Wen Chenghuan stroked his beard. "Neither Quan Dean nor Ji Feihua is a simple man. I always feel that His Majesty must have some weakness in Ji Feihua's grasp. Otherwise, why would the fellow dare act so brazenly?" His brows knitted tightly. This question had long baffled him, however much he pondered it.
Wen Boyuan said, "Father, I heard His Majesty sent Hu Xiaotian to the Purple Orchid Palace to serve as its chief steward?"
Wen Chenghuan nodded slowly, fixing his gaze on his son's eyes until the young man lowered his head guiltily. Only then did he ask quietly, "Boyuan, are you still thinking of her?"
Wen Boyuan pressed his lips together. He felt as though his father's gaze had pierced into the depths of his heart, leaving his true thoughts nowhere to hide. His eyes darted aside before he said softly, "Father, I have thought it through. A man making his way in the world must set his sights far ahead. How could I lose myself in romantic attachments?"
Wen Chenghuan rose and walked slowly to his son's side, lifting a hand to pat his shoulder gently. "Your father knows what you truly think." No one knew a son better than his father. His son had been deeply devoted to Princess Anping. Back when the Retired Emperor Long Xuan'en was still alive, he had already wanted to ask for her hand, and Wen Chenghuan had supported the idea then. But times had changed. Now Long Xuan'en had become the Retired Emperor. Although his title still contained the word "emperor," in reality Long Yelin had placed him under house arrest on Misty Mountain, surrounded by water on all sides. Although Princess Anping was Long Yelin's half sister, her status had long since lost its former splendor. Otherwise, she would