Martial Cultivator

The old steward understood and quickly went to welcome the First Prince and the Princess Consort into the mansion.

Soon, the overweight First Prince and Princess Consort arrived. There were only the two of them, they did not bring any attendants.

Upon seeing the Great General reclining on the chair, Princess Consort hastened her steps and approached him. She glanced at the palace-issued wine placed aside and then at the Great General's white hair, complaining, "Daddy, considering your current health condition, why are you still drinking?"[1.]

The Great General looked at his beloved daughter whom he only gained in his later years. A hint of tender love flashed across his eyes. After his wife's passing, she was his only kin left in the world.

At that moment, the First Prince also arrived at the Great General's side, opening the box he held in his hand. Inside was shockingly a snowy-white ginseng. The First Prince smiled and said, "This 300-year-old snow ginseng should greatly benefit your health, Father-in-law. I hope you take good care of yourself."

The Great General looked at the snow ginseng and shook his head. "It's a good item, and I can see that Your Highness has put a lot of thought into it. However, I know my own body. It's beyond the point where medicine can cure it. Your Highness should keep it for yourself."

The First Prince smiled and handed the snow ginseng to the old steward beside him before saying, "Father-in-law, even if this helps you live for just one more month, it's worth it."

To others, such words might sound harsh, but to the Great General, they did not. He did not have much time left in the first place. A month might seem short for others, but for him, it was quite a significant period.

After pondering for a moment, the Great General nodded. "Alright then. It'll take some time for this journey back to my hometown from the Divine Capital. I'm really quite scared that I won't last until the day I return to my hometown."

Upon hearing this, the Princess Consort said rather unhappily, "Daddy!"

The Great General said softly, "Everyone will die eventually. No one can stop it, so why do you have to be like this?"

The Princess Consort who had not seen her father for many years quickly teared up upon hearing his words.

The Great General wanted to reach out and pat his daughter's head, but then he remembered that she was no longer the little girl she once was, so he stopped himself. Instead, he waved his hand and softly said, "Father hasn't eaten the dishes cooked by my daughter yet. Can I have that privilege today?"

The Princess Consort wiped her tears and quickly nodded. She was then led to the kitchen by the old steward.

After everyone had left, the Great General turned to the First Prince and said, "Your Highness, please have a seat. Today, I'll be indulging myself and won't adhere to any formalities."

The First Prince sat on the chair where the old steward had been sitting earlier and casually said, "In Father-in-law's manor, I am just your son-in-law. When a son-in-law visits his father-in-law, how he comes and behaves is entirely up to the father-in-law, isn't it?"

The Great General smiled faintly but did not say anything.

The First Prince understood that the Great General's wish to eat food made by the Princess Consort was just an excuse. After a moment of silence, he took the initiative to ask, "Although Father-in-law was at the Northern Frontier for all year round, I believe that with Father-in-law's insight, it shouldn't be difficult to understand the major events in the court. Your humble son-in-law has some matters I wish to seek clarification from Father-in-law."

The Great General shook his head. "I am just an old man in his twilight years. If Your Highness wants to ask about things in the Northern Frontier Army, I can say something. But it's been decades since I've attended a court session. How could I have a clear understanding of the court's major matters?"

"Father-in-law is too modest."

The First Prince said softly, "Here in this mansion, I am your son-in-law, and the Princess Consort is your own daughter. Will Father-in-law really refuse to offer even this meager bit of guidance?"

After a moment of silence, the Great General finally nodded. "Your Highness, please ask your question."

In this world, it was hard to say there were no concerns. The Great General was a man nearing the end of his life, he no longer cared about whatever fame and fortune. If there was something he still cared about, it would likely just be his own daughter. After all, after he died, she would only have this First Prince to rely on.

The First Prince pondered for a moment and softly asked, "What was the purpose of Imperial Father's journey north and back south this time?"

The Great General glanced at the First Prince, knowing what he wanted to ask. He simply replied, "If Your Highness regards His Majesty as your father, then naturally His Majesty will regard Your Highness as his son."

The First Prince furrowed his brows slightly and, after some thought, he looked somewhat depressed as he said, "But Imperial Father's attitude has always been unclear."

The Great General shook his head and said, "His Majesty is in his prime, the matter of succession naturally cannot be rushed. Why is Your Highness so anxious?"

"But Imperial Father has already shown admiration for that person. The right to bear arms isn't a trivial matter. Father-in-law, do you know that he's very likely to be..."

The First Prince spoke with a worried expression. His concern was not about who was more favored by the Imperial Father between himself and the Second Prince. Instead, he was worried about another person.

"Returning the kingdom that he snatched?"

The Great General looked at the First Prince and asked, "Does Your Highness think there's such a rationale?"

The First Prince shook his head. Initially, he did not believe it either. But with the recent events unfolding and his inability to understand Imperial Father's character, he naturally became quite worried.

The Great General sighed and said something sincere, "His Majesty's ambitions are vast, encompassing both the North and the South. A bold and ambitious ruler like him is focused on immediate matters. As for future matters, they don't fall in His Majesty's eyes. Instead of pondering over His Majesty's attitude towards the Chen Dynasty, Your Highness should consider what kind of crown prince His Majesty truly desires."

The First Prince smiled bitterly, "If I could figure it out, I wouldn't have come to seek clarification from Father-in-law."

The Great General did not speak. Although he was not in the Divine Capital, he still had some insight into the three princes borne to the Emperor. From his perspective, none of these three were the ideal heir in His Majesty's eyes. If it were not for the Emperor's excessive concern for the Empress, he would probably have birthed more children long ago. However, now that Her Majesty the Empress had passed, no matter how he chooses, he could only choose one of these three.

Unless His Majesty truly did not care about the succession, insisting on having the heir of that late Crown Prince ascend to the throne. But in the eyes of the Great General, this possibility was negligible.

"If Your Highness doesn't even know what kind of son your father desires, then as an outsider, I know even less." The Great General rubbed his temples. He could not say he had any feelings towards this son-in-law. Back then, this marriage was decided by his daughter, not arranged by His Majesty, nor was he, the father, involved in selecting a husband for his daughter.

Actually, from the perspective of the Great General, it would be best for his son-in-law to stay away from the court and preferably not be of the imperial family. This would reduce a lot of conflicts. But at the same time, he also knew that as the Great General of the Northern Frontier of the Great Liang Dynasty, his daughter would surely be tied to the fate of the dynasty. There was simply no choice. In the end, his daughter chose the First Prince, which was considered a very good outcome.

At least she married the person she wanted to marry. As for whether the person she married truly liked her, sometimes it was not that important. The First Prince fell silent for a moment and asked one last question, "Father-in-law, in your view, will Chen Chao develop aspirations for the throne in the future? If not, could he be used by your humble son-in-law?"

The Grand General countered, "Even if he could be of use, would Your Highness dare to use him?"

After hesitating for a moment, the First Prince replied, "Since we are connected by blood, if he has no aspirations, it's not impossible that your humble son-in-law can tolerate him."

The Great General closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. In the end, it was all about the throne; a matter he preferred not to think about. But now that the First Prince had spoken up, the Great General remained silent for a moment before saying, "I have not had any dealings with him yet. Since Your Highness wishes to know, I will meet him before leaving the Divine Capital and evaluate him for Your Highness."

The First Prince smiled and replied, "That would be great. Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."

The Great General said nothing more, simply closing his eyes and enjoying the warmth of the sun above.

……

……

After a usual dinner at the Great General's manor, the First Prince and the Princess Consort were preparing to leave.

The Great General stood in the courtyard, looking at the Princess Consort.

Seeing that the Great General had something to say, the First Prince tactfully left first, leaving the father and daughter to converse.

The Great General looked affectionately at his daughter and said softly, "Father has always been fighting demons in the Northern Frontier for the country. I didn't let the world down, but the only ones I've let down are you and your mother. Don't blame father."

The Princess Consort's eyes reddened slightly and she just shook her head, "Father has toiled for the country, there's no reason for this daughter to blame Father."

The Great General laughed self-deprecatingly. "Blame me, nonetheless."

The Princess Consort bit her lip and did not speak.

The Great General chuckled. "Whether to blame or not, it's all the same now. Father has reached the end of my life, but you still have a long way to go. Live well, be happy, and don't think too much."

The Princess Consort asked softly, "Daddy, can't you stay in the Divine Capital? If you go back home, and if Daddy you... there won't be anyone to keep vigil next to your coffin."

The Great General casually said, "In the Northern Frontier, how many soldiers have died over the years? Those fortunate enough might have their bodies brought back, but for those less fortunate, they become food for the demons. Father is already contented to leave the Northern Frontier alive and be buried in my hometown. Why care about such matters?"

The Princess Consort lowered her head in silence, but tears were already streaming down her face.

The Great General smiled and said, "Don't cry. I'm going to see your mother. It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time. Now it's about to come true. You should be happy for father."

The Princess Consort remained silent, because she could no longer speak.

The Great General reached out and rubbed her head, saying with vicissitudes of emotion. "The day I leave the Divine Capital, don't come to see me off."

The Princess Consort abruptly lifted her head, her face full of confusion as she gazed at the Great General.

The Great General just looked at her face, so similar to his late wife's, and murmured, "Sometimes father wonders, if I were just an ordinary man, spending my life with your mother and you, would I have less regrets when it's time to go? Looking back now, I've done so much in this lifetime, it's not bad. Father has no regrets, just guilt for not being able to spend more time with you two."

Tears welled up in the Great General's eyes as he whispered, "Don't blame father."