Chapter 095: Yan Returns

Who in the world doesn’t know that the emperor’s words are an imperial edict?

An imperial edict is called “sacred” because it comes from the emperor, the Son of Heaven!

Once the emperor makes a decision, who can change it? Especially when it’s the current emperor dealing with the Yongyi Marquis Mansion!

Xiao Yuan thought that carrying the emperor’s order would allow him to vent his frustrations today, making the Yongyi Marquis Mansion bow their heads and the ministers tremble. But he didn’t expect to encounter someone like Zhang Zhe who would argue back.

How can a military man compete with a scholar in a war of words?

With a frown, Xiao Yuan felt he was in a predicament. Alarmed, he glared at Zhang Zhe and said, “My Xiao family has always been loyal to the emperor, willing to be the vanguard. This edict was written by the emperor himself. How can it be delayed by the words of a minor official like you? Today, I will kill you, a traitor obstructing the emperor’s will, and see if the emperor punishes you or me!”

With that, he actually drew his sword towards Zhang Zhe!

The guests in the hall were shocked, both by the serious accusation and the danger in his words. Someone immediately shouted, “Is the Duke of Dingguo going to kill the innocent?”

Jiang Xuening felt a chill all over.

She remembered that in her previous life, Shen Lang had ordered the confiscation of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, arresting everyone to await investigation. But when she arrived, she saw blood everywhere and heads rolling!

This proved that either something changed during the coronation in her previous life, or Duke Dingguo Xiao Yuan used it as an excuse for a massacre!

Seeing Xiao Yuan approaching Zhang Zhe, the ministers angrily rebuked him, and the soldiers tightened their grips on their swords, ready to act. Jiang Xuening felt the danger of losing control.

In this critical moment, she saw Xiao Ye, the second son of the Xiao family, standing near the young guests. An idea flashed in her mind.

Jiang Xuening quickly whispered something to Shen Zhiyi.

Shen Zhiyi, frowning at the chaos, was surprised by Jiang Xuening’s words but soon looked at Xiao Ye with a hint of excitement.

The sword Jiang Xuening gave to Yan Lin was held by Qing Feng nearby.

Without hesitation, Shen Zhiyi grabbed the sword and approached Xiao Ye!

Xiao Ye, always compared to Yan Lin, felt pleased seeing the Yongyi Marquis Mansion in trouble. He didn’t notice Jiang Xuening and Shen Zhiyi’s actions.

But the sword was unexpectedly heavy.

Caught off guard, Shen Zhiyi almost fell when she lifted it, drawing everyone’s attention.

Xiao Ye looked over, and their eyes met.

In that moment, a chill ran down Xiao Ye’s spine. His smile vanished, and he screamed, “Father, save me!”

Xiao Yuan, about to press his sword on Zhang Zhe’s neck, was stunned.

He turned to see Xiao Ye running towards him.

Shen Zhiyi panicked.

Jiang Xuening, standing near the exit, saw Xiao Ye running past and gritted her teeth.

“Bang!”

She kicked Xiao Ye’s knee!

The young master, thinking he was escaping, didn’t expect the kick. He fell face-first, hitting his head and bleeding!

Shen Zhiyi seized the chance, pressing the sword to Xiao Ye’s neck!

Xiao Yuan roared, “What does the princess mean by this?”

Shen Zhiyi, knowing the emperor and empress’s stance on the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, couldn’t tolerate Xiao Yuan’s actions.

As a princess, she couldn’t stand by. She coldly said, “The emperor ordered you to arrest, not to kill! How do we know this isn’t personal revenge? Xiao Yuan, if you dare harm anyone here, I guarantee your son’s head will roll!”

The sword, heavy in her hand, formed an angle with the ground.

Xiao Ye’s neck was in that angle.

As Shen Zhiyi’s wrist moved, the angle tightened, the blade almost touching Xiao Ye’s neck, making him scream, “Father, she’s going to kill me, save me!”

Not only Xiao Yuan, but even the people of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion did not expect this turn of events.

The guests inside and outside were once again stunned.

Zhang Zhe’s neck was also pressed by Xiao Yuan’s sword, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but look up: Jiang Xuening stood quietly over there, not showing any signs of her actions, and few people saw that it was her who delivered the crucial kick. In her previous life, she hadn’t come; in this life, she finally came. Is she here to make up for the mistakes and regrets of her previous life?

The Xiao family now had only this one precious son, waiting for him to inherit the family business. Xiao Ye was also raised with great care by Xiao Yuan, who was close to him. Who would have thought that Shen Zhiyi would use this as a threat!

Xiao Yuan said coldly, “Does the Princess intend to defy the imperial edict by standing with the Yan family?”

Shen Zhiyi, having heard everything, didn’t take the Duke of Dingguo seriously: “First, the edict was issued improperly, as Master Zhang from the Ministry of Justice said, you should go back and get it stamped; second, I don’t care about your court affairs, but even a criminal sentenced to death in autumn is given a good meal. Today is Yan Lin’s coming-of-age ceremony, which is not yet over, and you cannot act recklessly! Either you step back now, or I will kill your son!”

At this moment, the decisiveness and ruthlessness on her face were something Jiang Xuening had never seen before.

The vulnerability she had shown while crying in Mingfeng Palace was now covered by a hard armor.

A true display of majestic grace!

Yan Lin was stunned when Zhang Zhe spoke, and even more so when Jiang Xuening and Shen Zhiyi acted, standing there in shock.

The civil and military officials attending the ceremony were already dissatisfied with Xiao Yuan bringing an unstamped edict, treating a feather as an arrow. With Shen Zhiyi speaking out, some finally couldn’t stand it and echoed, “A man’s coming-of-age ceremony happens only once in a lifetime, why must the Duke of Dingguo ruin it?”

“Yes, this is too much!”

Gradually, more voices of agreement rose in the hall.

If these people gathered in the court, they would be a considerable force.

Xiao Yuan’s face grew increasingly grim as he listened.

Yan Lin slightly raised his head, a surge of hot blood rushing from his heart, making him tremble slightly, his eyes reddening. The overwhelming emotion felt like a fire, burning away the heavy gloom and ice.

The world is indeed dangerous, but human feelings can be cold or warm!

The young man’s fingers slowly clenched at his side, wanting to engrave this scene deeply into his memory…

Xie Wei stood tall in the hall, his white clothes spotless, observing Xiao Yuan’s changing expression. He glanced at Shen Zhiyi, who was holding a sword to Xiao Ye’s neck, and finally spoke, “Duke of Dingguo, you should step back.”

Xiao Yuan had noticed him there today.

Everyone knew Xie Wei was a close minister to the emperor, and he felt the emperor listened to him. Others dared to offend, but he always pretended Xie Wei didn’t exist, fearing trouble.

But he didn’t expect Xie Wei to speak to him.

Xiao Yuan stared at him and said, “Is the Grand Tutor also standing with the Yan family?”

Xie Wei waved his hand, signaling the stunned attendant to leave, and calmly, even with a slight smile, said, “The task was given by the emperor, to deal with the Yongyi Marquis Mansion. The Duke is just the intermediary, so it’s best to be cautious. With so many soldiers here, it’s just a matter of running back to the palace to get the stamp, a win-win situation. And since the colleagues here at the ceremony have requested it, if the emperor asks, the Duke can report truthfully. The emperor may be angry, but he won’t blame you…” Everyone gasped at his words!

The surrounding people looked at Xie Wei in astonishment, some even with anger.

Xiao Yuan was also stunned, then quickly realized: Xie Wei’s words seemed to plead for the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, but actually highlighted the consequences of standing with them. If the edict was immediately enforced, the mansion would be confiscated; but if anyone dared to challenge the edict and stand with the mansion, the emperor would be furious! In the end, the blame would fall on the Yongyi Marquis Mansion.

Returning to the palace for the stamp, seemingly impossible, was actually very feasible!

Understanding this, Xiao Yuan almost laughed out loud, seeing Xie Wei as a celestial being, a sage on a high platform, brilliant. He sheathed his sword and said, “Since Master Xie has spoken, I must give face. I will return to the palace to report to the emperor and come back later!”

Xie Wei lowered his eyes without speaking.

Jiang Xuening felt whispers around her, with eyes drifting towards Xie Wei, some criticizing his actions.

But those who thought deeper couldn’t help but admire him.

A single sentence turned the situation around.

It was clear that those who came to the Yongyi Marquis Mansion for Yan Lin’s ceremony were not sinister people, but his words smoothly resolved the standoff, clarifying the pros and cons.

The emperor most feared military officials overshadowing him. The Yongyi Marquis Mansion’s recent achievements were not yet threatening, but the matter of colluding with rebels was sensitive.

If the court stood with the mansion, it could harm them.

Their actions had already crossed the line.

If they survived this ordeal, they must be cautious not to harm the mansion.

Xiao Yuan had already drafted his report, ready to accuse the Yongyi Marquis Mansion upon returning to the palace. He ordered the soldiers, “Surround this mansion, no one in or out!”

He then looked at Shen Zhiyi.

His anger surged again, and he said, “Princess, release him!”

Shen Zhiyi said nothing, withdrawing her sword.

But Xiao Ye, having hit his head and hurt his knee, couldn’t get up.

Xiao Shu gave Jiang Xuening a deep look, then signaled the attendants to help him up.

The mansion was heavily guarded.

The servants were pale.

But Xiao Yuan took the edict and returned to the palace.

The hall was silent.

Yan Mu looked at Xie Wei for a long time, speechless, then finally gathered his courage and said, “Since the ceremony is resumed, please, Master Xie, give my son a name!”

The attendant, trembling, couldn’t move.

The old butler quickly presented the prepared writing materials, bowing to Xie Wei, “Please, Master Xie, give the heir a name.”

Yan Lin also looked at Xie Wei.

Jiang Xuening’s fingers clenched in her sleeve, barely feeling the pain in her wrist, holding her breath, watching intently.

The rice paper was laid flat on the lacquer tray, held high by the butler. All eyes were on Xie Wei.

He gathered his wide sleeves, lifted the brush, paused for a long time, wrote one character, then stopped, finally putting down the brush, saying, “The world is unpredictable. Originally two characters, now just one, is not bad.”

Everyone looked at the paper—

The character, like a dragon or snake, hidden in the strokes, seemed unremarkable at first glance, but powerful upon closer inspection.

It was just one character: ‘Hui’ (Return).

Yan Lin, single character: 回 (Return).

Xie Wei elaborated, “The phoenix rises with the same wind in one day, soaring up to ninety thousand miles. Yet, the sky offers no shelter, and the heart finds its return in the sea. Enduring hardships, the original intent remains unaltered. The word is – Return.”

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