Chapter Sixty-Nine: Open and Hidden Rivalry Between Father and Son

At the Dai Residence, the two sandalwood doors stood wide open. Dai Huang, clad in a purple robe, stopped pacing and cast a cold glance at the black-clad figure kneeling before him. "Are you certain of what you saw?"

"Absolutely," the man replied with a firm nod. "She personally hung the token around the girl's neck."

"Go, then," Dai Huang ordered with a wave of his hand. The black-clad man rose swiftly and vanished.

"So, it's a girl?" Dai Huang folded his hands behind his back, pondering aloud.

Outside the door, the sound of scattered footsteps approached. Dai Huang looked up to see Dai Yuheng in blue robes walking alongside the Chief Commander of the Imperial Guards, Ji, both making their way toward him.

Before they entered, a voice floated in, "The spies are running in and out again. Father, have you gained any new information?"

"A little," Dai Huang replied with unusual candor, evidently trusting these two completely. "A spy surveilling the General’s Manor just reported that Dayin has found her long-lost child."

"So the rumors are true?" Dai Yuheng entered, shaking out his robe before sitting on a sandalwood chair and looking at Dai Huang. "Dayin really gave birth to a royal prince?"

Dai Huang shook his head with a cold laugh. "She gave birth, yes, but not to a prince—a princess."

Dai Yuheng's face showed surprise, and Ji, who had just stepped inside and habitually stood behind him, also looked puzzled upon hearing this.

"The Central Palace has never passed the throne to a princess. Since it's a girl, we don't have much to worry about," Dai Yuheng said, his tone relaxed.

But Dai Huang did not share his complacency. "The Emperor of Tianjue favors Dayin so much. He’s even changed the military system for her, called upon women from the common folk to join the army, and now appointed a female commander. He keeps raising women's status again and again. Who can guarantee he won't one day do something even more outrageous—like establishing a female sovereign?"

Dai Yuheng paused, then nodded. "That's true."

"Speaking of which," Dai Huang turned to him with a grunt, "You once repeatedly advised me not to throw Dayin's associates into prison, claiming they were promising talents we could win over. Now, her rank has risen, and your lobbying is done—did it work?"

Dai Yuheng forced a dry smile, unfazed. "Such matters can't be rushed. Coercion, temptation with riches and office—everyone is susceptible to these things. If someone isn’t, then patience is required. Once such a person yields, their loyalty is unwavering. Don't you agree?"

Hearing this, Dai Huang found reason in his words and dropped the subject.

"She holds Tianlang in her hands, and now she's found her daughter. What exactly is Dayin planning?" Dai Huang mused.

Dai Yuheng's eyes glinted. "Perhaps, from the start, she led us down the wrong path."

"How so?" Dai Huang asked, intrigued.

"Think, Father. When Dayin searched for Tianlang, she made herself conspicuous, repeatedly leaking information to our spies, letting us know the Emperor’s illegitimate son was at the General’s Manor. She wanted us to focus on Tianlang..."

Dai Huang listened intently. "Go on."

"I found it strange from the beginning. Dayin is always cautious, never openly opposing us. But this time, over the illegitimate son, she caused an uproar throughout the city—even the commoners are discussing Tianlang. That’s not her usual style. There could only be one motive for such conduct: to use Tianlang as a cover for another secret plan."

Dai Huang began to understand. "Could her true plan be searching for her daughter?"

"As things have unfolded, it seems so," Dai Yuheng nodded. "She likely feared we'd find out and acted preemptively, using Tianlang as a decoy. Such cunning! A clever woman—she knows that if the princess fell into our hands, she’d become a threat to the throne."

"A pity," Dai Yuheng sighed with deliberate regret. "If we could capture the princess, at worst we would frustrate Dayin and the Emperor; at best, we could throw the court into chaos!"

"Throw the court into chaos?" Dai Huang was visibly moved, his eyes fixed on Dai Yuheng. "Are you saying that such a young princess could threaten the throne, even force the Emperor to abdicate?"

Dai Yuheng smiled slightly. "We might not go that far, but at the very least, it would shake the officials’ confidence in the Emperor and unsettle the people of the Central Palace."

"You have a point. Who would have thought a mere princess could wield such influence?" Dai Huang threw back his head and laughed, arrogance emanating from him. "Dayin, for all your scheming, you’ve still lost to me!"

Dai Yuheng merely smiled in silence.

At that moment, Ji spoke up. "Master, the Emperor of Tianjue has ordered me to investigate the mastermind behind the attack on Dayin. How should we handle this?"

Dai Huang waved his sleeve dismissively. "Just tell him you found nothing. Let time pass, and his interest will wane."

Ji’s brows knitted; his lips moved as if to speak, but he held back.

Dai Yuheng glanced at his father and smiled faintly. "You’re wrong about that; such handling is absolutely inadvisable."

Dai Huang raised an eyebrow at him. Dai Yuheng avoided his piercing gaze, looking instead at the sandalwood chair behind him. "First, if the Chief Commander responds in that way, he’ll likely be punished or demoted. Second, since the victim is the Emperor’s cherished woman, he will not simply let the matter drop. We must give him an answer."

Dai Huang snorted. "And what answer would you suggest?"

This time, Dai Yuheng met his gaze directly, speaking evenly. "Take this opportunity to root out those who are usually indecisive or wavering, and at the same time, send a warning to the fence-sitters."

Dai Huang immediately understood, his stern face relaxing into a sly smile. "Excellent plan! Excellent!"

Dai Yuheng’s lips curled slightly, though his eyes remained calm and unreadable.

After his laughter, Dai Huang approached him, speaking with complex emotion, "My son, you are clever and resourceful—one day, you’ll surpass your father. What am I to do with you then?"

For a fleeting moment, Dai Yuheng’s body tensed almost imperceptibly—a nuance not missed by Ji, who stood behind him. The moment passed, and Dai Yuheng returned to calm, his face serene as still water. But Dai Huang’s gaze remained fixed on him—not the eyes of a father, but a maelstrom of emotions, with hints of jealousy and malice.

Suddenly, Dai Yuheng stood and declared, "I just recalled—I left the palace in haste without reporting to the Emperor. Fearing he might summon me, I must take my leave, Father."

Dai Huang quickly masked his strange expression and waved him away.

Dai Yuheng bowed and withdrew.

Upon leaving the residence, Ji, who had silently followed him, could no longer contain himself. "Young master, your father..."

Dai Yuheng sighed. "Lately, it’s becoming more obvious..."

He offered a bitter smile. "I made a grave mistake. A man like my father is never without his own agenda. He must have already made up his mind about these matters and was only testing me. And I, foolishly, stepped right into his trap."

Ji was silent for a moment before responding, "Perhaps it’s not entirely so. The master is getting on in years; maybe he truly needs to rely on you for some things, but he just can’t admit it."

"My father is indeed aging," Dai Yuheng replied coldly. "He’s grown overconfident, underestimates the Emperor, and imagines he can supplant him. He’s digging his own grave. He thinks the Emperor is still the gullible boy he could manipulate. Just wait—if he moves against the princess, the two of them will be ruined together! Then we’ll see how things end!"

The chill in Dai Yuheng’s voice sent a shiver down Ji’s spine. So the advice Dai Yuheng gave Dai Huang was laced with a hidden malice. This father and son, locked in mutual resentment and scheming—who would triumph in the end?

Leaving aside the sinister plots at the Dai Residence, the General’s Manor was filled with an air of celebration.

Dayin, undisturbed by her loss of official rank, ordered a lavish banquet and specially invited Tianlang from the cellar, showing no hesitation as they all sat together at the table.

Kaiming and Spoon, after being tidied up by Xiaowan, sat properly at the table. Dayin took her seat with Xiaowan on her left and Tianlang on her right. Dressed anew in red, she looked as radiant as a blossom—truly worthy of her reputation.

Tianlang, however, seemed ill at ease and rather reserved.

Kaiming eyed them curiously. Since Dayin returned, she seemed unconcerned about appearances, casually letting Tianlang out despite all the prying eyes in the General’s Manor—who knew how many spies might lurk? Was she not afraid?

But then she thought, Dayin’s mind always worked in more convoluted ways than her own. Why worry? Living well in the General’s Manor was enough; if things ever went badly, she could simply leave. The thought eased her mind considerably.

Dayin beckoned to everyone, "Do help yourselves!" She herself enthusiastically filled Xiaowan's plate with delicacies.

Spoon pouted and whispered to Kaiming, "Why does she only serve food to Little Sister and not to us?"

Kaiming chuckled. "You want something? Here, let me serve you." She placed a few succulent chicken wings and prawns in his bowl.

Spoon grinned broadly. "Thank you, Mama!" He immediately reached for his bowl with all five fingers.

"Don’t eat with your hands, mind your manners," Kaiming chided, lightly tapping his hand with her chopsticks. Spoon quickly fumbled for his slippery chopsticks.

Suddenly, Kaiming felt an icy gaze upon her. She looked up instinctively and met Dayin’s eyes across the table. Her heart tightened. Why was Dayin looking at her like that?

The strange look in Dayin’s eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by her usual warm smile. "Don’t just fuss over the children—eat something yourself!"

Kaiming replied awkwardly. After that piercing look, she felt as if doused in cold water; her appetite vanished, and the food in her mouth tasted like wax.

Beside Dayin, Tianlang also seemed ill at ease in such a warm, familial setting, simply watching the others and barely touching his food. He wore a fresh, plain robe today and looked delicate, though his face remained pale.

Kaiming found this meal unbearably stifling.

To be continued...