The atmosphere in the hall was thick and stifling.

Ye Zhengxiong’s face was cold as iron; no one dared to breathe too loudly.

“Master,” Lin Chen, the house steward, was kneeling on the ground, his forehead pressed to the floor as he crawled closer. His voice trembled, but his tone was resolute. “This servant’s heart belongs to the Third Miss. In this life, I will marry no one else.”

His head struck the tiles again and again until blood stained his brows.

“Master, I beg you — please allow me and Third Miss to be together!”

Ye Zhengxiong frowned deeply. “If the Grand Elder hears of this, he’ll break your legs.”

Lin Chen’s body curled in submission. “Even if I lose my legs, I’ll die happy, so long as I can stay by Third Miss’s side.”

“Master,” Madam Qin Lan — Ye Zhengxiong’s wife — spoke softly from her seat. “Since Lin Chen and Qingge seem devoted to one another, why not let them be?”

“But the royal family…”

That was what truly weighed on Ye Zhengxiong’s mind — not who Qingge married, but the reputation of the Ye family, and how the royal court would view them.

Qin Lan smiled faintly, her demeanor gentle and graceful. “Our Ye family has no shortage of fine daughters. The Emperor’s favor does not rest on Ye Qingge alone.”

She rose gracefully from the main seat and walked toward Lin Chen. With elegant composure, she helped him up and used her handkerchief to wipe the blood from his face. “Good child,” she said gently. “You are not to blame. Since matters have come this far, it’s best we set your marriage with Qingge at once.”

Then she turned to Ye Qingge, her eyes full of false warmth.

“Qingge, before your mother passed away, she entrusted you to me. She hoped your future would be peaceful — that you would marry an ordinary man and live a quiet life. Now, her wish can finally be fulfilled. She’ll rest easy in heaven.”

How masterful this Madam Qin Lan was — her words were wrapped in silk but carried the weight of chains.

Ye Qingge smiled faintly, though ice glinted behind her calm eyes.

A few soft phrases, and Qin Lan had just decided her entire life for her. Whether it was truly for her good… who could say?

“I’m not marrying him.”

Her voice rang clear and steady.

She raised her chin, a smile tugging at her lips. “If you’re so eager for this marriage, Madam Qin, then why don’t you marry him?”

Gasps filled the hall.

Such insolence! Such defiance!

A mere girl, daring to speak such outrageous words!

“Ye Qingge!” Ye Zhengxiong’s expression darkened like a brewing storm. “Has the Grand Elder spoiled you so much that you’ve forgotten your manners? Is this how you address your mistress?”

“Mistress?” Ye Qingge sneered, her face pale as frost.

Her gaze cut sharply toward him, her tone scathing and cold.

“The only mother I acknowledge danced once to awe the world, and with a single sword, challenged four nations. I don’t know which ‘mistress’ you’re talking about, Master.”

Blatant contempt — open defiance!

Even Qin Lan, who prided herself on composure, froze mid-breath.

Her face stiffened, color draining as her lips twitched.

“You—!”

Ye Zhengxiong pointed a trembling finger at her, shaking with rage, but words failed him.

Qin Lan quickly stepped forward, masking her fury with a soft smile. She took Ye Qingge’s hand and cooed gently, “Qingge, I know you’ve suffered since losing your parents, but this is about your future. You shouldn’t act rashly. Lin Chen may not have noble blood, but his feelings for you are sincere. Heaven itself could attest to that.”

Ye Qingge tilted her head and said sweetly, “Oh? And how do you know that? Did you personally test his sincerity?”

Her words fell like daggers — an unmistakable insinuation.

Qin Lan’s face turned blue, then red. Her composure shattered. When had this timid, useless girl grown such a venomous tongue?

Ye Zhengxiong slammed a hand on the table. “Ye Qingge! You caused this mess yourself! With your ruined reputation, who else would marry you but Lin Chen? Your second uncle is doing this for your own good!”