Inside the room, the matriarch was still fuming as she watched Ye Xianxian's departing figure. She snorted coldly, "Useless!"

Seeing this, Ye Hao quickly stepped forward, picked up the teacup from the table, and held it out to the matriarch, saying, "Grandma, don't be upset. It's not good for your health. Have some hot tea."

With Ye Hao's words, most of the anger on the matriarch's face dissipated. She said with relief, "My eldest grandson is still the one worth cherishing."

She took the teacup, sipped the tea, and finally calmed down.

"Xianru, how's the arrangement for inviting the top official from the provincial capital?" the matriarch asked.

The top official of Lingnan Province had always been a guest of honor at the Ye family gatherings when the old master was still around. Almost every year, this powerful figure would attend the Ye family banquet, bringing gifts to show recognition of the Ye family.

However, in recent years, under the matriarch's leadership, the Ye family had begun to decline, and the top official no longer gave them much face.

He hadn't attended the Ye family's year-end banquet for a while, only sending a representative instead.

This made many in the Lingnan elite lament that the Ye family was indeed on a downward slope.

Therefore, this year, she especially wanted to invite that figure to restore the Ye family's prestige.

Ye Xianru heard this and showed a bitter smile, saying, "Mom, it's confirmed that he won't be coming this year. He sent the ninth-ranking official instead."

The so-called "ninth-ranking" refers to the ninth-ranking official within the Lingnan provincial government.

Hearing this, the matriarch looked disappointed. In previous years, the representatives sent were ranked third or fourth.

Now, sending a ninth-ranking official directly showed that the Ye family's importance in the eyes of the top official was diminishing.

But there was nothing to be done.

Ye Xianru was originally a playboy with insufficient ability, a mere embroidered pillow.

With him in charge of the vast Ye family business, how could it not decline?

In recent years, although Ye Xianru's accounts looked impressive, the Ye family had actually lost many industries.

Assets were shrinking, but the Ye family was such a behemoth that few could notice the change.

The power-hungry matriarch was not entirely unaware that Ye Xianru was incompetent, but he was her most beloved son and easy to control.

She could only choose Ye Xianru to lead the Ye family.

Even if the Ye family was declining, she wouldn't care, nor would she hand over her power to anyone else.

Though disappointed, the matriarch didn't blame him and waved her hand, saying, "It's getting late. You all should go out and greet the guests."

Just as they were about to leave, the matriarch suddenly continued, "Xiao Hao, you go with them. Soon, you'll be the heir of the Ye family. Gain some experience!"

"Thank you, Grandma!"

Ye Hao's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

He knew what the matriarch's words meant. In the future, as the heir, he would be the successor of the Ye family.

The matriarch valued this grandson greatly, nodding with satisfaction, and then waved for them to leave.

Outside, Ye Xianru was in high spirits, heading directly to the front yard banquet site. From now on, he would be the main character of the Ye family.

On the way.

"Dad, there's still no news from Ye Xianhai in Liancheng City."

Away from the matriarch, Ye Hao's playful smile faded, becoming more serious.

Though young, he was definitely not an idle wastrel in the Ye family.

Besides the resources controlled by the Ye family, he had even built his own power.

In the future, no one could stop Ye Hao from taking over the Ye family.

And Ye Xianhai was one of Ye Hao's external forces.

As a branch of the Ye family, Ye Xianhai should have returned to the Ye family from Liancheng City by now.

He was supposed to attend the Ye family banquet and provide Ye Hao with a substantial amount of funds.

But until now, there was no news from Ye Xianhai, which Ye Hao found very strange.

"Hao'er, could something have happened to him?" Ye Xianru asked uncertainly.

"No, my people have called, and there's no news at all," Ye Hao shook his head.

At this moment, Ye Hao thought of Ye Feng, the one who almost took away the Ye family heir title.

Could it be that he's behind this?

Ye Hao quickly dismissed the thought. The other was thrown into the most terrifying prison by the Ye family, with almost no chance of seeing the light of day again.

Due to Ye Feng's tight control over Ye Xianhai's situation, all those involved from the Ye family were executed by Liu Sandao.

No matter how powerful the Ye family was in the provincial capital, they wouldn't get any news from there in a short time.

Ye Hao couldn't imagine that it was Ye Feng who acted.

In his eyes, Liancheng City was just a small place.

He remained puzzled about who would dare to act against the Ye family.

Could it be those small families?

Ye Hao decided to send someone to investigate thoroughly after the new year.

The Ye family's tiger whiskers were not easy to touch, especially with Ye Hao's authority.

If anyone dared to challenge him, they would face his wrath!

Father and son talked as they arrived at the front yard banquet venue.

The vast front yard was filled with guests from all directions!

Temporarily setting aside Ye Xianhai's matter, the father and son enthusiastically greeted and entertained the distinguished guests.

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Those qualified to attend this banquet were all influential figures in various fields.

Today, they would announce in front of the vast audience that Ye Xianru would fully take charge of the Ye family.

Ye Hao would officially become the heir of the Ye family, all arranged by the matriarch beforehand.

One family's joy is another's sorrow!

While Ye Xianru and his son were basking in glory and hosting guests from all directions.

In a luxurious office on the top floor of a skyscraper in the provincial capital, Ye Xianxian stood in front of a large floor-to-ceiling window, looking desolate as he gazed at the city's grandest scenery.

Behind Ye Xianxian, a stunning woman sat in a swivel chair, showing a peerless smile, "Big brother, how does it feel now?"

"I told you long ago, the matriarch would eventually push you aside and give you no chance, but you didn't believe me?"

The woman wore a pink, waist-hugging knit top paired with a white long skirt, looking radiant.

She was so beautiful that her exact age was indiscernible, possessing both the youthful charm of a twenty-year-old and the mature allure of a thirty-year-old.

She was Ye Changge, the Ye family's young lady.

The person who disliked the matriarch the most and was also Ye Xianxian's most beloved sister since childhood.

Now, she was the person Ye Xianxian could trust and rely on the most.

Facing his sister's deliberate taunt, Ye Xianxian remained silent, hands in his pockets, lost in thought.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Little sister, have you found any news about Xili Prison?"

Hearing this, Ye Changge's red lips moved, and she replied seriously, "I've sent people to investigate secretly, but Xiao Feng's information has been classified as top secret, and we can't find out if he's alive or dead."

"Is that so?"

Ye Xianxian murmured, his gaze dim. That prison was said to be impenetrable, and even with the Ye family's influence, they couldn't intervene.

Everyone knew that the chances of survival inside were slim, and the possibility of seeing the light of day again was extremely remote.

However, over the years, Ye Xianxian had been trying, using all his resources to get someone out.

But unfortunately, all his efforts were in vain.

Now, with his declining power in the Ye family, he felt even more powerless!

Five years had passed, and he didn't know if Xiao Feng was alive or dead.