Ye Tian nodded slowly, watching his nephew closely.
"Ye Xian, the way you handled things today... I didn't expect it. You showed a part of yourself most people have never seen."
The patriarch's words held power, and everyone still in the hall could feel the change. His view of the once-ignored bastard son had clearly shifted.
"You acted fast and showed the truth, while others stayed quiet. That takes guts and a smart mind."
Ye Xian bowed with respect. "Thank you, Patriarch. I only wanted the truth to come out."
Truth, Ye Tian thought to himself.
'But I can't help feeling there's more behind this change. The way he handled everything... it was almost too smooth. Too planned.'
As the crowd slowly broke apart, whispers trailing behind them, Ye Feng walked up to his elder brother, his face dark and strained.
"Elder Brother, I need time to make sense of what my son has done. After meeting the guest, I'll go into closed-door cultivation for a while."
The shame in Ye Feng's voice was clear. His prized son, the one he always held above the rest had been unmasked as someone willing to harm his own blood.
The truth hit him hard, like a mountain pressing down on his shoulders.
Ye Tian gave a quiet nod.
"Take the time you need, Feng. None of us walked away from this unchanged."
As Ye Feng disappeared down the corridor, weighed down by shame, Ye Xian stood in silence, until a voice he knew all too well broke through his thoughts.
"Well, well," Ye Ling'er said, her unusual smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she walked up to him.
"Who would've guessed the so-called 'useless' one would turn into the clan's star prosecutor in just one afternoon?"
She studied him with new interest, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Though I have to say, cousin, there's something different about you. Something... dangerous."
Ye Xian met her gaze steadily. "Perhaps you're just seeing me clearly for the first time."
"Mmm," she hummed thoughtfully.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps nearly dying changes a person more than we realize."
Meanwhile, Sheng Qinhua stood frozen near the patriarch's seat, her face a mask of barely contained fury. Her precious son, her carefully cultivated heir, had been dragged away in chains. The woman who had spent years building her position in the clan through her son's success now watched it all crumble.
Her eyes locked onto Ye Xian, blazing with pure hatred. This bastard had destroyed everything she'd worked for with ruthless precision. She burned his face into her mind, etching every detail of this bitter defeat and humiliation deep inside.
Without a word, she turned and swept from the hall, her silk robes rustling with her barely controlled rage.
Ye Xian caught sight of her leaving and felt a cold satisfaction tighten in his chest. He'd won this round, but he knew Sheng Qinhua wouldn't forget. She would be planning her revenge even now.
'Let her plan,' he thought coldly. 'I've already died once. I won't make the same mistakes again.'
Once the hall cleared, Ye Xian headed back to his courtyard. The day had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit, but it had also proven one thing:
He wasn't the weak, ignored bastard everyone had written off.
Someone who had learned that in this world, justice was something you carved out with your own hands, not something that was simply given
As the hall emptied, Ye Xian was about to return to his courtyard when he heard footsteps behind him.
A servant approached, bowing respectfully.
"Young Master Ye, the Patriarch is calling for you. You are requested in the dining hall."
Ye Xian nodded and followed the servant.
The dining hall was spacious, with a long rectangular table surrounded by ornate chairs. Several family members were already seated.
At the head sat Ye Tian, the Patriarch, his commanding presence filling the room. To his left sat his wife, with Ye Ling'er beside her. To his right sat Ye Feng, and next to him, Sheng Qinhua—her earlier fury now masked behind a composed facade.
At the opposite end sat an important guest: a slightly muscular man in expensive green robes, his long hair neatly tied. Ye Xian recognized him immediately—Meng Pan, Patriarch of the influential Meng Clan.
Ye Xian stepped forward, respectfully greeting each family member before turning to their guest. "Ye Xian, at your service," he said with practiced courtesy.
Meng Pan's eyes sparkled with interest. "Ah, Ye Xian, I've heard much about you. A fine young man, well-mannered too. It's an honor to finally meet you."
Though polite, Ye Xian sensed deeper currents beneath the pleasantries. This meeting would be significant—potentially life-changing.
Ye Tian formally introduced their guest. "This is Meng Pan, patriarch of the Meng Clan. He's here to discuss matters of great importance."
As servants brought food and conversation flowed, Ye Xian remained alert, his mind working. He noticed subtle tensions—the way Sheng Qinhua's hands clenched beneath the table, the carefully measured words of the patriarchs, the significance of this "coincidental" visit so soon after today's dramatic events.
'Interesting timing,' he mused, maintaining his respectful demeanor while analyzing the situation.
Across the table, Sheng Qinhua's composure was cracking. Her eyes flickered between Ye Xian and Meng Pan, dark with jealousy and rage.
'Everything is falling apart,' she thought bitterly. 'My son is in prison because of this bastard, and now...'
Though she thought she was hiding it well, Ye Xian caught every micro-expression, every tell. His recent brush with death had sharpened his perception considerably.
Finally, Ye Tian addressed the main topic. He set down his cup and looked at Ye Xian seriously.
"Ye Xian, there is something important we must discuss."
'Here it comes,' Ye Xian thought, preparing himself.
"Generations ago, the Meng and Ye clans made an agreement. If one family had a daughter and the other a son of suitable age, they would be united in marriage. Fate has often interfered, but now the opportunity has come. Patriarch Meng has traveled here to honor that ancient pact."
The room fell silent.
Meng Pan smiled diplomatically. "My daughter Xueqing would be honored to fulfill this arrangement. The wedding would take place next year, when Ye Xian reaches eighteen."
He paused for a moment, thinking it through. If he agreed, only good things could come from it.
But if he refused, it would be like slapping Meng Pan in the face and turning down the fortune knocking at his door.
The smarter choice was to accept, no need to make the Meng Clan his enemies when he could enjoy the benefits instead.
As for Sheng Qianying, he already saw her as his woman. One way or another, he'd take her for himself in the future. He'd find a way.
"Isn't Ye Xian too young for marriage?"
Before he could respond, Sheng Qinhua interjected.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Ye Tian and Ye Feng exchanged alarmed glances.
Meng Pan's smile remained, but his eyes hardened slightly. "What do you think, Patriarch Ye? Early marriages often bear the sweetest fruit, don't you agree?"
The warning in his tone was unmistakable. Ye Tian and Ye Feng nodded hastily.
"Yes, absolutely!" Ye Feng stammered. "Young cultivators should marry early to produce strong heirs!"
Meng Pan's expression suggested he found Ye Feng's reasoning rather crude, but acceptable.
Why the sudden rush now? Why didn't you arrange the marriage earlier—back when your daughter was doing great and full of potential? But now that she's paralyzed from the waist down, you want to marry her off to someone you think is weak and easy to control? Someone who'll just follow your every order without question?
Ye Xian wanted to say this to Meng Pan, but he held back. He wasn't sure how Meng Pan would react if he got angry—especially since just one slap from him could easily kill someone as young and weak as Ye Xian.
But honestly, it worked out well. Meng Pan came at just the right time. This marriage could be Ye Xian's way into more connections and resources. He couldn't help but laugh a little to himself.
Ye Xian observed this exchange with growing understanding. Sheng Qinhua was trying to sabotage his prospects, perhaps hoping to delay until her son could be freed and positioned as an alternative candidate.
'How transparent,' he thought with amusement.
Looking directly at Meng Pan, Ye Xian spoke clearly.
"Uncle Meng, I gladly accept this honor."