Qu Mao felt even more terrified. Ye Hongyang was protected by his father, Duke An; if Duke An stepped in, even His Highness Prince Yu would have to give face to the old man. As for his own family, since his great grandfather's generation, they had not been on the battlefield, lacking any meritorious deeds. By the time it had come to his father and his own generation, apart from the official's salary set by the court, they had no other ties to the Imperial Court.
Ye Hongyang was wondering just how angry his father was with him this time and how he would be punished. If His Highness Prince Yu truly blamed him, he wondered to what extent his father would plead on his behalf before Prince Yu.
Jiang Yifan understood what Jinrong meant. His expression unchanging, he waited to see how Duke An would respond to Jinrong's leading and provocative question.
