C14 The Ye Family Was in Danger

Wanfeng Country is divided into five provinces!

Geographically, these include the four cardinal provinces—East, West, South, and North—and at the heart of it all lies the Central State.

Central State, the nation's capital, is situated at the very center of Wanfeng Country, with the imperial palace nestled within its borders.

The remaining four provinces are ruled by their respective kings: the East King, West King, South King, and North King. To honor these sovereigns, the provinces are also known as East King State, West King Province, South King Province, and Northern King Province.

The Situ family, rulers of the East King State, wield power that rivals the emperor's. Legend has it that no fewer than seven members of the Situ family have attained the Ninth Rank of Qi Stage, with Prefecture King Situ Haoran rumored to have reached its peak a decade ago. Whether he has since ascended to even greater heights remains a mystery to the outside world.

In East King State, the Situ family is synonymous with both authority and martial prowess. Even the prominent Ye, Yun, and Lin families of Cloud Peak City dare not entertain the thought of opposing them.

Yun Tianao's presentation of a letter from the Situ family carried a significant message. Ye Jian cast a glance at Yun Tianao, who was quietly sipping tea with his head bowed.

Upon unfolding the letter and absorbing its contents, Ye Jian's expression froze. Sensing something amiss with his father but mindful of the outsider in their midst, Ye Bufan curbed his burning curiosity, resisting the urge to delve into the matter.

After a long pause, Ye Jian regained his composure and said, "Bufan, take a look at this letter too."

Driven by intense curiosity, Ye Bufan eagerly accepted the letter, his body breaking out in a cold sweat. This might just be the Lin family's ultimate gambit.

The letter was brief. The Situ family intended to wed Yun Ruoshuang in a month and urged the Yun family to begin preparations. It concluded with a few courteous remarks.

"Why would the Situ family be involved with Miss Yun..." Ye Bufan inquired with a hint of surprise.

Yun Tianao responded with a wry smile, "Two years ago, I took my daughter on a trip to East King State. There, she met the Situ family's second son—Situ Jun. The two of them..." He sighed, leaving his sentence unfinished.

In theory, the Yun family's alliance with the Situ family should have solidified their position as the preeminent power in Cloud Peak City. But the complication arose when Ye Bufan slept with the Situ girl. Should the Situ family learn of this, it would spell trouble not just for the Ye family, but the Yun family would likely suffer consequences as well.

From the residual memories of his current body, Ye Bufan was aware of the Situ family's formidable strength. They might not be the most powerful in Wanfeng Country, but they could easily crush a lesser clan like the Ye family without breaking a sweat.

Yun Tianao's earlier urgency made sense now, as did Lin Shanfeng's lack of remorse when delivering the gold coins. The Lin family's involvement in the affair was evident, and although Yun Tianao had suspected their behind-the-scenes efforts upon reading the letter, confronting them was not the immediate concern. The pressing issue was how to respond to the Situ family's actions.

Thus, he promptly sought out the Ye family to strategize. Regardless of past conflicts, both families now faced a shared predicament.

Feeling the weight of their gazes upon him, Ye Bufan cursed his misfortune internally. "What a mess! Since taking over this body, I've battled tooth and nail to defeat Lin Feiyang over such a triviality, and I'm still nursing my wounds. Now, the Situ family is on our doorstep..."

The Situ family was a force beyond comparison with the Lin family. Against Lin Feiyang, Ye Bufan had been confident of victory, but facing the Situ family, his assurance waned.

Given enough time, Ye Bufan wouldn't fear growth, but time was a luxury he didn't have. The Situ family was set to marry Yun Ruoshuang in a month, and in this world, there was no such thing as surgery to repair what had been done. Even if there were, the Lin family would surely seize the chance to topple both the Ye and Yun families.

Ye Bufan spoke with conviction, "This incident was instigated by my son. Should the Situ family seek someone to blame, let me shoulder the responsibility alone!"

Ye Jian looked at his son with approval in his eyes and declared, "People have labeled my son a wastrel, but now it's time for Cloud Peak City to see that he's a man of action, ready to face the consequences!"

Yun Tianao nearly choked on his tea listening to the father-son exchange. He thought to himself that it was a shame they weren't on stage, given their dramatic flair.

"Uncle Yun, the Ye family recently welcomed two new chefs whose culinary skills are passable. Would you care to sample their cooking at lunch?" Ye Bufan offered warmly.

Subsequently, Ye Jian engaged Yun Tianao in wide-ranging conversation, from culinary arts to tea, and from tea to anecdotes about notable figures, skillfully avoiding any mention of the Situ family's upcoming marriage to Yun Ruoshuang. Despite Yun Tianao's attempts to steer the conversation in that direction, he was deftly sidetracked by the cunning duo.

As noon approached, Yun Tianao grew impatient and decided to address the matter directly. "Sigh... The prowess that Nephew Ye demonstrated in his duel with Lin Feiyang certainly suggests he was truthful, and that his involvement with my daughter was a setup. I might believe this, but the Situ family may not be so easily convinced." He paused to take a gentle sip of tea, seemingly waiting for the Ye father and son to reveal their stance.

Ye Jian responded, "This unfortunate incident is indeed a bolt from the blue. Rest assured, City Lord, if the Situ family accepts our explanation, all well and good. But if they refuse to believe us, the Ye family is prepared to go down fighting without dragging the civilians of Cloud Peak City into the fray."

His statement was astute, ensuring the safety of Cloud Peak City's civilians without making promises regarding its nobility.

Yun Tianao, fully aware of the subtext in Ye Jian's words, inwardly cursed while maintaining a smile. "Master Ye, what are you saying? Cloud Peak City is one family; if the Ye family faces trouble, the Yun family won't just stand by. No matter the strength of the foe, the Yun family will stand with the Ye family, through thick and thin!"

Yun Tianao had seen enough to understand that the father and son were resigned to their fate, ready to throw in the towel. Regardless of the outcome, the Situ family would relentlessly pursue the Ye family. The scandal, however, meant that the Situ family, for the sake of their own reputation, would also not spare the Yun family. After a lengthy stalemate, with the Ye family remaining silent, Yun Tianao felt compelled to be the first to suggest a partnership, a move that completely contradicted his initial plan. Although initiating the proposal put him at a disadvantage, Yun Tianao had reached a point where he could no longer afford to hesitate.

Ye Jian promptly rose to his feet, bowed deeply to Yun Tianao, and expressed his gratitude, "On behalf of the Ye family, I extend our sincerest thanks to you, Duke Yun!"

After setting a time to iron out the specifics, Yun Tianao took his leave from the Ye residence.

The father-son duo had managed to outwit Yun Tianao, but their victory was hollow, overshadowed by the looming threat of the Situ family. The prospect of facing them was like an insurmountable mountain weighing heavily on their shoulders.

"The Ye family has only one option left for salvation!" declared Ye Jian.

"What is it?" Ye Bufan asked urgently, the fate of his family making him anxious.

"With a youthful spirit, our father once roamed the lands and formed a bond with the Northern King, He Qingshan. If we can enlist his support, we might just be able to turn the tide," Ye Jian revealed.

He Qingshan, the Northern King, was well-regarded for his benevolence. If their father had a past connection with him, it was possible he would offer his assistance. Should that happen, the Situ family would surely think twice before targeting the Ye family again.

"Then father, you must set out at once. We can't afford to waste time!" urged Ye Bufan.

Ye Jian shook his head, smiling gently, "As the patriarch, I can't simply abandon my responsibilities. You must be the one to go. I'll write a letter for you to take. Depart immediately and avoid any unnecessary delays on your journey."

Ye Bufan, recognizing the gravity of the situation from his father's earnest demeanor, nodded in agreement, "Father, I promise I won't let you down."