Chapter Twenty: The Heart's Desire

  "Zhāng sūn mò, nǐ zhǎo sǐ!"

  Translation: "Zhang Sunmo, you're looking for death!"

  Old Master Chen's whiskers stood on end, and with just one step, he arrived in front of Zhang Sunmo. His majestic aura was like the turbulent waves of the ocean, making it clear that if no one intervened, Old Master Chen would strike down Zhang Sunmo right there in the grand palace!

  When Chen Ye faced Long Sunfei calmly at night, Old Man Chen knew that his grandson could already accept the past. However, being able to accept the past doesn't mean the pain in one's heart is gone. When it's brought up in person, he can still remain unmoved!

  At this moment, a sharp intention surged in the depths of his eyes, but it was not because Long Sunmo had triggered the killing intent in his heart. To Chen Ye, Long Sunmo was a must-kill person!

  But it was Lao Ye's expression like this, which had never been seen since Chen Ye's birth.

  Sensing the powerful aura released by the old man, Chen Ye had already dared to conclude that in the entire Great Huaxia Empire, it was not possible to say that he was invincible throughout the empire, but at least, if the old man did not give up, then even if the imperial family put all their efforts into it, they would still be unable to force the old man to give up.

  Since he has such a cultivation, why did the old master give up in the past? What kind of unspeakable bitterness is hidden in the old master's heart?

  "Your Majesty, save me!"

  "Your Imperial Highness, Chancellor Changsun spoke rashly for a moment and was confused. Please spare him, Your Imperial Highness!"

  The emperor and the crown prince's faces changed drastically, they felt the killing intent of Old Man Chen that was not fake, and his cultivation made them deeply fearful.

  "Grandpa, I'm fine!"

  Chen Ye hastily called out once, but his eyes slowly closed instead.

  On the same day, it was also the emperor's marriage, and Old Man Chen refused to respond. The emperor used Old Man Chen's disobedience as an excuse to strip him of many honors and replaced some generals in the army with his own trusted men!

  From then on, the Chen family's prestige didn't dare to say it had fallen by a thousand miles, but people with discerning eyes could see that Old Man Chen had made a wrong move!

  "Your Majesty!"

  After a moment, Chen Ye opened his eyes and said in a respectful tone: "Your Majesty is the supreme ruler of the nine heavens and five elements. What is called customs is just an imperial decree from Your Majesty. However, one cannot forget their roots, and as a son or daughter, they must not forget their roots!"

  "If even parents can be unfilial, what's the point of talking about loyalty to the ruler and loving the country? Even if one is truly loyal to the ruler and loves the country, in their heart, the so-called 'ruler' and 'country' are just entities that can provide them with everything they want. Their so-called 'loyalty' and 'love' are merely for the sake of their own career and life, under the control of the ruler and country, they have no choice but to do so!"

  "Such a person, I, Chen Ye, dare to guarantee that if you and the country cannot continue to grant him everything he wants, and even drag him down with you, then his loyalty and love will instantly disappear."

  "May I ask, Lord Zhangsun, was Chen Ye's statement incorrect?"

  At this time, Zhang Sunmo was under the cover of Chen Lao's icy killing intent. No one dared to respond to him, and he smiled awkwardly, his body leaning even closer to the Emperor.

  "Your Majesty!"

  "Unless Mother returns, Chen Ye will never marry for the rest of his life! I beg Your Majesty to fulfill Chen Ye's filial piety!"

  It has come to this, with sufficient reason, and adding loyalty to the emperor and filial piety, the Emperor had nothing to say. He could forcibly issue an imperial edict, at that time, as long as Chen Zhong did not rebel, then the Chen family could only prepare to welcome Princess Xuanling back.

  But doing so, the Emperor cannot guarantee that it will not trigger a huge backlash from the Chen family. In the Great China Empire, there is still no one who can use force against the Chen family without any reason, and this includes the Emperor himself.

  "Heh heh, Ye Er is so thoughtful, how can I not agree?" The Emperor forced a smile and said: "Alright, the marriage will be put on hold for now. The imperial kitchen has just hired a new head chef, Royal Uncle, Ye Er, you two go try it out!"

  The old man chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, I have been in seclusion for many years and no longer ask about worldly affairs. Now at home, I just enjoy the happiness of family life. When I'm bored, I think back to the days that have passed in my life, thinking that one day when I go to see the Holy Master, he will come to test me. If I can't answer, it would hurt our friendship..."

  "What the Emperor said just now, you are getting more and more vigorous..." The emperor's mind was unknowingly weighed down by a lot.

  "Haha!" Zhen Zhong waved his hand and smiled: "Your Majesty, I won't think about anything or do anything again. Since the day I retired, I've been an ordinary old man. It's enough that I have your trust and care, and still retain my former glory and wealth."

  "Old Master Wang is unaware of worldly affairs, what a loss for our Great Huahua Dynasty!" It seemed that he felt safe again, and Zhangsun Mou spoke once more with disdain.

  "Really?"

  "Of course!"

  Chang Sun's face was cloudy, and he smiled wryly, saying: "For many years, Old Master Wang has followed the Holy Master to conquer the south and north, achieving countless meritorious deeds. Now that the Holy Master has passed away, who else but Old Master Wang can be considered the greatest hero of the Great Hua army?! I don't know how many people are looking up to Old Master Wang; if he were to leave this world, it would not only be a loss for Great Hua, but also mean that those people would never again see Old Master Wang's grandeur!"

  As soon as this was said, the emperor's pupils suddenly changed, and in the depths of Old Man Chen and Chen Ye's eyes, there were also subtle changes that were almost imperceptible.

  "Your Majesty!"

  After a moment of contemplation, Old Man Chen said: "Today's visit to the palace has been quite long, I just remembered that the chickens and ducks in my courtyard haven't been fed yet. If Your Majesty doesn't have any other matters, I'll take Ye Er back first. I'm afraid those little ones will get into trouble if they're hungry."

  "In that case, I won't keep you here any longer, Uncle Emperor, take your leave!"

  The emperor stood up, and the Crown Prince naturally became even more respectful. He personally escorted Chen Zhong to the gate of the palace and said: "Old Wang Ye, take care on your way back, I hope that next time we have a chance to drink together!"

  "I also hope to have such an opportunity again!"

  Upon hearing this, Old Master Chen smiled faintly and said: "Old Longsun, when the chickens and ducks in my household are hungry and make a ruckus, I'll have them killed. So, I won't accompany you for more conversation, I must hurry back to take a look, otherwise, I really will have the heart to kill them."

  Looking at the back of Chen Zhong and his grandson Yang as they walked away, Zhang Sun's expression became extremely distorted because of the former's last words!

  "Long live the Emperor!"

  "Your Majesty, I, your old minister, deserve to die for failing to complete the important task you entrusted to me!" Turning around, Changsun Wuji hastily knelt down on the ground!

  The emperor sneered, saying: "You indeed deserve to die. In front of Old Master Wang, even if you and I are unwilling in our hearts, we cannot have the slightest disrespect in our words. Are you trying to force me and Old Master Wang to both suffer a defeat so that you can become the second Chen Zhong?"

  "This humble old minister dares not, this humble old minister's heart of loyalty and protection towards Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon."

  The emperor waved his hand and said sternly, "Don't say such flattering words. Today, nothing can be done. After you go back, think carefully about how to give the Chen family a good reason. Otherwise, Old Master Wang's anger will not subside, and I can only hand you over."

  "Yes, yes!" Zhangsun's whole body was covered in cold sweat.

  In the imperial garden, a swing frame was set up. Behind the frame stood a young man wearing a purple gold crown and dressed in crimson embroidered robes with a purple jade belt around his waist. His eyes were extremely spirited, and every gesture revealed an air of imperial nobility.

  The young man gently pushed the swing frame, with a subtle and sharp arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

  "Your Highness!"

  A young eunuch rushed over and whispered a few words in front of the young man, who suddenly looked stunned, and then his expression turned cold.

  "At a young age, he's already so extraordinary. It seems that losing his innate talent hasn't made him lose too much fighting spirit? The future capital is going to be even more interesting."

  The young man suddenly burst out laughing, his hands grasping the swing frame to steady it, and said to the person on top: "My good sister, I originally thought I had found a perfect match for you, but unexpectedly, once again, you've become a laughing stock. I'm really sorry about that!"

  After finishing speaking, the young man pushed heavily, and the swing frame flew high. On it was a palace-dressed girl, whose figure suddenly seemed like a kite that had lost its string, floating in mid-air.

  The young man didn't even care and turned around to leave, without any concern for whether the girl would be hurt by this!