In the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era, I wrote my will in the examination hall.

Chapter 58 Then there's nothing to be afraid of.

Yang Guang's eyes finally narrowed completely.

This time, he remained silent for a long time.

For the first time, a cold glint of scrutiny appeared in those eyes that always carried a hypocritical smile.

He realized that he had indeed underestimated his previously unremarkable nephew.

Beneath that docile and respectful exterior lay a tenacity that made him extremely uncomfortable.

Unlike Yang Yong, who's a complete fool and easily exposed, this kid is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Yeah?"

Yang Guang stopped pursuing the matter, knowing that he wouldn't get anything out of it if he continued asking.

Since this kid dared to say that, it means he had already thought of his excuse.

He's an opponent.

Since we can't gauge the extent of the damage, let's just crush it!

The smile on Yang Guang's face slowly faded, replaced by a naked sense of oppression befitting a ruler.

He took a step forward, now no more than half a foot away from Yang Yan.

The imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position and wielded immense power pressed down on him as if it were a tangible force.

He raised his hand and patted Yang Yan's shoulder heavily.

The force was so great that half of Yang Yan's body went numb, as if it were some kind of heavy warning.

"Yan'er, since you are a smart child, you should understand."

Yang Guang's voice was very low, so low that only the two of them could hear it. His tone was no longer feigned, but coldly realistic: "What does it mean to assess the situation?"

"Lingnan is newly annexed and needs the imperial family to pacify it. Although it is plagued by miasma, it is still the territory of our Great Sui. Yan'er, you must not try to escape again."

His fingers gripped Yang Yan's shoulder blades tightly, his eyes sinister: "Go there and get some serious training."

"Young man, you need to broaden your horizons. Don't always think about struggling in the bottomless murky waters of the capital. The water is too deep; you can easily drown."

"The road should be widened, not blocked."

"Take your second uncle's advice and go to Lingnan peacefully to be the Prince of Changning. Don't do anything unrealistic again. There are some things that are not for you to get involved in!"

This is a blatant warning, or even an ultimatum.

The warriors from the Prince of Jin's mansion around them had already quietly placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, their cold eyes like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves, staring intently at the lambs in the pen.

This is a crushing defeat due to superior strength.

However, faced with this almost suffocating threat, Yang Yan seemed genuinely unable to grasp its deeper meaning.

He endured the sharp pain in his shoulder, raised his head, and his eyes revealed sincerity.

"Second Uncle's teachings are truly wise! Even if I go to Lingnan, I will never forget your invaluable advice!"

Yang Yan, however, seemed completely oblivious to the chilling threat lurking beneath those words.

He slowly raised his head, and instead of fear or panic, his eyes revealed a deep affection for his elders and an infinite longing for the distant future.

"My nephew is troubled by this very matter! Studying books in this deep palace is like being a caged bird, and it's already become tiresome."

"I have heard that when my second uncle was in charge of Jiangnan, he governed that land of fish and rice into a paradise on earth, where people lived in peace and merchants flocked. I have long admired him for a long time, but I regret that I was born too late and had no chance to see my second uncle's glory back then."

At this point, he changed the subject, his tone carrying a touch of youthful innocence and romantic curiosity about the unknown.

"I wonder how the scenery of Lingnan compares to that of Jiangnan? My nephew once read the poem 'I would eat three hundred lychees a day and not mind being a Lingnan native forever' in a miscellaneous book. Although I don't know who wrote it, I imagine that Lingnan must be a place rich in resources."

"To serve the country on the frontier, expand its territory, and govern its people has always been my long-cherished wish. If I could achieve great things in a foreign land like my second uncle, I would die without regret!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply to Yang Guang with utmost respect, his posture extremely humble, as if he truly regarded Yang Guang as his closest and most respected mentor.

A cold wind swept across the square, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat eerie.

Yang Guang's movements stiffened slightly.

Looking into those pure, unadulterated eyes, he suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton.

Is this kid really stupid, or is he just pretending to be stupid to the core?

Yang Guang stared at Yang Yan's handsome and sincere face for a full three breaths.

However, those eyes were crystal clear, without the slightest impurity, containing only the foolish enthusiasm of a bookworm.

If this is also acting, then this acting skill is simply terrifying.

How could a sixteen-year-old boy in this world possess a deeper cunning than an old fox in the imperial court?

"No, impossible. That good-for-nothing Yang Yong couldn't possibly have such a child."

Yang Guang thought about it for a long time. Although he felt it was impossible, he still decided to consider the worst-case scenario.

"Good, very good." Yang Guang finally withdrew his gaze, the gloom in his eyes quickly fading, replaced by his gentle and refined smile.

"Now that you think this way, your second uncle is relieved. A man of the Yang family should naturally aspire to travel far and wide."

He reached out again and patted Yang Yan's shoulder: "Since that's the case, then this 'grand gift' that your second uncle prepared for you can only be given to you in the imperial court. It's paving the way for you to 'make a name for yourself' in Lingnan, so you'd better... accept it well."

Having said that, he said no more, abruptly flicked his wide sleeves, turned around and strode toward the palace gate with his entourage.

Although his back was still upright, it conveyed a sense of frustration at not getting what he wanted.

Only Yang Yan remained in the square.

He remained bowed, letting the cold wind ruffle the stray hairs on his forehead, until Yang Guang's dark figure completely disappeared at the vermilion corner of the palace wall.

"It seems... what he's up to is targeting me, not Yang Yong. That's fine then. It's just a trip to Lingnan!"

Yang Yan slowly straightened up, and the submissiveness, innocence, and enthusiasm that had been on his face vanished instantly, like the receding tide.

Instead, there was calm. He gently brushed off non-existent dust from his shoulder, the spot where Yang Guang had just touched, as if it were stained with something dirty.

Yang Yan straightened his slightly disheveled clothes and strode towards the majestic Daxing Hall, which resembled a giant beast.

After walking a few steps, his father, Yang Yong, rushed out from the shadows beside him.

The Crown Prince of the Sui Dynasty was clearly anxious and sweating profusely. When he saw Yang Yan coming over, he grabbed his sleeve.

"Yan'er! Prince Jin... what did the Second Prince say to you? I noticed his expression was off when he left. Did he... did he threaten you? Or does he have some kind of conspiracy against the Crown Prince?"

Yang Yong had a strong grip, which made Yang Yan's wrist ache.

Looking at his father's panicked and helpless face, Yang Yan sighed inwardly.

This is the difference.

Yang Guang was a wolf, ready to tear his prey apart at any moment; while his own father was at best a sheepdog at this moment.

"It's nothing, Father, you're overthinking it."