Transmigrated as the Treacherous Official's Childhood Sweetheart-Chapter 391 - 390: Ignore Him

Ye Zhi felt a weight lift off her shoulders and smiled: "Mother, you worry too much. The Duke Mansion has invited so many people; what’s the harm if I don’t attend? Besides, how would the Empress know I’m not there? Nothing to worry about."

The Ye Family pondered, realizing it made sense. The little bit of scholarly work their youngest daughter did at the Imperial College might as well be forgotten beyond the clouds; elegance and poetic compositions are less suitable than giving her a long spear to wander the skies freely.

Since her daughter wasn’t interested, the Ye Family didn’t insist: "I’ll decline for you then, saying you’re not feeling well. It’s best to stay indoors these days to avoid gossip."

Ye Zhi’s eyes glimmered brightly, and she said: "Okay, thanks, Mother. I won’t go out these days and will venture out on New Year’s Eve. I’ve just got hold of a new storybook that will keep me entertained for a few days."

Huanhuan inquired, "Which book?"

The woman’s inquisitive gaze pierced through to the person involved, carrying a sharp, icy light.

Ye Zhi shot Huanhuan a look, signaling her not to ask any more with their mother still present.

Huanhuan stuck out her tongue and gave a quick wink.

The Ye Family feigned curiosity and asked, "Ah Zhi, why won’t you tell Huanhuan?"

Ye Zhi said, "That’s not a storybook; it’s the ’Classic of Poetry’."

Her mother disapproved of her reading all those miscellaneous storybooks, admonishing several times that they were distractions, urging instead to study ’Women’s Precepts’ or read ’Poems of Bei’.

The Ye Family didn’t believe her: "Oh, I wasn’t aware you could read the ’Classic of Poetry’."

Ye Zhi gave an awkward smile, perhaps feeling guilty, and didn’t reply further, clutching the Silver-plated Hundred Flowers Incense Ball Hand Warmer tightly, warming her delicate hands.

Qinglian contemplated another possibility: "Do you think, perhaps the Empress wishes to use this opportunity to find a match for the Crown Prince, her brother?"

The Crown Prince Li Changnian was yet unmarried, and it was normal for the Empress to use the Duke Zhen Country Mansion’s name to keep an eye out for potential matches.

Someone quickly argued against her.

The Ye Family couldn’t help but laugh: "That wouldn’t make sense. The Empress regularly hosts flower gatherings, inviting high-ranking officials’ daughters and noble ladies to the palace, so why go through Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"

Ye Zhi wanted to avoid the topic altogether, playing it cool: "There’s no need to discuss it anymore; after all, I’m not going."

With the Empress, Crown Prince Li Changnian, and Liu Qingxi all present, going would be akin to walking into the lion’s den.

Inside, silence prevailed, with the cloisonné enamel charcoal brazier burning warmly, occasionally making slight sizzling sounds.

Just then, Ye Yuan and Shen Chen came in.

Outside, the sky was covered in thick clouds, and snowflakes fell from the sky, laying a white carpet over the earth. Both had snowflakes clinging to them, soaking through their outer garments.

Ye Yuan, in his forties, handsome and dignified with an innate stately presence, softened his gaze upon seeing his wife and daughter. Beside him, Shen Chen had a stern demeanor, his brows and eyes well-defined.

The Ye Family stood up from the couch and greeted her husband, handing him the greenish-bronze rosewood engraved hand warmer to tidily warm his hands, removing the snow-dampened outerwear and giving it to Yun Xiu, portraying the image of a virtuous wife.

Compared to the married Ye Yuan, Shen Chen took off his outerwear himself, placing it neatly beside the chair.

Yet, his somewhat pale lips hinted at slight coldness, along with his fair and slender hands, appearing frost-bitten from the snowy and chilly outdoors.

Since he refused to join her in a snowball fight last time, Ye Zhi had hardened her heart against him, and the wooden Shen Chen never sought her out, leaving them without much to say. She did not know why Shen Chen had come to the side parlor with her father.