Chapter 171: Farming: Saving the Substitute Bridegroom 14

Yelin gazed at those who, to varying extents, had once harmed him; Jin Chen's fright left him unable to dare a breath, feeling only ridicule.

He nestled in Jin Chen's embrace, grabbed a handful of the dried fruit on the table, ate leisurely, completely unaffected by this frightening atmosphere.

He even fed Jin Chen some of it right in front of everyone.

The two were lovey‑dovey, completely ignoring others' gazes and opinions.

0731 had returned with Jinbei's wedding procession.

Gongs and drums sounded, suona horns blared, it was very lively.

Jinbei sat tall on the borrowed horse, spirited, amid the firecracker sounds he dismounted, lifted the bridal curtain, and lifted Ye Yun into his arms.

He was then nearly frightened to kneel by the blood‑smeared‑mouth 0731.

0731 had deliberately hidden in the corner just to scare him; seeing his goal achieved, he let out a cry, hurriedly wiped the blood off on the grass, and ran toward Jin Chen.

Jinbei gritted his teeth, consoling himself not to get angry; after today, no one could surpass him!

He carried Ye Yun all the way back into the house.

With that interruption, nobody could muster the spirit to celebrate; Madame Song and Jin Lao San, who already disagreed, let their faces fall—what should have been a joyous match became oppressively heavy.

Ye Yun, her head covered, sensed nothing, her heart immersed in the joy of marriage, even feeling smug about her earlier idea of letting Yelin take her place in the marriage.

Jin Chen disliked the dirt, didn't touch 0731's head, letting him hop about at his feet, saying, "Your mouth is full of blood—aren't you afraid of getting sick?"

【I didn't eat it!! I just bit him!】

0731 cleared his name.

Jin Chen chuckled softly, tightened his hold on Yelin, and whispered in his ear, "The show is about to begin."

The dried fruit soon grew bland; Yelin drank tea to rinse his mouth, hearing the words he leaned back into Jin Chen's embrace, curious to look over.

Having brought the bride back, they should now proceed to the wedding hall.

The village head stood by the inner chamber's main gate, shouting loudly.

"First bow to heaven and earth—"

Jinbei and Ye Yun each held the red bridal cloth, turned, and kowtowed to heaven and earth.

"Second bow to the parents—"

The two turned again, facing Madame Song and Jin Lao San seated in the hall.

They bent and kowtowed.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

"Rite complete, send them to the bridal chamber—"

Jinbei, hardly able to wait, bent to lift Ye Yun and walked to the wedding room.

He had Ye Yun sit on the bedside, casually handed her some fruit to fill her stomach, then left the room.

Ye Yun knew the groom had to toast with wine, so she didn't think much, clutching her fruit with delight and nibbling away.

The rite being completed meant they were now husband and wife; the final step of the plan could be carried out.

Jinbei could barely contain his inner joy, clearly feeling the change within his body; a fervent, excited feeling overwhelmed all reason.

Until the evening sun faded and night fell, the villagers gradually dispersed, each returning home.

Only Jin Chen and Yelin remained seated at the table, leisurely eating dinner.

Jinbei paid them no heed; seeing no one else around, he drew the short dagger he had prepared beforehand and hid it in his wide sleeve.

He strode straight into Jin Lao San and Madame Song's bedroom.

Yelin suddenly figured it out.

He sat upright, somewhat surprised, looking at his own husband.

"How did you persuade him to kill his own birth parents?"

"It wasn't me who persuaded him; it was his own inner demon." Jin Chen lightly tapped the husband's nose with his finger, his tone still gentle, "He desperately wants to escape here and cling to power and prestige."

Yelin nodded, half‑understanding, no longer dwelling on it.

Madame Song's death—he actually wished for it.

【Villain Blackening Value detected –20, total 45!】

The two soon heard the commotion inside the house.

Jin Chen covered Yelin's ears, burying him against his chest, "Don't listen, it's too noisy."

After all, it was still rather gruesome; he feared Yelin would have nightmares if he heard it while sleeping.

Yelin obediently followed his motion, lying flat, eyes blinking, long lashes shading the look in his eyes.

He wasn't afraid at all; in fact, he faintly felt a sense of pleasure.

If it weren't for his husband suddenly regaining his senses, he probably wouldn't even have had a chance to die.

The night breeze was a bit cool; Yelin yawned, feeling at ease as he lay in Jin Chen's embrace.

In the bridal chamber, Ye Yun heard an extremely short cry.

She couldn't lift the veil herself; her movement and sight were blocked, yet she wanted to know what had happened and why Jinbei hadn't returned to the room.

Ye Yun felt her way up from the bed, taking tiny steps toward the door; as soon as she opened it, she smelled an intensely strong scent of blood.

She froze on the spot.

This smell was all too familiar…

When her mother and younger brother died, it was the same smell!

"Aaaah—"

Ye Yun lifted the veil, saw the scene before her, and screamed, tearing through the night sky.

"They're gone; it's our turn to take the stage."

We've watched enough of the play; we still need someone to bring it to a close.

Jin Chen was quite happy to be the finisher on the stage he built himself.

He took Yelin's arm and walked into the room, changing his expression.

"Heavens! What are you doing!"

Jin Chen seemed incredulous, covering Yelin's eyes, "Jinbei! Are you crazy!"

"Hahahaha! What do you know! I am the destined protagonist! No one can stop me! I will enjoy wealth and honor! I will become Top Scholar!"

Jinbei's eyes turned red from killing; the stimulation of fresh blood made him ever more excited. He drew the short dagger from his father's chest, and upon seeing Ye Yun, he even tried to embrace her.

"You dodge me? Didn't you also kill your own mother? Why are you dodging me? We are a match made in heaven." Jinbei grabbed the fleeing Ye Yun, laughing maniacally, his face smeared with sprayed blood.

"Let me go……let me go!"

Ye Yun had been frightened stupid; seeing the corpses had already given her nightmares for several nights, let alone witnessing the killing firsthand!

She shook her head, her disheveled hair wet with tears on her face, "No…… I didn't, I didn't kill! Only you!"

Yelin's eyes were covered, seeing nothing; he tugged at Jin Chen's sleeve, "Husband, I'm not afraid."

Knowing he wanted to watch the show, Jin Chen loosened his grip.

Yelin opened her eyes; the first thing that came into view were Jin Lao San and Madame Song dead on the bed—one with eyes tightly shut, looking as if he had died in his sleep, the other staring wide‑eyed, face full of disbelief, filled with deep fear.

Jinbei seemed never to have held a dagger before and didn't know how to kill with a single blow; the chests of both corpses each bore several holes.

They could no longer hurl insults arrogantly.

Just feeling a bit uneasy, Yelin turned her gaze away, regretting her curiosity, and buried herself again in Jin Chen's embrace, "How disgusting."

"Not looking, it's pretty disgusting."

Jin Chen patted his husband's back.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -5, total 40!】

Over there, Ye Yun couldn't resist Jinbei and was likewise held tightly in his embrace, though their expressions were worlds apart.

【0731, go call someone.】

【Okay!】

"Awoo——"

0731 turned and ran, howling wildly in the village to draw everyone's attention.

In no time, someone came out to see what was happening, and 0731 led them running toward the Jin Family.

"Has something happened to the Jin Family!"

"This wolf is leading us to the Jin Family!"

"Hurry! Go see what's going on!"