Free Web NovelChapter 10: Chapter 10: The Third Branch
"Foolish girl, let go of me!" Zheng Huizhen barked, trying to pull her hand out of Ye Lingyue’s vice-like grip.
Inside the worn out carriage, there were also Zheng Huizhen’s daughter-in-law, Song Yulan and her daughter, Ye Ruxue.
Song Yulan had a dazed look on her face, finding it hard to accept her current reality while Ye Ruxue was busy sobbing until her eyes turned bloodshot red.
Upon seeing her mother having a tug of war with Ye Lingyue, Ye Ruxue rushed over with a belly full of anger.
"You wretched girl, let go of my mother!" She yelled and glared, although her current expression was less fierce due to her wet eyes.
Lin Su was helpless upon witnessing the ruckus caused by the Ye family members. He went over and scolded them. "This carriage is for all the members of your Ye family. Do you think you are still a noble madam who always receives preferential treatment everywhere?"
His words were like an arrow that struck Zheng Huizhen and her daughter’s hearts, and they went pale at the reminder of their current predicament.
Ye Ruxue recovered her emotions first compared to her mother. "Our apologies, Sir Guard. Ye Lanxi..."
She glanced at the bloodied young man and gulped, wiping her eyes in an attempt to earn Lin Su’s pity. "... since he is injured, he can stay in the carriage."
If it were before, she wouldn’t have acted so humble in front of a mere imperial guard, however, her brain already thought quickly on how to deal with the present situation—even if she hadn’t accepted the fact that they were going to be exiled.
In order to receive the better treatment, unfortunately, they had to be on good terms with the guards.
Ye Lingrui shoved his second brother inside, and Lin Su helped him, just wanting to get it over already.
After Ye Lanxi was inside, Lin Su left. Zheng Huizhen glared at the second branch’s children, and she pulled the dazed Song Yulan outside of the carriage.
Ye Ruxue handed over their cloth bundles to her mother and followed them, not before she left a disdainful snort at her cousins.
They were heading to the third carriage, kicking out the third branch out of there. The third branch’s wife, Pei Chiyun flashed a displeased yet helpless look. She led her children toward the second carriage.
"Rui’er, can we ride in this carriage? Qin’er and Yin’er are still so young. They can’t walk as fast as adults..." Pei Cuiyun put on a pitiful look on her face.
"Go ahead, Third Aunt." Ye Lingrui nodded, gesturing at the empty space beside Ye Lanxi.
Pei Cuiyun gestured for her first daughter to enter first, and then her young twins. They didn’t take the place Ye Lingrui was pointing at. Instead, they took the spot opposite of them.
They still had more important things to do, so Ye Lingrui immediately excused himself after telling Ye Lingyue to take care of Ye Lanxi.
In order to have a better life in exile, Ye Lingrui would go help his mother to grab as many useful items as possible. Ye Lanxi was injured, so he couldn’t help Madam Ye.
Pei Cuiyun lifted the curtain. When she saw that Ye Lingrui was gone, she paid no need to the second branch’s children. One was unconscious and the other was a fool.
"Mother, what if the imperial guards find out we have hidden a piece of jewelry and punish us?" The third branch’s eldest daughter, Ye Jingyao, muttered anxiously.
She frowned at Ye Lingyue unhappily, disliking the fact they had to share a carriage with her. Then, she turned to her mother again.
Pei Cuiyun was taken aback. She was adjusting her sitting position and didn’t have the time to cover her daughter’s mouth in time.
"Shut up," she hissed. "If you are quiet about it, they won’t find out."
She lifted the curtain again, and upon finding that there was no imperial guard nearby, she heaved a sigh of relief. "From now on, don’t tell anyone we are hiding valuables, not even your father, alright?"
"How about this girl?" Ye Jingyao pointed at Ye Lingyue in disapproval. She was a little upset that her mother had scolded her.
"She is just a fool and doesn’t know anything. Just ignore her." Pei Cuiyun was finally revealing her true colors now that there was no one outsider around.
Ye Jingyao’s eyes glinted when she saw Ye Lingyue, her mind filled with a wicked idea. Ye Lingyue saw the look in her eyes and inwardly lifted her eyebrows.
This young cousin of hers was still less than twelve years old, and she couldn’t hide her thoughts quite well yet. It was actually written all over her face.
Compared to the pair of mother and daughter, the twins were quiet. They snuggled to Pei Cuiyun’s side with eyes full of fear, looking around nervously.
Ye Lingyue opened the curtain, giggling slightly as she clapped occasionally. Ye Lingrui’s words had helped her on what she should do to pretend to be a fool.
However, she also didn’t overdo it, acting as if her action was solely based on instinct, the body’s memory.
"Quickly, hide it." Pei Cuiyun glared at Ye Lingyue and grabbed her eldest daughter’s hand.
Ye Jingyao hurriedly put the small ring back to the folding of clothes below her armpits. Then, she glanced resentfully at Ye Lingyue while muttering under her breath, "A fool will always be a fool."
At this moment, Ye Lanxi suddenly let out a groan, and he slowly opened his eyes. Outside the carriage, there was also a commotion.
Ye Chengde had returned as a few guards flocked around him, ensuring he wouldn’t run away. Behind him, there were imperial guards carrying a person in a wooden stretcher.
The injured one must have been Ye Zhiqiu.
They were heading toward the second carriage, escorting the unconscious Ye Zhiqiu inside.
For a moment, Ye Lingyue’s eyes met Ye Chengde.
He opened his mouth, "You..."
