Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Shen Lang's envoy ship docked at Jinling Port on time.

Officials at all levels were already waiting at the dock to welcome Shen Lang back.

"Oh, Duke Zhenguo, you're finally back."

"Upon learning that the Duke of Zhenguo was returning to the capital today, His Majesty specially ordered us to wait here for him for a long time."

Seeing the flattery from the civil and military officials before him, Shen Lang simply bowed and waved his hand calmly: "Thank you all for your kind words, but I am truly ashamed. How about this, I will cover your breakfasts tomorrow."

But government salaries are limited, and we can't afford the expensive ones, so don't complain about the cheap fried dough sticks and soy milk!

"Hahaha."

Shen Lang's words caused the officials to burst into laughter.

This was just a polite remark, and naturally no one took it seriously.

Shen Lang was thus escorted towards Weiyang Palace, followed closely by a group of sailors and their entourage who had set sail.

Ye Fan didn't get off the boat until the very end, and then he was about to follow.

But he had only taken one step when he was stopped by Ban Dingyuan.

"Young Master Ye, you have now been dismissed from your post and are no longer serving in the palace. According to etiquette, you are not qualified to meet the Emperor. Please do not request an audience."

Ye Fan was furious upon hearing this: "Even if I am dismissed, there must be a document from the Ministry of Personnel. It's not like the Duke of Zhenguo can just dismiss me on his own!"

Ban Dingyuan raised his voice and widened his eyes: "Enough, stop making a scene, okay? The third young master of the Ye family, the son of the current prime minister, is so unreasonable!"

"The Duke of Zhenguo has already given you a way out, yet you insist on making a fool of yourself? Given your performance in Song, once you return to the palace, even if you're shameless, Prime Minister Ye will lose face because of you!"

Ye Fan, incredulous, pointed at himself and retorted, "You mean, it's all my fault? Then may I ask, Vice Envoy,..."

Tell me honestly, what did I do wrong on this trip to the State of Song that made you humiliate me time and time again?

With the Song and Jin dynasties on the brink of war, I advised the Jin to withdraw their troops. This would both relieve the Song dynasty from its predicament and enhance the prestige of the Chu state. By all accounts, it would be a matter of great importance to both the country and the emperor.

How did I become the culprit? I cannot bear this infamy!

Ban Dingyuan sneered: "I didn't expect that you still haven't figured out the reason. It seems that you are not worth any sympathy for being dismissed from your post as Duke of Zhenguo."

Ye Fan was about to say something more, but Ban Dingyuan interrupted, "Since you don't understand, then I'll tell you where the biggest mistake is!"

Your biggest mistake was acting without the Duke of Zhenguo's consent, presumptuously taking the lead and becoming close to the emperor of another country. This is a grave taboo in officialdom at any time.

Most people would avoid this situation like the plague, but you, Young Master Ye, are truly remarkable. You actually took the initiative to be so friendly with someone.

Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a subject of the Song Dynasty!

Ye Fan was startled: "No, I swear, my heart has always been with the State of Chu, and I have never had any other intentions."

"Whether you have ulterior motives or not is irrelevant; what matters is that your actions have committed a grave offense. If His Majesty were to find out, he would certainly not let you off easily."

I, the Duke, am only letting you off the hook because of Prime Minister Ye; the dismissal is merely to save you face.

But now, faced with the Duke of Zhenguo's goodwill, you show absolutely no appreciation. Should I call you stupid, or were you born dumb?

Ye Fan was speechless after being rebuked.

He never imagined that a mere diplomatic mission to the State of Song would yield such an outcome; there were so many intricacies involved...

He was about to explain when Ban Dingyuan interrupted him: "Alright, Young Master Ye, after all I've said to you, you should understand your situation now."

"Go back to the Prime Minister's residence quickly. To be honest, your personality is really not suited for being an official in the court. Be realistic and go do what you're supposed to do."

After leaving behind a single sentence, Ban Dingyuan chased after Shen Lang's retreating figure, leaving Ye Fan standing alone on the dry bank.

Ye Fan clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and stared at the receding crowd, thinking bitterly, "I will repay the humiliation I suffered today tenfold or a hundredfold in the future!"

"Right now, we need to go back to the Ye family. The system's mission time is running out, so we must act quickly."

So Ye Fan changed course and headed towards the Ye residence.

……

When Ye Fan returned to the front of the Ye residence and saw a group of armed Central Army soldiers standing outside the gate, his heart tightened.

He quickened his pace and was about to enter the mansion when he was stopped by a guard.

"Stop right there, what are you doing?"

Upon being asked this question, all the grievances Ye Fan had suffered along the way turned into anger, and he roared loudly: "Insolence! Do you know who I am?"

I am Ye Fan, the third son of the Ye family. This is my home! Can't I even go back to my own home?!

No sooner had he finished shouting than the sound of gun bolts being pulled back echoed through the room.

By the time he realized what was happening, dozens of gun barrels were already pointed at his head.

"You dare to shout in front of the Central Army Guard Battalion? You've got some nerve!"

The guard pulled a Browning pistol from its holster and aimed it at Ye Fan's head.

"I'd like to see how many heads you have to dare shout like that!"

Seeing the gun barrels aimed at him all around, Ye Fan calmed down and said to the guard in front of him, "Sorry."

"I apologize for offending this young general earlier because I was in a bad mood. But I am indeed Young Master Ye Fan, and this is my Ye family's residence."

The guard looked him up and down, then asked uncertainly, "Are you really Ye Fan?"

“It really is Ye Fan; everyone in the Ye family can testify to that.”

The guard then put away his gun and waved away the gun barrels around him.

"Since you're from the Ye family, why didn't you say so earlier? Wait here for now, I need to go back and ask our commander before I can give you a reply."

Ye Fan was taken aback: "Commander? What commander?"

The guard chuckled, “Speaking of which, our division commander and you are like brothers. The current commander of the Sixth Division of the Central Army is named Ye Hui, and he’s also a member of your Ye family.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan's eyelids twitched.

A strong sense of unease washed over me.

Before he could respond, the guard had already turned and entered the gate to report.

Looking around at the heavily armed soldiers, each one alert and scrutinizing him with wary eyes.

Ye Fan suddenly realized that he had been living a rather pathetic life all these years.

Just as he was lost in thought, Ye Hui strolled to the gate of the mansion.

However, the brothers' reunion was not as enthusiastic as expected.

Ye Hui, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, sized Ye Fan up and down before casually asking, "What are you doing here?"

Ye Fan: "This is my home. Where else can I go if I don't come here?"

"You still know this is your home?"

Ye Hui flicked the cigarette butt from his hand and sneered.

"The prestigious Ye family mansion has actually been occupied by a bunch of Jianghu outlaws. If I hadn't returned in time, would the Ye family's plaque have had to be replaced with the Shu Mountain Sword Sect's branch? Hmm!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan's pupils shrank immediately: "What have you done to my fellow disciples?"

"Fellow disciples?" Ye Hui sneered. "They actually stopped me from entering when I returned to the manor. Do you think I would let them off the hook?"

But don't worry, your older brother knows what he's doing. I just shot them all, and they died without pain.

The dozen or so Shu Mountain disciples you brought have all been killed by our Central Army.

"Ye Hui!"

Upon hearing this news, Ye Fan couldn't help but roar in anger.

"You dare to harm my fellow disciples!"