Page 246

Grandfather often privately lamented his slow and deliberate nature, while Mother Empress scolded him for lacking courage, comparing him unfavorably to his audacious younger brother Xiao Yu.

The only person who had never complained about him was Father Emperor.

Before the Crown Prince's official recognition, Father Emperor treated him and Xiao Yu with equal regard, never showing favoritism.

Xiao Yi initially believed it was due to Father Emperor's unassuming character that he concealed any preferences.

But when the Crown Prince returned to court, Xiao Yi realized it wasn't so simple.

Father Emperor's affection for the Crown Prince was evident, even if it wasn't overtly expressed; one could discern it from subtle clues.

Xiao Yi couldn't help but feel envious.

After distributing the New Year's gifts, Emperor Jia'you sat on his dragon throne and addressed the officials kneeling before him, "All of you, return home. Spend quality time with your families, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new. Have a joyous holiday."

Despite his sickly appearance, his voice remained steady and gentle, devoid of the despondency one might expect from an ailing person.

As the officials withdrew, Xiao Yi knew that Emperor Jia'you would retire to the Qianqing Palace for an hour after the audience. The evening family banquet wouldn't commence until later, so he prepared to leave as well. To his surprise, Emperor Jia'you called out to him, saying, "Accompany me back to the Qianqing Palace."

Turning to Gu Changjin, he waved his hand and said, "Crown Prince, go to the Kunning Palace first. Tomorrow, you'll be visiting the Taishan Temple to pay respects to our Xiao family ancestors. Your mother will surely have something to entrust to you."

Gu Changjin acknowledged with a "Yes, sir."

Xiao Yi was surprised. Was Father Emperor planning to speak with him alone?

He glanced at Gu Changjin, who happened to look up as well. Nodding gently at Xiao Yi, Gu Changjin quickly left the Throne Room without any sign of displeasure on his face.

Emperor Jiayou rose from his seat. As Gui Zhong and Wang Dehai were about to assist him, he waved them off with a smile.

"Prepare the sedan chair. I want to have a chat with Yi'er." He then extended his hand toward Xiao Yi.

Overwhelmed by the honor, Xiao Yi stepped forward to support Emperor Jiayou, saying, "Be careful, Father."

Only when Xiao Yi's hand touched Emperor Jiayou's arm did he realize how thin his father had become. A wave of sorrow washed over him.

In Xiao Yi's mind, his father was a great and wise leader, someone formidable even in poor health, an indomitable giant that no one dared to underestimate.

Since childhood, Xiao Yi had aspired to be like his father, but he knew he was of average talent and dull-witted. No matter how hard he tried, he could never become the man his father was.

Grandfather and Mother Empress always said that Father Emperor's days were numbered, but Xiao Yi had never believed them.

Not until this very moment, when he saw how frail his seemingly invincible Father Emperor truly was, did he realize that their words held truth.

Father Emperor probably wouldn't live much longer.

Emperor Jia Yu was dressed in bright yellow imperial robes, draped with a thick fox fur. Sensing his eldest son's melancholy, he smiled warmly and said, "I plan to let you go to Taiyuan Prefecture to assume your fiefdom come spring. What do you think?"

Xiao Yi was taken aback.

Taiyuan Prefecture had been Father Emperor's former fief and the place where he had launched his uprising – it held great significance.

Assigning him to Taiyuan Prefecture as his fief was a sign of trust and favoritism.

"I, your son, am willing," Xiao Yi replied, his voice barely concealing his excitement.

"Taiyuan Prefecture is close to the capital. Whenever you want to return to the palace to visit your maternal grandfather and mother, it will be convenient," Emperor Jia Yu chuckled. "The Crown Prince understands the situation and won't hinder you from coming back to see the Empress and Minister Xing."

Though the Empress and Chief Minister Xing still harbored hopes for the throne, Xiao Yan knew that his eldest son had never had any intention of vying for the crown. His child was easily swayed by others' opinions, kind-hearted, and cautious in his actions – not the qualities of a good ruler.

But that doesn't mean he isn't a good child."

"By decree, I will allow your mother to remain in the imperial harem, not to keep her as a hostage in the capital, but to give you the freedom to live your life and spend comfortable days with that child from the Song family," Emperor Jia You said with a smile. "As long as you manage Taiyuan Prefecture, your days won't be easy, but I trust that you and your queen will govern it well for me, for Great Yin, and for our people."

Xiao Yi's eyelashes were damp, and he nodded solemnly. "Your son will not disappoint the trust placed in me by my father."

"You are the eldest son. Do you blame me for not naming you the crown prince?" Emperor Jia You asked.

"I do not harbor any resentment," Xiao Yi said sincerely. "I am no match for the crown prince. He, like Father, is a man of both literary and martial prowess, with a broad vision for the world. He will do better than I ever could."

Back when the crown prince was still known as Lord Gu, Xiao Yi had already heard of his reputation. Even his strict and demanding grandfather had secretly instructed his subordinates to lure Gu Changjin into the Xie family's camp.

On the day Gu Changjin was officially acknowledged as a member of his ancestral family, Grandfather locked himself in his study for a long while, his face pale with defeat.

Even when the Qi family had yet to fall, he had never appeared so defeated.

But Xiao Yi did not harbor any resentment towards Gu Changjin. He was well aware that even if he could ascend to that position, he might not be able to hold onto the dragon throne securely.

Upon hearing his words, Emperor Jia You replied, "Indeed, you are not as skilled in governing the nation as the crown prince. But in other aspects, the prince is no match for you either. For instance, the invention you designed has earned high praise even from the commander of the Divine Mechanism Camp. The prince couldn't create something like that."

Xiao Yi had always been passionate about woodworking since his childhood. Later, upon realizing that Great Yin's armaments were inferior to those of the Tatar nations, he dedicated years to intense research and development. Back then, his mother would often scold him, saying he was like a piece of rotten wood that couldn't be carved, while his father encouraged him to pursue what he loved.

His perseverance paid off as he eventually designed an armament that was on par with the Tatar military's.

"The Crown Prince has recommended your invention to me. Soon, the Divine Mechanism Camp will manufacture the first batch based on your blueprints and send them to the northern border for testing."

Xiao Yi was both astonished and overjoyed. It seemed that his long-term efforts had finally been recognized and appreciated, especially by his father, whom he admired the most.

Emperor Jia Yu's eyes gleamed with approval as he looked at him warmly and said, "In the future, you shall work alongside the Crown Prince to preserve the Xiao family's legacy, benefiting the kingdom, its people, and the prosperity of the land."

"I, your subject, will obey!"

Though it was just a short stretch of road, Xiao Yi's heart was no longer filled with the desolation and gloom that had plagued him moments before.