Chapter 38: Plotting to Seize Power

After Ye Xuemei finished wiping Ye Shihan’s body, Xiao Yu entered the hospital room and looked at the sleeping Ye Shihan.

“My dear, sleep peacefully. I promise you, as long as I live, I’ll never let something like this happen again!” Xiao Yu gripped Ye Shihan’s hand tightly, his face solemn. He ached at the sight of her injuries, but what had happened couldn’t be undone. He had already killed Wang Bolin to avenge her. All that remained was to ensure she would never again suffer such harm.

He gently adjusted Ye Shihan’s quilt, then instructed Ye Xuemei to take good care of her before leaving the hospital with his two companions. They found a small, nameless tavern, ordered a few dishes, and began to drink.

“Ah! When it comes to liquor, nothing suits this old man’s tastes like Erguotou. Those so-called aged reserves and special brews just have no soul.” Yao Bugui raised his glass of Erguotou, drained it in one gulp, and smacked his lips with satisfaction.

“That’s just you, old man. Others can only dream of tasting those special brews.” Taisui was a bold man as well, and he too downed his glass in one go.

“Didn’t expect you to be this bold, kid. Care to compete?” Yao Bugui looked at Taisui with a provocative grin.

“Why not? I’m not afraid of an old fossil like you!” Taisui retorted sharply.

Xiao Yu sat beside them, watching the two bicker and shaking his head. His thoughts drifted back to days on the battlefield. But the reverie didn’t last long—a phone call interrupted him. It was from Ye Xuemei.

“Xuemei, what is it? Has Shihan woken up?” Xiao Yu answered at once, his voice anxious. But Ye Xuemei’s call was not about Ye Shihan, but about the Ye family.

“Brother-in-law, something’s wrong. There’s trouble at the Ye family home, you’d better come quickly.” Ye Xuemei’s voice was urgent.

“Trouble at the Ye family? What could possibly happen?” Xiao Yu was puzzled. At the banquet, he had forced Ye Qinghai to pass the family headship to Ye Shihan, and since then, neither Ye Qinghai nor Ye Xin had appeared again.

“I don’t know the details. Dad just called and said that Uncle and the others are rebelling.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll head over to the Ye family right away and see what’s going on.”

With that, Xiao Yu hung up. Taisui and Yao Bugui leaned in, their eyes filled with curiosity.

“Looks like Ye Xuan can’t sit still any longer. With Shihan just admitted to the hospital, he’s eager to seize control of the Ye family again,” Xiao Yu said calmly.

“Hmph, brother, if you ask me, why not just let me kill him and be done with it?” Taisui scoffed.

“Taisui, this isn’t the battlefield. You can’t solve everything with violence. If someone with an agenda reports you, even as one of the Twelve Celestials, you wouldn’t escape trouble.” Yao Bugui lounged in his chair, speaking mildly.

“You old codger, you’re just trying to rile me up. If you weren’t so old, I’d have given you a beating!” Taisui shot him a glare.

“Hmph, we’ll see who beats whom.” Yao Bugui curled his lip.

Although Yao Bugui was famed as the Divine Healer of Yanxia, he was also a master of ancient martial arts, his level even higher than Taisui’s. He was right—if the two really fought, the outcome would be uncertain.

“Enough, let’s go see what tricks my uncle is playing this time. We can finish this round of drinks another day, alright?” Xiao Yu smiled at the two, then stood and headed out of the tavern.

“Sigh, seems you’re even busier in retirement than you were on the battlefield,” Yao Bugui remarked lightly, standing and following Taisui out.

Meanwhile, in the Ye family ancestral hall, Ye Kai and Liu Xiangqin glared angrily at Ye Xuan. Beside Ye Xuan stood a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to both of them—this was Ye Guang, the second master of the Ye family.

Like Ye Kai, Ye Guang had left the family’s ancestral home early to pursue his own ventures. Upon hearing that the Ye family had secured the Huayi Group project, he had returned, hoping to get a share.

“Brother, second brother, don’t you think you’re going too far?” Ye Kai spoke in a low, heavy voice to Ye Xuan and Ye Guang.

“Third brother, what we’re doing is for the good of the Ye family. You know how important this project is,” Ye Xuan replied with a smile.

“I think he’s right. Third brother, think about it—Shihan is in a coma, we don’t know when she’ll wake up. Are we supposed to let the project sit idle indefinitely?” Ye Guang echoed Ye Xuan’s words, the two clearly united.

Ambition was written all over their faces. The Ye family was now stronger than ever, and with the Huayi Group project about to begin, the family would surely rise to the top ranks of Fengcheng’s elite. With Ye Qinghai no longer involved in family affairs, if they could seize control from Ye Shihan, their branch would become the true power.

Looking at his two elder brothers, Ye Kai seethed with anger.

“Brother, have you forgotten? This project’s greatest contributor was my daughter Shihan. Besides, Father made it clear at the banquet that from now on, Shihan should manage the family. If you’re not satisfied with my daughter, are you questioning Father’s judgment?”

Seeing Ye Kai speak up, Liu Xiangqin quickly stood to support him. But her words drew only contemptuous glances from Ye Xuan and Ye Guang.

“Didn’t Ye Kai teach you? In the Ye family, when men are speaking, women should keep quiet!” Ye Xuan said coldly to Liu Xiangqin.

“Brother! My wife is right! Father entrusted this to us, you can’t make decisions on your own!” Ye Kai shot to his feet, his voice sharp.

Ye Xuan and Ye Guang were taken aback—never before had their third brother shown such force. But it didn’t matter; today, they were determined to reclaim the family’s authority. What could Ye Kai do to stop them?

“Ye Kai, think carefully! Shihan is unconscious. We can wait for her to wake up, but the project can’t wait! If Huayi Group blames us for delays, who among us will shoulder the responsibility?” Ye Xuan roared.

His shout startled Ye Kai, who staggered back a few steps, anxiety filling his heart. Indeed, if Huayi Group withdrew because of delays, his branch would be blamed as the sinners of the Ye family.

“I will take responsibility!”