Chapter 0012: The Pampered Second Prince and the Master of Feigned Incompetence Xie Chengze

“Alright, speak. Why have you come?” After clearing the board in defeat, Emperor Jian lifted his sleeve and resignedly began picking up the chess pieces.

“I heard Your Majesty intends to send Shen Shilang to Yi Province. I wish to go as well.” Xie Chengze stated his purpose directly.

“Oh?” Emperor Jian didn’t look up, continuing to collect the pieces. “Yi Province is remote. You’ve never left the capital since childhood and likely don’t know the world outside isn’t as prosperous and harmonious as Jingcheng…”

Before the Jian’an Dynasty, countless dynasties had fallen, mostly because natural disasters and heavy taxes made life miserable for the people. During severe famines, some even reached the point of selling their children. Desperate masses would rise in rebellion, ultimately causing these corrupt dynasties to collapse.

The previous emperor had been a beggar himself. After ascending the throne, he learned from the fallen dynasties’ experiences and worked diligently for the people’s welfare.

But the Jian’an Dynasty’s territory was simply too vast – so vast that the emperor’s authority couldn’t reach everywhere, so vast that the empty national treasury couldn’t possibly benefit all citizens. The massive lion was already hungry and emaciated, yet the storm continued to rage, the snow kept falling, and greedy hyenas watched eagerly from the sidelines. The young lion cubs remained in their swaddling clothes, unaware of the approaching storm and impending death.

While the mighty lion could still intimidate those hyenas, it couldn’t withstand nature’s deliberate harassment. Emperor Jian knew very well that the Minister of Revenue was right – if they didn’t improve the Min River’s Jiangdi soon, Yi Province might truly gradually become wasteland in the future. And once the precedent of abandoning a city was set, officials everywhere would follow suit. Hyenas would seize the opportunity, and the Jian’an Dynasty would embark on the path to self-destruction, ceasing to exist.

The Yi Province matter must succeed! Even if it takes ten or five years, it must never become an abandoned city!

Currently, the best solution would be for someone in the empire to devise a method to completely resolve the Min River’s flooding disasters, allowing the ten million acres of fertile land in the Jiangdu Plain to become cultivable farmland. This would provide abundant grain for the entire southern region, fill the imperial treasury, subsequently benefit the impoverished northern areas, and allow the Jian’an Dynasty to survive another five hundred years!

“Chengze, the Yi Province matter only permits success, not failure. You’ve never experienced hardship – I can’t feel at ease sending you.” After finishing with the chess pieces, Emperor Jian finally looked up and gazed deeply at Xie Chengze.

This second son of his had been intelligent and studious in childhood, respectful to his elder brother and affectionate toward his younger brother. He just didn’t know why the boy had suddenly gone astray.

He had wondered whether the advisors in Ze’er’s residence were too foolish and had corrupted him, and considered whether to forcefully eliminate them. But he worried that Ze’er was too clever and might actually obstruct the Crown Prince’s path, so he hadn’t acted against them.

Yet Ze’er’s recent behavior suggested he had regained his senses. He had sent people to investigate secretly, but learned that Cheng Huan Palace hadn’t acquired any new advisors recently.

It seemed that intelligent Ze’er had suddenly returned.

So could he feel assured about sending Chengze south to Yi Province?

Emperor Jian couldn’t decide.

Xie Chengze stood up and bowed. “Father Emperor, I know my past actions appear quite foolish, but…”

He glanced at Emperor Jian, his voice firm and resolute. “The Crown Prince has now been tempered into form. I, this whetstone, should transform into the Crown Prince’s aid, adding bricks and tiles to the Jian’an Dynasty, and clearing out the corrupt officials.”

Emperor Jian was taken aback, never expecting him to say this, “Chengze, could it be that you already knew…”

Xie Chengze bowed slightly, offering no response.

“Do you resent your father?” Emperor Jian secretly glanced at Xie Chengze’s expression, astonished that Chengze had long recognized how he was being used to temper the Crown Prince.

“Father has always doted on me. If I were unwilling, would you force me?” Xie Chengze smiled faintly. “Whether for Father, for Third Brother, or for the Jian’an Dynasty, I am willing to become a whetstone. Losing some face is a small price to pay—it’s worth it.”

“So, when did you find out?” Emperor Jian sighed with emotion.

“I’ve known for a long time,” Xie Chengze replied with a vague answer.

So he had known all along.

No wonder—this son of his was clearly brilliant, so how could he have suddenly become foolish? It turned out he had been deliberately hiding his talents these years, all to help the Crown Prince grow faster…

Now, with his sudden withdrawal from court affairs, it seemed he believed the time was ripe to shift his role and assist the Crown Prince.

And he, as a father, had failed to see his son’s painstaking efforts, instead taking advantage of him without a second thought…

Emperor Jian tightly grasped Xie Chengze’s hands, his face filled with heartache and guilt. “My child, you’ve suffered. Your father has wronged you.”

Seeing Emperor Jian’s expression, Xie Chengze knew he had successfully deceived another person.

But he couldn’t help wondering: was he too naive and self-righteous, or were Emperor Jian and the Crown Prince just too easy to fool? How could they believe his whitewashing words?

Are villains really this easy to redeem?

As Xie Chengze pondered this, Emperor Jian exclaimed excitedly, “Ze’er, go to Yi Province with confidence! I grant you the Shangfang Baojian, with the authority to act first and report later!”

Xie Chengze: ?

Is this for real?

Xie Zimiao hurried over from the side. “Father, I want to go too!”

Emperor Jian waved his hand grandly. “Granted!”

Xie Chengze turned his head: ?

What? Are you joking? When I said I wanted to go, you hesitated, but when Xie Zimiao asks, you agree without a second thought?

And, don’t you want to reconsider? This isn’t a pleasure trip—bringing Xie Zimiao to Yi Province is like taking on extra deadweight—Father? Father, don’t run away—?!

Father!!!

—

The next day, the emperor appointed Shen Yuan as Shumishi, ordering him to head south to Yi Province with the Second Prince and Fourth Prince to oversee disaster relief. The court officials buzzed with discussion, but Emperor Jian made the final decision, settling the matter.

Outside the city gate, Xie Jinyu looked worried as he saw them off. “Second Brother, let me assign you some men. During a famine, bandits run rampant—more people mean more safety.”

Xie Chengze nodded. “Alright.”

Xie Jinyu was taken aback, not yet accustomed to Xie Chengze’s straightforward agreement. After all, in the past, Second Brother was always wary of his men attempting assassination and would never allow them near him.

Fearing a change of heart, Xie Jinyu quickly added a few skilled subordinates to the convoy. “Second Brother, they’re all excellent fighters, tough and hardworking. Feel free to command them as you wish.”

Then, turning to Shen Yuan beside him, his previously warm expression vanished, replaced by stern seriousness. “Remember to protect Second Brother at all costs. His life is far more valuable than yours.”

Shen Yuan: “…Understood. I am well aware.”

Xie Chengze leaned out from the carriage, watching with schadenfreude: Tsk tsk, such a loyal employee betrayed by his boss. Oh, Xiao Yuanyuan, how pitiful you are!

Never mind~ If the Crown Prince doesn’t cherish you, your brother Chengze will take good care of you on the journey~

The carriage procession to Yi Province finally set off in grand formation.