Chapter 1879: The Frail Young Master's Chongxi Beauty Wife 34

Recently, rumors of unknown origin have been spreading wildly in the capital; the high‑ranking Prince Li intends to rebel.

He secretly recruits like‑minded aides to plot against the current emperor and even raises private troops outside the capital.

But the rumors are vague and varied, with no concrete source; once they reach the palace, they actually gain a semblance of credibility.

Since ancient times, emperors are by nature the most suspicious.

Jin Yu Dong received a report from his subordinate; the emperor summoned Prince Li into the palace that very night, and they talked in the imperial study for nearly an hour. When Prince Li left, his face was extremely grim.

Having already aroused suspicion, and according to his agreement with his younger brother Jin Chen, Jin Yu Dong's task is simply to add fuel to the fire, so that the emperor will fully believe Prince Li harbors rebellious intent.

Jin Yu Dong, together with five loyal civil officials, repeatedly submitted memorials; the emperor finally sent secret guards to investigate privately. After a few more days, the rumors grew ever more fierce, even spreading word of the places where Prince Li kept his private troops.

Chuan Ze Cheng.

The prosperous city where the Jin family, the foremost imperial merchants of the world, resides.

Even the investigating secret guards reported that Prince Li's aides and disciples were frequently active, entering and leaving Chuan Ze Cheng very often.

This made the emperor's suspicion grow heavier; he flew into a rage, yet kept his composure on the surface, dispelling Prince Li's vigilance.

In early June, the emperor secretly dispatched an Imperial Envoy, who together with Jin Yu Dong returned to Chuan Ze Cheng to investigate thoroughly; at the same time he granted a yellow mandarin jacket, allowing execution first and report later if the allegations prove true.

——

Ye Zi Ning assisted a nameless grey‑clothed person, planting a beautiful‑woman spy in the Liu household's rear courtyard in exchange for barely enough food to keep from starving.

Although a thousand‑gold promise had been made beforehand, nothing had materialized, so Ye Zi Ning finally could not hold back during another meeting with the grey‑clothed person and brought it up himself.

That day, Ye Zi Ning spoke in an almost pleading tone, feeling embarrassed and mortified to the point of wanting to die, but he is no longer the eldest son of the Ye family; face cannot be exchanged for survival.

He also seeks to avenge himself against Ye Yu Ci.

Grey.

He couldn't tell if it was Ye Zi Ning's illusion, but he felt the two words "reward money" carried a hidden meaning; yet upon closer examination he found nothing else strange.

Until he followed Hui Liu to the Jin mansion and saw, in the Fall Spring Courtyard, Jin Chen lazily leaning against a bamboo trellis, drinking and enjoying the cool.

Shocking waves surged like a tide, leaving Ye Zi Ning almost bereft of thought in an instant, his whole body shuddering with chills.

But immediately afterward, Ye Zi Ning formed another conjecture, and his ashen‑cold heart sparked a faint hope.

He clenched his fist full of expectation, even tidied his rather disheveled appearance, and then slowly approached.

"Jin… Young Master, long time no see."

Jin Chen gave him a lazy glance, then noticed his husband had gone to fetch plum wine and hadn't returned yet, so he sat up a little straighter.

"Young Master Ye, you've been well? You look even more disheveled than before; indeed, I heard you went off to beg."

Ye Zi Ning choked slightly, his tone tinged with self‑mockery and another meaning: "It's my fault for misjudging people."

"But Jin Young Master, the people around you are vicious and deep‑scheming; haven't you noticed at all?"

Jin Chen replied ambiguously: "You mean my husband?"

Ye Zi Ning stepped forward a few paces, feeling very displeased, even faintly regretting it.

"It's him, you still don't know—he plotted to have my Ye family exterminated, to make me wish I were dead while barely surviving, forced to beg on the streets!"

Jin Chen showed some interest at the words: "Young Master Ye, what do you mean by that?"

"My husband and I share weal and woe; how could I possibly not know what he does?"

"What…"

Ye Zi Ning stared, the last hope in his heart shattered, and he asked in disbelief: "Wasn't the grey‑clothed person you sent to rescue me? Wasn't it you who wanted to give me a sliver of a chance to live?"

Jin Chen pondered a moment, then asked softly: "Why do you think I'm a good person?"

【That really is a huge misunderstanding!】

Ye Zi Ning forced a smile that barely held, but his eyes suddenly reddened, filled with resentment.

"But…"

"But the person who was originally supposed to marry you should have been me."

"It was Ye Yu Ci who stole everything from me!"

Jin Chen: "……"

Jin Chen burst into unrestrained laughter, dripping with mockery: "Young Master Ye, saying all this now is too little, too late—besides, back then I was so ill you didn't even have time to flee."

"I… I didn't want it either."

Ye Zi Ning, heart full of regret, suddenly thought of something and blurted: "But didn't the Daoist say that only I am most suitable to give you a chongxi?"

Jin Chen leaned back, slightly aggrieved, gazing at his husband quietly approaching from behind: "Ah Ci, this person is spouting nonsense here."

Ye Zi Ning instinctively fell silent.

That day, outside the empty residence, the shadow Ye Yu Ci left on him was too deep; even now he still feels fear.

But recalling what he had just said, he felt suddenly confident, slightly lifted his chin, and met Ye Yu Ci's icy gaze.

"Could what I said be wrong? Ye Yu Ci, although you were born only a few hours after me, the eight characters of birth time aren't something you can simply usurp."

Jin Chen glanced at Ye Yu Ci's expressionless face, caught a faint sour note, curled the corner of his lips in a slight arc, and secretly thought his husband was no pushover.

Ye Yu Ci glanced lightly at Ye Zi Ning, ignored his provocative words, first placed the white porcelain wine pot on the small table, and poured out a plum wine tinged with pink.

Next, Ye Yu Ci held the wine cup and sat in Jin Chen's embrace, lowering his clear, cold voice: "My lord shouldn't be seeing him here; it merely dirties the purity of the Fall Spring Courtyard."

Having said that, she pressed the cup to Jin Chen's lips, watched him drink; the clear liquor inevitably stained the corner of his mouth, Jin Chen's brow twitched slightly, he tightened his hold on Ye Yu Ci's waist nestled in his arms, and interest flickered in his eyes.

Ye Yu Ci lightly pressed his lips, hooked his arms around Jin Chen's neck, and his dark, ink‑black hair slid down his slender shoulders and neck, licking the wine from Jin Chen's lips clean.

Ye Zi Ning: "……"

That shameless, licentious, toxic husband Ye Yu Ci!

A fury with no cause consumed his reason, as if Ye Yu Ci had truly snatched away something most vital, leaving him breathless with anger.

Ye Yu Ci knew Jin Chen couldn't be provoked too far, otherwise only he would suffer; feeling the restraining arm at his waist suddenly tighten, he hurriedly pushed at Jin Chen's shoulder.

As their lips parted, he also clearly saw the smile in Jin Chen's depths, as if saying—

This approach works well; we can do it a few more times.

Ye Yuchi's earlobes flushed slightly; she poked his face in annoyance, then only sat up from his embrace, her phoenix eyes still hazy with affection, coldly sweeping toward Ye Zining.

"Cousin, since I've spared your life, you should at least be useful."

"Now the imperial envoy is about to reach Chuan Ze Cheng; your mission is complete. As for the reward…"

【65> Ye Yuchi unintentionally curled a faint smile, "Look behind you."

Ye Yu Ci unintentionally drew a faint smile, "Look behind you."