But they knew that was impossible.
Xia He and Qiu Lan, Young Master's current personal maids, both possessed rare physiques and ranked among the generation's prodigies.
Most importantly, they had grown up within the Ye Family, their loyalty forged over years of service and belonging.
The Ye Family would never accept someone like Yue Ming into such an intimate role. Only Ye Qian's direct request had secured her presence here.
The clan naturally deferred to his wishes, but becoming a personal maid required more than beauty—it demanded true necessity.
With the Ye Family's vast resources, Ye Qian could pursue any fairy he desired. He wasn't searching for mere beauty.
Ideally, he sought Daughters of Heaven—talents he could cultivate at his side while simultaneously harvesting their Luck.
Without that status, Yue Ming would never have caught his attention. Even Xia He and Qiu Lan matched her in figure and appearance, surpassing her in certain aspects entirely.
"Qian'er, why are you so late?"
Ye Qian turned at the sound of his mother's voice. Yun Yao watched him with that particular maternal gaze that saw through everything.
"Mother, I had matters to attend to just now. I'm barely late—the banquet hasn't begun."
Yun Yao didn't press for details. She gave her son a chiding look, though warmth threaded through it.
"Come, sit down, my dear. You are the reason we're all here today."
Ye Qian nodded. "Yes, Mother."
He moved to the seat beside Yun Yao while his three personal maids took position behind him.
Yun Yao's gaze swept across them, lingering on Xia He. The maid seemed different somehow—a subtle shift that any observant mother would notice.
Yun Yao guessed immediately that her son and Xia He had crossed into more intimate territory.
Still, moderation mattered. As the Young Master, Ye Qian couldn't afford to drown himself in women day after day.
"Qian'er, it's perfectly normal for you to enjoy yourself...
But please remember to be careful in certain matters.
Don't indulge too much, all right?"
The subtle reminder landed with perfect clarity. Xia He's face flushed crimson, her head dropping until her chin nearly touched her chest.
Ye Qian glanced at the mortified maid, then rolled his eyes.
"Mother, I understand perfectly. Must we discuss this in public?"
Continuing this topic before so many witnesses would multiply the awkwardness exponentially.
Yun Yao recognized the audience surrounding them.
"Alright. Let me say a few words first."
She rose slowly from her seat. Every guest below immediately stood, vigilance etched into their postures.
None dared offend this woman—the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Everyone, thank you for attending my Qian'er's recovery banquet.
As you know, Qian'er previously suffered a Qi Deviation.
However, my son is blessed with profound talent.
He not only overcame the Qi Deviation but elevated his cultivation to greater heights.
This marks a blessing for our entire Ye Family.
Today, drink to your heart's content. Immortal wine and fine liquor flow freely!"
Yun Yao's final word unleashed the banquet.
Ye Qian lifted a cup of immortal wine, stood, and swept his gaze across the assembled guests.
"Thank you all for your concern, and welcome. I'll drink first as a sign of respect—please help yourselves."
He drained the cup in one fluid motion.
The guests below scrambled to their feet, raising and emptying their own glasses in synchronized urgency.
None would dare truly 'help themselves'—caution governed every action here.
Who knew what schemes the Young Master might deploy? Better to give face when required and avoid recklessness entirely.
Ye Qian's attention shifted to the crowd below, filtering past the older generation to focus on the younger faces. He searched for Children of Destiny hidden among these cultivators.
[Ding! Discovered an important supporting character...]
[Ding!...]
The System's alerts chimed repeatedly.
He hadn't expected such results, but careful observation revealed multiple supporting characters—individuals connected to Children of Destiny either tangentially or directly.
These people carried respectable amounts of Luck, though their reserves paled compared to true Children of Destiny.
Few young cultivators had come, mostly because families feared their younger generation might cause incidents at the banquet—unpleasant scenarios best avoided entirely.
Most forces sent elders or sect masters personally, both demonstrating respect and minimizing conflict risk.
The young people present had followed their elders mainly for experience and networking opportunities. Future cooperation between forces often began with such connections.
Ye Qian searched for some time but found no Child of Destiny.
Not surprising, really.
If Children of Destiny were so easily discovered, they'd all be eliminated before reaching their potential.
The world itself protected them, showing favoritism until their Luck depleted.
No matter. Even through these supporting characters, he could trace information back to the Children of Destiny.
He could afford patience. Haste bred waste, after all. What lay in his bowl wouldn't escape. He'd process them one by one, methodically.
Yue Bo, seated some distance away, kept glancing toward his daughter Yue Ming, trying to catch her attention and communicate his intentions.
Unfortunately, the distance proved too great, and Yue Ming—having just committed an offense—dared not act out of line again.
If she truly provoked Ye Qian's anger, the consequences might be severe.
For safety's sake, Yue Ming deliberately avoided her father's gaze, preventing exactly this scenario.
Ye Qian, however, noticed Yue Bo's repeated glances toward their direction—specifically toward Yue Ming behind him.
He leaned back in his chair, gaze fixed forward, voice emerging with casual authority.
"Yue Ming, it seems your father wishes to speak with you. Go. I'll permit it."