The Killer's Cleansing Manual

Chapter 174 Heavy Punishment

"Ye Lang!"

A loud shout scared Ye Lang to death. He shuddered subconsciously and didn't dare to look up at Ye Xiurong's majestic eyes, for fear that he would be exposed.

"Why is Father so angry?"

Ye Xiurong's eyes were like a knife that could peel off a person's skin and bones, and could see through his soul at a glance to see if he was lying.

"Where have you been for the past month?"

This is indeed what happened!

Ye Lang was filled with resentment towards Ye Xi. He gritted his teeth and argued, "The child has been in the capital the whole time!"

Ye Xiurong grasped the military staff and asked, "Where is it in the capital?"

Ye Lang felt guilty: "Listen to music in Hongying Pavilion."

"Listen to music in Hongying Pavilion." Ye Xiurong repeated it, and with a stick he hit Ye Lang. Ye Lang wailed and was knocked to the ground.

"Dare to lie again?"

Ye Lang simply shouted, "I was just listening to music in Hongying Pavilion! If you don't believe me, you can go and ask! Why did you beat me up without any reason? I don't accept it!"

Ye Xiurong was extremely disappointed with him and threw the six-edged dart in front of him: "What is this?"

Ye Lang gnashed his teeth in hatred—it was indeed Ye Xi who complained! In his desperation that day, he wanted to take care of at least one of them, so he threw a hidden weapon to kill Lin Shanjuan, but was blocked by Ye Xi.

Later, the troublesome He Qing came with people to obstruct him, causing him to leave in a hurry. When he came back, he realized that he had not had time to take back the hidden weapon.

"My darts are pretty good!" Ye Lang admitted loudly, "But I said a long time ago that I lost a dart. I don't know who you got the information from. Now you've brought the lost item to me and forced me to confess!"

Instead, he spoke righteously, looking up at Ye Xiurong: "I am a stubborn child. If this lost dart causes any trouble and someone with ulterior motives falsely accuses me and brings it before you, I will not admit it even if you kill me!"

Ye Xiurong was so angry at his emotional words that he trembled all over and hit him with a stick again.

"You refuse to repent! I'm going to beat you to death today! I'm going to prevent you from becoming an accomplice to the evil, blinding your eyes and mind, and doing things that will bring ruin to the Ye family's reputation for generations!"

The dull sound of the military stick hitting flesh and blood made Ye Xiurong's heart ache. Ye Lang finally couldn't bear it after the ninth stick. The feeling of grievance and the conflicts and resentments accumulated over the past few days came out together.

"You've been thinking about beating me to death for a long time, right? You don't think I have the ability to lead an army at all. You've long wanted Ye Xi to take my position as general! That's why you let her patrol the training grounds, lead the three armies, and even let her discipline me! I am the general! But under your control, in front of Ye Xi, I have neither the dignity of a brother nor the courage of a general!"

Ye Lang spat out a mouthful of blood, clearly furious. "If you think I'm incompetent and want Ye Xi to replace me, just say so! Why did you beat me up today for no apparent reason?"

Ye Xiurong raised the stick suddenly. He was angry and hateful, but in the end he couldn't bring it down hard.

Ye Lang's heart was in his throat. If Ye Xiurong hit him hard with this stick, he would not be able to get out of bed for the next year.

Fortunately, he didn't do it.

"...You, you truly are unqualified to lead the army. I have failed to raise my son properly, so I deserve the punishment. You are no longer a general."

Ye Lang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He understood that Ye Xiurong meant to dismiss him, and he was furious and anxious: "Father General?! What are you talking about? I was conferred the title of General Zhennan by the late emperor! How can Father General..."

When Ye Xiurong looked over, Ye Lang was frightened by the murderous look and dared not speak.

"I will go to see His Majesty right now and ask him to revoke the award no matter what. You are truly unworthy of the title of General Zhennan."

Being denied so clearly, Ye Lang was so angry that he wanted to get up from the ground and question with gritted teeth.

"I'm not worthy?! Then who is? Ye Xi? Father, are you really so biased towards Ye Xi that you want to give her my general position?!"

Ye Xiurong didn't think so at first. After all, general was just a title. It was up to His Majesty to decide who this responsibility belonged to. He never thought that this was exclusive to anyone.

But Ye Lang actually spoke, which meant that he tacitly agreed that the position of general was his. Who told him this?

Ye Lang was still angrily accusing Ye Xi of "being unfaithful to her husband and making slanderous remarks". Ye Xiurong could no longer tolerate it and kicked him away.

"If Xi'er hadn't pleaded for you and said you still had a heart of remorse, I would have beaten you to death today! How could you be so narrow-minded! You are simply unworthy of being a member of the Ye family!"

Ye Xiurong still felt unsatisfied and cursed again, "Besides, all official positions are decided by His Majesty. Forget you, I have no right to occupy the title of Marshal! The position of general has always been for the capable. If you are incompetent, get out as soon as possible!"

Ye Lang was scolded so hard that he dared not even breathe. He clenched his fists tightly and hated everyone more and more.

Ye Xiurong was extremely disappointed and walked to the door: "What did you do wrong? Reflect on it yourself and don't leave the house before the New Year!"

Ye Xiurong, full of anger, went straight to the inner room to change his clothes, then took all the official seals and documents of the general's mansion, and rode straight to the palace despite the dissuasion of Ye Xi and his wife.

Qi Zhaomian had just finished saying to Qi Yili, "Marshal Ye may come back to see you," when Xiaodunzi came in, waving his whisk, to report.

"Your Majesty, Marshal Ye is outside seeking an audience."

The brother and sister looked at each other, and Qi Yili stood up to greet them: "Please come in."

Ye Xiurong rushed in with a large stack of seals and official discs. When he saw that Qi Yili had come so far to pick him up, he felt even more ashamed and immediately knelt down at the door in shame.

"Your Majesty! I, this old minister, have failed in my parenting! I am ashamed to face the entire army. I beg Your Majesty to take back my official seal!"

When Qi Yili was a child, he was often frightened to tears by this marshal who would glare at him when he disagreed with him. When he was suddenly bowed to, his legs went weak and he quickly helped the man up.

"Marshal Ye, Marshal Ye, what are you doing? Hurry up and get up!" He hurriedly helped Ye Xiurong up, then ordered Xiaodunzi, "Hurry and give Marshal Ye a seat!"

After a while of tugging, they finally sat down. Qi Yili clenched his palms and asked knowingly, "What's the important matter that Marshal Ye came here for today?"

The more polite he was, the more embarrassed Ye Xiurong felt. He felt even more ashamed when he saw Qi Zhaomian's calm expression.

Ye Lang first let down Xihe His Highness's sincerity, and now he has done such a foolish thing of colluding with Ji Shihan, making him too ashamed to face the brother and sister.

"...Old minister, today, I come to return..."

As he was speaking, he lifted up the pile of things in his arms. Seeing this, Qi Yili quickly interrupted him and yelled at Xiaodunzi.

"Little Dunzi! Hurry up and help the Marshal get it!"

Xiaodunzi rushed to Ye Xiurong holding his hat and carefully took it, then put these things on the tray of the person next to him.

As expected of Her Royal Highness the Princess, she is truly a prophet. Not only did she anticipate Marshal Ye's resignation, she even prepared the tray!