The morning court session ended very quickly today.
The emperor's face was gloomy, and he exuded a low-pressure atmosphere. The court officials were all on edge, and no one dared to disturb him with trivial matters. Nothing major had happened in the past two days, so the morning court session ended quickly.
Seeing this, Ye Jingchen felt that once the emperor was in a better mood, he could suggest that he change the daily court sessions to once every two days, so that everyone could relax.
After all, imperial power is not manifested or maintained through morning court sessions.
"Father, wait for me!" As soon as the court session ended, Ye Jingchen called out to the emperor, rushed up the high platform in a few steps, and chased after him into the imperial road.
Ye Jingming and the other two watched Ye Jingchen's disappearing figure with deep respect on their faces.
"Why is the Crown Prince coming to see me, a lonely widow, instead of his Crown Princess?" The Emperor walked ahead without stopping, his voice full of sarcasm.
"Father is mistaken. You have seven sons and four daughters. How can you be considered a lonely person? That's why your son has come to dine with you."
"If you feel that having me alone isn't enough for you, Jingming, Jingyu, and Jingyu shouldn't have gone far yet. We can still send someone to call them back," Ye Jingchen said with a smile.
The emperor snorted coldly and said, "What use are there to have many children? To disobey me for the sake of an outsider, such a rebellious son is better off without!"
"But isn't what I'm doing also for the sake of Father Emperor's stability? If I don't return to my parents' home with the Crown Princess, what will the people think of our royal family? Does Father Emperor want the royal family to be branded as hypocritical and ungrateful?" Ye Jingchen asked.
Although this sounds reasonable, however—
"You speak so grandly, but it's all for your own selfish reasons!" the emperor said coldly.
"It's normal for me to have ulterior motives, as I like the Crown Princess," Ye Jingchen readily admitted.
"Shut up!" the emperor shouted angrily. "Is it something to be proud of for the Crown Prince to like a man?!"
"I am the Crown Prince. If I don't like the Crown Princess and instead like someone else, that would be dishonorable," Ye Jingchen muttered.
The emperor was furious at his words and asked through gritted teeth, "Do you think I dare not depose you from your position as crown prince?"
"Of course Father dares, but Father is reluctant to do it," Ye Jingchen said with a confident smile.
"What do I have to be reluctant about? If there were a more suitable candidate, I would definitely depose you!" the emperor said angrily.
Only after saying that did they realize they had already left the imperial road and arrived at Chengqian Palace. Many palace staff had heard this.
The emperor's expression changed slightly.
He was just saying that out of anger; even if he killed Xie Chang'an, he would never replace the crown prince.
It wasn't just because there wasn't a suitable candidate, but also because he placed too much expectation on the crown prince.
However, if these words were spread by the palace servants and reached the ears of outsiders, they might be distorted.
The emperor gave Zhang Shunde a look.
Zhang Shunde understood and remembered all the palace servants present.
During breakfast, Ye Jingchen diligently served the emperor food, trying to make him happy.
After the meal, the emperor dismissed all the palace servants, and the father and son spoke alone.
After breakfast, the emperor's anger subsided somewhat.
"If you really like Xie Chang'an, you can keep him in the Eastern Palace as a plaything, and I won't say anything. But you must understand that you are the Crown Prince and must have an heir. You cannot give up your offspring for Xie Chang'an. You will regret it later!" the Emperor said with a serious expression.
Ye Jingchen fell silent.
Did they treat Xie Chang'an as a plaything?
His dad really dares to think and speak his mind!
"Um—Father, have you forgotten something?" After a long silence, Ye Jingchen asked quietly.
"What's up?"
"I can't," Ye Jingchen said casually.
Upon hearing these three words, the emperor felt a heart attack.
"Whether I like Xie Chang'an or not, I won't have any children. With Xie Chang'an in the Eastern Palace, he can at least serve as a fig leaf for me!" Ye Jingchen muttered.
"Between the Crown Princess remaining chaste and being unable to have sex, which reason sounds better, Father?" Ye Jingchen felt that he hadn't dealt enough of a blow to the emperor, so he continued.
The emperor didn't speak, but his expression was very unpleasant.
"If you don't believe me, you can call the imperial physician to examine me again, or have me drink medicinal food, or test me with aphrodisiac incense," Ye Jingchen said frankly.
"The Crown Prince has grown up!" The Emperor gazed at Ye Jingchen for a long time and exclaimed.
The emperor clearly sensed this after Ye Jingchen returned from the northern frontier.
No matter how angry or furious he was, Ye Jingchen remained calm and composed when facing him, showing no fear whatsoever.
Those who lack sufficient confidence cannot be so composed.
However, the emperor did not know whether Ye Jingchen's confidence stemmed from his favoritism or something else.
The only thing he was certain of was that Ye Jingchen had no interest in the throne.
The emperor has always abhorred things beyond his control. For example, Ye Jingchen is very disobedient now, but Ye Jingchen's rebellious actions are not to seize his throne. Rather, they seem to be aimed at getting away from the throne.
He couldn't understand why anyone would be uninterested in the throne.
The reason he was able to indulge Ye Jingchen repeatedly was because Ye Jingchen was not interested in the throne.
When Ye Jingchen posed no threat to him, a fatherly heart naturally took over.
However, as an emperor, he could not tolerate anyone disobeying him.
So he's conflicted right now; he doesn't know what to do with Ye Jingchen.
Ye Jingchen didn't care about being scolded.
He couldn't bear to hit him.
He was unwilling to let it go unchecked.
This shows that being a father is more difficult than being an emperor.
Combining the two makes it even more difficult.
“It is precisely because I have grown up that I know what I am doing,” Ye Jingchen said to the emperor.
"Your subject likes Xie Chang'an, so I want to be with him. But your subject made this decision not because I was blinded by love, but because I weighed the pros and cons."
"Didn't Father Emperor always worry that the Divine Might Army would one day become the Xie Family Army? From the moment Xie Chang'an became the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace, Father Emperor no longer needs to worry about this."
"As for my body, regardless of whether I am able to have children, I will not be able to have offspring, so Xie Chang'an is my best fig leaf."
“I have absolutely no interest in the throne. My father must have realized that I’m too lazy to take on this heavy responsibility.”
“I know that my father has raised me with great care over the years, and it would be unfilial of me to have such thoughts. Therefore, I have resolved the external threat of the Northern Barbarians for my father. After I come of age, I will also resolve the issue of the aristocratic families for my father. In this way, all the internal and external troubles of Dayuan will be eliminated, my father will no longer be hindered by anyone, his decrees will be effective, Dayuan will become more and more peaceful and prosperous, and I can live the life I want.”
Ye Jingchen described a bright future to the emperor, which greatly appealed to the emperor.
Since its establishment, the Great Yuan Dynasty has been plagued by internal and external troubles. If he could eliminate these troubles, he would not only be remembered in history, but also, a hundred years later, he would not be ashamed to face his ancestors for killing his brothers. Instead, he could hold his head high!
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