"Your Highness, I am willing to follow you to the death, serving you faithfully for the rest of my life, risking my life for you!"
When the emperor called his name, Xie Chang'an had already stood up from his chair. Now, to show his loyalty, he knelt down directly in Ye Jingchen's direction.
Ye Jingchen quickly stood up and rushed forward to help him.
Seeing this scene, Xu Jingjing closed her eyes as if her heart had turned to ashes.
The emperor was particularly pleased with Xie Chang'an's kneeling and said to Xu Jingjing with a smile, "Madam Xie, parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. With Xie Chang'an's abilities, it would be a waste for him to be a wealthy idler. Let him go to the Eastern Palace Guard!"
"Isn't that what he wanted too?"
What else could Xu Jingjing say?
Xu Jingjing found the meal utterly unappetizing.
Xie Chang'an was quite happy, but he didn't dare show it.
"Father, I have successfully completed my mission. May I have a good rest for a while?" Ye Jingchen asked hopefully after finishing his meal.
"How long do you want to rest?" the emperor asked instead of answering.
"The more the better, of course! I used to have at least one day off a month, but after going to the Northern Frontier, I haven't dared to relax for even a day. After all that, it's not unreasonable for Father to let me rest for a month, is it?"
A month from now, it will be almost Chinese New Year. In recent years, the Dayuan court has had a half-month holiday during the Chinese New Year, which adds up to a long holiday of one and a half months. Just thinking about it makes me feel wonderful and excited.
The emperor looked at Ye Jingchen without saying a word.
How could he even bring himself to ask for a month-long vacation?
Even as the emperor, I work year-round without a break!
"Have you really not relaxed for a single day in the northern frontier? I heard that you took a three-day break after driving out the northern barbarians?" the emperor asked expressionlessly.
Ye Jingchen's lips twitched. "Father, we've been deep in the northern barbarian territory for three months, and our minds have been on high alert at all times. Is it too much to ask that we rest for three days after returning to our camp?"
The emperor felt sorry for Ye Jingchen, but he knew Ye Jingchen's tendency to take advantage of any kindness shown to him, so he showed no sign of it on his face and said forcefully, "Three days at most! After three days, you will obediently attend the morning court session!"
After failing to get his leave, Ye Jingchen was visibly dejected.
"Xie Chang'an, I'll give you three days off too. Come back to the East Palace to work after three days," he said listlessly to Xie Chang'an.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. Chang'an has been away from home for a long time, and it is time for me to properly show filial piety to my elders!" Xu Jingjing spoke up before Xie Chang'an could.
She was really afraid that Xie Chang'an would say something inappropriate again.
After the meal, Xu Jingjing took Xie Chang'an out of the palace, while Ye Jingchen stayed in Chengqian Palace for a while longer.
"Now that you're back, there are three things that need to be put on the agenda: your coming-of-age ceremony, your marriage, and your role as regent. Take advantage of these three days of rest to think things through carefully!" the emperor said to Ye Jingchen with a serious expression.
In this era, a man would reach adulthood at the age of twenty through a coming-of-age ceremony, signifying that he was now an adult capable of standing on his own.
For the crown prince, reaching adulthood also has another meaning: he is ready to assist the emperor in handling state affairs.
This is different from Ye Jingchen's previous involvement in only certain affairs within the Six Ministries; now he will be involved in all matters and have a certain degree of decision-making power.
The fact that he could only rest for three days was already making Ye Jingchen very sad, but the three things the emperor said made him even more despondent.
On his way back to the capital, he was eager to return home.
But after only half a day back, he already missed life in northern Xinjiang.
At least, the daily training in the northern frontier only exhausted the body, but returning to the capital left one physically and mentally exhausted.
When Ye Jingchen left Chengqian Palace, he could no longer smile.
But the emperor wasn't satisfied with the blow he'd dealt him yet. Before he left, as if suddenly remembering something, he said to him, "Have Ye Jinghe move out of the East Palace within three days and go to his own princely residence!"
"His palace has been empty for two years, and it's uncertain whether anyone can live there. I'll go and take a look another day." Ye Jingchen had already guessed that the emperor would bring this up, and said calmly.
Previously, Ji Wushuang claimed that the layout of the palace bestowed upon Ye Jingyu by the emperor was not good, so she renovated the palace. The renovation took two years, and Ye Jingyu only officially moved into the palace recently.
Although Ye Jingchen didn't know what Ye Jinghe's mansion looked like, Ye Jingyu's letter mentioned that although there were several servants looking after the mansion, the servants were not doing their jobs well because their master, Ye Jinghe, was never around, and the mansion had been abandoned for two years.
No matter how nice a house is, it's impossible to move into it immediately if it's been abandoned for two years.
"Whether it's habitable or not, he must move out within three days! If he doesn't move, he can continue living in the guard camp. In short, he cannot stay in the Eastern Palace! Jingming, Jingyu, and Jingyu have all left the palace, and he must leave too!" The emperor's tone left no room for argument.
The problem in this world is not scarcity, but inequality.
The royal brothers are particularly sensitive in this regard.
The emperor did not want Ye Jingchen to cause discord among his brothers due to favoritism.
Ye Jingchen understood this principle as well.
He favored Ye Jinghe when he was a child because Ye Jinghe was a pitiful little boy who needed his favoritism to survive in the palace.
As for Ye Jinghe after he grew up, he had military power and no longer needed Ye Jinghe's favoritism.
Ye Jinghe has become able to protect himself, and even protect him in return.
It was time for him to let go.
However, while letting go is one thing, it's important not to let Ye Jinghe, who is extremely insecure, feel like he's the one who's been abandoned.
"Father, as you know, Jinghe is different from the other imperial brothers. It's fine to let him leave the palace, but I don't want him to feel like he's being kicked out. So, please give me some more time, and I will handle this matter properly," Ye Jingchen said to the emperor.
"You'd better be!" The emperor glanced at Ye Jingchen. "My patience is limited. If you can't handle this matter properly, I will go directly to him."
As for why he didn't look for him before, it's because the emperor knew that without Ye Jingchen, looking for that wolf cub would be useless and would only be asking for trouble.
But now that Ye Jingchen is back, controlling Ye Jingchen is like controlling the wolf cub's lifeline.
Ye Jingchen left Chengqian Palace listlessly, but after only a few steps, he saw Ye Jinghe waiting outside the palace.
Upon seeing Ye Jingchen, Ye Jinghe's eyes lit up. He rushed to his side and happily called out, "Brother!"
"How long have you been waiting here? Why didn't you go in now that you're here?" Ye Jingchen asked.
“Waiting for my brother here is the same,” Ye Jinghe said.
Since Ye Jingchen left the capital, he has never set foot in Chengqian Palace again.
He disliked the emperor and knew the emperor disliked him; since they were mutually disgusted, it was better not to meet.
Ye Jingchen originally wanted to hold Ye Jinghe's hand like when they were kids, but thinking of that jealous lemon spirit, he didn't hold his hand in the end. He just patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Let's go back."
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