Chapter Eighteen: The Mountain of Gold Notes

“What do you mean?” Deng Qiaoying’s eyes widened, confusion clouding her face.

“Xin’er’s intention should be…” Sun Meifang quickly grasped the meaning behind Ye Xin’s words. She chuckled softly, “He wouldn’t give up a whole host of girls for just one, would he…”

“Nonsense! Behave yourself!” Deng Qiaoying scolded sharply, but then something occurred to her and her expression warmed. She turned to Ye Xin with a gentle smile and said kindly, “Xin’er, don’t worry. Aunt will find you a girl of status and capability, someone who can support you—never will the Ye family be disgraced.”

Suddenly, Deng Duojie burst into laughter. Even a blind man could see the scorn in her eyes; her expression seemed to say: “Looking for someone with status and ability? With Ye Xin’s reputation and the declining Ye family, he should count himself lucky to marry anyone at all!”

Deng Qiaoying’s face turned ashen; the smile vanished. She could endure neglect from the other noble families, but Deng Duojie was her younger relative and shared her surname. That mocking laughter stabbed at her heart like a sharp knife.

“You laugh at your own mother!” Ye Xin finally found his moment to act the part of the unruly scion. He slammed his hand on the table, pointing furiously at Deng Duojie, and then, springing to his feet, made to rush at her. Seeing Ye Xin’s gesture and anticipating trouble, Xue Baiqi and Hao Fei moved swiftly, flanking him on either side and escorting him out before Deng Qiaoying could say a word.

Ye Ling remained quietly with her head bowed. Deng Qiaoying’s expression soured, Sun Meifang’s even more so, while Deng Duojie kept her composure, raising her brows and sneering coldly, “Hmph… That’s Ye Xin for you.”

“Let me go! Let me go…” Ye Xin struggled desperately, even kicking off a shoe.

Deng Qiaoying’s fingers, gripping her chopsticks, had turned pale. She blamed Ye Xin not at all, for it was Deng Duojie who had insulted the Ye family first.

“Sister…” Sun Meifang forced a smile. “We won’t leave tonight. As for Xin’er’s marriage… We’ll discuss it thoroughly this evening. Big Brother Ye’s fame shakes the world; he’s rendered great service for the Wei kingdom. We must not let his name be sullied.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re so thoughtful. Just now, Xin’er…” Deng Qiaoying said with difficulty.

“Ah, children—anger makes them say foolish things. As elders, we must be generous.” Sun Meifang replied.

****

In the main hall, Deng Qiaoying and Sun Meifang sought to mend the earlier discord. Meanwhile, in Ye Xin’s small courtyard, three people stared at each other in silence.

“I swear, I just want to cry…” Ye Xin finally choked out, for in order to play the perfect wastrel, he could do nothing against Deng Qiaoying’s inspired schemes. He couldn’t reason with her, couldn’t assert his authority, and certainly couldn’t reveal his true cards to ask her cooperation. Deng Qiaoying couldn’t keep secrets; if she discovered the truth, she might slip up and bring deadly danger upon him.

“So what if you marry?” Hao Fei struggled to suppress his laughter. “Just accept it—once the adults have their way…”

“You know nothing!” Ye Xin snapped.

Just then, footsteps sounded from afar. Ye Xin shot a look at his friends and cried out, “Let go of me! Let go…”

Xue Baiqi and Hao Fei pressed Ye Xin’s shoulders, forcing him into a seat on the stone chair, and Ye Xin settled in with little protest.

Moments later, Ye Ling strode in from outside. Seeing Ye Xin’s twisted face and heaving chest, she suddenly broke into a bright smile. “Brother, still angry?”

Ye Xin turned his head aside with force, refusing to respond.

“Leave it to me. I’ll settle this for you,” Ye Ling said, enunciating each word.

“Leave it to you?” Ye Xin was startled.

“Three months from now is the Academy’s Great Tournament.” Ye Ling’s smile was charming, yet her eyes were sharp as nails. “When the time comes, I’ll personally beat her until she looks like a bun!” With that, Ye Ling took a badge from her waist and showed it in her palm.

It was the Golden Dragon Medal from the Longteng Martial Academy; in its center was carved a dragon’s head, and at its edge, two golden swords. Ye Xin looked astonished, “You… You’re already an Innate Warrior?”

“Hehe… From now on, if anyone bullies you, just tell me—I’ll teach them a lesson.” Ye Ling said softly, “But for these days, you have to behave. Here, for you—take it.” She handed Ye Xin a gold note.

“For me?” Ye Xin accepted the note, eyes widening at its value—ten gold coins!

“I know you’ve always spent lavishly, but the Ye family isn’t what it used to be.” Ye Ling sighed gently. “Brother, be thrifty. I’ll be heading to Tianyuan City soon; once I’m back, things will be better. Every month, I’ll give you this much—don’t think it’s too little, and don’t blame your sister for lacking ability. I have to train, manage Academy matters, and take care of the family; I simply don’t have time to go out.”

“What are you going to Tianyuan City for?” Ye Xin was shocked—he had just left Tianyuan City himself, and it was no place for a young girl like Ye Ling.

“Ahem…” Before Ye Ling could answer, Xue Baiqi cleared his throat. “Tonight’s banquet likely cost the Ye family half a year’s expenses. The Wolf Marshal is gone, Second Master is locked in the dungeon, his salary cut off, and the Ye family now relies on Second Lady’s dowry.”

Xue Baiqi understood Tianyuan City well, and he knew Ye Ling’s temperament. If there was no suitable reason to stop her, she’d definitely go. So he explained plainly to Ye Xin that the family was short on funds—Ye Ling intended to become a mercenary in Tianyuan City.

“Brother, you must behave!” Ye Ling insisted, believing Ye Xin knew little of Tianyuan City.

“Wait.” Ye Xin took a deep breath, then retrieved a small box from his waistband. From it, he drew out a stack of gold notes and handed them to Ye Ling. “You don’t need to go to Tianyuan City. Your brother can support this family.”

Ye Xin had walked the shadowy path in Tianyuan City; though he made countless enemies, his speed at making money was unmatched. Despite his lavish lifestyle, he’d accumulated a fortune, not on purpose, but simply because he couldn’t spend it all.

Ye Ling shook her head and took the notes. When she realized their amount, her eyes widened, and she inspected them carefully, checking each one, counting them over and over. When she finished, she was dumbstruck.

Nearly two hundred thousand gold coins—even for noble families, it was a huge sum. Ye Ling could hardly believe what she saw.

“Brother… Where did you steal so many gold notes?” Ye Ling’s voice trembled. “Just how much trouble have you gotten yourself into?!”

“Steal? You really underestimate your brother!” Ye Xin declared confidently, though he felt a headache coming on—he’d probably given her too much… How to explain?

“Then tell me, where did the money come from?” Ye Ling fixed her gaze on him. Ye Xin was still under suspicion, and if he’d truly stolen from a noble family, once discovered, he’d be doomed—no one could save him.

“With my charm and style, do I need to steal?” Ye Xin replied. “Wherever I go, young ladies and wives scramble to give me gifts.”

“Brother, don’t tell me… don’t tell me…” Ye Ling’s eyes suddenly grew moist. “Have you been selling yourself all this time?” She didn’t really understand, but had occasionally heard tales of men living lavishly in brothels, spending fortunes, and that such places had both women and men for hire.

“Selling myself…” Ye Xin nearly choked, raising a hand to rap her forehead with his knuckle. “What nonsense is that little head of yours thinking?”

“Why hit me?” Ye Ling protested, rubbing her forehead. “Then tell me, where did the money come from?!”

“Of course I earned it as a mercenary!” Ye Xin exclaimed.

“Brother, do you take me for a fool?” Ye Ling fumed. “Everyone knows you can’t gather Yuan energy—how could you be a mercenary? I think you’re…”

She’s really too much… Ye Xin thought, then suddenly, inspiration struck, and he stammered, “It was… Uncle Qiu gave it to me.”

“Which Uncle Qiu?” Ye Ling paused. “Could it be… Qiu Jiecha, General Qiu?” There weren’t many surnamed Qiu, and only Qiu Jiecha had followed the Ye family so faithfully.

“That’s him.” Ye Xin hesitated. “Uncle Qiu said he’d come to Jiuding City in a few days.”

“Uncle Qiu’s coming to Jiuding City?!” Ye Ling shrieked. For the Ye family, this news was hugely significant.

Qiu Jiecha’s visit to Jiuding City could hardly escape the emperor’s notice; the ever-present War Wolves would certainly cause a sensation. Ye Xin had no intention of hiding this from Ye Ling.

“Why didn’t you say so sooner?!” Ye Ling shrieked again, turned, and ran off, taking all the gold notes with her. If she returned them, Ye Xin would likely squander them in no time.

Watching Ye Ling’s figure vanish, Ye Xin slumped weakly onto the stone chair. “How is this little girl getting more and more difficult…” He’d thought a sixteen-year-old would be easy to fool, but Ye Ling’s eyes permitted no deception; she had to have clear answers.

“Miss has always been innocent and lively. Fortunately, she encountered a few good friends,” Xue Baiqi said quietly.

“Oh? What friends?” Ye Xin asked eagerly.

“One is Wen Rong, another Shen Miao, another Shao Xue, and with your sister Ye Ling, they’re known as the Four Blossoms of Longteng Martial Academy.” Xue Baiqi paused. “Especially Wen Rong—she’s truly remarkable!”

“For you to say someone is remarkable, that must be rare.” Ye Xin’s expression grew serious.

“She deserves it.” Xue Baiqi replied. “She’s about Ye Ling’s age, exceptionally intelligent. Though only a junior Innate Warrior and hasn’t forged her own signature technique, she’s already earned a Level Four Medal from the Academy. Hehe… When the Wolf Marshal received a Level Five Medal, he was an advanced Innate Warrior!”