Chen Zhao sighed and responded, "For Ruiyang's sake, you should get up first!"
Zheng Bingyi was delighted, thinking that it was right to look for a breakthrough from his son.
He quickly stood up and continued to hold his son and cry.
"It was all Dad's fault before, and I know I was wrong. From now on, Dad will teach you wholeheartedly, keep you by my side, teach you to read, and teach you to ride! You're so smart, you'll definitely be good at both civil and military affairs, and you'll even be able to become the top scholar in the imperial examination. Not only will you bring honor to our family, but your mother will also receive an imperial decree and a title, and I'll be proud of that even in my grave!"
Chen Ruiyang was moved again and nodded gently, but he still asked, "Dad, my mother is your first wife, right? I am your legitimate son, right?"
Zheng Bingyi nodded without hesitation, "Yes, of course!"
Chen Ruiyang's eyes flashed with jealousy and anger, and he asked, "Then...where's that vicious woman, and that little fat boy? When I came to see you before, that woman wanted to beat me to death. She was afraid that others would find out, so she locked me up in the woodshed and starved me, hoping that I would starve to death or get sick. If I hadn't escaped, I'm afraid we'd all be reunited with my mother in the afterlife now!"
Zheng Bingyi was a little embarrassed and replied vaguely, "She is... just a concubine who takes care of Dad's food, clothing and shelter. Dad was too negligent back then and didn't realize she treated you badly. When Dad returns, I will teach her a lesson and avenge you!"
Chen Ruiyang was immediately happy and shouted, "Dad, you have to beat her with a stick! No, it's better to kick her out! Dad won't live here anymore, Dad will go to Kyoto with me!"
"You don't know, my stepmother's family is going to Kyoto! My cousin... no, my stepmother's nephew is a prince and will soon become the emperor! And my stepmother's eldest brother is killing the Rakshasa devils at the border, with great military exploits, and he will become a general in the future!
"I'll ask my cousin to arrange a job for Dad in Beijing so we can all live in Kyoto. My cousin is so kind to me, like a real brother! I'm sure he'll agree!"
Zheng Bingyi's heart was burning with excitement, and his hands were shaking with excitement.
The reason why he was so humiliating as to ask for forgiveness today was because of this!
He was about to agree but was stopped by Chen Zhao.
"Ruiyang, go study. Your uncle has something to say to your father."
Chen Zhao was somewhat reluctant. He looked at his uncle, then at his father, and begged in a low voice, "Uncle, my father knows he was wrong. Please don't make things difficult for him. Okay?"
Chen Zhao glared and cursed, "Father and son are just like that after all! For so many years, you've been eating and drinking from me, and you haven't given me a cent in return. Now, your father just said a few nice words, and you've completely switched sides!"
Chen Ruiyang lowered his head, feeling very ashamed, but he stood in front of his father and did not move aside.
Zheng Bingyi's heart burned with passion, convinced of the closeness of blood. He quickly stepped forward, pulled his son aside, and instructed, "Son, get out first! Daddy will definitely talk to your uncle."
Chen Ruiyang had no choice but to go out with a worried look on his face.
Chen Zhao immediately had the door closed, and for a moment he and Zheng Bingyi were the only ones left in the room.
Chen Zhao said nothing, poured the tea and drank it slowly.
Zheng Bingyi felt a little guilty, but when he thought about his son's complete support for him, he straightened his back.
He asked tentatively, "Chen Zhao, is Brother Rui really familiar with His Highness the Sixth Prince? This child is still young, and his words and actions are childish. Could he have offended His Highness without realizing it?"
Chen Zhao snorted coldly and replied, "Children should be a little naive. If they were all as smooth as you, His Highness the Sixth Prince would be displeased.
"Besides, when His Highness was injured, he happened to be adopted by Rui Ge'er's adoptive mother. He then lived with Rui Ge'er's adoptive mother for a long time, getting along with Rui Ge and his family like brothers, and taking care of them in every way. Even when he had to leave later, he often sent people to bring him some food and supplies.
"Perhaps he was abandoned in the palace by the late emperor when he was young. His Highness values family ties very much. Now that Rui Ge'er only has his adoptive mother's family, he will surely provide him with every possible support in the future. Rui Ge... is benefiting from his adoptive mother's family, so there's no doubt about it.
"What's more, I've been helping His Highness. I was responsible for raising most of the rations and salaries for the border troops fighting the Russian devils. I'm used to my freedom and I'm impatient with being an official. In time, these achievements will be attributed to Rui Ge'er, and he can at least be made a prince!"
Prince?!
Zheng Bingyi's eyes turned red when he heard this. He had tried so hard to climb up the social ladder, but for so many years he was only a sixth-rank official!
His son didn't have to do anything, but he started as a prince!
You know, there are few titles in the Wei Dynasty, but each one has a fiefdom! Even if the fiefdom of a county prince is only two county magistrates, it is enough to make the Zheng family rich for generations!
Perhaps having heard his thoughts, Chen Zhao added, "But Rui Ge'er is too young. I'm afraid he won't be able to keep the title. I'm planning to ask the new emperor to delay the throne for a few years..."
"It can't be too late!" Zheng Bingyi almost blurted out, fearing that the wealth he had obtained would grow wings and fly away!
"It's best to get the title now while the new emperor still has brotherly affection for Rui Ge'er! If in a few years, the new empress has more concubines and more children, I'm afraid she won't be willing to confer the title!"
Chen Zhao remained silent, allowing Zheng Bingyi to fret. When Zheng Bingyi regained consciousness and looked at Chen Zhao again, he paused and said, "I...I'm also doing this for Rui Ge'er's own good!"
Chen Zhao was impatient to continue the negotiation, so he simply said, "You don't have to hide it, I know what you are planning! To be honest, I know Rui Ge'er is still young and he can't hold on to the title firmly. I also agree that you should take the title first, after all, you are his biological father!"
Zheng Bingyi was ecstatic and was about to make a promise when Chen Zhao poured cold water on him.
"But, he only has you as his father, and you have more than one son!" Chen Zhao's face was filled with resentment. "I've already found out. My sister's death was caused by the Cui family who bribed the bandits to kill her! You can enjoy Rui'er's wealth! But the Cui family and their son are absolutely not allowed!"
Chen Zhao slammed the table, shaking the tea bowl.
"Don't tell me you don't know all this. You've been watching coldly as Cui Shi murdered my sister! For Rui Ge'er, I can forgive you, but Cui Shi and her son must die! I want blood debt paid with blood!
"Seven days, I will only wait for you for seven days! If you can find a way to make Cui and her son pay for the lives of my sister and all the servants in the family, I will give you Rui'er and the title!
"Otherwise, you'll spend your whole life squatting in Shunde with Cui and your son! Forget about becoming a sixth-rank official! I'll make sure you can't even become a minor official!"
Zheng Bingyi was horrified when he heard this and pleaded anxiously, "No, no! Murder is against the law of the country. As an official of the imperial court, I know the law and break it, which is an even greater crime!"
"I don't care. My sister is dead, and Cui and her son must be buried with her!" Chen Zhao refused to listen and immediately started to chase them away. "Do you want wealth and glory, or a vicious woman and a foolish son? It's your choice! Remember, there are only seven days. No more waiting!"
After saying that, he threw down the tea bowl and walked out!
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