"Your Excellency?"
Bai Xiaosheng sensed Ye Ling's unusual gaze and his heart sank, a bad premonition rising within him.
As Ye Ling considered how to deal with Bai Xiaosheng, Bai Lan transmitted a suggestion: "Master... since Bai Xiaosheng going to Cangyue City might expose our identities, why don't we get rid of Bai Xiaosheng and have you, Master, impersonate Bai Xiaosheng to go to Cangyue City?"
"Good suggestion, let's take Bai Xiaosheng to a deserted place first." Ye Ling nodded, his killing intent towards Bai Xiaosheng suddenly surging.
Bai Xiaosheng shivered, feeling increasingly uneasy. He quickly said, "Your Excellency, I just remembered I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Let's meet in Cangyue City in three days."
"Don't rush off!"
Ye Ling immediately placed a hand on Bai Xiaosheng's shoulder. "My disciple is actually a fan of yours. She's always wanted your autograph. How about you sign one for her? It'll be quick."
After Ye Ling finished speaking, Bai Lan also gave Bai Xiaosheng a sweet smile and greeted him shyly.
However, Bai Lan's adorable appearance was no different from a demon in Bai Xiaosheng's eyes!
Bai Xiaosheng could tell that Bai Lan looked at him as if he were already dead!
She wasn't even trying to hide it!
"I... I don't have a pen with me right now. Let me go get one."
"No need, we have one in this hall."
Ye Ling chuckled lightly and said to Bai Lan, "Lan'er, take Bai Xiaosheng to the backyard."
"Yes, Master."
Bai Lan smiled and then said to Bai Xiaosheng, "Let's go, Bai Xiaosheng."
Hearing Bai Lan's words, Bai Xiaosheng desperately wanted to refuse. However, when he saw Ye Ling's kind expression, he realized that if he refused now, Ye Ling might just blow his head off on the spot...
"Gulp!" Bai Xiaosheng swallowed, nodded, and smiled, "Okay... we'll go to the backyard to find paper and a pen for the autograph."
"Let's go!"
Bai Lan chuckled and led the sweating Bai Xiaosheng to the rear of the Weiming Hall, away from the sight of the imperial guards and the masters of the inner court.
Ye Ling did not follow Bai Lan and Bai Xiaosheng immediately. Instead, he walked outside the hall and addressed the crowd, "Everyone, the rebel Wu Yue has been vanquished. The new Emperor Wu Mei will ascend the throne soon. I ask all of you to support the new Emperor. I guarantee that your future will be bright."
The imperial guards and inner court masters exchanged glances. After a moment's thought, they all knelt before Ye Ling and shouted, "We pledge our lives to support the new Emperor!"
For those present, their inaction while witnessing Wu Yue's death was already a grave offense of rebellion.
If they did not follow the new Emperor, and the former Emperor's faction regained power, they would suffer the same fate.
It could be said that the imperial guards and inner court masters present were all on the same boat as Wu Mei, destined to see it through to the end.
With the allegiance of the imperial guards and inner court masters, Ye Ling spent a little more time escorting them to visit ministers from Wu Yue's faction and the Shi family faction.
Anyone who did not acknowledge Wu Mei's ascension had their families confiscated. As for those forced to acknowledge Wu Mei, Ye Ling compelled them to provide letters of submission, giving Wu Mei leverage over them for future manipulation.
Due to Ye Ling's formidable strength and swift methods, the entire capital was thrown into chaos in just half a day.
Everyone knew that Wu Yue had been killed and Wu Mei was about to ascend the throne.
In this manner, Wu Mei ascended the dragon throne without even making an appearance.
Of course, Ye Ling's actions would also leave behind hidden dangers. Those ministers who were forced to pledge allegiance, though they would not dare to openly resist Wu Mei, would secretly engage in actions to annoy her.
Therefore, Ye Ling had planted Yuanwen within those ministers.
Once Ye Ling captured the Primordial Martial King, those Yuanwen would activate.
After that, those ministers would become absolutely loyal to Wu Mei, and all hidden dangers would be eliminated.
As for the current problems of the Wu Dynasty's weakened national strength, that would depend on Wu Mei's capabilities. Ye Ling could not manage those matters.
After spending some time laying the groundwork for Wu Mei's ascension, Ye Ling finally remembered Bai Xiaosheng and immediately rushed back to the backyard of Weiming Hall.
At this moment, Bai Lan was sitting on a chair in the backyard reading a novel, while Bai Xiaosheng knelt in the middle of the courtyard, not daring to move.
"Master, you're back!"
Seeing Ye Ling enter the courtyard, Bai Lan immediately put away her book and stood up to greet him.
Ye Ling glanced at the kneeling Bai Xiaosheng and smiled at Bai Lan, "You didn't kill him?"
"He knelt and begged for mercy as soon as he arrived in the backyard. I couldn't bring myself to do it," Bai Lan scratched her head. "So, it's up to you, Master."
Seeing Ye Ling return, Bai Xiaosheng's bloodshot eyes filled with endless fear. He immediately kowtowed to Ye Ling and begged, "My lord! Please spare my life. I am willing to be your ox or horse, even betraying the Extreme Martial King, I will not hesitate!"
"Betray the Extreme Martial King?" Ye Ling raised an eyebrow slightly. "How did this come up?"
Bai Xiaosheng no longer held back and revealed everything: "Actually, not long before you appeared in the Wu Dynasty, the Extreme Martial King sent messages to all our envoys, instructing us to pay special attention to the Extreme Martial Domain and to report immediately if we discovered any beings suspected of being from outside the Extreme Martial Domain."
"Shortly after, you appeared in the Wu Dynasty and performed several earth-shattering deeds, your strength was like a dimensional strike to us!"
"In fact, I had already vaguely guessed that you, my lord, are the outsider the Extreme Martial King warned against. You want to kill me, presumably to silence me, right?"
"You're quite clever, aren't you."
Ye Ling chuckled lightly, then enveloped the backyard with Yuanwen, isolating it from the outside world. Only then did he ask Bai Xiaosheng, "Then tell me, if you were to survive, what benefits could you bring me that would outweigh the risk of letting you live?"
"I..."
Bai Xiaosheng pursed his lips, knowing that his next words would determine his fate. He dared not be careless and said, "My lord... the Myriad Dynasties Martial Assembly is actually a trap set by the Extreme Martial King for you."
"A trap?" Ye Ling raised an eyebrow slightly. "What makes you say that?"
Bai Xiaosheng said, "The Extreme Martial King had long anticipated that you would come to the Extreme Martial Domain. However, he did not know when you would return, nor did he have the ability to find you. Therefore, he could only design a way to make you appear voluntarily."
"And the Myriad Dynasties Martial Assembly is one of the Extreme Martial King's schemes."
"Once you display too much strength at the Myriad Dynasties Martial Assembly, you will be noticed by the Extreme Martial King."
"The Extreme Martial King does not need to confirm your true identity. Anyone suspected by the Extreme Martial King will be treated as an outsider."
"So... even if you win first place in the Myriad Dynasties Martial Assembly, you will most likely only meet a false Extreme Martial King."
Hearing Bai Xiaosheng's words, Ye Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked, "What you're saying... did the Extreme Martial King tell you, or is it your own guess?"