The Su family's main courtyard, several members of the direct line gathered together, discussing the recent incident.
"You didn't hear wrong, did you? That waste Ye Ling is going to treat Su Rou's illness, having her drink traditional Chinese medicine every day to regulate her body?" Su Ya's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hehe, this piece of trash, not knowing where he picked up some quack remedies from, now thinks he is the Divine Doctor?" Su Jun, the eldest grandson of the Su family, scoffed, then proudly said, "This is good, if Su Rou dies at the hands of this trash, our Su family can cancel the marriage engagement, saving us from becoming the laughingstock of the entire city."
"Haha, Ye Ling this trash is going to become the biggest joke, causing his own fiancée's death, he will be pointed at by thousands and despised by all!" Su Ya grinned, her face showing a schadenfreude expression.
All the Su family members present also showed a scornful smile.
At this moment, old Master Su grunted, advancing while tapping his walking stick, and scolded, "What do you know, Young Master Ye's Divine Skills are vast, maybe he has some unique secret recipe that could cure Rou'er's sickness?"
"Unique secret recipe, what era are we in, Grandfather, you still believe in the tricks of these swindlers? If you ask me, he never cured your illness in the first place, he just took the credit for it, you really don't need to value him so much!" Su Jun sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.
He simply didn't believe that Ye Ling—someone whose family was destroyed and who had become a prisoner—had any incredible abilities.
Old Master Su's face turned angry, and with a slap he struck a blow, bellowing, "You fool, what do you know, Young Master Ye's medical skills are unmatched in the world, I knelt to him for three days and three nights, and he saved my life, you dare to slander Young Master Ye, do you no longer wish to live?"
With a smack, five fingerprints appeared on the handsome face of Su Jun, who looked at the old master in disbelief.
"Grandfather, I am your eldest grandson, and you hit me for an outsider?"
"Young Master Ye is not an outsider, he is Su family's grandson-in-law!" roared Old Master Su, hammering the floor heavily with his walking stick, his finger pointing accusingly at everyone, "Let me make this clear, you must treat Young Master Ye with respect, if you offend him, even I can't save you!"
They all fell silent, watching as the old master left in a huff. Su Jun, covering his face, angrily said, "Grandfather has really become senile, to actually believe that rubbish Ye Ling is some important person. I had someone check the military archives, when he was discharged, he was just a lowly soldier, not somebody of importance at all, the only reason he saved grandfather was sheer luck!"
"Yes, Grandfather has taken him as his granddaughter's husband—we Su family are now the laughingstock of the whole town, how will we ever hold our heads up high again!" The other Su family members nodded in agreement, their eyes full of resentment.
The prestigious Su family, a famous large clan, has now degraded to accepting a prisoner as their son-in-law, what a shame!
"Hmph, don't worry, that trash Ye Ling can't turn the skies!" Su Ya snorted confidently, "I have already informed Young Master Chen, at tomorrow's birthday banquet he will bring out a treasure from the Chen family collection to completely outdo that trash Ye Ling, letting Grandfather know who really deserves to be our Su family's son-in-law!"
They nodded, excitedly clapping their hands, "Good, the Chen family is a jewel tycoon, with Young Master Chen making a move, Ye Ling will be crushed like an ant!"
"Hmm, with Young Master Chen taking action, dealing with that trash Ye Ling will naturally be easy." Su Jun's eyes showed a trace of joy, then he said with a sinister tone, "But this alone is too easy on that trash Ye Ling."
"I say, why not be done with it and send that cheap slut Su Rou to Young Master Chen as a plaything?"
"Good idea, that slut Su Rou is blind for choosing such trash as a husband, it would be an honor for her to serve Young Master Chen!" Su Ya danced with excitement.
She had barely parted from the others when she impatiently called Chen Renjie, "Young Master Chen, don't forget my grandfather's grand birthday, make sure to prepare a high-class gift, thoroughly humiliate that trash Ye Ling!"
Chen Renjie patted his chest and said indifferently, "Ya'er, you can rest assured, you're my, Chen Renjie's, woman. Anyone who dares to provoke you, I will make them pay the price."
"This time, I got a royal treasure from Southeast Asia, guaranteed to make you hold your head high in the Su family, and crush that trash Ye Ling!"
A smile appeared on Su Ya's face as she said through clenched teeth with a cold voice, "And that bitch Su Rou, she must be taught a good lesson this time as well. She's just a foster granddaughter, yet she dares to oppose me, the legitimate granddaughter. I want you to ravage her and then sell her to become a prostitute!"
"Oh, I haven't yet had a taste of this sick beauty. This time I'm going to thoroughly indulge!" Chen Renjie was overjoyed. Su Rou was considered alongside Su Ya as one of the 'two great beauties' of the Su family. In terms of looks, she was actually even better by a slight margin, it was just that due to her sickness and rarely showing her face, her fame had been suppressed by Su Ya.
To be able to pluck both of the Su family's golden flowers at this birthday feast, he really was too lucky!
...
The next day, at the time when Su family's old master's birthday feast was to begin, Su Rou was pouting with a sad expression on her face.
"Rou'er, isn't it the old master's birthday feast today? Why are you so unhappy?" Ye Ling asked with a look of surprise on his face.
"Ah!" Su Rou sighed deeply, then said through gritted teeth in pain, "Ye Ling, I've decided not to attend grandpa's birthday feast this time!"
"Why?" Ye Ling was startled. He knew the character of the girl in front of him; her filial piety towards her grandfather was no less than anyone else's.
Now that she was unwilling to attend the birthday feast, it must mean that she had encountered some sort of problem.
Ye Ling stepped forward and looked straight into the girl's eyes, "Rou'er, don't be afraid. Whatever it is, tell me, and I will solve it for you."
"Thank you, Ye Ling!" A flicker of emotion passed through Su Rou's eyes, but she immediately shook her head, "But it's no use. Su Jun and Su Ya have conspired, they've brought in Young Master Chen Renjie to embarrass you at the birthday feast, and even to drive us out of the Su family."
"So, it's better if we don't attend the feast!" Su Rou sighed, her eyes turning completely dim.
How much she wished to deliver her blessings in person to her grandfather, to repay his kindness for raising her.
But if she went, she would never have the chance to return to the Su family afterwards.
"Haha, Chen Renjie, what is he to make me, Ye Ling, embarrassed?" Ye Ling laughed heartily, his eyes filled with disdain.
He patted the girl's shoulder and said firmly, "Don't worry, Rou'er, I've already picked out the gift for this birthday feast, and I assure you it will be more valuable than anyone else's!"
"This?" Su Rou looked doubtful but was pulled by the hand by Ye Ling and led forward.
The two of them arrived at the Su family courtyard, where the banquet was about to begin.