Chapter 1880: The Frail Young Master's Auspicious Bride 35

Ye Zi Ning instinctively turned his head, then suddenly froze, a chill spreading through his body.

It really is silver, no mistake.

But the cloth wrapping the silver is extremely familiar to him.

The day the Ye family was sealed off, the day his father died of illness, he was wearing this very outfit!

But… but the steward said they had properly placed his father's corpse, right!

"Uncle Elder is the mastermind behind the smuggling; even if I wanted him to rest in peace, the court wouldn't allow it."

Ye Yu Ci's soft yet chilling voice came from behind him; Ye Zi Ning drew a deep breath, trembling as he asked.

"My father… corpse… where is the corpse?"

Ye Yu Ci lightly parted her lips: "Mass grave hill."

In my previous life I was dismembered; this was my final "resting place."

Jin Chen narrowed his peach-blossom eyes, tightly embracing his wicked husband, to prevent Ye Zi Ning from suddenly rushing over and going mad.

At this moment Ye Zi Ning burned with anger and panic; just thinking of his father's corpse carelessly tossed in the mass grave hill, likely without even a burial mat, he wished he could kill this Ye family traitor right before him!

Yet on the other hand, his whole body trembled with no strength at all; he suddenly clutched his quivering heart and retched, not daring to touch the silver covering his clothes.

Jin Chen saw his husband's expression wasn't good either, afraid he'd recall bad memories from his past life, pinched his cheek and kissed him.

"Just take the silver and tell him to scram; Ah Ci, why are you still sad?"

"Liu Six!" Jin Chen called out.

"Here, Young Master, don't worry."

Liu Six picked up the old clothes from the ground, then grabbed Ye Zi Ning's shoulder—who had no strength to resist—"Ye Young Master, the bounty's been collected; I'll send you back."

"No…"

Ye Zi Ning suddenly struggled violently, eyes red with hatred, he turned and glared furiously at Ye Yu Ci leaning in Jin Chen's embrace, his voice hoarse.

"Ye Yu Ci! You ungrateful wretch! You murdered kin, killed your father, slain your mother! You will not die well!"

"Ye Yu Ci!! You will not die… uh!"

Jin Chen flicked a stone from his hand, striking Ye Zi Ning's throat; he instantly lost his voice.

"Really noisy."

Jin Chen covered Ye Yu Ci's ears, softly coaxing, "Don't listen, don't listen; our Ah Ci will live a long life."

Ye Yu Ci smiled slightly, forehead resting against his shoulder and rubbing, her past grievances soothed well.

【Villain Blackening Value detected -10, total now 30!】

Ye Zi Ning was taken by Liu Six, thrown like livestock into an empty residence; even though summer had arrived, the place remained desolate and cold, as if forever cut off from the outside temperature.

Liu Six flung the old clothes and silver onto Ye Zi Ning, then drew an axe from his bosom.

"What are you going to do?"

Ye Zi Ning's voice was extremely hoarse, almost no sound at all.

Even if he shouted for help with such a voice, no one could hear him.

"Our young mistress said you once left an unhealable scar on his leg; today we're returning it to you."

Liu Six lifted the axe, stepped forward, grabbed Ye Zi Ning's resisting hand, slammed it against the wall, raised the axe high, and brought it down onto his leg.

"Ah!!!"

Midnight.

In Chuan Ze Cheng, the summer rain grew sudden and fierce; the residence became ever more damp, the cold seeping into the bone crevices.

Ye Zi Ning's right leg from the knee down was severed, flesh and bone a bloody mess; he had no strength left to crawl to a dry place.

In a daze, Ye Zi Ning thought he was about to die.

Otherwise, why would he suddenly dream of so many things?

He dreamed of Jin Chen dying on their wedding night, Ye Yu Ci being regarded as an omen of death, abandoned by both the Ye and Jin families.

He also dreamed of Duan Lin Feng being loyal and deep‑loving, Ye Yu Ci's shameless advances rejected, turning her into a poisonous husband who schemed endlessly, almost persecuting the entire Ye family!

But even so, Ye Yu Ci still deserved to die, dying a miserable death.

As the dream deepened, Ye Zi Ning realized something, his fingernails digging deep into the moss on the ground.

Dawn light faint.

Ye Zi Ning suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils bursting with deep hatred.

——

In the secret letter delivered to Duan Lin Feng's hands by the Prince Li's express horse, only the emperor had begun to suspect, and perhaps would send court guards to investigate Chuan Ze Cheng.

While the Imperial Envoy Minister and Jin Yu Dong conducted secret investigations, upon reaching Chuan Ze Cheng they did not rush back to the Jin mansion, but instead lodged at the most ordinary inn, evading Duan Lin Feng's several suspicious searches.

Since Master Shu entered the Jin mansion's service, and was greatly valued by Ji Ji De, he even revealed Minister Sheng's plot to murder Jin Chen, to exterminate the Jin family.

Ji Ji De thus felt no guilt whatsoever, transferring all authority to mobilize the garrison troops to Jin Chen, letting him fully assist Jin Yu Dong to net everyone harboring rebellious intent.

Jin Chen personally led the Imperial Envoy to several places where Duan Lin Feng trained soldiers; after secretly gathering all evidence, their actions truly began.

Not long after, the news of the Imperial Envoy's arrival in Chuan Ze Cheng was finally released; the prefect informed Duan Lin Feng, reminding him that the Imperial Envoy might first go to investigate the Liu family's backyard.

At dawn that day, Jin Yu Dong tucked his yellow mandarin jacket into his cloak, accompanying the Imperial Envoy, as well as Jin Chen and his husband who were just there for the spectacle, they swaggered into the Liu mansion.

Duan Lin Feng and Minister Sheng stood ready, having made all preparations, determined to let the Imperial Envoy find no fault.

"Minister Xu, it's really you; what a shame to have missed welcoming you properly."

Duan Lin Feng's attitude was familiar and respectful, yet his heart had sunk a few points.

Everyone in the capital court knows that Minister Xu is a notorious old pedant, a high‑ranking first‑grade minister who tolerates no speck of sand in his eyes.

If the emperor merely had a suspicion, why would he dispatch such a powerful envoy to Chuan Ze Cheng?!

Minister Xu, wearing a red‑green robe, upon seeing Duan Lin Feng, gave a cold snort, raised his hand to stroke his white beard, his expression solemn, imposing without anger.

The Young Marquis personally paid respects to the old minister; it truly humbles me.

Hearing his extremely unfriendly tone, Duan Linfeng and Lord Sheng exchanged a glance, feeling doubtful and deeply apprehensive.

Jin Yu Dong abandoned his usual sternness at home and, toward outsiders, appeared like a smiling tiger.

What are you doing standing outside the door, Young Marquis? Why not invite Lord Xu in to sit, or is there something unspeakable inside the residence?

My younger brother's health is poor; Young Marquis, you'd better not let him stand for long.

Upon hearing that there was still his own matter, Jin Chen hurriedly raised the back of his finger, lightly covered his lips, coughed a few times weakly, and leaned powerlessly against his husband's shoulder.

Duan Linfeng: "……"

Jin Yu Dong is blind, right?

Jin Chen's complexion is ruddy; how could he look unhealthy?!

Duan Linfeng took a deep breath to suppress his anger and invited Lord Xu to enter the residence.

Lord Sheng's gloomy gaze fixed on Jin Chen; as they brushed past, he suddenly felt a mysterious pain in his foot and fell flat on his face.

Jin Chen sneered: "Lord Sheng, don't let that old body of yours break one day."

Lord Sheng crawled up angrily: "Even if I die, I will kill you and kill everyone in the Jin Family!"

Jin Chen: "The last one who said that just had a leg crippled a few days ago."

His gaze lowered, his brows rose, exuding a faint aura of control over life and death: "Lord Sheng, you'd better not exaggerate."

You old thing, soon I'll let my Dage hack you together!

Ye Yuchi glanced at Lord Sheng, then withdrew his gaze, linked arms with Jin Chen, and walked inside.