Although Huo Li used a courier to quickly report the memorial back to the capital, it took at least ten days to get there and back, and at most more than a month. Yan Sikong and Chen Yi did not know what Huo Li said in the memorial, but it was his duty as an envoy to report Chen Yi's reply to the emperor for instructions. As an elder who had retired and was far away from the court, it was not important for him to think whether the Chen Chun assassination case should be re-examined.

When Yan Sikong discussed the matter with Chen Yi, he hinted to Chen Yi several times that the ministers in the court, especially Meng Duo who was at the peak of his career at that time, would support a retrial, but in fact it should be just the opposite.

Meng Duo and Yan Zilian not only complemented each other in officialdom, but also had a close personal relationship. Meng Duo was one of the ministers who advocated establishing the eldest son as the emperor. There is no doubt that he also hoped that Chen Yi would inherit the throne. But precisely because of this, he would not want to re-examine the case, because he was also afraid that Emperor Zhaowu would protect Concubine Wen, which would be counterproductive and make Chen Yi determined to resign and turn against him.

Letting Huo Li and Duke Xu to advise Chen Yi was not a clever plan that the incompetent Emperor Zhaowu could think of, but it must have been a win-win strategy that gathered the wisdom of important ministers. They all hoped that Chen Yi could return to the capital to be conferred a title, and they were most afraid of seeing fathers and sons turning against each other, brothers quarreling, and the dignity of the royal family that ruled the country with filial piety being destroyed.

Unfortunately, there were two things they didn't know. First, Chen Yi was full of hatred and wanted more than just the position of crown prince. Once he had power, he would never leave Concubine Wen and Chen Chun alive. Second, Yan Sikong would never let the court join forces with Chen Yi to deal with Feng Ye.

Chen Yi is already a very smart and clever person, but he is too young after all. He was a prince but was not allowed to participate in government affairs. He was exiled from the capital just after he became an adult. He only learned the basics of the palace disputes, and most of them were taught by Yan Sikong. Yan Sikong could figure out his thoughts almost completely and then instill what he wanted to instill. Therefore, he must let Chen Yi demand a thorough investigation of Chen Chun's assassination, which put the court in a dilemma and made Chen Yi dare not return to Beijing.

Chen Yu still treated Huo Li and Duke Xu as guests of honor, and paid his respects to Duke Xu every morning and evening, showing great filial piety. But at the same time, the pace of recruiting soldiers and buying horses only increased. For the first time in his life, he tasted the benefits of having great power over the military and became addicted.

——

After Huo Li received the news from the court and discussed it with Chen Yi, Chen Yi immediately went to find Yan Sikong, looking furious.

Yan Sikong soothed him, "Your Highness commands tens of thousands of troops, one prefecture, thirteen states, and seventy-four counties. You must always be dignified and don't show your emotions on your face."

Chen Yu took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "What do you think the court gave as an answer?"

"Your Highness, do you want me to guess?"

"right."

Yan Sikong pondered for a moment: "Could it be that they agree to a retrial, but only in secret?"

"That's right!" Chen Yu said coldly, "This is just a delaying tactic to hold me back."

"Your Highness is wise." Yan Sikong smiled, "Concubine Wen is the most favored concubine in the harem, and Chen Chun is also the prince that Your Majesty loves the most. Your Majesty knows that Your Highness will not let them go, so it is impossible for you to succeed to the throne easily."

"I thought that my father would wake up after seeing the current situation. They are both concubines and princes, but we cannot treat them equally." Chen Yu said coldly, "When I sit on the throne one day, I will make sure that Chen Chun and that evil concubine die miserably!"

"Your Highness is filial and has never forgotten to seek justice for Concubine Hui. If Concubine Hui is still alive, she will be very pleased. Now, Your Highness can just focus on reorganizing the military and expanding your power. If the imperial court really sends troops to attack, Your Highness can just stay put and wait for the right opportunity."

"Wait until when? Why is Feng Ye taking so long to take action? Is it because of Chahar?"

"Yes, Chahar is behind the Wolf King. He is a serious threat to the Wolf King. We cannot fight him, we can only make peace with him."

"But I heard that Feng's army killed many people in Chahar, including Nada Khan's uncles and brothers. Due to new and old hatreds, Nada Khan killed all the envoys sent by Feng Ye to negotiate peace."

"That was done for the court to see." Yan Sikong laughed, "Those are a bunch of unintelligent barbarians. They don't have many virtues of loving fathers and filial sons, or loving brothers and respectful younger brothers. Nada Khan's father stole Nada Khan's concubine, and Nada Khan killed him to become Khan. Such a person, would he care about uncles and brothers? He only cares about how much treasure and beauties he can get from the Central Plains."

"In this case, Nada Khan will naturally not cooperate with Feng Ye."

"Not necessarily." Yan Sikong said, "If either coercion or inducement works, then the Khan can sell out the imperial court in no time. But right now, it seems that the imperial court still has the upper hand."

"What should I do?"

Yan Sikong said at the right time: "Your Highness, I have to go back to help the Wolf King conquer Nada Khan, whether it is by wits or force."

Chen Yu's expression changed: "You want to leave?"

“Your Highness…”

"I won't allow you to do that." Chen Yi stood up angrily. "I'm still unsure of my whereabouts, and the imperial court is gathering a large army to target me covetously. You're actually going to leave me at this time?!"

"The counselors I have selected for Your Highness are all capable of standing on their own. With them here..."

"I only want you!" Chen Yu shouted, "You said you would always stay by my side to support me, but you left me at the most critical moment and went to find Feng Ye?"

"Your Highness." Yan Sikong took a deep breath, "Can you calmly allow me to explain?"

Chen Yu's eyes were fierce and his chest was heaving violently.

"I am also reluctant to leave, but after weighing the pros and cons, the overall situation is more important. If Feng Ye cannot escape from Datong, he will not be able to help Your Highness take the capital. In order for Feng Ye to escape from Datong, Nada Khan must be conquered. I already have a plan in mind, and I must go back to help him." In fact, Yan Sikong had no idea how to deal with it, but he really had to go back.

"What if the imperial court sends troops to attack me? Right now, we only have 50,000 soldiers and are short of money. We need more people. If you leave now, aren't you afraid that I will be defeated and all my efforts will be wasted?"

"I will not be away for long. When the rear of Datong is clear, it will be the time for Wolf King and Your Highness to send out the troops. As for Zhongqing, Your Highness has a group of good generals such as Hou Jiangjun, as well as a group of think tanks such as Lord Qian and Qu Guang. As long as they hold the strategic location, I believe that even a million strong soldiers will find it difficult to conquer it."

"I don't want you to leave, not just because of these things." Chen Yi stared at Yan Sikong, "Putting aside our identities, putting aside everything else, I, Chen Yi, don't want you to return to Feng Ye."

Yan Sikong said sternly, "Your Highness is the true dragon emperor. Ruling the four directions is the mission bestowed upon Your Highness by heaven. How can you ignore your status? Your Highness should not act on impulse."

"What if I insist on acting on impulse?" Chen Yu took a step closer, clenching his fists. "You think everything through, and you always take five steps at a time, but you always deliberately ignore my feelings. Do you think that if you treat them as nothing, then they are really nothing?"

"Your Highness!"

"Yan Sikong!" Chen Wu said in a stern voice, "You said you would stay by my side. Since you have decided that I am your lord, how can you deceive me?"

Yan Sikong's eyes widened, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Highness is no longer at the age of making trouble. You should put the overall situation first. Why do you have to act like a child?"

"Child?" Chen Yu was furious and grabbed Yan Sikong's wrist. "Now I am taller and stronger than you, sir. If you still think I am a child, should I do something a man does?"

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes and took a step back, but stopped in time. He could not show any cowardice. If he could not control Chen Yi, it would prove that his plan over the past few years had completely failed.

Chen Yu grabbed Yan Sikong's waist and lowered his head to kiss Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment whether he should use force. He would hide from anyone he could so as to leave himself a way out, so he had not let Chen Yi know that he knew kung fu. But he still restrained himself, dodged by turning his head and pushed Chen Yi hard.

Chen Yu probably didn't expect that Yan Sikong, a weak scholar, could have so much strength. He was pushed and staggered back a few steps, looking at Yan Sikong in surprise.

"Yin'er!" Yan Sikong yelled, "How dare you!"

The sound of "Mian'er" really calmed Chen Mi, and he stared at Yan Sikong in a daze.

"I'm your teacher!" Yan Sikong accused him fiercely, "Don't you care about the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects, or the etiquette between teachers and students? I have endured humiliation and endured hardships, and have been planning for many years just to let you rule the world and save the country and the people. But you humiliate me like this. Are you worthy of the spirit of Concubine Hui in heaven?!"

Chen Yu's eyes were red. "I am sincere to you, sir. I treat you like a treasure and respect you like a distinguished guest. How can I be humiliated?"

"It's humiliating to me."

"I don't accept it. Feng Ye can do it, but I can't? Why?" Chen Yu growled, "Now you want to abandon me and go back to him. You make me miss you and him day and night, but I can't do anything about it!"

"Should I stay and enjoy the beauty of the moon and poetry and wine with you?" Yan Sikong asked angrily, "Do you want the kingdom or the romance?"

Chen Yu's lips trembled and he was unable to speak for a moment.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and said, "You think you have grown up, but in fact you are mentally unstable and willful. I am so disappointed!"

Chen Yu's face turned paler.

Yan Sikong laughed mockingly, looking exhausted physically and mentally: "I can stay. As a subject, I can serve the king at any time. Your Highness can do whatever you want to me, but I can't take on the responsibility of supporting the great cause."

Chen Yu's eyes were moist, filled with pain and unwillingness. He slowly walked in front of Yan Sikong, lifted Yan Sikong's chin, and his eyes were full of undisguised infatuation: "I only have you in my heart. I care about you more than Feng Ye, my sister, and anyone else in the world."

Yan Sikong looked at Chen Yu expressionlessly, his eyes cold.

Chen Yi lowered his head and pressed his lips tenderly against Yan Sikong's. Yan Sikong's body stiffened and he clenched his fists at his sides. It was up to him to decide whether to keep Chen Yi or leave.

The kiss was gentle and short. The next moment, Chen Yu fell to his knees with a thud.

Yan Sikong was stunned.

Chen Yu choked up and said, "Yu'er will never violate the etiquette between teacher and student again. Please calm down, sir."

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes.

Chen Yu hugged Yan Sikong's waist and begged like a teenager, "Sir, please calm down."

Yan Sikong suppressed his anger, raised his hand tremblingly, and stroked Chen Yi's head: "Your Highness, please stand up. I can't bear it."

"Sir, please calm down." Chen Yu said softly.

Yan Sikong took a long breath, with a bit of struggle on his face, but unfortunately he only had this handsome chess piece and there was no way to change it, otherwise he would definitely give up this chess piece that was becoming more and more assertive.

Where Yan Sikong couldn't see, Chen Yi's tearful eyes were emitting a deep and bone-chilling chill.