13. Accused

Ye Tian long mustache, dignified bearing, and sharp, discerning eyes exuded an air of unquestionable authority. Even in silence, his mere presence commanded respect.

To Ye Tian right sat Ye Feng, Ye Xian father. His brows were furrowed, his expression heavy with concern, as if weighed down by unseen burdens. Beside him stood Ye Shen mother, a woman whose beauty was tainted by the malice curling at the corners of her lips. Her eyes gleamed with schadenfreude, as if relishing the spectacle about to unfold.

Next to Ye Feng, another man sat comfortably—a short, plump figure with small, calculating eyes and a round belly, his silk robes barely containing his girth. Beside him stood a striking contrast: a beautiful woman with a slim waist and long, flowing hair. Her elegance was undeniable, her presence drawing subtle but frequent glances from the men in the hall.

To Ye Tian left sat his wife, poised with quiet grace, her expression unreadable. Below her stood Ye Qianying, his adopted daughter, and beside her, a woman in a black dress, her figure captivating yet distinctly different from Ye Qianying's otherworldly presence.

Ye Xian observed the features of his childhood friend, Ye Qianying, and the new woman who was her companion.

Ye Qianying was a vision of ethereal beauty—a celestial being untouched by the mortal world. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back like the silk of the night sky, framing a delicate yet striking face. Her calm eyes, deep and mysterious, shimmered like stars reflected on a still lake, carrying a serene charm that was almost hypnotic. Her small, refined nose and soft, rosy lips completed the picture of an untouchable fairy, a being one could only admire from afar, never daring to reach for.

And standing beside her, in sharp contrast, was her friend—a woman in a black dress whose beauty was far more tangible, intoxicatingly real.

Where Ye Qianying was like a celestial fairy, out of reach, her companion was a goddess of temptation, standing in the flesh. Her black dress clung tightly to her curves, accentuating her full chest, her slender waist like a willow bending in the wind, and hips that swayed with each subtle movement, leading down to long, sculpted legs.

She was a storm to Ye Qianying quiet moonlight.

A hushed murmur spread through the gathered spectators, their eyes instinctively stealing glances at both women—one with the awe of a worshiper gazing upon a goddess, the other with the restrained desire of a man standing before a flame, knowing he could burn if he reached out.

Yet amidst this silent tension, in the very center of the hall, a woman in a traditional green dress knelt on the cold floor, her frame trembling as she wept.

Her face was heavily caked with makeup, an attempt to mask her otherwise unremarkable features. Plain. Average. Forgettable. Yet now, her expression contorted with rage and indignation, making her the most vivid presence in the room.

And the moment her tear-streaked eyes fell upon Ye Xian, they ignited with pure, unfiltered fury.

Then, her voice—shrill and venomous—pierced the heavy silence.

"Ye Clan Patriarch! He was the one who played with my body to his heart content two days ago and promised to accept me!"

Silence.

A suffocating stillness filled the hall, as if the very air had turned to stone. Every gaze turned to Ye Xian.

A deep, resounding harrumph shattered the silence.

Ye Xian, momentarily stunned, had been utterly starstruck, his gaze lingering too long on Ye Qianying's friend's captivating figure. Only the sudden cold snort from his father jolted him back to reality.

His lips curled slightly in amusement as he tore his gaze away from the two stunning women. He turned back toward the accuser, his posture completely relaxed, as if this absurd scene was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Then, with a slow, almost leisurely tone, he spoke:

"Oh? My apologies, I was a little… distracted. What were you saying, lady?"

There were suppressed chuckles in the hall. The green-dressed woman's face twisted with humiliation at his indifferent response, but before she could lash out again, Ye Xian caught a sudden shift in presence beside him.

A faint chuckle.

His sharp eyes flickered sideways, only to find Ye Qianying friend in black dress, her almond eyes locked onto him, her gaze filled with a mischievous glint. The corners of her lips curled into a smirk—not one of mockery, but of knowing amusement.

She had caught him staring.

And she was enjoying his discomfort.

A heat crept up Ye Xian neck, and for the first time, he felt a rare flicker of embarrassment.

Damn…

Not wanting to acknowledge her smug expression, he swiftly looked back at the woman in green, his focus shifting entirely to the absurd accusation before him.

It was time to deal with this nonsense.

---

At that moment, Ye Tian deep voice echoed through the hall, breaking the tension.

"Ye Xian, what is the meaning of this? What does this woman speak of?"

The patriarch's gaze was piercing, and Ye Xian could feel the weight of his father's scrutiny. It was clear that the matter needed to be resolved quickly.

His thoughts churned as he retraced his steps, piecing together the events of the previous day.

Two days ago, In morning, he had ventured into the valley, tasked with completing a mission he had accepted from the academy mission board. The objective? To capture a multicolored lizard, a rare beast highly sought after by alchemists.

Yet, despite spending the entire day searching, he had found no trace of the creature. Frustration had begun to creep in when, suddenly, he was ambushed by Brother Mu and his companion.

First, he was murdered but remained alive due to his rebirth or reincarnation. Then, the battle was swift and decisive. Though they outnumbered him, he disposed of them effortlessly, turning their ambush into their own demise.

As evening descended, he left the valley, his figure blending into the dimming twilight. The journey back was long, the silence of the night stretching endlessly before him. It wasn't until midnight that he finally arrived at the Ye Estate.

And yet—now, this accusation surfaced.

There was no room for doubt—this was a carefully orchestrated ploy.

Someone had woven lies into a seemingly irrefutable claim, fabricating an event that never occurred.

But for what purpose?

Ye Xian's eyes gleamed coldly. The timing, the false allegation, the sudden emergence of this so-called victim—everything pointed toward a deeper conspiracy.

As Ye Xian's gaze met the malicious smile of his stepmother, a sense of clarity washed over him. It was her. The cold, calculating glint in her eyes, the way her lips curved with wicked satisfaction—it all pointed to her as the mastermind behind this scheme.

Was this all her doing, to destroy the marriage between Xuan Lingshuang and me? Had she truly sunk so low, resorting to such vile schemes?

Without hesitation, Ye Xian spoke, his voice steady and unwavering.

"Patriarch, I deny these baseless accusations."

He turned his attention back to the woman in green. "Who are you, exactly? And what proof do you have for such a ridiculous claim?"

The woman's face twisted further, but she quickly recovered, her lips curling into a sneer.

"Proof? You dare ask for proof, you shameless cheater? You forget the woman you spent the night with!" she spat.

Ye Xian's brow furrowed slightly. His mind raced, trying to place the woman before him, but her face brought no recollection. He was certain he had never met her, much less spent the night with her. His expression remained calm. As he was about ask questions? A voice rang out from behind him.

"I have something to tell you, Clan Patriarch."

Ye Xian stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice. He turned swiftly to find a servant stepping forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

The servant introduced himself with a slight bow. "My name is Di Ye. I was a witness to something last night." He paused, letting his words hang heavily in the air before continuing. "I saw this woman leaving the Young Master Ye Xian bedroom late at night . Furthermore, while cleaning his quarters this morning, I found this."

With deliberate slowness, Di Ye produced a delicate wooden comb, intricately engraved with the name "Shi." Gasps filled the room as the object was revealed.

A sickly smile curled on Di Ye lips as he continued. "It seems this belonged to the lady in question, left in Young Master Ye Xian room. I personally saw her leaving young master Yi Xian residence late at night. He threatened me, saying I should not speak of it. He promised never to speak to her again, and I was told to keep quiet."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the hall, the tension in the air thickening. The weight of the accusation pressed on Ye Xian like a physical force. A sharp voice rang out.

"Ye Xian!"

Zu Qinhua, his stepmother, stepped forward, her voice filled with both worry and anger. "What do you have to say for yourself? You're about to be married, yet you engage in such reckless behavior? Do you realize the shame you bring to the clan?"