512: Arrogant, ignorant, and disdainful of others.

"Summon him..."

"Your subject, Ye Xiaoying, pays his respects to Your Majesty." Ye Xiaoying cupped his hands in greeting toward Emperor Taian.

"General Ye has worked hard. You may dispense with the formalities." Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying with a face full of smiles.

Seeing Emperor Taian's expression, Ye Xiaoying began to doubt what Duan Zhengchun had said earlier.

However, he still had to see exactly why he had been summoned.

"I wonder what urgent matter Your Majesty has for summoning me so hastily." Ye Xiaoying looked at Emperor Taian with doubt.

"No rush, it's just about some matters at the border."

"General Ye has traveled a long way and must be tired. Someone, serve tea." Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying with a kind smile.

Those who didn't know him would think Emperor Taian truly cared for Ye Xiaoying.

Those who knew would understand that the happier Emperor Taian smiled, the more danger you were in.

Ye Xiaoying felt there must be something fishy. Having served in the court for so many years, he had never seen Emperor Taian treat him with such a good attitude.

This departure from the norm was suspicious; there must be something sinister afoot. Could it be that he was truly going to make a move against him?

Was he doing this just to make him lower his guard? After all, he was now a Master of the Carefree Heaven Realm.

He was now among the ranks of top-tier Masters in the Jianghu. It would not be so easy for Emperor Taian to deal with him.

If he were determined to escape, they might not be able to keep him here.

In that case, there was definitely something wrong with this tea.

If he refused, wouldn't that give the other party even more of an excuse to act?

However, in the current situation, he had already reached a cooperation with Duan Zhengchun. Whether Emperor Taian made a move or not, Duan Zhengchun would kill Emperor Taian.

Since that was the case, there was no need to keep up these false pretenses here.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but your subject is not thirsty."

"Your Majesty should just tell me why you summoned me. If there is nothing else, your subject must return to the border." Ye Xiaoying respectfully declined Emperor Taian's kindness.

Emperor Taian hadn't expected Ye Xiaoying to refuse him so firmly.

A flash of killing intent flickered in Emperor Taian's eyes.

"What? Ye Xiaoying, are you refusing We?"

"Do you know the consequences of this?" Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying with a dark expression.

The threat in his words was obvious. He hadn't expected Ye Xiaoying to be so shrewd; he had originally planned to poison the tea.

Although it was somewhat dishonorable, as long as Ye Xiaoying was killed, no one would think the methods were dishonorable.

"Your Majesty should just say what you want with me. Border matters cannot be delayed," Ye Xiaoying said.

"Since that's the case, Ye Xiaoying, do you know your crime?" Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying with a dark expression.

"Why does Your Majesty say that?"

"Hmph... You have colluded with foreign enemies and plotted rebellion. Someone, seize him!" Emperor Taian snorted coldly and gave the order directly.

Instantly, a group of Imperial Guards rushed in and surrounded Ye Xiaoying.

"Your Majesty, you say I have colluded with foreign enemies and plotted rebellion. Do you have evidence?" Ye Xiaoying looked at Emperor Taian with a grim expression.

Originally, he thought Emperor Taian would take past sentiments into account and try to persuade him, or perhaps play the emotional card.

Now it seemed that, just as Duan Zhengchun said, Emperor Taian was too conceited and even more arrogant.

But thinking about it, back then, he even wanted to kill Eternal Life Li, but the people around him didn't have the same invincible strength as Eternal Life Li.

Otherwise, the grass on Eternal Life Li's grave would be three meters high by now.

Now he actually wanted to make a move against a being like Prince Duan, whose strength might even surpass Eternal Life Li. Who gave him the confidence to be so arrogant and conceited?

"Since that's the case, today We will let you die with a clear understanding."

"You colluded with Duan Zhengchun, the Reliant King of Dali. You won't deny this, will you?" Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying playfully.

"Between Prince Duan and me, it was only a transaction. He can treat my daughter."

"As for anything else, it simply doesn't exist."

"Just because Prince Duan and I have had dealings, Your Majesty concludes that I am colluding with foreign enemies and plotting rebellion? Isn't that a bit unreasonable?" Ye Xiaoying looked at Emperor Taian with dark eyes.

"That bastard Duan Zhengchun killed Great Awakening of Nine Dragons Temple and even killed Turbid Clarity, Our most capable confidant. He simply doesn't respect We at all."

"Therefore, We must kill him."

"And yet you have dealings with him and even had a Breakthrough to the Carefree Heaven Realm because of him."

"Tell me, should We let you stay?" Emperor Taian looked at Ye Xiaoying with a cold expression.

"I understand now. Just as Prince Duan said, no matter what he does, or even if he does nothing, as long as he has contact with the Ye family..."

"...he will surely be seen as a thorn in Your Majesty's side and must be eliminated. Now it seems it is indeed so."

"Your Majesty is so narrow-minded and lacks any tolerance. Aren't you afraid your throne will be unstable?" Ye Xiaoying said coldly.

Since they had already dropped all pretenses, Ye Xiaoying didn't hide anything and just fired back. You're already trying to kill me, and you still expect me to respect you? In your dreams.

"Heh... This Duan Zhengchun certainly understands We. If you hadn't achieved a Breakthrough, perhaps We wouldn't have moved against you yet. But now that you have reached the Carefree Heaven Realm, you pose a threat to We."

"Furthermore, all of this was caused by that damned bastard Duan Zhengchun. How could We let you live?" Emperor Taian roared, pointing angrily at Ye Xiaoying.

"Haha... Good, good! I never expected that my Ye family, full of loyal martyrs, would be charged with treason and face the execution of the entire family just because of this."

"Pity my Ye family ancestors, who died on the battlefield for Northern Li, only to end up like this."

"The true name, if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Do you really think no one knows about the filthy things you've done?"

"Why did Prince Duan kill Great Awakening of Nine Dragons Temple? Turbid Clarity went to help, and being killed due to his own lack of strength was simply getting what he deserved."

"Because of this, you had the Dark River attempt to assassinate Prince Duan multiple times."

"And Prince Duan never held it against you, only giving you a warning not to seek your own death."

"Unfortunately, I didn't expect you to be so arrogant, ignorant, and disrespectful of everyone."

"Do you really think that because you are the Emperor of Bei Li and have that Sword Guardian, you can look down on everyone in the world?"

"Emperor Taian, to stabilize your throne and grasp power in your hands, you killed your brothers to gain your current authority."

"Back then, you even wanted to kill Eternal Life Li, the Protector of the State. Now you are over seventy years old, yet you still cling to the throne, allowing your descendants to kill each other."

"Do you not feel any guilt? Have you never thought about the consequences of your actions?"

"Prince Duan is not the kind of person who remains indifferent after being bullied and provoked."

"You don't really think the Sword Guardian can protect this Northern Li territory, do you?" Ye Xiaoying looked at Emperor Taian with contempt.

"Presumptuous! Ye Xiaoying, how dare you be so disrespectful to We!"

"Today, We shall execute your nine generations!" Infuriated, Emperor Taian slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Ye Xiaoying.

"Haha... Execute my nine generations? Without Turbid Clarity, and aside from that Sword Guardian, who can stop me if I want to leave now?" As Ye Xiaoying's voice fell, his aura suddenly exploded.

The surrounding Imperial Guards were directly blown away by this aura.