Chapter 22

Qinghe didn’t linger and carried Xie Fuyi all the way back to the dormitory, only putting him down by the bed before kneeling in front of him and helping him clean his feet.

Luckily, there was no one around to see. Xie Fuyi breathed a sigh of relief and said lightly, “Is everything arranged for Ye Baisao?”

“Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is in order,” Qinghe replied respectfully. “The poison has no antidote, and our archers are all expert marksmen.”

Xie Fuyi nodded slightly, pausing before issuing an order, “Qinghe, tomorrow, leave the palace and head to the northwest. When Ye Baisao is summoned into the palace, and the army is without leadership, take a team of Imperial Guards and go with my decree to retrieve the military power.”

Qinghe hesitated, not immediately responding, and said, “Your Majesty, this servant waits until after Ye Baisao’s death before leaving…”

Xie Fuyi’s face darkened, and he kicked Qinghe directly in the chest, coldly snorting, “Are you making decisions for me?”

The kick was somewhat forceful, causing Qinghe to stagger back, feeling pain in his chest. However, he immediately knelt back down, “Your Majesty, please calm down. This servant is just concerned…”

“Enough. Didn’t I say everything is arranged? With only about ten people accompanying him this time, even with so many skilled individuals in the palace, can’t they capture him?” Xie Fuyi said impatiently. “And, I only trust you. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to go.”

Qinghe paused, lowering his head, feeling a warmth spread through him at the words “I only trust you.” He replied softly, “Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go and return promptly.”

“Good.” Xie Fuyi then yawned and lay down.

After Qinghe helped him cover himself with the blanket, he quietly slipped into the shadows, standing by the bedside, guarding Xie Fuyi.

…

In the blink of an eye, two days later, Ye Baisao was urgently summoned back to the capital, and the new emperor personally hosted a banquet to welcome him.

Xie Fuyi was dressed exceptionally formally today, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with a jade belt tied around his waist. His white jade-like face had eyes as clear as stars.

Sitting on the dragon throne in the main hall, Xie Fuyi contemplated the arrangements he had made, only waiting for today to successfully conclude.

As Ye Baixiao entered the hall, the palace maids and eunuchs around felt a murderous aura accompanied by a sharp oppressive force, frightening them into holding their breath.

The tall figure of the man hadn’t even removed his armor yet. He was tall with long legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. The fierce winds and sands of the northwest had sculpted his handsome and profound features, and his deep black eyes contained a majestic aura.

Three months ago, when the new emperor ascended the throne, Ye Baisao was still fighting on the frontline. This was his first time seeing the new emperor.

Ye Baixiao simply bowed, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

However, when he saw the emperor seated high above, he paused for a moment. He hadn’t expected the reportedly incompetent and brutal young emperor to be so handsome. As fair as warm jade, and with eyes as bright as stars, he was like a painting. Those eyes were especially captivating, making it hard for people to look away.

Xie Fuyi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Ye Baixiao. Although the protagonist’s name had changed, at least he didn’t look the same!

But seeing the other standing there without any reaction for a while, he lightly tapped the table, his voice carrying a hint of coldness, “General, perhaps you are tired from the journey?”

People around couldn’t help but feel that this general was truly arrogant. Not only did he meet the Emperor’s gaze directly, but he didn’t even kneel.

But with his military power firmly in his hands, even the Emperor couldn’t do anything to him for now.

“I am a bit tired,” Ye Baixiao’s lips were sharp as a sword, as he slightly smiled. The oppressive aura around him instantly intensified as he continued, “I wonder why Your Majesty urgently summoned me back to the capital from hundreds of miles away?”

“Since when has anyone dared to speak to the Emperor like this since his ascension to the throne?”

Xie Fuyi’s expression changed slightly. He reluctantly suppressed his anger, forced a smile, and said, “General, why the hurry? Since you’re tired from the journey, why not sit down and have a drink before we talk?”

Xie Fuyi was, after all, just a new emperor who emerged from the Cold Palace. He hadn’t learned the art of imperial politics since childhood, and his emotions were written all over his face.

Ye Baixiao could easily see through his apparent irritation at being treated so dismissively, but he could only endure silently, pretending to be flattered by the attention.

And then, as soon as he opened his mouth, he was asked to drink first, as if the Emperor feared he wouldn’t notice if something were amiss with the wine.

Ye Baixiao found it somewhat amusing. So, this notorious cruel, and incompetent young emperor was nothing more than a barely eighteen-year-old youth who couldn’t hide his emotions.

Seeing Xie Fuyi staring at the wine cup on the seat all the time, with a hint of nervousness in his deep black eyes, Ye Baixiao nodded as if to indicate that he would sit down. He pretended to raise his wine cup, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Fuyi immediately stealing a glance at him, as if eager to feed him the wine.

Ye Baixiao’s eyes deepened in color, and he once again put down the wine cup without drinking. As expected, Xie Fuyi’s expression of anticipation quickly faded.

Ye Baixiao smiled faintly and asked, “Your Majesty has yet to say what this is about?”

Xie Fuyi hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly took a big gulp of wine. He drank too quickly and choked on it, coughing uncontrollably. His eyes quickly turned watery, and he coughed up a red patch, making his lips moist and tender like they were coated with honey, exceptionally enticing.

But the next moment, Xie Fuyi kicked the little eunuch who had spilled the wine, angrily scolding, “Can’t you pour wine properly? Pouring so much, do you want to choke me to death?”

The little eunuch was scared out of his wits, kneeling on the ground and begging for forgiveness.

Clearly, it was his own fault, yet he still vented his anger on others.

Xie Fuyi: Heh heh, aren’t I wicked?

Ye Baixiao’s previous smile faded slightly, and he withdrew his intense gaze, turning the wine cup in his hand.

This young emperor was indeed capricious in his thoughts, but his appearance was indeed good. It would be a pity to kill him directly in the future.

The young emperor seemed to remember that Ye Baixiao was still present and reluctantly suppressed his anger, gesturing for the little eunuch to leave.

He paused and turned to Ye Baixiao, “I heard that General Ye is approaching middle age, and your parents passed away early. The Ye family still doesn’t have a mistress to this day, so I’m worried about the future of the Ye family. That’s why I summoned General Ye back, intending to arrange a marriage for you.”

Ye Baixiao raised an eyebrow at the words. He had spent most of his time fighting battles and had no intention of getting married.

But this young emperor couldn’t even come up with a decent excuse.

He smiled slightly, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern about my marriage. I wonder which young lady Your Majesty has in mind for me?”

He was just making it up. How could he know which young lady?

Xie Fuyi hesitated for a moment before saying dryly, “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I said it now. How about General Ye have a drink first, and I’ll reveal it later?”

“Alright.” Ye Baixiao smiled and drank from his cup.

Xie Fuyi finally relaxed, his eyes filled with satisfaction, and his killing intent towards Ye Baixiao no longer concealed.

Ye Baixiao pretended not to notice and raised the empty cup in his hand, teasing, “Now that we’ve both had our drinks, Your Majesty doesn’t need to keep us in suspense, right?”

Xie Fuyi chuckled disdainfully, his face full of mockery. “Just a brute who knows nothing but fighting, which lady in the capital would look at you? Since I’m so concerned about the future of the Ye family, why don’t I help you expand your family, General Ye?”

Ye Baixiao narrowed his eyes, his aura suddenly cold and fierce. The little eunuch who was pouring wine trembled with fear, but he seemed completely unfazed as he joked with the young emperor, “Why bother with all the trouble? There are so many young ladies in the capital, none of whom are as handsome as Your Majesty, right? Since Your Majesty is so concerned about the future of the Ye family, why not help expand it yourself?”

His smirk was extremely arrogant, and his words were outright disrespectful!

Xie Fuyi was taken aback for a moment, then his face turned red with anger, pointing at Ye Baixiao’s trembling hand, “Ye Baixiao, you’re out of line!”

Damn! Did the protagonist just flirt with the cannon fodder right at the beginning? Wasn’t the outline saying that the protagonist is focused on career and political schemes, with romance being secondary? There wasn’t even this much flirtation with the protagonist, let alone with the cannon fodder!