Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

The emperor wants to see him?

Li Yuan felt a slight chill run down his spine.

Luo Xuan noticed his nervousness and waved his hand, "No need to be too nervous. His Majesty is discerning and won't just listen to one side of the story. As for whether it will pass the review..."

He gave Li Yuan a meaningful look: "It all depends on Your Majesty's decision."

Li Yuan took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subordinate understands."

"Ye girl, take him to the palace," Luo Xuan instructed. "And tell him about the palace rules, so he doesn't offend any nobles."

Ye Hongyu put down her teacup, stood up, and said to Li Yuan, "Let's go."

Li Yuan followed Ye Hongyu out of the Demon Suppression Bureau headquarters and boarded the carriage that had been prepared in advance.

Inside the carriage, Ye Hongyu closed her eyes slightly. Li Yuan glanced at her cautiously. He had always been very curious about Ye Hongyu, not only because she also had a level nine talent, but also because of Yu Chifeng's attitude.

"Lord Ye, I heard that Junior Sister Ji Fanghua has become your disciple?"

Ye Hongyu glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips: "You're well-informed. That's right, she's my disciple now."

"She has great talent, but she is a bit aloof. I hope Lord Ye will be tolerant of her," Li Yuan said sincerely.

"You don't need to tell me that," Ye Hongyu said calmly. "Since he is the disciple I have chosen, it is natural that I will train him."

Li Yuan felt a little embarrassed by her words, so he changed the subject: "Lord Ye, I heard that you and General Yuchi are old friends..."

Ye Hongyu's expression stiffened slightly: "Who told you that?"

"No." Li Yuan quickly shook his head in denial. "I just wanted to ask how to return the Soul-Suppressing Bell to General Yuchi."

Ye Hongyu's expression softened, and she said calmly, "Since he gave it to you, he has no intention of taking it back. Just keep it safe."

Li Yuan nodded, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't resist his curiosity, "Lord Ye, why do I feel that General Yuchi seems a little afraid of you?"

Ye Hongyu paused slightly in her teacup, and the atmosphere in the carriage instantly became somewhat subtle. She remained silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly, "He owes me something, and he hasn't paid it back yet."

"What is it?"

Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask.

Ye Hongyu's aura turned cold.

Li Yuan wisely kept his mouth shut.

The carriage stopped in front of the Taiji Palace. The two got out of the carriage, and a eunuch led them inside.

Li Yuan then felt a little nervous and asked in a low voice, "Lord Ye, could you please enlighten me?"

Ye Hongyu glanced at him sideways: "His Majesty hates being deceived the most. You just need to tell the truth, and the Demon Suppression Division will cover for you."

"I'll remember that."

Li Yuan was taken aback, then nodded as if he understood.

The eunuch led the two through several palace gates to a small and exquisite side hall. Several eunuchs and palace maids were waiting outside the hall. When they saw Ye Hongyu, they all bowed and paid their respects.

A kind-looking old eunuch stepped forward with a smile: "Lord Ye, Young Master Li, His Majesty has been waiting in the hall for quite some time."

Ye Hongyu dared not presume and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Wang."

Wang Xian smiled, glanced at Li Yuan, and stepped aside to lead the way: "Young Master Li, please follow me."

Ye Hongyu stopped outside the hall, nodded slightly to Li Yuan, indicating that he should go in alone. Li Yuan straightened his clothes and followed Eunuch Wang into the side hall.

Behind the desk, Li Yan was reviewing memorials when he saw Li Yuan, looked up and smiled.

"Your subject Li Yuan greets Your Majesty." Li Yuan hurriedly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and gave a standard military salute.

Li Yan put down the memorial in his hand, looked him over for a moment, and said, "Get up, and take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Yuan stood up and sat down on the embroidered stool next to him. He kept his eyes straight ahead, but he was very vigilant. This trip was directly related to his future, so he could not be careless.

Eunuch Wang personally brought over a cup of tea, saying, "Young Master Li, please have some tea."

Li Yuan dared not let him serve him. This eunuch Wang's aura seemed peaceful, but it was completely unfathomable and even exuded an extremely dangerous feeling.

He felt a chill run down his spine, stood up, bowed, and said, "I dare not accept such praise, thank you for your trouble, sir."

Li Yan asked casually, "How are your injuries? I heard you were unconscious for quite some time."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am now much better," Li Yuan replied.

"That's good." Li Yan nodded, picked up the teacup beside him, gently blew on the tea leaves on the surface, and asked seemingly casually, "What do you think about your father's matter?"

What was bound to happen has finally happened.

Without hesitation, Li Yuan stood up and knelt down heavily: "Your subject is guilty."

Li Yan paused slightly in his teacup: "Oh? What crime have I committed?"

"My father has already defected to the demon race. He is my biological father, and I failed to fulfill my duty to dissuade him." Li Yuan did not defend himself. "As a son, it is a disgrace for a father to be disgraced. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Li Yan remained silent for a moment, put down his teacup, looked at Li Yuan kneeling on the ground, and slowly said, "Li Chongwen's defection to the demon race was his own choice, and it has nothing to do with you. I will not hold an grudge against innocent people, however..."

Li Yuan's heart tightened, only to hear the emperor continue, "I can help you suppress the investigation in the court, but you must also publicly sever your father-son relationship with Li Chongwen. From now on, he is him, and you are you, with no further connection. What do you say?"

The condition seemed very easy, even too lenient, but alarm bells rang in Li Yuan's mind, and he immediately realized that it was a trap.

Legend has it that the emperor was extremely filial. When he was just the thirteenth prince, his civil and military achievements were not remarkable, but he gained the trust of the late emperor and ascended the throne because of his benevolence and filial piety.

How could someone like that possibly ask him to sever ties with his father so easily?

There's a problem, there must be a problem! This is the emperor testing him, and his answer will directly determine his life or death.

He suddenly remembered Ye Hongyu's warning. Li Yan hated being deceived the most. With a thought, he said, "Your Majesty, there is something I must confess to you."

Li Yan raised an eyebrow: "Go on."

"The person who reported my father for embezzlement back then was none other than a wicked minister." Li Yuan said with a sorrowful expression, "It was I who collected evidence of his embezzlement and anonymously reported it to the Dali Temple. I know that as a son, reporting one's own father is unfilial, but I do not regret it."

Upon hearing this, the air in the side hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

Li Yan's gaze sharpened slightly. He didn't speak immediately, but quietly looked at Li Yuan, as if re-examining the young man before him.

Eunuch Wang slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at Li Yuan, and then lowered his eyes again.

"Oh? Then why did you report your biological father?" Li Yan asked slowly, "Was it to avenge your mother?"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He had indeed made the right bet. The emperor had already sent people to investigate him. He should have realized that these things could not be hidden from the emperor's spies.

"Yes, and not entirely," Li Yuan said frankly. "My mother did die because of him, and I hate him, that's the truth. But I reported him not just because of personal grudges. As an official of the court, he embezzled disaster relief funds and was unworthy of his position. I couldn't just stand by and watch him continue to make mistakes."

He lowered his head in shame as he spoke, “I struggled with this decision. After all, he was my biological father. I couldn’t bear to watch him die. So I sold our possessions and managed to get him exiled.”