"To confirm his identity, we could do so discreetly. Why did you deliberately wait there today?" To prevent himself from doing anything outrageous, Xie Chang'an decisively changed the subject.
When Ye Jingchen and Chenxi walked into the courtyard and their eyes met, Xie Chang'an didn't know if Ye Jingchen felt awkward, but he certainly did.
If it were him, he wouldn't show up.
In this way, he learned one of Ye Jingchen's secrets, but Ye Jingchen would not know that he already knew. In the future, he could completely monitor the movements of that courtyard to deduce some of Ye Jingchen's plans, thereby gaining more initiative in their cooperation.
However, since his father had laid everything out in the open from the beginning, Ye Jingchen was wary of them and would definitely not allow the people in that courtyard to do anything important in the future!
Ye Jingchen missed out on several potentially valuable pieces, and they also missed an opportunity to seize the initiative.
In his view, his father's actions, though seemingly upright, actually harmed the enemy by a great deal while inflicting heavy losses on himself.
"Secretly confirm?" Xie Shaoling smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Little Chang'an, what is your mindset when you associate with the monarch you will serve in the future?" Xie Shaoling asked with a double meaning.
Xie Chang'an instantly sensed the change in his father's aura and realized the test and crisis hidden behind this seemingly simple question.
He knew how to answer in a way that would put his father at ease.
But having been given a second chance at life, he has something he must protect.
“If he doesn’t target the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, I will naturally defend the territory for him, even if it means dying in the northern frontier,” Xie Chang’an said calmly.
"Your premise shows that you are very wary of him. As a subject, it is a great taboo to be suspicious of one's monarch!" Xie Shaoling's expression was complicated as he said this.
This sentence sounds familiar; Xie Chang'an had heard the old lady mention it to him not long ago.
But the old lady made one condition: "Don't be like your father!"
So, how shameless does your father have to say that to him?
"Before you teach me, Father, could you please reflect on your own past actions?" Xie Chang'an couldn't help but mock.
Although Emperor Shengping was suspicious and incompetent, even without his father's treasonous words, the Xie family would probably still be feared by him, and he would wish to get rid of them as soon as possible!
However, it cannot be denied that his father's words, "not the appearance of a wise ruler," had been a source of deep resentment for Ye Shengping for many years, and were the main reason why the men of the Xie family died on the battlefield.
"It is precisely because of my own experience that I cannot let you follow in my footsteps. The Crown Prince is different from the Emperor. He is kind, intelligent, respectful to the virtuous, and tolerant. It is a blessing for the people of Dayuan and for our soldiers to have such a Crown Prince! You are lucky to have met such a Crown Prince. How can you ruin your relationship with him because of suspicion?" Xie Shaoling asked with a wry smile.
His impression on Xie Chang'an had always been that of a carefree or unreliable person, but this bitter look was something Xie Chang'an had never seen before.
Xie Chang'an was stunned for a moment before speaking: "You've only met him twice, so why do you have such a high opinion of him? He's not as simple as you think!"
He didn't dare to say he understood Ye Jingchen, and he didn't dare to draw any conclusions easily. But whether it was the old lady, his father, or even his mother, they had only met Ye Jingchen once or twice. What they saw was the side that Ye Jingchen deliberately pretended to show them, but they all seemed to be bewitched and thought he was good in every way.
Why is this happening?
"That's because we all treat him as the crown prince, as the future king of Dayuan, but you are not," Xie Shaoling said incisively.
Xie Chang'an found himself speechless.
He truly only regarded Ye Jingchen as an ally, an equal collaborator, not a crown prince, much less a monarch to whom he would be loyal in the future.
Therefore, he always viewed Ye Jingchen through the lens of a potential collaborator.
The more I examine it, the more confused I become.
Because many of Ye Jingchen's thoughts and actions were beyond his comprehension, and when people face things beyond their comprehension, they are more likely to be wary and cautious.
"Little Chang'an, your current mindset is more dangerous than mine was back then." Seeing that Xie Chang'an remained silent, Xie Shaoling spoke meaningfully.
Xie Chang'an: ...
He wanted to say that he was not his father, and Ye Jingchen was not Ye Shengping; they were different.
However, his father's words reminded Xie Chang'an.
He had been in a high position for a long time, and he knew all too well the changes that occurred when a person was in a high position!
Once a person experiences the thrill of supreme power, they become arrogant, conceited, and disdainful of everyone else...
He wasn't sure if Ye Jingchen would change in the future, but he couldn't afford to gamble, because he and Ye Jingchen both knew each other's biggest secrets. Therefore, without becoming a traitor, he needed to have more ways to restrain Ye Jingchen.
Although he could choose not to use those methods, he absolutely had to have them!
On the surface, Xie Chang'an remained calm, but in his heart he had already made up his mind that in addition to the power he could use from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he also needed to have more power that only he could control.
Ye Jingchen can choose his own study companions, so why can't he gather the capable ministers who were loyal to him in his previous life into his hands in advance?
If Xie Shaoling knew that his advice had the exact opposite effect, I wonder what he would think? Unfortunately, he is completely unaware of Xie Chang'an's thoughts.
"Father, go and have fun by yourself. I have things to take care of!" Xie Chang'an said to Xie Shaoling as they reached a fork in the road.
"What do you mean by that? Do you think I just spend my days doing nothing and having fun?" Xie Shaoling asked, dissatisfied.
What do you think?
Xie Chang'an didn't answer his question, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Xie Shaoling clearly conveyed those four words.
Xie Shaoling wanted to establish his authority as a father, but after looking at the sky, he gave up.
Two hours of surveillance from those shadows was the limit; any longer and he would be discovered. He should just voluntarily return to their surveillance.
The thought of those shadowy figures who had appeared around him and secretly spyed on him since he returned to the capital gave Xie Shaoling a headache.
It is precisely because of the existence of these shadows that even if he returns, he cannot shoulder the responsibilities he should bear, and still has to leave everything to Xie Chang'an, a child who is only six years old.
Not only that, he also spent his days wandering around the capital city, teasing cats and dogs, indulging in pleasure, all in order to take those shadows away from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Of course, indulging in fun wasn't entirely without its rewards. He also met many interesting people like Zhizhi, who, despite their humble circumstances, were resilient, compassionate, and admirable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
