Ye Lanshan let out a soft laugh, opening her fan as she walked over with elegance. "The Ye family's faults lie solely with Ye Suzhe and Ye Lanshan. Why must you trouble an innocent person?"
"And what, you want to stand up for him?"
No one took her seriously, mainly because the fluctuation of her cultivation was too weak—they couldn't even discern her level. There were only two scenarios where this happened: either she couldn't cultivate and thus had no fluctuation, or her level was too high for them to see through. Clearly, they assumed she was the former.
"What if I said yes?" Ye Lanshan caught the disdain in their eyes and let out a light chuckle.
"A waste like you dares to oppose us?" The group of idle young masters burst into laughter, as if it were the funniest joke.
A sword formed from water materialized in Ye Lanshan's hand, flowing water rippling endlessly over it. Though it was the sharpest, coldest form, it exuded a gentle warmth.
But the young masters were stunned. A Grand Mystic General—they never expected someone so young to have reached that level. Logically, they should have heard of such a figure, yet after scouring their memories, they found no information about her.
"Oh, a waste? Since when did a Grand Mystic General become a waste in your eyes?" Ye Lanshan swung the sword, adding an ethereal, immortal grace to her movements.
"We lowly ones failed to recognize your greatness, not knowing you were a Grand Mystic General. Please don't hold it against us." The young masters exchanged glances, cold sweat dripping, and scrambled away in a flash.
As they fled, they fumed inwardly, thinking, *What a lucky break for that kid. We were about to humiliate him, and then a Grand Mystic General shows up to help.*
But even a Grand Mystic General—what of it? This person surely wasn't from the capital. They'd probably leave in a few days, and then they could humiliate him later.
"Thank you, young master. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten away so easily." The Ye family disciple finally lifted his head, his eyes devoid of joy or sorrow, as if numb, his thanks mechanical.
"You're not going to let a few small humiliations numb you, are you? If so, you've lost all the backbone of a Ye family disciple." Ye Lanshan looked at his numb state, a hint of disappointment in her heart.
"I haven't, I'm not—but even if I fought back, what good would it do? It would only bring greater humiliation." The disciple suddenly grew agitated, then clutched his head in pain.
"What if I could restore the Ye family's glory?" Now that was a bit of life from a Ye disciple. Ye Lanshan gently fanned herself, watching the disbelief in the disciple's eyes.
"Why should I trust you? Besides, even the patriarch fled with the old patriarch. What can you do?"
The disciple spoke numbly, but deep down, he didn't truly believe Ye Lanshan would abandon the Ye family. He clung to hope.
*Back then, the patriarch was exiled to Chaoyang City and still found a way back. This time, surely he won't abandon us.*
"That wasn't fleeing." Ye Lanshan said solemnly, and in that instant, the air turned icy.
"Who are you? What's your purpose in saving me? What's your relationship with the patriarch?" The disciple finally shed his numbness, wariness flickering in his eyes, his fists clenched tight.
"Who I am—take me to the Ye family, and you'll find out. As for my purpose, there is none. I simply wanted to save you." Ye Lanshan fanned herself lightly, her demeanor utterly composed.
In a daze, the disciple seemed to see the patriarch's shadow overlap with hers. In the end, he said nothing more, but neither did he agree to take her to the Ye family.
That was fine, though. After all, it was her home—how could she not know the way?
The entrance was desolate, so quiet that even stray dogs wouldn't linger.
Before she could knock, the disciple she had saved opened the door and said, "No visitors today. Please turn back, young master."
"Is this how you treat your benefactor?" Ye Lanshan stared straight at him. His gaze wavered, tinged with helplessness.
"Even if you come in, what will you see but a series of farces?" He sighed, his body weighed down with exhaustion.
"Ah, forget it. I'll tell you straight—I'm a friend of Ye Lanshan. I heard she was in trouble and came to help." Ye Lanshan knew there were spies in the manor, but she said it deliberately for them to hear.
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, a breeze stirred the grass in the courtyard.
"Well... fine. I'll take you to see the new patriarch first." The disciple hesitated, then finally led her to Yue Yinuo.
Seeing Yue Yinuo, Ye Lanshan didn't hold back her sarcasm. "As expected of royalty—you took the Ye family without lifting a finger."
"Who are you, to speak to me so disrespectfully? Guards, drag her out!" Yue Yinuo sat high on the main seat, exuding an imposing authority.
"Patriarch, this person claims to be a friend of the former patriarch, here to help the Ye family," the disciple reported respectfully, though his true feelings were anyone's guess.
"A friend of Ye Lanshan? I don't recall her having such an insolent friend. And you—why are you standing there? Drag her out!"
"Have you forgotten? The Ye family believes in Ye, not Yue. I doubt you have the right." Ye Lanshan pulled out a dagger, her eyes growing colder, as if she intended to freeze everyone in place.
"True, I don't bear the Ye name. But my son is Ye Suzhe's flesh and blood." One sentence made her meaning crystal clear.
"So you helped Yue Jinghong against the old patriarch?" Ye Lanshan never expected Yue Yinuo would harm the old patriarch for power.
"How dare you! The emperor's name is not for you to utter!" Yue Yinuo slammed the table, silencing everyone.
But Ye Lanshan wasn't afraid. As the true patriarch, why would she fear her?
She stepped forward, one step at a time, until she stood before Yue Yinuo, looking down at her. "The Ye family is no place for you to throw your weight around."
These words, paired with her ambiguous expression, sent alarm bells ringing in Yue Yinuo's mind, her unease growing.
"Who are you? What's your real purpose here?" Yue Yinuo looked up at her, already cowed in presence.
"You're so forgetful. Didn't I say? I'm Ye Lanshan's friend, here to help her." Ye Lanshan smiled warmly, as if the earlier pressure and coldness had vanished.