Those words exploded through the courtyard like a thunderclap.
Old Madam Ye and the other two women froze, the smiles on their faces vanishing instantly. Old Madam Ye was the first to react, practically jumping in anger.
“You unfilial wretch! Your wings aren’t even fully grown yet, and you already dare talk about severing family ties? I think you’ve lost your mind!”
“Lost my mind?” Ye Mengyi sneered. The movement tugged at the wound on the back of her head, making her suck in a sharp breath, but she still straightened her back stubbornly.
“I’m perfectly clear-headed! Over these years, how much suffering and abuse have I endured in the Ye family? You all know better than anyone! My father was a scholar. If he knew in the afterlife how you treated his daughter, he would never forgive you!”
Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a frightening force that left the three women momentarily speechless.
Every cruel thing they had done to the original owner was etched deeply into the girl’s heart—and now into hers as well.
Ye Mengyi took a deep breath and continued,
“Marrying Lu Qingshan is my own decision. It has nothing to do with the Ye family. From today onward, I will never step into the Ye family home again, and none of your affairs will have anything to do with me! Since you never raised me properly in life, then when you die, I won’t bury you either. That is my promise to the Ye family—and my condition for all of you!”
Her gaze swept across the three women like a blade, forcing them to unconsciously step backward.
Even Lu Qingshan was stunned. He hadn’t expected such fierceness from such a seemingly frail girl.
Old Madam Ye trembled with rage and pointed at her nose.
“You ungrateful white-eyed wolf! We raised you for nothing all these years!”
“Raised me?” Ye Mengyi laughed bitterly. “I ate leftovers, wore rags, and worked like livestock every day. You call that raising me? If this is what you call being raised, then I’d rather never have been raised by you at all.”
Her words struck like a hammer.
Old Madam Ye and the others turned red and pale by turns, unable to refute a single sentence.
Because everything she said was true.
“Ye girl, you really shouldn’t sever family ties,” Village Chief Li frowned disapprovingly. “After all, she’s your grandmother, your maiden family. Once you marry, your maternal family is what supports you. If you’re wronged in your husband’s home, who will stand up for you?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding villagers immediately echoed him.
“That’s right! Ye girl, did you hit your head too hard? How could you even think about cutting family ties?” Granny Wang from next door shouted in disbelief.
“Severing ties isn’t a small matter! Without your maiden family, how will you survive in your husband’s home? If you suffer grievances, you won’t even have a place to cry about them!” Elder Zhang from across the lane knocked his pipe against the ground as he advised her.
The crowd buzzed noisily, everyone persuading her to reconsider—as though what she wanted to cut off wasn’t a family feeding on her blood, but her own future.
Ye Mengyi clenched her fists tightly. Her nails dug into her palms, the sting helping clear her mind further.
She looked directly at Village Chief Li, calm yet utterly resolute.
“Grandpa Li, these ties must be severed.”
The noisy discussion instantly quieted by half.
Ye Mengyi swept her gaze across the crowd and said clearly, word by word,
“With a family of bloodsuckers like this, I’m better off without one.”
The courtyard exploded again.
Some gasped in shock. Others muttered, “She’s gone mad.” A few pointed at her, wanting to speak, only to swallow their words under her icy gaze.
Old Madam Ye pushed through the crowd furiously.
“You ungrateful beast! Our Ye family raised you for nothing! Sever family ties? I think your wings have hardened and now you want to fly away!”
Ye Mengyi looked at the sharp-tongued old woman before her, the last trace of warmth in her eyes disappearing completely.
Then she added coldly,
“I also want to take away the books my father left me.”
Old Madam Ye snapped back instantly.
“In your dreams, you little jinx! If you want to leave, then leave! But you’re not taking those books!”
At once, Feng Yan squeezed forward and pointed at Ye Mengyi.
“Exactly! Don’t even think about it! You can sever ties if you want, but those books stay. They were bought with real silver!”
Ye Mengyi let out a mocking laugh.
“Bought? Take a good look at them. My father and I copied those books by hand, one stroke at a time. What right do you have to stop me? Besides, I never said I wanted the books from Father’s room. I only want the ones in my own room.”
Yang Yun pointed angrily at her.
“You little slut! Dream on! You can leave, but the books stay! We absolutely won’t let you take them!”
“Fine,” Ye Mengyi replied immediately. “If you won’t let me take the books and won’t give me a severance document, then I won’t marry.”
She turned toward Doctor Sun.
“Doctor Sun, please prescribe the medicine. Then ask my grandmother and eldest aunt for the five taels of silver. Don’t forget to ask them for the money.”
She deliberately emphasized the words five taels.
It was a direct reminder to Old Madam Ye and Feng Yan: either let her take the books and sign the severance document—or pay the expensive medical bill themselves.
Lu Qingshan watched her quietly, admiration deepening in his eyes.
He turned toward Old Madam Ye and said in a deep voice,
“I think Mengyi’s conditions are reasonable. Since she’s marrying me, it’s only natural for her to make a clean break with her past.”
After a pause, he added,
“It would be best if Village Chief Li acted as witness and everything was written down properly to avoid future trouble.”
The expressions on Old Madam Ye and the others became even uglier.
Originally, they had planned to keep squeezing benefits from the Lu family after the girl recovered. But if family ties were officially severed, they’d gain nothing.
Yet Ye Mengyi’s attitude was utterly firm, and Lu Qingshan’s stance was equally clear.
If they refused, Lu Qingshan might change his mind. Then they would still have to spend silver treating her injuries themselves.
Feng Yan glanced between Old Madam Ye and Yang Yun. None of them fully understood how the situation had spiraled so far, but Feng Yan reacted first.
“Fine! You can take the books from your room. We’ll give you the severance document. Just hurry up and leave!”
Old Madam Ye and Yang Yun were still confused when they heard her speak, but since the words were already out, they quickly followed along.
“Yes! We’ll write the severance document now. Then leave immediately!”
Hearing this, Ye Mengyi finally smiled.
She carefully stood up and bowed respectfully toward Village Chief Li.
“Grandpa Village Chief, please act as witness and help draft the severance document. Then please help register it with the authorities.”
Village Chief Li looked from one side to the other before sighing deeply.
“You’ve really decided to sever ties? Old Madam Ye, this is your own granddaughter—the only child Scholar Ye left behind. Are you truly this heartless? Aren’t you afraid that when you die and go underground, Old Master Ye and Scholar Ye will come looking for you to settle accounts?”