Ye Jingchuan looked at Ye Anjun, who was disregarding the dignity of the Minister's Mansion and defying him, and stood up in anger.
"How dare you! Chen Zhong..."
Just as he was about to order Chen Zhong to forcibly take Jun'er away, Ye Chutang spoke.
"It won't take long to check the Guanyin statue. I trust His Highness can wait."
Hearing this, Ye Jingchuan knew that Ye Anjun's outburst was orchestrated by Ye Chutang.
His gaze was as if laced with poison, his hands clenched into fists beneath his sleeves.
"It is now past the hour of Si (9-11 AM). The wedding procession still has to circle the imperial city for a week to receive the common people's blessings. If we dally any longer, we will miss the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony."
Qi Yanzhou knew the purpose of circling the city was to carry as many dowry chests containing weapons as possible into Prince Chen's Mansion.
And it would take at least half a shichen (ancient time unit, approx. 2 hours) to move all one hundred and twenty-eight chests of dowry.
He deliberately said, "It's of no consequence. We can simply shorten the city procession later. The Minister's Mansion is now my in-law family. Offspring represent lineage; it's better to clarify this matter clearly."
"The matter of my offspring is my family affair, and does not require Your Highness's concern."
"Father-in-law, do you mean by this that you do not consider me family?"
Ye Jingchuan very much wanted to say that he had already severed ties with Ye Chutang and truly could not claim kinship with Prince Chen's Mansion!
But with all the civil and military officials present, he couldn't utter such humiliating words.
So he looked at Chen Zhong, giving him a meaningful glance.
"Go and fetch the Guanyin statue from the shrine."
Chen Zhong understood instantly.
Whatever was inside the Guanyin statue must not be made public!
"Yes, Master."
Qi Yanzhou saw through Ye Jingchuan's intention at a glance.
He said to his trusted aide, "You go as well."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ye Jingchuan knew he couldn't stop it and could only resign himself to the worst.
"Go quickly and return quickly."
After speaking, he glared at Ye Anjun, wishing he could devour him whole.
If he wasn't his biological son, then there was no need for him to live!
Ye Anjun felt his heart pound under that gaze, but he forcibly suppressed his fear and met Ye Jingchuan's eyes.
His elder sister would protect him; he had nothing to fear.
The guests' eyes also fell upon Ye Anjun.
Thin and small, yet standing ramrod straight.
"Is that child foolish? He doesn't want to be the young master of the Minister's Mansion, but a commoner?"
"And he chooses to say it on this day of great celebration. What is he trying to do?"
"I heard Minister Ye dotes on this youngest son. What ingratitude!"
"Exactly. Minister Ye raised him. What right does he have to propose severing ties!"
Song Jingning listened to these topsy-turvy remarks and scoffed.
He finally understood why the Song family had established the rule of not associating with officials.
These people only knew how to flatter and curry favor, yet had no sense of right and wrong!
Many guests looked towards Song Jingning, their eyes filled with disdain for the upright literati.
"What is Master Haoyue laughing at?"
Song Jingning was not afraid of clashing with officials and confronted them directly.
"I'm laughing at your stupidity!"
Hearing this, the corner of Ye Chutang's mouth lifted.
She liked this personality!
"Master Haoyue, do not think that just because you hold a high position in literary circles, you can casually insult people!"
Song Jingning walked into the main hall and came before Ye Anjun.
"If he revealed the truth on any other day, would he still have a life?"
The answer was obvious.
No!
Such a major scandal would naturally be silenced!
Song Jingning patted Jun'er's shoulder and added, "As for severing ties, he is not wrong either. Some can tread upon their parents' bones to enjoy wealth and honor, while others may forsake that wealth and honor to seek peace of mind."
These spineless individuals, obsessed only with profit, who would only kneel to beg for food, naturally did not understand what integrity was.
Jun'er looked up at Song Jingning, his eyes full of admiration.
He then looked at the man who had earlier challenged Song Jingning, a cold glint appearing in his large, black-grape-like eyes.
"I would rather have my parents alive and well, and never have enjoyed wealth and honor."
Just as the man was about to sneer a few words, Chen Zhong and Qi Yanzhou's trusted aide returned.
Chen Zhong had tried several times to tamper with the Guanyin statue but found no opportunity, so he could only hand it over to Ye Jingchuan intact.
"Master, the Guanyin statue is untouched."
The implication was that he had failed to destroy whatever was inside.
Ye Jingchuan had already steeled himself for the worst outcome and immediately took the statue.
From its hollow interior, he pulled out a yellowed piece of paper.
On the paper was written a date and a sentence.
The date was the day Kong Ru had her miscarriage, which she had taken as the birth date of her prematurely lost child.
The sentence read: May my son, Anpeng, ascend to paradise early!
Ye Anpeng was the name Kong Ru and Ye Jingchuan had chosen together for a boy, symbolizing a future of great promise.
Later, after Kong Ru had a "difficult labor" and gave birth, she said the child was frail, and that "great promise" was too arduous; "talented, honest, and capable" was more suitable for the child.
So he had abandoned the chosen name and called the child Ye Anjun.
Thinking of this, Ye Jingchuan wished he could tear the paper in his hands to shreds.
How dare that bitch Kong Ru!
Not only did she kill his legitimate eldest son, but she also foisted a fake son upon him!
Was this retribution for favoring a concubine over his wife?
Ye Chutang couldn't see Ye Jingchuan's expression, but she could sense his fury.
She asked knowingly, "What is inside the Guanyin statue? Is Jun'er a child of the Ye family?"
Ye Jingchuan looked at the evidence in his hand and couldn't bring himself to lie blatantly.
He admitted, "Ye Anjun is indeed not of Ye blood. I will write the severance document now. Henceforth, Ye Anjun has no connection to the Ye family and cannot use the surname 'Ye'!"
Having said that, he had a maid bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, and wrote down the reason for the severance.
At the end, he looked at Ye Anjun.
"Choose a name for yourself. You will sign and fingerprint it shortly."
Ye Anjun walked up to Ye Chutang and bowed. "I beg Princess Chen to bestow a name upon me."
Ye Chutang thought for a moment and said, "'Many are the talented youths east of the river; Who knows if they can stage a comeback?' You shall be called Liu Junzhi."
[Note: From "Inscription on the Wujiang Pavilion" by Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty.]
Thinking that 'Jun'er' had become a habit, she kept the character 'Jun' (talented youth).
Jun'er liked the name Liu Junzhi very much.
"Thank you, Princess Chen, for bestowing the name."
Ye Jingchuan snorted coldly, finished writing the severance document, and immediately signed and fingerprinted it.
"Sign it quickly, pack your clothes, and leave the Minister's Mansion!"
He had originally wanted to drive him out directly, but he didn't want to be criticized for bullying an innocent child.
A few pieces of clothing—consider them thrown to a beggar!
"Yes, Lord Ye."
Liu Junzhi did not hesitate. He immediately wrote his name and pressed his fingerprint on the severance document.
He picked up the document, its ink still wet, and bowed to Ye Jingchuan.
"For these five years, I thank Lord Ye for your care. This commoner will not pack any clothes. I bid you farewell here."
His elder sister had arranged everything; he could go directly to Huating Academy.
Before leaving, Liu Junzhi looked at Ye Chutang.
"Princess Chen's life-saving grace, this commoner will never forget. In the future, I will surely repay you, even if by gathering grass and holding it in my mouth."
Having said that, he knelt down and kowtowed three times, his head knocking audibly on the ground.
Then he stood up and left the Minister's Mansion.
Song Jingning looked at Ye Chutang. "I wish Miss Ye and Prince Chen a perfect match and everlasting union. I take my leave."
He called out to Jun'er, who had already reached the doorway.
"Liu Junzhi, you are enrolling at Huating Academy today, aren't you? Let's go together."
These words told everyone that even though Jun'er had left the Minister's Mansion, his future would still be bright.
Seeing the farce finally end, Ye Jingchuan urged, "Chu'er, Your Highness, you should depart now."
Ye Chutang reminded him, "You haven't given us our red envelopes yet."
She would no longer call him 'Father,' but the money was not to be missed.
