Although he was very filial, he also regarded that silver as his own, thinking that after his mother’s death, it would definitely be left to his own family. He never expected that someone would now appear who wanted to share the property with him. How could he possibly like him?
So when Chen Renjie saw a young man looking at him with complicated eyes, he guessed his identity and enthusiastically invited him in to sit.
He Sheng did not refuse. He had observed for many days and knew this was an outstanding person. However, upon entering his room, he found that the walls and tables were covered with calligraphy written by him. Even a layman like himself could tell that the calligraphy was beautiful, let alone others. This made him feel that the man was even more unreliable. He knew his mother well; she was illiterate, indecisive, and always stingy. But after escaping a disaster and hovering on the brink of death, she had a change of heart, earning their admiration.
Even if his mother was excellent, she wouldn't be so attractive to such a young man as a stepfather. The thought of a father younger than himself made him shiver all over. He absolutely did not want this union to happen; it would be a laughingstock.
Yang Hanye smiled as he watched the young man, He Sheng, sitting in front of him, talking volubly and indignantly, complaining about his mother's ambiguous relationship with Chen Renjie. "Your Highness, don't you agree? Why haven't I heard of him before, and now he suddenly appears and is acting ambiguously with my mother? It's obvious he's a骗子 (piàn zi - swindler). I can't bear to see my mother being deceived, but she doesn't seem to appreciate it. You two have the best relationship, can you help me persuade her to stay away from him in the future and live happily with us? As her son, I will definitely be filial."
"Didn't your mother tell you that the two of them are old acquaintances? Your mother is no ordinary person, how could she be infatuated with a pretty boy? You can ask him directly if you have any questions." Yang Hanye had no intention of meddling in her affairs. From their expressions and words, it was clear that the two were genuinely in love.
He didn't know why two people with such a large age gap would end up together, but if anyone were to say that Chen Renjie was trying to deceive her out of her money, the Prince would be the last to believe it. After all, when they first met, she was just a peasant woman, and he was the youngest son of the renowned Chen family. Regardless, their backgrounds were not a match.
Even then, the two of them managed to get together. How much less resistance would there be now? Having interacted with her for so long, he knew she wasn't someone who acted on impulse. Chen Renjie must have his merits, which others simply hadn't discovered.
One day, when he had some free time, he went to Chen Renjie's study and knocked on the door a few times. Hearing no response, he pushed the door open and found it empty. Looking at the calligraphy on the walls and tables, he felt as if he were immersed in a flowing stream of high mountains, forgetting all his troubles.
He then began to borrow various books from the room. Chen Renjie soon returned, and after a brief exchange, Yang Hanye dragged him to play chess. Although Chen Renjie's white pieces seemed to lack offensive power, appearing gentle and weak, they proved useful at critical moments, leading to an unexpected comeback victory.
As they played, Chen Renjie eventually surrendered. He lost the first game completely and then, without pause, prepared for the second, which ended the same way. After playing seven or eight games consecutively, Yang Hanye still couldn't win. This made him look at Chen Renjie with shock. Those who could defeat him in chess were no ordinary people. He hadn't expected to find such a gem.
"I've been thoroughly defeated today. I noticed the many calligraphy pieces in your study, Master Chen, which bear the style of famous masters. My own calligraphy is not very good. You must teach me when you have time." Yang Hanye said with half sincerity and half jest.
"Not at all, not at all. Your Highness has been extraordinary since childhood. The calligraphy and paintings you use for practice must also be by famous masters, possessing high collection value. Your calligraphy is definitely better than mine. How could my writing possibly catch Your Highness's eye?" Chen Renjie spoke truthfully, feeling like he was showing off his meager skills before an expert.
After systematic training, he could only write to this extent. As for the standards of calligraphy he had mastered in other worlds, after a glance in this world, he noticed it differed from his own. Thus, he decided to observe others first and then, at the appropriate time, try his own methods.
Seeing that they had been talking for a long time and wasting time on this matter, Yang Hanye, who had to attend a banquet later, quickly pulled Chen Renjie into a wide-ranging conversation. This conversation truly amazed him. Due to his physical condition, he had never left the capital, but he had secretly read books, and his views on various aspects were similar to his own. Suddenly, he felt a sense of finding a kindred spirit, regretting not meeting sooner.
Before long, he looked at Chen Renjie with admiration, realizing that Wu Caiwei was right. This man was a talent, a true prodigy. He had remained unknown in his early life due to family reasons, which was now a great benefit to Yang Hanye. As long as he stayed in his mansion, he would consult him on any matter.
As for Wu Caiwei, she had initially thought that finding him was a good choice. However, after getting to know Chen Renjie, she felt her wife was at a great disadvantage. Although both were highly talented and reasonably good-looking, together they just didn't seem to harmonize. If they had parents, perhaps they would strongly object. But now, with no one to oversee them, they interacted freely.
He Sheng gradually realized that even the Prince was siding with his mother, and he felt a surge of injustice. When he was young, his mother's affection was concentrated on his elder brothers. Now that they had left her, he and his mother had traveled together and he had felt her motherly love. He never expected another man to appear and compete with him for her attention.
Initially, the Prince had vowed to persuade her on his behalf, but in such a short time, he had become as close as if they were sharing the same trousers. This infuriated him. Was he truly going to let them be together? He didn't even need to think about it; people would look at him strangely when he went out.
That was a minor issue, as he was already married and had food, drink, and servants in the Prince's mansion. However, he had two daughters who would eventually be married. With such grandparents, how could others feel at ease? This made him anxious, and he paced back and forth in his room. Xia He, watching him, couldn't help but shake her head, believing it was a matter of mindset. He couldn't let go, while she could.