Chapter 153: Destined to Have No Affinity

"Today, don't say I had his tongue cut off; even if I took his life, if your Zhou family makes a fuss all the way to His Majesty, he still wouldn't utter a single word of accusation against me, Ye Qingran! Lord Zhou, what do you think?"

Ye Qingran was usually restrained in her sharpness, but after she rose slowly, she let some of it out, causing a slight tremor in people's hearts, making them feel as insignificant as ants; she couldn't help but think that they had never truly understood this worthless miss of the Ye Residence.

Lord Zhou opened his mouth, his lips trembling, and his aged face's skin tightened.

Ye Qingran's words are no exaggeration. General Dingyuan is the foremost martyr of Donglin; slandering a martyr and his descendants is already a grave crime, let alone General Dingyuan, whose glorious war achievements make him a descendant worthy of being called a benefactor of Donglin?

"Ye Qingran, that may be so, but you didn't even hesitate to order someone to cut Lord Zhou's tongue; isn't that too cruel?" Dongfang Ling'er said indignant.

"Cruel?" Ye Qingran cast a cold gaze at Dongfang Ling'er. "I ordered Zhou Hai's tongue to be pulled out, that is cruel; then you all, repeatedly, in the Banquet Hall, in front of so many people, slander my past and insult my reputation— is that not cruel?" Her voice rang out, containing a moving bitterness.

The crowd's expressions changed.

Upon closer thought, Ye Qingran had previously not mentioned a single word about past events, and even when someone brought her up in public she would just smile it away. Today, it was her first direct response to those old matters.

Her demeanor was cold, her tone laced with sorrowful anger—could there be hidden facts behind the past events?

"Slandering your past?" a light laugh came from the crowd. "Ye Qingran, do you dare say you didn't sleep with that unknown Wild Man back then? Do you dare say you didn't become pregnant with his child and stubbornly refused to abort? We're merely stating the truth—how is that slander?!"

"How could you know about those old events? I'm not a victim?"

Ye Qingran slightly lowered her face; her long, curled eyelashes resembled butterfly wings, casting a shadow under her eyelids. Her expression was forlorn, her figure slender, and a mournful aura surrounded her.

Seeing Ye Qingran's reaction, the onlookers couldn't help but wonder: perhaps the old story wasn't as rumored—that Ye Qingran actively pursued the Wild Man—but rather she was merely a victim?

The people present were not all as vicious as Ye Huanhuan and Mu Qingrou; most were neutral. Upon learning that the truth might differ from what they had heard, they suddenly felt pity and sympathy for Ye Qingran.

If back then Ye Qingran was indeed framed and lost her purity, that would be quite pitiful.

A sharp glint flickered in Ye Qingran's lowered eyes. She deliberately feigned weakness to clear the old injustice from this body, to let them know she had done nothing unethical back then.

Although she lost that memory and doesn't know what actually happened, nor who the man was or under what circumstances they became involved, the original host's deep affection for Dongfang Qing Xuan indicates that her pregnancy back then was likely not voluntary.

However, six years have passed; some thoughts have taken root in her mind, hard to uproot. Still, today's words at least make them begin to doubt the old truth, rather than cherry‑picking to think Ye Qingran acted voluntarily.

Mu Qingrou never expected Ye Qingran to suddenly feign weakness and claim to be a victim. For a moment, she didn't know how to retort.

Ling Shaoyang and a few others wore slightly grim expressions. They had also heard rumors about the past. Before knowing Ye Qingran, they had partly believed the gossip. After getting to know her, they discarded those views, and now hearing her say she is also a victim, they couldn't help feeling heartache for her.

"Ye Qingran, whether you acted intentionally or not, it cannot change the fact that you are not pure! Moreover, you're a waste without even a Spiritual Root. A woman like you, refusing Lord Zhou, will find it as hard as climbing to heaven to find a better husband!"

Mu Qingrou pondered for a while before finally finding a retort.

When those words were spoken, the crowd who had previously felt sympathy for Ye Qingran showed little expression, but in their hearts they also thought it reasonable.

In this world, for women, strength and chastity are paramount. Chastity is the foundation; being weaker in strength is acceptable, being stronger is a bonus, but one cannot be without it!

The more prominent a person is, the less likely they will marry an unclean woman lacking a Spiritual Root.

"Sister, they say honest advice is hard to hear; Mu Qingrou's words are harsh, but not wrong. With your current circumstances, missing Lord Zhou may mean you won't find anyone better. Why not think it over again?"

Ye Huanhuan said softly, with a gentle demeanor meant for Ye Qingran's benefit.

"Exactly! A person's value lies in self‑awareness; don't aim too high and fall low. If you go beyond this village, there's no next shop."

Dongfang Xuan sneered.

"Sister, I think Lord Zhou is fine; he admires you, and if you marry him you'll be very happy! If you miss Lord Zhou, who knows how long you'll have to wait again? Sister, stop hesitating!"

Ye Sisi forced a fake smile and said.

……

Many people began urging Ye Qingran.

Zhou Hai had his tongue dug out; the imperial physician arrived for a check, saying the tongue had just been pulled and could still be reattached, and took him for surgery.

Lord Zhou and Lady Zhou stayed behind; originally they were worried about Zhou Hai, but Empress Gu kept them, saying the imperial physician's area should not be disturbed.

Listening to everyone urging Ye Qingran to accept Zhou Hai, Lord Zhou's face gradually showed a cold smile.

After all the twists, Ye Qingran, no matter how powerful you are, you'll still have to marry into my Zhou Residence, won't you?

"The more reckless you are today, the more miserable it will be for you in the Zhou Residence later!"

"Hmph, don't keep urging her! Such a daughter‑in‑law, my Zhou family wouldn't dare take; whoever wants her can marry her!" Lady Zhou said disdainfully, her gaze at Ye Qingran filled with murderous intent.

"Both families, calm down. My daughter has always been rebellious, sorry for the embarrassment; please forgive us."

Ye Yu grinned, clasped his fists toward Lord and Lady Zhou, but when his gaze shifted to Ye Qingran, it involuntarily sank.

"Ye Qingran, why are you just standing there? Hurry and apologize to your future parents‑in‑law! What do you think you are? You don't even like Zhou Hai, yet you still want to marry someone else? Don't you understand your own situation? Stop being picky! If anyone marries you, that's already good enough!"

Ye Yu was truly fed up with this eldest daughter. From childhood she had nothing but that face; she used to obey him meekly, but after five years away she returned as if a different person, rebellious and completely ignoring him as a father. He was eager to marry off this daughter of little practical value, just to ease his own annoyance!

Ye Qingran lifted her gaze, landing on Ye Yu.

A faint, ambiguous smile curled at the corner of her lips.

Although she had already abandoned her thoughts before the banquet began.

But hearing Ye Yu's words still stirred a ripple in her heart.

Ye Qingran knew this was not her own reaction, but the lingering instinct of the original host.

The original host was a girl longing for love; laughably, her mother who loved her died early, and the remaining people all plotted against her, her biological father was cold and selfish, and now, for herself, she could be so utterly heartless—how could she not feel desperate and pained?

In her previous life she was an orphan who had never seen her own parents. The master who adopted her said that when he found her she was in a trash can, just born, her body bruised purple and barely alive. Later, years of experience had long smoothed her edges, forging an iron‑stone heart. Yet even the hardest person has moments of fragility, and at some instant she may yearn for a piece of love from her parents.

In her previous life, she was an orphan who had never seen her parents. The master who adopted her said he found her in a trash can, just born, body bruised blue, on the brink of death. Over the years, countless trials had smoothed her edges, forging a heart of iron. Yet even the coldest person has moments of fragility, and at some instant may yearn for a love from parents.

However, she spent her whole life striving and never achieved it.

Reborn again, she still harbored regret.

Ye Qingran gave a self‑deprecating laugh.

【55】 Perhaps she, Ye Qingran, was destined to have no bond with her parents.