Chapter 60 (2/2)

‘Why did you deceive me?’ the emperor asked.

Pei Jin knelt in front of his father. ‘Imperial father, I wouldn’t dare to deceive you.’

‘Don’t dare?’ the emperor asked. ‘You’ve already dared and you can still say you don’t dare! Can you say that you don’t know your wife is pregnant more than three months?’

Pei Jin silently lowered his head.

‘Why did you deceive me?’ the emperor asked.

‘Because I want to protect imperial father’s grandson,’ Pei Jin said.

‘What are you implying?’ the emperor asked.

‘Imperial father, I only want to live a peaceful life but while I’m alive I need to be cautious,’ Pei Jin said.

The emperor understood Pei Jin’s words. He didn’t know who saw Pei Jin as an eyesore until he remembered the commotion at the palace and suspected who those people were.

‘Who do you need to be cautious of?’ the emperor asked.

‘Imperial father, I don’t know who,’ Pei Jin said.

‘You dare say you don’t know!’ the emperor said.

‘Imperial father, don’t be angry,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Imperial father, I truly don’t know. I was scared since the harvest festival incident. The person behind it still hasn’t been caught.’

The emperor was still troubled about who dared to send assassins into the palace. If he was in Pei Jin’s position then he would be worried about others finding out Yan Shi Ning’s pregnancy too.

‘You can stand and talk,’ the emperor said.

‘Thank you imperial father,’ Pei Jin said.

‘Ninth son, what are you hiding from me?’ the emperor asked.

‘Imperial father, I wouldn’t dare,’ Pei Jin said.

The emperor didn’t believe Pei Jin. But he knew if he forced Pei Jin to tell him what Pei Jin was hiding, Pei Jin would give him a reasonable explanation. He wasn’t certain if Pei Jin was satisfied to be a carefree prince.

‘Ninth son, did you know earlier many court officials recommended you to be the crown prince?’ the emperor asked.

The emperor assessed the strange look in Pei Jin’s eyes. ‘Ninth son, tell me if you want to be the crown prince.’

Pei Jin knew his father’s smile meant if he gave the wrong answer then he would lose his life.

***

End of Chapter Sixty