A Major Matter

"Father, are you saying he will commit suicide?" Xu Yuan frowned. Xu Yinhe's voice was placid, certain because he had witnessed it before. "Yes." Hesitating slightly, Xu Yuan asked, "But I already promised him that I would plead with you to spare his life." Clever people were not immune to the fear of death. With his promise in hand, why would Bai Zhao still seek to die? Xu Yinhe did not answer Xu Yuan directly. Instead, he abruptly asked, "Thirty years ago, Lou Ji scattered a handful of spring seeds across the realm on my behalf. Most of those seeds withered before they could sprout, but Bai Zhao was one of the few that bore fruit. I agree with what you said earlier: the ceiling many people reach is merely the ceiling of their platform, not of their own capability. Perhaps Bai Zhao is such a man. "Yet I must ask you a question." "Ask, Father." "Who am I?" "..." Silence fell. The question seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving Xu Yuan momentarily stunned. He instinctively glanced sideways at Xu Xinyao beside him. Xu Xinyao shook her head, indicating that she did not understand their father's meaning either. After a long pause, a suspicion took shape in Xu Yuan's mind, and he answered with slight uncertainty, "The Prime Minister of Great Yan?" Xu Yinhe was very pleased with his third son's discernment. He nodded with a faint smile, then asked, "Then what kind of matter would require you to plead with me just to spare a seed I casually scattered all those years ago?" "..." Xu Yuan's pupils contracted. In an instant, he grasped his father's meaning. Whether the matter was truly grave no longer mattered. Even if the trouble were insignificant, the moment Xu Yuan spoke those words to Bai Zhao, the involvement of the Prime Minister of Great Yan's personal consent would elevate the matter infinitely in Bai Zhao's mind. More importantly, there was no way to explain it away now. Any explanation would only make things look darker and more suspicious. Xu Xinyao spoke up at that moment. "Father, Third Brother's reputation is poor. Outsiders wouldn't think he had anyone else to turn to." Even capable guards within the Chancellor's Manor looked down on Third Brother, to say nothing of high-ranking ministers wielding real authority. If Third Brother ran into trouble, he could only turn to Father or Eldest Brother. "..." Xu Yinhe did not answer her. After a long silence, Xu Changge spoke in a calm, steady tone: "Xinyao, Changtian's past is common knowledge among the people you know, but your world is only a fraction of the realm. Aside from high-ranking court officials, sect leaders, and their kin, the vast majority of people don't even know how many children Father has." "But Third Brother's exploits in the Imperial Capital..." "The Imperial Capital is vast, and the realm is vaster still. Not everyone can use communication crystals, and not everyone dares to gossip freely." "..." Xu Xinyao fell silent. With that, brother and sister ceased speaking, and quiet descended once more. After a long while, Xu Yuan slowly raised his eyes, a complex look within them. "I sent Yuan Hao to fetch him." This time, Xu Yinhe responded, "Yuan Hao will follow your orders. If he has not yet taken his own life by then, Yuan Hao will not let Bai Zhao die. But he might only die a little later." "A little later..." Xu Yuan frowned. "Doesn't that prove I've already spared him?" Xu Yinhe articulated each word with deliberate weight: "His existence would remain a thorn buried in your heart, and if he is truly clever, he cannot fail to realize this. "When a ruler suspects a subject and the subject knows it, the subject must be destroyed; if not destroyed, he will rebel." "..." Xu Yuan furrowed his brow, remaining silent. Xu Yinhe said earnestly, "However, since you have asked, I promise you that I can spare him. For if your judgment was sound, he will not choose to live." With that, a rare glimmer of complexity surfaced in the weathered Chancellor's hawk-like eyes. "Changtian, perhaps right now you think this is harmless. Bai Zhao's cultivation is low, so house arrest or surveillance could solve the issue. But once you truly understand our current predicament and the enemies we must face, you will realize that there are many things you have no choice but to do, and many people you have no choice but to kill." "..." Watching the rare emotion flit across his usually impassive father's face, Xu Changge slightly lowered his narrow eyes. In the years since Chang'an's death, as he was introduced to past affairs, he learned that their father had slain many of his closest friends from his youth. After a brief pause, Xu Yinhe's expression returned to its usual composure, and he offered a gentle smile. "Enough, Changtian. You still have time to consider. If you wish to walk this path, remember what I tell you now: "From here on, your every move will affect the lives of many, and you will face countless dilemmas. "I hope that by the time you return to the Imperial Capital, you can give me a definitive answer." "..." Xu Yuan did not reply, his eyes downcast in contemplation. Xu Yinhe smiled, his tone softening as he asked, "Now that the minor issue is resolved, what was that major matter you mentioned?" A major matter... Xu Yuan felt a chill in his heart upon hearing those words. He looked up at Xu Xinyao. "Xinyao, step outside for a moment." With that, he began ushering his somewhat surprised and reluctant fourth sister toward the door of the secret chamber. "..." Xu Xinyao said nothing. Hearing this, the father and son inside the carriage exchanged a glance. Xu Changge raised an eyebrow, then chuckled knowingly. Xinyao had been sheltered too well and saw everything with too much innocence. It seemed their third brother had something of great importance to say... "Xu Changge, don't just sit there. You too." "..." Xu Changge fell silent. Just then, Xu Yinhe spoke up, "Changtian, what could be so secretive?" These words served to halt Xu Yuan's attempt to clear the room. Seeing this, Xu Yuan stopped nudging Xu Xinyao and said simply, "I want to ask you a question, Father. This question will determine my answer to what you asked earlier—whether I will walk the path you've laid out for me." Xu Yinhe fell silent for a moment before replying, "No matter. You may ask directly." "..." Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes in slight confusion, but he quickly deduced his father's intention. It seemed like a display of trust toward Xu Changge and Xu Xinyao, but in truth, it was meant to thoroughly extinguish any ambitions they might harbor. Even if Xu Changge and Xu Xinyao had never entertained such thoughts, Xu Yinhe had to take this measure. The Chancellor's Manor was too immense and wielded far too much power. Once a successor was chosen, all competing hopes from others had to be completely eradicated. Both Xu Changge and Xu Xinyao possessed staunch supporters among the upper echelons of the Chancellor's Manor. Behind Xu Xinyao stood a faction of moderates; at the very least, Jiang He, the head of the Gewu Academy, would firmly support her. Xu Changge was backed by the martial apprentices who advocated for military expansion; though they might find Xu Changge's temperament abrasive, they would undoubtedly admire his iron-fisted methods. Still, could the question he was about to ask truly be revealed to Xu Xinyao and Xu Changge right now? After a brief hesitation, Xu Yuan sought confirmation. "Are you certain, Father?" Xu Yinhe replied, "Ask." Xu Yuan patted Xu Xinyao's head to reassure her, then turned his gaze back toward the crystal. After weighing his words for a moment, he chose to be blunt: "Father... "How much longer do you have to live?"