“Oh, Lord Ye, you’ve arrived. Please rise.”

Emperor Xiaowu remained calm, a smile on his face.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ye Zhenghuai and his son Ye Cheng stood up nervously.

“Your Majesty, I have come as ordered, to discuss the marriage of my son with the princess…” Ye Zhenghuai carefully began.

“Ah, Lord Ye, please wait. Let me finish handling this matter first.”

Emperor Xiaowu interrupted him directly.

Startled, Ye Zhenghuai quickly acknowledged and stood to the side with his son.

The Emperor turned to Lin Zhao, his trusted aide. “How is the matter proceeding?”

Lin Zhao, understanding the Emperor’s intent, bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, we have investigated thoroughly. The young man in question is named Ye Chuan.”

This news struck like thunder to Ye Zhenghuai and Ye Cheng.

Ye Chuan? Which Ye Chuan?

Why was the Emperor inquiring about him?

Ye Zhenghuai’s body stiffened at the mention of his son’s name.

“Oh?” The Emperor feigned surprise, glancing at Ye Zhenghuai with a playful smile. “He shares the same surname as you. It seems there are many talented people in your family.”

Ye Zhenghuai’s body trembled.

It seemed like a casual remark, but coming from the Emperor, it held great weight.

“Lin Zhao, continue,” the Emperor said, his tone indifferent.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“With General Xuanwu, we have confirmed that the poem given to the old general yesterday was written by this Ye Chuan.”

“Really?!” Emperor Xiaowu’s expression showed genuine surprise. “You mean the lines ‘Golden spears and iron horses, the air swallowing ten thousand miles like a tiger’ were written by this Ye Chuan?”

“Indeed!”

“Unbelievable!” Emperor Xiaowu repeatedly marveled, “The elegance of his words made me think he was an experienced adult, but he is just a young man!”

This conversation sent a shockwave through Ye Zhenghuai.

What?!

The poem read in court today was written by his rebellious son, Ye Chuan?!

And now, the Emperor was praising him?

One unexpected event after another, Ye Zhenghuai felt as if he was being struck by lightning.

“Where is this young man? I cannot wait to meet him!” The Emperor said, his tone excited.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has already met him in advance,” Lin Zhao’s words hit like a blow.

As the Emperor’s personal bodyguard, Lin Zhao had served him for years and understood the Emperor’s thoughts well.

Ye Zhenghuai had brought the wrong son, and the Emperor knew about Ye Chuan’s rebellion from yesterday. Now, with these circumstances, Lin Zhao knew exactly how to frame his words.

It didn’t take long for Ye Zhenghuai to realize the gravity of the situation. He felt his legs weaken and almost collapsed on the spot, but Ye Cheng quickly supported him.

This was the end.

The Crown Princess had already met Ye Chuan…

Which meant she most likely knew Ye Chuan was the true future son-in-law. The Emperor must know as well!

Everything pointed to the fact that the Emperor was fully aware of the truth, and Ye Zhenghuai’s position had become even more precarious.

The Emperor asked again, “The Crown Princess has seen him? How did she evaluate him?”

“Your Majesty, I believe Lord Ye knows his son better than anyone,” Lin Zhao tactfully replied.

“Oh?” The Emperor raised an eyebrow in “surprise” and turned to Ye Zhenghuai, “Lord Ye, what is the situation?”

At that moment, Ye Zhenghuai almost collapsed under the pressure but gathered his wits.

“Your Majesty, Ye Chuan is my third son, and it was by Her Majesty the Empress’s grace that he was arranged to marry the princess,” Ye Zhenghuai quickly replied.

Ye Cheng’s face had turned pale.

He wasn’t as quick-witted as his father, but even he could sense that the position of son-in-law had slipped from his grasp.

“Such a coincidence?!” The Emperor pretended to be shocked, then quickly added, “Congratulations, Lord Ye! Your son, Ye Chuan, seems to be a poet of great talent. Soon, he will be known as the ‘Immortal Poet.’ You must be proud to be his father!”

Ye Zhenghuai was drenched in sweat, hurriedly kneeling on the ground. “Your Majesty’s praise is too much. My entire family is grateful and will serve the country loyally. We will not fail you!”

“Haha…” The Emperor laughed heartily, “Your loyalty to the country is well known. But, oh?”

The Emperor suddenly shifted his tone, “Since Ye Chuan is the one chosen by the Empress, why has he not come with you today?”

“Your Majesty, my son Ye Chuan is unruly and has not returned since he left the house yesterday.”

“But, since Your Majesty ordered me to bring him, I dared not disobey, so I brought my eldest son here instead, and now I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

Ye Zhenghuai spoke with trembling hands, hoping this explanation would save him. His words were his last hope.

Ye Cheng, equally terrified, knelt alongside him. Neither of them dared to move as they awaited the Emperor’s judgment.

The Emperor fell silent for a long time, making the atmosphere unbearably tense.

Finally, the Emperor spoke, “Ah, I see…”

The moment Ye Zhenghuai heard those words, he felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted. They had survived—just barely.

“Lord Ye, this is your fault,” the Emperor said sternly. “With such a talented son, he should be nurtured well, as he could become a pillar of the nation. How could you let him be so careless?”

“Your Majesty’s teachings are correct. I am at fault. Please punish me accordingly!” Ye Zhenghuai wiped the sweat from his brow and replied, still trembling.

“Ha ha, I was merely speaking offhand. You need not worry. Stand up and speak,” the Emperor said with a smile.

“Thank you, Your Majesty’s grace…”

With his son’s help, Ye Zhenghuai shakily rose to his feet.

“I have heard that you have three sons, Lord Ye. Your second son, Ye Ren, is quite accomplished and well-known in the capital,” the Emperor continued.

“It seems that Ye Chuan surpasses him. The Ye family will shine brightly. I hope you pay more attention to your sons’ talents.”

At this, Ye Zhenghuai nearly fainted from the shock.

The Emperor had clearly understood everything.

He had mentioned Ye Ren and Ye Chuan, but not Ye Cheng—an unmistakable hint of his thoughts on Ye Cheng.

The Emperor had long known what kind of person Ye Cheng was.

If Ye Zhenghuai had dared to deceive the Emperor earlier, he would have surely paid a heavy price now.

“Yes! I will heed Your Majesty’s words,” Ye Zhenghuai responded, trying to regain composure.

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