Chapter 1876: The Frail Young Master

The speed at which the Ye family fell from power far exceeded the expectations of other wealthy families in Chuan Ze Cheng.

In this matter, as the former Second Young Master of the Ye family and now the Young Mistress of the Jin family, Ye Yuchi appeared to frequently help the Ye family, but her actions actually added fuel to the fire in secret, causing those hiding in the dark to feel wary.

After all, they never regarded this person as a threat from the start.

But those secretly monitoring Jin Chen and Luochun Court felt that killing Jin Chen was as easy as turning over one's hand.

After all, this person either stays indoors with his husband causing trouble, or takes his husband out to squander the family fortune, living carefree and making them jealous.

The only good news is that, according to their surveillance, the Young Master of the Jin family's body grows weaker day by day, and in recent days he has been taking medicine almost constantly, spending gold and silver like flowing water.

"Truly, his fate is thin and his blessings shallow!"

Since rumors spread that the Young Master of the Jin family was again plagued by illness, his life and death a concern, almost every day someone sighs: "With such a fine background, yet he falls ill every few days—Heaven really is fair to people."

"Perhaps he stole someone's luck in a past life and caused deaths before birth, hence this incurable karmic illness—you don't know that the imperial physicians from the capital have come in batches, yet it's of no use."

Groundless rumors are common, but when they spread widely, even false ones gain a semblance of truth.

On Central Street, Ye Zining, again scolded by a well-meaning person, trembled all over and shrank into a corner, at a loss.

Many passersby, but whenever a kind soul wanted to give a few steamed buns or copper coins, Ye Zining's golden beggar's bowl would anger them.

"Get out!" the person exploded in anger, fiercely kicking Ye Zining's shoulder.

"What kind of beggar carries a gold bowl? You're just playing with me!"

Such incidents happen every day; Ye Zining hasn't eaten a full meal in seven days, his whole body disheveled and wretched, covered in wounds.

The Young Master's temperament had been completely erased; Ye Zining had tried to pawn the gold bowl for silver, but every pawnshop in Chuan Ze Cheng refused it, and even if other beggars snatched it away, it would return to him another day.

Ye Zining knew this was Ye Yuchi's order.

Each night, sleeping in the damp, dark residence, he would nervously tremble while cursing Ye Yuchi, wishing to send that person to hell.

Hearing rumors that the Young Master of the Jin family had worsened again, Ye Zining laughed maniacally on the street corner, as if seeing his enemy plunged into boiling oil.

"Retribution, it's all retribution!"

Ye Zining wished he could rush to the Jin mansion right now, expose Ye Yuchi's true face, and let the Jin family know that all this misfortune comes from her.

"Ye Eldest Young Master."

A voice devoid of warmth suddenly came from behind; Ye Zining, who hadn't heard it in a while, lifted his head blankly and flinched, "Who are you?"

"I am the one who can save you; come with me."

That person covered his face with ordinary gray cloth, perhaps to make Ye Zining believe, and then bowed to him.

"Young Master, you might as well eat while we talk."

In the tavern.

Ye Zining ate without any decorum, oil at the corner of his mouth, and after hearing the gray-clad person's words he stared for a long time, "What do you mean? What is… a heart of rebellion?"

Duan Linfeng was taken on as an advisor by Prince Li, training private troops throughout Chuan Ze Cheng with the intention of rebelling.

The gray-clad person's eyes seemed to have magic, making Ye Zining's expression dazed, "Then… what must I do?"

"I believe that your understanding of Duan Linfeng, Eldest Young Master Ye, will surely aid me; later I will also give a thousand gold to send you away from Chuan Ze Cheng to make a living."

"……Alright."

——

Luochun Court.

Jin Chen, rumored to be on his deathbed from a terminal illness, wore a dark silk middle robe, reclined on a noble consort's chair, with a string of grapes personally peeled by his husband dangling from his mouth; his dignified brows wrote ease, utterly carefree.

"Young Master, Young Mistress, Ye Zining, now with nowhere to go, has indeed agreed; should the plan be exposed, he can serve as a shield."

The gray-clad person knelt respectfully on one knee beside them, reported, then lifted his eyes to look at the two masters.

In the candlelight, Jin Chen's profile grew deeper; he playfully reached out to his husband, and a warm, soft body soon filled his embrace.

Jin Chen raised his hand, his fingertip gently brushing Ye Yuchi's brows and eyes, smiling as he praised, "Ah Ci, you're amazing."

This move kills two birds with one stone; whether Duan Linfeng discovers Ye Zining's actions or not, it greatly benefits them.

Ye Yuchi buried herself in Jin Chen's embrace, inhaling the familiar faint fragrance; as she tightened her hold, a hint of gloom flickered across her lowered eyes.

Actually, he would rather see Ye Zining die without a place to be buried.

But more important than all this is Jin Chen's safety now; outside the Jin manor, unknown forces watch, hoping his husband dies early.

Therefore, they had no choice but to plan long-term, forcing out Lord Sheng and the advisor behind Duan Linfeng.

"You go first; remember to act sorrowful." Ye Yuchi's voice was without warmth; before others it was the same icy cold.

The gray-clad person was very familiar with this attitude; he bowed and retreated two steps, leaving the Warm Pavilion.

Seeing the door open, Jin Chen glanced up and gave a slight instruction to the child in the corner; the opera troupe boy, skilled at mimicry, immediately coughed violently, as if he wanted to cough up his five viscera and six bowels, transmitting to the quiet courtyard—it matched Jin Chen's low, aristocratic voice exactly.

The courtyard was exactly the warm spring about to turn into early summer; the breeze blowing in was very cool, but the passing servants dared not lift their eyes to admire the garden's spring splendor—only hearing the Young Master's heart-rending cough, they hurried their steps, fearing to be caught in the aftermath.

After a while, Duoyu closed the door of the Warm Pavilion, clicking his tongue in wonder: "Truly fascinating—there actually exists such a skill in the world."

"Fortunately, the Young Master's appreciation allowed me to gather enough money for my master's life-saving funds."

The boy was not young; wandering the martial world, his speech was flawless, full of hope and anticipation, he timidly glanced at Jin Chen.

Ye Yuchi's smile at the bottom of her eyes faded slightly; sensing something, she sat up a bit from Jin Chen's embrace, her gaze toward the boy cold and gorgeous, exuding oppressive pressure.

The boy hurriedly lowered his head in fright, yet inwardly thought this Young Mistress was perhaps too easily jealous.

In Chuan Ze Cheng, which scion of a noble family doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Being this jealous is unacceptable.

The boy's timid glance toward Jin Chen was thrown at a blind man to see.

Jin Chen not only failed to notice, but also held Ye Yuchi as he passed through the screen, his tone lax and lazy.

"Since we're pretending to be ill, we must do it thoroughly—Ah Ci, you must accompany me."

Ye Yuchi paused, then wrapped her arms around Jin Chen's neck, looked back at the boy; the coldness was self-evident.

"Did my husband notice?" Ye Yuchi whispered, laughing as she nuzzled Jin Chen's ear, her cheek rubbing against his neck.

"I haven't noticed what others have done, but my husband's jealousy spikes up, and I can still sense it."

Jin Chen deliberately moved closer, smiling as he answered, his warm breath spraying onto the ear of the person in his arms whose cheeks had flushed faintly.

Ye Yùcí's heart sank instantly, turning soft as water; her phoenix eyes drooped as she leaned against Jin Chen's chest, and in her peripheral vision she caught sight of the red string on her own ankle.

That was given by Jin Chen.

He lifted his foot, his toe lightly brushing over Jin Chen's thigh, his eyes veiled with a misty look, alluring and captivating.

"Husband, you can't have anyone else; nobody is allowed."

Ye Yùcí's eye corners flushed with an intense possessive red; she tightly clung to Jin Chen's shoulders, her trailing tone tinged with a hoarse sob.

He knows he is especially prone to jealousy; anyone who tries to get close to Jin Chen easily stirs ripples in his heart, and he must suppress it deeply to keep it from showing.

Jin Chen's smiling pupils suddenly darkened; he seized the restless ankle and slid his hand up along the bare calf.

"What nonsense are you spouting again?"

Jin Chen, full of pity, kissed Ye Yùcí's raised neck, his voice deep and tender.

That is a tenderness the little one could never learn.

Ye Yùcí planted a kiss on his face, rubbing against him like a cat.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 90!】