Xie Jiayan nodded, "The Heir Apparent will be leaving the capital soon."
Ye Feisheng remained silent, sensing something was amiss.
If the Sage intended for him to return to the capital, he would have been informed beforehand, not through Xie Jiayan.
It was likely due to the Cui family's affairs. After all, if Xie Jiayan hadn't arrived that day, the Cui family would have ceased to exist entirely.
"Are you afraid that if I continue to stay by your side, I will lose the Sage's trust?" Ye Feisheng was not foolish and knew Xie Jiayan meant well.
Returning to the capital at this juncture would bring him nothing but benefits.
With the decline of aristocratic families and the redistribution of power in the capital, his return might allow him to secure a foothold. Remaining by his lord's side would only make him a guard of a fourth-rank official.
However, he found himself reluctant to return to the capital.
Xie Jiayan smiled, "The Yu family are naturally brave and skilled in combat, possessing the might to hold off ten thousand. Keeping you by my side would undoubtedly be a waste of your talents."
Ye Feisheng scoffed, "My lord, please do not mock me. I have never fought on the battlefield, so how can I possess the might to hold off ten thousand?"
"Lord Ye, do not be so self-deprecating. Even in the brightest sunlight, there are shadows. Lord Ye should go where your talents truly shine, and you will be magnificent."
Ye Feisheng's heart felt as though it had been struck by something heavy. Magnificent?
Would he ever have such a day?
"I need to think about it," Ye Feisheng did not reply immediately.
A true man should die on the battlefield, not engage in these clandestine affairs. He hadn't expected his words to strike such a chord.
However, if he left, the Sage would surely send someone else to monitor him in secret.
He was merely a fourth-rank Hanlin scholar; why was the Sage so cautious?
Ye Feisheng could not understand, and his footsteps were heavy as he departed.
Xie Jiayan was contemplating how to reply to the Lu family patriarch when Liaokong hurried in, "Young Master, an urgent letter from the capital."
Xie Jiayan saw the three flame symbols on the envelope. This was the secret code between him and Yu Mingjing; any letter marked as such was of utmost urgency.
The letter was concise. The Marquis of Chenliu had killed someone, and not just anyone, but He Zhongchun, a Censor of the Imperial Court.
Although He Zhongchun's official rank was not high, the power he wielded was substantial. He supervised prefectures, states, and counties, and could also impeach local administrative shortcomings during his inspections. In theory, this should not have conflicted with the Marquis of Chenliu.
Because he dared to impeach the Li family of Longxi for their land reclamation efforts, he was known as the "Iron-Faced Censor" among the people of Longxi and was deeply loved by them.
The Marquis of Chenliu killing He Zhongchun had already stirred resentment among the populace, who accused the Marquis of Chenliu and the Li family of colluding to murder a court official and demanded his expulsion from Longxi.
If the court were to punish the Marquis of Chenliu, he would be escorted back to the capital for trial. The commander of Yumenguan would be on trial, which would inevitably lead to a decline in military morale.
However, if the court did not intervene, and the public's emotions were further incited, it was highly probable that the situation would escalate into an uprising similar to the Qinghe Rebellion. Before Tubo could even attack, Longxi would descend into chaos. It was clear that someone was orchestrating this event from behind the scenes.
It was unlikely to be the Sage. Even if the Sage intended to deal with the Li family, he would not resort to such actions that would shake military morale.
Just as spies from Tubo were discovered in the capital, an incident occurred at Yumenguan. This was likely a scheme of theirs to sow discord.
But the common people did not understand these complexities. If they insisted on seeking justice for He Zhongchun, they would alienate the Marquis of Chenliu.
For years, he had guarded the border, risking his life to protect these people, and now they demanded his life in return.
In reality, this case was not difficult; all that was needed was to ascertain the cause of He Zhongchun's death.
The trouble lay in the fact that the Marquis of Chenliu admitted to killing He Zhongchun but offered no explanation, deepening the public's misunderstanding. Now, the Sage was in a dilemma, unsure whether to summon him back to the capital or not.