Chapter 29: Utter Chaos and Turmoil

Ye Yingtang walked over to Ye Hua, checked Yang Lan's breathing, and let out a sigh of relief. With a stern face, he shouted at Ye Zehong, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and come check on your mother!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Ye Zehong, but he remained indifferent, as though he were an outsider. He replied coolly, "She's your wife."

Ye Yingtang's expression darkened instantly, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

"As a doctor, you should uphold medical ethics."

"If I recall correctly, the Ye family employs a private physician. I haven't taken a single penny from the Ye family."

"You unfilial son, must you drive me to my grave before you're satisfied?"

Ye Yingtang's face was ashen, and everyone thought he was about to strike Ye Zehong right then and there. Instead, he picked up Yang Lan and said to Ye Hua, "Call Doctor Zhong immediately."

Ye Hua hurried after Ye Yingtang, pulling out her phone to dial Doctor Zhong's number.

The memorial ceremony was interrupted, and while the crowd was unsure how to react, Ye Zehong bent down to pick up the doll lying on the ground. He sneered, turned away, and nodded indifferently at the master presiding over the ceremony.

The master acted as if nothing had happened and continued with the ritual.

Lu Yao's eyes were fixed on the doll in Ye Zehong's hand. She could just make out the Miao script embroidered on it.

One of the characters, she recognized.

Translated, it meant "you".

From this, she inferred that the embroidery likely spelled out a person's name.

The doll looked utterly ordinary, so why had Yang Lan reacted so violently? Was it hiding some secret?

After the ceremony ended, Lu Yao searched for Ye Zehong among the crowd, wanting to examine the doll and see if she could uncover anything. She looked all around but couldn’t find him.

She caught hold of Xia Cui and asked, "Have you seen Second Master?"

"Second Master was called to the study by Old Master Ye," Xia Cui replied with a helpless sigh. "Old Master Ye is probably going to lay into him again."

Lu Yao’s heart twinged inexplicably.

Unconsciously, she found herself outside Ye Yingtang’s study.

As she drew near, she heard Ye Yingtang’s voice berating from within.

"It must have been you who arranged for that stray cat to play tricks and frighten Lan."

"If that's what you believe, I can't stop you."

"Ye Zehong, you bear the Ye name. Ye blood runs in your veins. Why must you cause chaos in this household? Would you only be happy if you drove me to my death?"

"Years ago, didn’t you drive her to her death as well?"

She—meaning his biological mother.

Ye Yingtang’s rage flared completely, and his face darkened as he glared at Ye Zehong. For a moment, he felt his son was terrifying.

Though they shared blood, Ye Zehong harbored nothing but hatred for him.

"No matter what you think of me, I'll explain one last time." Ye Yingtang clenched his fist, glaring fiercely. "Lan and I have loved each other since childhood. Your grandparents knew we had pledged ourselves to each other long ago. It was they who forced me to marry your mother so the Ye family could climb higher in power. I resisted, but they threatened Lan’s family. Only then did I helplessly marry your mother. From the beginning, Lan was the one I loved."

Ye Zehong’s expression twisted with disgust, his voice cold: "If you truly loved Yang Lan, how could you touch my mother and let her bear me? You could have stopped this tragedy, yet you chose to hurt her. As people age, they tend to selectively forget the evil they’ve done, embellish their past selves, and you’re no exception."

His words made Ye Yingtang tremble with rage.

With a furious roar, Ye Yingtang grabbed the ashtray beside him, hesitated for a second, then steeled himself and hurled it at Ye Zehong.

Ye Zehong showed not the slightest intention to dodge, standing coldly in place.

Lu Yao watched in astonishment, her fingers gripping the doorframe tightly, her body instinctively wanting to rush in and push him aside.