After Young Master Xia left, the tavern returned to its usual calm.

Ye Ying’er stood behind Ye Chuan, feeling lost and unsure of what to do.

“Eat,” Ye Chuan said casually, as though nothing had happened, pouring himself a glass of wine and sipping it leisurely.

Ye Ying’er bit her lip, her expression conflicted for a long while, until she finally gathered the courage to kneel in front of Ye Chuan with a soft thud.

“Young Master, I… I’m sorry, I apologize to you and to the madam…”

Before she could finish, tears began to flow.

Ye Chuan sighed lightly. “Get up first, sit down and eat.”

Ye Ying’er hurriedly said, “Young Master, please believe me. I had no choice. If I didn’t do it, they would have killed you!”

“I understand, I understand…” Ye Chuan waved his hand to stop her, giving a helpless smile. “Seeing you cry like this, I know how much you didn’t want to. Now, can you get up and sit down? You don’t need me to help you, do you?”

Ye Ying’er, her eyes still wet with tears, nervously looked at Ye Chuan’s expression, then cautiously stood up and sat down.

Of course, Ye Chuan had seen through her intentions long ago.

It wasn’t just that she was adopted by Madam Chen, but Zhao Shi and her son had always been harsh with her, keeping her under strict surveillance. For her to sneak out of the Ye household on her own was nearly impossible.

What was even more suspicious was that she had managed to pinpoint exactly where he was.

That was why Ye Chuan had deliberately shown the jade pendant earlier to test her.

“Eat. After we finish, we’ll return to Ye Manor.” Ye Chuan said nonchalantly.

Ye Ying’er was stunned.

“Young Master, you…” she murmured.

Ye Chuan calmly replied, “They must have forced you to sign a contract, right? How else would you get it back if you don’t return?”

If Ye Ying’er failed to complete her task, she wouldn’t dare go back to the Ye family. Zhao Shi could simply take the contract to the authorities, and Ye Ying’er would be seen as a runaway servant. According to the law, a master who catches a runaway slave could execute them without trial.

Ye Ying’er’s body trembled, her heart filled with gratitude and guilt as her tears flowed freely. “Young Master, you must not take that risk! My life is worthless…”

“The Ye family is not some den of tigers and dragons. What risk is there?” Ye Chuan said with a dismissive smile.

“Eat your meal. I’ll take care of the rest.”

His tone was calm but firm.

Ye Ying’er didn’t understand his thoughts, but she was a poor girl who only knew that the Young Master was willing to risk everything for her.

Her eyes hardened with determination.

From now on, her body, her life, all belonged to the Young Master.

After making this decision, Ye Ying’er said nothing more, quietly picking up her chopsticks and eating her meal with large bites.

Ye Chuan smiled with satisfaction upon seeing her.

She was a good girl—gentle on the outside, strong on the inside.

After dinner, Ye Chuan took Ye Ying’er to a few shops, buying her a few decent sets of clothes.

Surprised, Ye Ying’er said nothing more to refuse or express thanks. She simply stood in front of Ye Chuan, her face flushed as she let him look her up and down with an appreciative gaze.

“My taste really is impeccable,” Ye Chuan said, nodding in satisfaction.

Ye Ying’er blushed deeply, “The clothes you chose, Young Master, are naturally the best.”

“I wasn’t talking about the clothes, I meant you.”

Ye Chuan laughed heartily, his clear eyes fixed on her radiant face. “Ying’er, you’re not just beautiful on the outside. In my opinion, not many young ladies from the noble families in the capital can compare to you. With new clothes, you’re even more dazzling!”

The words made Ye Ying’er blush even deeper, and she lowered her head shyly. “Young Master, you flatter me. I’m just a servant, how can I compare to a noble lady…”

“A noble lady? What a joke!” Ye Chuan scoffed, rolling his eyes. “With me around, Ying’er, you will one day be the most esteemed lady in the entire capital, no, in all of Daxia!”

Ye Ying’er felt a momentary daze. She stared blankly at Ye Chuan, who exuded confidence, and for a moment, she was lost in thought.

“Young Master, why are you so kind to me…?”

The question caught Ye Chuan off guard.

Even in his previous life, his relationship with Ye Ying’er had only been good when they were children.

But in the end, he was someone who had transmigrated, a stranger in this world, completely alone. He was perhaps the loneliest person on Earth, needing someone he could fully trust.

Ye Ying’er’s background and her experiences made her the perfect person to be that companion.

With a sigh, Ye Chuan spoke from the heart, “Since our mother passed away, we’ve been the only family we have left.”

Ye Ying’er’s body shook, her thoughts turning to the late Madam Chen. Her eyes reddened, and she bit her lip. “Young Master, I will follow you for the rest of my life, never leaving you!”

“Good!” Ye Chuan chuckled, reaching out to gently tap her nose. “Then let’s head back to Ye Manor first!”

“Mm!”

The two of them walked together, arriving at the entrance of Ye Manor.

Ye Ying’er was clearly nervous, her body trembling slightly.

Ye Chuan patted her shoulder reassuringly before stepping forward. He lifted his right foot and gave three loud knocks on the door. Then, folding his arms across his chest, he waited for the door to open, his demeanor calm.

He didn’t notice the figure quietly leaving in the distance.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

Emperor Xia Yuan Ding of Daxia sat on the dragon throne, holding a memorial, deep in thought.

“Your Majesty, Fourth-ranked Imperial Guard Lin Zhao requests an audience!” A eunuch suddenly announced.

“Let him in.”

The emperor didn’t look up, his single word carrying immense authority, completely different from the amiable “Old Master Xia” he had been in the general’s residence.

A moment later, Lin Zhao entered, about to kneel.

“Get up, speak,” the Emperor waved his hand.

“Yes!” Lin Zhao replied, organizing his words.

“Your Majesty, the young man’s name is Ye Chuan, the third son of the Ministry of Rites’ Minister Ye Zhenghuai.”

“Oh?” The Emperor raised his head in surprise, his eyes sharp and clear, showing no signs of being over sixty. “Ye Zhenghuai’s son? Are you sure?”

“There’s no mistake,” Lin Zhao confirmed.

“How many sons does Ye Zhenghuai have?”

“Three: the eldest, Ye Cheng, and the second, Ye Ren, both born to his current wife, Madam Zhao.”

“The third son, Ye Chuan, is the son of the late Madam Chen, his first wife.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes. “The one…”

Lin Zhao nodded. “Yes, Madam Chen was the Empress’s close friend before she entered the palace.”

“It’s him…” The Emperor smiled in delight. “So this talented young man is the future husband of Princess Yunxi? What a coincidence!”

This Ye Chuan was not only exceptionally talented, but also strikingly handsome, with qualities that impressed the Emperor.

Hearing this, Lin Zhao hesitated, his expression faltering as if he wanted to speak but was unsure.

“What’s wrong? Speak up!” The Emperor’s brow furrowed.

“Your Majesty, actually… the eldest princess ran away from the palace today, probably to find you…”

“What?!” The Emperor was startled, slamming his hand on the table. “Nonsense! Where is she now?”

“Your Majesty, don’t worry, the princess has returned safely and unharmed!” Lin Zhao quickly assured him. “However… when she was out, she ran into Ye Chuan, and their interaction was not pleasant. In anger, the princess stormed off.”

The Emperor was left speechless by this revelation.

Could it be that fate was playing tricks?

Just then, the eunuch outside reported again.

“Princess Yunxi requests an audience with Your Majesty!”

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