Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

Chapter 5 Protecting Weaknesses

"Don't be afraid, little sister, your brother is here!"

Before she could even see her second brother, Ye Wanning heard his voice. She had just stood up when she saw him stride briskly across the threshold.

Ye Mingyue was over eight feet tall and handsome, but now he had a stern face. "You've been too unethical today. When you went to find Xu Zhuling, you should have taken me with you. I've heard that Xu Zhuling is a vicious woman with a heart of stone. Luckily, she knew better than to run away, otherwise I would have thrown her out of the mansion!"

"Second brother, don't be angry. You don't need to deal with Xu Zhuling." Seeing her family after her rebirth, Ye Wanning felt a sense of warmth. After Yunzhi served tea, she sighed softly.

"What's wrong, little sister? Is something bothering you?" Ye Mingyue leaned closer, unable to sit still any longer. "If there's something wrong, just say it. Your second brother is fearless. If anyone bullies you, I'll definitely stand up for you!"

Ye Wanning whispered about Feng Ge'er's situation, "I originally thought it was just Xu Zhuling's wishful thinking, but I never expected that our Ye family misjudged her. She and Zhou Yu actually have a child together. Second brother, please don't get agitated. Grandmother is not well, and eldest brother is busy with official duties. I can only discuss this with you first."

"What's there to discuss? Zhou Yu did something so shameless, let's just go to their door and annul this engagement. Don't be afraid, sister, our family isn't what it used to be..."

“But Zhou Yu is not the same Zhou Yu as before,” Ye Wanning interrupted her second brother.

Zhou Yu has been serving in the Hanlin Academy for over a year now, enjoying not only the Right Chancellor's favor but also the Emperor's. In contrast, no one in the Ye family holds a high position anymore. If Zhou Yu insists on denying Xu Zhuling and the child, and instead slanders the Ye family, the Ye family will have no way to defend themselves.

The room fell silent.

Ye Mingyue clenched his fist. He had never liked Zhou Yu, feeling that Zhou Yu was too cunning and too smooth in his dealings with people, always making people wonder about him. Sure enough, Zhou Yu was hiding so many things.

"Hmph!" Ye Mingyue exhaled heavily, and when he looked at his sister again, he realized that she was too calm. "Does my sister have an idea?"

“Zhou Yu promised to send Xu Zhuling away immediately, but he hid her in the capital,” Ye Wanning analyzed. “I only have Fusheng running errands by my side, and I don’t have any other useful people. I need you, Second Brother, to help me with this matter. I don’t want to marry Zhou Yu, but to break off the engagement, I have to put all the blame on Zhou Yu to reduce the impact on the Ye family.”

Ye Mingyue instantly understood, “Don’t worry about this. I guarantee I’ll make sure everyone knows about it. Even if Zhou Yu is truly heartless and still can’t bear to see Xu Zhuling and her son suffer, I’ll create opportunities for Xu Zhuling to cling to Zhou Yu. Her whole family is dead, and Zhou Yu is her lifeline; she will definitely not let go.”

Having spent so much time in restaurants and similar establishments, Ye Mingyue had heard countless dirty stories, never imagining he would resort to such methods himself. But for his sister, he was willing to do anything.

After the brother and sister discussed it, it was getting late.

Before leaving, Ye Mingyue reminded her, "Actually, Xie Bohuai isn't as terrible as the rumors say. If you see him, just keep in touch normally."

Ye Wanning nodded in agreement, and only after seeing her second brother off did she feel a little more relaxed.

The next day, Zhou Yu came to apologize. Old Madam Ye was still angry about Xu Zhuling's matter and treated Zhou Yu indifferently.

But Zhou Yu was good at pretending; he stayed at Derong Courtyard for a quarter of an hour and managed to make Old Madam Ye laugh.

Not wanting to be too pretentious with her future grandson-in-law, Madam Ye suggested that the two of them go for a stroll in the garden when she saw her eldest granddaughter arrive.

Ye Wanning knew that this was an opportunity for her and Zhou Yu to reconcile, given by her grandmother.

"Wanning, you're not as warm towards me as you are today. Are you still upset about your cousin?" Zhou Yu stepped forward and stopped Ye Wanning.

Ye Wanning didn't speak, but quietly looked at Zhou Yu.

“Although I grew up with my cousin, I only ever treated her like a younger sister, and I never had any inappropriate thoughts about her. I’ve also sent her back to her hometown as you wished, so please don’t be angry with me, okay?” His voice trailed off with a hint of pleading, a rare display of tenderness.

Ye Wanning suppressed her nausea and subtly avoided Zhou Yu's outstretched hand. "It's not my idea; she shouldn't have stayed in the capital in the first place."

"Yes, yes, you're right." Seeing that Ye Wanning was being a bit difficult today, Zhou Yu had no choice but to patiently coax her. "My mother is coming to the capital in a few days. I'll say that my cousin is homesick and wants to go back on her own. My mother is old and can't take a shock. I believe you'll be willing to cooperate with me, right?"

Again.

Whenever Zhou Yu asked Ye Wanning to do something, he would always put Ye Wanning on a pedestal. Ye Wanning used to be clueless, but now she understood perfectly.

"It's better to tell the truth, otherwise, given how much your aunt dotes on Xu Zhuling, it won't be long before she finds another reason to bring her back. At that time, will you bring her back or not?" Ye Wanning gave a considerate smile. "I'm only thinking of you, so don't misunderstand me, lest you find yourself in an awkward position later."

Zhou Yu thought Ye Wanning would definitely agree, and the corners of her lips that had just curved into a smile froze. The words she was about to say to Ye Wanning for her generosity got stuck in her throat, and she didn't react for a long time.

Ye Wanning was too lazy to deal with Zhou Yu. Seeing her sisters in the distance, she only left Zhou Yu with her back turned.

Zhou Yu thought to herself that Ye Wanning seemed composed, but she still had the heart of a young girl. Indeed, Ye Wanning was probably unhappy; that would show she still cared for him.

After having thought about it, Zhou Yu regained his confidence and went after Ye Wanning.

Before he even reached Ye Wanning's side, he saw that all three Ye sisters were tense and turned around to find Xie Bohuai.

Xie Bohuai was a close advisor to the emperor, and many people wanted to curry favor with him. Zhou Yu had also tried to curry favor with Xie Bohuai, but Xie Bohuai turned him away. After that, he became even more eager to climb the ranks, hoping that when he eventually reached the highest rank, he would thoroughly humiliate Xie Bohuai and his ilk.

When Zhou Yu met Xie Bohuai yesterday, he couldn't understand why Xie Bohuai had become so free that he would get involved in the Ye family's affairs.

Zhou Yu couldn't figure it out and tossed and turned all night before finally falling asleep in the latter half of the night.

Upon encountering Xie Bohuai again, Zhou Yu dared not look at him too closely, glancing at him briefly before turning to Ye Mingyue, who was traveling with Xie Bohuai, and saying, "Greetings, Second Brother; greetings, Lord Xie."

Upon seeing Zhou Yu, Ye Mingyue felt a surge of anger, but remembering his sister's words, he could only suppress it and sneered sarcastically, "No matter how good I am, I'm not as good as you, Zhou Yu. You're quite something."

Zhou Yu looked embarrassed. He knew that the Ye family was protective of their own, but Ye Mingyue's sarcastic remarks about him in front of Xie Bohuai, an outsider, made him lose face.

Unexpectedly, Xie Bohuai added, "Lord Zhou, has your cousin been sent away yet?"