"I also don't want him to go astray. If he doesn't change, sooner or later, my Liu family will be ruined by him."
"Yu Chen is stubborn. Since he likes that fox spirit, as a mother, I can't possibly go against him.
It's better to fulfill his wish. Anyway, once that woman is dead, his knot will be untied."
At this moment, Chu Chen was secretly summoned into the palace by the Emperor, thus missing this scene.
Inside the palace, Chu Chen sat upright, his expression stern, his brows filled with aloofness.
"Your Majesty summoned me. May I ask what this is about?"
"My dear minister Chu, I have summoned you today because there is something I need to ask you."
The man on the dragon throne wore a gentle and elegant smile. "I heard that Minister Chu was attacked half a month ago. Do you recall this?"
Chu Chen's brows furrowed tighter. Instead of answering, he asked, "From where did Your Majesty learn of this news?"
The man smiled. "According to the reports from our spies, Minister Chu was indeed attacked that day, but by some miracle, you managed to escape."
"Your Majesty's news is indeed well-informed. Have the culprits been apprehended?" Chu Chen asked indifferently.
The man's expression turned grim. He said slowly, "All the men I sent were lost. As for who did it, I don't know yet."
Chu Chen was silent for a moment. "This minister also does not know who the enemy is."
The man smiled. "It's fine if you don't know. I will find the true culprit for you, Minister Chu. But in the meantime,
You must remain silent and not leak this matter, lest it harm the harmony between our two families. What do you say, Minister Chu?"
Chu Chen lowered his gaze, remaining silent. A faint mist seemed to shroud his handsome face, as if he were lost in thought.
After a long while, he raised his eyes, his gaze calm, devoid of any expression.
"This minister obeys." His voice was clear and resonant, reaching the man's ears and causing his smile to gradually broaden.
"Minister Chu," he paused, then said with a half-smile, "If you wish, you can come to the palace to find me anytime."
Chu Chen's expression froze. His previous words were merely perfunctory, and he hadn't expected this man to take them seriously.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's kind offer."
"Hahaha, good. Since Minister Chu is not accustomed to it, I will not force you. Come and play chess with me when you have time."
Chu Chen gave a wry smile. It wasn't that he was unaccustomed to entering the palace to accompany him, but rather that every time he entered the palace over the years, it had been out of necessity, and he could barely even see his father.
Otherwise, with his father's power, wouldn't he be able to enter and exit the palace freely?
"This minister takes his leave." Chu Chen cupped his fists and walked directly out of the imperial study. He did not look back, as if he had not noticed the change in the expression of the person behind him.
Only after walking far away did Chu Chen stop. His cold gaze was filled with chilling murderous intent.
"Heh heh, you want to use me to eliminate your rivals. I will not let you have your way! After you die, I will take your place!"
In the main hall of the Chu family, Chu Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome face clouded with gloom and irritability.
"Young Master Chu," the butler greeted him respectfully, smiling. "The Patriarch requests your presence."
Chu Chen nodded and followed the butler into the study.
Inside the study sat a refined and handsome man. He wore a blue robe, and his neatly combed hair was meticulously arranged, giving him a scholarly appearance.
However, Chu Chen's demeanor was cold and unsmiling. Chu Chen shook his head. "I do not concern myself with matters in the capital, nor have I heard any news."
He sighed softly, his gaze filled with complexity. "Chu Chen, you should know that the political situation in the court has already changed."
Chu Chen lowered his gaze slightly. "I am merely a man of leisure, with no ambition for an official career. Therefore, I am not interested in court affairs."
"Alas!" Chu Yunshan sighed heavily. "Chu Chen, our Chu family has been loyal for generations. We cannot let your generation be the one to break this legacy!
I had originally intended for you to participate in the imperial examinations, but it seems that path is no longer feasible..."
"Father!" Chu Chen sneered. "You don't need to scare me with such words. I have never intended to enter officialdom. Your political struggles have nothing to do with me!"
Chu Yunshan was taken aback and smiled bitterly. "Your aspirations are rather lofty. Do you wish to be a wandering knight, or a merchant?"
"Father," Chu Chen raised his eyes and gazed at Chu Yunshan. "Don't you always teach me that everyone has their own aspirations, and one should not be forced?
And that you should not bind me with your way of thinking. Since I do not wish to enter officialdom, I will certainly not become a merchant."
His eyes were filled with determination, unwavering.
Chu Yunshan's expression turned grim. "Chu Chen, in the current court, besides the Qin Kingdom,
the other several kingdoms are all stirring, wanting to swallow other countries, especially the Nanxian Kingdom."
"The Qin Kingdom is the strongest of the four. The other three combined might not be a match for the Qin Kingdom," Chu Yunshan sighed, his eyes filled with worry.
"The Qin Kingdom is ambitious and will sooner or later invade our Donglin territory. If we do not unite to resist, we will eventually be destroyed by the Qin Kingdom."
"Do you understand?"
Chu Chen sneered and curved his lips. "No matter how powerful the Qin Kingdom is, our ancestors of the Chu family have all fought on the battlefield. If the Qin Kingdom wants to bully our Donglin,
it depends on whether they have the ability!" Chu Yunshan stared at Chu Chen blankly. He suddenly felt that this child had matured considerably compared to when he was young.
The difference was that when he was young, he always liked to cling to him, acting spoiled and playfully pestering him...
"When will you ever change this temper of yours?" Chu Yunshan rubbed his forehead. "Do you think I don't want you to be an official?
If you didn't want to be an official, why would I force you?" Chu Chen pursed his lips and remained silent.
"Chu Chen, although the Qin Kingdom is strong, the other countries joining forces might still be able to gain an advantage over them. If our Donglin can unite,
it will surely make them wary. Therefore, I will not allow you to continue staying in the military camp."
Chu Chen frowned and said coldly, "I am no longer young. I have endured these years precisely for the glory of the Chu family. You ask me to abandon the dark and turn to the light, I would rather die on the battlefield!"
Chu Yunshan coughed violently. "Don't forget, your surname is Chu! If you dare to abandon the Chu family, this old man will not spare you!"
Chu Chen let out a scoff and turned towards the door.
Suddenly, he stopped. With his back to Chu Yunshan, his voice carried a chilling tone.
"If Father believes I am unfilial, then do not acknowledge me as your son."
After leaving the Chu family, Chu Chen went directly to an inn to rest. Because he was too tired, he fell asleep shortly after lying down on the bed.
The morning breeze rustled through the treetops, the leaves whispering.
A ray of sunlight fell in the center of the courtyard, illuminating the man's long and tall figure. A faint golden aura surrounded him, and he stood motionless like a statue.