After the mind-reading and gossip-eating incident, officials in the imperial city were demoted one a

"Uncle, Aunt, we will definitely get through this."

Several people nodded; they would do everything in their power to protect their home.

“Li An, go see your maternal grandfather. After his father came back, he locked himself in his study, full of worry. He must be blaming himself for marrying your mother to a beast like Ye Mian.”

"Yes! I'll be right there." Ye Li'an replied and turned to hurry toward the old Marquis's study.

"Knock knock!" Ye Lian gently knocked on the study door.

"What is it now? I told you, there's no need to bother me unless it's important."

The old Marquis's slightly irritated voice came from the study.

"Grandfather, is that me?" Ye Li'an's voice came through the crack in the door.

"come in!"

The old lord sat behind his desk, put the letter he had been reading for a long time into the drawer.

"Grandfather, I heard from my eldest uncle that you've been so worried these past few days that you haven't been eating or sleeping well."

Please take good care of yourself. I still hope to celebrate your birthday after I achieve the highest rank in the imperial examination.

Ye Li'an walked quickly to the old Marquis and said with concern.

Are you confident you'll avoid a broken leg?

The old Marquis raised his head and looked at Ye Li'an with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Grandfather, don't worry, I'm capable of protecting myself."

Ye Li'an straightened his back, his gaze resolute. He analyzed the possibility that he had been schemed against, and concluded that it was mostly because he hadn't been on guard against the people around him.

Judging from Ye Yaoyao's inner thoughts, the fates of all of them were quite tragic.

The old Marquis's gaze softened as he looked at Ye Lian'an's familiar face, as if he were seeing his daughter in her youth.

He nodded slightly, secretly believing that his grandson was capable of handling the impending crisis.

"I know everything that happened to the Ye family. With Yaoyao here, I feel at ease."

The old Marquis didn't need to attend court. He sent people to keep a close eye on the Ye family. He knew everything that happened to the Ye family this morning, but his worries did not lessen in the slightest.

"Your father is probably going to take action, so you need to be careful to protect your mother and sister."

"Grandfather, I will."

Then, the old Marquis frowned slightly, his lips moved as if he had something else to say, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke.

"When Yaoyao goes out, have someone follow her."

“Grandfather, not everyone can hear what my sister is thinking. My eldest uncle has found two maids who know martial arts to protect her. She will be fine.”

"I know, I've assigned two guards to keep an eye on the Ye residence."

His worries went beyond just his granddaughter's true feelings being exposed.

"Let Yaoyao go out less these days."

The old marquis moved his lips a few times, as if he was saying something silently. Ye Li'an looked at him in confusion.

"Grandfather, why?" Ye Lian noticed that her grandfather was acting strangely today.

The old marquis's face was filled with complex emotions. Suddenly, his eyes reddened, and his voice choked with emotion as he said:

"Of all my maternal grandfather's children, your mother suffered the most. It's my fault; I shouldn't have agreed to the marriage in the first place."

When your maternal grandmother returns and finds out about your mother's affair, she'll surely make a scene at the Ye family's house.

Madam Liu and the Empress Dowager are cousins. Not long ago, she accompanied the Empress Dowager to escape the summer heat.

Ye Li'an was startled. The old Marquis was actually shedding tears. He never expected his maternal grandfather to lose his composure like this. He was flustered and didn't know what to do.

"Grandfather, what's wrong?"

Ye Li'an took out a clean handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to the old marquis.

The old marquis took the handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, his emotions gradually calming down.

"Li An, you two brothers must protect your mother and Yao Yao."

"Yes, Grandfather, don't worry. Even if it costs me my life, I will not let anyone hurt Mother and Yaoyao, nor will I let Jingyang."

Ye Li'an felt something was amiss. Why hadn't her grandfather mentioned Xi Yao? A sense of unease lingered in her mind. After much hesitation, she finally couldn't help but ask:

"Grandfather, are Mother and Yaoyao in any danger?"

The old Marquis gave Ye Li'an a deep look, his eyes filled with conflict and hesitation, and sighed.

"Never mind, you're all grown up now, it won't hurt to tell you."

An hour later, Ye Li'an walked out of the study in a daze, his mind still replaying the old Marquis's words.

Upon returning to the Ye family, Ye Li'an, accompanied by two maids, first went to the courtyard where Ye Yaoyao lived.

Upon entering the courtyard, Ye Xiyao stood to the side, her face deathly pale, her body trembling slightly, and her eyes filled with terror.

Ye Yaoyao remained calm, holding a limp, drooping snake in her hand.

The snake was brightly colored, indicating how venomous it was. Ye Lian'an's pupils constricted sharply, his heart leaped into his throat, and he hurriedly said:

"Little sister, where did you catch this snake? Throw it away quickly, this snake is highly venomous."

"I grabbed the little flower from the bed."

Ye Yaoyao grabbed the snake by its vital spot, shook it, and it looked like it was dead.

She and Ye Xiyao had planned to take a nap together, but when they pulled back the covers, a venomous snake attacked her.

Thankfully, the system alerted me, otherwise I would have been lying in a coffin again.

Ye Li'an's face instantly darkened, and his usual gentleness vanished without a trace.

He clenched his teeth, his hands cracking with anger, his knuckles turning pale from the force.

This shows they are eager to kill Ye Yaoyao.

"Brother, do you eat snake meat?"

Ye Yaoyao looked at Ye Li'an expectantly, the snake in her hand still wriggling.

"Don't eat."

"Okay!" he said, his tone tinged with regret.

Ye Lian'an's lips twitched involuntarily, and he smiled bitterly to himself.

Thinking of my sister's past experiences, I couldn't help but shake my head. I had indeed underestimated her courage and ability.

"You want to kill the snake and eat it?"

"I was thinking of steaming or braising it, but I decided against it."

Ye Yaoyao picked up the flower snake, looked at it, and trembled. She pouted.

[Host, do you really want to eat this venomous snake?]

No! I want to remove the poison from Little Flower and put it in my scumbag dad's bed.

We have to give our scumbag father a return gift, no matter what.

A sly smile flashed across Ye Yaoyao's face, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

[You scumbag dad, get ready for this!]

"Host, beautiful," the system praised.

[Hmph! My scumbag father must have sneaked into my room and released snakes while I was sleeping with Mom last night.]

A flash of anger crossed Ye Yaoyao's eyes.

"Miss, I've brought everything." Tingqin came over with a small basin and some tools inside.

"Put it there!"

As composed as a musician listening to music, yet also wary of venomous snakes, Ye Yaoyao casually pointed in the direction of the shaded area.

Hearing the zither felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly walked over, put his things down, and then swiftly retreated to a distance.

A maid behind Ye Li'an, her eyes shining with excitement, curtsied to Ye Yaoyao and said:

"Miss, may I help you extract the snake's venom?"

The girl's eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation.