Chapter 166

 

That day Chen Tingjian still had no intention of going to see his son.

Of course, he was not idle either. He had to deal with memorials from the capital with several cabinet elders, and accompany Emperor Yuanyou to summon soldiers at the border. He really had no free moments.

At dusk, the imperial entourage returned to Jizhou City from outside. When Emperor Yuanyou got off the carriage, a strong wind blew over. He just squinted his eyes and turned sideways to avoid the wind. He found that Chen Tingjian behind him had his long beard blown into disarray, and his loose crimson official uniform was also cling to his body, outlining the thin figure of a civil servant.

Although both of them were thin, He Qingxian looked energetic in his thinness, while Chen Tingjian took advantage of Heavens by having a handsome face that made him look like an immortal. Although he looked good, he was actually not very strong, making people worried that if the wind got stronger, the Chief Minister would be blown away.

Especially since the old man had been following him recently, climbing the Great Wall today and climbing a hillside tomorrow. Plus, he must be worried about his injured son, and the haggardness on his face was clearly visible.

Relationships were also divided into close and distant ones. Emperor Yuanyou had Chen Tingjian by his side since he could remember. Chen Tingjian even taught him for longer than the previous emperor. In real comparison, in Emperor Yuanyou’s case, even He Qingxian and General Qin combined were no match for Chen Tingjian.

In the past, Chen Tingjian always scolded him, and Emperor Yuanyou naturally disliked the old man. But now Chen Tingjian treated him kindly, and his old age was gradually showing. Emperor Yuanyou was not really without conscience, so it was natural that he would feel distressed.

After entering the posthouse, Emperor Yuanyou said to Chen Tingjian, “Zhen is tired. Sir, please go and see Prince Consort for Zhen.”

The emperor asked for such a small matter. If it was another injured person, Chen Tingjian would definitely agree. But he just asked him to go and see his son. Chen Tingjian lowered his eyes and said, “It’s just a minor injury. Your Majesty has already visited him personally this morning. There is really no need to worry too much.”

Emperor Yuanyou raised his voice and said, “Sir, are you unwilling to make this trip for Zhen?”

Chen Tingjian: …

He looked disapprovingly at the young emperor who was deliberately losing his temper, and sighed: “The more you favor him, the more arrogant he becomes.”

Emperor Yuanyou brought out his sister’s words: “Sir, you have three sons, so naturally you don’t feel sorry for Prince consort, but Zhen only have one di brother-in-law, that is Prince Consort.”

The chief eunuch Cao Li smiled and tried to smooth things over: “Please go quickly, Cabinet Elder. His majesty is just paving the steps for you. How can there be a father in the world who doesn’t worry about his own flesh and blood.”

Chen Tingjian couldn’t say anything more and bowed and left.

In the Grand Princess’s courtyard, Hua Yang was originally with Chen Jingzong. When she heard that her father-in-law had come, she warned Chen Jingzong, “I will leave first. You should talk to Father properly and stop deliberately angering him.”

The more unpleasant the quarrel between the father and son in public, the better it would be for the entire Chen family. However, there were only family members here, so there was no need to hurt her father-in-law’s feelings again.

Chen Jingzong was unwilling: “If you want him to be happy, you should stay. If it’s me alone, he will be upset even if I don’t say anything.”

Hua Yang: “Shut up!”

Chen Jingzong was originally leaning against the head of the bed. As soon as the grand princess left, he lay down, closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

In the yard, Fu Gui led his family’s chief minister in.

The inner room was quiet. Chen Tingjian walked in alone. With a glance, he found a figure lying on the bed through the screen.

Chen Tingjian walked to the bedside without stopping and saw his son lying on the bed with his right shoulder exposed, his eyes closed and his breathing even.

Although he was the youngest child in the family, he was already 26 years old this year. It seemed that his temper was still the same as when he was a child. However, when he really thought back, this child had not caused any trouble to the family in the past few years since he came to the capital. On the contrary, he had made many contributions. The fairy-like figure of the grand princess was even willing to protect him, which further prove that the Old Four was far more outstanding and sensible than he thought.

Chen Tingjian sat down at the head of the bed, holding his overlong beard with one hand, and lowered his head, trying to see the injury underneath the gauze.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything.

Chen Tingjian sat up straight, looked at his son’s young face again, paused, and asked: “Did you get this injury on purpose?”

Prince Consort who was pretending to be asleep: “I am asleep, so I can’t hear you.”

Chen Tingjian snorted. If it were the Old One or Old Three, they would never dare to act inappropriately in front of him.

Chen Jingzong finally opened his eyes, his gaze lingered for a moment on the old man’s face, which looked handsome and elegant from a distance but had fine lines when viewed up close, and said, “My injury is nothing serious. Grand Princess scolded you, but she was the one that become upset first. She waited here for a long time last night, thinking that if you came, she could comfort you with a few words.”

Chen Tingjian’s eyes showed a bit of affection, of course not for his son. He stroked his beard and said, “If I came, wouldn’t your bitter trick be in vain.”

Chen Jingzong understood and there was no need to say anything more.

Chen Tingjian looked at his son again and said, “Even if you don’t look for Qin Yuantang, I will find a way to make it clear to him. Next time if you are worried about something, tell me in advance and I will come forward so you don’t have to take such risks.”

He was not old enough to need his son and daughter-in-law to help him so much.

Chen Jingzong: “We will be returning to the capital the day after tomorrow. If you talk to the general alone, it will only make people suspicious. If it by letters, not to mention that it will be difficult to explain if it falls into the hands of others, the General may not be able to figure it out just by reading it. It’s better for us to cut through the mess quickly.”

Since it concerns Emperor Yuanyou, General Qin would be most convinced only if the words came from the grand princess.

Things had already happened, and there was no point in talking about it again. Chen Tingjian nodded: “I’m fine here, tell Grand Princess not to blame herself.”

After saying this, there was silence.

The father and son looked at each other, then looked away at the same time.

The Chief Minister, who was busy with official duties, said: “I have something else to do. I’ll leave first.”

The injured Prince Consort said: “I won’t see you off.”

The time father and son spent together was too short. By the time Hua Yang reacted, Chen Tingjian had already left the courtyard.

“What did you talk about with Father?” Hua Yang could only ask Chen Jingzong.

Chen Jingzong then repeated those few words to her.

Hua Yang: …

Chen Jingzong: “I told you long ago, he is an old fox, there’s no need for you to feel sorry for him.”

Hua Yang followed his words and said, “I am worried about you. Father came but he didn’t even bother to ask if you were in pain.”

Chen Jingzong: “I don’t care if he asks. It sounds better when you ask.”

Hua Yang glared at him.

On the last day in Jizhou City, nothing major happened. Emperor Yuanyou came personally and suggested that they would leave first and let Chen Jingzong stay to recuperate.

Chen Jingzong: “No need to bother. This minister just can’t ride a horse for the time being, so just lie in the carriage to avoid the bumps.”

Emperor Yuanyou looked at his sister inquiringly.

Hua Yang persuaded Chen Jingzong: “You’d better stay. If your injuries get worse on the way and the news reaches Mother Empress, she will definitely blame me for not taking good care of you.”

Chen Jingzong: “This minister will take good care of himself and will never cause trouble to Grand Princess. Your Majesty is here and can testify for this minister.”

Emperor Yuanyou: “Forget it, let’s all go back!”

He really couldn’t stand the pitiful look of prince consort who was afraid of being abandoned by his sister!

.

On the day when the emperor set out on his journey, General Qin Yuantang rode his war horse and accompanied him for twenty miles.

Finally, it was time to separate. With red eyes, Qin Yuantang bid farewell to Emperor Yuanyou, then retreated to the front of grand princess’s carriage and asked about prince consort’s injury in person for the last time.

Chen Jingzong sat back on the main couch and bowed to him sincerely, “General, take care of yourself. If there is a chance in the future, I would like to follow you to the battlefield.”

Qin Yuantang smiled and looked at grand princess sitting beside him.

Hua Yang looked at the still clearly visible Great Wall behind Qin Yuantang and said, “The safety of the capital is entirely entrusted to General.”

Qin Yuantang said solemnly: “Don’t worry, Grand Princess. With this general here, Doyan and Tatar will never be able to cross the Great Wall from Jizhen!”

Hua Yang nodded and signaled Chao Yun to lower the curtain.

The carriage continued to move forward.

Qin Yuantang led his warhorse to the side of the road and stood there for a long time.

Inside the carriage, Hua Yang and Chen Jingzong sighed almost at the same time.

Chen Jingzong: “Why are you sighing? Are you reluctant to part with Eldest Master Qin?”

Hua Yang: “…What are you sighing about?”

Chen Jingzong: “I was thinking, if the late emperor had not granted us marriage, I might have come to the border to gain experience, and maybe I could have worked under the General.”

Hua Yang: “You can come now. I will tell His Majesty.”

Chen Jingzong: “No, the late emperor entrusted you to me, I have to take good care of you. It won’t be too late for me to come again when there is a war at the border.”

Hua Yang’s expression dimmed as she thought of her father’s three last wishes before he passed away. Two were about state affairs, and the third was about her.

Chen Jingzong suddenly winced and covered the wound on his right shoulder: “It’s not good, I still have to lie down.”

Hua Yang no longer cared about reminiscing about her father emperor and carefully helped him lie down.

Whenever the convoy stopped, the imperial physician would come over to check on the prince consort’s injuries. With such careful care, when the imperial entourage returned to the capital in mid-Ninth Month, a layer of shallow scab had formed on Chen Jingzong’s wound. Although he still could not move his right arm, at least he no longer had to wrap it with gauze.

When Sun shi learned that her son was injured, she hurried to Grand Princess Mansion to visit him. Sometimes she shed tears, sometimes she blamed her son for having nothing better to do than to provoke General Qin, and sometimes she spoke softly and acted distressed.

Hua Yang watched from the side and thought that the neglect Chen Jingzong suffered from her father-in-law had been fully compensated by her mother-in-law.

If one think about it carefully, she was the complete opposite from Chen Jingzong. The Chen family had a strict father and a kind mother, while she had a strict mother and a kind father.

However, no matter how loving a father was, he was still inferior to a mother in terms of tenderness and care.

Chen Jingzong, however, looked like he didn’t know how to appreciate his good fortune. He covered his right shoulder and refused to show it to his mother. He also glanced at Hua Yang and said, “Grand princess has said in front of everyone that I am hers. Even if you are my biological mother, you cannot take off my clothes without Grand Princess’s permission.”

Hua Yang: …

Sun shi: …

Finally, Sun shi pinched her son’s thigh fiercely and said, “Why did I give birth to such a shameless thing like you!”

Hua Yang was the most embarrassed. She left first and would settle the score with the blabbermouthed prince consort later.

Sun shi was sending her distinguished daughter-in-law out of the house. When she returned to her son, her attitude completely changed. She urged, “Did Grand Princess really say that? What was the situation at that time? Tell me about it.”

Chen Jingzong thought for a moment and said, “I was unconscious at the time, it was Fu Gui who told me after I woke up. But he was outside and only heard Grand Princess’ angry words. You can go home and ask the old man for the details.”

Sun shi understood, and then she looked at her son’s cheeky but indeed handsome face, and said happily: “You should be thankful for your face, otherwise with your temper, how could Grand Princess be able to stand you.”

Chen Jingzong thought to himself, grand princess likes more than just my face.

That night, the prince consort couldn’t wait to sleep with grand princess.

How could Hua Yang allow him to mess around? “Aren’t you afraid of tearing the wound?”

Chen Jingzong: “If it’s on my waist, I really can’t help it. But the injury is on my shoulder, so it’s not in the way.”

Hua Yang: …

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