The Demon Lords-Chapter 756 - 166 Lord Pingye_5

In an ordinary family, a son could throw a tantrum with his father, and that would be fine. But one couldn't behave this way with *his* father.

Ji Chengjue knelt and said, "Father, your son wishes to reclaim the businesses I previously surrendered."

A hint of a smile touched the corners of the Yan Emperor's mouth, then quickly vanished.

The Yan Emperor knew. He knew his son had figured it out. If he were in his son's position, he probably would have figured it out too. The Yan Emperor disliked this feeling. Actually, he used to like it, truly like it. What father wouldn't like his son to be like him, unless that father was an utter failure? Of course, the Yan Emperor was no failure; he was a formidable sovereign of his generation. But this sensation between father and son, as if they were roundworms in each other's stomachs... if their relationship were good, it would be one thing; that's called a true father-son bond. But now that they were estranged, this mutual understanding felt somewhat unsettling.

According to the established procedure, the Yan Emperor should ask, 'Reluctant to part with it?' Then, that son of his below would offer some reasons, act obediently. He would then reprimand him a little, rap his knuckles a bit. Then that son would admit his mistake, endure a rebuke. After that, he could raise the stakes, not just returning the businesses but also assigning him some responsibilities within the Ministry of Revenue. He knew this son of his was skilled in management; Consort Min's maternal clan, the Min Family, had originally been great merchants of Yan.

Right now, the situation was truly giving him a headache, and he urgently needed someone who understood the art of management to help him set this weary empire right. He needed money and grain; he needed national strength. And he still wanted, within his lifetime, to annihilate the Qian State! He dared not leave an adversary like the Qian State to his descendants, to his successor. Nor could he imagine to what extent the Qian State might develop if given more time to build up its military strength. By then, it would be hard to say whether Yan would be invading the south or the Qian State would be launching another northern expedition. Most importantly, the Qian State's emperor was younger than him and adept at preserving his health. He is the rival of I, Ji Runhao! Before I breathe my last, for the sake of Great Yan, I must crush him!

Yet, the Yan Emperor had no desire to act out this charade, to go through this process. In this respect, it had to be said, father and son were far too alike. Besides, there were no outsiders in the Imperial Study at this moment. Who would this act, this adherence to procedure, be for? Oh, the only one who might count as an outsider was the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, also wearing a dragon robe and seated below, had no idea he had somehow become an "outsider."

Of course, the next sentence truly made the Crown Prince feel like an interloper.

Previously, his Imperial Father would ask a question, and Sixth Brother would answer; then silence.

Now, Sixth Brother asked a question, and his Imperial Father…

His Imperial Father replied directly with four words: "Observe at the Ministry of Revenue."

Ji Chengjue immediately kowtowed and said, "Your son will definitely not fail Father's high hopes."

A question and an answer. Another question and an answer.

It was settled.

The Crown Prince instinctively found it somewhat absurd. The first exchange had decided the Commander of Snow Sea Pass. With this second exchange, it seemed his sixth brother had suddenly risen in favor again. The older princes all remembered how fond their Imperial Father had been of this sixth brother when he was younger.

Yet, at this very moment, the Crown Prince truly felt like an outsider, completely unable to interject. There was no need for him to smooth things over, no need to ease the atmosphere, and certainly no dispute requiring his mediation. He couldn't very well clear his throat twice to signal that his Imperial Father should listen to his opinion, could he?

'Observe at the Ministry of Revenue' meant sending a prince to the Ministry to learn; it was a method of cultivating princes. The authority of this position could be substantial or minimal; it was very flexible.

After a moment, Ji Chengjue, still kneeling, added, "Within three years, your son will ensure that our Great Yan has ample funds and grain!"

The Yan Emperor's breath caught.

A faint smile touched Ji Chengjue's lips as he knelt.

You know that I know what you're thinking. And you also know that I know what you're thinking. But I'm deliberately telling you that I know that you know what you're thinking. You're very uncomfortable, aren't you? I'm doing it deliberately!

The Yan Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. He instinctively wanted to suppress this son of his again, as was his habit. This was his consistent method. In the past, every time Zheng Fan advanced a step, he would peel a layer off this son of his, as a way of keeping him in line. But after so many years of his "discipline," he suddenly realized there seemed to be nothing left on his son that could be stripped away. The He family?

At this moment, Ji Chengjue stood up. Facing the Yan Emperor and then the Crown Prince, he said, "Father, Imperial Brother, your son has been reckless. I have pledged my life in private to a woman of common birth. I pray that Father will grant his approval!"

Saying this, Ji Chengjue knelt once more.

The Yan Emperor's breath hitched again. He's guessed what I was thinking of doing! Again! To be honest, this feeling of sparring with himself was truly too uncomfortable. It felt like his left hand fighting his right. Previously, this son of his had clearly feigned foolishness, deliberately playing dumb. He knew his son was faking it, but today, he wasn't pretending anymore. Hmph. Does he think that because I must use him now, he has nothing to fear?

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Sixth Brother, is it true? Is she from the He family?"

Ji Chengjue, looking somewhat shy, replied, "Imperial Brother is brilliant. She is indeed from the He family."

The Crown Prince paused, then asked, "Which He family is it?"

"Imperial Brother, it's *the* He family."

"The He family?"

"The He family."

Only then did the Crown Prince realize it was a surname.