Since Ye Luan married Xiao Chizhan, the Ye family had soared in status, enjoying immense favor. Their clan members, both direct and collateral, swaggered through the capital, bullying the weak and oppressing the innocent.
Ye Wensong grew even bolder, colluding with the Minister of Revenue and Grand Tutor Qin to embezzle a staggering sum of ten million taels.
The southern regions were in turmoil due to disaster, and the funds were meant for relief efforts. Liu Rongruo, mindful of Ye Luan's status, had temporarily suppressed the matter.
Upon hearing this, he no longer held back. He immediately ordered the confiscation of their property and their dismissal from office for investigation.
Ye Wensong received the news while at his residence.
He heard the commotion of weapons outside and was greatly alarmed, hastily donning his robe to investigate.
As he reached the corridor of the front courtyard, he saw the men from the Dali Temple had surrounded him, and he roared in fury.
"Hu Qing, what is the meaning of this? Are you rebelling?!"
Hu Qing stood in the courtyard and, seeing Ye Wensong's displeased expression, quickly produced an imperial edict.
"Minister Ye, please do not be angry. This subordinate is merely acting on the Prime Minister's orders to conduct official business."
He had no desire to offend the Ye family. After all, with a Princess Consort Dingbei from their lineage, if they were to regain favor one day, wouldn't they seek retribution?
However, an imperial decree had now been issued for an investigation. By now, the Qin residence and the Minister of Revenue's mansion had likely already been raided by the Dali Temple.
Ye Wensong looked at the imperial edict in his hand, a realization dawning upon him, and his face turned pale.
He forced a calm demeanor and reprimanded, "Nonsense, what imperial edict? I was unaware. Shall we go to the Northern Palace and ask the Princess Consort?"
Hu Qing: "---"
This was a blatant threat.
Hu Qing's expression immediately soured. Ever since this old scoundrel's daughter married the Prince, she had shown disdain for everyone, frequently causing trouble in court.
The younger members of the Ye clan in the capital were even more problematic, constantly stirring up trouble. Just a few days ago, the young master of the Ye family had beaten the young heir of the Southern Prince's mansion, reportedly over a dispute concerning a courtesan. What a joke.
But the Ye family was not what it used to be, and people dared not speak out against them.
Now, having committed such a heinous crime, they still dared to be so arrogant.
He scoffed inwardly but replied calmly,
"The Ye family's corruption has been documented, and all evidence has been transferred to the Dali Temple. On the Prime Minister's orders, we are to search the residence, strip you of your ministerial title, and commit you to the Dali Temple prison for interrogation."
"Come, escort him to prison!"
Ye Wensong trembled as he clutched the imperial edict, his expression contorted with rage.
"You dare?!"
Hu Qing ignored him as the soldiers swiftly entered to search.
The entire Ye mansion was thrown into chaos. Lanterns blazed, and shouts erupted from all the courtyards as conflicts with the soldiers ensued.
Ye Wensong hurled curses and accusations at him, refusing to believe the imperial edict and insisting on going to the Northern Palace.
Seeing the Ye family's audacity, Hu Qing felt a surge of exasperation, only wishing to conclude his duty and return home quickly.
Madam Gao, witnessing the pandemonium in the front courtyard, sensed something was amiss and hurried to push her son toward the small gate.
"Go to the Northern Palace and find your elder sister. Tell her she must save your father."
Ye Chen had never gotten along with Ye Luan since childhood and had often bullied her with Ye Xue, never holding her in any regard.
"Don't worry, Mother. That brat wouldn't dare disobey."
After all, these were her own kin. Without the Ye family, she would have no family home. What was an married daughter without a backing?
The Ye mansion was completely surrounded. However, when Ye Chen was seen slipping out, the guards turned a blind eye, pretending not to notice.
The Ye family was truly audacious, engaging in corruption and bribery, committing all sorts of wickedness with such arrogance.
Ye Luan had never expected that the Ye family would perpetrate so many unsavory deeds using her name.
After becoming pregnant, she had rarely ventured out, and no one had informed her of these matters. Had she not overheard Xiao Chizhan discussing with a group of ministers in the Imperial Court a few days ago, she would have remained ignorant.
She felt no affection for the members of the Ye family. When Ye Chen came to find her, she directly refused to see him.
"Elder Sister, Elder Sister--"
However, the people below could not stop him. Ye Chen, furious, shoved them aside and barged in.
"Elder Sister, Father is innocent! You must go and save him!"
The maid, seeing Ye Luan seated by the window, knelt in distress.
"Your maid failed to stop him, Princess Consort. Please forgive me."
Ye Luan put down her book and looked back. "It's alright. You may go."
Seeing her indifferent expression, Ye Chen no longer felt rushed. He smiled and sat opposite her, casually picking up things from the table and eating. He began to complain, and as he spoke, he even threatened to tear down the Dali Temple.
"Father didn't embezzle anything! The funds from the Ministry of Revenue were all taken by that dog Liang! They are clearly jealous of us. Yesterday, that old dog Hu raided our home. Elder Sister, you cannot stand idly by!"
"Go and beg the Prince to release Father. He is his father-in-law, after all. How can he be so unreasonable--"
Ye Luan looked at him and said calmly, "The Ye family has committed a crime punishable by confiscation of property. Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same law as commoners."
Hearing her words, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossed Ye Chen's eyes. However, he knew better than to offend her, and he smiled obsequiously.
"It's just a little bit of money, isn't it? What official doesn't take bribes?"
Ye Luan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say he was innocent?"
Ye Chen remained unfazed. "Elder Sister's surname is also Ye. As a daughter of the Ye family, if one prospers, all prosper; if one suffers, all suffer. Elder Sister wouldn't be so ignorant of this basic principle, would she?"
This was a shift from soft tactics to outright threats.
Ye Luan was not swayed by this. She looked at the well-fed man opposite her and felt an involuntary urge to retch.
"Wasn't the mansion already raided? How did you get out?"
Ye Chen smiled. "I came out to find you. Who would dare stop me?"
Ye Luan: "---"
She was too lazy to argue with him and directly called out, "Someone!"
A guard entered.
"Princess Consort."
"Send him back to the Dali Temple. Handle it as you see fit."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's eyes widened. He had thought this brat would be an easy pushover, someone he could coax into doing their bidding. Instead, she dared to play him.
He roared, "Ye Luan, are you truly going to stand by and watch him die?!"
Ye Luan ignored him and picked up her book.
He was so enraged that he began to curse without restraint.
The guards, noticing Ye Luan's expression, clearly did not consider him her brother and promptly stuffed a cloth into his mouth and dragged him away.
Ye Chen struggled furiously, his eyes bloodshot, refusing to leave, and was dragged away forcefully.
The sounds of commotion gradually faded, and quiet returned to the hall.
Ye Luan picked up the book from the table and began to read silently.
When Xiao Chizhan returned from his official duties, he found her reclining on a soft couch by the window, exuding an air of relaxed languor. The bright light outside cast a soft glow on her face.
"Luan Luan."
He approached, drew her into his arms, and sat down beside her.
Ye Luan skillfully turned and nestled into his embrace, smiling and kissing him. "Are your affairs in the palace concluded?"
"Mm."
Xiao Chizhan scooped her up into his arms, bent his head, and kissed her.
She gracefully looped her arms around his neck, tilting her head to kiss him back.
Their breaths immediately intertwined, and the sounds of their intimate embrace filled the silent hall.
He gripped her waist, caressing it repeatedly, and guided her hand lower.
"Luan Luan, how much longer must you endure?"
Ye Luan's palm grew slick, and the tips of her ears flushed slightly.
Even through the thin fabric, she could feel the surging heat.
"It's been so long since we last... I've never had to endure this. When will this little rascal finally come out?"
He held her hand and guided it.
Ye Luan felt her body go soft from his actions, and she playfully chided him, "It was only yesterday. Can you please settle down a bit?"
"Not enough."
The corners of his eyes were tinged with red as he stared at her lips, his throat bobbing.
Ye Luan instantly understood his meaning and squeezed his hand firmly, only to find that it only emboldened him further.
He began to embrace and rub against her, and unable to bear it any longer, she reached to unfasten his belt.
Xiao Chizhan immediately began to undress her, his hands caressing her smooth, tender skin.
"Luan Luan, why are you still so thin?"
Since becoming pregnant, Ye Luan had been eating voraciously, yet her figure had not changed, save for her belly.
"However, this part has grown larger."
He whispered with a smile near her ear.
Ye Luan felt a shiver run down her spine and reached up to cup his head, kissing him.