But Zhuang Chao didn’t know that Ye Fan had already started plotting against him!
Furthermore, fearing that his Gu Emperor power wasn’t enough, Ye Fan had secretly injected a portion of Deadly Aura into Zhuang Chao’s body.
If the Gu Emperor couldn’t destroy Zhuang Chao, the Deadly Aura that remained in his body would take effect, instantly devouring Zhuang Chao and corroding him into dust.
Zhou Ming, though he had changed his appearance, couldn’t disguise that familiar aura, which Ye Fan still remembered.
Having let him escape once before, Ye Fan naturally wouldn’t allow him to leave easily this time.
However, Zhou Ming’s aura now fluctuated with an evil force, causing an inexplicable panic in Ye Fan.
Although Ye Fan had set up numerous Evil-Purging Formations outside the Ren Family Courtyard, he still felt uneasy.
“Xueying, entertain the guests for now; I need to use the restroom!”
In his haste before, he had only set up three Evil-Purging Formations in the Ren Family Manor.
The number seemed somewhat insufficient, so Ye Fan planned to go out and add a few more.
After leaving the hall, Ye Fan reached into his pocket and pulled out a few Paper Men, scattering them into the wind where they vanished into the darkness.
The Paper Man Technique of the Puppet Corpse Sect was also within Ye Fan’s repertoire.
Before, Ye Fan hadn’t thought of using these techniques, but just now, he had an epiphany about a special use for these Paper Men.
If using a secret method could turn these Paper Men into real people, then couldn’t he use the Paper Men transformed into his likeness to deceive many skilled opponents? Wouldn’t that provide him with an extra layer of safety?
With this thought, a cunning smile appeared on the corner of Ye Fan’s mouth.
The enemies the Ye Family faced, besides Prince Jin, included Zhou Ming and the evil forces behind him, the Holy Envoys… They must not be underestimated…
As Ye Fan continued to form seals and manipulate them above the Ren Family Courtyard, a rich Daoist charm began to permeate the area.
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Capital, the Emperor’s residence!
Emperor Ji Yuchen somewhat wistfully looked at the scene displayed on the large screen, which showed the situation at the birthday banquet in the Ren Family Manor at Flower Capital.
Ye Fan counteracting Feng Hanshao, defeating Jiang Yuan—all the details were crystal clear to Ji Yuchen.
Clap!
Ji Yuchen turned off the large screen with a swing of his hand, his expression complex as he looked across at Ye Changfeng and said, “Old Master Ye, you have raised a fine grandson indeed!”
By this time, Ye Changfeng had entered the great hall and met with Emperor Ji Yuchen.
Together, they watched Ye Fan’s stunning performance at the Ren Family’s event.
Seeing Ye Fan’s impressive actions and learning that the Nether Group was also backing him, Ye Changfeng was dazed for quite some time.
He was already surprised when he learned from Gu Feng that Ye Fan was the Deputy Commander of the Xuanwu Region, but now to find out his grandson also had the Nether Group within his grasp.
How many more hidden cards did he have?
Was this child really his grandson?
But no matter what, it’s always good for the Ye Family that Ye Fan has so many hidden cards!
“You flatter me too much, Emperor!” Ye Changfeng clenched his fist and bowed slightly to Ji Yuchen, then continued in a serious voice, “Emperor, please don’t avoid my question; half a month ago, the Ye Family was tragically annihilated. Such attacks happened simultaneously in all four domains of Great Xia, yet did the royal family receive no word of it? Why did the royal family take no action at all, not even to warn the Ye Family?”
“The Ye Family has contributed outstanding services to the royal family, but this behavior from the royal house doesn’t seem to be in good faith. Doesn’t the royal family owe the Ye Family an explanation?”
Though Ye Changfeng’s voice was soft, his stance was resolute.
If Ye Fan had remained in his foolish state with no hope for the Ye Family to rise again, Ye Changfeng would have swallowed his pride and let Ye Fan live out his life in peace.
However, now on one hand, Ye Fan has awakened and shown even greater talent than before, giving the Ye Family complete hope for a leap forward.
On the other hand, those mortal enemies of the Ye Family have actually sought their utter destruction, not even sparing the Ye Family’s last elder and a fool.
Therefore, Ye Changfeng came to the Capital, resolutely determined to see the Emperor and demand an explanation!
Emperor Ji Yuchen sighed helplessly in his heart, stood up from his chair, and then bowed respectfully to Old Master Ye.
“Old Master Ye, I am deeply ashamed of the misfortunes that have befallen the Ye Family! On behalf of the royal family, I offer the most sincere apology,” Ji Yuchen continued, “For such a major incident, to say that the royal family had no knowledge of it whatsoever would be a lie! But let me tell you the truth, Old Master, by the time the news reached me… the ten core prodigies of the Ye Family had already perished, and there was nothing I could do to change anything…”
Ye Changfeng sat while Emperor Ji Yuchen, at the exalted rank of Emperor, stood beside him respectfully.
Hmph!
Half-truths and half-lies, that’s what Ji Yuchen’s words were. The royal family governed the whole of Great Xia, and no matter how weak they might be, they definitely knew some information first hand. Ji Yuchen’s current explanation was merely an excuse.
From the perspective of the royal family, should the opportunity arise to weaken the strength of the Ye Family, they naturally would be pleased to see conflicts among those below.
This is the art of emperorship!
But Ye Changfeng did not call him out on it, as it was pointless to pursue who was to blame after the event had already happened.
Ye Changfeng’s visit was to seek some compensation from the royal family.
“Elder Ye, I understand that this matter has been a huge blow to the Ye Family! Fortunately, there is still Ye Fan… and those seven sisters-in-law who remained loyal and devoted, which is commendable! Once they bear offspring and expand the family, the Ye Family will soon flourish once again…” Watching the scene frozen on the screen, Emperor Ji Yuchen felt a twinge of envy. Why couldn’t there be such a monstrous talent within the royal family?
Alas!
Hearing Ji Yuchen’s words, Ye Changfeng did not respond but stared intently at Ji Yuchen.
Feeling the intensity of Ye Changfeng’s gaze, Ji Yuchen became somewhat uneasy!
In the end, he could not avoid it. Old Master Ye had come to the Capital to demand an explanation from the royal family. If Ji Yuchen could not provide a satisfactory answer to Ye Changfeng, the royal family, by default, feared they would have to pay a price for their previous mistakes.
In the Northern Tianlong Domain, there was the Ye Banner’s million-strong army, and now Ye Fan controlled the Xuanwu Region as well.
Ji Yuchen’s days were not easy!
Although the royal family had been ruling Great Xia for many years, since it fell into Ji Yuchen’s hands, it had become increasingly difficult!
Externally, there are the Japanese dogs of Dongying coveting from the east, and the Youxiong Tribe from the north with their sights on Great Xia… and within the realm, the major families are restless and eager to move… Internally, with Uncle Wang and Prince Jin lying in wait, there used to be a three-way balance with King Cheng’s intimidation, but ever since the incident involving King Cheng a few years ago, Prince Jin has become more and more arrogant!
If he had known, he would never have tacitly accepted their actions half a month ago!
Now, he’s in a position where he’s criticized from all sides!
Compared to Prince Jin, the Ye Family seemed more reliable!
Besides, now that the Ye Family is weakened, both publicly and privately, he should help the Ye Family out!
Otherwise, if the Ye Family truly collapses, Uncle Wang would probably pull out his support to deal with him, right?
“Old Master Ye, to express the royal family’s remorse, I, in the name of the Emperor, issue a decree recognizing the Ye Family’s hereditary position and appoint you as the Great Xia Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor Mansion may participate in all military and political decision-making matters of Great Xia and has the authority to command officials below the rank of Governor… The royal family has already prepared an estate for you in the Capital, where you can form your own private guards! Ye Fan may inherit your royal power and legally command the Tianlong Army. In addition, the royal family will provide the Grand Tutor Mansion with one hundred volumes of top-grade martial arts techniques, ten tons of top-grade medicinal materials, various supreme weapons, and a total of five hundred third rank elixir pills and fifty fourth rank elixir pills, although these elixir pills will need to be prepared in stages…”
Ji Yuchen was very clear about what Ye Changfeng wanted from his visit to the Capital.
Since he couldn’t avoid it, he decided to more than meet Old Master Ye’s demands, while also directly assisting in the establishment of the Grand Tutor Mansion for the Ye Family… creating a super institution in the Imperial Court capable of contending with Prince Jin!
Although the Ye Family could previously stand against Prince Jin, that position lacked legitimacy, having been somewhat unwarranted and improper!
But now, after the Ye Family establishes the Grand Tutor Mansion, everything will be just as it should be…