Chapter 91

On the second morning, Ye Qing got up, changed his clothes, and stepped out with a fan in hand. It was now August, and the weather had gradually turned cooler, unlike the scorching heat of before.

At the door, he was stopped by an old Taoist priest, whose beard and eyebrows were white, and who looked spirited and lively. The old man smiled and said, "Scholar, it's not advisable for you to go out."

"How so? Are you putting me under house arrest?" Ye Qing stood still and smiled wryly.

"How can it be house arrest? It's just that we've heard that things outside are not very stable, so we ask you to wait a few more days. Besides, Mr. Yuan will come today."

Ye Qing thought for a moment and asked, "When?"

"Mr. Yuan will definitely come before noon."

Ye Qing returned to his courtyard and saw that a banquet had been set up under a large tree, with a jar of wine placed on the table. He smiled wryly again, wondering what kind of gesture this was.

Looking around, he saw that the nearby courtyards were all covered with green vines, with grapes planted, flowers and bamboo groves everywhere, and occasionally the chirping of autumn insects. He couldn't help but praise, "Indeed, it's a fine place."

Without saying much, he waited for a moment and then heard someone shouting, "Mr. Yuan has arrived."

As soon as the words were spoken, he saw Yuan Shiwen approaching, smiling even before he arrived. "Mr. Ye, I have long heard of your reputation."

Ye Qing took a good look at him, seeing that he was around forty years old, with a long, square face and a very sharp appearance. He smiled and bowed. "I have the honor to meet Mr. Yuan."

Yuan Shiwen gestured for Ye Qing to sit down and said with a smile, "Mr. Ye, I apologize for the inconvenience, but you seem to be in good spirits."

Ye Qing smiled and said, "It's not much of an inconvenience. I'm fine. I assume you didn't come today just to say this?"

Yuan Shiwen was taken aback, not expecting such directness, and laughed. "I came to congratulate you. You offended the Yu family, and the situation was unpredictable, but my master, Grand Secretary Tong, has heard of your reputation and specially sent me to assist you. I believe you will turn this misfortune into a blessing and soon have a bright future, which is truly a cause for great joy."

As he spoke, he loudly ordered, "Bring the banquet. We will discuss everything over the meal."

If this were an ordinary person, without prior knowledge, and unclear about the current situation, they might have immediately accepted the offer. However, Ye Qing paused and said, "Mr. Yuan, please understand, you don't know me well enough. I am a straightforward person and will speak my mind. Please forgive me."

"Regarding the incident with Yu Fan, although many people died, they were all servants. The state examination is coming up, and it is a major event. They won't start an investigation or impose punishment at this time."

"The most critical point is that if Magistrate Zhang Shiyu wanted to arrest me, he could have done so with a few soldiers. Why would he go to the trouble of sending the patrol camp to set up checkpoints along the way? This is like beating a tiger from a distance. Even though the Yu family is prestigious, they wouldn't dare to privately assassinate a scholar in this situation."

"Of course, I am grateful for your good intentions, but I am taking the examination for fame and longevity. My goal in going to the capital is to serve the court, so I can only appreciate your offer in my heart."

"Mr. Yuan, please understand, I don't usually attend banquets at Taoist temples, as it might be disrespectful to the Emperor. However, if you come to my inn, I will certainly set up a simple feast to welcome you." With that, he stood up, bowed deeply, and turned to leave.

Hearing Ye Qing's eloquent and insightful words, which clearly analyzed the situation and refused his favor, Yuan Shiwen was instantly furious and felt a surge of jealousy. He gritted his teeth and almost ordered, "Seize him."

But he restrained himself. Seeing Ye Qing walk away, he asked, "What should we do, sir?"

Yuan Shiwen gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and then smiled cruelly. "This ungrateful dog. I'll see how you end up."

At the Yu family residence, Yu Cheng'en sat on a bamboo couch, with his sons seated on either side, listening. A man in gray was prostrate on the ground.

"Master, all the bodies of those who died in battle have been collected, and the traces have been erased. We have thoroughly investigated the two main scenes and reconstructed the events of that night..."

He then recounted the details, which largely matched the actual situation.

Yu Cheng'en had a blank expression but listened carefully. Finally, he asked, "So, it was truly just Ye Qing?"

"There was also a land god watching, but he did not intervene. However, Mr. Dai did not act, only rescuing the third son."

"I know." Yu Cheng'en waved his hand, suppressing some disgust, and softened his tone. "All those who died will be compensated. As for the land god, I will note this... But what about before that?"

"Indeed, it was only this boy."

"Was the illusionary array set up in advance?"

"Yes, it was a one-time illusionary array, the peak of what a scholar can control. The accompanying mage said that even with an array disk and spiritual objects, it would take at least two hours to set up. It's just unclear how this boy knew in advance..."

Yu Cheng'en considered for a moment, shook his head, and said, "There are too many possibilities, but ultimately it comes down to luck and alertness... But if Yu Fan escaped on horseback for half the night, why did he chase after him?"

"We secretly examined the horse's body and found it died of exhaustion... The rainstorm mostly destroyed the tracks, but a few segments showed that the third son managed to escape for a while, but was eventually caught. If it weren't for Mr. Dai..." The man in gray bowed his head deeply and fell silent.

"Mr. Dai, this is the protection of our ancestors." Yu Cheng'en smiled wryly, pacing in the secret room, muttering to himself, "Early warning, illusionary array, ambush, and pursuit... He really has the makings of a general."

After a long silence, he sighed, "Yu Fan's loss is not unjustified. No wonder my seventh brother advised me to avoid him. I regret not paying enough attention to this person..."

"Have the intelligence from the state city been analyzed?" Yu Cheng'en paused and asked.

"Yes, the responses of the governor and the magistrate are here."

Yu Cheng'en read in silence and dismissed the man. The four sons looked at each other in disbelief, finding it hard to believe. "The governor is keeping things calm, and the magistrate is only checking the checkpoints. What does this have to do with Ye Qing?"

"Is this intelligence only just now being passed on?"

"These people are so incompetent, it's a waste..."

"Silence!" Yu Cheng'en growled, silencing the chaos. "No more nonsense."

The sons fell silent, and the room became deathly quiet. Their obedience made Yu Cheng'en feel a wave of disappointment, and he dismissed them with a lack of enthusiasm.

With Yu Fan in trouble, some of the dragon pearl's power had shifted to the other sons. However, seeing their performance, Yu Cheng'en felt a twinge of regret.

"These four cannot bear great responsibilities."

But since he had punished Yu Fan, he had to take over the matter. Yu Fan was still a member of the Yu family, and this could not be left unresolved.

It was not about right or wrong, but about authority and face.

After the four sons left, the steward led a few unfamiliar middle-aged men in, who had ordinary appearances but exuded a sense of death, drawing attention.

The eldest son frowned and whispered, "They must be the family's assassins... Father is not willing to let this go."

"Why should he let it go? We brothers fighting among ourselves is one thing, but to be bullied by an outsider? This Ye Qing truly deserves to die..."

"Have you forgotten the lesson?" The eldest looked around and warned in a low voice, "In such a major case, why didn't the clan make it public? Father will handle it himself."

"Don't forget that over generations, those who dared to openly oppose our Yu family have had few good endings. But remember, this can only be done, not spoken of. Not a word can be leaked."

"Lord," the three middle-aged men knelt and saluted.

Yu Cheng'en stood quietly, looking down at them. "Our family has raised you for generations, just for this moment. The Black Flag Camp, which once accompanied Duke Jingwen and intimidated Yingzhou, are your claws and fangs still sharp?"

"Where the banner points, we swear to die without hesitation." The three men's voices were filled with the aura of the battlefield.

Yu Cheng'en's eyes lit up. "My father calculated the situation and spent a great deal of resources to reopen the secret path in the Northern Mountains, sending you to the Northern Wei to be trained. You pretended to be grassland bandits robbing small tribal caravans, honing your military spirit in blood. My brothers and I all participated in the north, and that's how we were trained."

At this point, he felt some satisfaction and some regret. "The grassland has its defenses now. Since we don't have the certainty, we've shifted to trade, which has been profitable. You are the core seed of our foundation, and this should not have been recalled by a simple message, but now..."

"We are willing to die for you." Still, only this one phrase.

"Hmph, the dragon's aura has changed, and the undercurrents are turbulent. We must show our colors. To avoid being outmaneuvered, fifty of you will immediately go to the old estate in the eastern city to collect your weapons. Another hundred armored soldiers will be at your disposal. You will travel secretly at night and rest during the day, entering Pingshou County."

Yu Cheng'en's eyes were deep, and he spoke smoothly, then took out a map. "This is a copy of the ancestral map of the state. We have finally updated it with recent changes. There are also a few spies who will guide you to a bandit hideout in the northwest of Pingshou County. You will immediately ambush and kill them all, then disguise yourselves as bandits and destroy the Ye family. But you must wait for my final message."

"Understood."

"Remember, the action must be extremely covert. This is not the grassland. The population is dense, and major towns and clans have divine patrols. Try to stay far away and avoid getting too close. To prevent detection, I will ask the family's ancestral spirit to accompany you. Remember?"

"Understood."

"As for the aftermath, don't worry. Once the task is completed, you will use the secret path to the grassland. Those who die will be compensated according to regulations, and their families will be taken care of by the family... You will depart immediately."

"Understood."

Watching them leave, Yu Cheng'en took a deep breath and thought. This order to destroy the Ye family was not made in a moment of impulse.

As long as there are no obvious traces, what can the authorities do even if they know?

With this thought, he entered the ancestral hall.

In the hall, a black flag was planted, fluttering in the wind. Yu Cheng'en examined it carefully. Although the flag still had a strong aura of killing, it was not a military soul, let alone the official seal of the court. The founding commander had long fallen into the underworld, and he sighed inwardly.

However, his eyes lit up again, and he smiled softly. "I am the head of the Yu family."

This time, the dragon pearl's power was divided among his sons, but he took the largest share.

At the age of thirty-seven, he was in the prime of his life and was not willing to be a stepping stone for others.

Even if that person was his own son.

A short while later, several gray figures arrived at the old estate in the eastern city.

In the agricultural age, night blindness was common. Any army that dared to travel at night was a well-trained elite, even for a prestigious family like the Yu family, which could not support such an army without the benefits from the secret path in the Northern Mountains.

The army silently collected their weapons and set out under the starlit sky, quickly disappearing into the dark night.

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