Chapter 39: Ye Xuan's Self-doubt
Chapter 39: Ye Xuan’s Self-doubt
After hearing the whole story, he could no longer suppress his anger. He slammed the imperial desk and cursed:

"This Shangyuan County Magistrate doesn't want his head anymore. Not only did he not try such a simple case quickly, he even broke the victim's leg and let the suspect go before the truth was revealed. This is simply outrageous!"

Zhu Yuanzhang roared, and his mind seemed to recall his childhood.

At that time, the Mongolian tax officials came to collect taxes. His father could not come up with the money, so the corrupt officials took away the last bit of food in the house.

That was the last bit of food his father didn't dare use when his eldest sister starved to death.

No, that's not food, but grain seeds.

It is the family’s hope for survival in the coming year!
That corrupt official knew clearly that if he took away this little bit of grain, Zhu Yuanzhang and his family would starve to death, but he still had no mercy at all.

In his eyes, collecting taxes is the most important thing in the world, and he doesn't care about the lives of ordinary people.

Just like the old man Li in front of us, the only hope in his life was killed by the criminals, but the officials never think from the perspective of the common people and speak up for them to redress their grievances.

If all the officials of the Ming Dynasty were like this, then what was the point of overthrowing the Mongol tyranny and establishing a new dynasty?

"Too blatantly shielding a murderer under the emperor's feet is simply a disregard for the laws of the Ming Dynasty! Someone, come here..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was about to order people to arrest the Shangyuan County magistrate and bring him to justice, but he raised his hand and then put it down again.

This action made Yunqi and Old Man Li feel confused. Yunqi thought that with Zhu Yuanzhang's character, he would immediately order the Shangyuan County Magistrate to be handed over to the Ministry of Personnel for trial, and then order Yi Che of Yingtian Prefecture to investigate the truth of Li Yanran's case and behead Niu Er in public.

But... His Majesty seems to be hesitating?

When Old Man Li heard Zhu Yuanzhang scolding the magistrate of Shangyuan County, he, like Yunqi, thought that Zhu Yuanzhang would immediately order a thorough investigation. However, Zhu Yuanzhang's scolding confused everyone again.

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, then said to Old Man Li solemnly, "Old man, please go back first. Today, you cannot tell anyone about this. I will have someone investigate your daughter's injustice and will definitely seek justice for her!"

Although Old Man Li was somewhat puzzled as to why the Emperor did not immediately arrest Niu Er and the others, since the Emperor had already said so, how could a commoner like him not believe it?

He immediately thanked her for not falling.

Asking the general to secretly send the old man out of the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang said to Yun Qi with an angry look on his face: "Send Ye Xuan to see me!"

Yun Qi was shocked and immediately took the order and left.

On the way to Jinyiwei, Yun Qi secretly felt fortunate that he had accepted Ye Xuan's "filial piety" last time, and that a good relationship had been established between the two of them.

This was because Yunqi was Zhu Yuanzhang's personal eunuch, and unless he was one of the three dukes or nine ministers in the court, he had never seen a small Jinyiwei captain be summoned by the emperor twice in just a few days.

Last time, at least he was accompanied by Mao Xiang from the Jinyiwei Command Room, but this time, Ye Xuan was summoned alone. This shows that Zhu Yuanzhang's attention to Ye Xuan is increasing day by day.

When Yun Qi arrived at Jinyiwei, he went straight to Mao Xiang's office without stopping. Jinyiwei along the way recognized him as Jia Qian's personal eunuch, so no one stopped him.

"Commander Mao, live a peaceful and comfortable life!"

As soon as Yun Qi entered the room, he saw Mao Xiang leisurely sipping tea and couldn't help but teasing him.

Mao Xiang looked up and saw that it was Yun Qi. He immediately understood that this was an imperial decree from the emperor.

So he quickly stood up and was about to put on his official uniform, while hurriedly apologizing, "Thank you for waiting for a moment, sir. I will put on my official uniform and meet the emperor." However, Yun Qi's next sentence made Mao Xiang stop halfway through putting on his clothes, his eyes widened.

"Commander Mao, don't worry. This time we are here to look for Captain Ye."

Yun Qi did not dare to slack off along the way and hurried as fast as he could. At this moment, he felt a little thirsty, so he poured himself a cup of tea.

"Oh, I wonder if the father-in-law went to find him himself, or..."

Mao Xiang wanted to test him, but Yun Qi said openly, "According to the Emperor's order, Captain Ye is summoned to the palace to meet him! Commander Mao, don't delay any more, find that kid Ye Xuan!"

Mao Xiang was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth. When was the last time Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Ye Xuan?
Less than three days!

Why did he receive a second summons so soon, and why did he simply leave aside me, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the boss of Ye Xuan's boss?

What kind of mission is this? It is so confidential that even I, the commander, cannot know it. I can only tell Ye Xuan!
Mao Xiang was somewhat doubtful about his life for a moment, but after all, Mao Xiang was Zhu Yuanzhang's confidant, and his composure was unmatched by ordinary people.

Although he was shocked that Ye Xuan was actually valued by the emperor, he did not delay his actions at all.

He directly pulled Yun Qi to Ye Xuan's office, but undoubtedly came back empty-handed.

Mao Xiang went straight to Wang Feihu and asked him where Ye Xuan was.

Unexpectedly, Wang Feihu began to hesitate. Mao Xiang became anxious and immediately frowned.

Wang Feihu did not dare to hide it and immediately "sold out" Ye Xuan.

"Lord Ye should still be at home now, but if you want to find him you have to hurry."

Mao Xiang asked angrily: "Why?"

Wang Feihu hesitated for a while before he said embarrassedly: "It will be later if it gets later. Lord Ye will have to go to Miaoyin Pavilion."

Mao Xiang felt a little dizzy when he heard this. The person whom the emperor valued so much actually skipped work in broad daylight to go to a brothel!
If Zhu Yuanzhang knew about this, wouldn't he be punished for not governing strictly enough?

Yun Qi asked curiously, "What is this Miaoyin Pavilion? From what this brother said, Lord Ye goes there every day?"

As clever as Mao Xiang was, he didn't know how to answer for a moment. He hesitated for a long time before saying, "Miaoyin Pavilion is a restaurant. I suspect there are remnants of the previous dynasty there, so I sent Ye Xuan to investigate."

"Oh, that's how it is!" Yun Qi suddenly showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, "Then let's go find Captain Ye quickly, we don't want to keep the emperor waiting for too long."

"No need! Ye Xuan is carrying out a dangerous mission. If we go like this, his identity may be exposed. I will send someone to secretly bring him back." Mao Xiang said gritting his teeth.

After saying that, he ordered Wang Feihu, who had a strange look on his face, to find Ye Xuan back immediately.

In front of the Ye residence, Ye Xuan, who had just dressed up and was about to go to Miaoyin Pavilion, was confused when he heard the news from Wang Feihu.

Ye Xuan, who was deeply in self-doubt, complained in his heart: I am a man who is determined to be a salted fish, why did Lao Zhu come to him again!

Most likely it’s nothing good!
So what is it about me that attracts Lao Zhu? Can't I change it?

(End of this chapter)