IDWBE -Chapter 297 Who Is the Useless One?

His whole body trembled.

Was he disfigured?

Though anger surged within him, he ultimately suppressed it.

Shivering, he looked at his elder brother’s expressionless face. “Brother…”

Ye Qiu stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “You are now the head of the Ye family. Why come here to seek discomfort?”

“With you before me, how would I dare sit in the position of clan head?” Ye Chen sighed. “Brother should know, that position remains vacant. It awaits only your return to inherit the ancestral rites. But I truly cannot understand—how have we, brothers of the same blood, become so estranged? What have I done to earn such hatred from you? I still remember, when I was just learning to walk, I followed behind you. You cared for me in every possible way. Do you remember? My foundational martial arts were taught by you.”

Ye Qiu said coldly, “You traveled thousands of li to see me just to say this?”

“I came escorting goods,” Ye Chen replied, bowing. “The Ye family now supplies provisions to the army. I heard that Madam Li Sanniang was ambushed some days ago. Father was uneasy, fearing trouble on the road, so he had me personally escort this shipment. Knowing you were here, I came especially to pay my respects.”

“If you have something to say, say it,” Ye Qiu said, turning to look at the tall city wall in the distance. “You know I don’t have much patience.”

With a thud, Ye Chen knelt in the snow, tears in his voice. “Brother, Father’s illness grows worse by the day. He speaks of you constantly. Even if you refuse to return and take charge of the family, can you not at least see Father one last time?”

Ye Qiu suddenly laughed, tilting his head back. “From the moment he cast me out of the family, I ceased to have any relation with him.”

“I understand your resentment toward Father!” Ye Chen cried loudly. “But what about Mother? She washes her face with tears every day—she’s nearly gone blind. Can you bear to let her suffer like that?”

At these words, Ye Qiu’s expression shifted.

After a long pause, he said quietly, “I understand.”

Then he drifted away like a wisp of smoke.

“Brother!” Ye Chen called out urgently.

But Ye Qiu did not pause for even an instant.

Before Ye Chen’s eyes remained only a vast expanse of white snow. Not even a footprint had been left behind.

He had known his brother had stepped into the realm of Grandmaster—but he had not imagined his skill had reached such terrifying heights.

He sighed despondently.

Ye Qiu returned to the Administration Commission office and went straight to Pan Duo’s quarters.

Even through the door, Pan Duo could feel an oppressive force that made breathing difficult.

Outsiders could not enter the yamen. The only possibilities were Ye Qiu, the Blind Man, or the Chief Steward.

The Chief Steward never came in person; he always sent word.

The Blind Man was gentle and would not intimidate without cause.

It could only be Ye Qiu.

Bracing himself, Pan Duo opened the door and faced the harbinger of calamity.

“May I ask what instructions Young Master Ye has?”

Even his back dared not straighten in Ye Qiu’s presence.

He did not feel this stifled even when facing Prince He.

“How was Ye Chen injured?” Ye Qiu asked directly.

“Ye Chen?” Pan Duo was startled.

Everyone knew Ye Qiu had been cast out by the old master of the Ye family. The brothers had never been on good terms. Last time, Ye Qiu had even beaten Ye Chen.

Why was he suddenly concerned?

“You don’t know?” Ye Qiu asked.

“I know—of course I know,” Pan Duo hurriedly replied upon seeing Ye Qiu’s displeasure. “Though Yong’an is under the Prince’s governance, our forces are stretched thin, and bandits have grown rampant. When the Ye convoy departed Wulin City, they clashed with the Five Lakes river bandits. The Ye family reported it immediately, and troops were dispatched. As far as I know, only two servants died. Ye Chen was not injured. Young Master Ye—why do you ask?”

His heart pounded. His earlier hesitation had nearly offended Ye Qiu. Had he done so, even death would have been a mercy.

“I just saw him,” Ye Qiu said with unusual patience. “The attacker’s methods were vicious. Cold yin energy invaded his five organs and six bowels. He cannot stop coughing. Ordinary people would mistake it for a common chill and fail to detect the internal injury. If I had not arrived in time, at best his martial arts would be crippled. At worst, he would be half-paralyzed.”

“Young Master Ye…” Pan Duo ventured cautiously.

But Ye Qiu cut him off. “Tell me the bandit’s name.”

“Zhao Lin, known as the Flood Dragon in the Waves,” Pan Duo answered. “A seventh-rank expert. He was once a guerrilla general in Liangzhou. After committing a crime, he fled to Yong’an and became a river bandit. If Young Master Ye suffered a setback at his hands, it would not be surprising.”

“Only seventh rank?” Ye Qiu said lightly.

Seeing Pan Duo’s confusion, he suddenly smiled.

“Outsiders may think my brother and I are at odds. Remember this—I may beat him, I may scold him, because he is my brother. But others may not. Because he is Ye Qiu’s brother.”

“Indeed,” Pan Duo murmured, staring at his departing figure in shock.

The Prince had been right—one must not judge by appearances.

People said Ye Qiu was cold-blooded, indifferent even to his own brother. Yet when his brother was harmed, the elder brother still stepped forward.

Pity for Ye Chen transformed into envy.

With a Grandmaster backing him, as long as he did not offend Prince He, could he not walk the land with impunity?

And Ye Qiu’s final words—were they not also a warning to him?

Pan Duo silently thanked heaven that he had never offended the Ye family back in Baiyun City.

After nightfall, the snow ceased—but the cold deepened.

The streets were nearly empty. Unless a household had run out of rice, few would venture outside.

In the eastern wing of Prince He’s residence, two palace maids tended the brazier, poking charcoal deeper into the fire. The room was warm and cozy.

Consort Yuan set down her teacup and glanced at Mingyue and Zixia, who knelt before her.

“Your Prince certainly knows how to cherish you,” she said coldly. “He’s left himself without a single attendant at his side.”

“We acknowledge our fault,” Mingyue and Zixia replied in unison.

They had arrived in Jinling with Xing Keshou. But upon entering the residence, the first person they saw was not the Prince.

Because the Consort was present.

By protocol, they had to pay respects to her first.

They had knelt for over two hours before she finally spoke—and it was a reprimand.

They did not dare argue.

They only prayed the Prince would not come too soon.

If he did, the Consort would be even more displeased.

And their good days would be over.

Experience had taught them that much.

“I once sent a senior maid to teach you proper etiquette,” Consort Yuan continued, her gaze drifting unconsciously to their brows. “And you are no longer little girls. You understand what is required. You disappoint me.”

She felt deeply vexed.

How many years had it been?

She truly did not know whether it was these two girls who were useless—

—or her son.

A belly full of anger, with nowhere to vent it.