Ye Jingchen had observed the emperor for many years and knew him very well.
Ye Jingchen knew the emperor's tastes and dining habits perfectly.
When he served the emperor food, he was even more attentive than the palace maids who usually served the emperor his meals.
After the meal was served, the emperor's expression softened considerably, and Ye Jingchen also took the opportunity to sneak a few bites while serving the emperor.
The emperor's mood improved, and he turned a blind eye to the emperor's surreptitious behavior.
After breakfast, the emperor took him to the study.
"Tell me, what do you want to discuss with me?" the emperor asked.
"Father, I've actually liked Xie Chang'an for a long time, but he doesn't like me," Ye Jingchen said to the emperor.
He spoke as casually as if he were saying, 'The weather is nice today,' but it took the emperor quite a while to process the information conveyed by those words.
Even after he had processed it, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Blaming Ye Jingchen for being useless?
Do you still think Xie Chang'an is ungrateful?
Or perhaps they should criticize Ye Jingchen for being unconventional and liking men?
"Father, you must have noticed long ago that I've always been very enthusiastic towards Xie Chang'an, but he's never been very friendly to me." The emperor remained silent, so Ye Jingchen continued.
"Perhaps it's because we Ye family members are always easily attracted to the Xie family. I've heard that my grandfather and the Duke of Zhenguo were as close as brothers, and my father has always held a grudge against the Xie heir—"
"Shut up!"
"Your imperial grandfather and the Duke of Zhenguo were just brothers, while Xie Shaoling and I weren't even friends. Our relationship is different from yours and Xie Chang'an's, so don't confuse the two!" the emperor said with an ugly expression.
His unfilial son's words almost made him vomit up his breakfast.
"What I meant was that the royal family and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion have a deep bond. What are you thinking, Father?" Ye Jingchen asked innocently.
"What deep ties? It's all a tragic fate! What good is Xie Chang'an besides his pretty face? What exactly do you see in him?" the emperor roared.
“Besides being better looking than me, he is superior to me in every aspect of riding and archery, and he is also better than me in military strategy. What’s so strange about me liking him?” Ye Jingchen retorted confidently.
"If it weren't for my schemes in the northern frontier that brought down the Northern Barbarians, he wouldn't have looked at me differently!" Ye Jingchen added with a touch of pride.
"So you're not impotent, but rather you want to remain chaste for him?" the emperor asked through gritted teeth.
"You can't say that. I'm not good with other people, but Father, haven't you already verified it? You used medicinal food and incense together, and even left me alone in a room with that palace maid, and nothing happened," Ye Jingchen said.
The emperor was extremely upset.
He didn't even know which outcome—'the Crown Prince's poor health' or 'the Crown Prince only being loyal to Xie Chang'an'—would upset him more.
"Was it you who used celestial phenomena and prophecies to incite the people this time?" the emperor asked with a dangerous expression.
"How could that be? Doesn't Father know what abilities I have? I have neither the ability to predict celestial phenomena in advance, nor the ability to spread nursery rhymes and prophecies without being discovered by Father. I swear to Heaven that I did not do this. If this is false, I am willing to be struck by lightning!"
"The only trick I played was when Father Emperor was choosing a Crown Princess for me, I sent Xie Chang'an's birth information to Zhang Li and Zhang Zhe, father and son."
Ye Jingchen first swore an oath, and then dragged the Zhang family father and son into the mess to divert the emperor's hatred.
"Zhang Li!" The emperor gritted his teeth. He hadn't even considered Xie Chang'an at first, but Zhang Li's words had swayed him, and now—
“Since Father Emperor has agreed to Xie Chang’an becoming my Crown Princess, he must have his own reasons. In this way, Father Emperor’s goal is achieved, and your son’s wish is also fulfilled. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Ye Jingchen continued.
If you go along with what the rebellious son says, there's really nothing wrong with it, but—
"Good? What's so good about it? You know perfectly well that I am wary of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and that I despise Xie Shaoling, so why do you still like Xie Shaoling's son? When you liked Xie Chang'an, did you ever consider my feelings?"
"Furthermore, as the Crown Prince and the future Emperor of Dayuan, how can you like a man? If you only like Xie Chang'an, that's one thing, keeping him as a male concubine is nothing, at most you will be impeached by the censors and criticized by the people. But you actually gave up your offspring for him. If I do not agree to you being with him, do you even want to give up your position as Crown Prince?" the Emperor scolded angrily.
"Father, you also deeply love Mother. You should understand that liking someone is beyond your control!" Ye Jingchen said with a wronged expression.
The emperor's face immediately turned ugly. "Shut up! Don't compare your shady relationship to the relationship between me and your mother. You two are not worthy!"
"But Xie Chang'an is already my Crown Princess. Our marriage has been approved by Father Emperor, witnessed by the court officials, and blessed by the people. Xie Chang'an's name is even on the imperial register. She will be buried in the same coffin as me after she dies. Father Emperor, please grant my wish!" Ye Jingchen pleaded.
"You'd better not let me find out that this prophecy is related to you and Xie Chang'an. If I find even the slightest clue, I will definitely depose you from your position as crown prince and then execute the entire Zhenguo Duke's family!" the emperor said angrily.
"Father, what do you think of my suggestion from last time? I married Xie Chang'an as my Crown Princess, so I am indeed not suitable to inherit the throne. Why not choose the most suitable one from among your grandsons and raise him carefully? That would be just as good." Ye Jingchen brought up the old matter again at this time.
"Your Highness is truly devoted! You'd even give up the throne for Xie Chang'an! But—may I ask Your Highness, where is my grandson? Do I even have a grandson?" the emperor roared.
"Isn't the Second Prince's wife pregnant? The younger brothers and sisters are all of marriageable age now, and Father will have many grandchildren in the future, so we can choose one at a time."
"Get out of my sight! I don't want to see you right now!" The emperor was so angry that he immediately ordered him to leave.
"Your son is unfilial and has angered Father Emperor again! But I still want to say to Father Emperor: Don't be angry, anger will make you sick and no one can take your place. The Great Yuan Empire needs Father Emperor!"
"Get out—" The emperor was so angry that he threw the memorials on his desk at the person.
Having amused the emperor enough, Ye Jingchen limped out of the study.
The emperor, still not satisfied with throwing the memorial, kicked the desk with all his might. In his rage, he kicked the desk so hard that it shifted, but he accidentally kicked his toe. Even though it was through his boot, the toe was still a painful spot, and the emperor jumped up in pain, his face contorted in agony.
He loved beauty more than power, so how could he have fathered such a devoted son?
Could it be due to his influence?
The emperor shook his head repeatedly, trying to clear his head of the confusion. Xie Shaoling's son was at best a pretty boy, what kind of beauty was he?
Once he sends a few truly beautiful women to the Eastern Palace, he doesn't believe that with beauties right in front of him every day, the rebellious son can still resist!
Even if the rebellious son can control things, can Xie Chang'an?
(Looking for some electricity!)
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