Chapter 37: The Xia Emperor Visits the Prince of Qin’s Mansion, Erupts in Fury and Attempts to Strike

Night. The bright moon hung high in the sky.

Prince Qin’s Mansion. The front hall.

Ye Xun was still mapping out a future of survival, with no room for poetry or distant dreams. Although his starting point was hellish, he believed that his fate was his own to command, not heaven’s. He refused to believe that having lived two lifetimes and having already gained the initial trust of Wei Wuji, he could not turn the tide.

At that moment, Zhao Jia entered the hall to announce, "Your Highness, the Duke of Zhen is here."

Ye Xun paused, his brows furrowing slightly. Wei Wuji, visiting in the dead of night? What could be the purpose?

While he was still lost in thought, Wei Wuji stepped into the hall, followed by a man in a black cloak. Ye Xun hurriedly rose, offering a warm smile, "Greetings, Uncle."

Currently, the Prince Qin’s Mansion was under the protection of Wei Wuji, which was the only reason they had been able to avoid crisis and catch their breath. Although there was little genuine familial affection between them, Wei Wuji was his benefactor for this aid. Ye Xun felt a sincere respect and gratitude toward him.

Wei Wuji nodded with a smile and bowed slightly, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Then, the man beside him impatiently tore off his black cloak. His face was like a frozen mountain, with sharp, sword-like brows and eyes as cold as a frigid river.

Xia... the Emperor of Xia?

Ye Xun was stunned for a moment before stepping forward to bow, "This son greets the Imperial Father."

He truly had not expected Ye Lantian to come to the Prince Qin’s Mansion.

"Humph..."

Ye Lantian flicked his sleeve with a cold snort, his face dark and his brows locked in a deep scowl.

This was not entirely unprovoked. Ye Xun himself wanted to slap his own face twice. He had actually pinched the daughter of the Great General in public! Was that something a human being would do? It was a testament to Lu Jiuyuan’s magnanimity that he had held back his rage and not drawn his blade to cut him down on the spot.

Ye Lantian’s late-night visit was completely unexpected. However, he assumed Wei Wuji must have told him about recent events, and now the Emperor wanted to see if this son was truly worth saving.

*Sigh...*

Ye Xun let out a long breath. *One step at a time,* he thought. *The position of Crown Prince is already gone; there is nothing left to fear.*

Ye Lantian’s gaze was like a torch; he snorted coldly and sat in the seat of honor. Wei Wuji stood beside him, looking solemn.

Although Wei Wuji had informed him that Ye Xun had changed, the mere sight of Ye Xun ignited a fire of irritation in Ye Lantian. How could he have sired such a disappointing wretch?

Ye Xun stepped forward, poured two cups of tea, and handed one to Ye Lantian and the other to Wei Wuji. Then, he stepped back two paces, bowed deeply with a sincere expression.

"Imperial Father, Uncle, Xun’er knows that saying anything now is too late. But I promise that from this day forward, I will never act recklessly again. I will study hard, train diligently, and strive to become a worthy prince, serving the people and the nation with loyalty, so that you no longer have to worry for me."

Facing Ye Lantian, Ye Xun felt helpless. He did not possess the strength to cut through three thousand miles of mist with a sword, so he could only humble himself and admit his faults. One could not afford to be a mindless, reckless brute.

*Smash!*

Ye Lantian stood up abruptly, knocking the tea cup Ye Xun had offered to the floor, where it shattered into pieces.

Ye Xun looked up, staring at Ye Lantian in bewilderment. *What is happening?* Wasn't today supposed to be about burying the hatchet, making peace, and relishing a moment of father-son affection? Why had it turned into a physical altercation?

Ye Lantian pointed at Ye Xun, his eyes bloodshot with fury. "I! How did I ever sire a good-for-nothing like you!? When your mother was lying in a coma, this was exactly what you promised me! When you broke the leg of the Duke of Lu’s second son on the street, this was exactly what you promised me! When you knelt and begged me to act as matchmaker for Shangguan Yunqing, this was exactly what you promised me!!!"

"Now, what else could you possibly promise me!?"

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Just looking at you makes me sick!!!"

Ye Lantian cursed, coughing violently as he lunged forward. Seeing him move to strike, Wei Wuji hurriedly reached out to restrain him, "Your Majesty, do not be impulsive!"

Wei Wuji felt a pang of shame. This was clearly Ye Lantian’s reflexive reaction to seeing Ye Xun. He had intended to observe how his son’s temperament had shifted, but in the moment, he had instinctively wanted to beat him to a pulp. It was clear that in Ye Lantian’s heart, he loved and hated Ye Xun in equal measure—perhaps he hated him to the core.

Ye Lantian was fast. Wei Wuji’s hand brushed past his sleeve, failing to stop him. In a flash, Ye Xun felt a gust of wind as if a dark storm was sweeping toward him. He instinctively tried to block, but Ye Lantian’s boot was already leveled at his face.

This did not look like the movement of a sick man. Ye Xun stood paralyzed, staring blankly at the mud-caked sole of Ye Lantian’s boot. If that kick landed, his face would certainly be ruined.

What grudge? What resentment?

Just as Ye Xun was struggling to think of a way to respond, *Sigh...* Ye Lantian let out an angry groan and retracted his foot. He truly could not bear to kick him.

Ye Xun’s mother, Empress Wei Ruyun of the Great Xia, was still in a coma. Ye Lantian had lavished all his affection on Ye Xun, never expecting it to lead to this outcome. He felt as if he wanted to kick Ye Xun to death right here, yet he felt that even if Wei Ruyun were to wake up, Ye Xun would not be worthy to see her. If she learned of all that Ye Xun had done, it would surely drive her back into a coma. She was a virtuous Empress; how could she withstand such a blow?

It was simply too hateful, too detestable. Even so, Ye Lantian still did not land the kick.

Seeing that Ye Lantian had stopped, Ye Xun slowly raised his head, his eyes resolute. "If the Imperial Father wishes to strike, then strike. Every fault and every mistake is mine. Even if you were to beat me to death, I would have no complaints or regrets."

At that moment, his mind was racing. *This scoundrel did so many wicked things, yet he is so cowardly?* He had groveled so much that Ye Lantian no longer believed him. To what extent must Ye Lantian be disappointed in him to remain unmoved by his defense, to the point of wanting to land a few more kicks?

Hearing Ye Xun’s words, Ye Lantian paused, his eyes flickering with emotion. In the past, whenever Ye Xun knelt to beg for mercy, he would invoke his mother or play the victim; he had never been this calm and steadfast. Ye Lantian frowned, a look of suspicion crossing his face. *Could it be?* Had this rebellious son truly turned over a new leaf?

Ye Lantian wanted to believe it, but he dared not. A cold heart is not warmed in a single day. In Ye Lantian’s eyes, Ye Xun had been foolish beyond saving.

"Your Majesty..." Wei Wuji called out softly from behind him.

Hearing this, Ye Lantian remembered the purpose of his visit today: to see how much Ye Xun had truly changed. Since being deposed and losing his support, these past few days had indeed been difficult for him.

However, Ye Lantian still gave him no pleasant look. He sat back in the seat of honor and said in a deep voice, "Are those six poems really composed by a scoundrel like you?"

Ye Xun stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "They were indeed composed by this son. There is no need for me to use such things to seek glory. If I were to cheat on a poem, would I not be inviting humiliation upon myself?"

Having said this, Ye Xun looked up at Ye Lantian, his gaze firm, without a hint of evasion or fear.