Ye Jingchen quite enjoyed watching Yun Shu and Xie Chang'an interact.
Natural talent can overcome cunning – an age-old truth that has once again been proven true in the case of Yun Shu and Xie Chang'an.
Xie Chang'an, who secretly harbors resentment, can only retreat step by step after encountering the lively, cheerful, innocent, and enthusiastic Yun Shu. His frustrated appearance, wanting to hide but not daring to, is hilarious.
Unfortunately, he didn't get to enjoy the spectacle for long before Xie Chang'an used him as a human shield.
Ye Jingchen's feelings towards Xie Chang'an are now very complicated.
Before meeting Xie Chang'an, he actually liked Xie Chang'an, the protagonist of the novel, very much, and had high expectations for Xie Chang'an.
He wanted to change the fate of Xie Chang'an's family members who died on the battlefield, to lessen the emperor's suspicion of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and to let Xie Chang'an grow up peacefully and happily like an ordinary child.
Before meeting Xie Chang'an, he had thought a lot, but after meeting Xie Chang'an, all his thoughts had to be put aside.
Because this 'Xie Chang'an' is not the same as that 'Xie Chang'an', the Xie Chang'an he wanted to redeem suddenly became the biggest variable after he transmigrated into the book.
As the sages said, we should despise the enemy strategically, but take the enemy seriously tactically.
He pretended not to know that Xie Chang'an's core had been replaced, and also pretended not to know that Xie Chang'an already knew that he was not the original Ye Jingchen, and treated him with a normal attitude.
But deep down he knew very well that Xie Chang'an was dangerous to him, and he was also dangerous to Xie Chang'an.
If the two of them cannot cooperate, they can only be mortal enemies.
Ye Jingchen instructed Chenxi to investigate Xie Chang'an's maternal uncle.
The Duchess was the eldest daughter of a prominent family, and her cousins must also be from prominent families.
In this era, although imperial power was supreme, powerful families were closely connected and could check and balance the imperial power, so they should not be underestimated.
Moreover, like royalty, aristocratic families also liked to keep assassins.
Therefore, it is not easy to investigate the inner workings of aristocratic families.
Ye Jingchen only asked Chenxi to send someone to determine which family Xie Chang'an's maternal uncle came from.
Once confirmed, the emperor's men will take action.
How can I allow someone else to snore beside my bed?
Ye Jingchen refused to believe that the emperor hadn't sent people to closely monitor the powerful families in the capital.
He even distrusts the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so his wariness of aristocratic families is definitely greater than that of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Ye Jingchen remembered that the reason why the emperor suddenly wanted to kill the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in the novel was not only because he was suspicious and worried that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was too powerful, but also because the ministers and aristocratic families in the court were secretly stirring up trouble.
Xie Chang'an's path to revenge also began with those court officials and aristocratic families who betrayed the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Among them, the first to be retaliated against by Xie Chang'an were the Duchess's maternal relatives by marriage.
He might just be the maternal uncle Xie Chang'an was talking about.
If that's the case, then Xie Chang'an's identity becomes quite interesting.
Because Ye Jingchen's requirements were very simple, the secret guards confirmed the target in just one day.
Among the four great families of Dayuan, the Ji family, founded by Consort Ji, is the most prominent.
However, the Ji family is special. Although it is the head of the aristocratic families, it is detached from the aristocratic families and is a truly reclusive family that never interferes with the change of dynasties.
The Duchess's family, the Wang family, is the second largest aristocratic family in Dayuan.
The Jiang family and the Gu family ranked third and fourth, respectively.
The Wang family and the Jiang family have the closest relationship, and for generations, they have used marriage alliances as a bond to maintain their relationship.
The Gu family, to which Gu Beichen belongs, is not as aloof as the Ji family, but its relationship with the Wang and Jiang families is not very close either.
The Gu family is a family of Confucian scholars, with several generations of great Confucian scholars in the family. The Donglin Academy they founded is a sacred place in the hearts of students all over the world.
Besides these four great families, there are many other large and small families in Dayuan, most of whom follow the lead of the Wang and Jiang families.
The maternal uncle Xie Chang'an mentioned is Jiang He, the half-brother of the current head of the Jiang family.
Among aristocratic families, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is most pronounced. Although Jiang He was born into the main branch of the Jiang family, he was an illegitimate son, putting him in an awkward position.
The Duchess was the eldest daughter of the Wang family, and theoretically, she and Jiang He should not have any interaction.
But judging from Xie Chang'an's expression, Jiang He seemed to be a frequent visitor to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
This is very unusual.
If this maternal uncle were a direct descendant of a prominent family, Ye Jingchen wouldn't dare investigate him casually and would have to rely on the emperor's power. But since Jiang He was an illegitimate son, the Eastern Palace's secret guards could investigate him.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that Jiang He did indeed have another residence besides the mansion he publicly claimed.
The house looked ordinary from the outside, but as Xie Chang'an had said, the interior was gilded. And hidden within this golden house was a stunningly beautiful woman.
To keep a mistress in a golden house.
The focus is not only on the golden house, but also on the beauty.
According to the report from the secret guards, the woman Jiang He was hiding did not resemble a Dayuan person in terms of her clothing and facial features; she looked more like a barbarian woman.
Northern barbarians.
The Duke of Zhenguo guarded the northern frontier and fought against the northern barbarians year after year. If you were to ask who in this world hated the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the Xie family army the most, it would undoubtedly be the northern barbarians.
If Xie Chang'an hadn't said anything, who would have cared about an insignificant illegitimate son of the Jiang family?
Who would have known that this illegitimate son had hidden a barbarian woman in a golden house?
"Chenxi, reveal the information you've gathered to the secret guards Father Emperor sent to monitor the Jiang family. We don't need to worry about the rest," Ye Jingchen said to Chenxi after reading the message.
When it comes to matters of national importance, it's better for the emperor to handle them himself. He's still just a child and it's not appropriate for him to get involved.
After class that day, Ye Jingchen kept Xie Chang'an behind alone.
This was the first time Ye Jingchen had asked the four of them to stay after class since they became his study companions.
The other three children were surprised, but Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen said nothing and left immediately.
Only Yun Shu hesitated and expressed that he also wanted to stay and wait for his friends.
"I saw that Young Master Xie is good at studying the Book of Changes, and I would like to ask him for some guidance. Yun Shu, it seems that you are not very good at studying the Book of Changes either. If you would like to stay and study together—"
Upon hearing Ye Jingchen mention the Book of Changes, Yun Shu looked horrified, and all her curiosity vanished instantly.
"Your Highness, I suddenly remembered that when I left this morning, my grandmother told me to come home early, saying that she would stew chicken soup for me to nourish my body. I have to hurry back!" He said and hurriedly ran away, afraid that if he was a step too slow, Ye Jingchen would keep him behind to study the Book of Changes.
After scaring Yun Shu away, Ye Jingchen took Xie Chang'an to his palace.
Of the four companions of his elder brother, Ye Jinghe always harbored the greatest hostility and vigilance towards Xie Chang'an, and was very reluctant to see them alone.
He stayed close to his brother, and it seemed they were about to infiltrate the area—
"Jinghe, go play by yourself for a while. Your brother and Young Master Xie have important matters to discuss." Ye Jingchen pressed his finger against his forehead to stop him from entering the bedchamber, and said with a smile.
Ye Jinghe stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what he was hearing.
My brother actually has a secret with Xie Chang'an, and he doesn't even want him to know?
When did they collude behind his back?
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