Chapter 68: A Fierce Flurry of Moves

Ye Qin was helpless, feeling as though his brother had already drifted away from him... Once you have a wife, you forget your younger brother.

“Third Brother, I know your child is celebrating his coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. I came especially to offer my congratulations, and this is a small token from me—please don’t think too little of it.” Night Zhao opened his palm, and the storage ring on his index finger flashed; a brocade box appeared in his hand.

Ye Ming managed a strained smile. “Fourth Brother, you’re too considerate. Traveling so far to see me, I am already content.”

“Third Brother, do you dislike the gift I’ve brought?”

The atmosphere at the table immediately grew tense.

Ye Li and Yan Mu’er thought to themselves that the Night family was certainly not easy to deal with—smiles concealing daggers, with a barely disguised urge to annihilate one another.

Ye Ming’s smile faded.

Night Zhao suddenly turned to Ye Li, grinning: “Niece, this was always meant for you. It’s more appropriate for you to accept it.”

Ye Li’s mind was filled with a single thought: she wanted to grab the chopsticks on the table and pry open this man’s skull. Did he not know to choose Yan Mu’er sitting beside her?

Night Zhao certainly wouldn’t choose Yan Mu’er. The capital’s Yan family was not a group he wished to provoke, though not because he feared them.

“I’ll follow my husband’s lead,” Ye Li replied, refusing to accept, pushing the dilemma to Night Kun—let him decide whether to take it.

Night Kun was well aware that relations between his parents and his uncle were strained; one look at his father’s darkened face made that clear.

But as the guest had come to congratulate him, both sentiment and propriety demanded he accept—it was his elder after all.

Not accepting would make him seem rude, but accepting would be an admission of weakness. This uncle was no ordinary man.

“In that case, since it is Uncle’s thoughtful gift, my wife should accept it,” Night Kun said, not taking the gift himself but letting Ye Li do so, avoiding any implication of submission. Besides, Night Zhao had addressed Ye Li from the start; letting her accept was perfectly reasonable.

Having more wives did have its uses.

Ye Li wished she could jab that bald head—just wait and see...

She took the box with both hands and said sweetly, “Thank you, Uncle.”

“No need for thanks. Open it; you’ll like it.”

Night Kun cupped his hands and smiled. “A gift from Uncle is surely precious. Opening it now would be discourteous.”

Night Kun suspected the gift was not entirely benevolent.

Night Zhao looked at his bald nephew—young in years, yet so meticulous. Just as the intelligence reports had said.

“We’re all family here; no need for formalities.”

Clearly, he was determined to see the box opened.

Ye Ming and Dongmen Meng stayed silent, waiting to see how Kun would handle the situation. After all, the children would soon head to Ankang Island, where the people were far from friendly.

Ye Li held the gift box in her hands, feeling more stifled than ever, wishing she could flip the table.

Just one word from her true self would wipe this man out!

But she remembered her father’s teachings: when facing an enemy, you should not kill them in one stroke, but let them beg for death in despair.

Swift destruction was for brutes.

“In that case, I’ll obey,” Night Kun responded, neither humble nor angry, which made Night Zhao feel unsettled.

Ye Li slowly opened the box. Inside lay a pure gold hairpin, exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of a master from the capital.

Ordinarily, a hairpin would mean nothing, but this one was shaped like an umbrella.

Its opulence carried a unique charm.

But when the Night family saw the pin, their faces darkened further—only Night Kun maintained his slight smile.

Giving an umbrella was a taboo, an omen wishing for separation.

Night Kun knew this well—he’d lived sixteen years! This was the first time someone dared provoke him so openly.

Don’t think sharing a surname means I’ll forgive you! Even if you are my father’s brother!

Just as Night Kun was about to respond verbally, two loud crashes startled him.

Yan Mu’er and Ye Li had both slammed their bowls down! Their fiery tempers rivaled even Dongmen Meng’s.

Dongmen Meng watched her two daughters-in-law with delight. Compared to meekness, she preferred wives who stood up for their husbands—this was the mark of a worthy spouse.

Even Night Zhao was surprised; he hadn’t expected them to react so explosively.

Night Zhao’s intention had been to force Ye Ming’s hand. If Ye Ming didn’t act, there’d be no excuse for escalation. This moment was chosen precisely because, after the ceremony, the child would leave.

Yan Mu’er and Ye Li were not girls to be pushed around; they manipulated others, not the other way around.

Though their marriage to the bald-headed Night Kun was somewhat contrived, it was their first union—how dare he gift an umbrella!

It was blatant provocation!

After smashing their bowls, Ye Li and Yan Mu’er paused. Ordinarily, they’d strike back directly, but now was not the time.

Night Kun was speechless—such fierce reactions, yet...

Were they intent on making trouble for him?

Since they’d set the tone, there was no choice but to follow suit.

Night Kun’s expression darkened; he picked up his bowl and smashed it on the floor.

The sharp sound was as violent as his mood.

Ye Li and Yan Mu’er wanted to pat the bald head—at least he had some backbone, knowing to support them.

Ye Qin, seeing his brother smash a bowl, followed suit. Opposing his brother meant opposing Ye Qin!

Four bowls smashed, creating an atmosphere of resolve and Night family dominance.

Night Zhao hadn’t anticipated this—junior members so brazen before their elders. He considered mocking their rudeness.

But before he could speak, Dongmen Meng smashed her bowl too.

Night Zhao’s heart sank; he looked at Ye Ming, who didn’t hesitate either. Would he blame his son? Never!

With a loud crack, Ye Ming’s bowl shattered on the ground.

The message was clear: don’t think I won’t kill you!

Night Ming’s sudden assertiveness threw Night Zhao off—would he actually go that far? Surely not! If he did, the old man would never let it go.

Night Zhao then picked up a bowl and smashed it, shouting, “Why drink with bowls? Men should be bold!”

He had conceded... Night Zhao had conceded... For Night Zhao, his third brother Ye Ming was always full of surprises—forcing action was one thing, being forced to eliminate himself was another entirely.

“Niece, forgive me, I brought the wrong gift,” Night Zhao said, reclaiming the brocade box and replacing it with two new ones, as greeting gifts for Ye Li and Yan Mu’er.

This time, Night Zhao did not insist they open the boxes, and neither Yan Mu’er nor Ye Li intended to. If not for the bald-headed Night Kun beside them, both would have erupted.

“Bring the wine!” Ye Ming called out. This matter would not be settled so easily.