ARIPOEC Chapter 31
by VolareChapter 31
Chapter 31
Rumors fermented further, and the Ye family’s prestige had seemingly reached its peak.
Soon, the latest news came from Capital Star.
The Emperor personally issued an edict, ordering General Ye to return to the capital to report on his duties.
As soon as this signal came out, Lin Jun, on Heart of Mecha, hundreds of light-years away, couldn’t help but laugh.
“Do you think he’ll go?”
Lin Jun turned his head. Not far away at the desk, Ye Mingyuan was looking down at a book.
Hearing this, he put down the book in his hand, turned around, leaned beside Lin Jun, and leaned over to look at the message on the semi-transparent light screen.
This news was not publicly released, but Lin Jun still received the message in the first instance.
He also discovered during this time that Ye Mingyuan’s intelligence network was actually so developed.
Ye Mingyuan silently finished reading and said, “He will go.”
Lin Jun was slightly stunned: “The Emperor said it’s to report on his duties in the capital, but it’s actually a Feast at Hongmen. The Ye family shouldn’t be that stupid, right?”
Ye Mingyuan looked at his surprised expression and smiled, “It’s precisely because they’re not stupid that they have to go.”
Lin Jun frowned, but quickly figured out the key points.
Although the Ye family was ambitious, they didn’t have the ability to fight the entire Empire head-on.
If they resisted returning to Capital Star now, that would confirm their intention to rebel.
“Tsk…” Lin Jun was a little irritable.
He thought he could take this opportunity to drag the Ye family down all at once.
Ye Mingyuan saw through his thoughts and smiled, patting the top of his head, “Don’t worry, the Ye family is indeed not stupid, but that doesn’t mean the Second Prince isn’t stupid either.”
Lin Jun looked up at him.
Ye Mingyuan smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
+
A few days later, General Ye set off from the Third Star Region to Capital Star.
Half a month later, General Ye arrived at Capital Star. The first thing he did was plead guilty before the Emperor, saying that he had failed the Emperor’s trust.
General Ye cried outside the palace for three days, recounting his and the Ye family’s loyalty to the royal family, and said that the Second Prince was concerned about the overall situation and had no intention of vying for power.
This grand drama was staged right at the palace gate and was even filmed by many passersby.
The video was uploaded online, naturally causing another round of heated discussions.
Some people lamented the Ye family’s loyalty to the royal family, while others began to question whether the royal family was being too harsh on meritorious officials…
For a time, there were many different opinions.
And that one in the palace, after putting General Ye out to dry for a few days and declaring the royal family’s dignity to the entire Empire, finally summoned him.
Next, an edict was issued from the palace.
A great reward.
“What a good move.” Lin Jun looked at the headlines on the personal terminal and sneered.
These two teamed up to put on a show. The Ye family expressed their loyalty, giving the royal family enough face.
And the royal family also expressed its attitude with great rewards.
If Ye Mingyuan hadn’t been prepared, perhaps this matter would have really been glossed over.
Just when the atmosphere on the entire Star Network was peaceful, a certain prince in the palace finally started to act up.
“It’s one thing for Father to disrespect Uncle, but why did he have to send me to Lin Yuan’s garrison? Isn’t he clearly suspecting me?”
“He said it’s to give me experience, so why didn’t he let the eldest brother go!”
While he was saying these words, the Second Prince’s mother was also in the palace.
“Your uncle said that this time you should go obediently. At most, you’ll stay for half a year, and then he’ll let you come back.”
The Second Prince flung his hand away, “I’m not going!”
A hint of ruthlessness gradually flashed in his eyes: “The Empire is so strong now, and no one dares to invade. Isn’t Uncle’s many military merits just acting with the Worms? What good will it do me to go to the Fifth Star Region?”
“Moreover, the Lin family might be on the Crown Prince’s side. What if they have ulterior motives and want me to die in the Fifth Star Region?”
The woman frowned, “Don’t talk nonsense! Your father trusts the Lin family the most. Sending you to the Fifth Star Region is also to knock some sense into you.”
“What knock some sense into me!” The Second Prince paced around the palace a few times, gradually becoming agitated.
“The Star Network hasn’t even said that I’m going to be the Emperor yet, just a prince, and Father is already so wary!”
“I think we have no hope. It’s better for Uncle to rebel sooner rather than later!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the woman slapped him.
“Can these words be said carelessly?! Aren’t you afraid of losing your head!”
“Am I wrong?! Uncle’s reputation is so high now, maybe the people will support us too.”
“…”
The woman opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but suddenly a low voice came from outside the palace: “I see you’re so confident, why don’t you try?”
The mother and son in the palace both stiffened.
The magnificent door opened, and a middle-aged man in golden robes walked in with a somber face.
The Second Prince’s face had already turned pale. He took a step back blankly and muttered, “Father…”
His eyes darted around, but he inadvertently saw the figure standing behind the Emperor.
General Lin, Lin Yuan.
…
The Second Prince’s pupils shrank. As if he had grabbed a life-saving straw, he threw himself at the Emperor’s feet: “Father! I definitely have no intention of betraying you. It’s all him… the Lin family wants to frame us, so they deliberately designed all of this.”
The Emperor looked down at this son whom he had always favored and sneered.
He raised his leg and kicked him in the chest.
The Second Prince fell backward, groaning in pain.
“General Lin heard that you were going to the Third Star Region for experience and was afraid you wouldn’t adapt, so he came to the palace to see you.”
“But you were conspiring to rebel with your mother.”
The Emperor laughed in anger: “Men, investigate! I want to see how the Ye family has been acting with the Worms all these years.”
The guards beside him quickly acknowledged the order and left.
Lin Yuan stood a few steps behind the Emperor, coldly watching the panicked concubine and prince in front of him.
+
On this day, a great change occurred in Capital Star.
The Emperor immediately blocked the news in the palace and, using the names of the Second Prince and concubine, invited General Ye into the palace.
But this time, General Ye disappeared.
Everyone in the Ye family’s residence was there, but the most important person was missing.
+
“Ran away?!”
When Lin Jun received the news, he almost jumped out of his chair.
On the semi-transparent light screen, Lin Yuan’s expression was also somewhat somber.
“Before he went to the palace, I sent people to guard outside the Ye family, but he still managed to escape.”
Up until now, they didn’t even know when General Ye had escaped, nor did they know if he was still in Capital Star.
Compared to Lin Jun’s surprise, Ye Mingyuan was very calm.
His slender fingertips tapped lightly on the table, and a strange emotion settled in his sea-blue eyes.
Although he had planned everything perfectly, based on his understanding of General Ye, that person wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
Sure enough… he had left a backup plan.
“Dad, go see the Emperor and have him order the guards to secure all the space jump points outside Capital Star.”
Seeing his solemn expression, Lin Yuan nodded and quickly hung up the communication to take care of things.
The tense atmosphere made Lin Jun feel a heavy sense of nervousness. He couldn’t help but hold Ye Mingyuan’s hand.
Those hands, which were always dry, were now faintly moist.
Ye Mingyuan looked up and sighed, “Now… I just hope Ye Zhou hasn’t gone through a space jump yet.”
Lin Jun’s breath hitched, and he quickly understood what Ye Mingyuan meant.
Once someone went through a space jump, it would be very difficult to catch that person in the vast universe.
If Ye Zhou successfully returned to the Third Star Region, then with his cunning and deceit, it would definitely be letting the tiger return to the mountain.
A great battle was inevitable.