Chapter 23: His Words Become Law, His Tongue Runs Wild

"Miss Ye is so high and mighty, isn't she? Ha ha ha ha!"

The surrounding guests, especially the unmarried young noblewomen, could not help but frown upon hearing this, yet due to Li Yuan's status, they dared not speak.

Ye Chengzong, standing nearby, looked rather grim, though he could only muster a dry laugh: "Heh heh..."

Seeing Ye Qingyan remain silent, Li Yuan assumed she was intimidated by his handsome appearance (as he saw it) and his prominent status, which only fueled his arrogance. He took a step forward, nearly pressing against her, a heavy scent of powder and perfume washing over her.

"Miss Ye, I hear you have a penchant for gambling?" He suddenly shifted the topic, his tone laced with provocation. "Shall we have a wager?"

A ripple of soft, mocking laughter broke out around them. Gambling was not uncommon in noble circles, but for an unmarried lady of quality to be accused of such a vice in public was an undeniable humiliation.

Li Yuan frivolously lifted Ye Qingyan's chin, his eyes glinting with lecherous light. "If you lose, you marry me. If you win... I, the young Duke, will grant you one wish. How about that?"

Ye Qingyan’s heart burned with rage. She was on the verge of retorting and cursing this repulsive, fat man to his face. However, the exact moment she opened her mouth, the cold, mechanical chime of the system echoed in her mind:

[Ability "Words Become Law" triggered!]

An uncontrollable impulse surged up her throat. Her mouth seemed to possess a consciousness of its own, refusing to obey her commands.

She blinked her eyes "innocently," her voice crisp, even carrying a hint of naivety, yet so clear that everyone present heard every word perfectly.

"Sure! Let’s bet on... whether you broke the leg of the Minister Li’s son at the 'Drunken Red Pavilion' last night and stole his mistress, too!"

As soon as these words left her lips, the entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence!

Every gaze snapped toward Ye Qingyan, Li Yuan, and, not far away, the wife of Minister Li, who had been chatting while holding a wine glass.

The Minister’s wife, who had been wearing a composed smile, dropped her wine glass with a loud *clatter* upon hearing this earth-shattering revelation; the liquid splashed and stained her skirt. Her face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembling, her eyes filled with incredulous horror and fury.

Li Yuan’s smile froze on his face, his fat cheeks flushing a deep red from the rush of blood. His small eyes widened, filled with shock and humiliated rage.

"You! What nonsense are you spouting!" he roared in a panic, his voice turning shrill and piercing with anger.

Yet, Ye Qingyan’s mouth remained beyond her control. She maintained that "innocent and naive" expression, her tone even carrying a hint of confusion, as if merely stating a fact:

"I'm not talking nonsense! You even have the bite marks from his servant on your backside! If you don't believe me, why don't you take off your pants and show everyone?"

"Boom!"

This sentence was like detonating a heavy bomb, setting the entire banquet hall’s powder keg ablaze!

"Ah—!"

Unable to bear it any longer, the Minister’s wife let out a shrill scream, rolled her eyes back, and fainted dead away. The maids and matrons around her fell into chaos, exclaiming as they rushed to support her.

The entire scene descended into total disorder. The guests, who had been whispering moments ago, were now stunned, staring at the young Duke of the Duke of An's estate with looks filled with disbelief, contempt, and the burning fire of gossip.

Li Yuan was trembling with rage; he had never suffered such a profound humiliation. He lunged forward, raising his hand to slap Ye Qingyan across the face: "You bitch, you're looking for death!"

However, before his hand could descend, it was seized by a hand as strong as an iron vice.

"You disgrace!"

The Duke of An, Li Yuan’s father, had arrived at his side. The Duke’s face was livid, the veins on his forehead bulging. His tiger-like eyes were locked onto Li Yuan, filled with fury and shame. He flung his son aside, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Miss Ye, my son is a fool and has spoken recklessly, offending you. I, on his behalf, offer my apologies!" The Duke of An suppressed his rage, turning to bow to Ye Qingyan, though his voice betrayed a slight tremor. He wanted to quell this farce as quickly as possible to salvage a shred of dignity.

Yet, Ye Qingyan’s mouth betrayed her again.

Looking at the livid Duke, she kept that same innocent and "naive" tone, her voice even louder than before, carrying over the clamor of the hall:

"Don't be angry, Duke of An. That dancing girl you buried under the rockery in your backyard pond... no one has discovered her yet, right?"

"Buzz—!"

This sentence struck the Duke like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky!

His body stiffened violently, all color draining from his face until he was paler than paper. His eyes, previously filled with fury, now held only endless fear and disbelief. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he stood like a puppet whose soul had been drained away.

The surrounding guests, who were still digesting the scandal involving Li Yuan, completely erupted upon hearing this "ultimate revelation."

"A dancing girl buried under the pond's rockery?"

"That’s a murder case! And it happened in the household of the Duke of An, a family of such high status and power!"

Every look cast toward the father and son turned from shock to horror, from contempt to sheer incredulity. For a moment, the whispers swept through the banquet hall like a tidal wave.

Countless eyes, filled with gossip and scrutiny, remained fixed on the pair.

A banquet intended for a marriage alliance had been forcibly turned into a press conference for scandals by Ye Qingyan—a series of revelations, each more explosive and lethal than the last!

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Ye Qingyan seemed to finally realize she had said something she "shouldn't have." A flicker of perfectly timed panic crossed her eyes, and she feigned terror as she ran behind Ye Chengzong, clutching his sleeve tightly.

"Father, I didn't mean to... I don't know why I said those things... I, I..." Her voice carried a hint of tears, as if she were deeply frightened.

Ye Chengzong’s face had also turned deathly pale. Looking at his daughter’s "innocent" appearance and the complex gazes around him, how could he possibly care about saving face? There was no staying at the Duke of An’s estate today.

"Duke of An, my daughter is young and speaks without restraint. She has caused much offense, and I hope you can be magnanimous!" Ye Chengzong forced a smile that looked worse than crying, dragged Ye Qingyan away, and made a hurried, almost shameful retreat, bowing in farewell.

The Duke of An stood frozen like a statue, deaf to the farewell. Only terror remained in his eyes, and the words "dancing girl buried under the rockery" echoed endlessly in his mind.

That was a secret known only to him, his deepest, darkest secret.

The carriage sped away, and only when they returned to the Ye estate did Ye Chengzong let out a long sigh of relief. He looked at Ye Qingyan, his eyes filled with complex emotions: anger, confusion, and, above all, deep apprehension. He wanted to scold her, but he couldn't find the words.

When Ye Qingyan returned to her own courtyard and had just taken a sip of water to calm her nerves, a servant rushed in to report: "Miss, the Duke of An’s estate has sent a letter, saying it is... for you."

Ye Qingyan raised an eyebrow.

"So soon? It's not a letter of accusation, is it? Could it be a challenge?"

She took the letter and opened it. There were no flowery phrases, only a few lines written in a shaky, illegible scrawl that betrayed an undisguised, profound terror.

In the letter, the Duke of An asked in panic: "Miss Ye, how on earth... did you come to know these things?"