Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 323: Difference Between the Ye and Xu Families

322. The Ye Family and the Xu Family

"Father."

"Grandfather." Xu Hong Yu and the others paid their respects to Mr. Qingyun, one after the other. Mr. Qingyun looked at his son, grandsons, and the young great-grandson Xu Qingchen held in his arms. The anger that Ye Wenhua had stirred within him gradually dissipated. He nodded and said, "Let’s all sit down and talk. Chen’er, when did you return?"

Xu Qingchen smiled. "Grandfather, I just arrived. I was coming to pay my respects when I heard we had guests. So, Father, Second Uncle, and Second Brother came along with me."

Mr. Qingyun nodded with a smile. "You’ve had a long journey. Rest well later."

Because the Ye family members were already seated, the arrival of Xu Hong Yu and the others created a somewhat awkward seating situation. Old Madam Ye, citing her age, naturally wouldn’t rise to offer her seat to anyone. Fortunately, Ye Wenhua, having navigated the currents of officialdom for decades, was not entirely witless. He quickly stood up to offer his seat to Xu Hong Yu. Ms. Wang of Ye Family, Ye Lin, and the young man seated on the other side also followed suit and rose. Only Ye Rong remained seated, looking from one parent to the other. His behavior made Ye Wenhua’s face turn green then white with anger. Xu Hong Yu, however, paid no mind to Ye Wenhua’s expression and, looking at Ye Rong with a benign smile, remarked, "The Ye family certainly has excellent upbringing."

Having been ’praised’ with the same words twice in a row, Ye Rong became even more puffed up with pride. He had no idea why his father looked so upset. Old Madam Ye, though sensing something was amiss, had doted on Ye Rong, who had been the Ye family’s sole male heir for many years. If, a few years ago, she had still harbored hopes of her son producing another grandson, that notion had gradually faded after years without news. This is my own granddaughter’s mansion, surely it won’t matter, she reasoned.

Watching the expressions of the Ye family members, Ye Li inwardly shook her head, feeling helpless. Although she had some unresolved feelings towards the Ye family, she wasn’t the type to kick someone when they were down. If Ye Wenhua had properly educated Ye Rong, he might have even made something of himself in the Northwest. Unfortunately, the current state of the Ye family was deeply disappointing. While Ye Li wouldn’t actively harm the Ye family, it didn’t mean she possessed the saintly benevolence to support a group of relatives who were clearly beyond help. She feared that doing so would only tarnish the reputation of Prince Ding’s Mansion.

Xu Qingchen settled Mo Xiaobao on his lap, teasing him gently. He then looked at Ye Wenhua and asked with a faint smile, "When did Master Ye arrive in Licheng?"

Ye Wenhua’s smile was strained. In the past, Xu Qingchen would show him some courtesy by calling him ’Uncle’. Now, he didn’t even bother with such superficialities. The late Ms. Xu had not borne any sons for the Ye family, leaving only their daughter, Ye Li. Now that Ye Li was married, it wasn’t entirely unexpected for the Xu family to distance themselves from these in-laws.

"I’ve been here for over a month," Ye Wenhua replied with a forced laugh.

Xu Qingchen nodded. "During this time, Li’er and Prince Ding were away on campaign. I was also far away at Feihong Pass. Father and Second Uncle are occupied with their official duties. If there have been any oversights in receiving Master Ye, I hope you will forgive us."

Ye Wenhua hardly dared to imply Xu Hong Yu and the others had neglected him. In front of Xu Hong Yu, Ye Wenhua, despite his many years as a high minister, often felt unable to hold his head high. His awe of Xu Hongyan was less pronounced, but a sense of innate inferiority still lingered. Therefore, during all those years in the Capital of Great Chu, even though Xu Hongyan’s official rank and power were no match for Ye Wenhua, who was a Minister of State and the father of a Zhaoyi, Ye Wenhua never dared to put on airs before Xu Hongyan. No man with a shred of ambition enjoys feeling perpetually subordinate to his wife’s family. Unfortunately, Ye Wenhua now found himself more than just one step below the Xu family; he was leagues beneath them.

Old Madam Ye interjected before Ye Wenhua could speak, her voice full of false cheer, "How could that be? We’re all family. A little oversight now and then doesn’t matter. Li’er is a filial daughter; naturally, she wouldn’t mistreat her own kin."

Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow, a cool, knowing smile playing on his lips as he glanced at Old Madam Ye. So... they still feel they’ve been slighted, do they?

Xu Hong Yu asked, "What are the Ye family’s future plans?"

Before Ye Wenhua could say he would defer to his elder brother-in-law’s arrangements, Old Madam Ye, looking at Ye Li with a smile, said, "It was one thing when Li’er wasn’t home. But now she’s several months pregnant, and with Prince Ding away, we naturally must stay in the mansion to take care of Li’er."

Hearing this, Second Madam Xu let out a dry chuckle. "So, Old Madam Ye, you consider us mere decorations?" she said coolly.

"Wife," Xu Hongyan calmly curbed Second Madam Xu’s rising anger. There’s no need to lower ourselves by arguing with such people.

Second Madam Xu had indeed been provoked by Old Madam Ye’s sheer audacity. Reminded by her husband, she naturally suppressed her temper. She swept a disdainful glance at Old Madam Ye and said no more. Had Li’er’s biological mother been alive, it would have been perfectly appropriate for her to live in Prince Ding’s Mansion to care for her daughter. But for a concubine who managed to replace the original wife to move in with her entire household, dragging along young and old, only Old Madam Ye possessed the gall to propose such a thing.

Truth be told, Old Madam Ye knew her words were somewhat out of line. But her life could be described as a rollercoaster of ups and downs. From being a widow with a son in a remote part of Great Chu, her son later passed the imperial examinations and was chosen as a son-in-law by the Xu family, instantly making them in-laws with one of the most ancient and prestigious scholarly families in Great Chu. Later, she became the matriarch of a Minister’s Mansion, and with one granddaughter an Imperial Consort and two others Princess Consorts, her glory was immense. Then Ye Wenhua was demoted to a commoner by the emperor. Although they returned to their ancestral home and managed reasonably well due to their remaining assets, it was a world away from their life in the Capital of Great Chu. How could Old Madam Ye be content with this? Now, in Licheng, despite holding the status of Princess Consort Ding’s grandmother, many noble ladies in the city did not accord her much respect. Looking at the two madams of the Xu family, even the young Second Young Madam Xu was one of the most sought-after and respected figures in Licheng. And wasn’t all this prestige due to Ye Li, this Princess Consort Ding? This further solidified Old Madam Ye’s determination to live in Prince Ding’s Mansion.

Ms. Wang of Ye Family, standing nearby, remained silent, but her expression clearly indicated she shared Old Madam Ye’s sentiments. Everyone else in the hall, aside from the Ye family members, was an astute judge of character and saw through their intentions with perfect clarity, which only deepened their disdain for this family’s conduct.

Mo Xiaobao, sitting in Xu Qingchen’s embrace, asked curiously, "Mother, do Maternal Grandfather and Great-Grandmother want to live in our home?"

Ye Li smiled without answering, and asked her son in return, "Does Xiaobao like that idea?"

Mo Xiaobao hesitated for a moment, then asked with puzzlement, "Why do Maternal Grandfather and Great-Grandmother want to live at our house? Didn’t Great-Uncle arrange a house for them? Is their house not livable?"

Old Madam Ye looked at Mo Xiaobao with an affectionate smile. "Your mother is pregnant, so Great-Grandmother will stay in the mansion to take care of her. And your maternal grandfather can teach you your studies; he was a Jinshi, you know. And your Uncle Rong can play with you."

Mo Xiaobao wrinkled his nose in distaste, burying his face in Xu Qingchen’s robes. I don’t want to play with someone so ugly! And he’s not just ugly, he’s stupid too! He didn’t even realize Great-Uncle was mocking him and still looked so pleased with himself! I’d much rather play with Little Uncle and Han Mingxi!

"What’s a Jinshi?" Mo Xiaobao asked, blinking. "Is that very impressive?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Your Great-Grandfather, great-uncles, and uncles have all earned the title of Jinshi. A Jinshi title might be considered a remarkable achievement elsewhere, but in the Xu family, it’s the bare minimum. For generations, without exception, all sons of the Xu family have, at the very least, passed the imperial examinations to become first-class Jinshi. In other words, in the Xu family, only after passing the Jinshi examination are you considered to have completed your studies."

Hearing this, Mo Xiaobao looked earnestly at Old Madam Ye. "Our family has... one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... We have eight Jinshis! And... I have Great-Grandfather to teach me my studies. Is Maternal Grandfather more learned than Great-Grandfather?"

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Ye Wenhua quickly forced a smile. "Your Great-Grandfather’s scholarship is the best in the world. To be able to study under him is an immense blessing. How could your maternal grandfather possibly compare..."

Challenged thus by Mo Xiaobao, Old Madam Ye’s expression stiffened. She found herself increasingly disliking this great-grandson who had shown her no deference from the moment they met. However, she had enough sense to know that Mo Xiaobao’s status was not one she could casually rebuke.

Ye Li saw her son, nestled in Xu Qingchen’s arms, make a little grimace at her. She smiled faintly, then turned to Ye Wenhua and asked softly, "Father, is there anything unsatisfactory about your current accommodations?"

"No, Second Brother arranged a residence on Xuanwu Street. It is spacious and quite suitable. There is nothing unsatisfactory," Ye Wenhua quickly replied. Having not seen her for several years, facing this daughter again, Ye Wenhua no longer felt the lofty superiority of a father. Instead, an inexplicable sense of apprehension filled him. Though Ye Li remained as gentle and elegant as ever, her experiences as a high-ranking consort and her command on several military expeditions had undeniably imbued her with an imposing aura of authority and dignity that commanded respect. Those who saw her daily might not perceive it keenly, but Ye Wenhua could clearly sense that this daughter of his was a world apart from the girl she once was.

"That’s good," Ye Li nodded. "If there is anything truly unsuitable, Father, please mention it now. This will prevent outsiders from thinking that the Prince and I are mistreating our elders."

Ye Wenhua repeatedly assured her that everything was fine. He understood this was Ye Li’s warning: if they behaved themselves and lived quietly in Licheng, their food and clothing would be guaranteed. But if they harbored any presumptuous ambitions, they shouldn’t blame her, his daughter, for being ruthless. Although being treated this way by his own daughter pained him, faced with the Xu family, his past neglect of Ms. Xu and Ye Li inevitably surfaced in his mind, making him feel even more guilt-ridden.

Seeing Ye Wenhua’s compliance, Ye Li nodded inwardly with satisfaction. Ye Wenhua wasn’t actually a muddle-headed person. Though he had once relentlessly sought to climb the social ladder by currying favor with the powerful and had been unkind to his legitimate wife, he wasn’t a complete fool. If it were just him, Ye Li wouldn’t be concerned and wouldn’t mind supporting him in Licheng for the rest of his life, ensuring he lacked for nothing, thus fulfilling that thin bond of kinship. Unfortunately, Old Madam Ye and Ms. Wang of Ye Family were not the types to remain content and quiet. Moreover, Ye Wenhua clearly lacked the ability to restrain his wife and mother. It seemed she would still need to have people keep an eye on them to prevent them from stirring up trouble later on.

Xu Hong Yu and the others had merely come to make an appearance; all were extremely busy and naturally wouldn’t linger to exchange pleasantries with Ye Wenhua. After sitting for a short while, Xu Hong Yu and the others rose to help Mr. Qingyun retire to rest. Xu Qingchen also took Mo Xiaobao, who was still clinging to him, and departed, leaving Ye Li alone with Ye Wenhua and his family to ’reminisce’. Even so, Old Madam Ye found no opportunity to approach Ye Li for any intimate conversation. The moment the Xu family members departed, Qingshuang and Qin Feng entered, taking up positions to Ye Li’s left and right, their gazes vigilantly fixed on the Ye family. Ordinarily, their vigilance might not have been so overt, but the incident in the imperial city of Xiling had thoroughly frightened Qin Feng and the others. Consequently, Qin Feng and the others now genuinely regarded Ye Li as a fragile woman needing utmost protection, like one who couldn’t even truss a chicken. Whenever outsiders were present, one of Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, or Lin Han would invariably be stationed within three paces of Ye Li. Ye Li felt a little exasperated by this, but she knew they were worried about her, so she said nothing.

With several people gone, the flower hall instantly grew much quieter. With Mr. Qingyun and Xu Hong Yu no longer present, Ye Wenhua’s expression also relaxed considerably.

The hall fell silent for a while. After a long pause, Ye Wenhua cleared his throat and asked, "Has Li’er been well these past few years?"

Ye Li nodded lightly, a faint smile on her lips. "Thank you for your concern, Father. Everything is fine."

With the Xu family members gone, Old Madam Ye visibly relaxed. She looked at Ye Li and said, "I heard you accompanied Prince Ding to war? A woman like you should be at home, managing the household and raising children. What are you doing on a battlefield? If outsiders see this, they’ll say our family’s upbringing is poor." Having just been vexed by Mo Xiaobao, Old Madam Ye didn’t dare vent her anger on the Xu family members, but she felt no such pressure when it came to lecturing Ye Li.

The words had barely left her mouth when Ye Wenhua saw the smile on Ye Li’s face dim slightly. His heart lurched; he knew this was not good.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Grandmother, you overthink things. Even if people were to gossip, they would speak of the Xu family’s upbringing. It has nothing to do with the Ye family." Although everyone in the realm knew Princess Consort Ding’s surname was Ye, few outside the nobility of the Capital of Great Chu knew which Ye family she hailed from, or who its members were. In a few more years, perhaps even the nobles of the Capital of Great Chu would forget the once-prominent Ye family. However, Ye Li’s connection to the Xu family was known to all, far and wide. Old Madam Ye, who had been delivering her lecture with such righteous indignation, was completely stumped by Ye Li’s gentle but firm rebuttal. Her face flushed red, then paled, as she stared at Ye Li, speechless.

Ye Li paid her no mind, turning her gaze to Ye Lin, who was seated in the rearmost row. "This is Sixth Sister, isn’t it?" she asked with a smile. "And this gentleman is...?"

Ye Lin, looking somewhat reserved, quickly stood up when addressed and curtsied. "Lin’er greets Third Sister. This is my husband, Shen Liang."

The young man beside Ye Lin also hastily bowed towards Ye Li’s hem. "Shen Liang greets Your Highness, Princess Consort Ding." His movements were a little clumsy, showing his unfamiliarity with such formal greetings, but he appeared to be an honest man.

Recalling how Ye Lin, at a young age, had been so adept at fawning over Ms. Wang of Ye Family and Ye Ying, Ye Li thought that such a husband was likely not what Ye Lin had originally hoped for. However, Ye Li had to admit, marrying a man like this might actually be Ye Lin’s good fortune.

"Why hasn’t Fifth Sister come?" Ye Li asked. Towards these two half-sisters, Ye Lin and Ye Shan, Ye Li felt no particular closeness, but neither did she harbor much animosity. Although they had sided with Ms. Wang of Ye Family and Ye Ying back then, constantly trying to curry favor and occasionally belittling her, it was, in essence, a means of survival. If she were to hold these old grievances against two children who were merely twelve or thirteen at the time, it would be rather petty of her.

Ye Wenhua sighed lightly and began to tell Ye Li about the Ye family’s affairs over the past few years. There wasn’t much of significance. After returning to their hometown, Ye Wenhua had arranged marriages for both Ye Lin and Ye Shan into reasonably good local families. However, three years ago, Ye Shan had died in childbirth. Ye Lin currently had one daughter but no son. Ye Lin’s husband, Shen Liang, came from a locally prosperous merchant family, but as a concubine’s son, he was not entitled to inherit much of the family business. With the southwest currently in turmoil due to the Xiling people’s occupation, Shen Liang had taken what portion of assets he could get and followed them to the Northwest.

However, Shen Liang had been rather unlucky. He had initially thought that with the Ye family having produced a Princess Consort, even if he didn’t receive any major benefits for his small business in Licheng, the Princess Consort would, for the Ye family’s sake, offer some assistance. Unexpectedly, upon arriving in Licheng, the Ye family members refused to behave themselves and had already stirred up quite a bit of trouble. As a concubine’s son, Shen Liang had learned to read people’s expressions and situations from a young age. He quickly understood that in Princess Consort Ding’s eyes, the Ye family members were definitely not as important as they boasted. Given their behavior, they were liable to anger Prince Ding’s Mansion at any moment, and he himself would be implicated. With this realization, Shen Liang temporarily shelved his plans to open two shops. He decided to wait and observe the situation. If things truly looked bad, it would be better to relocate. Licheng was not the only city in the Northwest.

Ye Li listened calmly as Ye Wenhua recounted these mundane affairs. Then, she nodded and smiled at Shen Liang. "Since that’s the case, go ahead and establish your business in Licheng. Licheng may not be superior in all aspects, but it is certainly more stable and peaceful than other places. If you encounter any particular difficulties, you can approach the Head of the Han Family for assistance. Since Lin’er is my half-sister, I would naturally be pleased to see you both prosper."

Hearing this, Shen Liang quickly bowed deeply to Ye Li. "Thank you, Your Highness. Licheng has prospered so much under the governance of Your Highness and the Prince; it’s truly incomparable to other places." Hearing Princess Consort Ding’s words, Shen Liang felt reassured. He understood her meaning: the other Ye family members were their own problem, and the Princess Consort would not extend her displeasure to him. If he encountered difficulties, she might offer some help out of consideration for his wife, her half-sister, as long as he knew his place and behaved appropriately. In truth, these words from Ye Li were enough to content him. As a concubine’s son, his life had not been easy. Though not destined for great wealth, he certainly didn’t wish to be dragged down by his wife’s family. Noticing the lingering envy in his wife’s eyes as she looked at the Princess Consort, Shen Liang secretly resolved to carefully manage his wife when they returned home. He absolutely could not allow her to join those two from the Ye family in their foolishness.

"Li’er...." Ms. Wang of Ye Family, who had been sitting quietly at the side, finally couldn’t remain silent any longer and called out.

Ye Li merely raised an eyebrow. Qingshuang, standing behind her, could no longer hold back. Chin tilted slightly, she said, "Madam Ye, it is one thing for Old Madam Ye and Master Ye, who are our Princess Consort’s elders, to address her familiarly. However, you have no such relationship with our Princess Consort. It is hardly appropriate for you to use her maiden name."

Ms. Wang of Ye Family’s cheeks flushed. She forced a smile and said, "What are you saying, girl? I am the Princess Consort’s stepmother. Why wouldn’t it be suitable to call her by her maiden name?"

Qingshuang sneered. "Madam Ye, you were merely a concubine elevated to the status of wife. Most reputable, established families do not even acknowledge the legitimacy of elevating a concubine to the main wife’s position. Can you truly even be considered a stepmother? At best, you might be considered a ’secondary mother’. Our Princess Consort is Princess Consort Ding, the legitimate daughter of the Ye family. What qualification do you have to address her so familiarly? Perhaps your ignorance of etiquette was overlooked in the past, especially when you were basking in the glory of having a daughter who was a Zhaoyi, and people were reluctant to point it out directly. But to think that even now, Madam Ye, you still don’t understand the rules?"

Indeed, the Ye family’s handling of that matter had been dishonorable. Although Great Chu, unlike the preceding dynasty, did not prohibit the elevation of a concubine to the status of a formal wife, most respectable family heads would neither recognize nor undertake such an action. Consequently, back in the Capital of Great Chu, while people refrained from open criticism, they privately held Ms. Wang of Ye Family in low esteem.

Qingshuang’s words ruthlessly struck Ms. Wang of Ye Family’s sore spot, and her face turned uglier. Just as she was about to retort in shame and anger, Ye Wenhua, beside her, said coolly, "Address her as ’Your Highness’."

Though filled with resentment, Ms. Wang of Ye Family dared not contradict her husband in front of her mother-in-law. She could only manage a low, "Your Highness."

Ye Li nodded lightly. "What is it you wish to say, Madam Wang?"

Ms. Wang of Ye Family’s mouth twitched, her expression growing even more rigid. Others called her Madam Ye, which was acceptable. But for Ye Li to pointedly call her Madam Wang—it was practically the same as calling her by her maiden surname, Wang! Though seething with resentment, Ms. Wang of Ye Family forced a smile. "Your Highness, it’s like this: your younger brother, Rong’er, is approaching the age of majority but is still idling at home. So, I was wondering if Your Highness could arrange a position for Rong’er, to help him become more motivated." Hearing this, Old Madam Ye’s interest was piqued, and she looked up at Ye Li on the main seat.

Ms. Wang of Ye Family shot Ye Rong a look. Perhaps he had been coached beforehand, for Ye Rong didn’t cause a scene. Instead, he said to Ye Li in a well-behaved tone, "Third Sister, Rong’er is grown up now. I can help share the burdens of Third Sister and Brother-in-law."

Ye Li looked at the corpulent Ye Rong with an amiable smile, a slight curve to her lips. "Oh? Then... Rong’er, what is it you wish to do?"

Ye Rong’s eyes brightened, and he said cheerfully, "Rong’er wants to become the city’s Guard Commander!"

Behind Ye Li, Qin Feng’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he sized up Ye Rong’s fleshy bulk. You want to be Licheng’s Guard Commander? Any common soldier in the city could beat you to a pulp.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Ambitious. Why do you want to be a Guard Commander?"

Ye Rong declared arrogantly, "A few days ago, I encountered a lad who, I heard, was the grandson of some general. Once I become the Commander, I’ll lead some men and give him a good thrashing!"

"Rong’er!" Ms. Wang of Ye Family cried out, but Ye Rong, caught up in his excited declaration, didn’t hear her at all.

"Wicked son!" Ye Wenhua scolded, exasperated and furious.

Ye Li’s eyes narrowed. "A fine thing, to ’lead men to give him a good thrashing’," she said coldly. "Do you know what the punishment is for a Guard Commander who leads his men to cause public disturbances?"

Ye Rong stared blankly, clearly not having anticipated that leading men to beat someone up would result in punishment. "What?"

"Immediate execution!" Ye Li declared in a cold voice. "Speaking of which, I recall now that I have yet to question you about your assault on General Yuan’s grandson a few days ago. Who gave you the audacity to act so recklessly in Licheng, invoking the name of Prince Ding’s Mansion?!"

Old Madam Ye quickly interjected, "Li’er, it wasn’t entirely Rong’er’s fault! It was clearly the other party who, relying on..."

Ye Li sneered. "Grandmother, are you aware that General Yuan’s grandson is only ten years old? And how old is Ye Rong? He couldn’t even best a ten-year-old child, yet he had the audacity to use the name of Prince Ding’s Mansion to bully others. General Yuan, a man over sixty, is still risking his life on the battlefield for Prince Ding’s Mansion, and his grandson gets bullied in Licheng by the family of Princess Consort Ding? How am I supposed to face the old general!?" As her anger mounted, Ye Li slammed her hand on the table. BANG! The sharp sound made Ye Rong jump in fright.

Ye Rong, though startled, still twisted his head defiantly. "It wasn’t my fault! That kid blocked my path when I was rushing to..."

CRACK! Ye Wenhua, finally unable to bear it any longer, slapped Ye Rong across the face. He had mostly kept to himself since arriving in Licheng, apart from two visits to Prince Ding’s Mansion, so he truly had no idea such an incident had occurred. "Wicked son, shut your mouth!"

"My lord, you..." Seeing her son struck, Ms. Wang of Ye Family could not remain silent.

"Silence!" Ye Wenhua shot Ms. Wang of Ye Family a cold glare, then turned to Ye Li. "Li’er, it is all my fault for failing to discipline this wicked son. We shall take our leave for today. Your health... please rest well. We will not disturb you further."

Ignoring the expressions on Old Madam Ye’s and Ms. Wang of Ye Family’s faces, he turned and strode out. Old Madam Ye, though reluctant, knew her son was her only support, so she had no choice but to follow.

Ms. Wang of Ye Family could only follow, weeping and pulling her son along.