Chapter 474: Heart of a King

Chapter 474

"So what." The emperor gave an answer that surprised everyone, "I am an emperor, I can't possibly intervene casually in my ministers' family affairs. If the eldest son of the Chang House has the ability to produce evidence in the future, I will act according to the law. If he dies abroad, how can I ignore the court and destroy the Fang family?"

The Fang family rose to prominence by cheating in the imperial examinations and by deceiving the emperor. In addition, the Fang family successfully brought about the downfall of the Zhu and Tao families. It would be difficult for the imperial court to uphold justice.

But Fang Heng was just a young child, imprisoned and restrained in the remote Anshui Prefecture. He wandered around destitute. Could I just sit back and watch?

If the veterans know that their descendants have been exiled like this, will they still fight desperately on the battlefield?

How can people be so cold-blooded!

Chang Yan clenched his fists, full of anger and resentment.

"You are angry." The man on the dragon couch suddenly laughed, "But my son, if Fang Heng was not your third brother, if you didn't know each other, would you care what happened to the Fang family?"

Chang Yan's body tensed again, and cold sweat appeared on his back.

He really knows everything.

He knew about the injustice in the Fang family, and he also knew about the relationship between Chang Yan and Fang Heng. Does he also know about those five years, does he know what happened behind the scenes with Chang Yan?

"Among the countless prestigious families in Fengjing, all kinds of injustices, big and small, are constantly happening." The man was still indifferent, "The eldest daughter of the Meng family bullied the illegitimate daughter, the head of the Li family favored a concubine and destroyed his wife, the head of the Zhou family was promiscuous and licentious, but as long as they work diligently in their official positions, how can I intervene in their family affairs?"

"You sympathize with the Fang family because of your close relationship with Fang Heng, but why don't you help the illegitimate daughter of the Meng family, stand up for the legitimate wife of the Li family, or restrain the head of the Zhou family?"

"After all, people only care about their loved ones, and can't be fair in everything."

The downfall of the Fang family's main branch originated from General Fang's death on the battlefield. The second branch schemed to seize power by all means necessary, even making the emperor scoff.

But how could the wild ambition of a wolf have been cultivated overnight? The husband and wife of the main branch were unable to guard against it and protect themselves, who else could they blame?

Survival of the fittest.

Fengjing has never been a naive and innocent stage, but a fighting arena full of intrigue, scheming and wrist skills.

As the second branch consolidated control over the Fang family's power, the entire main branch almost disappeared. How could the emperor possibly uphold justice and contend with such a powerful family?

There are many kinds of love in this world, but they all have limits.

Just as Xu Mo cares more about the common people, Fang Heng cares more about the military officers and soldiers, Wen Zhiyun cares more about the poor and suffering, Jiang Sheng cares more about his aunts.

Perhaps Chang Yan should feel fortunate to have become the victorious gu worm, rather than the grindstone for the king of gu worms.

But for this father, his heart finally lost all ripples.

"You can resent me, I am indeed not a good father to you." It was as if the Son of Heaven saw through everything, "I just want you to firmly remember the mission and responsibility of the Zhu family when I hand this land over to you."

"Chang Yu is too gloomy and sinister to get along with the Fang family, he is not suitable to be a wise ruler. My fourth brother is as timid as I am, Changhong has been spoiled and lost his judgment. Only you...only you are the most suitable."

He suppressed a cough, fatigue appearing on his face, "So Yan'er, go ahead, have Vice Minister Jiang propose reinstating the crown prince again, go establish your crown prince residence, cultivate your own confidants and manpower, suppress all discontent, stabilize this land. "

"With top scholar Xu by your side you won't act recklessly, and with the Jiang family's eldest daughter you won't slaughter the innocent."

"Go, go..."

His voice got lower and lower, until he fell sound asleep.

His faint breathing echoed in the hall, the faint smell of blood evidencing his frailty.

Chang Yan remembered Wen Zhiyun's hesitant words, he must have known about the emperor's condition for a while.

He also remembered the candid conversation just now, feeling mixed emotions.

His father's image flipped back and forth in his heart, from useless cowardice to quite skillful, from cold and incompetent to planning intricately. He regained respect for the emperor, but still could not truly love or cherish him.

Even though he knew his father was in poor health, he still couldn't give him much concern or care.

The only thing he could do was cup his hands together and say with basic respect, "Your son withdraws."

There was no father-son affection between them, only inheritance and responsibility.

If Chang Yan didn't have some ability, perhaps the surviving gu king would have been someone else in the end.

The night was pitch black, and Steward Wu was still waiting outside.

The attendant who had disappeared at some point was timidly following behind.

Chang Yan nodded to them, then went back towards the Western Three Palaces, but at a street lamp on the corner, he saw someone he had almost forgotten about.

Someone he had crossed paths within Anshui Prefecture, and had parted ways with at the city gate, someone he hadn't seen in four years.

"Steward Wu..."