No Matter Where He Goes, You Cannot Interfere

Under Ye Qingwan's gaze, Ye Yu's lips slowly curled upward, and he nodded calmly. "Fine."

Ye Xuan was a spy for the Devil Race. If Ye Yu remained in the Great Yan Imperial Palace, he would never know when the next blow might fall. With his strength so weak now, he had to leave first.

As for revenge, he could come back once his power was restored. Besides, he wanted to see how quickly the Great Yan would decay in this life, without him and Ye Xuan maneuvering in the shadows.

Hearing Ye Yu agree, not only Ye Qingwan but even Ye Xuan's expression froze.

They knew better than anyone how deeply Ye Yu valued bonds. Neither had expected him to truly want to leave.

Realizing Ye Yu was still resisting, Ye Qingwan's face darkened again. This feeling of losing control was uncomfortable, unbearable. She gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Fine. You chose this."

The next moment, Ye Qingwan took out a Sound Transmission Jade, and a crisp, cold voice rang out across the entire Azure Prefecture through it.

"From this day forward, Ye Yu is no longer a prince of my Great Yan. Any dynasty that shelters him shall be considered an enemy of the Great Yan Dynasty!"

Ever since Demonic Cultivators had appeared in Azure Prefecture, the various dynasties and even the great sects had exchanged Sound Transmission Jades to ensure news could be shared in time if trouble arose.

Now, the Great Yan Dynasty was at its zenith, already showing signs of becoming the foremost dynasty in Azure Prefecture. With these words, Ye Qingwan meant to leave Ye Yu with no place to stand in all of Azure Prefecture.

After speaking, she looked at Ye Yu with a sneer. Resistance? Let him see the price of resistance! She would wait for him to come begging.

Unlike Ye Qingwan, the entire Azure Prefecture erupted into chaos.

The dynasties bordering the Great Yan immediately began sending private messages.

"Did you just get that message? The Great Yan actually expelled Ye Yu from the royal family!"

"I got it. Am I hearing things? Or does the Great Yan royal family have two people named Ye Yu?"

"Impossible. I checked long ago—the Great Yan royal family only has two princes: one named Ye Yu, one named Ye Xuan."

"Then it's true? That girl Ye Qingwan has lost her mind! Expelling Ye Yu?!"

Ye Yu's name had long spread across Azure Prefecture. Not only was his talent extraordinary, but he also possessed an exceptional Imperial Heart Art. During the years he served as Crown Prince, the Great Yan had seen its most glorious days.

Setting that aside, Ye Yu was also the only one who had ever suppressed the Nine Nether Blood Spring and walked out alive.

Now that Nine Nether Blood Springs were appearing across Azure Prefecture, they had been planning to visit the Great Yan to learn from Ye Yu.

"Let's agree on this first—Ye Yu can go wherever he wants, no fighting over him. And if someone gets him, they have to share the method for suppressing the Nine Nether Blood Spring!"

"Hey, hey, hey?! Damn it, these sneaky bastards are already making a move!" Qin Wushuang, the ruler of the Great Qin Dynasty, stared at the silent Sound Transmission Jade and couldn't help cursing aloud.

After a moment's thought, his eyes lit up. He turned to the eunuch beside him and said, "Go fetch the Ninth Princess. I have a good task for her."

Ye Qingwan, of course, had no idea that the other dynasties were already preparing to snatch Ye Yu away. She still sat on the high platform, calmly waiting for him to yield.

"Slow down, slow down!" Before Ye Yu could speak, several ministers suddenly rushed into the hall.

Seeing Ye Yu's wretched state, they all gasped sharply, then hurriedly spoke.

"Your Majesty, think thrice! You absolutely cannot expel Ye Yu!"

"The First Prince's past achievements are plain for all to see. If you make such a hasty decision, it may unsettle the people!"

Others might not know Ye Yu's merits, but they did. These were ministers who had served three reigns, witnessing Ye Yu's rise and his fall.

But those were internal matters of the royal family—they had no say. Now, however, with expulsion on the table, they had to step forward.

Ye Qingwan said nothing. Instead, her gaze fell on the only woman in the court.

The eldest daughter of the Liu Family, Liu Ruyan.

"Ruyan, what do you think?" Ye Qingwan asked.

Seeing this, the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Tiannan, the head of the Liu Family, served as Chancellor and was a peak Golden Core Stage cultivator. Moreover, Liu Ruyan herself was betrothed to Ye Yu. If she spoke up, Ye Yu would surely not be expelled.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to first dissolve my engagement to Ye Yu, and then expel him from the royal family." Liu Ruyan cast a dismissive glance at Ye Yu, her face full of disgust, and spoke flatly.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation fell into dead silence. Only Ye Yu remained calm—everything was unfolding exactly as it had in his past life. And the obsessive love he had once felt for Liu Ruyan had long since vanished, just as it had in that former life when she had severed his hands with the Autumn Water Sword.

"Miss Liu, how can you do this? Think back—the First Prince showed the Liu Family endless favor! Without him, would the Liu Family be where it is today?!"

"Miss Liu, your engagement to the First Prince was set by the elders. How can it be so easily annulled?"

Seeing Liu Ruyan's stance, many ministers rushed to speak, no longer caring if their words were appropriate.

"The engagement was set between my Liu Family and the Great Yan royal family, but it was never specified to be Ye Yu. Another would do as well. Besides, Ye Yu is now a cripple—how could he possibly be worthy of me?" With that, Liu Ruyan cast a tender glance at Ye Xuan beside her.

Ye Xuan scratched his head and winked back at her with a smile.

Seeing this, everyone present understood. Their expressions turned grim.

Ye Qingwan also looked at Ye Yu, sneering inwardly. He didn't want to lose Liu Ruyan, did he? Now, wouldn't he have to beg her?!

Ye Yu's devotion to Liu Ruyan was legendary throughout the Great Yan. It had been his only flaw in the eyes of others—a simp.

If Liu Ruyan said east, he wouldn't dare utter a single word about west.

The resources that Emperor Emeritus Ye Zhentian had once left for Ye Yu had almost all been given to the Liu Family. Otherwise, the Liu Family would never have risen as it did.

All eyes turned to Ye Yu, as if they could already see him writhing in pain.

But to everyone's surprise, Ye Yu simply nodded calmly. "I agree."

Liu Ruyan shot him a look that said, "You know what's good for you."

The others exchanged bewildered glances. Ye Yu's demeanor seemed utterly indifferent. Was this still the First Prince they knew?

Ye Qingwan's expression faltered. She felt as if she finally understood what she was losing—it was Ye Yu's heart.

Impossible. That dog-like Ye Yu, how could he abandon her? How could he not care? This was all an act, a ploy to make her yield! He was still resisting her!

"However, I hope Miss Liu will return the Autumn Water Sword to me." Ye Yu gave Liu Ruyan a faint smile, though beneath the blood and grime, it looked somewhat unsettling.