Dongmei's face remained impassive, her eyes laced with scorn. "The Jiang family? Never heard of them."
Wang Zihao burst into furious laughter. "What audacity! The Jiang family is one of Jiangdu's three ancient clans. Not long ago, they even forged a full alliance with the illustrious Huangfu family of Jinling. For you to dismiss them so lightly—your arrogance knows no bounds."
A flicker of amusement danced in Dongmei's gaze as she spoke with feigned solemnity. "The Huangfu family, that I have indeed heard of. A great house of Jinling, renowned for its formidable power. Especially their eldest daughter, Huangfu Shiyue—celebrated as a peerless prodigy, unmatched in her generation."
Ye Chu nearly rolled his eyes. What an obvious attempt at flattery…
Zihao's expression shifted, his tone cold. "Then you should understand. The Jiang clan and the Huangfu family now stand in full cooperation. To offend the Jiang family is to stand against the Huangfus themselves. If you are wise, you will kneel before Miss Junlan, apologize, and spare yourself the ruin that follows."
Junlan added venomously, "Indeed. My brother is the president of Jiang Group, entrusted with overseeing every matter of our alliance with the Huangfus. He is even personally acquainted with the eldest daughter herself. If you do not kneel and offer ten slaps across your own face, don't dream of leaving Jiangdu alive."
Her eyes gleamed with malice as she issued her cruel threat.
Ye Chu's expression turned strange. He wondered what their faces would look like once they realized that the very Huangfu heiress they boasted of was standing right before them.
Dongmei's lips curled in disdain. "Nonsense. The eldest daughter of the Huangfu family is of exalted status. How could she ever sully herself with the likes of your Jiang clan?"
With a flash of movement, she struck again. Smack! Smack! Two crisp slaps sent Junlan reeling.
"You—!" Junlan clutched her burning cheeks, trembling with rage. Never in her life had she endured such humiliation.
Zihao's face darkened. He snapped at the guard captain, "Captain Zhao, this woman dares commit violence in full view of all. Are you blind, or will you act?"
The captain jolted back to his senses and barked, "Rest assured, Young Master Wang. No one may cause trouble here without paying dearly." He raised his hand, ready to summon his men to seize them.
But before the order could fall, a voice thundered across the hall:
"Enough. Cease this at once."
The crowd turned, expressions hardening.
A middle-aged man strode forward, his bearing calm yet commanding. He wore a long robe of deep violet, even his hair carrying a faint purple hue. His features were refined, almost scholarly, exuding the air of spring breeze—gentle, cultured, urbane.
But those who knew trembled. For beneath that polished exterior lurked a man ruthless and cunning, feared across Jiangdu.
On the streets, he was known as Lord Long Jiu.
In this city, few dared defy him. Even the heads of the Two Great Associations treated him with wary courtesy.
This was why many were so stunned that anyone had dared draw blades here at all.
The guard captain hurried forward with deference. "Lord Jiu, there are troublemakers disturbing the peace—"
"Silence." Long Jiu's single word cut like a blade. He stepped swiftly toward Huangfu Shiyue, bowing his head with rare apology. "Sister Shiyue, forgive me. My men have been lax, offending you by their negligence."
Huangfu Shiyue waved dismissively, her tone cool. "It matters not. Every place has its vermin—it is only natural."
Gasps swept through the hall. So that was it. No wonder she dared act so brazenly. She was personally known to Long Jiu himself—and judging by his deference, their relationship was anything but ordinary.
The captain's face turned ashen. Zihao and Junlan likewise paled, only now realizing the depth of the trouble they had provoked.
"Rest assured, Sister Shiyue. I will see to it that you are given satisfaction." Long Jiu's smile vanished as he turned his eyes upon the captain. His voice was even, but the invisible weight behind it pressed like a mountain. "Tell me everything."
The captain dared not conceal a word. He recounted the entire sequence of events in painful detail.
"Abuse of authority. Favoring the powerful and bullying the weak. You know your punishment. Deliver it to yourself—then leave this place."
His words were delivered lightly, as though dismissing an insect.
The captain blanched, falling to his knees with a thud. "Lord Jiu, I was wrong, I beg you—spare me this once!"
Long Jiu's gaze chilled. "I will not repeat myself."
It was as if thunder had struck. The captain dared utter no more, bowed his head in despair, and slunk from the hall, condemned.
Long Jiu now turned his gaze upon Zihao and Junlan. His eyes were colder than winter frost.
Zihao forced a trembling smile. "Lord Jiu, we… we…"
"Enough." Long Jiu cut him short. "Today, I will let this matter rest. Return to your patriarch and tell him—the debt of favor I owed him is now erased."
The words struck like a hammer blow. Zihao's face drained of color. He opened his mouth, but one look into Long Jiu's glacial eyes silenced him utterly. With no choice, he pulled the tearful Junlan aside, retreating in defeat.
A hushed awe fell upon the crowd. So this was Long Jiu. Even the Wang family's proud heir dared not breathe too loudly in his presence.
Yet what stirred them even more was not Long Jiu himself—but Huangfu Shiyue. Who exactly was she, that even Jiangdu's fearsome lord bent to her with courtesy?
And still another puzzle gnawed at them: how could Ye Chu, that derided son-in-law, possibly stand beside such figures?
Long Jiu's eyes turned curiously to Ye Chu. "Sister Shiyue… might this young man be the one?"
Shiyue inclined her head. "Indeed. This is Master Ye."
A spark lit in Long Jiu's gaze. He hurried forward, extending both hands with solemn respect. "Master Ye, I am Long Jiu. An honor. A true honor."
Ye Chu clasped his hand briefly, introducing himself with calm simplicity. "Ye Chu."
The crowd was struck dumb.
Zihao's eyes nearly split with rage. That useless son-in-law—why should Lord Jiu revere him so?
At that moment, a resonant bell tolled from the auction hall's center.
The assembly stirred, realizing the auction was about to begin. They pressed toward the grand round platform.
Long Jiu escorted Huangfu Shiyue and her companions to the finest seats in the house. "Sister Shiyue, Master Ye, I have matters to attend. We will speak further later." With that, he departed swiftly.
Ye Chu turned to Shiyue, his brow furrowed. "Sister Shiyue… when did I become 'Master Ye'?"
Her lips curved with a teasing smile. "You brew pills, you heal the sick—if that does not make you a master, then what does?"
Ye Chu pondered. She wasn't entirely wrong. Yet, not even twenty, to be called 'master'—it still felt strangely old.
A voice suddenly rang out from behind them, mocking and sharp:
"Well, if it isn't Huangfu Shiyue."
They turned. Three striking women approached, each radiating beauty. Two among them rivaled even Shiyue herself.
Ye Chu's eyes widened in recognition. He knew them all—Zhuge Zheya, her secretary, and Yun Bingwan.
But why were they together?
Huangfu Shiyue's smile faded, her expression sinking into ice. "Zhuge Zheya… like a lingering specter, forever unwilling to leave."