“Hmm, in that case, rise, my dear minister,” Emperor Xiaowu waved his hand.

“Your Majesty, I am honored. I take my leave,” Ye Zhenghuai finally let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly left with his son, looking somewhat disheveled.

Watching their retreating figures, the Emperor’s face darkened, the coldness in his eyes no longer concealed.

“Your Majesty, I must dare ask,” Lin Zhao spoke up from the side.

“You’re wondering why I spared him, right?” Emperor Xiaowu replied calmly.

“Your Majesty is wise, but I truly don’t understand,” Lin Zhao’s face was troubled. “Ye Zhenghuai has committed treason, attempting to use his eldest son as a pawn in a deceitful scheme.”

“Moreover, he has long supported the peace faction in the court, lacking any backbone. Your Majesty could have seized this opportunity to…”

Before Lin Zhao could finish his words, Emperor Xiaowu slowly turned his head, his piercing gaze landing on Lin Zhao, accompanied by a faint smile, “Oh? Are you teaching me how to act?”

“I dare not!” Lin Zhao hastily knelt, his face pale in fear. “I deserve to die! Please, Your Majesty, punish me!”

Emperor Xiaowu gave a cold hum, his silence stretching on for a long time.

Finally, he let out a soft sigh, “Prepare the carriage, we are going to Changle Palace to visit the Empress.”

Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

In his lifetime, the Emperor had many consorts, but there was only one woman in his heart—the Empress, who had passed away. Since her death, the Emperor had shown no interest in appointing a new Empress, and rarely visited the harem. The fact that he spared Ye Zhenghuai today was likely due to the Empress’s past friendship with Ye Zhenghuai’s late wife.

…

Ye Residence.

Ye Zhenghuai’s face was dark as he entered the front hall, his son, Ye Cheng, following him in fear. Zhao Shi had been waiting and greeted them with joy.

“My lord, my son, how did it go? What did the Emperor say?”

“Hmph!” Ye Zhenghuai coldly snorted, his face grim.

“Mother, don’t ask anymore. It’s a lost cause,” Ye Cheng muttered resentfully. “Ye Chuan wrote a poem, and now Father… I don’t know what happened, but he changed his mind at the last minute.”

His words angered Ye Zhenghuai, who nearly spat blood. He could no longer hold back and slapped his son across the face.

“You fool!”

Ye Cheng was stunned, holding his face in terror.

Zhao Shi was also shocked, “My lord, why are you so angry?”

Ye Zhenghuai, in a foul mood, didn’t bother answering, his voice darkened, “Go, find Ye Chuan and bring him back!”

After a pause, he added, “Be polite.”

Zhao Shi’s heart sank, sensing that something was wrong, but she smiled gently and said, “Of course! I’m worried about him being out there alone. My lord, is something wrong?”

“Something wrong?” Ye Zhenghuai snorted, gritting his teeth. “If anything’s wrong, it’s still mild! That ungrateful son of mine… How dare he play me for a fool!”

He was fuming inside.

On the way back from the palace, Ye Zhenghuai had pieced together the situation in his mind. It was clear now: Ye Chuan had set him up!

The boy must have met General Li Xuanwu and Princess Yunxi after leaving home yesterday. Later, he returned to hand over the jade pendant, hiding the matter involving the general and the princess, clearly intending to make his father commit treason!

What a treacherous son!

Now the Emperor’s intentions were obvious.

Ye Chuan had to be nurtured well!

If the Emperor ever found out that Ye Chuan was wandering outside…

Ye Zhenghuai’s hatred grew as he looked up, noticing that Zhao Shi and Ye Cheng were still standing there in a daze. He was about to lose his temper again. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up!”

Zhao Shi, suppressing her own worries, quickly motioned to her son, and they both left.

…

At the best inn in the southern part of the capital, Zhuangyuan Tower.

In Room 1 on the second floor.

“Young master, young master, wake up!”

“It’s already noon! You have to get up and eat something!”

By the bed, Ye Ying’er called out softly, but without much expectation.

Since leaving the Ye Residence yesterday, Ye Chuan had brought her here to stay the night.

“Mmm…” Ye Chuan grunted, still lying in bed, not opening his eyes. “So tired, so weak… Ying’er, kiss me, and I’ll get up…”

Ye Ying’er’s face turned crimson, and she playfully pushed his body. “Young master, stop being so unreasonable…”

Since leaving the Ye Residence, Ye Ying’er had witnessed another side of Ye Chuan. He was quite mischievous.

The previous night, right before they went to sleep…

“My head hurts. I don’t feel well. Kiss me, and I can sleep…”

A girl like Ye Ying’er, inexperienced in these matters, couldn’t handle such requests. She fled in panic.

Who would have thought that this mischievous young master wouldn’t give up? Now, he was “persistent” again!

“Young master, stop teasing Ying’er.”

Ye Ying’er, both shy and feeling unworthy, lowered her head. “I’m just a humble maid…”

She had never dared to entertain such thoughts. In her eyes, someone as amazing as him should marry a noble lady from a prestigious family, even if he didn’t become a prince. As for whether she liked him… she didn’t dare to think about it.

“There’s no such thing as a humble maid.”

Ye Chuan finally opened his eyes, turned onto his side, and looked at Ye Ying’er with a serious expression. “I only see a beautiful lady.”

Ye Ying’er’s heart warmed, a mixture of gratitude and bashfulness, though the deep-rooted sense of inferiority still lingered. “Young master, don’t make fun of me.”

At that moment, a loud commotion came from outside.

“We got it! We got it!”

“The immortal poet’s world-shocking poem is here!”

The crowd erupted with excitement.

“Quick! Let me see it first!”

“Don’t crowd! Let this gentleman recite it for us!”

The noise below grew louder.

Ye Chuan frowned, finally getting up from the bed, stretching lazily. He looked displeased. “What is this nonsense about a poet immortal? They’re disturbing my sleep!”

Ye Ying’er, busy helping him wash up, smiled and explained, “I heard from downstairs earlier that during the morning court, a poem stunned everyone. The Emperor praised it, and now everyone’s saying that the Great Xia has found a poet immortal!”

“Pfft…” Ye Chuan snorted, picking up a towel to wipe his face. “These days, there are too many people with empty reputations. Most of them are just full of hot air…”

As he spoke, the sound of a poem being recited drifted up from below.

“Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, heroes can’t be found, only Li Pingbei…”

“Wait, what?!”

Ye Chuan dropped the towel into the basin, blinking in confusion. “This poem… sounds so familiar!”

💝 Support the Team

McNovelink

✍️ Translator

🍵 Ko-fi