Chapter 726 - 727: Make Yourself at Home
Chapter 726: Chapter 727: Make Yourself at Home
However, Xiao Wu had no idea what he was thinking and simply nodded cheerfully.
’Okay, okay!’
She happily held out her hands and began to gesture.
Xie Anbai didn’t understand and could only turn to Ye Chutang. "What is Xiao Wu...?"
Ye Chutang’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "Xiao Wu says she will make sure to pick even more and better gifts to send to your home, Second Young Master Xie."
Xie Anbai was taken aback.
Xiao Wu, of course, had no idea what had happened. She was simply delighted that Xie Anbai said he would take her gift home to treasure.
’Wherever Xie Anbai goes, isn’t that his home?’
That was just how she was.
Wherever Big Sis was, that was home to her.
Xie Anbai was quiet for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright! Whenever you want to visit me in the future, Xiao Wu, you’re always welcome!"
He carefully put away the fan and said goodbye to Ye Chutang and Xiao Wu.
"It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you any longer."
Ye Chutang understood. With Xie Anjun and Xiao Jiayi dead, the entire Xie Family was thrown into chaos. There were surely many matters waiting for Xie Anbai to handle, so she didn’t say much, merely giving a slight nod.
"May all go well for you, Second Young Master Xie."
Xie Anbai slowly tightened his grip on the fan and gave a slow, firm nod.
"Thank you."
...
Ye Chutang brought Xiao Wu home, changed her clothes, had a simple meal, and then returned to her study to read.
It was no different from her previous visits to the palace, as if today had just been another routine medical consultation.
However, what had happened in the palace was impossible to conceal. Then again, Emperor Muwu probably never intended to hide it.
The news spread like wildfire in a single afternoon!
Simultaneously, Emperor Muwu dispatched men to begin investigating everyone connected to the affair.
In just a few short hours, more than a dozen officials in the capital had been arrested.
Everyone knew that something major had just gone down!
When those officials were arrested, some were in taverns, some were at home, and some were even on the street.
The Imperial Army gave them no opportunity to plead their case, arresting them on the spot and throwing them all in prison.
After the initial panic and confusion subsided, people finally realized that these arrested officials all had connections, to varying degrees, with Xie Anjun, Fan Chengzhuo, and their faction.
The Xie Family collapsed overnight.
News of Fan Chengzhuo and Zheng Baosu’s relationship also spread like wildfire, becoming fodder for gossip for countless people.
In the evening, Ye Jingyan returned.
"Big Sis, has something happened in the capital?"
Ye Jingyan asked the moment he walked through the door.
Ye Chutang was reading a travelogue. Hearing his words, she looked up. "Is that so?"
Ye Jingyan took off his outer coat and sat down beside her, his eyes fixed on her face.
"I already heard about you going to the palace today, Big Sis."
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. "Is that why you came back?"
It wasn’t his scheduled day off.
Seeing her reaction, Ye Jingyan thought, ’Just as I expected.’
"It seems you’re already aware of all the news, Big Sis."
Even though she was confined to this small space, his big sister always seemed to know everything the moment it happened, invisibly in control of it all.
Ye Chutang gave a noncommittal response and briefly recounted the events of the morning.
"...That’s about it. His Majesty is furious, so naturally, some people are going to suffer."
Although Ye Jingyan had already heard some rumors, he was still shocked to learn the full details and needed a moment to recover.
"I see... No wonder His Majesty resorted to such thunderous measures at such a critical juncture."
It was the third month, with the spring examinations just around the corner, and countless scholars had gathered in the Capital City.
If it were at all possible to suppress the matter, it would never have been allowed to blow up at a time like this.
Emperor Muwu was clearly furious.
Ye Chutang said, "It’s precisely because of the timing that a major disturbance cannot be allowed."
Ye Jingyan fell into thought.
Ye Chutang added, "It’s good that you’re back. For the foreseeable future, I’m afraid things in the capital will be far from peaceful. Even the Imperial College may not be a sanctuary."
Fan Chengzhuo was a third-rank official and a former Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Xie Anjun had inherited the title of Marquis Zhongyong and held deep connections in the military.
The impact of those two joining forces and colluding with the Wazhen was simply immeasurable.
Just how many of their minions and partisans were there, scattered throughout the imperial court?
Until every last one of them was rooted out, Emperor Muwu probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
Ye Jingyan’s brows furrowed slightly. "This matter is causing such an uproar. I wonder if some students might act rashly..."
"They won’t."
Ye Chutang shook her head.
"Young men are passionate and sincere, which does make them easy to guide and exploit. However, His Majesty’s will is firm this time. He will never allow something like that to happen."
Ye Jingyan considered her words and, finding them reasonable, felt his worries ease.
While he wasn’t participating in the spring examinations himself, many of his classmates and friends were eager to take them, pinning their entire futures on the outcome.
If anything went wrong, they would likely regret it for the rest of their lives.
Ye Chutang said, "Also, people from Nanhu will be arriving soon. This period, conversely, will be the safest time in the Capital City."
Hearing her mention this, Ye Jingyan grew curious.
"Big Sis, do you know who Nanhu is sending to the capital this time?"
"You really think your big sister knows everything?" Ye Chutang tutted.
"You mean you don’t know, Big Sis?" Ye Jingyan asked, surprised.
Ye Chutang: "..."
She leaned back in the rattan chair, covering her face with the book.
"...Aside from a few important ministers from Nanhu, Shui Xingqiu will also be coming."
"Shui Xingqiu?"
Ye Jingyan muttered the name in a low voice.
"The Family Head of the Nanhu Shui Family? Why is he coming too?"
Ye Chutang explained, "He is something of a teacher to Tuoba Yu. Tuoba Yu’s risky actions this time are not unrelated to him, so now that Tuoba Yu is trapped, he has no choice but to come."
"I see..."
Just as Ye Jingyan was about to ask more, a maidservant suddenly hurried in from outside to report.
"Second Miss, the Fourth Young Master is back!"
Ye Jingyan was surprised to see the unconcealable excitement on the young maid’s face.
"Why is A Feng back at this hour?"
He’d said before that even though he was back in the Capital City, he still had to follow military regulations and couldn’t come home often.
"He didn’t say anything beforehand?"
The maid’s face beamed with joy as she quickly explained, "Besides the Fourth Young Master, we have distinguished guests!"
"Distinguished guests?"
Their family was now well-established in the Capital City, and the maids and servants had seen their fair share of dignitaries. There were very few people who could provoke such a reaction.
’Especially at this hour... who could it be?’
Ye Chutang removed the book from her face, glanced outside, and seemed lost in thought.
"Is it Princess Qinyang?"
The maid grinned. "It’s more than that! King Yan Nan is here too! King Yan Nan has come with Princess Qinyang!"
’It was them?’
Ye璟言 was stunned, but quickly recovered and turned back to look at Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang blinked.
"That kid... so unpredictable. Pulling a stunt like this without even a word of notice."
She immediately instructed the maid to prepare for a meal, then turned to Ye Jingyan.
"What a coincidence. Everyone’s here today."
Ye Jingyan looked at her calm and unruffled appearance and felt that something wasn’t quite right.
’Big Sis... why does she seem like she’s been prepared for their arrival all along?’
Just as he was thinking this, Ye Chutang lifted her chin.
"Xiao Wu is practicing her calligraphy in the study. Go call her and tell her A Feng is back."
...
「The Front Hall.」
As soon as Princess Qinyang entered, she warmly greeted her father.
"Father, please sit! Treat this place like our own home, no need to be formal! Chutang has a great collection of fine wine. What would you like to drink?"
She was in high spirits, rattling off the names as if she were listing her own family heirlooms.
"Yunlai Tavern’s Snow Drink is divine! But since you’ve made a special trip, shouldn’t we have something you can’t find just anywhere?"
With that, she turned to Ye Yunfeng, who hadn’t managed to get a word in edgewise since he arrived. Assuming he was being reserved out of deference to King Yan Nan, she said breezily,
"A Feng, don’t be so stiff! Think of this as a family dinner. Just make yourself at home!"