Ye Ziyu sensed the hostility in Ye Jingchun's tone. After a moment of contemplation, he kowtowed to Ye Jingchun again. When he looked up, his eyes were clear.
"Father, I am indifferent to women, but I am also indifferent to power. I have been away from home for many years and I dislike beating around the bush. Since we have come to this point, I will speak frankly! Please forgive me, Father!"
Ye Jingchun hummed softly, "Okay, go ahead and say it."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziyu removed his mask, knelt on the ground, looked at Ye Jingchun, and said, word by word, "Your subject knows why Father Emperor summoned your subject back to the capital. It is not to reward your subject for his merits, but because he fears that your subject may become too powerful by amassing troops."
"How dare you!"
Ye Jingchun was taken aback by Ye Zeyu's words and instinctively shouted, but upon seeing Ye Zeyu's stubborn expression, he swallowed his anger and said coldly, "Continue! I want to see what you have to say!"
Ye Zeyu looked at Ye Jingchun, his eyes revealing a tender affection. "No matter what Father thinks of me, I have a clear conscience. I have served in the army for so many years and made countless military achievements. All I have been looking forward to is the day I return to the capital."
"Father has sent me back to the capital, which means that Father has finally seen me. I am happy from the bottom of my heart."
"Military power means nothing to me. As long as Father can see his son, I will be content."
"Of course, I do not want Father to have any suspicions about me, which is why I want to marry Su Muxi after I come to the capital. Firstly, because Su Muxi once saved the Empress Dowager, and secondly, because Su Muxi has no background or status."
"Your Majesty, I have met the Northern Yan Princess once. She is indeed as beautiful and graceful as you have described. However, she is the Northern Yan Princess, and I once commanded the entire Xuanwu Army. If I were to marry her, it would inevitably arouse your suspicion."
"If Father trusts me, I am willing to serve you with my life, but I will not marry the Northern Yan princess!"
Looking at the determination in Ye Zeyu's eyes, Ye Jingchun actually felt a pang of guilt.
Looking back on Ye Zeyu's behavior when they met over the years, it wasn't indifference, but rather a cautiousness born from not knowing how to get close.
Ye Zeyu seemed to have never hesitated in obeying his orders. He handed over his military power without hesitation and did not have any dealings with any ministers afterward.
So the eldest son really didn't have any inappropriate thoughts, and only wanted to gain his approval?
Suddenly, he remembered what Ye Zeyu had said to the Empress Dowager when he was ten years old and preparing to join the army in the northern frontier.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Yu'er will definitely protect himself! Yu'er will also make countless military achievements to show Father Emperor! In a few years, Yu'er will definitely make Father Emperor proud of Yu'er and become the new God of War of Qi!"
He didn't take those words seriously at the time, but he never expected Ye Ziyu to actually do it...
"Yu'er, get up."
Ye Jingchun personally reached out to help Ye Zeyu up. Looking at his son, who was a head taller than him, he wanted to say, "Your father is proud of you."
After some hesitation, he finally gave up.
But then Ye Zeyu said, "Moreover, I think what my third brother said before makes a lot of sense."
Ye Jingchun asked with amusement, "What did Ming'er say?"
Of the three sons, Ye Jingchun's favorite was Ye Zemin.
Because among the three, only Ye Zeming was the most naive and posed the least threat to him.
So when Ye Ziyu mentioned Ye Zeming, Ye Jingchun's eyes unconsciously filled with a hint of doting.
Seeing this, Ye Ziyu showed no jealousy whatsoever, but instead repeated what Ye Ziming had said earlier.
"This time, when Northern Yan comes to arrange a marriage alliance, you absolutely cannot marry that damned Northern Yan princess, understand?!"
"They are a defeated nation, and their decision to come for a marriage alliance is not up to them, nor can that damned princess marry whomever she wants!"
"We should utterly defeat their army on the battlefield, and also severely dampen their spirits in the imperial court! Let those barbarians know who the Celestial Empire truly is!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Jingchun was taken aback for a moment, then the smile in his eyes deepened.
"So that's what you meant. Ming'er did say the same thing to me before."
Ye Zeyu praised without reservation: "It's been three years since we last met. Third brother has grown up a lot and become more mature. I think it's just as you said. Northern Yan is a defeated country. They proposed a marriage alliance because they are afraid of our Qi. It's not up to them to decide whether to come here for a marriage alliance!"
"If we can't reach an agreement..." Ye Jingchun hesitated.
But Ye Zeyu was instantly filled with coldness as he said in a hateful voice, "If they obediently submit to our Qi Kingdom, that's fine. But if they have other intentions, your son is willing to flatten the entire Northern Yan for Father Emperor!"
"good!"
After hearing Ye Ziyu's words, Ye Jingchun couldn't help but feel his blood boiling.
Throughout history, monarchs have all desired to expand their territories.
If we can truly crush Northern Yan, it would be a great deed for the present and for future generations!
As for his concern that Ye Zeyu might become too powerful due to his military strength, he no longer harbored such suspicions at this moment.
If Ye Ziyu truly harbors rebellious intentions, he will surely seize the opportunity to agree to a marriage alliance with Northern Yan.
But this decisive refusal, coupled with his heartfelt words, made him feel much more at ease about Ye Zeyu.
But if that's the case, what about the Wei family?
Seeing the worried look on Ye Jingchun's face, Ye Zeyu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Does Father have any other concerns?"
After hesitating for a moment, Ye Jingchun told the story of Wei Huai, the head of the Wei family, who was planning to have his son, Wei Yichen, marry Su Muxi.
As soon as Ye Zeyu entered the city gate, he received a report from his spies that the Wei family had arrived in the capital and had already secretly met with Ye Zerui.
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