“Young Master! Ye Chuan Young Master!”

 

“This is already the sixth one!”

 

“Young Master, don’t you want to rest?”

 

Outside the room, Ye Zhenghuai, the Minister of Rites, wore a gloomy expression, his lips twitching.

 

“Didn’t you say that Ye Chuan was suffering from a sudden case of horse fever, his life hanging by a thread?”

 

Beside Ye Zhenghuai, his eldest son, Ye Cheng, looked confused.

 

He had clearly already put the poison in the tea!

 

If we counted the time, it should be perfect.

 

The women from the brothel were also those he had arranged.

 

But right now, from the sounds coming from the room…

 

This wasn’t horse fever!

 

It was crazier than any horse’s madness!

 

Damn it, expired medicine wasn’t trustworthy! Not only did it fail to kill Ye Chuan, it made him even more vigorous!

 

“My lord, Cheng’er was only concerned, that’s why he panicked!”

 

A beautiful woman with a graceful demeanor, Zhao, spoke softly from beside Ye Zhenghuai.

 

Zhao was originally Ye Zhenghuai’s concubine. After the death of his first wife, Chen, Zhao was elevated to the main wife.

 

“My lord, we should stop this…”

 

Zhao’s face showed a mix of embarrassment and concern. “Since Chuan’er is fine, we can’t let him continue this. If word gets out, it will damage the reputation of the Ye family…”

 

“Hmph!”

 

Ye Zhenghuai was furious, letting out a cold snort as he stormed forward and pushed open the door.

 

“Ah!!!”

 

Inside the room, startled screams filled the air.

 

Many women scrambled to cover themselves, hurriedly pulling on clothes.

 

“Get out!” Ye Zhenghuai shouted in anger, sending the women fleeing.

 

“Unfilial son!”

 

“How dare you commit such disgraceful acts that tarnish the family name!”

 

Ye Chuan sat on the bed, his face flushed, looking bewildered.

 

What’s going on?!

 

Has I transmigrated?!

 

Is this really happening right after transmigrating?!

 

Wait… something’s not right…

 

It feels like the previous body was drugged…

 

Ye Chuan could sense the strange effects in his body. He raised his eyes and looked at the three figures before him. The memories of the previous body flooded his mind.

 

His father, Ye Zhenghuai…

 

His mother passed away from illness…

 

His second mother, Zhao, and her two sons, Ye Cheng and Ye Ren…

 

So that’s how it is…

 

Ye Chuan’s eyes cleared as he squinted at Ye Cheng.

 

It was this guy who poisoned the tea!

 

At this moment, Zhao and Ye Cheng both wore mocking and derisive expressions, watching Ye Chuan.

 

Although things hadn’t gone as planned and they hadn’t managed to kill him, seeing him caught in such a scandal with the women was still good enough!

 

This brat has a solid build, though.

 

Zhao’s playful gaze scanned him from top to bottom, her face flushing red before she quickly turned her head away in embarrassment.

 

Tch!

 

What kind of medicine did Cheng’er use?

 

It didn’t give him horse fever, but it sure made him even stronger…

 

Ye Zhenghuai, seeing Ye Chuan in a daze, became even angrier. He pointed at him, exasperated. “Beast! I’m talking to you!”

 

“Don’t you feel any shame? Do you even deserve to be the legitimate son of the Ye family? Can you face your mother?!”

 

Ye Chuan snapped out of his daze, the effects of the drug fading, and with a calm smile, he methodically put on his clothes.

 

“Shame?” Ye Chuan let out a cold laugh. “Yes, I’m very ashamed. I almost wanted to die!”

 

“But then I thought, Ye Zhenghuai, you’re still alive, so why should I die?”

 

His two sentences left the whole family silent.

 

Zhao and Ye Cheng exchanged stunned looks.

 

What’s wrong with this brat today?

 

He used to be so meek and weak, but now he seems like a completely different person.

 

Did the expired medicine make him like this?

 

Ye Zhenghuai was stunned for a moment, then slammed the table in anger, glaring at him. “Beast! What did you say?!”

 

Ye Chuan, now standing calmly with his arms crossed, spoke coldly, “How dare you even bring up my mother?”

 

“Back then, when you were poor and had nothing, who supported you?”

 

“When you passed the imperial examination and there were no vacant positions, who used their connection with the Empress to pave the way for you?”

 

“Who pretended to be poor and upright, and then used my mother’s family’s money to support your household?”

 

“Later, when my mother got old and the family assets were almost drained, the Empress passed away, and you lost the last of your connections… and then…”

 

Ye Chuan turned to Zhao, coldly gazing at her. “She came, and gave you another son, even before my mother passed.”

 

Ye Zhenghuai’s face flushed red, rendered speechless by the barrage of accusations, feeling guilty yet enraged, trembling with fury.

 

“My lord, you’ve eaten soft rice so much, you’re standing strong now.”

 

“How dare you flaunt your affairs with outside women in front of my mother? With such a conduct, how can you still hold your position as the Minister of Rites?!”

 

Ye Chuan’s expression grew colder as he continued.

 

Before transmigrating, his previous self had been a highly educated scholar, a Ph.D. from a prestigious university.

 

But to his surprise, his Ph.D. thesis was directly published under the name of his most respected professor.

 

How coincidental—he still ended up facing the same situation in this world.

 

It’s true, no matter which world you’re in, shameless people will always be shameless.

 

“You, you, you…” Ye Zhenghuai sputtered, unable to form a coherent sentence, clutching his chest and gasping.

 

Each of Ye Chuan’s words struck where it hurt the most, unearthing Ye Zhenghuai’s hypocrisy.

 

Zhao’s face also turned pale, unable to maintain her facade.

 

This little bastard had the audacity to call her a prostitute!

 

“You unfilial son!”

 

Ye Zhenghuai finally found his voice, shouting, “You’re guilty of defying me! You’re ungrateful and rebellious! Someone, take him away! I’ll teach him the family rules today!”

 

Seven or eight servants rushed into the room.

 

Zhao, seeing this, quickly gave Ye Cheng a signal with her eyes.

 

Ye Cheng, understanding his mother’s meaning, stepped forward and supported his father. “Father, don’t be so angry!”

 

“This matter is all my fault, don’t blame Third Brother!”

 

“I, as the eldest brother, should have set a better example and taught him properly!”

 

“Father, if you want to punish someone, punish me! Third Brother’s words were said in a moment of anger. Please, father, be merciful!”

 

Ye Cheng kneeled in front of Ye Zhenghuai, his face filled with sincerity.

 

Ye Zhenghuai trembled, looking at his eldest son in surprise, full of both pain and appreciation. “Cheng’er, this has nothing to do with you. Get up!”

 

Then, he turned to Ye Chuan and stomped his feet, yelling, “Look at this! Look at your elder brother! And now look at you!”

 

“I’ve decided!”

 

Ye Zhenghuai’s expression turned serious as he suddenly declared.

 

“Your mother and the Empress were close friends, and both were pregnant at the same time. They betrothed you two children to each other, leaving a jade pendant as proof.”

 

“You, unfilial son, are not worthy of the title of husband to the princess!”

 

“This position as the husband should belong to your elder brother!”

 

“Someone, take the jade pendant off him and throw it into the woodshed!”

 

“Yes, sir!” The servants immediately moved.

 

The servants in the Ye household always looked down on Ye Chuan, so they were bold enough to ignore any concerns.

 

Zhao’s excitement nearly showed on her face, but she quickly suppressed it.

 

Finally, she succeeded!

 

This whole plan was set up with her son, and the grand act she played led to this moment!

 

How dare this little bastard become the prince consort?

 

Such riches and glory should belong to Cheng’er!

 

“Don’t move!”

 

Ye Chuan suddenly stepped back, holding the jade pendant high, coldly glaring at Ye Zhenghuai. “If anyone steps forward, I’ll smash this jade pendant immediately!”

 

At these words, Ye Zhenghuai’s entire family froze.

 

“Stop!” Ye Zhenghuai quickly ordered the servants, then glared at Ye Chuan. “You unfilial son, you dare!”

 

“You can try,” Ye Chuan replied with a slight smile, his eyes full of provocation. “The jade pendant given by the Empress. If it’s destroyed, that’s a crime of insulting the emperor. The whole family will be executed!”

 

He emphasized the last four words, sending a chill down Zhao and Ye Cheng’s spines.

 

“Beast!” Ye Zhenghuai stomped his feet, enraged. “If the Ye family is executed, you won’t escape either!”

 

“I don’t care,” Ye Chuan replied with a calm smile. “If one goes down, three others will rise. It’s a win for me. Who knows… I might even avenge my mother.”

 

At these words, Zhao’s expression changed, her panic visible for a moment before she quickly regained her composure.

 

But that brief moment was enough for Ye Chuan to notice. He now understood for sure.

 

He had been right all along. Zhao, the so-called second wife, was behind his mother’s death!