Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, Chapter Ninety-Six: Lone Current

Why must Your Highness go to such lengths?” Chen Ying said. “You ought to conduct yourself properly and set an example for all beneath heaven.”

“You are not of their company either, so why speak like that?” Wang Chuan smiled. “Who is this for? Is it to buy people’s hearts?”

“When in high office, do not oppress those below; when in low station, do not curry favor with those above; correct yourself and ask nothing of others, and you will know no resentment,” said the official. “Your Highness has long enjoyed a name for benevolence, and all under heaven look up to and respect you. Why resort to threats today?”

“Fame and reputation seem to be nothing but burdens after all, becoming at last a weight that drags one down,” Wang Chuan said with a shake of his head. “Then there is nothing left that must be cast aside. None of this matters anymore.”

As he spoke, a murderous air rose in his face.

Vast and boundless is the world; one may roam at will.

And these ants blocking his path would one day pay the price, vanish into dust, and be blown away without trace.

“Whether in wealth and honor or in poverty and lowliness, whether among foreigners or amid hardship, a gentleman is always at ease and content.” The official knelt. “Those above do not resent Heaven; those below do not blame men. Thus the gentleman lives simply and waits upon destiny, while the petty man takes dangerous paths in search of fortune. If Your Highness harbors any dissatisfaction, then let your anger fall on me. I have failed to restrain and instruct those beneath me, and I am willing to bear everything.”

“You think these people offended me?” Wang Chuan smiled.

“Of course. Your Highness is a prodigy of this age, unmatched in both civil and martial excellence, not to be slighted! All under heaven know that a master must not be insulted, much less someone as peerless as Your Highness.” The official spoke to him.

“You are very clever, Minister Chen. What was your name again?” Wang Chuan asked.

“Chen Ying,” the other replied.

That kind of calm, steady expression was not uncommon.

Yet Wang Chuan found it here, on this man.

Scholars do not fear for their lives, and generals do not fear death. That is the mark of a strong and thriving state. The loyalty and righteousness of a nation are precisely such things.

“Very good, Minister Chen. Those men are yours?” Wang Chuan glanced at the group of frightened officials.

“If it concerns the Censorate, they can be considered under my command,” Chen Ying said. “Your Highness, I have heard that Yang Hao is one of your closest aides. He has a remarkable eye for business and runs his affairs with great skill. Because of his close friendship with Your Highness, he has become a merchant renowned throughout the world. And yet such a man is now withdrawing all his industries and trade from our Xia realm. Does Your Highness not find that suspicious?”

“This man is very much like Your Highness; once he strikes, he never misses.”

“What do you think the reason is?” Wang Chuan asked, patting his face. “Minister Chen, oh Minister Chen, why is it that for all your cleverness you do not know how to protect yourself?”

“The way of the gentleman grows dark yet day by day becomes ever brighter; the way of the petty man grows clear yet day by day comes to ruin. The gentleman’s path is plain and yet never tedious, simple yet elegant, gentle yet orderly. He knows the near from which the far is reached, the source of the wind from which it blows, and the hidden from which the manifest appears; thus he may enter into virtue.” Chen Ying said. “Your Highness, you are all men of noble conduct. You should of course comport yourselves properly, refusing petty concerns and the vulgar world.”

“You flatter me too much.” Wang Chuan patted his shoulder. “We are only ordinary people, acting according to our own wishes. Still, let it go for today. It’s too late anyway. You should go home and sleep.”

To be granted this once was already a great honor.

At those words, Chen Ying was overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement, and asked again, “Your Highness has already met our Emperor. May I ask whether he has been well of late? Is his health still sound?”

Hearing this, Wang Chuan could not help but freeze, regarding him strangely. “So there is still someone besides me who cares about your emperor. I thought it was only that pack of dead eunuchs.”

So this realm of Xia still had such an official. Compared with the crowd shouting slogans behind him, he was like a clear stream.

Before coming here, Wang Chuan seemed to have glanced through this Minister’s dossier as well, and now the impression left by him had only grown deeper.

How unexpectedly striking he was.

“I feel as though the world has some misunderstanding of you,” Wang Chuan said after a moment.

Hearing this, Chen Ying hurriedly replied, “Your Highness Wang Chuan, you overpraise me.”

“Forget it. Your emperor is quite well—he eats and sleeps soundly. He is resting well now, too.” Wang Chuan said, about to leave.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to ask again: during such a long conversation, what did you discuss?” Chen Ying asked.

The other officials were all curious as well, staring eagerly at them.

“Was it merely… a plea for sacred instruction and the Dao?” Chen Ying asked again. “His Majesty has not summoned anyone for a long time. Even with his own birthday approaching, he has refused to see many occultists.”

Wang Chuan sighed. “Pity the empty seat by the candle at midnight; they ask not of the people, but of ghosts and gods.”

He waved a hand and departed without hesitation.

That figure remained as carefree as ever in their eyes.

Then, little by little, he grew distant, until at last he vanished.

“Your Highness Wang Chuan truly lives up to his reputation,” Chen Ying said with feeling.

...

“Lord Zhong, it was you who said that some occultist had entered the palace to pay homage, was it not?”

“Yes. But what occultist? That was Prince Wang Chuan. I have heard that man’s temper is impossible to predict. Just now I was afraid he would slap me to death on the spot.”

“The famed Prince Wang Chuan, renowned throughout the world... what an oppressive presence. Why was I so afraid just now? I did nothing wrong.”

“...”

The officials spoke all at once, casting sharp suspicion upon the one at the head of them.

His gaze fell on Chen Ying outside the crowd, and when he saw the other man nod, they exchanged a smile.

Then Chen Ying also left.

To think that Minister Chen had actually come, and had then revealed Wang Chuan’s identity—everyone was stunned.

The gathered ministers looked at one another in dismay. Where had the information gone wrong? Or had they all grown so excited because His Majesty opened the palace doors that they were eager to win favor?

Alas, this was an act of extreme impropriety. To treat the Prince of Jin in such a manner, and at a time when the hundred officials were already inflamed with indignation—

Full of conviction and burning with passion, they had gathered together outside the palace gates to present their remonstrance and press their plea.