Chapter 5: The Debate Over the Vermilion Pill Amazes the Entire Hall
In the hall, the voice of the young man boomed like thunder, startling everyone present.
Eyes aflame with anger, he swept his gaze over the three elders, neither servile nor overbearing, as he openly berated them, slapping the accusation of rebellion squarely upon their heads.
Everyone in the hall was taken aback. Could this really be the same young lord who had been bullied, insulted, and felt inferior in the past? How had he transformed so thoroughly today, daring even to scold the three elders who wielded real power within the family?
Yangg Yi's eyes were wide with astonishment as she stared at Ye Chen, as if she were seeing him for the first time, so different was he from the Ye Chen she had come to know. Had his attempted suicide by jumping into the lake somehow opened his mind to new possibilities?
Xia Wei and Huan'er had never seen Ye Chen this imposing before either. They were shocked but more than that, they were pleased, delighted by the change in Ye Chen.
The Ye Chen of the past would have remained silently confrontational, but now he dared to chastise the three elders with righteous indignation.
Among those present, the three elders were also the highest echelon within the Ye Family, having lived more than sixty years. They were accustomed to lofty status, at times even disregarding the Family Head himself. But now, they were incensed at being publicly scolded by a junior, and not just any junior—but one they had dismissed as a hopeless case.
"Good, good, good!" The Great Elder repeated the word 'good' thrice, but anyone could hear the anger in his words. He turned to Ye Ao and said, "Ye Ao, is this your fine son? He dares to scold even me. He has no respect for anyone, no regard for the law, and is utterly disrespectful to his superiors. Even with the honored guests of the Yangg Family present, he must be taught a lesson today."
The Second Elder and Third Elder chimed in, "That's right. At such a young age, he dares to be so brazen. What will become of him when he's older? We must discipline him thoroughly. Otherwise, where would that leave the Ye Family's disciplinary law?"
Surprised yet even more pleased by his son's sudden outburst, Ye Ao glanced sharply at the three elders, then snorted coldly, "Chen'er is not wrong. I am the Family Head of the Ye Family. I have not yet spoken. When did it become your place, you three elders, to speak? Shut your mouths! Do you truly wish to rebel?"
Hearing this, the elders' expressions shifted subtly, and while they wanted to rebuke his words, they recalled that Ye Ao was indeed the Family Head. Fighting among themselves in front of outsiders would tarnish the family's reputation. Ultimately, they just moved their lips, refrained from speaking further, and left with a cold huff.