Chapter 2: Yuan Rang

Chapter 2: Yuan Rang

The crimson window was slightly ajar, letting in wisps of cool breeze from outside. Chen Shuoan lay on the bed, dead asleep.

Suddenly, the gentle breeze turned into gusts of cold wind, accompanied by the thunderous sound of a door being kicked open.

Chen Shuoan: "..."

What's with this wind? Is it having a fit?

He groggily looked toward the door, only to find his deadbeat dad standing there.

Chen Jingxian stormed in with great haste, plopping himself down on the edge of Chen Shuoan's bed, giving him a heartfelt lecture about behaving himself.

"Shuo'an, you were in the wrong here. Why did you go out of your way to bully that young lady? Did all those books you read go straight to the dogs?"

He paused, realizing his son had never been studious and had indeed read few books, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh:

"I was even thinking of seeking justice for you, but instead I ended up looking like the bad guy who cried wolf—stuck between a rock and a hard place."

Seeing Chen Shuoan lying in bed with a face like he was about to bawl, as if he had recognized his mistakes and was set on mending his ways, he said with satisfaction, "I've been way too soft on you. Once your injuries heal, you'll come with me to the Su residence and apologize."

Chen Shuoan, with his dad's big butt squashing his fingers, was in tears.

"Father..."

Chen Shuoan was in a state where moving any part caused pain throughout his body. He spoke feebly, trying to ease this crushing weight of fatherly love: "You're squashing my hand. Scoot over, will ya..."

Chen Jingxian quickly stood up and sat on the drum stool, sighing again: "Today I've made a total fool of myself. If you're this much of a failure, what was the point of raising you for seventeen years?"

"Guess that's your bad luck."

Chen Jingxian: "..."

He decided not to bother with this little brat, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and set it on the table to cool.

"In a few days, the Emperor will send the Sixth Prince to the Chen residence. To put it kindly, it's to check on your injuries and, if they seem severe, slap the Duke of State Stabilization on the wrist. To put it bluntly, they're coming to have a laugh at our expense. If the Chen family doesn't have a man who can step up, the deal between the Chen ancestors and the royal family is off the table."

Chen Shuoan couldn't give a damn; he just wanted to get as far from the capital as he could.

Chen Jingxian shifted the topic: "I know my title of Grand Tutor is nominal, but isn't sending the Sixth Prince a bit too perfunctory?"

Chen Shuoan shook his head in disagreement: "You're pushing it, Dad. We're a broken pot with a cracked lid—it's already good enough that someone's coming. So which concubine popped out this Sixth Prince?"

As far as I know, I know squat.

Chen Jingxian: "..."

Chen Shuoan was about to burst from curiosity, his big doe eyes blinking, hungry for knowledge.

"I've never seen you this into your books," Chen Jingxian said, lifting the jade cup to his lips and taking a sip of hot tea before speaking, "His Highness the Sixth Prince is born of Noble Consort Liu. He's still a kid, but he's got more sense than you."

So he's a little kid who's got more maturity than me.

Chen Shuoan rubbed his sore cheeks from being pressed, and said seriously, "I'm awesome, no hating on me."

————

Spring had just started, but it was still that chilly late-winter time.

Chen Shuoan had been living the good life lately, well-fed and pampered.

He watched the sparrows outside squawking in the wind and hummed a lucky tune.

He hadn't even finished the tune when a servant came to call him to the guest hall.

Chen Shuoan figured it out right away—the Sixth Prince was here.

As he walked down the hallway to the front hall, he could see someone standing between the octagonal table and the big armchair from a distance.

The figure was tall and upright, but a bit skinny.

Maybe he was still in a growth spurt, with his muscles lagging behind his bones.

Chen Shuoan walked over, gave Yuan Rang a respectful bow, and didn't dare look up after the bow.

Well, well—this "kid" his dad mentioned, Yuan Rang, was actually about the same height as him. If it weren't for his lean frame, he'd be the kind of guy you'd call "big bro" back in modern times.

The young man stood tall and graceful, leaning in slightly to signal Chen Shuoan didn't need to be so formal.

"Judging by Young Master Chen's spirited demeanor, it seems you've recovered quite well. I'm here on His Majesty's orders to check on you, not just with gifts, but also to tell you something."

Yuan Rang's voice hit Chen Shuoan's ears, with that fresh, youthful tone.

Chen Shuoan couldn't help rubbing his ears, feeling like his senses were sharper, enjoying the sound of someone talking to him.

"Please, speak freely, Your Highness," Chen Jingxian said, bowing with his hands clasped.

Yuan Rang stared at Chen Jingxian with a light chuckle: "His Majesty, thankful for your work in teaching the Crown Prince, has specially ordered that Chen Shuoan, son of Grand Tutor Chen, come to the palace as a study buddy."

He paused, like he was up to something playful, then slowly continued, "Having Young Master Chen as my reading companion, I'm truly lucky."

Chen Jingxian was frozen in place when he heard that.

Regardless of merit, his Grand Tutor title was just for show—he'd never taught any prince, so how could he have merit in teaching the Crown Prince?

He could only guess the Emperor had long known about his sneaky moves behind the scenes, planning to grab him by his weak spot, forcing him to hand over his son as a hostage in the palace.

This Sixth Prince was a sharp one, probably already getting the whole ruler-subject game.

Seeing through it but not saying a word, guessing it but not letting on.

Sending Chen Shuoan to the palace as the Sixth Prince's study companion—His Majesty's message was clear.

First, as a threat; second, as a sign he's out of favor.

And Chen Shuoan, with his bird's-eye view of everything, caught both their expressions. Though it was a bit different from the original novel, it was pretty much the same.

On the surface, it was going to the palace as a study buddy; in reality, it was walking into a kidnappers' den. If his dad made one wrong move, they'd off him on the spot.

Just read this book—you'll be speechless the whole time.

Chen Shuoan thought about all the shady stuff his dad pulled behind the Emperor's back and let out a cold laugh.

Bet you're sweating bullets now, old man.