Space Farming: Traveling through Ancient Times to Do Business

Xuan Yuchen walked into the palace gate with steady steps and a dignified face.

He glanced at the busy palace servants, and his eyes finally fell on a young eunuch who was cleaning with his head down.

The young eunuch was obviously startled by the prince's sudden appearance, and almost dropped the broom in his hand. He shouted loudly, "Your Highness!"

Xuan Yuchen frowned slightly, dissatisfied with the chaos in the palace.

He asked in a deep voice: "Where is Manager Ma? Why isn't he here to greet us?"

The young eunuch bowed and replied: "Your Highness, Chief Steward Ma is currently handling some matters in the palace and was unable to come to greet Your Highness in time. Please forgive me. I will go and call Chief Steward Ma to come."

Xuan Yuchen nodded gently to indicate his agreement. He stood there, looking deeply into the distance, as if thinking about something. Everything in the palace was both familiar and strange to him. Every time he returned, he felt an indescribable pressure and responsibility.

After a while, the young eunuch hurried back, followed by an old man in his fifties with a kind face, who was Ma Zongguan. When Ma Zongguan saw the prince, he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "This old servant greets His Highness the Prince, may Your Highness live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years."

Xuan Yuchen raised his hand slightly, signaling Ma Zongguan to excuse himself, and then asked, "Did anything unusual happen in the palace during my absence?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Ma pondered secretly in his heart, but replied calmly: "Your Highness, everything in the palace is normal, there is nothing unusual. It's just..." Having said this, he deliberately paused, as if he was considering his words.

Xuan Yuchen raised his eyebrows when he saw this, and asked, "Just what?" The steward Ma looked solemn and said softly, "Your Highness has just returned to the palace, and I am afraid I don't know the situation of His Majesty. I suggest you go and see him. His Majesty has been coming here frequently in the past two years... He has been thinking about you all the time."

Xuan Yuchen paused slightly, turned to look at Manager Ma, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a sarcastic smile, as if he was disdainful of the proposal.

However, behind that smile lies deep pain and helplessness.

His voice was cold and firm, as if he was announcing his determination to the world. "I don't care if he is kind." He said coldly, with a barely perceptible bitterness and stubbornness in his tone.

Upon hearing this, a trace of worry flashed across Manager Ma's face.

He knew the prince's temper well and understood that no amount of persuasion would help at this point.

Xuan Yuchen turned and left, leaving Manager Ma standing there alone, silently watching his receding back.

Manager Ma sighed inwardly. This young prince was carrying too many responsibilities and pressures.

Perhaps only time can gradually heal his inner wounds and let him slowly let go... Manager Ma knows it very well in his heart - although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems indifferent on the surface, he actually has extremely rich emotions in his heart, but he is not very good at expressing them.

He could only sigh softly and said nothing more. Instead, he quietly stepped aside to let the prince decide what to do next.

Xuan Yuchen stood quietly there, his eyes as deep as a pool of water staring silently into the distance, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"The imperial doctors all say that His Majesty's health is at an end... Your Highness..." Butler Ma said again.

In the end, Xuan Yuchen resolutely made an extremely difficult decision.

He turned around slowly and said softly to Ma Zongguan: "Go and prepare the sedan immediately. I want to go to see my father."

Although his voice was still cold and hard, it had lost its previous firmness, decisiveness and resistance. Instead, it was replaced by a complex emotion that could not be described in words.

When Ma Zongguan heard this, he hurriedly responded respectfully: "As you wish! I will arrange it right away."

Then he quickly gave orders, asking the palace servants to quickly prepare the sedan chair.

"The Crown Prince has arrived." Following the loud announcement from the palace attendant, Xuan Yuchen stepped into the Emperor's bedroom. His steps were quick and firm, as if an invisible force was pushing him forward.

Inside the bedroom, a group of attendants and palace maids had already knelt on the ground, shouting in unison: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, may His Royal Highness live a thousand years." The voices echoed throughout the palace, but did not seem to completely break the silence in the room.

Xuan Yuchen had no time to pay attention to these etiquettes. He walked straight forward, his eyes fixed on his father's familiar yet unfamiliar face.

More than two years is enough time for an emperor to change too much.

His father's face was no longer as majestic and powerful as he remembered. Wrinkles were as deep as ravines on his face, and there was a hint of fatigue and vicissitudes in his eyes.

When he was a child, his father always held him high in his arms. At that time, he was so tall and so omnipotent. But now, the father in front of him is just a thin old man, as if a gust of wind could blow him down. Such a change made Xuan Yuchen feel an indescribable pain and sorrow in his heart.

Xuan Zhentian, who had been in a coma, slowly opened his cloudy eyes.

He slowly walked to Xuan Zhentian's bed, knelt down, and gently held Xuan Zhentian's calloused hands with both hands.

Xuan Zhentian's hands trembled slightly, as if he was trying to respond to this long-lost affection. The two sat quietly like this, without saying a word, but their hearts were closely connected at this moment.

"Father..." Xuan Yuchen finally spoke to break the silence, his voice choked with sobs, "Your Majesty, I am back..."

Xuan Zhentian smiled slightly, with both relief and helplessness in his smile. "Chen'er...you're back..." he said softly, "I...I'm afraid my body won't last much longer..."

Xuan Zhentian's voice was a little tired but still majestic. He raised his hand slightly, signaling the servants and palace maids around him to retreat.

Upon seeing this, the palace servants hurriedly bowed respectfully, then quietly left the bedroom, leaving only Xuan Yuchen and his father.

The atmosphere in the bedroom became extremely solemn. Xuan Yuchen could feel the deep meaning in Xuan Zhentian's eyes. It was an expectation for the future, as well as a test for himself.

He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then slowly said, "Father, I am here, you can say whatever you want."

Xuan Zhentian nodded, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

He patted the bedside gently, motioning Xuan Yuchen to come closer. Xuan Yuchen followed his instructions and sat down beside his father's bed. The distance between the two was closer than ever before.

"Chen'er, you have grown up and matured." Father's voice was low and powerful.

"However, this country is far more complicated than you think." Xuan Zhentian continued, "I know you are capable and talented, but a true leader needs more than just these. More importantly, you need to have a kind and firm heart, and the determination to do whatever it takes for the country and the people."