Chapter 270: Chapter 270: She Has No Choice

The servant hesitated a moment, then asked, "Second Miss, aren’t you going to Fengling Lane?"

Ye Chutang casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and adjusted the white jade hairpin in her hair.

"I won’t be going today. Mingze has just passed away. I’d only be causing trouble if I went now."

’Besides, the coffin has already been delivered to their door. I’ve been more than considerate.’

The servant gave a sound of assent and flicked the whip, moving onward.

...

"Miss Ye, can you please hurry things along?"

The soldier on guard duty urged her with a frown.

’The man’s been dead all night. If this drags on any longer, what’s it going to look like?’

Ye Shixian’s face was ghastly pale, her lips trembling with rage and resentment.

She swallowed the taste of blood in her mouth. When she looked up again, her expression was momentarily ferocious.

"This is our family’s affair. I don’t believe it’s your place to interfere."

In response, the man just let out a cold laugh.

"If you can’t resolve this within a day, Miss Ye, then don’t blame us for ’helping’ you out."

’The great Ye Family is under official watch. Does Ye Shixian still think she’s the exalted lady of the house?!’

Hearing the sarcasm and mockery in his words, Ye Shixian nearly choked on her anger.

She bit down hard on her lip and spun around in a fury.

...

As she hurried to the door of the room, Ye Shixian suddenly stopped short.

There was almost no one left inside. Only Mrs. Gao remained, slumped over the side of the bed. It seemed she had cried herself to exhaustion and had just drifted off.

A wave of desolate sorrow washed over Ye Shixian.

She took a deep breath. "Change the Second Young Master’s clothes."

’No matter what, he deserves to pass on cleanly.’

The maids behind her exchanged a glance, their expressions timid. ’When have we ever had to do something like this?’

Ye Shixian looked back at them, her eyes filled with a vicious light.

"What, unwilling?"

Remembering her recent conduct, the two maids shivered. They quickly stammered that they wouldn’t dare refuse and hurried forward.

’A dead body is frightening, to be sure, but a living person who can make you wish you were dead is far more terrifying!’

The two had just stepped over and lifted a corner of the quilt when Mrs. Gao suddenly snapped awake.

She clutched the corner of the quilt tightly, shrieking, "I’d like to see who dares touch Mingze!"

Startled by her outburst, the two maids froze, not daring to move an inch.

Suppressing her own anger, Ye Shixian walked over and took her hand. "Mother, let Mingze go."

But Mrs. Gao reacted as if she’d been struck, violently shoving her away.

"What nonsense are you spouting! Mingze isn’t going anywhere! He’s right here! And I’m staying right here with him! None of you will lay a finger on him!"

She seemed to have become unhinged.

Ye Shixian, already frazzled from dealing with the matters outside, had long since run out of patience.

Her expression hardened. "Mingze is already dead! What’s the point of this vigil! He’s never going to—"

SLAP!

Consumed by rage, Mrs. Gao raised her hand and slapped Ye Shixian across the face.

One side of Ye Shixian’s face immediately began to swell and turn red.

"Eldest Miss!"

Terrified, the two maids scrambled to their knees.

Her eyes bloodshot, Mrs. Gao looked like a madwoman. "Have you no heart, cursing your own brother like that! Just you wait until your father returns! We’ll see how he deals with you then!"

’Father?’

’Who knows when he’ll even be released!’

’Besides, he probably already knows what’s happened!’

Ye Shixian gritted her teeth. "Pull the Madam away!"

’At this point, I have to deal with this as quickly as possible, and then figure out a way to inform Father!’

’Otherwise, one careless moment is all it would take for someone with ill intentions to exploit the situation!’

She hardened her heart and turned away.

"What are you standing around for!"

Shaoyao glanced around before cautiously stepping forward and whispering, "...Miss, are we really going to use... that coffin?"

SNAP.

Ye Shixian snapped one of the lacquered nails on her right hand.

’As if she had any right to be picky now!’

’Nowhere to retreat, nowhere to run. All she could do was offer up her own face and take the slap.’