Chapter 35: Why Are You Joining This Rebellious Son in His Folly? Ye Xun Has Talented Men Under His Command

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Listening to Ye Lantian, Wei Wuji said with a genial smile, “Your Majesty, these two poems were composed by His Highness the Prince of Qin.”

“Ye Xun?” Ye Lantian slammed the two poems onto the desk, his anger rising. “How is that possible? Minister, how can you indulge that rebellious son in such nonsense?”

“I know you are unwilling to give up on him. Do you think I am?”

“But that rebellious son! Is he truly capable of shouldering any great responsibility?”

As Ye Lantian spoke, his eyes were filled with the frustration of one who could not bear to see iron fail to become steel.

After a moment, Wei Wuji said gravely, “Your Majesty, I am not jesting. His Highness composed these two poems in Wei Feng’s presence.”

“Oh?” Ye Lantian’s face showed surprise and curiosity. “Then tell me—when did he compose them?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Wei Wuji bowed slightly.

He then recounted everything that had happened the previous night, including every word Ye Xun had spoken to him, without holding anything back.

After listening, Ye Lantian rose to his feet, his brows drawing together.

“When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning hare is dead, the hounds are cooked; when the enemy state is destroyed, the strategists are slain.”

He turned to Wei Wuji in astonishment. “Those words… truly came from that rebellious son?”

Wei Wuji nodded slightly. “Indeed. They were spoken by His Highness the Prince of Qin.”

“And moreover…”

Ye Lantian turned toward him, his brows furrowing. “Moreover, what?”

Wei Wuji said slowly, “Moreover, when His Highness spoke those words, the look in his eyes was exactly like that of Her Majesty the Empress.”

At those words, Ye Lantian froze for a moment, his heart stirred.

“Ruoyun…”

After a pause, Ye Lantian sat down on the meditation cushion and fell into deep thought.

If Wei Wuji’s account was true, Ye Xun seemed almost like an entirely different person.

He was learned, well versed in commerce, capable of yielding when necessary and standing firm when required. He was eloquent, courageous, and responsible…

He had managed to support the entire Prince of Qin’s residence through his own efforts. Even after being ambushed, he had moved Wei Wuji to lend him his aid.

That alone was sufficient proof of Ye Xun’s ability.

Yet Ye Xun’s past had been so disgraceful that it was almost unbearable to recall.

Besides, he had only just been stripped of his position. Without outstanding accomplishments, reinstating him as Crown Prince would convince no one.

After a moment, Ye Lantian looked toward Wei Wuji and said calmly, “Minister, what exactly do you mean?”

Wei Wuji replied solemnly, “Your Majesty, for both public and private reasons, I am certainly willing to support His Highness the Prince of Qin. This is not merely because of our relationship, but also because of the Shaking the Mountains Plan.”

“You know that for the Shaking the Mountains Plan to succeed, the efforts of three generations of rulers will be required.”

“If it were someone else…”

He did not finish the sentence.

But Ye Lantian understood perfectly.

Six years earlier, he and Wei Wuji had secretly devised this plan. Only the leader of the Western Pass faction and the emperor knew of it.

The current generation consisted of Wei Wuji and Ye Lantian.

The next would have been Wei Feng and Ye Xun, who was supposed to become Crown Prince. But Ye Xun had been deposed, leaving that position vacant.

Ye Lantian’s brows knitted tightly, and his gaze was sharp as a torch.

“This alone is not enough to prove that Ye Xun has truly changed, nor that he is capable of becoming the Crown Prince of Great Xia once more.”

Wei Wuji answered, “Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of Qin has asked me to give him one month. After that month, we shall discuss the matter again.”

“Very well.” Ye Lantian nodded slightly. “Although my health is poor, I can still hold on for several years. Make the arrangements, then. I will go and meet that rebellious son myself, and see whether he has truly changed.”

Wei Wuji bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a brief pause, Ye Lantian continued, “By the way, next month, an envoy from Great Qian will arrive in the capital. The Third Princess of Great Qian will be traveling with them. Have Wei Feng receive the delegation. That child is dependable, and I trust him to handle the matter.”

Wei Wuji was secretly delighted. He bowed and said, “Yes, Your Majesty. I shall remember it.”

In recent years, Great Xia and Great Yu had maintained tense relations, while Great Xia and Great Qian had remained extremely friendly.

Thus, receiving the Great Qian delegation was considered a highly desirable assignment.

Passing what should have been the Ministry of Rites’ responsibility to Wei Feng was undoubtedly a way of polishing his credentials and allowing him to accumulate merit.

…

Upper Capital.

The Prince of Qin’s Residence.

Wei Feng was remarkably efficient.

The matter he had agreed to handle for Ye Xun the previous night had all been put into place by today.

Twenty highly skilled guards, fifty hired laborers, as well as several servants and cooks.

The Prince of Qin’s Residence had finally begun to function normally.

For the sake of secrecy and production efficiency, Ye Xun had expanded soap production from Compound A to three compounds: A, B, and C.

Under Ye Xun’s instruction, the more than fifty laborers had already learned to work together skillfully and produce soap.

Ye Xun sat upright behind his desk, reading The Comprehensive History while waiting for the people who would soon arrive to hand over the shops.

Wangcai lay nearby, recuperating from its injuries. Its recovery ability was truly remarkable. Combined with its thick hide and flesh, and the fact that yesterday’s arrow had not penetrated very deeply, it had already recovered by nearly seventy or eighty percent.

Ling’er attended to Ye Xun at his side, pouring tea and water.

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Cao An had one arm wrapped in bandages and was rushing about handling one task after another. With dozens of new people now in the residence, there was a great deal for him to manage.

Ye Xun had initially told him that he would oversee matters himself and ordered Cao An to rest and recover properly, but Cao An had stubbornly refused, insisting that his injuries were not serious.

A short while later, Guard Zhao Jia entered and bowed.

“Your Highness, Liu Jie is requesting an audience outside the residence. He says he was sent by Heir Wei Feng.”

Hearing this, Ye Xun closed the bamboo manuscript and nodded slightly.

“Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zhao Jia acknowledged the order and turned to leave the front hall.

Only then did Ye Xun begin to feel somewhat like a true prince.

Wei Feng was indeed reliable. He had sent all these people over, and Ye Xun did not even need to pay their wages.

Still, Ye Xun felt no ease in his heart.

Although the Prince of Qin’s Residence had escaped its brief crisis, his dream of becoming a carefree prince had probably been shattered.

If he wished to pursue a life of pleasure, he could only aim to become a dashing Crown Prince.

He had already been swept into the storm of the succession struggle, and there was no way to extricate himself.

Especially after Wei Wuji had declared his support for him, an endless storm awaited.

Even so, Ye Xun was not despairing. Having lived two lives, he did not believe that, with the support of the most powerful minister in the imperial court, he could not outmaneuver the others.

Besides, he still had vengeance to claim.

Ye Xun was still thinking when Liu Jie entered from outside the hall and stepped forward to bow.

“Your subordinate Liu Jie greets Your Highness.”

Ye Xun waved his hand. “There is no need for formalities. Sit.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Liu Jie acknowledged him and sat down on a nearby meditation cushion. He then looked toward Ye Xun and said, “Your Highness, Heir Wei Feng asked me to relay a message.”

“Go ahead.”

Liu Jie spoke slowly. “The heir says that Zhao Sihu and Liu Jingfu, who framed Zheng Qian yesterday, have both committed suicide out of fear of punishment. His Majesty’s intention is that the matter ends with the two of them and need not be investigated any further.”

At those words, Ye Xun tightened his grip on the bamboo manuscript. Then, little by little, he relaxed his hand.

“Very well. I understand. I will set this matter aside for now and make no further inquiries.”

At present, Ye Xun had little influence, and this matter certainly involved one of the imperial princes.

After considering the matter from every angle, Ye Xun concluded that Ye Tao was the most suspicious among them.

Ye Lantian did not wish to investigate further because he did not want the struggle for succession to be exposed.

Moreover, Ye Xun still lacked the power to confront any of the imperial princes. For now, he could only record this grudge in his heart.

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