Chapter 176: A Copper Key
"Young Miss!"
Shaoyao shrieked and rushed forward to support her.
Ye Shixian felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body. Her mind was a complete mess.
’If it had been anyone else, it might have been fine, but this time, the order came from Su Wei himself!’
’He and Father have been at odds for a long time. This time...’
Ye Shixian barely managed to steady herself. "You... explain it clearly! What exactly happened?!"
The servant’s face was tear-streaked. "Young Miss, I don’t know the specifics either! I only heard it seems to be related to Mr. Han..."
’Even if Father wanted to shut Han Yao up, he wouldn’t poison him at a time like this!’
’More importantly—’
"Then what about Lord Su?!"
’Why would the Minister of the Ministry of Justice suddenly show up at the Han Family’s residence?!’
The servant lowered his voice to a whisper. "It seems... it seems that Mr. Han was in a heated argument with the master and passed out from agitation. Who would have known that his pregnant lover, in an attempt to save him, would throw herself right onto the master’s sword!"
"You mean... Su Pei’er?"
"Yes, her! No one expected that, despite coming from a brothel, she would have such a fiery temperament. When she caused that scene, the master was caught completely off guard, and she was injured! Her little maid went to get Ye Chutang, and who knew that Su—"
"Wait!" Hearing that name, a nerve was struck in Ye Shixian. "Ye Chutang!?"
"Yes! She’s saved Su Pei’er before, do you remember? The little maid probably couldn’t find anyone else in the heat of the moment and went straight to Ye Chutang for help. And what a coincidence, Lord Su was there too! He heard there was trouble at the Han Family’s home and went along, which is how... how—"
Ye Shixian finally understood.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. In that moment, her hatred for Ye Chutang reached its peak!
"I knew it!"
’Nothing good ever happens when that Ye Chutang is involved!’
’The trouble is, Su Wei was there this time!’
Ye Shixian’s thoughts were in turmoil.
She just couldn’t understand how things had escalated to this point when her father had only gone to silence Han Yao.
Shaoyao panicked as well. "Young Miss, what do we do now?"
Ye Shixian took a deep breath. "We’re going home!"
Shaoyao and the servant both froze. At such a critical time, shouldn’t they be trying to get him out? Why were they going home?
But Ye Shixian had her own considerations.
’Su Wei has always been meticulous. He would never have arrested someone so easily unless he had concrete evidence—especially not his own subordinate, a fourth-rank Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice!’
’In a situation like this, getting him out directly would be next to impossible.’
’I have to find another way!’
...
The Ye Family residence was in a state of utter chaos.
Many people on the street had seen Ye Heng being taken away. The news spread like wildfire, so how could the Ye Family not know?
The moment Ye Shixian walked through the door, Mrs. Gao threw herself at her, weeping.
"Xian’er! What in the world is going on!? Where’s your father? Why was he arrested all of a sudden!? This is a frame-up, it must be a frame-up!"
Ye Shixian supported her, her brow tightly furrowed.
She was already vexed enough, and Mrs. Gao’s outburst only made her more agitated.
"Mother, please stop crying. Father was just taken in for questioning. He might be back soon."
However, having been by Ye Heng’s side for many years, Mrs. Gao knew a thing or two about these matters. For Ye Heng to be hauled away like that, he must be in serious trouble!
Resolving it would definitely not be as simple as Ye Shixian claimed.
Mrs. Gao was a mess of tears and snot, clutching Ye Shixian’s hand as she sobbed, "Xian’er, your father is the pillar of this family! If something happens to him, none of us will be well off! Besides, your brother is still unconscious. You’re the only one left in this family!"
Mrs. Gao was used to throwing her weight around, relying on Ye Heng’s authority, but her power was limited to petty household schemes. When real trouble struck, she immediately lost her nerve.
After thinking it over and over, she realized her daughter was her only hope.
Ye Shixian suppressed the turmoil in her heart and held her mother’s hand. "Mother, don’t panic. I’m already thinking of a way. I believe Father wouldn’t do such things. There must be some kind of misunderstanding."
"Think of a way? What way is there now?" Mrs. Gao’s eyes were vacant. "That’s Su Wei we’re talking about... If he wasn’t certain, how could he—"
"Mother!"
Ye Shixian cut her off abruptly, afraid she would say something she shouldn’t.
"Before the case is closed, please don’t overthink it. Someone needs to stay with Mingze. You should go look after him for now."
Right now, Ye Shixian just wanted to be alone to clear her head, assess the situation, and figure out a solution.
Hearing Ye Mingze’s name, Mrs. Gao regained a sliver of her composure.
But just as she was about to turn, she suddenly remembered something. She spun back around, her eyes full of hope and desperation. "Murong Ye! Go find him, he can definitely help you! He’s Murong Yang’s son!"
Ye Shixian had grown quite tired of dealing with Murong Ye recently. Hearing this now only increased her aversion.
"Even if he can help me, it depends on the situation, doesn’t it? It’s not like I can just say a word and the problem will be solved."
But Mrs. Gao insisted, "Why not? He likes you so much! He has to help you with this, no matter what! Xian’er, even if it’s just for your father and Mingze, you have to go and ask him!"
Ye Shixian looked at her coldly.
’From beginning to end, her mother only had eyes for Father and her brother. It was as if no sacrifice was too great for their sake.’
Ye Shixian closed her eyes.
"I know."
...
「The Han Residence.」
Ye Yunfeng strode in, carrying packets of medicine.
"Sis! Here’s the stuff you wanted!"
Ye Chutang took them, separated the two packets, and handed them to Ye Jingyan.
"The one on the left is for Han Yao, the one on the right is for Su Pei’er. Go and decoct them first, and bring them over later."
Ye Jingyan nodded and left with the packets of medicine.
Ye Yunfeng clicked his tongue.
"Sis, aren’t you a little too concerned about them? You’re even letting Third Brother brew their medicine personally?"
Ye Chutang walked over to wash her hands and said lightly, "Because neither of them can be allowed to die."
’If they die, today’s farce will become a completely muddled affair.’
Ye Yunfeng chuckled. "Don’t worry, Sis, I get it! I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll go help Third Brother brew the medicine!"
With that, his feet moved, and before anyone could see how he left, he had already vanished from the spot.
Xiao Wu sat off to the side, cupping his cheeks in his hands and gently swinging his short little legs. He nodded with an air of great importance.
’Yep, yep! Today’s a great day! So happy!’
Ye Chutang closed the door.
After Ye Heng was taken away, the remaining people had all fled in a panic, afraid of being implicated. Now, there were very few people left in the Han residence.
The clamor was shut out, and the room became exceptionally quiet.
Ye Chutang paused, then took something out of her sleeve.
It was the very thing Su Pei’er had secretly given her earlier.
Ye Chutang opened her palm and looked down.
An exquisite copper key.