Chapter 719
When the emperor got up early, he looked in the mirror and was suddenly surprised to find that his hair had turned gray and his face bore the undeniable marks of time.
Looking at Chen Zongwen now, he hadn't changed at all.
Chen Zongwen smiled and said, "I knew it. It's not a bad thing to look older when you're young."
The emperor couldn't help but laugh.
The emperor laughed for a while, then sighed, "It feels like it was a lifetime ago that I last heard you speak so glibly."
Over the past decade or so, the elderly around him have shown him increasing respect. If he said one thing, they wouldn't dare to say another. For an emperor, this was a good thing, but for a person, it inevitably made him feel lonely.
Chen Zongwen cupped his hands in greeting: "Seeing Your Majesty's brow furrowed, I was merely trying to amuse you."
The emperor raised his hand to offer him a seat and inquired about his affairs in Jizhou.
After exchanging a few words, the emperor and his minister Chen Zongwen inquired about Prince Ning.
However, the emperor did not speak immediately, but remained silent for a while before saying, "You did not misjudge him back then."
When Chen Zongwen was about to resign from his position as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, the Emperor was furious, thinking that Chen Zongwen was blind to the greatness of the Emperor. But now, all the facts show that Chen Zongwen was right.
Chen Zongwen said, "I am an outsider, but Your Majesty is the biological father of Prince Ning. Some things are clearer to outsiders."
The emperor nodded, then suddenly asked, "Have you heard about what's been happening in Luoyang lately?"
Chen Zongwen shook his head.
"My lord, do you still remember me?"
Chen Zongwen's lips moved, and after a long while he said, "Yes, he's a rather... late-blooming child."
Wan Hui.
This means that when Chen Zongwen was alive, he didn't see anything special about the eldest prince, and he wasn't even close to being considered intelligent.
But that was the emperor's son, and Chen Zongwen couldn't say it outright. In his desperation, he could only utter those two words.
The emperor pressed his temples: "Now that the second son has fallen, he has become active, but not in vying for the throne; instead, he is tutoring the third son."
"Tutoring?"
"It's been going on for a while now. The eldest son calls the third son to his place every day, telling him about the distribution of power in the court and his own experience. Later, he got annoyed with the third son, so he chased him to his residence... In short, I can't understand this son of mine anymore."
Not to mention the emperor couldn't understand it, even Chen Zongwen couldn't understand it.
What's going on here?
As a prince caught in the struggle for the throne, instead of seizing the initiative when others are weak, he supports his rival?
What, does the First Prince think the Third Prince is too weak and boring, and wants to increase the difficulty?
The problem is that, given the Crown Prince's abilities, if things get really difficult, he probably wouldn't be a match for him!
Chen Zongwen was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about the Third Prince?"
"The third son... used to be just like his mother, fearless and timid, but when he knew there were difficulties ahead, he retreated. As for his methods... we can't see them yet," the emperor said. "It's good that you're back. Your daughter is getting married soon. Why don't you stay in Luoyang and help me take a look?"
Chen Zongwen hurriedly said, "I have been away from the court for so many years and can no longer understand it. In order to avoid making mistakes in important matters, Your Majesty should choose someone else!"
Over the years, Chen Zongwen has grown accustomed to a carefree life, and he would never be willing to return to the court.
The emperor looked at him quietly.
Chen Zongwen remained silent, but his attitude was very firm.
Finally, the emperor could only sigh: "Then you can stay in Luoyang and come to the palace from time to time to have a drink with me, is that alright?"
"Your Majesty, I am only staying here for a short time. I will have to return in a couple of days."
The emperor was completely at a loss, so he simply stopped talking about it and listened to Chen Zongwen talk about the scenery of various places, which was his only consolation for not being able to see the land under his rule.
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