Chapter 517

"Ye Xiaotian doesn't agree?"

Wanli asked in disbelief. "If he doesn't agree, he will die! If he dies, what will belong to him? Why does he persist in something that is destined to be lost? What's wrong with going with the flow? "

Zhu Xingshu smiled bitterly. He had no way of answering Wanli's question. If everything in the world could be explained with reason, why would there be so many disputes? Reason? If reason could be explained, the other had already decided on a marriage. Even if he was the Emperor, how could he have designs on the other?

Emperor Wanli slowly paced a few steps before suddenly stopping. He said resolutely, "Bring him into the palace. We want to see him!"

Zhu Xingshu hurriedly dissuaded him. "Your Majesty, you must not do this! Your Majesty does not want to see him, and he is in prison only because he killed the four chieftains. No matter how he is punished, it will all be justifiable. Once you see him and give him a reason to speak, I'm afraid … "

Wanli glared at him and said unhappily, "What else? Do you have a good plan?"

"This …"

Zhu Xingshu took a step back and lowered his head in silence. But with his advice, Emperor Wanli could not help but hesitate. Just as Wanli was hesitating, a figure flashed by the door. Xu Boyi suddenly flashed in. Xu Boyi knelt on the ground and screamed, "Your Majesty should see him!"

Xu Boyi was incompetent and had already lost the Emperor's favor. However, Wanli did not explicitly revoke his privilege as the Imperial Envoy, so he still had the opportunity to hang around the Emperor. He had been standing outside the door and listening for a long time. At this point, he finally could not hold it in any longer.

Seeing it was him, Wanli said unhappily, "What clever plan do you have now?"

Xu Boyi nodded. "This servant does not have a clever plan, but this servant believes that the Son of Heaven is vast and majestic. All subjects look up to him and all bow down! Ye Xiaotian is just a common man in the marketplace. He only entered by chance. Once he pays his respects to the Son of Heaven, would he not bow down? "

Zhu Xingshu was very unhappy and said coldly, "This eunuch thinks too much. I brought the Emperor's will to see him, but he rejected me without hesitation."

Xu Boyi said, "This is different. Qin Wuyang dared to kill people on the streets at the age of twelve. Crown Prince Dan ordered him to assassinate King Qin, and he agreed without hesitation. But once he entered King Qin's hall, he trembled and his expression turned to fear. Seeing the Son of Heaven with his own eyes and seeing his envoy are two completely different things. "

Wan Li felt that it made sense. He said solemnly, "Pass down the decree. Ye Xiaotian is to enter the palace to see the emperor!"

Zhu Xingshu swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Xu Boyi's lips curled into a pleased expression as he nodded and said, "This servant obeys!"

Xu Boyi left the Palace of Heavenly Purity and looked up at the clear sky, and he couldn't help but smile. He and Ye Xiaotian had been rivals for so long that he was very clear about Ye Xiaotian's donkey temper. Xu Boyi knew that once Ye Xiaotian's bottom line was touched, he wouldn't be afraid of the Emperor. But what would happen if he angered the Son of Heaven by inviting him to see the Emperor?

If this wasn't in the palace and not in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he really wanted to laugh to the sky. He already couldn't wait to see how Ye Xiaotian's head would be separated from his body.

When Ye Xiaotian was dragged out of the Meridian Gate to be beheaded, he would definitely stand in front of Ye Xiaotian and let him see his face. He would let him know that Ye Xiaotian had died by his hand!

… …

The shackles jingled. Ye Xiaotian was escorted out of the prison by two palace guards. Wang Aoyang and Liu Jingyin stood at the prison door and watched as Ye Xiaotian was taken out of the prison and placed on a prison carriage. Four armed guards escorted him away.

Wang Aoyang sighed. "The Son of Heaven is personally investigating. I'm afraid Leader Ye's case won't be light."

Liu Jingyin said, "I heard that Leader was severely punished by the Emperor because he took a fancy to the Emperor's woman …"

Wang Aoyang said, "Nonsense! It's the Emperor who took a fancy to Leader's woman. "

Liu Jingyin sighed. "Since the Emperor has taken a fancy to her, can she still be Leader's woman? That's the Emperor! Fighting over a woman with the Emperor, ai! I really don't know if I should admire him or say he's stupid. "

Wang Aoyang waved his hands and looked at the prison carriage that was moving further and further away. He said quietly, "To be able to fight over a woman with the Emperor, no matter whether he wins or loses, Leader's life will not be in vain. It's just that … the woman that Boss likes still refuses to visit Boss even now. It's really despicable. Is it worth it to ruin your future and life for such a woman? "

"Ai!"

Wang Aoyang and Liu Jingyin sighed at the same time and shook their heads.

… …

Inside the Xia Mansion, Xia Yingying knelt in front of Madam Xia. Madam Xia's eyes were filled with tears. She looked like a daughter getting married, but the scene was sorrowful. There was not a trace of joy.

"Mother, if I die, I will not be able to serve you. I will not be able to repay you for raising me up. I am unfilial. Please accept a bow from me, Mother!" Yingying kowtowed deeply. The curtain of beads on her forehead swayed gently. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Madam Xia choked with sobs. "Daughter …" She couldn't finish her sentence. She quickly turned her head away. Hot tears streamed down her face. Xia Yingying bowed three times in a row. She stood up and looked deeply at her mother with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth and resolutely turned around. She strode outside!

… …

Xu Boyi didn't go to the Celestial Prison. He was going to take someone, not to pass on an imperial edict, so there was no need to send out eunuchs. However, when the imperial palace guards brought the criminal, they still needed the eunuchs who worked in front of the emperor to pass on the order.

Xu Boyi was very concerned about this matter. Ever since the imperial palace guards left the palace, he had been waiting at the Gate of Heavenly Purity. He wanted to see with his own eyes the fate of his mortal enemy, Ye Xiaotian. However, in San De Zi's eyes, he didn't have this thought.

"Unruly! You want to curry favor with His Majesty, but this is not the way to do it! "San De Zi stood in the corridor and sneered. A eunuch next to him said attentively, "Godfather, why don't you let your son bring a few people to teach him how to behave!"

With a cold laugh San De Zi said, "No need, let him torment himself to his heart's content. I want to see how far he can go! "San De Zi flicked his horsetail whisk and swaggered away.

Up until now, he really wasn't worried. A eunuch's greatest reliance was to curry favor with the emperor, empress, favored imperial concubines, or to invest in serving the crown prince. However, if a eunuch wanted to gain a foothold in the palace, he couldn't just rely on his master's favor. He had to have his own inheritance and foundation.

This inheritance was the faction relationship between the old eunuchs and the new eunuchs. Only with this relationship could he have connections. For example, San De Zi was only in his early thirties. The adopted son who had just tried to curry favor with him was actually only four and a half years younger than him. However, that was still his adopted son, and that was his faction.

San De Zi also had a godfather above him. Although he was an old eunuch who had "retired to the second line," he still had a solid foundation in the palace and a vast network of connections. This could form a common force. If they wanted to deal with someone, they could give them a hard time in front of the emperor. When the emperor assigned this person to do something, they could very easily make this person who fought alone lose the emperor's favor.

Xu Boyi was this kind of person. He didn't have a godfather above him, nor did he have his own faction, so San De Zi didn't see him as a threat. However, this person was obviously very useful to the emperor, so it wasn't appropriate for him to make a move. However, Xu Boyi's behavior of not understanding the rules had already aroused his hatred and jealousy. A eunuch was half a woman and was a special kind of creature that held a grudge. If Xu Boyi was targeted by him, the consequences would be worrying. However, Xu Boyi was completely unaware of this. He was currently stretching his neck, impatiently waiting for Ye Xiaotian's arrival.

Ye Xiaotian was brought into the palace. When the imperial bodyguards arrived at the Gate of Heavenly Purity, Xu Boyi was overjoyed and hurriedly rushed to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

"Your Majesty, Ye Xiaotian has been brought!" Xu Boyi forcefully suppressed his excitement as he rushed into the Palace of Heavenly Purity and reported to Emperor Wanli.

Emperor Wanli, who had been anxiously reading the memorials, tossed aside his brush and impatiently said, "Quickly, bring him in!"

Xu Boyi made a sound of agreement, lifted the hem of his robe, and hurriedly walked out. Zhu Xingshu, who had been sitting at the side, stood up and said, "Your Majesty …"

Wanli finally noticed that he was still present and hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "Leave."

It was fine when Wanli wasn't moved, but right now, his heart was filled with Xia Yingying's beautiful figure, while Xu Boyi's mind was filled with Ye Xiaotian. These two people, one because of love, the other because of hate, had lost their minds. However, Zhu Xingshu, who didn't care, was much more clear-headed than them.

After sitting there for a while, the more Zhu Xingshu thought about it, the more he felt that it wasn't appropriate for him to get involved in this matter. There were benefits to pleasing the Son of Heaven, but the consequences of offending a civil official were even more severe. Relatively speaking, the gains and losses weren't proportionate, so he couldn't help but want to retreat.

At this time, when the Emperor said for him to leave, it was exactly what he wanted. Zhu Xingshu hurriedly agreed and slipped away as if there was oil on the soles of his feet.

Ye Xiaotian was brought into the Palace of Heavenly Purity, shackled and chained, but Xu Boyi didn't show his face. Although he was very concerned about the confrontation between Ye Xiaotian and the Emperor, he was worried that Ye Xiaotian would recognize him. If Ye Xiaotian told the Emperor how the enmity between the two of them had developed, he was afraid that the Emperor would calm down, and that would be self-defeating.

"All of you, leave!"

Emperor Wanli put down his crimson brush and coldly looked at the kneeling Ye Xiaotian in front of the table. He ordered the four imperial guards. The four imperial guards bowed and retreated. Emperor Wanli waved his hand again, and the six eunuchs and four palace maids waiting in the hall also left.

"Ye Xiaotian!"

Emperor Wanli's voice was clear and bright, with a dignified bearing. "We commend you for your service in educating the people of the mountains and granted you a hereditary title of nobility. We have treated you very well, but how have you repaid us?"

Ye Xiaotian said in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing, "For Your Majesty, this subject guards the borders, punishes the lawless, pacifies the local areas, and runs errands to repay the court and Your Majesty's great kindness!"

Emperor Wanli sneered. "Oh? You were unbridled in your power and killed officials without authorization, shaking the southwest. Is this your way of being loyal to the Emperor and serving the country? "

Ye Xiaotian slowly raised his head and said in a loud voice, "This subject was ordered by the Emperor to serve the Crouching Bull Bureau. As soon as I left the mountain, I was ostracized by the chieftains everywhere! Those who deceive the Emperor and ignore the court are not subjects!

This subject went to Guiyang to welcome the newly appointed Futai, and was assassinated twice and nearly lost my life. Those who instigate trouble are not subjects!

Before the Futai arrived, Futai was pacified, and there was no way for this subject to appeal. In order to protect myself, I could only fight back. The people I killed were those who were unbridled in their power and ignored the court. They wanted to kill officials and stir up unrest. This subject believes that even if this subject did not do anything, it is not a mistake! "

Wanli was furious and shouted, "How dare you! Are you accusing us of being biased and not being able to distinguish between loyalty and treachery? "

Ye Xiaotian's lips revealed a trace of mockery as he said, "This subject is slow-witted. Your Majesty, please speak frankly. What should this subject do to prove this subject's loyalty?"

"You …"

Wanli's fig leaf was torn off by Ye Xiaotian and he couldn't help but feel embarrassed and angry. His face alternated between red and white. He didn't expect Ye Xiaotian to be so blunt. He, the Son of Heaven, had to make a naked deal with Ye Xiaotian. For a moment, he really couldn't get used to it.

At this time, a luxurious carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Meridian Gate. A beautiful woman wearing a phoenix coronet and red cape got off the carriage and slowly stood in front of the tall and majestic palace. Such a strange scene immediately attracted the attention of the civil and military officials who were entering and exiting the palace through the side door. They were heading to the Cabinet to handle official business, as well as the officials and subordinates of the various departments.