Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 322 - 321. Father and Daughter Meet Again

321. Father and Daughter Reunited

After Mo Xiuyao’s departure, Ye Li’s days were remarkably peaceful. Due to her pregnancy, everyone in Prince Ding’s Mansion no longer bothered her with political matters. From top to bottom, the mansion took meticulous care of her, fearing she might catch a cold, go hungry, or feel exhausted. When the news came a few days later that Mo Xiuyao had appeared at Feihong Pass, many people were subtly perplexed as to why the Princess Consort was not seen by Prince Ding’s side. Only then did everyone in Licheng learn that the Princess Consort was already five months pregnant. Naturally, a wave of joy and celebration followed. The New Year was just over a month away, and while other places were still engulfed in war, the people of the Northwest were enjoying a tranquility even more festive than the New Year itself.

With nothing to keep her busy each day, Ye Li spent her time with the children, finding amusement in Mr. Qingyun’s company. Now that Mo Xiuyao was not in the mansion and Ye Li was pregnant, Second Madam Xu had moved into the guest courtyard of Prince Ding’s Mansion with Qin Zheng. Firstly, Xu Hong Yu, Xu Hongyan, and Xu Qingze were all extremely busy these days, with no time to go home. Secondly, they could also keep Ye Li company and help divert her mind.

On this day, Ye Li was playing chess with Mr. Qingyun, while the three little ones, supervised by Second Madam Xu and Qin Zheng, played on a thick carpet to the side. During the game, Mr. Qingyun and Ye Li began chatting about events in Xiling. After hearing Ye Li recount Mo Xiuyao’s actions in Xiling’s imperial city, Mr. Qingyun sighed. "Prince Ding is a man of immense talent and innate intelligence. If his path is smooth, he is destined to be recorded in history as a loyal minister and renowned general. When I first saw him as a youth, I sensed an extraordinary aura about him, surpassing even the Heir of Prince Ding at the time by a significant margin. Such people... their stillness can pacify the world; their actions can overturn it. Every move is like thunder, and their joys and angers can sway the world’s great trends. Yet the young emperor acted rashly and could not tolerate Prince Ding’s Mansion, leading to a grave error. Little did he know that with a person like Prince Ding, if you don’t eliminate him decisively in one go, you are merely digging your own grave."

Ye Li placed a chess piece, looked at Mr. Qingyun, and asked, "Grandfather, did you foresee such a situation back then?"

Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "Prince Ding was too gravely injured at the time; even I could not have predicted his recovery. But... even if Prince Ding hadn’t recovered, I fear a mutually destructive conflict with the emperor would still have been inevitable. However... six years ago, when I first arrived in the Northwest and saw Prince Ding, I found him much changed from his youth."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Many have said his current temperament is vastly different from his younger days."

Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "It’s not just his temperament, but the indelible, unyielding killing intent etched between his brows. Although Prince Ding’s Mansion has produced generations of famous generals, none were truly bloodthirsty. But when I saw Prince Ding again, there was a murderous aura, hidden yet palpable, between his brows, and an occasional glint of bloodlust in his eyes—a clear sign of overwhelming killing intent. After you left for Xiling, I performed a divination for Prince Ding in my leisure. The trigrams also revealed a potent murderous intent. Such an outcome is not entirely surprising."

Ye Li said, somewhat ashamed, "It’s all because Li’er was careless..."

Mr. Qingyun waved his hand. "How could your grandfather be so pedantic? So-called divinations and physiognomy are merely additional points of reference. Besides, a man like Prince Ding... once he has resolved himself, would he be constrained by mere trigrams? Our Xu Family has been cultivating a nurturing nature for these past generations, though in earlier years, our hands were also stained with much blood. But excessive killing ultimately harms one’s disposition. Grandfather is only worried that Prince Ding might fall into a demonic obsession, needlessly shortening his lifespan."

Ye Li nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Grandfather. Li’er will advise Xiuyao properly."

Mr. Qingyun put down his chess piece, looked at Ye Li, and smiled. "Although Li’er also possesses an air of martial decisiveness, her nature is upright and gentle, a perfect complement to Prince Ding. In this world, you are the only one who can persuade him. Li’er, you have much better judgment than your mother." Mentioning his prematurely deceased daughter, Mr. Qingyun felt a pang of sorrow. His only daughter, for all her virtues, lacked her granddaughter’s discernment and strength. If he had known then what the future held, he wouldn’t have indulged his daughter’s feelings and hastily arranged her marriage. Perhaps she would still be alive today. However, if that were the case, he likely wouldn’t have this admirable and proud granddaughter before him now.

Seeing Mr. Qingyun had lost interest in the game, Ye Li also set down her piece and smiled. "Grandfather, why bring this up so suddenly? Are you missing Mother?"

Mr. Qingyun looked at her, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your eldest uncle originally intended to tell you this himself, but he’s very busy now. Since I’m just an idle old man, I’ll tell you. Your father... he has come to Licheng."

Father... Ye Li was momentarily disoriented. The first person who came to mind was indeed the father from her previous life: a man who, though outwardly stern, deeply loved his wife and daughter and was filial to his elders. For a moment, many images she thought long forgotten flooded her mind; vivid figures, undimmed by the passage of so many years, retained their original clarity. Seeing her pale face, a flicker of concern crossed Mr. Qingyun’s eyes. "Li’er?"

Regaining her composure, Ye Li shook her head and smiled faintly. "Li’er is fine. I’m sorry to have worried you, Grandfather. Why... why have my father and his family come to Licheng?" It was no wonder Ye Li had momentarily forgotten Ye Wenhua. When Ms. Xu was alive, Ye Li had spent much of her childhood being raised by the Xu Family, and her feelings for the father who often caused her mother grief were not deep. After regaining memories of her past life, comparing the two fathers and considering Ye Wenhua’s actions, the little filial affection she had left for this father gradually faded. After Ye Wenhua took Old Madam Ye and the others back to their ancestral home, Ye Li had slowly grown accustomed to remembering only the father from her previous life, gradually pushing this current father to the back of her mind.

Mr. Qingyun offered a faint smile. "The Ye Family resides in the remote southwestern territories, which would be the first to bear the brunt of an eastward invasion by the Xiling army. Regardless of your father’s character, he possesses more awareness than the average citizen. He had taken his entire family, young and old, and left early on. Now, they have been in the Northwest for over a month.

"Your eldest brother’s intention was to settle them and not inform you. But after all, he is your father. Besides, even if we settle him, we can’t guarantee he will stay quiet in the city. If he were to spread rumors, it would tarnish your reputation and even Prince Ding’s.

"A few days ago, when we didn’t know about your return, this wasn’t an issue. But these days, since the news of your return, he has already tried to see you twice. Qingze turned him away before, saying you had just returned and were not feeling well. If we don’t let them see you soon, they might create a scene."

Ye Li frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment before offering a light smile. "It’s not a major issue. Li’er understands. I will see them later."

Qin Zheng, who was sitting nearby playing with the little ones, looked up and said, "Li’er, about Minister Ye... well, never mind him, but you absolutely mustn’t be polite to Old Madam Ye, Ms.Wang of Ye Family, and that Ye Rong."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh? Have you met them, Zheng’er?"

Qin Zheng nodded. "Indeed! That Ye Rong is now in his teens and is spoiled rotten by Ms.Wang of Ye Family. He’s been in Licheng for less than a month and already dared to fight with Veteran General Yuan’s grandson. If it were just that, it would be one thing, but when he couldn’t win, he even loudly proclaimed that his sister is the Princess Consort! The people from Veteran General Yuan’s family are quite sensible, so they didn’t let the matter spread. They even disciplined the servants who were present at the time; it was only then that someone came to inform our family.

"And then there’s Old Madam Ye. At her age, she’s still going around making connections with the ladies in the city, overtly and covertly showing off using your status." Qin Zheng, having managed the household under Second Madam Xu for several years, had become much more direct than when she was a maiden. She spoke of the Ye Family without reservation, clearly holding no fondness for them.

"I understand," Ye Li nodded with a smile. "If they live peacefully in Licheng, no one will bully them. If there are ambitious and capable individuals in the clan, they will naturally have prospects. But if they still intend to cause trouble, I am not some living Bodhisattva enshrined in a temple. My father and grandmother are my blood relations, but the others... they are of little concern to me."

Only then did Qin Zheng relax. "It’s good that you understand. Speaking of which, the Ye Family was once quite prominent. How can they be so clueless? What good would tarnishing your reputation do them?"

Second Madam Xu frowned. "It’s just those short-sighted people who enjoy bullying others by flaunting their connections. But in Licheng, I doubt many would indulge them." Licheng wasn’t large. The truly influential people were all trusted aides of Prince Ding’s Mansion and naturally understood the Prince and Princess Consort’s attitude towards the Ye Family. At most, they could intimidate outsiders who didn’t know the full story.

"Princess Consort, Minister Ye... Lord Ye has arrived with his family to request an audience," Chief Steward Mo announced from outside the door. As Ye Wenhua was currently a commoner, Chief Steward Mo was momentarily unsure how to address him.

Qin Zheng chuckled. "Speak of the devil, and he appears. Aren’t they here now?"

Ye Li stood up, smiling. "I’ll go see them."

Mr. Qingyun said, "With your current condition, why go to the front hall? Just have them come here. It will also give this old man a chance to see your father."

"Grandfather, why trouble yourself?" Back then, the old master married his only beloved daughter to Ye Wenhua, who could be considered of humble origins, only for it to end like this. Anyone would believe he was heartbroken. Who would be willing to let the old man see that son-in-law again and get upset for no reason?

Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "It’s no matter. I also want to see what else he has to say."

Ye Li, feeling helpless, had no choice but to ask Chief Steward Mo to bring them in. Qin Zheng, not wanting to deal with such troublesome people, took Leng Junhan and Xu Zhirui into the inner room.

「A short while later」

Chief Steward Mo led the group in. It wasn’t just Ye Wenhua; Old Madam Ye, Ms.Wang of Ye Family, and four or five others were also there.

"Grandfather. Father." Ye Li calmly regarded the people before her. It had been six or seven years since Ye Li had last seen Ye Wenhua. Compared to six or seven years ago, Ye Wenhua had aged considerably. His once handsome and refined face now had many wrinkles, his hair was streaked with white, and his eyes held a look of despondency. Seeing Ye Li, his expression was even more complex and unreadable. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.

Compared to Ye Wenhua, Old Madam Ye and Ms.Wang of Ye Family seemed much better off. Old Madam Ye was approaching seventy but was still dressed in opulent attire as she had been years ago, as if she were still the well-cared-for old madam of the Minister’s mansion. Ms.Wang of Ye Family had also aged and grown more portly, but she too was richly dressed. However, her eyes now showed more overt shrewdness and acrimony, quite different from the virtuous wife persona she used to feign. Standing beside Ms.Wang of Ye Family was a young man of eighteen or nineteen, with faint traces of Ye Wenhua’s handsome features. Unfortunately, he had put on a lot of weight, his eyes were dull, and he completely lacked the quiet dignity of a scholar. He resembled the ignorant, wealthy young masters Ye Li used to see in trite television dramas in her previous life. Ye Li genuinely wondered how Ms.Wang of Ye Family had managed to raise Ye Rong—who, though somewhat unruly in the past, was at least passably good-looking—into the fat-headed, big-eared, foolish-looking young man he was today.

The young woman standing behind them somewhat resembled Ye Lin, but Ye Li didn’t recognize the young man with her.

"Your son-in-law... pays respects to Father-in-law." Seeing Mr. Qingyun seated in the seat of honor, Ye Wenhua’s expression changed slightly. He quickly came forward and bowed deeply.

Mr. Qingyun leisurely set down his blue-and-white porcelain cup, raised his eyes, and smiled faintly. "Isn’t this Minister Ye? While in Yunzhou, this old man heard that Minister Ye married a virtuous wife and even became the former emperor’s father-in-law. This old man dares not accept the title of ’Father-in-law.’" Mr. Qingyun was highly respected, and his self-cultivation was naturally extraordinary. In all these years, it was the first time Ye Li had heard him speak so mockingly, revealing how deeply dissatisfied he had long been with Ye Wenhua. It was fine when they didn’t meet, but now that they had, there was naturally no need to endure it. No wonder her eldest uncle had once said that if Grandfather had heard about the Ye Family’s conduct earlier, he would likely have charged to the Capital City to give Ye Wenhua a beating. She hadn’t believed it in the slightest. She had always thought her grandfather, a great Confucian scholar of his time, would never act so. But looking at her grandfather’s expression now, Ye Li knew that even the most cultivated Confucian scholar had a temper.

Ye Wenhua’s face flushed red. He looked embarrassed but was rendered speechless. It was true that less than half a year after his marriage, he had taken a concubine; even his eldest and second daughters were not born of his legal wife. Later, he favored Ms. Wang and neglected his wedded wife, leading to Ms. Xu’s death from depression. And over these many years, he had long understood Ms. Wang’s character and conduct, none of which deserved the description "virtuous wife." The more Ye Wenhua thought about it, the more his face burned, and he stood there, utterly at a loss.

"In-law, we are all family, after all. Why be so harsh? Hua’er already knows he was wrong," Old Madam Ye said, forcing a smile at Mr. Qingyun when she saw her son unable to recover.

Mr. Qingyun raised an eyebrow. "In-law? The Wang Family are Ye Family’s in-laws; my Xu Family is unworthy of such a connection." Did this old woman think he didn’t know she was also involved when Ye Wenhua neglected his daughter back then?

Old Madam Ye’s smile froze. She forced another smile. "How could that be? Li’er’s mother will always be the principal daughter-in-law of the Ye Family. Li’er, come here, let Grandmother look at you. Grandmother has missed you so much all these years." As she spoke, Old Madam Ye even dabbed at her eyes, looking at Ye Li with a loving expression. Unfortunately, Ye Li did not indulge her. She smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I am pregnant, so I won’t get up to offer my respects. Grandmother, Father, please be seated."

Having been gently rebuffed, Old Madam Ye could only walk to the side and sit down resentfully. Ye Wenhua looked at the indifferent Mr. Qingyun but didn’t dare to sit, so he remained standing beside Old Madam Ye. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Most of the others present knew Mr. Qingyun’s special status. Even Ms. Wang stood respectfully, though her face showed reluctance. Ye Rong, however, lacked all discernment. A few years ago, while he was still studying, he had learned a little. But these past few years, following Minister Ye in the countryside, he had long since returned what little he’d read to his teachers. Shielded by Old Madam Ye and Ms. Wang, Ye Wenhua couldn’t control him, which had led to his lawless temperament. Having been in Licheng less than a month, he had dared to fight the grandson of the Mo Family Army’s eldest veteran general; naturally, he wouldn’t stand obediently now.

Looking at the empty chairs nearby, Ye Rong’s eyes darted around. He walked to one and sat down, not forgetting to say, "Father, Mother, Sixth Sister, why are you all standing? Come and sit."

Ye Wenhua’s face turned blue with anger. Mr. Qingyun said coolly, "The Ye family’s upbringing is truly excellent."

Ye Rong, thinking Mr. Qingyun was genuinely praising him, smiled smugly. "That’s natural. Mother, you see..."

"You beast! Get up for me!" Ye Wenhua trembled with rage, feeling he had never been so humiliated in his life. Even when Xu Hongyan had criticized him for failing to discipline his daughter, he hadn’t felt his face burn this much.

Ye Rong paused, then said defiantly, "Why can’t I sit?! Isn’t this Third Sister’s house? We’ve waited so long, I’m exhausted. I’m not getting up!"

"You... you..." Ye Wenhua pointed at Ye Rong, trembling all over, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Never mind. If he’s tired, let him sit. Father, Ms.Wang of Ye Family, Sixth Sister, and this young gentleman, please sit as well."

Ye Wenhua glanced at Mr. Qingyun. Only after hearing Mr. Qingyun snort coldly and say, "Sit," did he cautiously sit down below Old Madam Ye. Ms. Wang looked at her son and then went to sit beside Ye Rong. Ye Lin carefully tugged the young man and chose a seat at the very end to sit down. Second Madam Xu, sipping her tea nearby, frowned slightly but said nothing. Although the Xu Family was not overly strict about etiquette, the essential rules were deeply ingrained. To Second Madam Xu, the Ye family’s seating arrangement was utterly disrespectful.

"Mother, who are these people? Why aren’t they bowing to you and Great Grandfather?" Mo Xiaobao, leaning against Ye Li’s leg, blinked his big, dark eyes and asked in a clear, childlike voice.

Ye Li gently stroked her son’s small head and smiled. "This is your Great-Grandmother, and this is your Grandfather. Chen’er, go and pay your respects."

Mo Xiaobao looked at Ye Wenhua and Old Madam Ye, then finally stood up, walked over to them, and said, "Great-Grandmother, Grandfather."

Old Madam Ye, still smiling lovingly, reached out, expecting Mo Xiaobao to kneel so she could help him up and display her affection. Unexpectedly, Mo Xiaobao just stood before them and called out to them, and that was it. Her gesture of reaching out and bending down suddenly seemed rather comical and awkward. Ye Wenhua, however, didn’t seem to mind. He stared fixedly at the handsome six- or seven-year-old child before him, whose features seemed to bear a faint resemblance to his late wife. He couldn’t resist reaching out to pat his little head. "Good... good boy. Are you Yuchen?"

Mo Xiaobao took a small step back, curiously eyeing the grandfather who was staring at him, and said solemnly, "Grandfather, you cannot touch my head."

Ye Wenhua was taken aback and couldn’t help asking, "Why not?"

Mo Xiaobao replied earnestly, "A man’s head, a woman’s waist; can only be looked at, not grabbed." With that, he turned and ran back to Mr. Qingyun.

Mr. Qingyun lovingly held his little great-grandson in his lap, smiling as he stroked his small head. "Can only be looked at, not grabbed? Hmm? Who taught you this nonsense?"

"Han Mingxi!" Mo Xiaobao promptly sold out Han Mingxi, completely forgetting all the tasty treats and fun toys Han Mingxi usually shared with him.

Mo Xiaobao lay on Mr. Qingyun’s lap, curiously studying the strange group of people before him. He didn’t like his great-grandmother at all, and his grandfather wasn’t as good-looking as his great-uncles. And that fat man... is he my uncle too? He’s so ugly! Mo Xiaobao covered his eyes and hid in Mr. Qingyun’s embrace, unwilling to look again at that fat man who was foolishly touching this and that. In Han Mingxi’s words, those actions and expressions were simply too sleazy; looking too much would hurt one’s eyes. Mo Xiaobao, who had extremely high aesthetic standards from a young age, felt that this sleazy fat man was truly challenging the lower limits of his aesthetics. He was even uglier than the beggars under the Tianqiao in the north of the city! He absolutely would not admit this man was his uncle!

"Greetings, First Master, Second Master. Greetings, Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master," a maid’s clear voice announced from outside.

Ye Li was overjoyed. Has Big Brother returned?

Xu Hong Yu and Xu Hongyan came in, followed by Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingze.

"Eldest Uncle?!" Mo Xiaobao’s eyes lit up, and he joyfully rushed down from Mr. Qingyun’s lap towards Xu Qingchen, who was entering behind the others. "Eldest Uncle, Yuchen missed you so much..."

Xu Qingchen gave a faint smile, bent down, and lifted him up. "Oh? You really missed your Eldest Uncle this much?"

Mo Xiaobao’s eyes sparkled even brighter as he nodded repeatedly, gazing at Xu Qingchen’s handsome, ethereal face, which, though he was past thirty, still seemed untouched by the mortal world. Having just encountered a sleazy, ugly man, he urgently needed the comfort of his handsome uncle’s face to soothe his shaken aesthetic sensibilities.

"Yuchen likes Eldest Uncle the most!" So, it was said, his eldest maternal uncle was the true handsome man; his father was simply no match. I really want to touch him... Mo Xiaobao secretly drooled. That’s why Han Mingxi is better, I can touch him as I please. Eldest Uncle is too formidable; I can only look...

Seeing the glint in her son’s big eyes, which at times was indistinguishable from Han Mingxi’s, Ye Li couldn’t help but cover her face. Xiuyao was absolutely right. She really shouldn’t let Xiaobao see Han Mingxi so often. Ye Li had forgotten that Mo Xiaobao’s love for beauty was innate. He had originally become close to Han Mingxi because he found Han Mingxi good-looking, not that he started liking good looks after becoming close to Han Mingxi. The unlucky Baron of Wind and Moon got caught in the crossfire even when he wasn’t there.