Greetings, Ninth Uncle

Chapter 142

Cheng Yujin couldn't help sighing again, "His Majesty is too partial. Has he even thought whose effort allows him to recuperate in peace? He pushes all the troubles on you and enjoys life with the Second Prince."

"It's not the matter of partiality, but simply that I have no weight in his heart." Li Chengjing's tone was calm, "I didn't grow up by his side, and when we see each other again, more than a decade has passed. For him, my existence is far better in the distant memory than as an actual person, the relationship as a monarch and subject is more prominent than the relationship as a father and son, and my identity as the crown prince outweighs that of a son. To put it bluntly, I am just a stranger he met during the palace examination and later used as a valued subordinate."

"Your Highness..."

"I'm fine." Li Chengjing held Cheng Yujin's hand and smiled softly, "I once thought that I cared, but after our confrontation that day, I found that I also no longer treat him as a father. In terms of feelings, he ranks less in my heart than the late Yichun Marquis. He is just an emperor to me."

As Li Chengjing spoke, he found that the knot in his heart was loosening little by little. Indeed, it was all because he did not grow up by the Emperor's side. Although the Emperor personally raised him as a young child — doing real work instead of entrusting his upbringing to the servants — that was all before he turned five. The memory of a child that young was not long. After being separated at the age of five, the two of them did not see each other again until Li Chengjing turned sixteen.

Five to sixteen — a bit more than a full decade had passed, enough time to completely change a person. In fact, prior to the palace exam, Li Chengjing didn't even remember what the Emperor looked like.

He secretly took a glance from a distance during the examination, only to find that the Emperor looked completely different from the blurry image in his memory. He thought that the moment of reunion would bring him excitement, yearning, and joy, but found that he did not feel anything saved for a sense of relief after a long journey.

Presumably, the Emperor treated him even more so. Distant, unfamiliar, probing, but never truly close. Although the two were father and son, they were actually no closer than an ordinary monarch and subject. Naturally, he couldn't be compared to the second prince, who was raised under the Emperor's knees since childhood and truly grew up as a son.

Li Chengjing could understand why the Emperor was partial to the Second Prince and pitied Empress Yang who had accompanied him for many years. But being able to understand didn't mean he could accept it.

The Zhong family could let go of the hatred in order to have a peaceful life, but Li Chengjing couldn't.

He could never let go.

Li Chengjing silently clenched Cheng Yujin's hand. In the end, what he could do was wait patiently. As for right or wrong, win or defeat... time would show it in the end.

Cheng Yujin didn't say a word. The relationship between Li Chengjing and the Emperor was inherently fragile. After so many ups and downs, the destruction of the Yang family became a turning point that finally turned the father and son against each other. Facing such a truth, any words paled in comparison, nor did Li Chengjing need them. Instead, Cheng Yujin hugged him silently, giving him the closest comfort. The two snuggled for a while until Li Chengjing hugged Cheng Yujin horizontally and carried her into the bedchamber.

Cheng Yujin just indulged him. Humans were not made of iron and steel, and no matter how strong Li Chengjing appeared to be, he always had vulnerable times when he was in great need of comfort.

...

Having finally brought down the two great mountains of Yang Fucheng and Empress Dowager Yang, the Emperor finally tasted the true power an emperor should enjoy. For the first time since ascending the throne 25 years ago, the Emperor truly held the ultimate power in his hand, and everything must run according to his will. The Emperor was pretty much ready to show off his might, but the nasty headache greatly took a toll on his body, sapping the energy he needed to display his grand ideas.