Chapter 31: Ye Xun Furious in the Dungeon, Slashes the Chief Clerk, Demands Talent from Wei Feng, and Launches a Grand Plan

Liu Jingfu clutched his shoulder blade with one hand and the wound on his left ear with the other. The ear that Ye Xun had severed was clutched between his trembling fingers; he looked wretched, his silence as profound as that of a cicada in winter.

Wei Feng ignored him, turning instead to Ye Xun. "Your Highness, Liu Jingfu is merely a pawn. If you wish to uncover the mastermind behind this, you cannot take his life. We are currently in a state of war—a struggle where only one side can survive. If you cannot endure a minor slight, you will ruin the greater plan. If you kill Liu Jingfu, the trail for this case ends with him."

"Furthermore, the Prince of Qin’s estate is waning, and Zheng Qian’s background is far from clean. The Emperor will not seek justice for you, and reporting this to the Ministry of Justice will only result in the matter being buried. If you intend to take that path, the Wei family alone is not enough to ensure success. They need to see your value and your capability, not someone who acts only on impulse..."

Wei Feng left the rest unsaid, but Ye Xun understood it all too well.

Ye Xun gave a slight nod. "Thank you, cousin."

He then dropped the backsword he was holding to the floor, walked over to Zheng Qian, hoisted him up, and led him out of the dungeon.

At this moment, Ye Xun finally understood that only power can contend with power. Fairness and justice exist only between equals; in the struggle between princes, it is a matter of life and death.

Wei Feng crouched down and said to Liu Jingfu in a low voice, "Liu Jingfu, you should understand the consequences of attacking a prince. Remember this: no matter how fallen the Prince of Qin may be, he is still the nephew of the Duke of Zhen. Tell your master not to play such foolish games again."

Seeing that Wei Feng did not intend to kill him, Liu Jingfu endured his intense pain and nodded frantically.

"Yes."

"What the Junior Minister says is true. This lowly one will remember, this lowly one will surely remember..."

Wei Feng stood up and headed toward the dungeon exit. He had spared Liu Jingfu not only to avoid escalating the matter but also out of consideration for the Wei family’s position. If Ye Xun had killed Liu Jingfu, it would have forced the Wei family into a total commitment to Ye Xun—and they were not yet entirely convinced of his capabilities.

Thus, Wei Wuji’s intervention today was born of old sentiment, a private matter unrelated to political alignment. To this day, Wei Wuji had only met with Ye Tao once. The Wei family could not afford to choose a side unless absolutely necessary. Moreover, the Wei family represented not just one clan, but the entire Guanxi gentry; a single move could trigger a chain reaction. One wrong step, and the entire Guanxi faction would face suppression. Even if Wei Wuji were to choose a side, he would have to lay his cards on the table with Ye Lantian. This was not merely a personal matter; it touched upon the core tenet of the Guanxi faction: unwavering loyalty.

However, after today, anyone thinking of targeting Ye Xun would have to weigh the consequences.

...

Outside the government office, a carriage carried Ye Xun, Zheng Qian, and Wei Feng toward the Prince of Qin’s estate. Given Wei Feng’s status, the curfew was as good as non-existent.

Zheng Qian leaned against Ye Xun, trying to struggle to his feet, but he lacked the strength. "Your Highness, this... this lowly servant has caused you trouble again. I deserve death. I failed to protect the money... the money bag. I have failed you..."

Ye Xun hugged his shoulders and forced a smile. "Say no more. This is not your fault; it is I who have implicated you. We will be at the estate soon; just focus on recovering."

Wei Feng sat to the side, silent, listening to Ye Xun’s words with a thoughtful expression. He could tell that Ye Xun’s show of emotion was genuine, not feigned. He recalled how the Crown Prince of the past had been arrogant, unruly, and debauched. Yet now, he was exhausting all his efforts for a gambling servant—the rage of a commoner, truly rare to see. It seemed the stripping of his title had indeed left a profound impact on him.

Ye Xun did not ask Wei Feng too many questions. He knew his own bargaining chips were too few and his voice too weak. Wei Wuji was helping him partly out of kinship and partly because the future of the Wei estate remained uncertain. Until Ye Xun demonstrated absolute capability, Wei Wuji would not help him strike at anyone.

Ye Xun was not in a hurry. The Prince of Qin’s estate only needed protection for the time being. Once he brought his ideas to fruition, wealth, power, and influence would follow. When that time came, all those who targeted him would pay a bloody price. For now, he had to endure—to build his walls high and store his grain deep.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the Prince of Qin’s estate. Wei Feng and Ye Xun helped Zheng Qian into the front hall. Zheng Qian had never imagined that he would one day be supported by both a Prince and the heir of the Duke of Zhen; it felt like a dream.

In the front hall, Cao An and Ling'er were waiting with anxious faces, hoping for Ye Xun's return. The steward of the Duke of Zhen’s estate and several physicians were already there, having just finished treating Cao An and Wangcai. Upon learning that the Duke of Zhen had intervened to help the Prince of Qin, both Cao An and Ling'er felt much more at ease. After all, Wei Wuji was the most powerful official in the Great Xia.

At that moment, Ye Xun and Wei Feng walked in, supporting Zheng Qian.

Cao An and Ling'er hurriedly rushed forward, their faces filled with relief.

"Your Highness, are you unharmed?"

"Your Highness, are you hurt?"

Ye Xun shook his head slightly. "Rest assured, I am fine."

The physicians immediately stepped forward to take Zheng Qian aside to treat his wounds. Cao An then hurriedly bowed to Wei Feng. "Cao An pays respects to the Young Duke Wei."

Hearing this, Ling'er was momentarily stunned before also bowing. "Ling'er pays respects to the Young Duke Wei."

Wei Feng nodded slightly, offering them a warm smile. "No need for such formalities."

Wei Feng was not only handsome and gifted in both literary and martial arts, with a profound background and an extraordinary status, but his amiable personality also made him quite popular among the young nobility of the capital—the dream of countless young ladies.

Afterward, Ye Xun and Wei Feng sat before a desk. By now, Wei Feng’s impression of Ye Xun had changed significantly, especially after seeing him draw his blade to strike at Liu Jingfu. While impulsive, it showed true spirit. Without such spirit, Ye Xun’s path ahead would be far too difficult. Most importantly, he was willing to listen to advice.

Wei Feng spoke first, his voice measured. "Your Highness, after today’s events, no one should dare to trouble the Prince of Qin’s estate for some time."

"I can leave these physicians here and send a squad of guards. Although the Emperor dismissed all your servants, I don't think he will blame my father for this, given the gravity of today's incident."

"Is there anything else you need?"

Ye Xun nodded. "Thank you, cousin."

"I need a group of laborers and a shop. The soap business has just gained some momentum; I cannot stop now. This is the key to proving my worth to my uncle."

"Very well," Wei Feng said, taking a sip from a cup on the desk. "I will arrange the laborers and the shop. You can rest assured they will come from our own workshops; there is no need to worry about anyone with ulterior motives slipping in."

"But I have one thing to ask you, Your Highness. Merely earning some silver is far from enough."

"Those four masterpieces that have been passed down—were they truly composed by you?"