As a dignified fourth-rank official, if he were to accept a kneel from a third-rank official—especially in front of so many commoners—should Ye Changlin truly kneel down, his official career would be completely ruined.
Zhang Ting let out a sigh, “Lord Ye, this lower official will certainly uphold justice for you.”
Returning to his desk, Zhang Ting bit his tongue and struck the gavel sharply, “Chen is dissolute and unbridled, poisoned the Third Young Mistress of the Ye Residence, and hired assassins to murder Feng Yueyao. Her crimes are unforgivable. She is hereby sentenced to dea—”
“Lord Zhang, you had better think this through carefully. I am the second legitimate daughter of Grand Preceptor Chen,” Chen interrupted Zhang Ting’s words with a furious shout.
Her furious voice carried a hint of panic.
Ye Changlin had caused such a massive scene over this matter; logically speaking, her father should already know about it. Why hadn’t he arrived yet?
Seeing that the look of hesitation had returned to Zhang Ting’s face, Ye Changlin hitched up his robes, making a motion as if he were about to kneel to Zhang Ting once again.
Zhang Ting hurriedly struck the gavel once more, “Ironclad evidence stands right before this official. The Son of Heaven commits a crime alongside the commoners. This official shall absolutely show no indulgence.”
“Chen is sentenced to dea—”
“Hold on!”
Before Zhang Ting could finish his sentence, he was interrupted yet again.
The voice echoed from outside the courtroom, arriving before the person themselves could be seen.
Both Zhang Ting and Ye Changlin already knew that Grand Preceptor Chen had arrived!
Zhang Ting cried out bitterly in his heart, What a wretched fate!
Ye Changlin clenched his fists, constantly pumping himself up in his mind.
He knew that whether it was Grand Preceptor Chen or some dogmatic Grand Preceptor, none of them could shield Chen’s life!
It was just that from now on, he would completely fall out with Grand Preceptor Chen and become bitter enemies.
The crowd consciously parted to make a path. Grand Preceptor Chen, with hair as white as frost, a face already etched with chrysanthemum-like wrinkles, and a white beard, walked slowly into the courtroom looking every bit the part of an otherworldly, transcendent immortal.
He spoke, “Lord Zhang is still trying a case at such a late hour; you have truly worked hard.”
Bending his waist, Zhang Ting wiped a handful of cold sweat from his forehead and smiled without mirth, “Grand Preceptor Chen must be joking. This is merely this lower official’s duty.”
Grand Preceptor Chen nodded, his eyes—seemingly gentle yet brimming with freezing coldness—falling upon Zhang Ting. “Lord Zhang, you need only manage matters well within your duties. As for things outside your duties, this Grand Preceptor advises Lord Zhang that it is best to mind your own business.”
Zhang Ting replied, “Yes, yes, yes. Grand Preceptor Chen speaks the truth.”
Grand Preceptor Chen’s gaze fell upon Ye Changlin and Ye Jinmo, who were standing with bowed backs. With a smile, he hurriedly stepped forward to support the two men up.
“Lord Ye, Young General Ye, we are all one family. Why perform such a grand courtesy?”
“This old man’s household recently acquired a jar of ‘Spring of the Second Month’ wine. The fragrance is so rich it resembles a celestial brew. Lord Ye, Young General Ye, would you be willing to return to my residence with this old man to enjoy a few drinks?”
Zhang Ting hastily added, “Right, right, right! It’s all a family matter. Lord Ye, Young General Ye, whatever grievances you have, go back with the Grand Preceptor and speak properly with the venerable elder.”
With a cold face, Ye Jinmo took a step backward, looking directly into Grand Preceptor Chen’s smiling yet thoroughly coercive eyes.
“Grand Preceptor Chen, Chen kept male courtesans bought from Xiongfeng House disguised as women in her courtyard, indulging in nightly revelries.”
“A few days ago, she even poisoned the Third Young Mistress of my Ye Residence mute. Tonight, she even wanted to drown her in a well. It was only because I returned to the residence ahead of schedule that I saved my third sister’s life.”
“Fifteen years ago, she took a fancy to my father who had passed the examinations as the top scholar. Upon learning he had a family, she hired assassins to murder my mother!”
“Being dissolute and unbridled could be called a family matter; after all, it is you, Grand Preceptor Chen, who failed to discipline your daughter properly.”
“But poisoning my third sister, attempting to drown her in a well, and hiring assassins to murder someone—human life is of paramount importance, and a life must be paid for a life. This is no longer a family matter!”
“Furthermore, my father has already divorced Chen, so it is even less of a family matter.”
The smile remained on Grand Preceptor Chen’s face, but the coldness in his eyes had deepened significantly.
Chen took a step forward, grabbing Grand Preceptor Chen’s sleeve with a haughty, arrogant expression on her face. It seemed that as long as her father, Grand Preceptor Chen, was present, her life would be in no danger.
“Father, they—”
Slap!
Before Chen could finish her sentence, the smiling Grand Preceptor Chen raised his hand and struck her across the face.
“Shut up!”
Grand Preceptor Chen’s sinister, cold voice squeezed through the gaps of his teeth.
All of Grand Preceptor Chen’s dignity was about to be completely thrown away by this rebellious daughter. Since she had committed these scandalous deeds, couldn’t she have wiped her tracks clean?
Useless trash!
Chen clutched the slapped side of her face, tears shimmering in her eyes as she looked at Grand Preceptor Chen with indignant defiance.
“Father, you hit me?”
From childhood to adulthood, she and her older sister had been pampered and spoiled. Her father had never laid a finger on them.
After all, the two sisters had been bestowed with a mission.
Her sister was born to enter the palace and was currently the Imperial Noble Consort in the imperial harem.
As for her, she had to marry someone useful to their family clan.
Back when she took a fancy to Ye Changlin, her father had also agreed to it.
After all, Ye Changlin was indeed exceptionally handsome and, at the time, was a rising star in the imperial court!
But now, her father actually slapped her in front of so many people!
Chen’s tears fell, “Father, do you know that ever since my marriage to Ye Changlin, the number of times he has stepped into my room can be counted on one hand?”
“He doesn’t love me at all!”
“I am a person of flesh and blood too! If he won’t touch me, do I deserve to stay in an empty room all alone?”
“I merely found a few male courtesans. What wrong did I commit?”
“As for Ye Chuchu, this wretched girl fought with Mengzhi over—”
The smile on Grand Preceptor Chen’s face finally faded bit by bit, and he raised his hand to deliver another slap.
“Rebellious daughter, shut up!”
“Even now, you still show no remorse…”
“You…”
Ye Chuchu looked at Chen who was clutching her face, smiling happily: [Wow, what a great hit, an excellent strike! Making the beast croak like a frog.]
[Zha Zha, this Grand Preceptor Chen looks every bit like an otherworldly, transcendent immortal, but who would have thought he’s actually a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing?]
[I really want to see what he looks like holding a fine calligraphy brush and painting oil paintings on a maidservant’s body. It must be incredibly vulgar.]
[Oh right, currently inside his pants, he isn’t wearing any undergarments…]
[I really want to go over and yank his pants down to let the public see just how small it is, hehehe…]
Ye Changlin: …
Ye Jinmo: Sister, there is nothing good to see there. I beg of you, please stop talking.
Zhang Ting stole a glance at Grand Preceptor Chen, who was still berating Chen. In his mind, he had already envisioned Grand Preceptor Chen vulgarly holding a fine calligraphy brush, painting oil paintings on a maidservant’s body, with disgusting drool escaping the corner of his mouth.
The public: Who can go and pull Grand Preceptor Chen’s pants down?
They really wanted to see just how… small it was!
Those who could hear Ye Chuchu’s inner voice pricked up their ears to listen, not daring to make a single sound for fear of missing the exciting part!
Those who could not hear Ye Chuchu’s inner voice watched Grand Preceptor Chen berating Chen to a pulp, thinking only that it was truly not easy for Grand Preceptor Chen.
Though Chen was wicked, Grand Preceptor Chen was innocent.
Zha Zha: [Little Chuchu, who says Grand Preceptor Chen is a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing?]
[The choice of words isn’t quite accurate.]
[He is clearly a malicious fiend wearing a human skin!]
Ye Chuchu: [Hmm? Could it be that this Grand Preceptor Chen has also committed some evil deeds?]
Zha Zha: [If his evil deeds were spoken aloud, they could shock your teeth right out of your mouth.]
The fire of gossip burned fiercely in Ye Chuchu’s eyes: [Quick, tell me, tell me! What kind of evil deeds did this Grand Preceptor Chen commit?]
Everyone pricked up their ears one after another, and even their breathing became very, very slow.
They were terrified of missing the massive gossip that would shock their teeth right out of their mouths!