Chapter 40: Leaving

Yun Ye used the fastest method to deal with the Lu family’s women and children. Only in this way could he minimize the incident of releasing slaves.

Understanding the government’s policies and using them to the fullest is a simple technique commonly used by companies in later generations.

Now Yun Ye is taking advantage of this gap. The credibility of the current government is super strong, especially the official document in Yun Ye’s hand clearly states that Yun Ye is allowed to select 50 official slaves as a reward. If Yun Ye doesn’t take advantage of this loophole, which is bigger than a basin, God will strike him with lightning.

He returned to the Department of Education and was immediately confronted by the old man with his head wrapped in a cloth. As soon as he saw Yun Ye, he turned and ran. The fat man could not outrun Yun Ye, and he was blocked in a corner. Like a frightened girl, he held his arms and opened his eyes wide in horror, babbling and begging for mercy: “Brother, can I call you uncle? Please be kind. Who just injured an official and robbed the document? Brother, I really have a headache. Can you let me off? The Lao Lu family has committed a crime against heaven. How can you get involved in such a big deal and still be so carefree?

“His Majesty said that I am not yet an adult, so it is not his business to interfere with me. My immediate superior is the Empress, and if I am caught in the wrong, I will be punished by standing in the corner at most. Compared to the fate of dozens of people, I am not that precious.”

Lao He seemed to be seeing Yun Ye for the first time, looking up and down at him constantly. His fat body straightened up, and the ridiculous expression on his face disappeared. The white cloth wrapped around his head actually had a bit of the flavor of a martyr.

“From now on, you are my brother, He Shao. Come in the fire, go in the water. Say the word, and I’ll do it without a second thought.”

“Weren’t we brothers before? Why again?”

“It’s different. In the past, I could drink and fool around with you, but I would never put my life in your hands. Now it’s different. It’s my fortune to put my life in the hands of a brother like you. People like you are annoying, but if you have something important to do, you are the safest person to do it.

“I learned this way of doing things from an older generation. The old man killed countless people in his life, but never wasted a life. If he could save a life, he would never frown. He was not afraid of the knife mountain or the sea of fire. I am far from being able to do so. I have to weigh things. If it involves my grandmother and sister, I will hide far away even if everyone in the world dies.

“I’m a little sorry for what I just said. Can I take it back?” He Shao’s face was as pale as a pickled egg.

“Nonsense, we’re brothers now, there’s no reason to take back what I said. Hurry up and help me look at it. I only need 37 of the 50 slaves, so I’m still 13 short. Hurry up and get them for me.”

“I’ll throw a banquet for you. You can go wherever you want. Let me take back what I said. I can’t afford a brother like you!”

The matter was successfully completed, and after a meal of wine and food, it was getting dark and they couldn’t leave the city. They returned home with a full stomach and a comfortable hot bath, planning to return to Yushan the next day. He didn’t want to stay in Chang’an for even a day. He seemed to always smell a hint of blood, which he couldn’t wash away no matter how hard he tried.

“Old Lu, I did my best. Your ten thousand taels of silver was used to save your wife and mother. You can rest in peace.” Yun Ye muttered to the night outside the window in a voice only he could hear.

Yun Ye slept until dawn. The housekeeper auntie complained that the house was empty with only him and his sisters left, while she dressed Yun Ye and made herself look busy.

“If you want to go to Zhuangzi, go. No one is stopping you. What’s the point of talking so much? A family that hasn’t seen each other for a few days has grown apart?” I really couldn’t stand it anymore. It took an entire joss stick to put on just one piece of clothing. I don’t know if I’m in a hurry to run away now? Yun Ye’s impatient heart shouted.

It was late, and I was still blocked at the front door. It was the dead eunuch who had been beaten up by Yun Ye.

He said with a smile that the empress had invited him, and that he had originally planned to go to Zhuangzi, but had not expected that Yun Hou was still in Chang’an at his residence. He said that the errand was easy and other nonsense, and the words “glad to see others suffer” were written on his face.

As soon as he entered the palace, he met the bigwigs who had just finished the morning assembly.

“Oh, oh, oh, the locust dish of Lord Yun made me fast for three days and almost met the king of hell. Such kindness must be repaid. After seeing His Majesty for a while, come to my house. I have prepared three catties of locusts at home to treat Lord Yun. Come soon, don’t let me down.” Li Xiaogong, this old bastard, didn’t let Xiao get him killed in Jiangnan. He was shot three times, but he’s still alive and kicking, wreaking havoc on me.

“Let’s go, let’s go. I hate evil as much as I hate my own life. I can’t stand to see those three catties of locusts survive until tomorrow. I must let them die in Yun Hou’s belly today to get rid of this evil in my heart. Yun Hou won’t let me wait, will he?”

Wang Gui, you are an old teacher, why don’t you educate your son at home and make an effort?

If you count, there are two princes, six dukes, and more than a dozen marquises today. Not counting the counts and below, this is already a formidable force. It seems that it is impossible to miss the locust banquet today. They are waiting for Yun Ye to make a fool of himself.

It’s just that I don’t know if he’ll be able to leave the palace alive after meeting the empress and go to enjoy the delicacies.

Changsun doesn’t like sitting down now, probably because she is pregnant and her mind is restless. In addition, the weather is hot and humid, so she is restless when she walks around in the hall.

“If Your Highness is hot, I’d better go find some ice and put it outside the hall. This way, it won’t be bad for Your Highness’s health, and it will be cooler.”

If you make a mistake, you should be prepared to flatter. Yun Ye is not a straightforward bastard. It’s not bad to achieve your goal by taking a detour.

“This year has been a disaster. The palace can save a little bit if it can. I don’t have the gold-spinning skills of you, Yun Hou, so I can only be frugal in my mouth and in my spending, which is also a way to share the worries of His Majesty. I heard that you went to the teaching hall yesterday? What for? What are you, a minor, doing there? Where have my teachings gone in the past? I told you to think twice before you act, and this time you disobeyed me by letting the Lu family escape. Who gave you the guts to do that?

At first, the eldest grandson had the intention of gradually deepening the conversation, but once the topic was opened, he couldn’t help but directly make his point clear, which was extremely rare for her. Since the eldest grandson was not going around in circles, Yun Ye naturally could not use loopholes in the paperwork to argue, which would be rude to the eldest grandson. He always couldn’t bear to lie to this great woman.

“I have no other strange thoughts, and I don’t mean to embarrass Your Majesty. I really can’t help but do this. The tragedy of the Yun family really cannot be repeated in our Tang Dynasty.”

“Oh? Today, there are no excuses, no excuses, and even no smooth talk. It’s rare. It seems that this matter has indeed touched your sore spot.”

Changsun was not used to Yun Ye’s straightforwardness for a moment and was a little stunned.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was very scared at the top of the Taiji Palace. There was lightning all around me and thunder in my ears. I was so scared that I peed my pants. But I still managed to hang on. I did it for no other reason than to save a few lives and to make the powerful families back down and not fight with Your Majesty contend with Your Majesty. Who knew that Lu Shou Lu Zian, under the stimulus of defeat, would say those words of treason, and finally trap himself into a dead end, taking the blame for himself. Old Lu Jiang, regardless of everything, was determined to carry the Lu family forward, and as long as the family was glorious, he even risked his own life. I don’t pity him. He was seeking his own death. But what about the women and children? They were forced to ride on the chariot? Now that the chariot has overturned, what kind of tragic fate awaits those women and children? I am uneasy in my heart, so I did this. Please punish me, Your Highness.

After Yun Ye finished speaking, he bowed and waited for a verdict.

Changsun sighed, somewhat reluctant to punish him. He glanced at the screen behind him, but seeing no movement, he let him leave and return to Yushan to reflect.

Unexpectedly, this time he was able to get away with it easily. Although he had spoken lightly to Lao He, in fact, Yun Ye knew very well that Li Er would not let him off lightly this time. From the conversation that Changsun had started, he knew that, but he did not expect it to be such a tiger’s head and snake’s tail.

Looking back at the towering palace, he knew that this was the last time he would be involved in the political disputes of the court.

He felt relaxed all over, and couldn’t help but smile. Yes, this is the life I want, even if it’s just a small pig with me.

Changsun returned to the back of the screen and gently massaged Li Er’s temples. Li Er seemed to have fallen asleep, but the slight twitching of his index finger proved that the emperor was not at peace.

“That kid will never be involved in politics again, never again,” Li Er said softly.

“Why do you think so? He is a fool who remembers food but not beatings. Now that he understands, he will come out once he encounters something he cares about.” Changsun disagreed.

“You don’t understand men, especially people like Yun Ye. He has no fear, only cares about friendship. The faster he spoke just now, the more impatient he was about this matter. Perhaps he was impatient about the whole court, and just wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible, leaving this place of trouble. Smart boy, it depends on whether you can escape from my grasp.” Li Er smiled and held Chang Sun’s soft hand, placing it on his chest.

Changsun seemed to have sensed some changes in Li Er, and pulled back his hand, as shy as when they first met. His white jade-like cheeks flushed with two red spots, dazzling Li Er.

He felt that he had lost some of his rigid thinking and had become more domesticated. He would never have noticed that the empress, whom he had seen so often, was actually so beautiful. After so many years of living together, he had forgotten the appearance of his eldest grandson, and only remembered that no matter what he did or what he did, she would always be there behind him.

It was as if the shadow was naturally his own, and the possession was so natural, so justified. Should I not turn my gaze back to the world around me, look at the people around me, and pay attention to the scenery closest to me? Li Er asked himself.