Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Xin Ping looked at his red eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Young Master, I understand your difficulties. However, the current situation in Ye City is complicated, and the lord is obsessed with his own ideas. A head-on confrontation will only backfire. In my opinion, it is better to be patient for a while, secretly contact those old ministers who are dissatisfied with the Liu family's relatives, and then try to gain some tangible results from the war in Youzhou. As long as the young master has military power and achievements, even if the lord is partial, those aristocratic families will have to consider which side to lean on."

"Forbearance?" Yuan Tan gave a wry smile, pressing his hand against his throbbing forehead. "I'm afraid if I continue to endure, I'll lose even the right to be forbearing. But... as the master said, for now, we can only take things one step at a time." He took a deep breath, the panic in his eyes gradually replaced by a hint of ruthlessness. "But this move must be made quickly and riskily."

The candlelight inside the tent flickered, casting a solemn look on everyone's faces. Xin Pi, who had been standing silently by the side, suddenly stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "My dear brother, I think we cannot just sit here and wait for death."

Xin Ping looked at his younger brother, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "What do you think, second brother?"

Xin Pi's gaze fell on Yuan Tan's face, his tone sharp and blunt: "The father is still young, but the son is already strong. This is the crux of the dispute over the succession. My lord has now been newly crowned King of Ji, and has annexed the two provinces of Qing and Yan. His power has doubled, and it is time to look down on the world. But my eldest son, you have grown up, hold some military power, and have the support of aristocratic families and veteran ministers. My lord's delay in appointing a crown prince may not be due to indecision. I am afraid..."

Yuan Tan's heart suddenly tightened, and he asked, "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid he's already wary of you, young master." Xin Pi paused, then continued, noticing Yuan Tan's look of surprise. "Young master, please don't blame me for speaking frankly. Last time you were defeated and captured, if it weren't for the joint efforts of the noble families and generals in the court to protect you, your journey back would have been much more tortuous. It was because of this that the lord saw the potential power behind you—that having so many people working so hard for you wasn't necessarily a blessing for him."

He paused, his voice lowered. "My lord is in the prime of his life. How can he allow a grown-up eldest son to gather such power behind him? Furthermore, Madam Liu constantly speaks ill of you, sowing discord. Once this suspicion takes root, it will only grow. When the conflict reaches a critical point, my lord will undoubtedly take action against you. By then... I'm afraid it will be like the previous dynasty's deposed crown prince, with no room for maneuver."

"How could my father treat me like this?" Yuan Tan's face turned pale. He shook his head repeatedly, his eyes filled with disbelief and confusion. "I'm his eldest son, and I've never had any second thoughts. How could he...how could he be afraid of me?"

Xin Ping remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh. "Second brother, while your words may be unpleasant to the ear, they are certainly true. Our lord is a man of great talent and vision, yet he is also inherently suspicious. He relies heavily on the aristocratic families, yet he fears they will become too closely tied to the young master, threatening his own power. This is the mindset of an emperor, one that tolerates no mercy."

Yuan Tan stumbled back, bumping into the table. The candlestick on it swayed, nearly falling. He looked at the beams of the tent ceiling and felt a chill run up his feet. It turned out that those seemingly unintentional snubs, those subtle oppressions, were not accidental. Beneath his father's love, there was such deep suspicion.

"Then...what should I do?" Yuan Tan's voice trembled slightly, and his former arrogance was gone.

Xin Pi stepped forward, the hem of his robe brushing against the charcoal on the ground, leaving a shallow mark. The resoluteness in his eyes was mingled with a touch of historical melancholy. "My lord, do you know what happened to Chong'er during the Spring and Autumn Period? In his later years, Duke Xian of Jin favored Concubine Li and forced Crown Prince Shensheng to death. To avoid calamity, Chong'er fled into exile for nineteen years, traveling through the eight kingdoms of Zhai, Wei, Qi, Cao, Song, Zheng, Chu, and Qin. He experienced both hardship and hardship, yet through this adversity, he developed a keen eye for identifying and employing people, and a tenacious mind. Later, Duke Mu of Qin sent troops to aid him in his return to his kingdom, where he killed Duke Huai of Jin and established himself as the new Duke of Jin. He eventually became Duke Wen of Jin, one of the 'Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period,' and established a century-long hegemony."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Yuan Tan's tense profile. "This is the allusion to 'Chong'er was born outside'—trapped within, he's vulnerable to slander, while being released outside can temper him and help him grow. Young Master, you're currently in Ye City. While seemingly close to the center of power, you're actually constrained at every turn, your every move shrouded in suspicion. If you could move to a prefecture, away from this vortex of daily calculations, you'd be able to establish yourself through your achievements and show your lord who is truly capable of handling important tasks."

Yuan Tan's heart trembled when he heard the words "Duke Xian of Jin," "Li Ji," and "Crown Prince Shensheng." Didn't this vaguely resonate with the current situation? His father's suspicions, Liu's instigation, his own precarious situation—all bore a resemblance to Shensheng's. And Chong'er's exile and rise to power were like a glimmer of light, illuminating his chaotic thoughts.

"Nineteen years of exile..." he repeated in a low voice, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist. "Such suffering, how could an ordinary person endure it?"

"Suffering is the very essence of tempering," Xin Pi said. "If you, my son, only seek the stability of Yecheng, you will sooner or later be blunted and reduced to a mere prey on the chopping block. If you venture into the prefectures and counties, even if it's arduous, you can control your own destiny. By then, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang will be fighting tooth and nail beside their father, while you manage the prefecture in good order. The truth will be out in the open."

Xin Ping added, "When Chong'er was in exile, he was followed by wise ministers like Hu Yan and Zhao Shuai, who ultimately achieved great success. My son, you have my two brothers by your side, as well as those loyal and loyal ministers from aristocratic families. If you are willing to take this step, you may be able to, like Chong'er, carve out a way out of this desperate situation."

Xin Pi stepped forward, the hem of his robe stirring in the wind, making the candlelight flicker and highlighting the determination in his eyes. "Now that things have come to this, the only way is to break the impasse! Chong'er achieved hegemony in exile. Why don't you follow suit? Even if you can't seize the entire Yuan family fortune, at least you'll have the capital to protect yourself." He looked at Yuan Tan and spoke firmly, "You can take the initiative to ask our lord for permission to guard a state and become its governor. Away from the vortex of Yecheng, you'll be able to see the situation more clearly. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang remain by their father's side, vying for his favor every day, and mistakes are inevitable. When they reveal flaws, our lord will naturally remember your prudence and your virtues."

Yuan Tan's brows furrowed, his fingertips pinching his palms. "If that's the case, wouldn't I have to helplessly give up the throne to the second and third brothers? Have I endured all these years just to become a governor of a remote state?"

Xin Ping remained silent for a long moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Second brother, your plan is risky, but there's room for maneuver." He glanced at Yuan Tan, a glint of understanding in his eyes. "If you only petition for this yourself, it would appear you're deliberately avoiding suspicion. But what if..." He changed the subject, "What if you lead the charge and petition for Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, allowing them to each take command of a state and garrison outside?"

Yuan Tan was stunned: "What... does this mean?"

"All three of them will be sent to govern local areas. While this may appear fair on the surface, it actually harbors hidden agendas." Xin Ping slowly walked over to the map and pointed at the three prefectures surrounding Jizhou: Qingzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou. "If my lord agrees, Yuan Xi will go to Youzhou, Yuan Shang to Bingzhou, and you, my lord, will go to Qingzhou. Each of these three places will control a different area. My lord will be watching to see who can govern well and who can achieve military success. If you advance, you can compete for the position of Crown Prince based on your achievements. If you retreat, you can at least become a local lord. This is better than being tied down in Yecheng and being manipulated by others."

He paused, his voice deeper. "More importantly, with all three of them gone from the center, the aristocratic families that depended on them no longer have any excuse to gossip before the lord. Over time, it will become clear who is truly capable and who has gained a reputation for nothing."

Xin Pi also nodded in agreement. "Brother, you are absolutely right. Moreover, Qingzhou is right next to Cao Cao's territory. If you can gain a foothold in Qingzhou, or even thwart Cao Cao's offensive, your contribution will far surpass what Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang could achieve in the rear. Even if you are partial, my lord, you cannot ignore this concrete achievement."

Yuan Tan gazed at the location of Qingzhou on the map. It had once been a land ravaged by the Yellow Turbans. Although now under the Yuan family's control, it remained far from secure. But the more dangerous the location, the more one's ability could be demonstrated. He was silent for a moment, the depression in his chest gradually dissipating, and a glimmer of light ignited in his eyes. "Alright! I'll follow your advice, gentlemen. Tomorrow I'll see father and plead for my three brothers!"

Xin Ping pondered for a long time and said, "If you, my Lord, take the lead in presenting the matter, I'm afraid the Lord will overthink it. It would be better to seek an audience with Ju Su and Shen Pei, who played such a significant role in defeating Cao Cao. They will surely have a easier time getting the Lord to approve it."

Yuan Tan frowned slightly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. He pondered, "If I ask for advice from Masters Ju Su and Shen Pei... they performed significant roles in the defeat of Cao Cao this time, so their words might carry some weight with father. However..." He changed the subject, his tone tinged with concern. "These two have always prioritized father's cause and have never favored any of my three brothers. It would be difficult to persuade them to speak for me."

Xin Pi stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Young Master, your words are wrong. While Lords Ju and Shen are impartial, they prioritize the stability of Ji Province above all else. Currently, undercurrents are surging in Ye City, and the position of Crown Prince remains vacant. The rift between you and the Second and Third Young Masters is deepening, and this has long been noticed by the aristocratic families. This is definitely not good for your lord's foundation."

He paused, his gaze sharpening. "Sir, simply lay out your current predicament. I'm not asking for your favor, gentlemen. Rather, the uncertainty surrounding Chen Ming's succession has caused various factions to stir. If this continues, internal unrest may ensue. Ju Su is a man of foresight, and Shen Pei is a man of integrity. How can they sit idly by and watch their lord's cause be marred by internal strife? If you can clearly point out the risks, you two gentlemen will undoubtedly intervene."

Xin Ping nodded in agreement. "Second brother, you have a point. Lord Ju often said, 'External threats are easy to defend, but internal worries are difficult to eliminate.' Lord Shen is even more intolerant of the slightest intrigue in the court. Why not prepare a generous gift and pay a personal visit? Be sincere and simply say you're concerned about the shaky foundations of Jizhou and that you two gentlemen, for the sake of the greater good, advise the lord to appoint a crown prince sooner rather than later? This approach will appeal to you two gentlemen without sounding overly flattering. Perhaps it will work."

Yuan Tan gazed at the darkening night outside his tent, his hesitation gradually giving way to a sense of determination. He knew this was the safest option at the moment. If even Ju Su and Shen Pei couldn't persuade his father, his situation in Yecheng would only become increasingly difficult.

"Okay." He took a deep breath and stood up. "I'll go visit you two gentlemen tomorrow morning. Success or failure depends on this one move, so I have to give it a try."

The candlelight inside the tent seemed to grow brighter, reflecting the glimmer of light that had rekindled in his eyes. In the vortex of power in Ye City, every step was like treading on thin ice, but if he wanted to escape the predicament, he had no choice but to forge ahead.