Beichen advised during an evening banquet, sharing wine and conversation with Chen Dutian.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. We pose no threat to the Crown Prince's status at the moment. He's unlikely to cause us any trouble during the Harvest Festival!" Chen Dutian said with an easy smile, seemingly unconcerned.

In the Imperial Capital, Yan Beichen's reputation was that of a man who sought no conflict, lacking in boldness and not favored by Yan Chen. The Crown Prince, Yan Beichen, had never considered him a contender for the throne.

In contrast, Chen Dutian, bearing the title of Lord Protector's Heir, often found himself the target of others' schemes.

"The Emperor has decided to establish dual platforms for the civil and military trials this time, aiming to select the nation's future pillars. Mr. Chen, with your current strength at the Sixth Heaven of the Spirit Convergence Stage, you're undoubtedly among the elite of your generation!"

Initially, Yan Beichen was interested in Chen Dutian for his influential background. With the support of Chen Dou's son, a majority of the military commanders in the Imperial City could become his loyal followers.

However, after spending a few days with him, Yan Beichen discovered that Chen Dutian was far from the uneducated fool others had made him out to be. Possessing the strength of the Spirit Convergence Stage at such a young age, the son of the Lord Protector was clearly no ordinary talent.