Chapter 1868

To ease the atmosphere and also to divert everyone's attention from the sudden onset of Duan Linfeng's illness, the Liu family served exquisite pastries and various-flavored plum wines.

Talented scholars and beauties recited poetry and composed fu, and the banquet grew lively again.

Jin Chen glanced left at the noble young man who had volunteered to sword‑dance beneath the plum tree, then glanced right at the wealthy young lady accompanying them on the guzheng, and finally stifled a bored yawn.

Jin Chen held Ye Yuchi close and whispered, "Ah Ci, has the surprise you prepared not arrived yet? I've already given the Zhu family a heads‑up in advance."

"Here it comes."

Ye Yuchi fed the peeled grapes to Jin Chen, while Youyou glanced at a group of people at the corridor arch; the leading lady bore an imposing aura that no humble beauty could match.

"Who is this young lady? She looks quite unfamiliar." Others also noticed the newcomer and began to discuss it puzzledly.

"... Hiss, it seems to be the eldest daughter of the Zhu family, the prefect!"

No wonder she looks unfamiliar—she's been studying and praying together with the princess at the imperial palace in the capital year after year.

Upon recognizing her identity, everyone rose to greet her, and Ye Chang was especially delighted, for after all he would one day become the Zhu family's son‑in‑law; by etiquette he should now address Zhu Eldest Miss as 'older sister'.

"It's been a while, everyone. I'm sorry for the sudden interruption; my household just had a happy occasion, which is why I'm a little late."

The eldest miss of the Zhu family raised her hand, and her attendant promptly presented a gift of apology, placing it on the long banquet tables.

"A happy occasion…" The remark indeed piqued the curiosity of those young nobles and ladies, and someone who considered themselves close to the Zhu family asked, "What happy occasion? Eldest Sister Zhu, don't keep it from us."

The eldest miss of the Zhu family glanced over the banquet, met the gaze of Jin Chen, who was raising his cup in a signal, then unobtrusively looked at the crowd and said, "It's the joy of my younger sister's recent marriage; tomorrow we will formally set the engagement and choose the wedding date."

"What, tomorrow?"

Ye Chang rose blankly and said, "Haven't we not yet chosen a date?"

Everyone at the table stared at Ye Chang in unison, asking, "How could you not know?"

Ye Chang quickly seemed to recall something, gave a dismissive snort, his face full of pride and joy, and said, "Perhaps the elders in the family said that I would only meet the second young lady tomorrow."

Ye Chang, feeling triumphant, even Ye Hui, who would later rise in stature thanks to him, felt a flicker of joy, for as long as her brother became the prefect's son‑in‑law, she would gain greater influence in the Su family.

The young lady of the Su family glanced at Ye Hui, smiled faintly, then while sipping tea she looked toward Ye Yuchi; their exchanged gaze was intriguing as she set down her teacup.

"My lord, my younger sister hasn't taken her pregnancy‑preserving medicine today; I've sent the maid back to have the kitchen prepare it," the young lady of the Su family said to the man beside her.

The young master of the Su family nodded, smiling at the bashful Ye Hui, and said, "That's fine; you handle it."

Ye Chang stepped straight before the eldest miss of the Zhu family, bowed with clasped hands, and said, "In that case, thank you, elder sister, for letting me know today—I can prepare in advance."

The next instant, the eldest miss of the Zhu family's words drained all amusement from him.

「Young Master Ye Three, your words are really strange—my younger sister already called off the engagement with you, didn't she? 」

Ye Chang froze, shocked, lifting his head, "What did you say?"

Miss Zhu also found it doubtful, speaking with dignity: "Young Master Ye Three, why do you think my younger sister would marry a man who has no hope in the imperial examinations and spends all his time loitering in the pleasure quarters?"

"Although she is a concubine's daughter, she is still a daughter of my Zhu family; how could I allow you to trample her?"

These words practically trampled Ye Chang and the Ye family's dignity into the ground.

Ye Chang, embarrassed, retreated half a step, his face red and neck thick, "Impossible… impossible!"

The onlookers' gleeful gazes made him feel as if he were being stabbed.

He lowly growled in questioning: "But just a few days ago, you clearly spread the news that preparations for the marriage were underway."

"Yes, the marriage preparations are correct, but the groom is certainly not you."

Miss Zhu nodded, then bowed to Jin Chen among the guests: "I must also thank Young Master Jin Chen for making the connection, allowing my concubine-born sister to form a marital bond with the Liu clan of the capital."

Jin Chen: "A mere trifle."

Anything that could anger the Ye family is, after all, a good thing, a good thing.

Jin Chen glanced at Ye Chang with a smile, slightly raising his eyebrows.

Let you bully my husband—I'll make you furious.

Ye Chang nearly choked himself holding his breath, oblivious to the many people still present.

He slammed the table hard, pointing at Jin Chen and Ye Yuchi, eyes full of resentment: "It's you! You deliberately intended to ruin my marriage and career!"

Without the prefect's aid, how can I ever secure an official post?

Ye Zining frowned silently; this was also a great loss for the Ye family, and also Ye Yuchi…

He coldly looked at Ye Yuchi: "Yuchi, how could you ruin Ye Chang's marriage?"

"Could it be that indulging in drunken dreams in the pleasure quarters is also something I forced my third brother to do?"

Ye Yuchi leaned into Jin Chen's embrace, thumb rubbing the jade ring, somewhat dejected as she lowered her gaze: "Cousin, your words are exceedingly rude."

"It's you!" Ye Hui's calculations came to naught; her lively voice now sounded exceptionally sharp: "You envy my brother's success in the examinations, and you previously threatened him, didn't you?"

Jin Chen embraced Ye Yuchi; Youyou lifted her gaze, his tone icy, fiercely protective.

"Who are you yelling at?"

Ye Hui's words, not yet finished, were swallowed back; she was stared at by the young master Su, and hastily lowered her head, biting her lip in resentment.

Ye Yuchi's fingertip touched tea, which she wiped away unconcernedly: "It's fine; Fourth Sister is pregnant and temperamental—I can understand."

"Lvyi, go deliver this piece of warm jade to Fourth Sister; it can calm the spirit."

"Yes, Young Madam."

Lvyi held up the brocade box; Ye Hui looked at the splendid packaging and her eyes lit up, but as she reached for it, for some reason Lvyi bumped her stomach, and her lower back immediately struck the table corner.

"Ah!"

Ye Hui clutched her painful belly, instantly draining of color.

"Servant scum! Get out!"

Lvyi hastily knelt, frightened, pointing at Ye Hui's leg.

"I… I see red!"

Young Master Su hastily rose and rushed over: "Hui'er!"

The surrounding young ladies and gentlemen: …

Is today not a good day to go out?

The Liu Family manor doctor had just come from Duan Linfeng's place, and in the blink of an eye was summoned to the front courtyard to take Ye Hui's pulse and stop the bleeding.

Ye Yuchi saw the manor doctor begin to take Ye Hui's pulse, and glanced at the still dazed Ye Chang, lowering her eyes.

He softly called, "Husband."

Hmm, Ah Ci, what's wrong?

Jin Chen gently patted his back, hearing Ye Yuchi's somewhat insecure voice ask: "If today results in a death, will my husband think I'm too ruthless?"

In this reborn life, aside from dealing with the Ye family people and Duan Linfeng, he now only wants to grow old together with his husband in love.

But he also often worries that as such a poisonous husband, if one day all his secrets are exposed, Jin Chen might despise him…

"No." Jin Chen, taking advantage of no one looking, lowered his head to kiss his husband's lip corner, saying, "If you ever can't bring yourself to do it, tell me and I'll do the killing."

Ye Yuchi looked at him in surprise, then chuckled; as she accepted the kiss, her eyelashes fluttered lightly, her voice soft: "There won't be such a time."

My husband must stay alive, untainted by blood and life, not creating killing karma, living well.