Chapter 92: Ye Qingping's Punishment

At that moment, Ye Qingping, standing to the side, watched his daughter's focused, thoughtful expression.

He also thought Ye Xiuxiu was still worrying about her own safety, and he felt even more heartbroken.

He spoke softly: "Xiuxiu, don't think about that for now!"

"This matter has not been dealt with; Father will give you an explanation right away!"

Having said that, Ye Qingping waved his hand,

He immediately ordered everyone in the Ye family, from top to bottom, to be summoned.

Not long after, the Ye family members all came running.

In the crowd,

Liu Yuesong, whom Ye Qingping had previously knocked unconscious with a strike, was also present.

At this moment, her face was bruised purple and green, looking utterly disheveled.

However, despite her serious injuries,

she dared not act rashly at all,

she even dared not treat her own wounds, fearing that if she performed too well,

"Big brother, you've finally come out of seclusion!"

Ye Qingming shouted with a face full of surprise toward Ye Qingping,

his voice revealing excitement that could not be concealed.

Afterward, the two brothers began exchanging greetings,

the atmosphere became especially harmonious.

Meanwhile, Ye Ruyan, standing to the side, was nervously watching Ye Qingping at this moment,

her heart could not help but rise with a few traces of anxiety.

Because she knew very well in her heart,

this gathering was to resolve the major incident that had occurred two and a half years ago.

Not long after,

Ye Qingping, with a solemn expression, slowly recounted that matter.

At first, most of the people present from the Ye family's ancestral grounds felt confused and puzzled by his actions, not understanding what he was doing.

However, when they heard the crucial point,

everyone was stunned into silence, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.

At that moment, Ye Qingping suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixed directly on Ye Ruyan, and he questioned her mercilessly:

"Ruyan, regarding your attempt to kill Xiuxiu..."

Having said that, he paused slightly,

then immediately intensified his tone and pressed further,

"What do you have to say about this?"

Faced with such questioning, Ye Ruyan merely shook her head slightly,

her eyes firm and showing no intention to retreat.

Then, without hesitation, she spoke: "This matter was done solely by me, and has nothing whatsoever to do with my mother!"

"I am willing to atone with my death!"

Before her words had even finished, she suddenly raised her right hand,

a Magic Technique Needle flashing with golden light instantly appeared at her fingertip.

The next instant, Ye Ruyan, without hesitation, fiercely stabbed the golden needle in her hand toward her own throat.

The whole motion was executed in one fluid motion, with no hesitation or pause.

Moreover, she did not even take the slightest defensive measure.

Obviously, if no one intervened at this moment,

then the only fate awaiting Ye Ruyan would be death!

Ye Ruyan is gambling!

She is using her own life as a stake,

attempting to reduce Father Ye Qingping's punishment toward her to the lightest possible.

But it is obvious that she succeeded in her gamble,

Ye Qingping would absolutely not watch his daughter commit suicide here.

Ye Qingping made a move!

He merely raised his arm slightly,

an invisible force burst forth instantly,

striking the golden light in Ye Ruyan's hand like a sudden wind and rain.

In an instant, the light scattered and flew,

turning into specks of starlight that dissipated in the air.

At the same time, Liu Yuesong, who had been in a state of shock, awoke as if from a dream,

she widened her eyes, looking at the scene before her with a face full of terror.

When she realized that her daughter had just actually wanted to commit suicide,

Liu Yuesong's heart felt as if cut by a knife; without hesitation she lunged forward, embraced Ye Ruyan tightly, and shouted hoarsely:

"Ruyan, what are you doing!"

Ye Ruyan, firmly restrained by her mother, trembled slightly,

Tears welled up and spilled over.

She lifted her head, gazing at the anxious Liu Yuesong, and choked out, "Mother, don't interfere with me… It's all my fault—I shouldn't have been jealous of Xiuxiu, let alone harbored murderous intent toward her… Let Father punish me instead!"

Liu Yuesong stroked Ye Ruyan's hair, his heart aching.

He turned his head to look at Ye Qingping and pleaded,

"Husband, let any punishment fall on me! Ruyan is still young and doesn't understand; it's all my fault as her mother for not raising her well."

"If it weren't for my dislike of Xiuxiu, how could Ruyan have made such a grave mistake? I alone will bear the blame—please spare Ruyan."

Saying this, Liu Yuesong fell to his knees with a thud.

Ye Qingping looked at the mother and daughter before him with a solemn expression,

His feelings were a tangled mix.

Ye Ruyan's decisive action just now indeed softened his heart, and his anger toward her lessened considerably.

After all, knowing one's fault and being able to amend it is the greatest good; yet even so,

it cannot completely erase the wrong she once committed.

Now nothing has happened, but if something had occurred back then, it would have been a different matter.

Thinking of this, Ye Qingping's brows involuntarily furrowed slightly,

"Enough!"

Ye Qingping shouted in anger, like a thunderclap bursting from flat ground,

forcibly cutting off the argument between the two.

His face was grim as water, his eyes sharp as blades,

as he coldly swept his gaze over everyone.

"I don't want to hear you bicker like this any longer!"

Ye Qingping's voice wasn't loud, but the authority it carried made people involuntarily feel a chill.

Immediately afterward, he raised his hand and pointed one by one at Xiuxiu's third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh aunts—these five people,

His gaze grew ever colder.

"You five, with your ulterior motives—though you never laid a hand on Xiuxiu directly, the schemes you harbor in your hearts—do I really need to spell them out one by one?"

Ye Qingping paused here for a moment,

as if giving them a chance to reflect and repent.

However, those five merely lowered their heads, not daring to draw a breath.

"Enough! From today onward, you are all to retreat into seclusion for five years, not setting foot outside your rooms even a step! Reflect well on what you should and should not do!"

Ye Qingping's tone allowed no objection,

as if anyone who dared to defy would immediately incur severe punishment.

"Furthermore, for the next three years, all of your cultivation resources will be cut off and transferred entirely to Xiuxiu. I hope this punishment will lead you to repent."

Upon hearing this, the five of them trembled slightly,

but they hurriedly nodded in agreement,

showing not the slightest hint of dissatisfaction or resistance.

After dealing with those five, Ye Qingping turned his gaze to Liu Yuesong standing to the side.

He saw Liu Yuesong's brows knit tight, a flicker of disappointment flashing in his eyes:

"Yuesong, Yuesong, this matter is of great importance to you."

"Considering that the children are still here, I truly cannot bring myself to do something overly cruel."

"But the fault you have committed cannot be forgiven,"

"So… you shall go to the Da Xia Da Lao prison and stay there for five… ten years!"

"During these ten years, reflect well on your own actions!"

(End of chapter)