Ye Ping'an knelt on the ground on both knees, with distinct finger marks on his neck. These were left by Xiao Yixuan when he had grabbed Ye's neck in a fit of rage.
His face was still purplish-blue, and his voice had become extremely hoarse. He was telling Xiao Yixuan everything in detail.
The more Xiao Yixuan listened, the darker his expression became.
Just as he had suspected, both Lady Ye and Ye Ping'an knew Jiang Mian's background. They had known from the very beginning that Jiang Mian was the flesh and blood of Li Bingjun and a descendant of the Li family!
"The entire Li family was wiped out, and there were rumors that Li Bingjun's body was found at the scene. The King of Chu believed this wholeheartedly, and naturally we all thought Li Bingjun was dead," Ye Ping'an said slowly.
"Mian'er... Jiang Mian's birth mother was just a concubine's maid, but she had a prosperous fate. It would have been a waste to let such a child grow up among commoners. So my wife and I..." Ye Ping'an coughed violently.
Xiao Yixuan was no kind-hearted person. If he were in their shoes, he wouldn't have let Jiang Mian stay with a concubine's maid either. He would have found a way to take the child for himself. Therefore, he quite understood Ye Ping'an and Lady Ye's actions.
He was just unhappy that he had been fooled by the Ye family like a monkey.
The Ye family should never have schemed against him for the sake of power!
No matter what, he wanted Li Bingjun, and he wanted Jiang Mian too!
As for the Ye family...
As if guessing what Xiao Yixuan was thinking at the moment, Ye Ping'an crawled forward on his knees and hugged Xiao Yixuan's thigh. "Please, Your Highness, for the sake of the Queen Mother, spare the Ye family! I know I was wrong. I'm willing to atone for my sins. From now on, I'll do whatever Your Highness asks without a single complaint!"
"As long as Your Highness is still willing to reuse me..."
Ye Ping'an was more than twice Xiao Yixuan's age and was the Chief Clerk of Nansheng. But at this moment, he was like a lapdog afraid of being abandoned by its master, sniveling and sobbing without any dignity.
Xiao Yixuan clearly found him disgusting. Afraid that Ye would smear his snot and tears on him, he quickly kicked Ye away.
He stood up and looked down at Ye Ping'an. "Let me tell you, Ye Ping'an. In the past, you were no match for Li Bingjun. Even now, you're not even a match for one of his fingers. A man should know his own limitations. The Ye family has reached this position today thanks to the Queen Mother and me, not your talent, Ye Ping'an."
"I'm going to be the ruler of the world, so I'm determined to get Li Bingjun and Jiang Mian. Chief Clerk Ye, do you know what you should do?"
Ye Ping'an buried his head deeply and replied, "Your servant... understands. Your servant will be the sharpest blade in Your Highness's hand."
Xiao Yixuan snorted and strode away with a flick of his sleeve.
The next day, after the hour of the snake, Xiao Yixuan changed into another carriage and came to the gate of the Li Mansion again.
This time, he didn't disguise himself at all and showed his true face.
The situation in Dacheng was now turbulent, with the north and the south governing themselves. Showing his true face in Luozhou might attract assassins. But compared to that, persuading Li Bingjun as soon as possible and seeing Jiang Mian again were the most urgent matters.
As long as he could get Li Bingjun's support, what did he have to fear?
Moreover, Xiao Yixuan was certain that Li Bingjun hadn't left Luozhou and was in the mansion at this moment. So today he came with the determination to see Li Bingjun.
After imagining several scenarios of their meeting in his mind and making full preparations, Xiao Yixuan finally asked Meng Zhao to knock on the door.
The doorman who answered the door was the same one from yesterday. When he saw Xiao Yixuan, he was stunned for a moment and immediately realized that the visitor was of high status. His attitude was much more respectful than when he had faced Ye Ping'an yesterday.
"May I ask why the honorable guest is knocking on the door?"
"I'm Xiao Yixuan of the Xiaos from Lingyang. I heard that Mr. Li has returned to Luozhou to take over the Li family again. I've come here specially to pay my respects."
Everyone in the world knew that the Xiaos from Lingyang were the current royal family. The person in front of him was from the Xiao family! No, perhaps he was a prince!
The doorman's expression became solemn. "Please wait a moment, honorable guest. I'll go and report right away."
Although the gate closed in front of him, Xiao Yixuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
He didn't believe that Li Bingjun could remain indifferent and refuse to see him after he had announced the name of the Xiaos from Lingyang.
This time, Xiao Yixuan didn't have to wait as long as yesterday. After a while, the door opened again. Steward Yin appeared behind the door and bowed deeply to Xiao Yixuan. "Young Master Xiao has come from afar. The Li Mansion failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive us, Young Master."
Xiao Yixuan put on an air and smiled. "It doesn't matter. I didn't send a visiting card in advance. I wonder if Mr. Li is in. Can I come in and have a cup of tea today?"
In Xiao Yixuan's opinion, the Li Mansion shouldn't refuse him again. They should respectfully invite him in. But unexpectedly, Steward Yin looked embarrassed and said, "Oh, Young Master Xiao, you've come at a really bad time."
Xiao Yixuan's heart sank. Sure enough, Steward Yin repeated the same excuse he had used to fob off Ye Ping'an yesterday. In short, the meaning was that the master of the Li Mansion was indeed not at home at the moment. No matter who came, they wouldn't be able to see Li Bingjun.
Since the host had already said so, Xiao Yixuan couldn't just barge in. Who knew if there were any traps or guards hidden in the Li Mansion? He wasn't going to be reckless and take risks at this time.
Looking up at the plaque of the Li Mansion deeply, Xiao Yixuan gritted his back teeth hard. Then he said goodbye to Steward Yin.
Ye Ping'an watched all this from inside the carriage. Seeing Xiao Yixuan return empty-handed, he felt inexplicably pleased. But when Xiao Yixuan got into the carriage, he hid his expression well.
On the way back, Xiao Yixuan remained silent. When he returned to the inn and closed the door with no one around, he finally showed his true nature and flew into a rage.
What a Li Bingjun!
Did he really think he was unparalleled in the world and that the world couldn't do without him? He even refused to see him!
Ye Ping'an advised him from the side, "Your Highness, calm down. Is it possible that the Emperor of Beisheng was in the Li Mansion when we paid our visit?"
Xiao Yixuan narrowed his eyes and thought that Ye Ping'an's words made some sense.
Suppressing his anger, he sent someone to keep watch near the Li Mansion. After nightfall, sure enough, a carriage left the Li Mansion and returned to the place where the Emperor of Beisheng was staying. But it was too dark, and there were guards around the posthouse, so he couldn't see the passengers' faces clearly.
So Xiao Yixuan waited in Luozhou City for another day. The next day, after confirming that no one had left the posthouse, he went to the Li Mansion again with Ye Ping'an. But Steward Yin still looked apologetic and said that the master was not at home and asked Xiao Yixuan to come back in a few days.
Xiao Yixuan returned empty-handed again, and the hostility on his face couldn't be suppressed.
After nightfall, he finally couldn't sit still. He asked Meng Zhao to take him to sneak into the Li Mansion like a thief. He was determined to see Li Bingjun today no matter what.
Of course, this time he and Meng Zhao were destined to return empty-handed.
Because there was indeed no one in the Li Mansion except the servants!
Standing in the empty Wentao Courtyard, Xiao Yixuan's face looked extremely ugly.