Glory

"What should we do then? Not inform the Cai family and directly drive her out? Whatever happens to her afterward, the Cai family would hold us accountable," Ye Chongming said. "This matter cannot be concealed—it must be addressed openly. Surely you don’t intend to keep her in the Ye family?"

"Impossible." Old Mrs. Ye’s face flushed with anger at the thought.

If this were to become known, the Ye family would become a laughingstock.

Ye Yaming was currently in marriage discussions with the Xuanwu Marquis Household, and Ye Yaqing and Ye Yayin still needed to select husbands. If it were discovered that a man had been hidden in the Ye residence for nine years, wouldn’t people suspect the Ye family of poor management and question the virtue of its women?

Old Mrs. Ye’s momentary soft-heartedness vanished instantly. She motioned to Meng Ji with her chin and said, "Go ahead."

Seeing how Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye handled the situation, Ye Yaming felt grateful to have been reborn into a decent family.

In matters like this, whether in wealthy households or humble ones, people often resorted to extreme measures—beating to death or drowning—as if only such brutality could cleanse the shame.

Yet no one in the Ye family suggested putting Cai Shi to death. They only planned to divorce her and return her to the Cai family. This was an exceptionally lenient approach.

With that thought, she let out a bitter smile.

Perhaps this was precisely why Cai Shi, along with Nanny Zeng, Nanny Zhang, and Xu Fu, had dared to act as they did.

The Ye family was kind-hearted and never took lives lightly. They likely assumed that even if exposed, they wouldn’t be killed. To protect its reputation, the Ye family might not even disclose the matter, merely sending Cai Shi away.

In that case, things would simply return to the way they were, with little real loss for them.

So, every situation has two sides—one facing the sun, the other in shadow. It’s hard to say what’s truly good or bad. But for Ye Yaming, it was ultimately a good thing.

Considering Cai Shi’s fate after being divorced, she suggested, "I think we should inform Old Master Cai, giving him two choices: either take her back or leave her to our family to handle, with no guarantees for her life or death. I believe he would choose the latter."

Taking Cai Shi back to the Cai family would bring shame upon the entire clan if she were allowed to live. If she were executed, while others might outwardly praise Old Master Cai for upholding principles, behind his back they would call him ruthless, and even his wife and daughters might fear him. Either way, he would lose. By handing him this dilemma, why would he accept it?

Worried that her meaning might be misunderstood, Ye Yaming spelled it out clearly: "Once Old Master Cai agrees to leave her life or death in our hands, we can arrange for Cai Shi to 'die of illness' and send her elsewhere to start a new life under a different identity. After all, it’s a living person’s life, and Fifth Sister is still here. If we show no regard for her birth mother’s fate, she might grow up resentful."

Old Mrs. Ye strongly approved. "I think Ming’er’s idea is excellent."

"I agree as well," Tao Shi said.

Yin Shi nodded. "It’s a good plan."

As women, they empathized. Though they considered Cai Shi’s behavior improper, they felt it didn’t warrant death.

If a man lost his wife, even without remarrying, he could still take concubines, keep maids as intimate companions, sleep with servant girls, or even maintain a mistress outside the home. Why must a woman pay with her life for a similar transgression?

With all four women in the room in agreement, and Ye Chongming being far from cruel-hearted, he naturally had no objections.He had always regarded the saying "Families that accumulate virtue will surely have abundant blessings; families that accumulate vice will surely have abundant calamities" as his guiding principle, frequently using it to educate his descendants.

"Alright, let's proceed accordingly," he declared with finality.

Ye Yaming said, "Regarding this decision, I think it would be best to first inform Cai Shi. I believe she has resolved to die. If she sees her elder brother and sister-in-law coming and feels that life would be worse than death, she might take advantage of everyone's inattention to dash her head against a wall and die—that would truly be unfortunate."

Old Mrs. Ye said to Tao Shi and Yin Shi, "You two go and speak with her properly. After all, you were sisters-in-law for a time. Do her this kindness and bring this relationship to a proper close."

In matters like this, Yin Shi used to be excluded, with only Old Mrs. Ye and Tao Shi handling them.

But now that Ye Yaming had become the next head of the family, the second branch's status had risen. It would no longer be appropriate to exclude Yin Shi from such matters. Therefore, Old Mrs. Ye not only sent Tao Shi but also had Yin Shi accompany her.

Seeing the two leave, Ye Yaming said, "I am, after all, an unmarried young lady. It would be inappropriate for me to be present when the Cai family comes to discuss this matter. I should excuse myself."

Both Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye had the same thought. Her initiative to mention it was exactly what they hoped for.

"Go ahead. In a few days, we'll be making Jasmine Tea again. Take these couple of days to rest properly. You needn't worry about this matter," Old Mrs. Ye said with a smile.

Ye Yaming stood up and added one more thing: "Regarding Fifth Sister, have the wet nurse ask if she would be willing to move in with Yayin. They are close in age, and Yayin is still childlike at heart. With Yayin slowly guiding her, perhaps Yayu's temperament can still be changed."

If this were modern times, Ye Yayu's condition would definitely require seeing a psychologist. But in ancient times, such a concept didn't exist. Fortunately, Ye Yayu loved cats, and Ye Yaming felt her psychological state wasn't completely closed off.

Ye Yayin was a sweet-natured girl with a simple mind—perhaps Ye Yayu could accept her. As long as she accepted her, and with Ye Yayin gradually introducing her to others, she might improve.

"Good, I'll have someone ask. The third branch is certainly no longer a suitable place for Yu'er to stay," Old Mrs. Ye said.

Ye Yaming nodded and returned to her own courtyard with Lve E.

Back in the courtyard, she didn't see Guan Ting waiting for gossip—only Bai Rui came forward to greet her.

Ye Yaming asked, "Where is Guan Ting?"

Bai Rui smiled slightly: "As you instructed, I gave her some hints and suggestions, and she went back to her room."

Lve E breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Miss, I'll go over now then."

Ye Yaming nodded.

She needed to know the follow-up to the Cai Shi incident, so she sent Lve E to observe directly, avoiding potential distortions from secondhand accounts.

As for Guan Ting—formerly a child of the martial world who didn't bother with minor formalities, listening to gossip had been acceptable. But now that she had entered a large household that wasn't her own, going around inquiring about gossip and probing into others' secrets made people uncomfortable.

Ye Yaming had Bai Rui advise her, to see if she would realize her mistake. If she couldn't change, Ye Yaming would have to consider whether to let her stay any longer.

After about half an hour, Lve E returned.

As soon as she came back, she fumed: "Hmph! That Elder Master Cai is truly despicable. Not only does he have no sibling affection whatsoever, he doesn't even possess the compassion one would show a stranger. As soon as he arrived and heard about this matter, he wanted to find a board to beat Third Madame to death, just to secure his own invincible position.""Fortunately, Old Madam Ye said that Third Madame is still considered part of the Ye family. If the Cai family wants a letter of divorce, they can deal with Third Madame however they wish; but if they don't want the divorce letter, then it must be the Ye family's decision. Only then did Master Cai soften his stance, saying he would accept whatever disposition the Ye family decided."

"Have the Cai family members left?" Ye Yaming asked.

"They've left."

"What about Third Madame?"

Lve E shook her head: "It's unclear. But Fifth Miss has been taken in by Fourth Miss."

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, whenever he encountered acquaintances, they would exchange greetings or nod to each other.

But regardless of who it was.

Everyone's face bore no extra expression, as if they were completely indifferent to everything.

Regarding this.

Shen Changqing had already grown accustomed.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution responsible for maintaining the stability of Great Qin, whose main duty was to slay demons, monsters, and evil spirits, though it also handled some other side operations.

It could be said.

Every person in the Demon Suppression Division had much blood on their hands.

When someone becomes accustomed to life and death, they grow indifferent toward many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing found it somewhat uncomfortable, but over time he became used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who could remain in the Demon Suppression Division were either powerful experts or individuals with the potential to become experts.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

Within the Demon Suppression Division, there were two main positions: one was the Garrison Envoy, the other was the Demon Subduing Envoy.

Anyone joining the Demon Suppression Division would start from the lowest level as a Demon Subduing Envoy,

then gradually advance through the ranks, with the ultimate prospect of becoming a Garrison Envoy.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a probationary Demon Subduing Envoy within the Demon Suppression Division, the lowest rank among the Demon Subduing Envoys.

Possessing the memories of his predecessor.

He was also very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

Without taking much time, Shen Changqing stopped before a pavilion.

Unlike other solemn and murderous places in the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, presenting a different kind of tranquility within the blood-soaked Demon Suppression Division.

At this moment, the pavilion's main door was wide open, with people occasionally entering and exiting.

Shen Changqing hesitated only briefly before striding inside.

Upon entering the pavilion.

The environment suddenly changed.

The scent of ink mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted toward him, causing him to instinctively frown, though his expression soon relaxed.

The bloody scent that clung to everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash away completely.