“What do you mean?” Zhao asked, her expression darkening.

“I mean I’ve already made things clear with your precious son.” Ye Chuan said calmly, “The contract for Ye Ying’er’s servitude in exchange for this jade pendant—one hand gives money, the other receives the goods.”

Zhao was stunned, then turned to look at Ye Cheng.

“Mother, don’t listen to this little bastard! He must be up to something!” Ye Cheng growled, rubbing his swollen head angrily.

Zhao froze for a moment, fell silent, and then turned to Ye Ren. “Ren’er, you’ve returned just in time. What do you think?”

Ye Ren’s eyes flickered slightly. Though his feelings were unclear, he remained calm and spoke coldly. “Given the current situation, Ye Chuan doesn’t seem to be scheming anything.”

“Unless the jade pendant in his hand is fake.”

“But if that were the case, he wouldn’t have left the Ye family estate today.”

Zhao narrowed her eyes. “So, we can trust him?”

Ye Ren responded indifferently, “Ye Ying’er was adopted by Ye Chuan’s mother, so they share a sibling bond. His actions are reasonable.”

“Good!” Zhao smiled at Ye Chuan, hearing her second son’s reasoning. She trusted Ye Ren’s intelligence.

“Ye Chuan, I didn’t expect you to have such a good heart.”

Zhao then changed her tone, smiling sweetly at Ye Chuan as she took out a folded paper from her sleeve. “Here is the contract for Ye Ying’er’s servitude.”

“If you truly wish to trade it for the jade pendant, I will agree to it. All past matters will be erased, as long as you and Ye Ying’er sever all ties with the Ye family from now on. What do you think?”

This outcome actually pleased Zhao. Originally, she had sent Ye Ying’er to try and steal the jade pendant. But even after successfully acquiring it, she wasn’t sure whether Ye Chuan would retaliate in some extreme way.

Now, things were at their best.

In her eyes, Ye Ying’er was no more valuable than a work animal. Using her to secure the position of the future prince consort was effortless!

Ye Chuan smiled slightly, about to speak when—

“Young master, no!”

Ye Ying’er, who had finally snapped out of her stupor, rushed forward, clutching Ye Chuan’s arm. “This is proof that you will become the prince consort! How can you casually give it to someone else?”

“Ying’er has a worthless life. She can’t bear to have such a precious thing exchanged!”

Ye Chuan turned to look at the girl, who was desperately holding onto his arm, her eyes welling with tears. His heart stirred slightly.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“Nothing is more important than family.”

Ying’er shuddered, tears spilling from her eyes. “Young master…”

The young master treats her like family!

This immense kindness was something she could never repay in her lifetime. She wished only to serve him forever, through countless lifetimes.

“Enough!” Zhao sneered at the scene, her expression full of mockery. “Stop performing this sibling drama in front of me! Ye Chuan, is the deal still on?”

Ye Chuan smiled lightly. “Of course. But I have one question.”

“Speak!” Zhao was getting impatient, her gaze fixed greedily on the jade pendant, eager to take it from him.

Ye Chuan glanced at Ye Ren, a playful smile on his lips. “Your two sons are here. Who should I give the jade pendant to?”

“Or rather…” Ye Chuan paused, emphasizing each word, “Which of your sons do you want to be the prince consort?”

Zhao and Ye Cheng were stunned, and Ye Ren’s eyelids twitched, his face darkening.

Ye Chuan had truly changed!

This was a blatant attempt to sow discord!

Ye Ren could see through it all. But even though he knew it was an attempt to sow division, he couldn’t stop the dark cloud forming in his heart.

His mother and older brother had tried to scheme against Ye Chuan to steal the jade pendant and gain the position of the prince consort. If he hadn’t just returned today, he would have been completely unaware of the plot!

Ye Chuan’s scheme was obvious.

Although Ye Ren knew this, he still couldn’t control his emotions.

“Of course, it should be me!” Ye Cheng recovered from his shock and, without thinking, blurted out.

It was clear that Ye Ren’s face grew darker at this response.

“Shut up!” Zhao immediately scolded, glaring fiercely at her eldest son, before turning back to her second son.

“Ren’er, this was actually a decision made on the spur of the moment. Since you weren’t home, your brother and I discussed it.”

Zhao took Ye Ren’s hand gently, comforting him with a motherly smile. “Son, you’re the pride of your mother. Ten years of hard work, a wealth of knowledge, and you’re bound to succeed in the imperial exams this year! Your future is secure, and I have no doubt that you are exceptional. You don’t need any other methods!”

“But your older brother… he’s not as capable as you. He’s not as skilled as you.”

“So, what I’m doing now is just to pave the way for your older brother, so that you won’t have to worry about taking care of him in the future.”

“You understand my good intentions, don’t you, Ren’er?”

Zhao’s words were sincere, filled with deep emotion, and indeed, they were from the heart.

But after hearing them, Ye Chuan almost laughed.

It was just as he had expected—Zhao was playing her part perfectly.

Though her words seemed sincere and logical, in Ye Ren’s ears, they had an entirely different meaning.

What was this?

Since his elder brother was incompetent, he would receive more favor and care?

So all the years of hard work, the devotion to his parents, his excellence—it was all a joke?

He, who was so much more capable, was being compared to a son who only knew how to indulge in vice?

Where was the justice in that?

Could there really be such a thing in this world?

In truth, Ye Ren’s thoughts were exactly like this, and his increasingly grim face made his feelings clear.

Everything was going according to Ye Chuan’s plan.

Ye Chuan didn’t say anything, just laughed quietly and pulled Ye Ying’er to sit leisurely, watching as the cracks between this family slowly grew.

Seeing Ye Ren remain silent, Zhao’s expression faltered, her worry evident. Ye Cheng, however, seemed to lose his patience.

“Second brother, what do you mean by this?”

“Doesn’t mother’s reasoning make sense?”

“Besides, I’m the eldest son!”

“Don’t you understand the rules of seniority?”

“Are you trying to compete with me, your older brother?”

Ye Ren’s eyelids twitched again.

Yet, he remained silent, keeping his thoughts to himself.

“Shut up!” Zhao was so furious she almost slapped her eldest son.

“Mother, what do you mean by this?”

Ye Cheng was now genuinely angry, glaring at his mother. “Don’t tell me you’re going to favor second brother now?”

“I don’t care, this matter was promised to me by both you and father. You can’t change your mind now!”

Ye Ren’s eyes went wide at his words.

Even his father was favoring his older brother and hiding things from him?

Zhao felt a chill in her heart and a slight dizziness in her head.

This little bastard, Ye Chuan, must have planned this from the start!

How were they going to resolve this?

At that moment, a loud voice shouted from outside.

“Master is here!”

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