"Because I have my handsome older brother by my side..." Hei Ming Shixuan's reply was sincere, utterly genuine...
What kind of logic was that? A dark line formed between Ye Jingyu's brows...
"Then can you tell me where your home is?"
"I don't know..." Hei Ming Shixuan shook her head instead...
"Then can you tell brother who your father and mother are?" Ye Jingyu was persistent...
"Father is father, and mother is mother..." Hei Ming Shixuan answered with utmost honesty...
"Ugh..." Ye Jingyu was showing clear signs of breakdown...
"Then what do they do for a living?" The last shred of his reason told Ye Jingyu he had to clarify her identity...
"Father does being a father, and mother does being a mother..." Hei Ming Shixuan's eyes remained filled with honesty...
"..." Staring into those honest eyes, brighter and truer than any diamond, Ye Jingyu decided to give up...
Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside, and moments later, Lin Xiaoyi burst in breathlessly...
"Young Master, a eunuch has arrived from the palace..." Lin Xiaoyi's face was etched with fear...
"A eunuch came, so a eunuch came. Why are you so agitated? Wait, that's not right. I don't have any acquaintances in the palace, nor do I know any eunuchs. What would he be doing here?" Ye Jingyu seemed unconcerned, though he only realized afterward that he truly had no relationship with any palace eunuch...
"It's an Imperial Edict..." Lin Xiaoyi exclaimed...
"Oh, let's go take a look at what it says..." Ye Jingyu feigned understanding, but his expression remained utterly relaxed...
Saying that, he took little Shixuan's small hand and headed towards the main hall...
Seeing his young master's demeanor, Lin Xiaoyi's mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. Which prince or minister in Yun Jing wouldn't be trembling upon hearing of an Imperial Edict? To face such a decree with such composure, perhaps he was the only one in the entire Shu Yun Kingdom...
Usually, receiving an edict required setting up an incense table to worship Heaven and Earth. However, Ye Jingyu knew nothing of these customs. The General's Manor was filled with rough men, and the only one who understood etiquette well, Zhuge Yi Shi, was absent. Even if he were present, Ye Jingyu probably wouldn't have the inclination to set up any incense table. In his eyes, the so-called Imperial Edict was merely a notification from the Sovereign...
Arriving in the grand hall, he saw a man standing there, arrogantly posturing. He wore a purple python robe and a purple gauze cap, his face gloomy yet surprisingly fair and delicate...
"Ah... so it is Eunuch, welcome. Heh heh, I truly didn't expect Eunuch Li to have such free time today as to visit the Town Guard Manor. Someone, serve tea! Bring out that Mother Blood Guanyin we acquired last time for Eunuch Li to sample..." Although he didn't know the man's exact identity, Ye Jingyu, from the novels of his past life, knew that men with such evident physical deficiencies often harbored twisted hearts. He could be arrogant before the Sovereign, but he certainly didn't want to offend these eunuchs, who were worse than petty men...
"The Great General is too kind. Let us quickly receive the decree..." This eunuch was named Li, a supervising attendant who frequently followed Luo Xiaofeng...
"Oh..." Ye Jingyu nodded, stepped forward, extended both hands, presenting an air of 'just hand it over'...
Seeing Ye Jingyu's manner, Eunuch Li gave a wry smile. But then he recalled the privilege granted by the Sovereign—exemption from kneeling before the Emperor, let alone when receiving an edict...
He said no more and directly handed the Imperial Edict in his grasp to Ye Jingyu...
As Ye Jingyu took the edict from Eunuch Li's hand, he simultaneously passed over a thick stack of banknotes—the proceeds from selling the many jewels he had looted from the Hu Kingdom. Though he needed substantial funds himself, he understood that smooth dealings began with connections...
Winning hearts had to start with money...
The moment Eunuch Li accepted the stack of silver notes, the wry smile on his face transformed into one of sweet delight. This Loyal Courageous Duke, while perhaps a bit too arrogant, certainly knew how to handle people...
Ye Jingyu took the edict and, without hesitation, opened and read it right in front of Eunuch Li...
"His Majesty wants me to attack immediately?" Seeing the content of the edict, surprise flashed across Ye Jingyu's face...
He had only just left the palace today; why must he go again already?
"Indeed. Please prepare yourself, Great General, and accompany this servant back to the palace to meet His Majesty..." Eunuch Li’s face now wore an amiable expression, entirely thanks to that substantial stack of banknotes...
"May I ask why His Majesty wishes to see me?" Ye Jingyu asked, slightly bewildered...
"This servant is also unclear. However, before coming here, Marquis Baiyun had an audience with His Majesty..." Acting on the principle of accepting money to settle troubles, Eunuch Li, while unwilling to actively help Ye Jingyu, felt revealing a non-secret secret was harmless enough...
"Marquis Baiyun?" Ye Jingyu paused. Wasn't Marquis Baiyun Qin Yan? Had he said something to His Majesty?
"Eunuch, please wait a moment. I shall change my clothes and accompany you to the palace immediately..." Though filled with doubt, Ye Jingyu understood that even though Luo Xiaofeng treated him relatively well, he did not yet possess the ability to defy an edict...
Furthermore, he was eager to know exactly what Qin Yan had told Luo Xiaofeng...
"Big Brother, I want to go with you..." Just as Ye Jingyu was about to turn, Hei Ming Shixuan, standing beside him, tugged lightly at his clothes, shaking him gently...
"This..." Ye Jingyu knew he couldn't refuse Hei Ming Shixuan, and he looked toward Eunuch Li with difficulty...
The Royal Palace was not like other places; one couldn't just wander in...
"General Ye, that is absolutely out of the question..." Hearing this absurd request, Eunuch Li, whose smile had just been in place, instantly turned stern. What kind of joke was this? The Royal Palace was not a place one could enter at will?
"I must go..." Who knew that the usually quiet Hei Ming Shixuan, upon hearing these words, had a flash of purple light in her eyes? The formerly innocent look on her face twisted into something fierce. An invisible surge of energy shot directly toward Eunuch Li...
Without giving Eunuch Li any chance to react, that unseen force struck him, blasting him backward completely. He slammed heavily against the wall behind him, causing the entire structure to shudder...
This sudden turn of events was completely unexpected, even by Ye Jingyu, whose expression instantly changed. He moved with lightning speed, rushing toward Eunuch Li...
"Eunuch, are you alright..." Although Ye Jingyu was bold, and often disregarded the laws of the Shu Yun Kingdom because he knew some of Luo Xiaofeng's boundaries, if he were to kill the very eunuch sent to deliver an edict from Luo Xiaofeng, that would surely be deemed treason!