Chapter 170 - 169: I’ll Go Wherever You Go

Yang Bingyu squeezed out a smile that looked more agonizing than a weeping face. Stroking her lower abdomen, she glared viciously at Ye Xuan.

"The two of you killed my baby! I curse you—you will never be together!

"I also curse your future children to die early right after birth! You will both pay the price!"

In truth, the miscarriage had been caused by Yang Bingyu’s own extreme emotional turbulence. However, since she had treated the unborn child as her emotional anchor, she refused to see it that way. Instead, she pinned all the blame on Ye Xuan and Lin Aoxue, convinced that their words had provoked her into the frenzy that caused her to lose control.

Listening to Yang Bingyu’s venomous curses, Ye Xuan felt an overwhelming, insurmountable heartache. Yet, he couldn’t defend himself. He undeniably played a part in this tragedy.

"Take her to her room to rest for now. Take good care of her," he instructed the nearby doctors and nurses, his voice hoarse. He felt completely exhausted and helpless.

Noticing Yang Bingyu’s unstable mental state, the doctors quickly administered a sedative, finally calming her down.

"What are you going to do now?" Lin Aoxue asked with a frown, looking at the sedated woman asleep on the bed. "With Yang Bingyu in this condition, if the two of us stay here, I’m afraid it will only aggravate her illness."

Ye Xuan stared at Yang Bingyu’s pale, emaciated face for a long time before coming to a decision. He could no longer stay at the Yang family estate. His presence would only bring her more pain.

"Xue’er, are you willing to return to Jingcheng with me?" he asked earnestly, turning to look at Lin Aoxue.

Lin Aoxue blanked for a moment, then nodded without hesitation. "I’ll go wherever you go."

"Alright, then let’s head back to Jingcheng together. If I stay here, I’ll only bring Bingyu more harm." Grasping Lin Aoxue’s hand, Ye Xuan cemented his resolve.

That night, Ye Xuan visited the Yang family estate.

Although news of Yang Bingyu’s miscarriage was still kept under wraps from the public, Yang Tao, as her father, was already aware. Even though he lacked a deep bond with his daughter, he was still human. Seeing his own flesh and blood reduced to this state because of a man naturally bred some resentment toward Ye Xuan in his heart. Thus, when Ye Xuan arrived, Yang Tao did not treat him with his usual profound respect. Instead, he kept a stern face, putting on the austere airs of the family patriarch.

"Ye Xuan, have you done right by Bingyu? She sacrificed so much for you! How could you be so heartless as to not even tolerate a child?!" Yang Tao questioned loudly, slamming his hand furiously against the table.

Hearing him bring up the child, Ye Xuan felt a sharp twist of agony in his chest.

"I undeniably bear responsibility for what happened to the baby, but I was looking forward to its arrival just as much as Bingyu was.

"It’s not that I couldn’t tolerate the child. Bingyu suffers from manic episodes, and her pregnancy was already threatened earlier when Yang Hui provoked her.

"Because of that, when her illness flared up, the extreme emotional distress resulted in a miscarriage."

There were things he could leave unexplained to Yang Bingyu, as he knew she was merely using him to vent her anguish; it wasn’t that she genuinely didn’t know the cause. However, he had to clarify the situation with the Yang family. Otherwise, his relationship with them would only deteriorate into an irreparable deadlock.

Upon hearing this, Yang Tao immediately fell silent. He was well aware of Yang Bingyu’s psychological condition, and he also knew that it had been a terrible time for her to get pregnant. The loss of the baby wasn’t entirely unexpected.

He let out a helpless sigh and looked at Ye Xuan. "Regardless, you are somewhat responsible for this incident. Given Bingyu’s temperament, I’m afraid she utterly despises you right now. Now that things have reached this point, what do you plan to do?"

Ye Xuan’s eyes flickered, his hands slowly clenching into fists. After a moment of silence, he revealed his intentions.

"I plan to take Lin Aoxue back to Jingcheng," Ye Xuan said. "Xue’er has completely broken off ties with the Lin family; she has nothing left to hold her back in Jianghai City.

"As for Bingyu, I want her to remain with the Yang family. Firstly, she needs to stay to fulfill Elder Yang’s dying wish. Secondly, she harbors a deep hatred for me right now. If I continue to stay here, it won’t do her condition any good. Thirdly, Bingyu’s identity is sensitive. If she were to return to Jingcheng with me, it would undoubtedly be like dragging her into hell."

Yang Tao hadn’t expected Ye Xuan to leave Jianghai City. Surprise washed over his face. "Jingcheng is in utter chaos right now. If you go back, aren’t you just marching to your death?"

Although Jianghai City was far from the capital, Yang Tao had still caught wind of the rumors. The internal conflict between the Four Palaces and the Qilin Hall was growing increasingly fierce; a massive reshuffling of power was likely imminent. Every major faction was gunning for Ye Xuan, and the number of people who wanted him dead was countless. Returning to Jingcheng at this juncture was tantamount to walking straight into the lion’s den.

"That’s exactly why I have to go back. I’ve been away from Jingcheng for far too long, and there are certain matters I must settle once and for all," Ye Xuan replied. He had originally thought that Yang Bingyu’s situation wouldn’t take long to resolve, but the delay had ended up costing him over half a year. The situation in the capital was now at a critical juncture, and he had to return immediately.

"Since you’ve already made your decision, I won’t say any more on the matter," Yang Tao said. "But what is your purpose in seeking me out today? Surely it isn’t as simple as just informing me of your departure?"

Yang Tao was no fool. Naturally, he guessed that Ye Xuan had an ulterior motive for this visit, so he cut straight to the chase.

"Indeed. I came this time because I have a task for you," Ye Xuan admitted. "Of course, I will provide you and the Yang family with substantial compensation—provided you handle the matter well."

Conversations between smart men never required beating around the bush. Sitting across from Yang Tao, Ye Xuan gently tapped his fingers against the tabletop.

"Whatever the Cyan Dragon Chief needs, just say the word." Yang Tao didn’t dare to agree outright, opting instead to hear the request first.

The Four Palaces were in decline, while the Qilin Hall was rising to power. Such a volatile political landscape forced Yang Tao to be extremely cautious about choosing sides. If Ye Xuan was confident in dealing with the Qilin Hall and the Xiao Family, then Yang Tao would naturally stand by his side. However, if Ye Xuan was outmatched by the Qilin Hall, the Yang family would have to keep their distance to avoid drawing fire upon themselves.

Seeing through Yang Tao’s concerns, Ye Xuan chose not to point them out. He simply raised an eyebrow and continued, "I want you to protect Bingyu with your life. Specifically, you must not allow Yang Kui to harm her, and you must ensure that her position within the Yang family and the Yang Group remains unchanged."

Upon hearing this, Yang Tao’s expression changed. It sounded simple, but in reality, it was anything but easy. Right now, almost everyone in the Yang family was trying to figure out a way to drive Yang Bingyu out. Keeping her completely safe was next to impossible.

"Cyan Dragon Chief, you know the current situation of the Yang family. If my father were still alive, naturally, no one would dare lay a finger on Bingyu.

"But now..."