Chapter 53 - 53 50 Visiting the Capital to Meet the Emperor

53: Chapter 50 Visiting the Capital to Meet the Emperor 53: Chapter 50 Visiting the Capital to Meet the Emperor “This thing, it seems to be a map?” After returning to his room, Ye Xuan immediately wiped the dust off the black fragment and, after carefully studying it for a while, concluded that it was undoubtedly an ancient map, though damaged. The fragment bore mysterious patterns akin to a route map and some markings that resembled terrain features. However, there were no annotations indicating the marked places, nor any clues as to what locations the map pointed toward. “Even if this map is out of the ordinary, without any hints, it’s no different from junk. It probably takes someone with an extensive knowledge of the Tiannan Region’s geography to discern anything significant from it.” After toying with the fragment for a while without result, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. He had regarded it as a treasure, but it now seemed like a false delight. Thump, thump, thump! Just then, someone knocked on the door. “Young Master Ye Xuan, the Family Head summons you to the main hall.” “What is it?” Ye Xuan furrowed his brow slightly. They had just met; why summon him again? Could something have happened? “The Royal Family from the Capital has sent someone, saying that they are acting on the Monarch’s orders, and that Young Master Ye Xuan is to enter the Capital to see the Monarch,” the servant’s voice rose again. “Enter the Capital to see the Monarch?” Ye Xuan was stunned for a moment. The current Monarch of the Great Xia Kingdom was Xia Tianyou from the Xia family, a man who had once been as close as brothers with his father, Ye Xiao. Although he was well acquainted with the name, Ye Xuan had never actually met the Monarch. Why would he suddenly be summoned to the Capital now? But on the other hand, leaving aside Xia Tianyou’s summons, going to the Capital now wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Tianyang County was, after all, nothing but a small place compared to the Capital of the Great Xia Kingdom. There, resources would undoubtedly be plentiful, beneficial and harmless to his cultivation. Leaving the courtyard, Ye Xuan quickly reached the main hall. Upon entering, he noticed a pale, beardless middle-aged eunuch sitting on the right side of the hall. The eunuch was dressed in a luxurious crimson robe; although he lacked a manly aura, his air of dignity was nonetheless extraordinary. “This person must be the eunuch sent by the Monarch to convey the order.” Ye Xuan sized up the middle-aged eunuch and inwardly felt a twinge of surprise. The eunuch’s cultivation was clearly more profound than Ye Tianhao’s, evidently having reached at least the level of a Sixth Grade martial master. It was unexpected that an eunuch assigned to deliver a decree was so formidable. “Xuaner, come and pay respects to Eunuch Yun,” instructed Ye Tianxiong, pointing to the middle-aged eunuch without the slightest delay as soon as Ye Xuan entered. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Ye Xuan did not speak but simply clasped his hands and bowed to the middle-aged eunuch. “Truly, the son of Ye Xiao is no underdog. The rumors about Young Master Ye Xuan have even reached my ears in the Capital,” Eunuch Yun closely observed Ye Xuan for a moment, then a flicker of astonishment crossed his brow. Ye Xuan’s cultivation seemed to have improved since the autumn hunt held by the noble houses. “Your praise is unwarranted, Eunuch Yun,” Ye Xuan replied, his expression unchanged. “Alright, the Monarch has ordered me to summon you to the Capital, and there’s no room for delay. Go prepare yourself and then set off with me,” said Eunuch Yun as he stood up from his seat. Bearing the Monarch’s command, he naturally would not linger in the Ye family any longer than necessary. Were it not for this imperial decree, he wouldn’t bother visiting a small place like Tianyang County at all. “I have a few more words to say; you go ahead, Eunuch Yun, and I will follow shortly,” Ye Xuan nodded. “Then make it quick; I’ll wait for you in the carriage outside the residence,” said Eunuch Yun, without further ado, departing from the main hall. “Xuaner, the Capital is not like Tianyang County; it’s a place where many powerful factions intersect, and the situation is complicated. Once you’re in the Capital, be cautious in all matters. The Jun family’s headquarters is there, and after their last attempt failed, they may still seek to move against you,” Ye Tianxiong advised as soon as Eunuch Yun was out of earshot. “Grandfather, rest assured, the Jun family surely wouldn’t dare to act under the eyes of the Royal Family,” Ye Xuan said with a smile. “You are mistaken. In the Royal Family, the attitude towards our Ye family is not uniform. The demon wave caused by your father not only dragged the Ye family into an abysmal situation but also caused great harm to the Royal Family. As a result, within the Xia family of the Royal Family, there are quite a few who resent the Ye family.” Seeing Ye Xuan not taking his words seriously, Ye Tianxiong’s expression grew more grave, “There are many of them, and while Xia Tianyou might have good intentions, the others may not. You still have to be wary of the people of the Royal Family.” “I understand.” Ye Xuan’s heart stirred; it seemed that his journey to the Capital might undoubtedly usher in another storm. However, there was no need to be overly concerned about the Jun family, for the assistance from Granny Ning last time would surely make them hesitant for a while. Additionally, with the assassination of Jun Ze, they would certainly link the two incidents, further restraining their actions. The Capital is, after all, the domain of the Royal Xia Family on the surface, and the Jun Family has to be even more careful. “If you encounter any trouble, the Ye Family still has some secret lines of support in the Capital. You can look for them. If you truly can’t resolve the issue, then send a message to me.” “No matter what happens, you must remain calm. You are the only one on this journey, and the responsibility you bear on your shoulders is immense. If you detect anything amiss, leave the Capital early and return.” “…” Looking at Ye Tianxiong, who suddenly became a bit chatty, Ye Xuan did not interrupt him verbally. It wasn’t until everything was instructed that Ye Xuan clasped his fists to the Ye Family members and then turned to slowly leave the hall. For this trip to the Capital, Ye Xuan didn’t bring much with him, even the Two-headed Demon Tiger he normally rode was left at home. Although this journey seemed tumultuous on the surface, he felt that as long as he kept a clear head, he should be able to handle it. He would have to leave this small Tianyang County one day; it was just happening earlier than he anticipated. He boarded Eunuch Yun’s carriage and headed towards the outskirts of the city. … Tianyang County is located in the southern part of the Great Xia Kingdom and a considerable distance from the Capital. By the time Ye Xuan and Eunuch Yun reached the outskirts of the Capital, it was already the morning of the third day, having spent two full days traveling. The Capital truly lived up to its reputation as the largest city in the Great Xia Kingdom. Just the city walls alone were a hundred zhang high. Atop the walls, around the city gates, there were heavily armored soldiers with an eagle-eyed and tiger-stance. Compared to this, Tianyang County seemed shabby. Since the carriage belonged to Eunuch Yun, and they were on imperial orders, they used the southeast city gate reserved for the use of officials and nobles, without facing any inspections or obstructions, and thus entered the city. After passing through a somewhat dark city gate tunnel, then suddenly, deafening noise flooded in like a surging tide, causing Ye Xuan’s head to spin for a moment before he recovered and looked at the densely packed crowd on the streets, astonished by such vitality. The Capital was a place of prosperity, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Every power that had a foothold here was not to be trifled with. Ye Xuan had learned beforehand that there were three major families standing tall in the Capital. Besides the Royal Xia Family and the Jun Family, there was also the Xie Family. Among these three, the Jun Family had risen the most recently and had the weakest foundation. Below these major families were many medium and small families. In the Capital, these families couldn’t make much impact, but the top among them, if placed in other states and counties, were still considered first or second-grade big families. The carriage did not stop along the way and headed straight for the Imperial Palace. After passing through a dozen or so streets, it wasn’t long before a majestic and solemn imperial city entered their view. After entering the Imperial City, the carriage stopped in front of a palace; Ye Xuan followed Eunuch Yun inside, traversing several corridors until they reached a garden. In one of the pavilions there, he suddenly saw a dignified middle-aged man’s silhouette. “Your Majesty, Ye Xuan has been brought here.” Upon seeing this middle-aged man, Eunuch Yun was also very respectful and hurriedly paid his respects. Seeing this, Ye Xuan’s eyes also slightly narrowed; the man before him had a square face that somewhat resembled Xia Xun’s, and he exuded an aura of a monarch. It seemed that this middle-aged man was the Monarch of the Great Xia Kingdom, Xia Tianyou. Out of courtesy, Ye Xuan greeted him with a bow, but before he could speak, Xia Tianyou motioned with his hand, “Ye Xuan, my nephew, your father and I were as close as brothers, so there’s no need for formalities. Just call me Uncle Xia.” “Yes, Uncle Xia.” Seeing that Xia Tianyou wasn’t putting on airs, Ye Xuan felt somewhat at ease and had a better impression of him. “Sit.” Xia Tianyou smiled slightly, and after watching Ye Xuan sit down on a stone stool, he sized him up before a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, “If Ye Xiao knew from the underworld that his son had finally grown up, he would probably rest in peace.” “Before your father passed away, he asked me to look after you. Previously, you were obscure and your cultivation progressed slowly; it was feared that you would never amount to much, so I didn’t pay attention to you. You don’t hold that against me, do you?” Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan silently refrained from responding. The former Ye Xuan was indeed a martial arts failure, an undeniable fact, and being unnoticed was normal. The ironclad rule of this world was the clear distinction between the strong and the weak, with martial arts revered. Without the qualification for martial cultivation, one would always be weak. A weak person doesn’t attract attention and isn’t worth noticing. “Of course not,” Ye Xuan shook his head. If he remained that useless Ye Xuan, leading a mediocre life without attracting attention, he might not encounter any storms and could live out his life peacefully. But recently, precisely because he had begun to demonstrate his edge, he had attracted attention and, consequently, danger. “I wonder why Uncle Xia summoned me this time, is there something important?” Ye Xuan knew that Xia Tianyou summoning him now must carry significant meaning and wouldn’t have called him without a reason. “I heard you were attacked a few days ago. Presumably, you have an idea of who was behind the attack. The Ye Family is too weak to protect you; thus, the only way is to arrange a secure place for you, ensuring your safety and a better future.” After saying this, Xia Tianyou gestured to Eunuch Yun, “Go, call Xia Yuan over.” “May I know what arrangements you have in mind, Uncle Xia?” Ye Xuan furrowed his brow, sensing from Xia Tianyou’s words that he had arranged a place for him, but unsure what it might be. Xia Tianyou picked up the teacup from the stone table and took a sip before he said with a light smile, “Xia Yuan is an Elder of Green Leaf Valley. With his recommendation, you can enter Green Leaf Valley and become an official disciple.”