Chapter 169: The Grand Wedding 2

Ye Jingchuan looked at Ye Anjun, who disregarded the Shilang Manor’s face and defied him, and stood up in anger.

“Preposterous! Chen Zhong…”

As he prepared to have Chen Zhong forcibly take Anjun away, Ye Chutang spoke up.

“Check the Guanyin statue. It won’t take long, and I believe the prince has been waiting.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingchuan immediately understood that Ye Anjun’s ruckus was orchestrated by Ye Chutang.

His eyes seemed to be poisoned, and his hands under his sleeves clenched into fists.

“It’s already past the appointed time. The wedding procession still has to circle the imperial city once to receive the blessings of the people. If we delay further, we’ll miss the auspicious time for the ceremony.”

Qi Yanzhou knew that the procession had to circle the city to bring the wedding boxes filled with weapons into Prince Chen’s manor as much as possible.

With 128 boxes of dowry, it would take at least half an hour to finish transporting them.

He intentionally said, “It doesn’t matter. We can shorten the city tour later. The Shilang Manor is now my in-law’s house, and we should clarify the matter of heirs.”

“The matter of heirs is within my family’s affairs. There’s no need for the prince to worry.”

“Are you implying that you don’t consider me as the head of this family?”

Ye Jingchuan wanted to say that he had already cut ties with Ye Chutang, and he truly had no connections to Prince Chen’s family anymore!

The civil and military officials all understood. He couldn’t bring himself to utter such shameful words.

So he looked at Chen Zhong and gave him a subtle look.

“Take the Guanyin statue from the altar.”

Chen Zhong immediately understood.

No matter what was inside the Guanyin statue, it couldn’t be made public!

“Understood, Master.”

Qi Yanzhou saw through Ye Jingchuan’s intentions at a glance.

He said to his trusted aide, “You go as well.”

“Understood, my lord.”

Ye Jingchuan knew he couldn’t stop it and decided to let it go.

“Quickly, quickly.”

After saying this, he looked at Ye Anjun, wishing he could swallow him whole.

If he weren’t his biological son, he wouldn’t have to live!

Ye Anjun was unnerved under his gaze but forced himself to meet Ye Jingchuan’s eyes.

His elder sister would protect him, so he wasn’t afraid.

Guests’ eyes also fell on Ye Anjun.

He was small and thin but stood straight and dignified.

“You kid, have you gone mad? The young master of the Shilang Manor wants to give up his position to be a commoner?”

“And you choose to announce it on such an auspicious day. What does he want to do?”

“I heard that Ye Shilang dotes on this son, but he’s so ungrateful!”

“Exactly. Ye Shilang raised him, and he has no right to sever ties!”

Song Jingning, hearing such ignorant and baseless gossip, couldn’t help but sneer.

Now he understood why the Song family had such a strict family rule not to associate with officials.

These people only knew how to flatter, but they couldn’t tell right from wrong!

Many of the guests looked toward Song Jingning, their eyes filled with disdain for the scholars who upheld integrity.

“Why is Young Master Haoyue laughing?”

Song Jingning wasn’t afraid of clashing with officials. He grinned broadly.

“Laughing at how stupid you all are!”

Upon hearing this, Ye Chutang’s lips curled into a smile.

She liked his personality!

“Young Master Haoyue, don’t think that just because you’re prominent in the literary world, you can insult people at will!”

Song Jingning walked into the main hall and stood before Ye Anjun.

“If he had spoken the truth on any other day, would he still have a life?”

The answer was obvious.

No!

Such a huge scandal had to be covered up!

Song Jingning patted Anjun’s shoulder and said, “As for severing ties, he did nothing wrong. Some people can trample on their father’s corpse to enjoy riches, while others will give up those riches just to seek peace of mind.”

These spineless people who valued profits above all else would only kneel to beg for scraps, unable to understand what true integrity is.

Anjun looked up at Song Jingning, his eyes filled with admiration.

He turned to look at the man who had just mocked Song Jingning, his dark, grape-like eyes filled with coldness.

“I would rather my father remain healthy and never enjoy wealth.”

The man was about to mock him again when Chen Zhong and Qi Yanzhou’s aides returned.

Chen Zhong had tried several times to destroy the contents of the Guanyin statue but found no opportunity. He could only return it intact to Ye Jingchuan.

“Master, the Guanyin statue is intact.”

In other words, he hadn’t been able to destroy whatever was inside.

Ye Jingchuan, having accepted the worst outcome, immediately took the Guanyin statue.

He reached into the hollow part of the statue and pulled out a yellowed piece of paper.

The note had a date written on it, along with a sentence.

The date was the day Kong Ru had a miscarriage, which she had considered the day their child had died prematurely.

The sentence read: “May my son Anpeng find peace and ascend to paradise early!”

Ye Anpeng was the name Kong Ru and Ye Jingchuan had given to their son, symbolizing great success.

Later, when Kong Ru had a “difficult birth,” she claimed the child’s health was poor, and the name “Anpeng” was too difficult. She thought “Junjie Lianhan” was more suitable.

So Ye Jingchuan abandoned the good name and called the child Ye Anjun instead.

Ye Jingchuan, thinking of this, almost ripped the paper in his hands in fury.

How dare that vile woman Kong Ru do this to him!

Not only had she killed his legitimate eldest son, but she had also given him a fake son!

Was this his punishment for doting on his concubine and neglecting his wife?

Ye Chutang couldn’t see Ye Jingchuan’s expression, but she could feel his anger.

She asked knowingly, “What’s in the Guanyin statue? Is Anjun really a child of the Ye family?”

Ye Jingchuan looked at the evidence in his hands and couldn’t lie.

He admitted, “Ye Anjun is indeed not of the Ye family’s bloodline. I will write a severance of ties letter immediately. From now on, Ye Anjun and the Ye family will have no connection, and he can no longer carry the ‘Ye’ surname!”

After saying this, he had a maid bring ink and paper and began to write the severance letter.

When he reached the end, he looked at Ye Anjun.

“Give yourself a name, and then sign it.”

Ye Anjun walked to Ye Chutang and bowed. “Please, Princess Chentian, grant me a name.”

Ye Chutang thought for a moment and said, “There are many talented youths from Jiangdong. Who knows, you may return to glory one day. You will be named Liu Junzhi.”

(Note: From Du Mu’s “Inscribed on the Pavilion of Wuchang” from the Tang Dynasty.)

She thought the name “Jun’er” sounded pleasant, so she added this character.

Jun’er was delighted with the name Liu Junzhi.

“Thank you, Princess Chentian, for granting me a name.”

Ye Jingchuan coldly snorted, finished writing the severance letter, and immediately signed it.

“Hurry up and sign it, pack your things, and leave the Shilang Manor!”

He had originally planned to kick him out directly but didn’t want to be criticized for bullying an innocent child.

A few clothes were enough; he might as well throw them out to beggars!

“Understood, Master Ye.”

Liu Junzhi did not hesitate and immediately signed the severance letter with his thumbprint.

He took the freshly inked letter, bowed to Ye Jingchuan.

“Thank you for your care, Master Ye, but I will not pack my things. I will take my leave now.”

With his elder sister handling everything, he would head directly to Huating Academy.

Before leaving, Liu Junzhi looked at Ye Chutang.

“I will never forget the life-saving grace of Princess Chentian. I will repay you one day with loyalty.”

After saying this, he knelt and bowed three times.

Then, he stood up and left the Shilang Manor.

Song Jingning looked at Ye Chutang, “I wish Miss Ye and Prince Chen a long-lasting, happy union.”

He stopped Liu Junzhi, who had already reached the door.

“Liu Junzhi, you’re going to Huating Academy today, right? Let’s go together.”

This was to let everyone know that even though Jun’er was leaving the Shilang Manor, his future was still bright.

Ye Jingchuan saw the farce finally coming to an end and urged, “Chutang, Prince, it’s time to leave.”

Ye Chutang reminded, “You still haven’t given us the red envelopes.”

“Father” would no longer be called, but the money could not be missed!