Chapter 104: Most Merciless Is the House of Emperors

The three senior elders of the Ye family had already gathered in Jiangnan and jointly submitted a petition for impeachment. The matriarch herself had issued a stern warning: if he did not immediately go to the Tiandu Chamber of Commerce and humbly admit his mistakes in person, he would bear all the consequences.

There was no denying that the matriarch’s stance was uncompromising to the extreme.

After ending the call, Hong Jiannian’s expression shifted subtly. Having overheard fragments of the conversation, he quickly bowed and asked, “Master, shall I accompany you personally to the Tiandu Chamber of Commerce?”

Ye Tianlin raised his hand decisively and said, “No need. If this drama is revealed too soon, it would be far too hasty. Besides, as an outsider, you wouldn’t be allowed to enter such a meeting. Only members of the Ye family have the right to participate.”

“But this is also the perfect opportunity to settle matters once and for all with the Ye family. Only then will the matriarch truly understand the gravity of the situation.”

Hong Jiannian hesitated for a moment but found this reasoning sound. The Ye family would never allow such a private family matter to be exposed in front of outsiders, especially in a setting involving impeachment. Even if it happened, it would be after the fact.

Moreover, so much effort had been put into orchestrating this grand performance; naturally, the climax must come at the most critical moment to reveal the truth. Especially under the current circumstances, a thorough break with the Ye family was necessary.

Only by severing ties with the Ye family could the matriarch come to regret her decisions, perhaps even begging Ye Tianlin to return one day.

When that time came, no matter how many objections arose, compromise would be the only option, with complete submission—even from the three senior elders.

With this thought, Hong Jiannian did not dare delay and promptly declared, “Please rest assured, Master. The overseas Hong family will devote all efforts to this arrangement; there will be no further oversights.”

Ye Tianlin nodded slightly, then paced out of the restaurant and headed straight to the car.

After settling his emotions briefly, he drove toward the Tiandu Chamber of Commerce.

About ten minutes later, when Ye Tianlin arrived, Jiang Yingxia was already waiting anxiously by the entrance.

Seeing Ye Tianlin approach, she hurried forward, grasping his arm with trembling hands and said, “Tianlin, this time you’ve really gotten yourself into deep trouble!”

“Isn’t it just the three senior elders petitioning to depose me as Young Master?” Ye Tianlin said indifferently.

Jiang Yingxia’s brows knitted tightly. “I think you’re truly foolish, having been bewitched by that demon Su Rulan. Don’t you realize that if you lose your status as Young Master, you will be nothing from now on? You might even be driven out of the family!”

“Perhaps losing the title of Ye family’s Young Master is the best thing for me,” Ye Tianlin replied calmly as he slowly entered and ascended the stairs.

Soon, he reached the conference room upstairs.

Pushing open the door, he found it already filled with people.

His gaze swept across the room; all were members of the Ye family, having rushed from Yandu to attend this sudden impeachment meeting.

Besides them, three elderly white-haired men sat solemnly around the matriarch, occupying seats of honor.

These three were the renowned senior elders.

All other elders present held legitimate seniority within the Ye family, wielding significant power.

Among them, Ye Gong, the chief elder of the family and closely related to Ye Tianlin—being the elder brother of Ye Tianlin’s late grandfather—stood out prominently.

As expected, upon Ye Tianlin’s arrival, Ye Gong immediately rose, slamming the table with a trembling white beard, shouting angrily, “Bastard! I thought you wouldn’t come! Do you even know how absurd your actions have been?”

Jiang Yingxia, frightened, hurried forward pleading, “Tianlin knows his mistake. Please retract the decree and preserve his status as Young Master.”

“That bastard has conspired with outsiders to oppose the Ye family and harm its interests—this is betrayal and sacrilege. How can we forgive such treason so lightly?” Ye Gong glared fiercely.

Hearing this, Jiang Yingxia almost wept.

Ye Gong’s authority was second only to the matriarch’s. At this moment, besides her as a mother, who else dared to defend Ye Tianlin?

At that moment, the matriarch lifted her gaze and spoke slowly, “Ye Tianlin, why don’t you admit your mistake quickly? Do you really want to lose everything and be cast out of the family? If you bow now, I can give you a chance. But if you persist in your obstinacy, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Jiang Yingxia once again gripped Ye Tianlin’s arm, urging, “Tianlin, please admit your fault. Don’t continue down this path. It will do you no good. I don’t want to see you suffer such a fate and become a laughingstock.”

Ye Tianlin glanced at Jiang Yingxia, a faint sting in his heart. Truly, as the old saying goes, the emperor’s household is the most heartless.

What was rare was that Jiang Yingxia, his mother, still fiercely stood up for him.

Though Jiang Yingxia harbored prejudice against Su Rulan, her attitude toward Ye Tianlin was completely different—he was her own flesh and blood.

Ye Tianlin had not betrayed the Ye family, only Jiang Yingxia, his oblivious mother.

Thus, he said, “Mother, forgive me, but I cannot heed your advice. Today, in this very setting, I must sever ties with the Ye family.”

The moment these words left his mouth, the entire conference room erupted in shock.

All family members were dumbfounded.

Ye Gong burst into fury, cursing, “Bastard! I see you’ve gone mad! How did the Ye family produce such a disgrace?”

The matriarch’s face darkened as she said coldly, “Ye Tianlin, I advise you to carefully consider the consequences. Think hard about whether Su Rulan is worth such a sacrifice. Don’t assume I wouldn’t dare to strip you of your title!”

Ye Tianlin smiled calmly. “The Ye family is nothing but a trifle in my eyes. You tell me to consider the consequences, but I should remind you instead—don’t come crying to me begging to return in the end.”

“Cry and beg to return? Have I lost my mind, or are you delusional?” The matriarch found the idea utterly laughable—a fairy tale.

Ye Gong sneered, “Who do you think you are? Without the Ye family, you’re nothing. Do you have the power to destroy the Ye family overnight?”

Ye Tianlin replied, “If I had not left the Ye family, I might not have done so. But now everything is different. I no longer belong to the Ye family and have no connection with you. I even thank you for stripping me of the Young Master title.”

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this moment. What I’m about to do next, every one of you here will regret.”

“As I said before, if I am to defy the heavens of the Ye family, then let it officially begin... right now!”