Chapter 178: The Death of Lin Yue

Ye Qingran is beautiful but useless in every other way. Of course, she has caught the National Master's favor, so she might soon marry into the Guoshi Fu and become his woman. But what of that? The National Master is high‑ranking and powerful, a peerless figure; how could he truly love Ye Qingran? He only covets her beauty, wants to toy with her, and when bored will kick her away—he's seen that many times.

Even if we step back a thousand miles, Ye Qingran would have to use fox‑charm to enchant the National Master, and she could never become his principal wife, at most a concubine. What waves could a concubine possibly stir?

Moreover, Ye Qingran is adamant about not letting go of Lin Yue, which will inevitably offend the Lin Family; then the Lin Family, backed by the Heaven Soldiers of the Peak of the Hunt, will crush the Ye Residence, and no one can help him. It would be better to draw a line with Ye Qingran early, to avoid future collateral damage.

After realizing this, Ye Yu shouted, "Ye Qingran, how could I ever regret? It's you who must not come back begging me later!"

Ye Qingran gave a cold smile, "Lord Ye, stop wasting time and write the severance document at once!"

Ye Yu flicked his sleeve in anger, ordering the servants outside to hurriedly prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

At this moment, Zhao Shi, excited by the news, rushed over.

"Master, you really intend to sever ties with Qingran?" Zhao Shi, seeing guests still in the front hall, dared not show too much excitement.

"Indeed!"

Zhao Shi felt ecstatic.

As the saying goes, when you break iron shoes searching in vain, the result comes effortlessly; she had been yearning day and night for Ye Qingran to be driven out of the Ye Residence, and never expected it to be achieved so swiftly!

Truly, Heaven aids Zhao Ya!

Zhao Shi hurriedly urged the servants again to ready the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; she could hardly wait to see the document severing Ye Qingran and Ye Yu's relationship.

At that moment, a servant outside reported that the Ninth Prince had arrived. This brother of His Majesty, though physically impaired, was not to be underestimated, so Ye Yu naturally did not dare to delay.

Soon, Ye Qingran saw the Ninth Prince seated in a wheelchair, with Qingshu slowly being pushed behind him. From a distance, despite the wheelchair, his bearing shone brilliantly even under the scorching sun.

When Dongfang Mo entered the front hall, the servants had just prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"The Ninth Prince arrives just in time; could you serve as a witness for us?"

Dongfang Mo raised an eyebrow, looked at Ye Qingran in surprise, then smiled and asked, "What exactly do you need me to witness?"

"Sever the father‑daughter relationship!"

Dongfang Mo was startled, and Qingshu behind him wore an equally surprised expression.

Ye Qingran wants to sever the father‑daughter bond with Ye Yu?

Dongfang Mo only lingered in shock for a moment, said nothing to persuade, but stared intensely at Ye Qingran, "Have you thought this through?"

Ye Qingran nodded.

"If so, I'll be the witness then."

Ye Yu flicked his sleeve, ground his brush, and began writing in large characters. Zhao Shi watched beside him, unable to hide his smile. After a moment, he lifted the lengthy severance document, brushed the ink dry, and handed it to Dongfang Mo.

Dongfang Mo lowered his head, finished reading, said nothing else, lifted his eyelids, and said to Ye Yu, "Lord Ye, once this severance document is signed, there's no room for regret. Are you sure you want to cut ties with Miss Ye?"

Under Zhao Shi's impatient gaze, Ye Yu answered without hesitation, "An unfilial daughter—what use is she? From now on, no more connections!"

"Then sign it."

Ye Yu signed his full name.

"And you?"

Ye Qingran sneered, "From now on, he walks his solitary bridge, I walk my sunny path!" With that, she signed her full name.

"Fine." Dongfang Mo couldn't help but curl his lip.

This Ye Qingran truly never lets anyone take advantage of her at any time!

Qingshu fetched a wolf‑hair brush for him; he signed his name on that severance document. The document, bearing three signatures, was handed to Dongfang Mo for safekeeping.

From the moment Dongfang Mo instructed Qingshu to store the severance document and keep it safe, Ye Qingran and Ye Yu became strangers.

"Then, since Ye Qingran and the master have severed ties, shouldn't Ye Qingran move out?" Zhao Shi asked eagerly.

"Zhao Yi Niang, what dream are you having? This mansion was left to me by my mother; you all, including Lord Ye, are merely… guests under someone else's roof! So the ones who should move out are you."

Zhao Shi's face darkened instantly, "How can you say that? Though the mansion belonged to your mother, now that she's gone it's your father's—how does it become yours?"

"Lord Ye, please take good care of your own concubine; don't end up stabbing the child later and have nowhere to cry."

Ye Yu's heart fluttered, he thought briefly, then hurriedly told Zhao Shi to shut up.

"Lord Ye, you needn't worry; however the Ye Residence is lived in now, it will remain so. I won't drive you out."

Ye Yu pressed his lips together and said nothing more.

"Ye Qingran, I'll ask again: will you release Lin Yue or not?"

"Lin Family head, if your ears are bad, just see a doctor; after all, the Lin Family has countless apothecaries, doctors in abundance—finding someone to examine you isn't a big deal, right?"

Lin Zhishang was furious.

Ye Qingran not only refused to release Lin Yue but also mocked him, truly inciting his wrath.

Dongfang Mo glared at Lin Zhishang, and said lightly, "Lin Family head, there's a saying that debts are repaid with money, murders with life; Lin Yue has brought misfortune upon herself. If Miss Ye does not release her, your Lin Family would have nothing left to say, wouldn't it?"

Lin Zhishang squinted.

That may be true, but what kind of clan is the Lin Family? They are a family protected by the top‑tier forces of the Xi Ji Shengyu at the Peak of the Hunt!

Why should they obey the Eastern Court's laws?

If Ye Qingran does not release her, then he will demand Ye Qingran's life in exchange!

"Ye Qingran, take care of yourself!" Lin Zhishang ominously uttered, flinging his sleeve in anger, preparing to leave, but was stopped by Dongfang Mo.

"Lin Family head, hold on, I just learned from the Ministry of Justice that your daughter Lin Yue has already…"

"What?"

Lin Zhishang turned around, his face full of disbelief.

It's not that he cherished this daughter especially. He has many children; Lin Yue, though indeed his daughter, was born from a drunken encounter with a maid, unfit for public acknowledgment—if she dies, so be it.

"Who?!"

"The investigation is ongoing, but preliminary findings indicate suicide by hanging."

"Suicide by hanging? Impossible!" He had promised Lin Yue he would rescue her; she certainly wouldn't…

"If the Lin Family head doesn't believe it, feel free to take your own men to the Heaven Prison for an autopsy."

Lin Zhishang's eyes flickered, and he immediately strode away.

Lin Yue died?

Ye Qingran watched the direction Lin Zhishang had gone, a dark glint slipping across the depths of her eyes.