Chapter 80 – A Father Who’s Truly Despicable

Chapter 80 - A Father Who's Truly Despicable

In truth, from the time they returned from the hunt until New Year's Eve, everyone was quite busy.

Zhu Yan was investigating Yuan Weiang, the Chancellor of the Central Secretariat.

The Empress had temporarily gone into hiding, making it difficult to find her trail, but court officials couldn't escape; they were all in the capital, whether they liked it or not. Yuan Weiang had been in office for nearly forty years, serving as Chancellor for many of those, and his methods were well-known to be ruthless. Everyone knew he could accept bribes and embezzle funds, but the interest groups tied to him were so vast that any move against him would affect many others, deterring most from taking action. But Zhu Yan didn't care; if there were too many chains of interests connected to him, then he'd just sever them all. Moreover, in this dynasty, one could atone for their sins with meritorious deeds. Now that he had made his intentions clear, others would have to consider their options. Those who could see clearly would sacrifice some wealth and join the right path, suffering minimal losses. Those who couldn't see clearly would sink with this sinking ship!

Prince Jian was leaving early and returning late every day, while Princess Consort Wen Ruan was also very busy.

Young Master Huo never held back when doing business, putting considerable pressure on the Beidi envoys. The more worried they were about the cold weather and eager to leave, the more he delayed negotiations, allowing him to drive a hard bargain. Even when the price couldn't be pushed any lower, he still managed to get additional benefits, such as two crates of grain that he claimed to have bought from somewhere for Wen Ruan.

He didn't know where these items came from, but he always knew what Wen Ruan liked. The items he brought along, Wen Ruan recognized immediately: sweet potatoes and potatoes!

Wen Ruan wasn't entirely sure where these crops originated or when they were introduced to the Central Plains, but once he saw them, he couldn't let them slip away! He wished he could grab Young Master Huo and give him a kiss, but Young Master Huo wouldn't dare. After dropping off several carriages full of New Year's gifts, he quickly fled back to Jiang Nan to celebrate the holiday with his family.

Wen Ruan once again settled down at the farmstead, preparing for another round of seedling cultivation. He had no time to return to the palace and was constantly recruiting people to help him.

Fang Rui, the young marquis who had nothing better to do all day, was the first to be roped in, leaving him no time even to pet his cat; Luo Linchang from the Ministry of Agriculture was even more indispensable. At Wen Ruan's call, the old man packed his bags and moved over without being asked twice, refusing to leave even when urged to do so; even Chen Yongan, Luo Linchang's good friend, was enlisted by Wen Ruan for two days...

Enough, no more recruitment. Chen Yongan excelled in managing the people's livelihood and was extremely upright, unable to tolerate corruption. Thus, the matter of cement was entrusted to him. Whether it was building roads, city walls, or other structures, Wen Ruan left it to him after providing the materials.

Due to the freezing temperatures in the capital, which made further research on cement difficult, recent efforts had shifted south. Chen Yongan didn't plan to spend the New Year in the capital, instead traveling south with his family for a brief assignment.

Wen Ruan hadn't expected Gong Rongxue to be so capable, understanding social cues and adept at serving others. He could handle tasks like playing music, painting, calligraphy, and incense appreciation, and now he was even able to assist with farming work!

How could this not be a pleasant surprise?

As for the assassination attempt, it happened when returning to the city from the farmstead.

In short, during this period, his life was both busy and fulfilling. He rarely saw Zhu Yan, even missing the first snowfall.

When the first snow arrived at midnight, he slept soundly. When he woke up in the morning, it was to Zhu Yan's face. Zhu Yan said he had called out to him, but he hadn't heard. With no choice, to make up for the missed opportunity, they engaged in a passionate and thorough exchange under the thin layer of fresh snow in the crisp morning air.

This busyness continued until New Year's Eve, when they set aside time early to prepare for the imperial New Year's Eve celebration.

On New Year's Eve, even the imperial family's banquet was a family affair, with no outsiders present.

Since it was a family banquet, naturally, there were female guests present, such as the Emperor's concubines, led by Imperial Concubine Zhen and Consort Rou. Those with high status and standing in the palace could sit behind them and make an appearance, though they wouldn't speak much. Those without status or standing didn't have the chance to meet the Emperor here at all.

The Second and Third Princes also brought their wives and children, but only their primary wives and offspring were allowed. Their concubines couldn't appear before the Emperor like the Emperor's own concubines.

Naturally, Wen Ruan didn't see Wen Ru.

Before the New Year, he had visited the Duke of Wen's residence and unexpectedly encountered Wen Ru. She had changed significantly since her marriage. Gone were her sharp tongue and unyielding demeanor; she had become gentle and submissive, seemingly accepting her fate. After a fierce argument with Wen Yu, she privately apologized to Wen Ruan with sincerity and regret. In contrast, Wen Yu, the younger illegitimate cousin, remained steadfast in his belief that his path was the right one, determined to dominate everyone else.

The younger princes and princesses, as well as the imperial grandchildren, were well taken care of by the palace staff and didn't crowd forward.

For example, the Tenth Prince, despite being thirteen years old and no longer a child, didn't sit at the front. However, he seemed to enjoy this state, hoping others wouldn't notice him. He stayed quietly in the corner, planning to sneak away later. Only when Wen Ruan looked over did he make a funny face at Wen Ruan from an angle where no one else could see.

The imperial family's banquet was as grand as ever, with strict etiquette. The Emperor spoke for a long time, raising his cup three times to toast the celebrations. During this time, the Second and Third Princes, who were particularly similar, vied for attention, seizing the festive atmosphere to showcase themselves. Along with Imperial Concubine Zhen and Consort Rou's timely contributions, laughter filled the air, perfectly capturing the joyous and harmonious atmosphere of the New Year.

During this phase, Zhu Yan's presence was relatively low-key. Without a favored concubine to smooth things over and vie for his favor in front of the Emperor, he didn't stand out.

Wen Ruan had no complaints. The steamed dishes from the imperial kitchen were average, but the few stir-fried dishes served between courses were delicious. Although the hall had floor heating and the temperature was comfortable, the dishes would still cool down if left out for too long. What was he waiting for if not to eat now!

He buried his head in his food, not forgetting to serve dishes to Zhu Yan and subtly signaling this fool to eat quickly before the food cooled!

Zhu Yan was momentarily stunned. It had been a long time since someone had shown him such simple, straightforward concern without ulterior motives.

In this environment and atmosphere, Ah Ruan didn't feel embarrassed to be with him, unnoticed by others. He wasn't swayed by the allure of imperial power...he only cared if he was hungry and could enjoy a tasty meal.

Zhu Yan picked up his chopsticks and ate seriously.

Of course, Wen Ruan wasn't solely focused on eating. Occasionally, he would glance around the hall.

He noticed that the Emperor looked quite healthy today. Was this their third meeting?

Whether it was the first time entering the palace with Zhu Yan or the second time at the hunting grounds, the Emperor's complexion hadn't been great, pale with swollen eyes and cloudy pupils. He had even fallen ill after hearing about Consort Rou's severe illness following the end of the hunt?

In Wen Ruan's impression, Emperor Taoyuan was an elderly emperor who wore his dragon robe year-round, exuding the aura of imperial majesty, but always seemed somewhat frail. No wonder the Beidi envoys had secretly probed for information about the Emperor's health upon their arrival; if he were in their shoes, he probably would have done the same...

But today was different. The Emperor looked rosy-cheeked and vibrant, appearing neither frail nor weak, but rather robust and vigorous, as if he could reign for another twenty years.

What had he taken?

Under the table, Wen Ruan discreetly tugged on Zhu Yan's sleeve, urging him to take a closer look to solve his confusion.

Zhu Yan responded by clasping his hand.

Unable to pull his hand back, Wen Ruan scratched the palm of Zhu Yan's hand in frustration, signaling him to focus on the Emperor, not to act like a hooligan!

His hand was gripped even tighter by Zhu Yan.

"…I must say, Rou is truly blessed. Look how quickly she recovered? Just a short while ago, she was on the brink of death, insisting on seeing the Emperor one last time. How long has it been since then, and she's already as good as new? "

Imperial Concubine Zhen spoke slowly, no longer pretending to be part of the family harmony.

The highly anticipated palace intrigue drama had finally begun!

Wen Ruan had just finished his stir-fried dish and immediately put down his chopsticks, eagerly listening in silence.

"I owe it to the Emperor's quick return. Otherwise, I fear I might not have survived," Consort Rou gazed affectionately at Emperor Taoyuan. "The imperial dragon qi protects me, bestowing me with great fortune. Even the King of Hell can't take me away. It's a pity that the palace maid responsible for my illness died. I wonder whose person she was, and how she met with such an accident, slipping and falling into a well."

Imperial Concubine Zhen placed her wine cup on the table, her eyes sharp. "What does Sister mean by this? Before His Majesty, these words should be spoken clearly, leaving no room for misunderstandings."

Consort Rou became even more gentle, almost hesitant. "There are no misunderstandings. I didn't say she was Sister's person. Sister is the one who shouldn't misunderstand."

Before she could finish her sentence, she turned to the Second Prince. "On my way here today, I suddenly encountered a fierce north wind. The Second Prince happened to pass by, avoiding any potential scandal by keeping his distance. Still, he stood firm, shielding me from the wind. This shows his benevolent heart and noble character. As the mother of the Second Prince, how could Sister be a bad person?"

The implications were that the Second Prince was so well-behaved that she had to give him some face. At the same time, it also hinted that the Second Prince was gentle and kind, establishing himself on the virtue of benevolence, not at all like Imperial Concubine Zhen but rather like her.

Wen Ruan almost instantly understood these underlying meanings, his bright eyes turning sharply towards Imperial Concubine Zhen.

As a mother hearing such words, she would explode, right!

He had heard that the two pairs of mother-son relationships in the palace felt somewhat out of place. The bright and flamboyant Imperial Concubine Zhen, with her stubborn and sharp temper, had a son who preferred to present himself as a paragon of righteousness, emphasizing benevolent governance, and enjoyed pretending to be magnanimous and innocent from time to time to gain benefits. His personality was ten out of ten similar to Consort Rou's. On the other hand, the Third Prince, Consort Rou's son, was nothing like her but instead had a sharp and violent character, bearing a resemblance to Imperial Concubine Zhen.

Regarding this, Imperial Concubine Zhen had always been somewhat dissatisfied, having lost her temper countless times with those around her. As for Consort Rou, she seemed fine, as he had never heard of her being upset about it.

Imperial Concubine Zhen indeed slammed the table. "You still have the nerve to mention this! If it weren't for you using my illness as an excuse to take my son away to raise him under your care for half a year, how could he have turned out like you?"

Consort Rou retracted her smile. "What's wrong with me? We're both mothers who want to take good care of our children. I can honestly say that I have no ill intentions towards my child. And you, Sister—If it weren't for your meddling, the Third Prince wouldn't feel so insecure and have such sharp edges."

Oh...

Wen Ruan understood. It wasn't that she didn't care; it was just rarely spoken of.

The faces of the Second and Third Princes didn't look too good.

No one wanted to be despised by their own mother, especially in public.

Emperor Taiyuan sat steadily on his dragon throne, calling for the old eunuch to add more wine, slowly savoring it as if he was used to such scenes, indulging them casually.

Wen Ruan: ...

This father was truly despicable.

Not speaking or taking a stance, allowing the situation to escalate—were you raising wives and sons, or were you breeding poison?

Wen Ruan thought that if the atmosphere here was always filled with undercurrents, confrontations, and arguments over trivial matters, he would probably never get used to it.

Just then, his fingers were squeezed.

Wen Ruan looked at Zhu Yan and realized that the little eunuch was serving wine, Tusu wine!

He immediately understood, looking at Zhu Yan with determined eyes: Don't worry, I'll protect you. I won't let you drink Tusu wine!

Perhaps because there were too few people involved in the argument and it was all old news, lacking freshness and excitement, Imperial Concubine Zhen glanced over and raised her cup with a smile. "It's rare for Prince Jian to have gotten married. This year, you have someone to spend it with. This cup of Tusu wine is to wish you a prosperous New Year and everything according to your heart's desire."

Wen Ruan immediately responded, "Today is only the thirtieth, not yet the first day. Drinking this wine before midnight would be quite unlucky. Why don't I offer a toast to Your Highness instead, wishing you eternal beauty and fulfillment of your wishes?"

Zhu Yan changed the wine and joined Wen Ruan. "To Imperial Concubine Zhen."

Imperial Concubine Zhen glanced at the Second Prince, clearly aware of who the real enemy was, and did not continue the standoff.

This round was over.

The two consorts always had to compete. Not long after, Consort Rou also raised her cup, urging Zhu Yan to drink. Of course, it was also Tusu wine, but her reasoning was a bit more heartfelt. "First a son, now a husband, Prince Jian's responsibilities are becoming heavier. In the new year, you must work harder to bring happiness to those you cherish."

Wen Ruan felt that Zhu Yan's expression was off, as if he was going to drink, so he directly held him back, smiling at Consort Rou. "Your Highness' words are reasonable. Such a maternal heart, I see that the Third Prince seems a bit jealous. Why don't we have a drink with the Third Prince first?"

Consort Rou: ...

"Not bad."

The Emperor finally spoke, but not to Consort Rou or the Third Prince, but to Wen Ruan. "Understanding how to care for Lao Liu, it seems that My selection of people was not wrong. I heard that you recently cultivated a new grain variety?"

Wen Ruan put down his wine cup. "Yes, it has a large yield and grows quickly. It can be used as food to alleviate famine and can also be made into dishes, adding a couple of flavors to the dinner table."

"Very good," the Emperor sighed. "In My early years, I said that this son is like Me, with limitless potential. Seeing him now, he has indeed not disappointed Me. Come, have a cup of My wine and see if it's good?"

The old eunuch was also very understanding, immediately hurrying over to pour a cup of imperial wine for Wen Ruan.

Wen Ruan immediately felt something was amiss.

Today's family banquet saw the Emperor barely speak, as if he naturally disliked talking. Even when the two consorts were verbally sparring, he hadn't supported anyone. Yet, at this moment, he singled Wen Ruan out, smiling kindly and lovingly, even showing protective intent—was he trying to elevate Zhu Yan and put him on the fire to roast?

Was this palace intrigue and struggle for succession something you couldn't avoid even if you didn't want to get involved?

But there was no way around it. The Emperor had personally granted the wine, which was already at his lips, so he couldn't refuse.

Not only did the Emperor grant him a cup of wine, but after he finished drinking, he immediately granted another cup to Zhu Yan, showering him with praise that made one's skin crawl: "...Good boy, you truly live up to the title I bestowed upon you!"

A unique honor, something no one else had—the Emperor liked him the most, favored him the most!

Wen Ruan: ...

He couldn't help cursing inwardly at the old man—it was really like this!

Previously, he had watched the Second and Third Princes fight, occasionally using Zhu Yan to restrain them when they became too fierce. Now, sensing that things were getting out of hand and feeling that Zhu Yan, this son, was not easy to control and had unfathomable depths, he decided to directly make him a target for the Second and Third Princes to confront together!

Zhu Yan, however, remained indifferent, accepting rewards without hesitation and unafraid of punishment, his face betraying no emotions.

But Wen Ruan knew that perhaps after tonight, everything would be different.

Before the banquet ended, Wen Ruan went to the official quarters. Zhu Yan waited for him at the corner of the corridor. It didn't take long for him to return, only to find that somehow, the Third Prince had arrived and was talking to Zhu Yan.

"I'm not the Second Prince, so I won't hide my words. Father's health... others may not understand, but you and I should know," the Third Prince's voice was low, his eyes reflecting the palace lanterns, flickering slightly in the night. "I'll ask you straight, are you willing to help me? I want a clear answer from you."

Zhu Yan replied, "Thank you, Third Royal Brother, for your kindness, but are you sure you want to discuss such matters here? You want a clear answer, so I must give one?"

The Third Prince's eyes darkened. "You're not afraid; you just don't want to help me. You've chosen Second Brother, haven't you?"

Zhu Yan said, "I didn't say that."

But the Third Prince seemed to have already made up his mind. "Very well, Lao Liu. We'll see what happens. Don't regret it!"

Wen Ruan sensed that something was off with the Third Prince, that he was a bit deranged. Was it due to the atmosphere in the hall earlier? Or was it... a sign of impending storms?

Zhu Yan had already heard his footsteps and turned around, extending his hand towards him: "Let's go, back home."

Wen Ruan quickened his pace, grasping this hand and asking in a low voice: "Did you offend the Second Prince at some point?"

"Did Little Ruan notice?" Zhu Yan sighed, "What can I do? Both of my royal brothers who hold real power, I've offended them both."

Wen Ruan didn't believe he was worried: "It's more likely that they're just stupid, only realizing now that you've been playing them all along?"

Zhu Yan: "If my brother were Little Ruan, I'm afraid I would have already lost."

Wen Ruan: ...

No, don't praise me like this.

The palace alley was long, the two walked together, their surroundings silent, with no sound for a long time.

Zhu Yan: "What are you thinking about?"

Wen Ruan: "I'm thinking that it seems a storm is brewing..."

"It's not a storm, it's snow." Zhu Yan gestured for him to look up.

Wen Ruan looked up and realized it was snowing. The snowflakes were small, tiny pieces, it must have just started, lacking any force. There weren't many, lazily drifting down from the sky. He extended his hand, and when it landed on his palm, it melted, leaving him unable to even feel its temperature.

But Wen Ruan was still delighted. Although it was night and his vision couldn't see too far, the snowflakes under the dim palace lanterns were beautiful enough!

"Woah—so pretty, tonight I want to enjoy it to my heart's content!" Wen Ruan made a bold declaration.

But Zhu Yan said: "Not necessarily."

Wen Ruan: "Huh?"

Zhu Yan: "If you're not tired."

Wen Ruan didn't understand what Zhu Yan meant. Tired? What tired? He wasn't tired, he was full of energy! He even urged Lan Tian to drive faster, he wanted to return to the manor early to appreciate the snow!

The snow at the manor was naturally beautiful as well. As soon as he stepped through the door, Wen Ruan felt that the New Year preparations he had asked the servants to make over the past few days hadn't been wasted at all. The corridors, under the trees, by the artificial mountains, and on the eaves, were all festooned with large and small lanterns, reflecting the red, festive paper cutouts, illuminating the surroundings brightly. When the snowflakes fell into the courtyard, it was simply breathtaking!

He rushed into the house to change clothes, preparing to dress comfortably, push open the window to admire the snow, enjoying himself without feeling cold.

Zhu Yan, however, wasn't in such a hurry. Picking up the cup on the table, he drank three cups in a row.

When Wen Ruan came out after changing his clothes, he noticed something was off. Zhu Yan's gaze was deep, particularly intense when looking at him, and outwardly unrestrained.

It wasn't just his eyes that were wrong; Zhu Yan directly walked over, holding him in an irresistible embrace, kissing him fiercely, passionately. Veins bulged on the back of his hand, as if he couldn't wait another moment.

"What did you drink..."

Wen Ruan smelled alcohol, feeling somewhat hopeless.

Zhu Yan answered: "I was thirsty, so I drank the tea on the table."

"That's not tea, it's Tu Su wine!"

It was what Wen Ruan had prepared before leaving, placed on the table, planning to drink it upon seeing it tomorrow morning for good luck. It was for himself, not for Zhu Yan to drink!

He had watched over Zhu Yan carefully all evening, making sure he wasn't caught in the palace's schemes, not letting Zhu Yan drink the Tu Su wine. He never expected that while nothing happened in the palace, everything would fall apart once they returned home!

"A-Ruan... A-Ruan..."

It was a series of calls, filled with restrained impulse and desire, love and longing, calling to one's heart.

Wen Ruan sank into Zhu Yan's embrace, not knowing what he said or did in the end, only remembering that it was cold by the window, hot on the bed. Indeed, he wasn't able to fully enjoy this snowfall.

It wasn't a matter of whether he was tired or not, but rather, there was no time.

When he woke up the next day, the snow had already stopped.

Wen Ruan realized something was wrong during breakfast. How could that Tu Su wine on the table have been mistakenly drunk? Could Zhu Yan not even smell it? If he lacked such vigilance, he would have been schemed against countless times outside!

He looked at Zhu Yan with a resentful gaze.

Zhu Yan lowered his eyes, his expression solemn: "This can't be blamed on me, I really didn't know."

Unfortunately, he was betrayed by Lan Tian.

Lan Tian didn't know either. He was with Nanxing, squatting in the kitchen eating freshly steamed buns. How could he have anticipated the princess coming over to look for something so early in the morning? He was chatting with Nanxing: "It's the Tu Su wine the princess left on the table yesterday. The prince personally selected it, it's delicious. I stole a bit, do you want to try it?"

Wen Ruan: ...

"Zhu, Yan!"