Chapter 1857

When the husband's Heartbeat Value rose, Jin Chen instantly felt refreshed; aside from the time Ye Yuchi spent going to various shops, as long as both were in the manor, they were definitely stuck together.

Qiao Yan Pei also laughed and said that since Jin Chen had a husband, he had renewed hope for life.

Hearing this, Jin Chen just chuckled twice, then shamelessly showed affection in front of his parents‑in‑law, which actually sank into Ye Yuchi's heart.

He had never known that he could feel so 'needed' and 'cherished'.

Life at the Jin residence was warm and fulfilling, and Ye Yuchi never gave up on avenging the Ye family.

The earlier incident with Ye Chang had Ye Er and Ye Bing Tian arguing nonstop; later Ye Yuchi found a suitable moment and, through the slave's mouth in Madam Ye's courtyard, exposed Ye Hui's affair, completely driving a wedge between the two brothers.

Ye San, having believed Ye Yuchi's words, would never admit to returning the shop. Ye Yuchi also occasionally gave them two sweet dates, so that the parents, whose minds were clouded by greed and selfishness, would no longer obey Ye Bing Tian's orders, nor hope for Dage who had been enlisted for ages without word.

Thus, the Ye family's internal strife, which barely held together thanks to Ye Bing Tian, continued unceasingly, with schemes and dirty tricks emerging one after another—utter chaos.

Taking advantage of this, Ye Yuchi planned to give Ye Bing Tian another potent dose.

It's just a pity that it would frighten the young master.

This plan had been ready since the day Zhu Lu followed him to the Jin residence, but she had delayed acting; now… she could no longer put it off.

That day, evening was approaching.

Jin Chen put on his fox fur robe and strolled around the yard, but still found no trace of the person who had peeked behind the plum tree the day after his wedding, and even Duo Yu, sent to inquire, turned up nothing.

He had a snack in his mouth, and with one hand he lifted the freshly plucked plum blossoms, tossing a few into the medicinal wine, then lounged loosely in the rocking grand master's chair, flicking off the plum blossoms that had fallen on his shoulder.

【How is the Ye family now.】

【Very chaotic! The Main God has been secretly stirring up their relations and still holds many secrets.】

Ling Gun Gun propped his chin with his paws, 【Truly a reborn villain— the Ye family is hardly worth watching!】

The medicinal wine could be drunk, but not too much, and besides it didn't taste great; Jin Chen took two sips and set it down, covered his face with the scroll, wrapped himself in the blanket, and began to doze off.

Soon, her husband would return for dinner.

Winter skies darken quickly, soon taking on a tranquil evening hue.

At that moment, in the rear kitchen of the Jin residence.

Two maidservants, while ladling out the tea cups, chatted: "I heard the textile workshop will be busy tonight, so the young mistress and the mistress will return late; this cup of soup should be sent ahead to the young master."

"Oh dear, my good sister, I've been busy all day and don't want to run errands—please spare me."

The maidservant's teasing reached Zhu Lu, who was wiping the bowls; her eyes lit up, she wiped her hands and went over, her fresh face bearing a pleasant smile: "Sisters, I'm done here—I'll take the soup to the young master."

"Eh, that's fine; the tea cup is right here—take it."

As Zhu Lu carried the tea cup out of the rear kitchen, the somewhat older maidservant tidied up and followed behind to another area.

The front hall.

Ye Yuchi, who used to return to Falling Spring Courtyard upon coming home, was still here accompanying Qiao Yan Pei in looking at the account book.

"Good, good."

Qiao Yan Pei was extremely pleased, setting aside her handkerchief, she pulled Ye Yuchi's hand over and patted the back, saying, "You've only been taught this way of keeping accounts for a few days, yet you're already this proficient—truly you're cut out for business."

"It's all thanks to Mother's teaching."

Ye Yuchi's smile was light and cheerful; she had never heard such praise from her own mother before, but now she hears it every day from Qiao Yan Pei.

"Tomorrow when your father returns, it'll be a good chance for him to have a look."

"Chen'er told me about those shop matters too; anyway, they belong to you two as a couple, so it doesn't matter whose name they're recorded under—you just need to accept them."

Ye Yuchi's long, slightly drooping eyelashes twitched, veiling the surging, scorching emotion in his eyes, which boiled up to her heart.

From marriage to now, she could constantly feel the warmth Jin Chen gave her—from a tiny spark to a prairie fire, it was just a matter of daily companionship.

But to bring ruin upon the Ye family, she had no choice but to do so.

He saw the maidservant pass by the window and knew Zhu Lu had taken the tea cup to Falling Spring Courtyard.

Though she was merely following the plan, Ye Yuchi felt as if she were being grilled over a fire, tormented beyond endurance.

"Mother, I should return to Falling Spring Courtyard." Ye Yuchi still said this to Qiao Yan Pei well ahead of time.

"Eh, how's Chen'er's health these two days? With the year-end busy, I haven't had time to check." Qiao Yan Pei set down her brush and gazed at Ye Yuchi.

"I saw her husband cough a little before leaving today; the harsh winter makes it unavoidable."

"Then I'll go with you to have a look."

——

Falling Spring Courtyard.

Fearful that Jin Chen might truly fall asleep and catch a chill, adding frost to his already frail body, Ling Gun Gun let out a shout to wake him.

【Host, it seems someone's coming.】

Jin Chen rubbed his temples, lazily glancing outside the curtain.

"Who's out there?"

"Young master, it's the rear kitchen bringing your tea cup."

Zhu Lu's voice was clear and crisp, inexplicably lifting one's mood.

Jin Chen felt nothing particular, answered with a casual "hmm," and said, "Bring it in; hasn't the young mistress returned yet?"

"Perhaps the young mistress is still busy; your health matters, so have some soup first to warm yourself."

Zhu Lu poured the soup into a bowl, placed it beside Jin Chen, and softly asked, "The medicinal concoction is a bit bitter; usually the young mistress feeds it to you."

"Since the young mistress hasn't returned, let me feed you some."

Jin Chen's brow lifted slightly, and he gave him an indifferent glance.

【Who is this person.】

【That's the servant the Madam Ye arranged for the Main God last time, the one you sent to the rear kitchen.】

Jin Chen recalled this, rested the back of his finger against the soup bowl, and lowered his gaze for half a second.

Who knows whether there's poison in this soup.

"... Young master?" Zhu Lu spoke softly, timidly lifting their gaze to look at him.

Only two lamps were lit in the room; dim yellow light fell on Jin Chen's shoulders, his features like an ink-washed Jiangnan elegance, and his slightly chilly gaze that looked over carried a deadly allure.

But just then, Jin Chen took the soup bowl and flung it straight outside; his icy gaze fixed on Zhu Lu.

Zhu Lu was frightened, hurriedly kneeling; the flutter in their heart turned to fear.

"Madam Ye sent you to Jin Manor to do what? To poison and kill me and my husband?"

Zhu Lu couldn't believe what they heard; their eyes filled with a pitiful look as they lifted them, "Young master, what are you saying?"

Jin Chen remained cold, "Look at what I'm doing, speak."

Zhu Lu: "..."

Am I not being obvious enough!

Zhu Lu steeled themselves, gritted their teeth, undid the sash at their waist, and crawled two steps toward Jin Chen, hoping to cling to him.

"Young master, I only want to serve you."

"Damn."

Jin Chen startled, hastily pulling the blanket over Zhu Lu's head and kicking out with his foot.

"Get lost!"

Just then, the sound of the door being pushed open rang out, accompanied by Zhu Lu's startled cry as they were kicked to the ground.

Ye Yuchi and Qiao Yan Pei walked in together, taking in the somewhat chaotic scene inside the room.