Chapter 434: Chapter 434: Power
Shen Yanchuan let out a soft laugh. "You’re underestimating her if you say that."
Xie Anbai was taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
Shen Yanchuan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. "Did you really think she achieved today’s outcome by just sitting at home and waiting for it to happen?"
Xie Anbai said nothing, but he was slowly starting to understand.
’Although Ye Chutang didn’t appear at the court session, she played a pivotal role throughout the entire affair.’
’Whether it was the letter from Huo Yucheng that she did everything to protect, or Xu Fengchi running errands back and forth, she had a hand in it all.’
"Even without me, she could have gotten justice for her parents and brother."
There wasn’t a hint of exaggeration in Shen Yanchuan’s words.
He knew perfectly well that with Ye Chutang’s capabilities, it was only a matter of time before she achieved all this.
He had merely given things a slight push in the right direction.
Hearing this, Xie Anbai thought about it carefully. It seemed that was indeed the case.
"That’s true..."
’He’d seen countless women, but none of them were quite like Ye Chutang...’
For a moment, Xie Anbai couldn’t even think of the right word to describe her.
She was serene and gentle, always with a faint smile on her lips, as warm and tranquil as a Haitang flower in late spring.
But when it came to getting things done, she was utterly decisive, surpassing even many men.
Xie Anbai had no doubt about what Shen Yanchuan said. ’Even if she were all alone, she would surely accomplish anything she set her mind to!’
However...
Xie Anbai rubbed his chin, a teasing smile spreading across his face.
"That may be so, but search your heart. Did you really join forces with her this time without any ulterior motives?"
Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow. "Was it that obvious?"
"Obviously!"
Xie Anbai couldn’t help but roll his eyes dramatically.
"Anyone with eyes can see that your relationship is anything but ordinary! Especially you—I heard that during the court session, you mentioned Ye Zheng’s name more than once..."
His intentions were plain as day.
Shen Yanchuan’s thin, rose-colored lips curved slightly upward.
That smile made his usually cold and detached features come alive, revealing a rare, indulgent tenderness.
He said,
"Good."
Xie Anbai was flabbergasted.
’Wait, something’s not right here.’
’This guy...’
The realization dawned on Xie Anbai a moment later, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Damn it! Shen Yanchuan, have you no shame!?"
’He’s blatantly letting everyone know how he feels about Ye Chutang!’
Of course, Shen Yanchuan paid his words no mind.
He placed the letter he had just finished writing into an envelope and sealed it.
With his sharp eyes, Xie Anbai caught a glimpse of the words on it, and his eyelid twitched.
*For Father’s Eyes Only.*
It was addressed to the Duke Dingbei, Shen Youyan!
Having known Shen Yanchuan for years, Xie Anbai was long accustomed to the way the father and son interacted.
They hardly ever contacted each other unless something major happened.
For passing messages, they had carrier pigeons and Hidden Guards.
But for Shen Yanchuan to be writing a letter now...
A bold guess formed in Xie Anbai’s mind.
He asked hesitantly, "...The Marquis will find out about what happened in the capital even without you telling him, won’t he?"
With such a major upheaval at court shaking the entire government, even though Shen Youyan was thousands of miles away, he was bound to find out with utmost speed.
Shen Yanchuan nodded.
Xie Anbai probed further. "Then this letter..."
Shen Yanchuan looked up, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
"Naturally, it’s about something a thousand times more important."
’For example, his marriage.’
...
Early the next morning, Ye Chutang and her party made their way to the Xu Residence.
It was a day of rest for officials, and since she had already sent a formal request for a visit, Xu Fengchi was waiting for them at his residence.
The carriage rolled slowly down the street.
Holding Xiao Wu, Ye Yunfeng still felt a sense of unreality.
"I can’t believe we actually lived to see this day..."
When he heard the news at the Imperial College yesterday, he almost thought he was dreaming.
’The mastermind behind our parents’ and brother’s murder has finally been exposed! The evidence is ironclad!’
’A scene he had imagined countless times had actually come true!’
"It’s just a shame the punishment was too light."
At the mention of this, the emotions in Ye Yunfeng’s heart churned once more.
’A life for a life!’
’Xiao Chengxuan harmed so many people, yet because he’s a Prince, he escaped death!’
Ye Jingyan, by contrast, was much calmer.
"This outcome was already difficult to achieve."
He knew very well that if it hadn’t been in front of all the civil and military officials, if the evidence hadn’t been conclusive, and if Shen Yanchuan, Xu Fengchi, and the others hadn’t joined forces, Xiao Chengxuan might not have received any substantial punishment at all.
"Being stripped of his title and imprisoned for life is already a severe punishment for him."
But these words only made Ye Yunfeng more indignant.
He furrowed his brow. "Just because he’s a Prince, his life is worth more than anyone else’s!?"
Ye Jingyan said nothing.
But Ye Chutang, who was sitting beside them, spoke up.
"No."
Ye Yunfeng turned his head in surprise. "Sister?"
Ye Chutang was wrapped in a large cloak, a hand warmer tucked into her sleeve.
She shook her head gently. "It’s not because he’s a Prince. It’s because of power."
Ye Yunfeng froze.
Ye Jingyan hadn’t expected her to say that either and turned to look at her as well.
Xiao Wu tilted her little face up, sensing a subtle shift in the carriage’s atmosphere without knowing why.
She blinked her big, dark, round eyes, and her gaze followed the others to Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang offered a faint smile.
"Whoever holds the power decides everything."
"Xiao Chengxuan is a Prince, but that’s not the crucial point."
"If anyone else had done these things, whether it was the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince, they would never have gotten off as easily as he did."
"It’s simply because several powerful factions are tied to Xiao Chengxuan."
"That’s the only reason he managed to escape relatively unscathed."
"The current outcome is already quite good. At least our years of time and effort weren’t wasted."
Ye Chutang meant every word.
Ye Yunfeng was silent for a long while before he finally couldn’t stop himself from asking,
"Just because we’re powerless, we have to accept this result?!"
’How could he possibly accept this!’
Ye Jingyan patted his shoulder.
"It wasn’t easy to get this far. We can deal with the rest later."
’They had come so far, hovering between life and death countless times, yet in the end, they couldn’t even make him pay with his life.’
’Was he any more willing to accept it?’
’But what could they do?’
’Just as their sister said, only the powerful have a voice!’
Ye Yunfeng suppressed the frustration welling in his chest and turned to look out of the carriage.
The street scenery rushed past, but he was in no mood to watch.
His fists, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched tight.
At some unknown thought, his gaze gradually grew firm, as if he had made a resolution.
"Sister—"
Just as he began to speak, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly came from outside.
A troop of armored soldiers, travel-worn and dusty, galloped past them down the long street!
Ye Yunfeng frowned. "Are those..."
Ye Chutang saw them too.
Her expression relaxed into a smile.
"It seems the Imperial Guard sent to find an antidote for the Third Prince has returned."
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