Chapter 169: The Two of Us Are Enough
"So soon?"
Ye Heng was startled. But then he recalled the disgust in Prince Qi’s voice when he’d mentioned Han Tong, and it no longer seemed so strange.
Saving Han Tong wouldn’t be simple, but killing him would be effortless.
’It’s just... I wonder what Han Yao will do when he finds out...’
"Take some men to the Han Family residence at once. Use any means necessary to stop him—no, forget it! I’ll go myself!"
The last time Han Yao had stormed over in a rage, Ye Heng learned he wasn’t someone to be trifled with—the man had a short fuse.
’If Han Yao really has something that could kill someone...’
’It’s safest if I go myself!’
Ye Heng rose and headed outside.
Ye Shixian quickly followed him. "Father, let me go with you!"
Ye Heng refused. "You just stay here and watch the house. I’ll be back before you know it."
Seeing his mind was made up, Ye Shixian didn’t press the matter. The thought of what the Han residence must be like right now made her shudder. Deep down, she wanted nothing more to do with them.
"Then please be careful, Father."
Ye Heng hurried out, but he suddenly stopped and turned his head to order the butler:
"Bring a squad of men with me!"
"Yes!"
...
The Han residence.
Han Yao’s legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair, his face pale.
Su Pei’er rushed forward, her face etched with worry. "My love! Are you all right?"
Han Yao stared blankly for a long time before his senses returned. He turned his neck stiffly, his eyes unfocused.
"It’s over... It’s all over!"
’With my father dead, the entire Han Family will fall!’
’What will I do then?!’
Su Pei’er’s delicate brows knitted together. She tried to console him, "My love, don’t panic just yet. Until the very last moment, things might still take a turn for the better."
’A turn for the better?’
Han Yao suddenly thought of something. He shot upright and gripped Su Pei’er’s hand tightly.
"That’s right! That old bastard Ye Heng clearly promised he would help me! How could this be the outcome?! He lied to me... He lied to me!"
Han Yao was brimming with a rage he couldn’t vent, and he gripped Su Pei’er’s wrist so hard it turned blue.
Su Pei’er endured the pain shooting up her arm without letting it show on her face. She just frowned slightly, as if in disbelief.
"That... can’t be, can it? Didn’t Lord Ye agree readily? If he didn’t want to help, he could have just refused back then, couldn’t he? Since he agreed, why would he go back on his word?"
She murmured softly, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, but her words struck Han Yao like a clap of thunder.
’That’s right! Wasn’t Ye Heng unwilling from the very beginning!?’
’If I didn’t have something to hold over his head, Ye Heng probably would have thrown me out on the spot!’
’At the time, I thought Ye Heng wouldn’t dare refuse to help, that he would surely do his best. I never expected...’
Han Yao shot to his feet!
"I’m going to find that old bastard and demand an explanation!"
Su Pei’er tried to stop him, but he shoved her away forcefully.
"I will get an answer today!"
Su Pei’er stumbled into the edge of the table, struggling to regain her balance.
"My love!"
Just as she was about to chase after him, a sudden pain shot through her abdomen. She immediately frowned, bending over and clutching her stomach.
"Miss!" A young maidservant rushed over. "Miss, you’re with child! You can’t get agitated!"
The pain drained the color from Su Pei’er’s lips. She held onto a chair to sit down and only recovered after a long moment.
"I’m fine. Quickly, go get some people and have them follow him. He’s so impulsive, there’s no telling what he might do."
The young maidservant bit her lip and had no choice but to agree.
However, just as she was about to leave, Han Yao’s furious roar echoed from the courtyard outside.
"Ye Heng! You son of a bitch, you actually have the nerve to show your face here!?"
The young maidservant was shocked. She stood on her tiptoes and peered outside several times. "Miss! It really is Lord Ye!"
A glint flashed in Su Pei’er’s eyes. "Help me up."
Realizing she intended to go outside, the maidservant tried desperately to dissuade her. "You mustn’t! It’s chaotic out there! It’s too dangerous for you to go out now!"
But Su Pei’er gripped the armrest, held her breath, and stood up again.
"So what if it’s dangerous? Some things must be done now, or the opportunity might be lost forever."
The young maidservant didn’t understand her words, but she could see her determination. As Su Pei’er walked out step by step, the maid stomped her foot in frustration before hurrying after her.
"Wait for me!"
...
Meanwhile, Ye Chutang put down the bolt of cloth in her hands and looked calmly at the person across from her.
"So, you manage such a large shop, and you even make a special trip south every year to select woven fabrics, only to end up choosing this pile of junk to bring back and sell?"
With that one sentence, the smile on the other person’s face vanished completely.
"Second Miss Ye! I’ll ask you to be more polite!"
Ye Chutang smiled, but her eyes held a hint of mockery.
"I’d like to, but unfortunately, Manager Zhao, you haven’t given me a reason to. Now, I’ll give you two choices. First: you leave on your own, we part on good terms, and you can take an extra three months’ wages as compensation. Second: I make you leave, in which case I’m afraid it won’t be a pleasant experience for either of us."
The man across from her looked as if he’d just heard a joke.
"Second Miss Ye, it’s true this shop is yours now, but you still have to follow some basic rules, don’t you? I’ve worked hard looking after this place for years. How can you just kick me out for no reason? Why don’t we let everyone here be the judge! Let’s see who’s really in charge of this shop—"
Before he could finish, the young man leaning casually against the doorframe let out a soft TSK.
"No need to trouble my sister with such a trivial matter. I can handle it."
Ye Yunfeng flashed a perfectly harmless smile.
"So, which way would you like to leave through that door today? Why don’t you pick one?"