Tricking the Landlord's Foolish Son

Qingxian Hall

After seven busy days, Master Di Xin finally sat down beside the documents. Neatly arranged on the desk were all the memorial reports from the feudal lords over the past seven days.

That's right, only from the feudal lords.

To avoid being disturbed by Shang Rong in his pursuit of elegance, Di Xin had already assigned the reports from Chaoge locals to Shang Rong, leaving only the reports from these eight hundred feudal lords here.

This era was not yet one of centralized power. The eight hundred feudal lords governed themselves independently. The reports from Chaoge were merely a formality; even if approved, the feudal lords wouldn't honestly implement them, unless... it was time for the Human King to take the blame.

"I just wanted to slack off, but I didn't expect to catch so many big fish."

Di Xin stretched, looking at Fei Zhong's latest "little report." A faction of over ten feudal lords, led by the three great marquises, had already begun to act.

"Attacking the Star-Gathering Pavilion, and using the excuse of abusing virtuous officials instead of wasting labor and money—they've truly positioned themselves on the moral high ground. There are capable people among them.

Kong Xuan actually pulled Wen Zhong away. It seems they plan to use the Intercepting Sect as a breakthrough. If they can bring Huo Ling Shengmu, the third-generation chief disciple of the Intercepting Sect, into the Star-Gathering Pavilion, then the Intercepting Sect will be bound to my Yin Shang once more. Well done! This kingship wasn't bestowed in vain!

Su Hu's daughter, Daji. Is she trying to stir up public opinion and pressure Su Hu into making a choice? Then, should I help him a bit more? The nuance is difficult to grasp, it seems Fei Zhong has more work to do."

Tossing Fei Zhong's report aside, Di Xin instructed the attendant to announce that court would be held tomorrow before intending to return to Shou Xian Palace. Unexpectedly, before he could rise, his adopted son Yin Jiao had already arrived before the jade desk.

"Your son greets Father King."

Yin Jiao looked up, his face filled with anger, his white teeth grinding audically, as if he had made a momentous decision:

"Your son requests Father King to hold court tomorrow."

Di Xin's expression was slightly playful. He didn't speak, just calmly watched his adopted son.

Yin Jiao felt a pang of unease under Di Xin's gaze, but he remembered the instructions of his Mother Queen, Empress Jiang. Clenching his fists, he spoke again:

"I implore Father King to prioritize matters of state, and not, not..."

Yin Jiao gritted his teeth. The word "bitch" lingered on his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Enough, you may go."

Di Xin raised his hand to summon the attendant. After a moment's thought, he said:

"Issue an order to all imperial consorts in the harem, including the Queen, except for Consort Su and Consort Huang, to all go to Nuwa Palace to offer incense for one month. They are not permitted to return until the time is up. If they do not offer incense devoutly, they are not permitted to return. The incense offering for one month must be done according to standards. Those who violate this will be banished to the cold palace."

Consort Huang is Huang Feihu's younger sister. She and Madam Yin were close friends in their youth. After Jin Zha and Mu Zha were taken away by Guang Chengzi, Di Xin had Consort Huang accompany Madam Yin. Nowadays, she rarely appears in the deep palace.

"Yes!"

The attendant was stunned for a moment, then quickly accepted the decree and withdrew.

"Wait!"

Yin Jiao was shocked and quickly stood up, blocking the attendant's path. Like a young tiger, he glared angrily at Di Xin:

"Father King, what are you doing! My younger brother has been abducted, and you want me to lose my mother as well? Could it be, could it be that you've truly been bewitched by that bitch Daji, as those concubines say!"

Di Xin suddenly stood up and strode over to Yin Jiao in three quick steps. He bent down and looked down at the young tiger he had raised:

"Do you know what you are saying?"

"Your son naturally knows! My second brother was abducted, and Father King claims someone took him as a disciple, calling it a good thing! Good! I consider it a good thing. I can bury myself in diligent study and cultivation, just to one day flatten that damned immortal mountain and bring back my second brother!

But what have you done! You turned around and started taking concubines! Not only have you neglected state affairs, but you also want to drive my Mother Queen out of the imperial palace. Will the next step be to depose me, the Crown Prince! Then why did you bother enfeoffing me some time ago?

Why not just drive my mother and me out of the palace and demote us to slaves then? That would have at least spared our lives!"

This was the first time Yin Jiao had revealed his true feelings to Di Xin. He had experienced too much and thought too much these past few days, and lost too much.

"You go and deliver the order first."

Di Xin waved his hand. The attendant bowed his head in acknowledgment and quickly departed, a look of relief on his face. After exiting the hall, he even closed the large door behind him, sealing it tightly.

Only Di Xin and Yin Jiao remained in the hall. Di Xin then bent down, his gaze level with Yin Jiao's. As their eyes met, Di Xin suddenly burst into laughter:

"Hahaha! Jiao'er, if you hadn't said those words later, then I, your Father King, would have been truly disappointed in you."

"Fa... Father King?"

Yin Jiao stiffened, his anger turning to confusion. Di Xin reached out, took Yin Jiao's right hand, and pulled him to the jade desk:

"Look at these memorial reports."

"This?"

Yin Jiao looked up blankly. Seeing Di Xin's encouraging gaze, he hesitantly lowered his head and slowly flipped through the reports.

"Huh? These are all reports from the feudal lords, Father King, what is this?"

Di Xin smiled but did not answer Yin Jiao's question. Instead, he shifted the topic back to Yin Jiao's earlier words:

"You and Hong'er are both my sons. Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs, let alone a human?

It's just that you two have great tribulations in your destinies. If I don't do this, neither of you will live past twenty. Otherwise, why would I have been in such a hurry to make you Crown Prince? It was all to help you increase your Destiny and live stably!

However, there can only be one person as Crown Prince. So, I deliberately let Guang Chengzi take away your brother and the others. When the opportune moment arrives, you will naturally reunite with Hong'er, and then you will know that what I said is not false."

"Father King, I..."

Yin Jiao's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Guilt surged in his heart, and he felt as if something was blocking his chest. He wanted to apologize, but Di Xin took his words away:

"You don't need to say it, I already know that you came to Qingxian Hall to find me today at the instigation of your Mother Queen and the others."

"My Mother Queen didn't, it was..."

"Just listen to me first. You need to understand that you are the Crown Prince of Yin Shang. You must have your own judgment, your own understanding of matters, and your own convictions.

Although your Mother Queen loves and spoils you, she doesn't know what's truly best for you. For instance, this time, she was somewhat seeking justice for herself, unaware of how greatly her actions would impact you.

Moreover, your Mother Queen is a direct descendant of the Jiang clan first, and only then the Queen of Yin Shang. At times, she might think she's helping your maternal uncles and grandfather, but she doesn't realize she's harming your interests.

She needs to calm down and first recognize what she needs to do going forward, so she doesn't end up harming you under the guise of 'doing what's best for you.'"

"Mother Queen wouldn't harm me!"

"Yes, she genuinely believes she's helping you, but in reality, she's harming you, like this time. Jiao'er, travel more, see more, speak less, and do less. The more you do in your position, the more mistakes you'll make."

Di Xin patted Yin Jiao's shoulder and stood up, heading towards Shou Xian Palace.

"Remember to accompany your Father King to court tomorrow."

The foolish son of the landlord is getting harder to fool