Ren Zheng looked at Ye Junfei in shock upon hearing these words and couldn't help but ask, "But I am the late king's man."
"So what?" Ye Junfei retorted, "Do you think I lack the capacity to tolerate others?"
Ren Zheng was stunned for a moment. He recalled Ye Junfei's actions during this period, which could be described as cold-blooded and ruthless.
The personnel policy of the entire Liefeng Prefecture is simple and brutal: the capable should be appointed.
Those members of the Ye clan who previously supported Ye Junfei will be promoted if they are capable, and those who are not will be dismissed.
Those who harbor treacherous intentions and collude with the court shall die, while those who are mediocre but loyal to the court shall live.
Ren Zheng replied, "Of course not, it's just that I have offended the prince after all."
Ye Junfei countered, "In this Liefeng Prefecture, how many people haven't offended me?"
"When I first entered the Council of State, how many people deliberately tried to find fault with me? You've been by that old codger's side all this time, so you must know that."
Ren Zheng nodded, and Ye Junfei said calmly, "If I were to kill them all just because they offended me, wouldn't I be no different from that old codger?"
Ren Zheng was stunned for a moment again.
Ye Junfei looked at him and said, "I'll ask you one last time, do you pledge your allegiance to me?"
Remembering the dying words of the Prince of Pingnan, Ren Zheng finally lifted his robe, knelt before Ye Junfei, and said, "This humble servant is willing to serve Your Highness!"
Ye Junfei reached out and helped him up, saying, "Very good. From now on, you will be responsible for the safety of the Prince's Mansion."
Ren Zheng was overwhelmed with emotion and knelt down again, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, this humble servant will certainly protect the Prince's Mansion!"
Ye Junfei nodded slightly and said calmly, "There is one more thing I need you to handle."
"Your Highness, please give your orders," Ren Zheng hurriedly replied.
Ye Junfei paused slightly and said, "During this battle against the imperial army, there was a man named Xu Qianting who performed exceptionally well. You will transfer him to the Tianzi Battalion."
He knew about Xu Qianting's previous military service, but he never expected him to participate in this war.
Ye Junfei only remembered this matter when he saw Xu Qianting's name while reading the military report.
If he didn't know where Xu Qianting was, he wouldn't bother to care. But since he did know, as an acquaintance, he should at least offer some appropriate assistance.
The Tianzi Camp represents the strongest fighting force in Liefeng Prefecture and is also the place where it is easiest to make meritorious contributions.
Although Ye Junfei disliked Xu Qianting very much, Xu Qianting had taken care of Lin Xiuyan before, so he wouldn't target Xu Qianting.
Once Xu Qianting joins the Tianzi Camp, whether he can bring honor to his ancestors will depend on his own abilities.
Ren Zheng had also heard about Xu Qianting. Although he was a new recruit this year, he killed the most soldiers of the imperial court.
Appointing talented people is Ye Junfei's way of doing things, and Ren Zheng doesn't think there's anything wrong with it.
After he left, he had someone bring Xu Qianting over and transferred him to the Tianzi Camp.
Xu Qianting's expression was slightly strange when he heard the news, but he didn't say anything and followed the transfer order to enter the Tianzi Camp.
Xu Qianting initially joined the army to prove himself, and this time he has made significant military contributions, thus proving himself.
He had no idea that so much had happened in just a few months, and that Ye Junfei had become the new Prince of Pingnan.
Now that he was a general serving Ye Junfei, he felt a little strange.
His months of military service had matured him considerably, but deep down he was still the same young man from Chongqing who loved Lin Xiuyan.
He knew there was no hope for them in this lifetime, but he also felt that being closer to her was a good thing.
Whether Xu Qianting is willing to admit it or not, he knows that he can never compare to Ye Junfei in this lifetime.
He couldn't help but sigh. Once he reached a higher military rank, he could go home and have his parents choose a gentle and lovely woman for him to marry.
He glanced in the direction of the Prince's Palace and saw the city filled with bright red lanterns, the centuries-old palace standing tall in the wind.
He smiled, picked up his belongings, and went into the barracks of the Tianzi Camp.
Meanwhile, Princess Anle had returned to the capital and was kneeling before the emperor's study.
The enraged emperor smashed a bloody hole in his forehead, and he let the blood flow from his forehead, but dared not reach out to wipe it away.
The emperor sneered, "Anle, you are truly remarkable; you have even managed to deceive me all these years!"
Ye Junfei had previously informed the eldest prince that Princess Anle was a man. When the eldest prince learned that Princess Anle had returned, he leaked this information to the emperor's confidant.
By now, everyone in the capital knows that Princess Anle is a man.
He once used his female identity to mingle among the powerful young men in the capital, and everyone despised him and considered him a disgrace.
Those talented young men felt they had been deceived and were furious. Today, they have already submitted a memorial to denounce his behavior.
The censors spared no effort in recounting Princess Anle's actions over the years.
He is now a disgrace to the royal family.
Princess Anle had already anticipated what she would face before returning to the capital, but the situation before her was even worse than she had expected.
He said softly, "It's not that I want to lie to my father, but that I have no other choice."
"Father is well aware of what happened back then. I just wanted to survive. Is that wrong?"
The emperor, enraged, laughed: "So, you think you're right after hearing what you've said?"
Princess Anle lay prostrate on the ground and said, "I don't think I did anything wrong by concealing my identity."
"But if Father thinks I'm wrong, then kill me."
The emperor looked at him coldly and said, "Kill you? You're not even convinced, how can I kill you?"
"This time, I ordered you to destroy the Pingnan Prince's Mansion and overcame all difficulties to transfer Chu Mengsheng to assist you."
"As a result, nearly 100,000 soldiers died in Liefeng Prefecture, and Chu Mengsheng also died. Only you came back alive! You are truly my good son!"
Princess Anle lowered her gaze and said, "This time, I was defeated by Ye Junfei."
"With Father's abilities, he must have known long ago that Ye Junfei was no ordinary person, yet he still released him back to the Prince of Pingnan's residence."
"While I certainly bear some responsibility for this matter, does Father Emperor truly bear no responsibility at all?"
He looked up at the emperor and said, "Father, you sent Ye Junfei back to Liefeng Prefecture so that father and son would kill each other, didn't you?"
"Unfortunately, Ye Junfei's abilities far surpass those of the Prince of Pingnan, and the Prince of Pingnan is a person with a great sense of the big picture."
"Even if he dislikes Ye Junfei, he wouldn't abandon Liefeng Prefecture."
"Now that the Prince of Pingnan is dead, Ye Junfei has succeeded him as the Prince of Pingnan, and he will be in charge of the Prince of Pingnan's residence from now on."
"It's not that I'm trying to boost their morale, but looking across the court, I'm afraid there's no one else who can kill Ye Junfei or pacify Liefeng Prefecture."
The emperor was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed. He roared, "Guards! Take Anle to the imperial prison and have her tried by the Court of Judicial Review!"
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