The carriage halted right at the gates of the royal palace. A body search was imminent, but Ye Jingyu enjoyed the King’s deep trust, allowing him an audience without kneeling—these tedious formalities were naturally waived. As for Hei Ming Shixuan?
Well… who would bother searching a ten-year-old girl, especially when she was clad only in a purple gauze dress, her small feet bare? It seemed impossible she could conceal any weapons.
Of course, if they had known that a mere glance from Hei Ming Shixuan had sent Eunuch Li flying, they would have thought otherwise…
Ye Jingyu led Hei Ming Shixuan by the hand, following closely behind Eunuch Li, making their way toward Luo Xiaofeng’s Imperial Study. Along the route, Shixuan’s sheer cuteness drew the attention of many palace maids. Women are naturally immune to adorable things; though they dared not approach or tease the little Shixuan, murmuring among themselves was unavoidable…
However, more prevalent was the confusion: Why would Ye Jingyu bring a small girl when coming to meet the sovereign?
Arriving before the Imperial Study doors, a waiting eunuch announced their presence. A calm voice drifted out from within—Luo Xiaofeng’s…
Eunuch Li discreetly withdrew. Ye Jingyu, however, pulled Hei Ming Shixuan inside the study…
It was a study spanning over a hundred square meters, lined entirely with towering bookshelves packed with volumes. Naturally, this was the King’s private study, not the Grand Archive; though the books were many, they were merely many…
Several paintings adorned the surrounding walls: one depicted a coiling dragon and a pouncing tiger, another a vast panorama of rivers and mountains, seemingly forecasting Luo Xiaofeng’s ambition to command the empire’s destiny.
Beyond that, the room featured a massive Eight Immortals table, flanked by four enormous bonsai trees, their crabapple blossoms just beginning to bud…
Luo Xiaofeng, robed in silver-white dragon silk, sat behind the table, his eyes fixed intently on Hei Ming Shixuan as she entered with Ye Jingyu…
Standing behind him was a gaunt old man, the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Court, Eunuch Yun—the grandfather of Xiao Muzi, Nan Fengquan, none other than Nan Fengyun himself.
His gaze, too, fell upon Hei Ming Shixuan, filled with profound surprise…
“Your humble general pays respects to Your Majesty…” Ye Jingyu released Shixuan’s small hand and stepped forward, offering Luo Xiaofeng a cupped-fist salute…
“My esteemed minister, where did you abduct this little girl from?” Luo Xiaofeng paid no mind to Ye Jingyu’s form of address, nor did he rebuke him for bringing a child. He had already been informed Ye Jingyu was bringing a girl, intensely curious why he would commit such a breach of etiquette. But upon seeing Hei Ming Shixuan, relying on his intuition as a Martial Saint, Luo Xiaofeng sensed the extraordinary nature of the child…
At the very least, the aura that intermittently pulsed from her core was terrifying…
“I beg Your Majesty’s pardon…” Ye Jingyu offered another bow and recounted how he had encountered Hei Ming Shixuan.
Naturally, he omitted the detail that Shixuan’s current body was reforged with Ten Thousand Year Snow Lotus essence. He only mentioned being gravely wounded and saved by the Hei Ming sisters, and that when Hei Ming Yingjie had to leave on urgent business, she entrusted her sister’s care to him…
He subtly implied to Luo Xiaofeng that these sisters were tremendously powerful, and that he hadn't deliberately brought her; rather, he had no means to stop her from coming.
In truth, Ye Jingyu needed to say little. Luo Xiaofeng could already sense Hei Ming Shixuan’s anomaly. Yet, when looking at Ye Jingyu, his expression was laced with peculiarity. Just what kind of influence did this fellow possess beneath the surface? Why were such strange, formidable figures so eager to gather around him?
“My esteemed minister, sit and speak,” despite his confusion, Luo Xiaofeng’s demeanor toward Ye Jingyu grew warmer…
“I thank Your Majesty…” Ye Jingyu showed no false modesty, heading directly to an adjacent seat and conveniently hoisting Hei Ming Shixuan onto his lap…
Little Shixuan behaved remarkably well, surprisingly remaining quiet…
“Nephew, your accomplishments in the Western Campaign were monumental; you truly are the pillar of our Shu Yun Kingdom…” Once Ye Jingyu was seated, Luo Xiaofeng smiled faintly and uttered a rather perplexing statement…
Ye Jingyu stiffened. Nephew? For a sovereign ruler to address him as 'nephew'—was this an attempt to forge closeness that was too blatant?
“It is all due to Your Majesty’s brilliance…” Hearing Luo Xiaofeng call him 'nephew,' Ye Jingyu dared not address the King as 'Uncle'…
“Heh heh, there are no outsiders here, speak freely,” seeing Ye Jingyu remain constrained, Luo Xiaofeng chuckled lightly…
“Yes… Your Majesty…” Ye Jingyu replied, though his posture grew even more formal…
Noticing Ye Jingyu’s increasing stiffness, Luo Xiaofeng sighed with a wry smile, then continued: “Nephew, with your strategy of fire attack this time, you utterly annihilated the Ao Shi Legion, suffering the loss of only just over three thousand men. This is a classic battle rarely seen in a century…”
“Your Majesty, in that battle, over seven thousand of our brothers died on the field…” Upon hearing Luo Xiaofeng state the actual casualty figures, a shock ran through Ye Jingyu. However, his expression remained unmoved, and he responded calmly, “… ”
“Heh heh, I may be old, but I am not senile. I know you wished to protect those men. I did indeed send men to eliminate them, yet you still managed to bring out more than eight thousand. Ah Yu, your capabilities truly astonish me. Do you realize that?” To Ye Jingyu’s surprise, Luo Xiaofeng showed no anger, but a faint smile graced his lips, addressing Ye Jingyu intimately as ‘Ah Yu’…
Hearing Luo Xiaofeng openly admit the matter and state the precise remaining number of the Iron Army, Ye Jingyu could no longer maintain the composure on his face. He looked up at Luo Xiaofeng, gazing at that smiling face, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say?
“Do you know why I intended to eliminate them?” Watching the stunned Ye Jingyu, Luo Xiaofeng chuckled softly. Without waiting for a reply, he spoke to himself: “They are all disciples of various sects. Their allegiance lies only with their sects, never with the court. I am the ruler of a nation, and I cannot permit an army that does not obey the court’s command. Do you understand?”
“I understand…” Ye Jingyu nodded heavily. He certainly grasped the logic, but understanding it was one thing; for him to kill over ten thousand men for that reason was something he could never do… His methods might be ruthless, but his heart was fundamentally benevolent…
“Heh heh, it’s good that you understand. However, I have changed my mind now. I do not intend to kill them,” Luo Xiaofeng’s face once again broke into a faint smile, deepening the look of doubt in Ye Jingyu’s eyes…
(Alas, this month I worked myself to the bone, yet some say I am stingy and haven't updated enough. I truly don't know what to say. Oh, a brother suggested that software can defend against ordinary swords, but Yue Youqun’s full strike is Innate Sword Qi—that soft armor certainly wouldn't block it… Well, I have seen everyone’s suggestions and encouragement. Let’s work hard together!)