Li Hong Yi, because was told he was stupid by his own mother, nearly retorted with ‘you’re still the one that gave birth to me’, but ultimately wasn’t able to say it. He had anger but nowhere to vent it. Now, seeing her still lost in thought, completely not taking him seriously, Li Hong Yi didn’t know what kind of response he should make either. Perhaps it was precisely because he was stupid and easy to control that he was able to nicely live until now. If he was a little smarter, and didn’t obediently be the pawn in her hand, she naturally was capable of mercilessly abandoning him. Perhaps, she might even be able to use him to scheme against Noble Consort Su once, and then adopt another that would obediently obey her.
Li Hong Yi thought to himself that he was actually smart for once, but the conclusion he got was nevertheless this depressing.
“Yi Lin’s attitude this time was also somewhat strange.”
It certainly was very strange. From the beginning to the end, Sun Yi Lin was all very quiet and calm. Aside from bluntly narrating the course of events, he didn’t say another word on anything else, not even commenting on others’ right or wrong. Even when facing Le Cheng Emperor together with the others, he was also like this. He didn’t have the angry resentment from the humiliation, nor forcibly pretend to be calm and composed.
The Ding Duke wanted him, as the victim, to ask Le Cheng Emperor to seek justice for him, and must demand for justice.
Sun Yi Lin however only stared at him momentarily, and then said, “Actually, I’m not father’s son, right? Else, why have you not even once considered for me before?”
“Bastard, what are you saying?!” The Ding Duke didn’t know whether he was angry because he was disobeyed, or was just using anger from the humiliation to cover up himself because he had his thoughts pinpointed by Sun Yi Lin and felt guilty towards this son.
“Is that not the case? Father clearly feels that I’ve not lost enough face. Do I have to endlessly weep like a woman and throw a tantrum for you to finally be satisfied? That good eldest brother of mine is probably eager for me to really do as Jin Qinwang desires, entering the Jin Qinwang Manor together with younger sister, from then on thoroughly ridding himself of me, this obstacle.”
“How can you think that of your eldest brother? When you were little, how well he treated you, do you not know?”
“You also say ‘when I was little’. If not for that bit of affection during childhood, would I have continuously endured until now? Father, what all he’s done before, and how many were tacitly permitted by you, I won’t bother to list one by one, so as to avoid letting even that last bit of familial affection get completely severed. What you all are doing, I don’t care, but what I do, you all best not meddle in either.”
Although the relationship between the Ding Duke and Sun Yi Lin was thin, Sun Yi Lin still never contradicted him before. Suddenly having such a turn of events, the Ding Duke only felt his dignity as a father severely getting provoked. “You unfilial son, overturning the heavens, are you?” At the same time, he swiped his palm over.
But, Sun Yi Lin really was overturning the heavens and grabbed the Ding Duke’s hand at once, “Even if I overturn the heavens, that is still forced by you all.”
“You unfilial son, unfilial son, you still dare to get physical with your old man? Think this old man won’t have you expelled from the family?”
Sun Yi Lin coldly laughed, “At White Dragon Temple, I let mother bring you a few words, but clearly she didn’t tell you. Why don’t father go ask. Once you’ve asked clearly, you can then come decide how to deal with me. If you really want to have me expelled from the family, and if I were to even crease my brows once at this, once out of the Ding Duke Manor’s gates, I will die without a place of burial[1]. But before that, I will inevitably want to nicely compete with that good eldest brother of mine, might as well let me properly see, with eldest brother working for this many years, and also with your assistance, just exactly how much his abilities are worth.” After flinging aside the Ding Duke’s hand, Sun Yi Lin turned around and walked away in large strides.
Ding Duke watched Sun Yi Lin’s retreating figure, and just like the Ding Duchess at the White Dragon Temple that time, he was somewhat baffled. When did this son become this unyielding? However, that ruthless manner rather made him more like someone truly of the Sun family, just why did this attitude of his have to be towards the inside and not the outside.
The Ding Duke also couldn’t help but reflect, did he really make a mistake? He was also aware that he was guilty towards this son, and also admit that this son was more outstanding than his eldest di son. It’s not that he’s never hesitated before, but he was very clear, ‘one mountain can’t allow for two tigers’. Everything he did was for the sake of the Ding Duke Manor. If this son was the eldest di son, then there wouldn’t be any problems. Unfortunately, there weren’t that many ‘ifs’ in this world.
Expelling him from the family was naturally just said in the moment of anger. If he really did that, don’t know how many people would laugh at him, and also people such as his old mother and his Empress younger sister would definitely peel him alive. Not only so, if he really were to dare do that, as soon as that son of his steps out of the gates, he can immediately be admitted into another family with the treatment as an honored guest. How stupid would he need to be to do something this detrimental to himself to benefit others?
However, since his wife had important matters kept from him, he must go ask clearly right away. If he doesn’t go learn a little more about this son that he thought he’d understood very well, but in actuality didn’t understand in the slightest, he would only be increasingly at a disadvantage, and increasingly lose his dignity as a father.
Leaving aside how the Ding Duke quarreled and disputed with his wife, Sun Yi Lin also freely allowed Li Hong Yuan to continue speaking nonsense, asserting that the relationship between them was very ‘special’. In any case, once Li Hong Yuan had enough, this matter would probably also more or less be finished with.
Thus such days like these went by, yet Le Cheng Emperor from beginning to end treated Li Hong Yuan in an amiable manner. In the end, he even said, “Yuan’er, just directly tell imperial father, what exactly do you want? If you truly want a male side consort, imperial father will also grant your wish.”
“Your Majesty……..” Not just one person anxiously opened their mouth, wanting to dissuade him.
“Shut up, this emperor didn’t ask you all.” The gentle like a spring breeze instantly turned cold like winter ice. This kind of Le Cheng Emperor, only a few have seen before twenty some years ago.
Even if he was a rather gentle-natured Emperor, as long as he held power in his grasp, and as long as he was the genuine heavenly son, when he decided on something, no one can stop him. This was the so called, ‘thunder or rain, all were the grace of the ruler’[2].
Li Hong Yuan was expressionless. In his past life, this imperial father of his wasn’t this indulgent towards him. In fact, he was very cold and indifferent. Aside from because he wasn’t an asshole, it was also because of the exceptional talent he displayed in his past life. That’s right, very early on, Li Hong Yuan was already aware, the more shameful he acted, the more and the messier the troubles he stirs up, the better this imperial father of his would treat him.
In his past life, he ultimately was able to learn from Noble Consort Su, who he imprisoned, matters regarding his birth mother. It wasn’t anything strange either. This imperial father of his wanted to compensate him, yet didn’t have the guts to do to the extreme. When all is said and done, in his eyes, it was still the throne that was more important. Thus, he could only use this kind of pampering and indulgence to compensate.
In any case, he’d already achieved his goal anyways. “This son merely just saw eldest imperial brother looking like he wanted to eat this son alive, and wanted to anger him, that’s all. As for this male side consort, there’s no need for this son to come set the precedence.”
Le Cheng Emperor nodded, expressing that he understood. ———No matter how much others said, he neither listened nor believed. If his son wanted to wait, then he’ll also just wait like this. Now, with just a word from Li Hong Yuan, he believed it all, thus the matter was also over with.
Le Cheng Emperor then gently consoled this son for a while, even saying it was Li Hong Yi’s fault as the elder brother and to let him apologize to Li Hong Yuan later. Afterwards, recalling that Li Hong Yuan still had injuries that have yet to fully recover on his body, he had him quickly return to recuperate.
The next day, an enormous reward, along with the compensation because of the previous Sun Yi Jia’s matter, were bestowed down. Good things entered the Jin Qinwang Manor like flowing water. Could it be that Le Cheng Emperor had all the good things in his personal storage emptied out?
It just so happens when the bestowment reached the Jin Qinwang Manor, it was also the same time when the drunken Sun Yi Lin was sent back to the Ding Duke Manor. No matter what, Sun Yi Lin was still the victim, so Le Cheng Emperor also bestowed him quite a few things, letting the inner attendants leave word, stating that it was all that bastard son of his’s fault, Sun Yi Lin in the future should just carry on as usual, and that Le Cheng Emperor definitely didn’t hold any ill-feelings towards him either.
Li Hong Yi also got injured after all, so Le Cheng Emperor also showed some concern, but Le Cheng Emperor’s consoling towards him was one thing, him attacking his younger brother as the elder brother was a separate matter altogether, and he must apologize and make up for it.
Li Hong Yi, who’d already been sent back to the Kang Qinwang Manor, nearly exploded from anger. Although it wasn’t exactly the same as what his imperial mother said, but it was still mostly the same. Despite already knowing there would be this possibility, when it fell on his head, he still hated so much, so much, so much! If not for someone stopping him, he would’ve even smashed all the things Le Cheng Emperor bestowed.
Li Hong Yuan threw aside the three essays, and shortly after, came out to receive his bestowment.
[1] Because funeral rites are a big deal, to die without a proper burial in ancient times means the soul will be unable to move on into afterlife and reincarnate.
[2] Basically meaning whether it was punishment(thunder) or favor(rain), it was all considered an honor from the emperor.
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