Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Relentless Obstruction

“Fang Chen went to the Minister of Military Personnel’s manor?”

“Is he still harboring a grudge over that? But Ye Dongming can’t be blamed for that. His subordinate was the one who messed things up and delivered Fang Chen’s military ration elsewhere…”

“Is there any news from His Majesty? Why hasn’t the Court of Great Brilliance apprehended Fang Chen yet?!”

The upper echelons of Great Xia’s capital had dispatched their men to keep a close eye on Fang Chen’s movements, so that they could receive the latest updates.

The manor doors opened. Ye Dongming and his family quietly met eyes with Fang Chen.

“Does War supreme-ruler Fang think that Xiao En is hiding inside the Minister of Military Personnel’s manor?” The official from the Court of Great Brilliance widened his eyes in alarm.

The Minister of Military Personnel should have no reason to house the remnants of the Greenpine martial artists. He would be making an enemy out of Fang Chen if so, as the latter had already declared that he was going to purge the capital of them.

“It has been a while, War supreme-ruler Fang. It has been hard to meet you ever since you stopped attending morning assembly, though we’ll likely meet in the imperial court very soon. May I know the reason behind your abrupt visit today?” Ye Dongming asked.

The Ye Clansmen assessed Fang Chen. To their relief, he had lost much of the imposing air he used to command back then. This told them that the man standing before them wasn’t the same Fang Chen from five years ago. He wasn’t all-powerful anymore, so there was nothing to fear.

“I have given it a lot of thought over the last five years. I don’t intend to bother with the imperial court anymore.” Fang Chen shook his head. “I’m afraid you won’t meet me in the imperial court, after all.”

What?!

Not only were the Ye Clansmen stunned, but those from the Court of Great Brilliance were dumbstruck too. The spectating civilians, academics, and martial artists couldn’t believe what they had just heard as well.

War supreme-ruler Fang isn’t going to bother with the imperial court? Doesn’t this mean that he doesn’t intend to take charge of the military anymore?

Ye Qinghe’s breathing hastened. He intently stared at Fang Chen as if assessing how sincere the latter was.

“War supreme-ruler Fang is humoring me. You have regained your martial cultivation. It shouldn’t be long before His Majesty tasks you with the important responsibility of leading our soldiers against Greenpine Country,” Ye Dongming said deeply.

“Take it as if I’m joking then, Minister Ye,” Fang Chen casually replied with a smile.

Ye Dongming’s eyebrows shot up. “War supreme-ruler Fang, what brings you here today?”

“I’m here to demand a man from your Ye Clan,” Fang Chen replied.

Demand a man? Who do we have that warranted Fang Chen personally knocking on our door to ask for? Ye Dongming and the others were perplexed.

However, Ye Qinghe’s eyes flickered in a panic. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. How does Fang Chen know that Xiao En is in the Ye Manor? Did someone in the Jade Fairy Boat leak the news?

This thought enraged Ye Qinghe. He didn’t think those artisans would dare to reveal the content of their conversation, as they knew his identity. The culprit had to be those who shared the same table as him last night.

But who could it be? Ye Qinghe wondered as faces flashed across his mind.

“War supreme-ruler Fang, who does our Ye Clan have that warrants you to personally knock on our door? Could you have gotten the wrong place?” Ye Dongming asked with a polite smile. He glanced at the official and constables by the side and frowned.

“I’m looking for Xiao Tianci’s son, Xiao En. He’s in your Ye Manor. Minister Ye, I’ll leave as soon as you hand him over to me,” Fang Chen said.

“Wait!” Ye Dongming was astounded. “Xiao Tianci’s son, Xiao En? War supreme-ruler Fang, please watch your words. There’s no way I’d take in someone like that!”

That was a Greenpine martial artist, not to mention Dojo Master Xiao Tianci’s son!

Should the civilians think that he was providing refuge to Xiao En, their clan’s reputation would immediately fall to the gutters, and rocks and smelly eggs would be hurled at their manor all day long.

As expected, a commotion broke out amongst the spectators, as they began pointing their fingers at the Ye Clan. The scholars began berating them, while the martial artists rolled up their sleeves.

Are these people from the Court of Great Brilliance after Xiao En too? Fang Chen would never make an empty claim. What makes him say that Xiao En is in my manor… Ye Dongming’s mind quickly whirred into action.

Ye Qinghe could hardly maintain his expression. Small beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead. He confidently thought there was no way Fang Chen could have known Xiao En’s whereabouts, but it only took a night for the latter to come knocking on his door.

This sent him into a panic. He hadn’t made preparations for this yet…

“Lord Ye, if you’re confused, you may consider asking your son for clarification,” Fang Chen politely offered advice.

Ye Dongming immediately turned to Ye Qinghe with a flicker of rage in his eyes. “Qinghe, have you met with Xiao En?”

“Father, I have not met with Xiao En.” Ye Qinghe shook his head. He turned to Fang Chen and clasped his fist, saying, “Brother Fang, I’m not sure where you got the news from, but you might have been taken for a fool.”

“Indeed… Could War supreme-ruler Fang be mistaken?”

“There’s no way our Minister of Military Personnel will harbor a Greenpine martial artist.”

“War supreme-ruler Fang is not omniscient; he can’t possibly know everything. Now that I think about it, I recall there being a grudge between War supreme-ruler Fang and the Minister of Military Personnel.”

“Could War supreme-ruler Fang be making use of this opportunity to settle old grudges?”

Such murmurs could be heard from the surroundings.

Ye Dongming’s face darkened. He looked into Fang Chen’s eyes and said, “War supreme-ruler Fang, I concede that I have let you down regarding that matter, but I have reported it to His Majesty and received punishment for it. You shouldn’t frame me and sully my reputation over that.”

“Minister Ye, would you allow me to search the premises of your manor?” Fang Chen asked.

“Fang Chen, you’re getting overboard! This is the Minister of Military Personnel’s manor, not a place where you can come and go as you please. Do you honestly think that you’re still the War supreme-ruler? You’re just a normal civilian now; you don’t even have the right to enter the imperial court,” Ye Qinghe roared.

However, to Ye Qinghe’s shock, his father gestured for him to keep quiet.

“War supreme-ruler Fang, my manor isn’t too big. You’re free to search the area as you like. However, I expect an explanation if you can’t find any traces of Xiao En.”

“I’ll be following them to the Court of Great Brilliance if I can’t find Xiao En. What other explanation do you require?” Fang Chen gestured to the official standing not too far away.

Ye Dongming nodded in realization. So they are here to apprehend Fang Chen. That took a load off his heart.

“Very well. Go ahead, War supreme-ruler Fang.”

“Father?!” Ye Qinghe panicked.

“We haven’t done a thing, so what do we have to fear?” Ye Dongming coldly harrumphed.

Ye Qinghe fell silent. He couldn’t say anything more, or else he would be giving himself away.

Just as Fang Chen was about to enter, another group of people rushed over and stationed themselves in front of the manor. The leader got off his steed and placidly looked at Fang Chen.

“Fang Chen, you can’t enter the Minister of Military Personnel’s manor.”

“Your Highness?!” Ye Dongming hurriedly bowed in astonishment.

The crowd was startled too. Who could have thought the crown prince would get involved too?