Chapter 34: The Clan Elders Make Things Difficult for Liu Qingmei! (Please Follow!)

According to custom.

After returning to the manor, Liu Qingmei went to the Mountain Dwelling Sword Tower at the first opportunity to check on her husband's condition.

It was still the same old state; there had been no improvement.

However, it was fortunate that the illness had not worsened either.

She had just sat down, intending to rest her feet before returning to Wenshui Residence to change her clothes.

There was no help for it.

The commotion Ning Mu and Ning Xiaoxiu had caused in the carriage just now had forced her to endure again and again; if she hadn't arrived home in time, she feared she wouldn't have been able to step out of the carriage at all.

Her undergarments were already soaked through.

The weather was too hot! But just as she sat down, a servant and her daughter, Ye Yin, came to report.

"Mother, the Clan Elders, as well as Uncle Ye Buwang, Third Uncle Ye Bupo, Second Aunt Tong Yuyue, and others are all waiting for you in the main deliberation hall. It seems to be related to your trip out... Mother, nothing is wrong, is it?" Ye Yin dismissed the servant, hugged Liu Qingmei's arm, and asked with a worried frown, her Dai Eyebrow furrowed.

"I know, it's nothing," Liu Qingmei raised her eyebrows and nodded without the slightest surprise.

"Have someone send word that I will be there immediately."

Seeing her mother's expression was calm and unruffled, as if she had been prepared for this, Ye Yin felt relieved, though she still urged, "Alright, Mother, if there is anything, tell me. A Yin can share some of the burden for Mother!"

Liu Qingmei couldn't help but smile, reaching out to stroke Ye Yin's head.

"My daughter has grown up; Mother is very gratified. You go ahead first; Mother will return to Wenshui Residence to change clothes and then come over."

"I will accompany Mother."

"No need."

Liu Qingmei felt a pang of panic in her heart.

She worried that if her daughter saw her disheveled state, it would truly be a disgrace to the family! She wouldn't even have a chance to explain.

After sending her daughter away, Liu Qingmei finally stood up and looked at her husband, Ye Bufan, lying on the couch.

"Husband, I know that upon returning this time, I will certainly be investigated by the Clan Elders. Although I have no strategy to deal with them, I have a clear conscience, so I do not fear anything."

"If you can hear me, could you have pity on me? Wake up soon. The current situation in the villa requires you to preside over the big picture; I truly cannot turn this around anymore..."

"I am not surprised that Uncle and Third Brother have come forward, but what I did not expect is why even your second wife, Tong Yuyue, could not help but jump out?"

"Does she not understand that only if I maintain the situation can she have status in this home?"

"Otherwise... as a mere concubine, with no children, who hasn't even received your favor, if I am stripped of power, how would she survive?"

"Sigh..."

At this moment, Liu Qingmei looked at the motionless Ye Bufan on the couch, sighed deeply, and suddenly felt incomparably weary.

But after a moment of gathering herself.

She still dragged her exhausted body up and walked out.

After returning to Wenshui Residence and changing her clothes, she hurried to the main deliberation hall without stopping.

In the hall.

The three Clan Elders, Ye Bufan's cousin Ye Buwang, and cousin Ye Bupo, along with their respective juniors, were seated in various places throughout the hall.

Ye Bufan's concubine, Tong Yuyue, stood on the left side.

Seeing Liu Qingmei enter, she immediately walked over to greet her.

"Sister, are you prepared?" Tong Yuyue asked in a low voice as she approached Liu Qingmei, her eyes full of worry.

Liu Qingmei gave her a surprised look, but before she could speak, the Clan Elder in the head seat of the hall called out to her.

"Lady Liu, I have heard that this time you went to Yonghang, not only did you fail to resolve the issues with the trading firm, but you also allowed Ye Bonan and others to join the Lieyang Sect. Is this true?"

The person speaking possessed great dignity. He was Ye Boqiu, one of the Clan Elders of the Ye Family, and had once been the Hall Master of the Wenjian Hall at the Ye Family's Cangjian Villa. Due to his advancing age, he had retired to the second line to guard the ancestral grounds.

By seniority, Liu Qingmei should address him as Second Uncle-in-law, following her husband.

"In reply to Second Clan Elder and all the Clan Elders, this matter is a long story..."

"Then keep it short!"

"Yes..." Suddenly interrupted, Liu Qingmei frowned, but facing the group of Clan Elders, she could only swallow her pride. After nodding, she said, "Ye Bonan had long intended to betray the family. When I went to audit the accounts, it alerted him, and he defected early, which led to the current situation. This is not my fault!"

"Did you offend Liang Zhengang of the Lieyang Sect? Is this true?" the Third Clan Elder asked.

"... It is!" Liu Qingmei knitted her brows.

"Sister-in-law, did you condone your disciple killing Ye Bonan?"

At this moment.

Ye Yutan's father, the third of the Ye Family, Ye Bupo, suddenly spoke up.

"Clan Elders, although Ye Bonan defected, if Sister-in-law had not condoned her disciple killing him, how would we have offended Liang Zhengang?"

"Liang Zhengang's elder brother, Liang Zhenwu, has been in the Divine Origin Realm for many years. Making such a formidable enemy is truly not a wise move."

"Moreover, Ye Bonan was, after all, a member of the Ye Family. Fallen leaves return to their roots; I believe he was just confused for a moment. If he hadn't been killed, once he had a change of heart, the trading firm would surely have been used by us. Over these years, Ye Bonan has contributed much to the Ye Family!"

Without giving Liu Qingmei a chance to speak, Ye Bupo directly inverted black and white, arguing sophistically and leading the facts astray.

Those who did not know the truth were easily misled by these seemingly logical and well-founded words.

Except for Second Clan Elder Ye Boqiu, the other two nodded, clearly agreeing with Ye Bupo's viewpoint.

Seeing his words gain the approval of two Clan Elders, Ye Bupo felt a surge of joy.

Ever since his cousin Ye Bufan had been severely injured and fallen into a coma, he and his brother Ye Buwang had been plotting to seize power.

The Ye Family was vast and prosperous, but now, the only true direct descendants of the main line were the three of them.

If Ye Bufan were to pass away from this severe injury.

He had no sons.

This power to govern the family and lead the sect would have to be yielded to the two brothers.

The brothers had communicated in secret, presenting a united front to the outside, intending to first hollow out Liu Qingmei's power, then wait quietly for Ye Bufan to pass away before making further plans.

Ye Bupo looked at Liu Qingmei with a smile that did not reach his eyes, appearing respectful but actually mocking: "Sister-in-law, managing a clan is not such a simple matter; it relies on brains, not force. Third Brother knows that you and my elder brother are both Grandmasters with profound strength, but recklessness will only lead the clan's business into an abyss. You must be vigilant!"

Liu Qingmei's expression sank, feeling as though she could not clear her name no matter how she explained.

At this moment.

Ye Yutan finally could not hold back, stepping out to refute: "Father, it is not as you say!"

"Respected Clan Elders and seniors, I, Ye Yutan, have been in Yonghang City for the past half year and personally experienced this incident. I know the sequence of events best; it was not that Aunt indulged Ning Mu in killing Ye Bonan, but that Ning Mu struck suddenly. This is the first point."

"Secondly, Ye Bonan had long harbored thoughts of betrayal and it was absolutely impossible for him to turn back. At the time, he even declared to us that he alone could constitute a clan!"

"Thirdly, Ye Bonan was utterly shameless; he actually..."

"Shut up!"

It was almost in unison.

Ye Bupo and the grim-faced Liu Qingmei spoke at the same time to reprimand him.

In order to defend his 'beloved', Ye Yutan spoke with such extreme speed that his father, Ye Bupo, could not react in time.

Primarily, Ye Bupo had many sons, and Ye Yutan's aptitude was not outstanding, so he was not favored; coupled with the fact that Ye Yutan had been away from home for over half a year, these factors combined made even Ye Bupo feel a moment of hesitation...

Who was this person speaking again?

(End of this chapter)