Chapter 62: I Will Never Abandon You

Chapter 62 I Won’t Abandon You

Ling Yehan’s kiss was not one of burning passion, but rather carried a devout reverence. He felt that perhaps all the luck in his life had been spent on meeting Xiao Chen:

“Do you think I’ve been too blessed? Back in the traveling circus troupe, all I thought about every day was having enough to eat and not getting beaten—anything more, I didn’t even dare to imagine. Yet, I was fortunate enough to meet you. You gave me good food and fine clothes. The first time I ever tasted meat that wasn’t spoiled was from you; the first new clothes I ever wore were bought by you.

Back then, I thought, whatever you wanted me to do in the future, I would do it. I would be absolutely loyal to you. But you didn’t ask me to do anything; you didn’t even make me a servant. You said I could call you ‘Brother.’”

Even now, when Ling Yehan recalled the words Xiao Chen had said to him back then, his eyes would still grow moist:

“You don’t know how complicated my feelings were at the time—I couldn’t believe it, and I was afraid. I didn’t know why you would speak to me that way, because I had nothing and couldn’t help you with anything. I was afraid that one day you’d realize I was useless and wouldn’t want me anymore. So I desperately tried to make myself useful.”

Xiao Chen frowned slightly, suddenly remembering the little boy who practiced martial arts and swordsmanship almost day and night. Every time he saw Ling Yehan back then, he would notice freshly formed blisters on his hands. He had even told him more than once to take it gradually, not to rush for results. The child would always nod obediently in front of him.

But the next time, the blisters on his hands would only be more, not fewer. Even now, he had thought it was simply because Ling Yehan had a stubborn and competitive nature. He sighed softly, raised his arm, and gently hugged the person beside him, smoothing his hand over the hair on his back:

“Silly boy.”

Just those two words completely overwhelmed Ling Yehan. His eyes reddened slightly, and after a long moment, he let out a soft sigh and spoke:

“Actually, during all those years of fighting, it was never for the so-called benefit of the people or for all living beings under heaven. The emperor sitting on the throne was just a figure from stories to me. Every official I’d ever met was utterly corrupt.

So what difference did it make who became emperor? They’d still employ corrupt officials, and the common people would still go hungry and lack warm clothing. I never believed any of that would change. I fought only for you. If you wanted the world, I would conquer it for you. If you wanted to win, I would fight to the death for you.”

After saying this, Ling Yehan laughed at himself. Then he turned to look at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled not only with profound, unwavering love but also with a kind of submission and admiration for a strong leader, for the supreme ruler of the land:

“But now I understand—it’s not the same no matter who sits on that throne. What I’m most grateful for is that I was able to contribute to helping a wise ruler who could reshape the realm seize the throne. So, Your Majesty, the phrase ‘traitorous officials’ has nothing to do with you. For the people of the world, it is a blessing that this empire has you as its master.”

Xiao Chen’s heart stirred slightly:

“How come I’ve never heard you speak such sweet words before?”

Ling Yehan looked a little embarrassed:

“I’m telling the truth, not just sweet talk.”

Xiao Chen gently pinched his cheek, then hooked a finger under his chin, looking at him seriously:

“I won’t abandon you.”

Ling Yehan immediately tightened his embrace and leaned into him. A smile touched the corners of Xiao Chen’s eyes.

After cuddling for a while, Ling Yehan finally got up. Glancing at the stack of memorials, he suddenly remembered something from his past life and asked:

“Brother, does Prince Chengxuan know about your father’s suicide?”

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment before replying:

“He wasn’t there at the time. But I was still young back then, and the news wasn’t tightly controlled. If he had tried to find out, it would have been hard to keep it from him.”

He turned to look at Ling Yehan and, seeing his expression change, suddenly realized something:

“Did something happen after I died in my previous life?”

Ling Yehan nodded, recalling the details:

“In the second year of Lin’er’s reign, in September—around this time—the Ministry of Rites also submitted a memorial requesting posthumous honors for your father. I remember Prince Chengxuan also submitted a memorial at that time.”

Xiao Chen turned sideways:

“Did you approve it?”

Ling Yehan hadn’t known the details back then, and such posthumous honors seemed reasonable. But Ling Yehan shook his head:

“No. Although I didn’t know why you had never granted posthumous honors to your parents all those years, Lin’er had only been on the throne for a year and was still young. There were voices in the court suggesting the reinstatement of an adult imperial relative. Although the voices weren’t loud, it meant someone was definitely plotting.

If your father had been posthumously honored as emperor, then Prince Chengxuan would have been a legitimate imperial younger brother. Without the posthumous honors, he was just your uncle, Lin’er’s great-uncle. Moreover, he hadn’t made any significant contributions during the campaign for the throne. Granting him the title of commandery prince was already an act of your benevolence—there was no way he should have been allowed to covet the imperial throne.”

Xiao Chen showed a hint of an approving look in his eyes:

“Hmm, not so foolish after all.”

He could tell that, in his previous life, after he was gone, Ling Yehan had done his utmost to protect Lin’er.

Just as Ling Yehan was about to say something, Zhang Chunlai entered to report:

“Your Majesty, Prince Chengxuan and the Earl of Rong’an have arrived with their heir, requesting an audience.”

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen’s eyes. The memorials today were likely connected to these two outside:

“We are still recovering from Our cold and are unfit to receive court officials. Let them pay their respects outside the courtyard gates.”

“Yes.”

Ling Yehan suddenly got off the daybed and went to the table, rummaging through the papers. Xiao Chen, supporting his waist as he shifted positions, didn’t ask but guessed what he was looking for and said directly:

“Looking for Prince Chengxuan’s memorial? Don’t bother. He wouldn’t submit one personally.”

Ling Yehan searched through them and, sure enough, Xiao Jingzhou’s memorial of greetings didn’t mention anything about posthumous honors. He snorted lightly:

“In the previous life, after you were gone, he was quite bold. In this life, he doesn’t dare cause trouble in front of you. This matter of the posthumous honors is most likely him and the Earl of Rong’an scheming behind the scenes.”

Xiao Chen closed his eyes:

“Fu Wence probably doesn’t have the nerve for something like this.”

Ling Yehan sat back on the daybed and suddenly asked curiously:

“Brother, I always feel like Fu Wence seems afraid of you. Why is that?”

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that the Earl of Rong’an was extremely cautious in front of Xiao Chen, even more so than Xiao Jingzhou.

Xiao Chen opened his eyes, his hand gently resting on his abdomen. A suppressed thought he had earlier resurfaced. Ling Yehan, noticing his strange expression, waved a hand gently in front of him:

“Brother?”

“Because he’s not my biological maternal uncle.”

Ling Yehan was stunned:

“What?”

Xiao Chen sighed softly:

“Since I was little, my mother didn’t treat me well. Back then, my father was often stationed at the border and would only return once or twice a year. The winters in the north were very cold. I remember my courtyard never had enough charcoal for heating, and the blankets were never warm.

I once had a younger brother. When I went to his courtyard, I realized that a room could be so warm. When I was young, I thought my mother was just biased toward her younger son. Later, I accidentally found out that I wasn’t her biological child. It’s said that I was born to my father and a concubine, who died in childbirth. I was then registered as her own son.

Later, my brother passed away at a young age of six. After that, she made my life difficult for several years. When I was eleven, I went to the border, and after that, I only saw her during annual festivals. Since I wasn’t her biological son but held the position of legitimate eldest son, I don’t really blame her. Fu Wence knows everything she did to me back then. He’s probably afraid that I’m still resentful.”

Ling Yehan was completely caught off guard by Xiao Chen’s origins, opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

When Xiao Chen spoke again, his voice sounded heavier:

"Afterwards, I also secretly investigated my birth mother, but it was as if she had never existed in the manor. No one knew of her, and I seemed like a child who had appeared out of thin air."

He slowly lowered his head, gazing at his protruding belly with complex emotions in his eyes:

"But now, perhaps I never had a mother at all—maybe I have another birth father instead."

Ling Yehan’s eyes widened suddenly. That’s right—Xiao Chen’s ability to bear a child was due to his Luo ancestry. But from his description, his father clearly couldn’t have been Luo, so the only possibility lay with his unknown mother or father.

Ling Yehan grasped the man’s hand:

"When did you start suspecting?"

"Probably after I learned of Lín’er’s existence."

"Have you looked into it again?"

Xiao Chen slowly closed his eyes and nodded:

"Yes, I did. But it was too long ago, and with the chaos of war over the years, the old servants from the manor have long since scattered or passed away. There wasn’t much useful information."

Back then, he hadn’t been able to uncover anything while still in the manor. After all these years, it would be even harder. But by now, he wasn’t as hung up on the matter anymore.

Xiao Chen was feeling weary. After talking with Ling Yehan for a while in the afternoon, he grew drowsy. Not wanting him to dwell on the past, Ling Yehan dropped the subject and carried him to the bed to rest.

"I’ll go through the remaining reports. You should sleep a bit longer."

Xiao Chen was indeed tired. Nodding as he pulled the quilt around himself, he yawned, his eyes glistening with sleepiness. Ling Yehan’s heart softened at the sight, wishing he could just climb into bed and curl up with him for a nap.

But the sight of that stack of reports quickly dashed the thought.

Ling Yehan sat at the small table in the inner hall reviewing reports, but his thoughts drifted uncontrollably. If Xiao Chen truly had a Luo father, it was unlikely that the elders of the Xiao family were unaware. If this were ever leaked in the future...

The vile words from that day at Qinghui Pavilion echoed in his mind. Gripping the report tightly, he resolved never to let Xiao Chen suffer such humiliation.

He recalled the pregnant Luo individual he had encountered that day. After the Luo people were wiped out, there couldn’t be many left. That person might know something.

The next day, Xiao Chen finally let him go. Ling Yehan left the palace early in the morning, officially withdrawing all imperial guards and physicians from the streets, declaring the epidemic over. Even the temporary office of the Prefect of the Capital was dismantled. No one was happier about this than Prefect of the Capital Wang Duan, who, upon seeing the Marquis of Jingbian leave, felt like setting off firecrackers—though he maintained a pretense of reluctance on his face. Ling Yehan found it amusing and remarked:

"If you’re so reluctant, I could always stay a bit longer."

Wang Duan nearly lost his composure. Ling Yehan chuckled, patted him on the shoulder, and strode out of the Prefect of the Capital’s office.

While some were delighted, others were dismayed. Prefect of the Capital Wang Duan had managed to send off this formidable presence, but the Chief Judicial Commissioner Xu Zhuo, was far from pleased. Cupping his hands in respect, he addressed the high-ranking official:

"Marquis, all the individuals taken into custody from Qinghui Pavilion that day are here. I wouldn’t dare let a single prisoner escape, even if I had the audacity of the heavens."

Ling Yehan frowned deeply. He searched every prison cell in the Court of Judicial Review, even checking each small room in the backyard, but the man from that night was nowhere to be found.

"Who has been here these past few days?"

"Only Chancellor Zhao Mengxian came yesterday. He reminded me to handle the case with utmost care, took a look around the prison, and then left."

Ling Yehan raised an eyebrow. So Zhao Mengxian had been here.

Xiao Chen must have known about that man’s existence that night. The Court of Judicial Review was too crowded and exposed—it was unlikely he would keep the man there. The person in charge of the escort that night was Xing Fang. Ling Yehan turned abruptly. Yes, Xing Fang must know where the man was.

But when he went to ask, Xing Fang played dumb. Ling Yehan simply smiled and didn’t press him, instead having someone keep a close watch on Xing Fang. Finally, in the evening, Xing Fang went to a private residence. Recognizing it as Xiao Chen’s private residence outside the palace, Ling Yehan climbed over the wall and entered. Xing Fang turned sharply, but Ling Yehan didn’t bother hiding, raising an eyebrow:

"He’s here, right?"