After Mo Xiu Yao’s departure, Ye Li’s days passed peacefully.

Compared to Ye Wen Hua, Old Madam Ye, and Madam Wang looked much better. Though Old Madam Ye was approaching seventy, she maintained the same dignified appearance as years before, still carrying herself like the privileged lady of the Minister’s mansion. Madam Wang had aged and grown plumper since then, but still dressed luxuriously. Her eyes now Due to her pregnancy, the members of Prince Ding’s manor no longer troubled her with political matters. Everyone in the household took meticulous care of her, afraid she might catch a cold, go hungry, or become tired. When news spread of Mo Xiu Yao’s appearance at Feihong Pass several days later, many wondered why the Princess wasn’t by Prince Ding’s side. Only then did the people of Li City learn that the Princess was already five months pregnant. This naturally brought another wave of joy and celebration. With just over a month until the new year, while other regions remained engulfed in war, the common people of the Northwest lived in peace and prosperity, their festivities even more jubilant than New Year celebrations.

With little to do each day, Ye Li spent time with the children in Master Qing Yun’s company. With Mo Xiu Yao absent and Ye Li expecting, Madam Xu Second moved into the guest quarters of Prince Ding’s manor with Qin Zhong. This arrangement served two purposes: first, because Xu Hong Yu, Xu Hong Yan, and Xu Qing Ze were all too busy to return home these days, and second, to keep Ye Li company and lift her spirits.

On this day, Ye Li was playing chess with Master Qing Yun while the three little ones played on thick carpets under the watchful eyes of Madam Xu Second and Qin Zhong. During the game, Master Qing Yun and Ye Li discussed matters in Xi Ling. After hearing about Mo Xiu Yao’s affairs in the imperial city of Xi Ling, Master Qing Yun sighed and said, “Prince Ding possesses extraordinary talent and natural intelligence. Had his life been smooth, he would surely have gone down in history as a loyal minister and great general. When I saw him in his youth, I noticed his bearing carried an imposing air, even surpassing the former Crown Prince of Ding by several degrees. Such a man… in peace, can stabilize the realm. In action, can bring complexity to the world. Whether still or moving, he carries the force of thunder, his moods capable of influencing the empire’s fate. Yet the Emperor, young and reckless, couldn’t tolerate the House of Prince Ding, leading to grave mistakes. He failed to understand that with someone like Prince Ding, if you cannot kill him in one strike, you’ve sealed your fate.”

Ye Li placed a chess piece and asked Master Qing Yun, “Did Grandfather anticipate such circumstances back then?”

Master Qing Yun shook his head, “Prince Ding was too gravely injured at the time; even I couldn’t have foreseen his recovery. However… even if Prince Ding hadn’t recovered, he likely would have fought the Emperor to mutual destruction. But… when I arrived in the Northwest six years ago and saw Prince Ding, I noticed he was very different from his youth.”

Ye Li smiled gently, “Many have said his temperament now differs greatly from his younger years.”

Master Qing Yun shook his head, “It’s not just his temperament, but the indelible murderous intent in his bearing. Though the House of Prince Ding has produced generations of famous generals, none were truly bloodthirsty. But when I saw Prince Ding again, I noticed concealed killing intent in his expression, occasional bloodlust flashing in his eyes—clear signs of overwhelming murderous qi. After you left for Xi Ling, I cast a divination for Prince Ding in my spare time, and the hexagram also showed overwhelming killing energy. Such results weren’t unexpected.”

Ye Li spoke shamefully, “It was all because of Li’s carelessness that…”

Master Qing Yun waved his hand, “How could your maternal grandfather be so inflexible? These readings of hexagrams and facial features are merely additional references. Besides, a man like Prince Ding… once he’s made up his mind, how could mere divinations constrain him? Our Xu family has cultivated peace for several generations now, but in earlier years, the Xu family’s hands were not clean either. However, excessive killing ultimately damages one’s nature. I only worry that Prince Ding might fall into darkness and needlessly shorten his lifespan.”

Ye Li nodded, “Thank you for your concern, Grandfather. Li will counsel Mo Xiu Yao well.”

Master Qing Yun set down his chess piece and smiled at Ye Li, “Though you carry the air of killing, your nature is upright and gentle, perfectly complementing Prince Ding. In this world, only you can counsel him. Li, you have far better judgment than your mother.” Mentioning his deceased daughter brought some sadness to Master Qing Yun. His only daughter had been perfect in every way except for her poor judgment, and her character wasn’t as strong as his granddaughter’s. If he had known what would happen later, he wouldn’t have respected his daughter’s wishes and arranged her marriage—perhaps she would still be alive today. However, if things had been different, he might not have this admirable and pride-worthy granddaughter before him now.

Seeing Master Qing Yun’s mind wasn’t on the chess game, Ye Li also set down her piece and smiled, “Why has Grandfather brought this up suddenly? Are you missing Mother?”

Master Qing Yun looked at her, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your eldest uncle wanted to tell you this himself, but he’s very busy now, so this old man will tell you instead. Your father… has come to Li City.”

Father… Ye Li felt a moment of confusion. Her first thought was of her previous life’s father, who despite his stern exterior, deeply loved his wife and daughter and was filial to his elders. Suddenly, many memories she thought long forgotten flooded back, their vivid images seemingly untouched by time. Seeing her expression change, Master Qing Yun’s eyes showed concern, “Li?”

Ye Li came back to herself, shook her head, and smiled faintly, “Li is fine, sorry to worry Grandfather. Father… why have they come to Li City?” It was no wonder Ye Li couldn’t immediately recall Ye Wen Hua. Even in childhood, when Madam Xu was still alive, Ye Li was often raised in the Xu family, and her feelings toward her father who constantly made her mother sad were never deep. After gaining memories of her previous life and comparing the fathers of both lives, along with Ye Wen Hua’s actions, what little filial affection remained gradually faded. After Ye Wen Hua took Old Madam Ye and the others back to their hometown, Ye Li gradually became accustomed to remembering only her previous life’s father, pushing this father to the back of her mind.

Master Qing Yun smiled faintly, “The Ye family’s home in the remote Southwest was first in the path of Xi Ling’s advancing army. Setting aside your father’s character, he has more knowledge than ordinary commoners. He led the entire family away early. Now, they’ve been in the Northwest for over a month. Your eldest brother thought to simply arrange accommodation for them without informing you. But he is still your father, and besides, even if we settle them, they might not be content to stay quietly in the city. If they spread rumors outside, it could harm both your and Prince Ding’s reputation. It was fine when we didn’t know you had returned. These past few days, after hearing of your return, they’ve already requested an audience twice. Earlier, Qing Ze turned them away, saying you were too tired from your journey, but if we don’t receive them soon, they might cause trouble.”

Ye Li frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then smiled faintly, “It’s not a big matter. Li understands, I’ll see them soon enough.”

Qin Zhong, who had been playing with the children nearby, looked up and said, “Li, that Minister Ye… Old Master Ye is one thing, but you mustn’t be courteous to Old Madam Ye, Madam Wang, and Ye Rong.”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Oh? Has Zhong met them?”

Qin Zhong nodded, “Indeed. That Ye Rong is already in her teens, spoiled beyond propriety by Madam Wang. Not even a month after arriving in Li City, she dared to fight with Elder General Yuan’s young grandson. That would be fine, but after losing the fight, she made a big fuss about her sister being a princess. The Yuan family is quite sensible and didn’t spread the news, even warning those present not to speak of it. They only came to tell our family about it. And that Old Madam Ye, at her age, still goes around socializing with the city’s ladies, openly and subtly showing off your status.” Having managed household affairs with Madam Xu Second these past few years, Qin Zhong’s character had become more decisive than during her maiden days. She spoke candidly about the Ye family, clearly holding no good opinion of them.

“I understand,” Ye Li nodded and smiled, “If they stay quiet in Li City, naturally no one will bully them. If there are capable and ambitious people in the clan, they’ll naturally find success in the future. But if they still want to cause trouble, I’m not some living Buddha enshrined in a temple. Father and Grandmother share blood ties with me, but I have no connection to the others.”

Qin Zhong finally relaxed, “As long as you understand. Speaking of which, the Ye family was once prominent, how can they not understand even basic propriety? How does damaging your reputation benefit them?” Madam Xu Second frowned, “They’re just shortsighted people who like to throw their weight around. But in Li City, few will play along with them.” Li City wasn’t very large, and those with real influence were all loyal to Prince Ding’s manor, naturally understanding the Prince and Princess’s attitude toward the Ye family. At most, they could only intimidate outsiders who didn’t know the details.

“Your Highness, Old… Master Ye has arrived with his family seeking an audience,” Manager Mo announced from outside. Since Ye Wen Hua now held no official position, Manager Mo struggled with how to address him.

Qin Zhong smiled, “Speak of the devil, here they come.”

Ye Li stood up and smiled, “I’ll go see them.” Master Qing Yun said, “In your condition, why go to the front hall? Have them come here instead. Let this old man see your father as well.”

“Grandfather, why trouble yourself?” Back then, the old man had given his only beloved daughter to the relatively humble Ye Wen Hua, only to end up with such results. Who would believe he wasn’t heartbroken? Why let the old man see that son-in-law again and risk upsetting himself?

Master Qing Yun shook his head, “It’s fine, I want to hear what he has to say.” Ye Li had no choice but to have Manager Mo invite them over. Qin Zhong, not wanting to see these troublesome people, took Leng Jun Han and Xu Zhi Rui to the inner room.

Soon after, Manager Mo led the visitors in. It wasn’t just Ye Wen Hua alone, but Old Madam Ye, Madam Wang, and five or six others.

“Grandfather, Father.” Ye Li looked at the group with a calm expression. It had been six or seven years since she had last seen Ye Wen Hua, and compared to then, he had aged considerably. His once handsome and refined face now bore many wrinkles, his hair had turned white, and his eyes carried a dejected look. Upon seeing Ye Li, his expression became complex and indecipherable; his lips moved, but ultimately he said nothing.

Compared to Ye Wen Hua, Old Madam Ye, and Madam Wang looked much better. Though Old Madam Ye was approaching seventy, she maintained the same dignified appearance as years before, still carrying herself like the privileged lady of the Minister’s mansion. Madam Wang had aged and grown plumper since then, but still dressed luxuriously. Her eyes now showed more overtly calculating and harsh qualities, quite different from her previous facade of a virtuous wife. Beside Madam Wang stood a youth of eighteen or nineteen, his features faintly resembling Ye Wen Hua’s handsome looks, but unfortunately, he had grown quite round, his eyes dull and his bearing completely lacking the quiet dignity of a scholar. He was just like those ignorant young masters Ye Li had seen in mindless TV dramas in her previous life. Ye Li truly wondered how Madam Wang had managed to transform Ye Rong from a somewhat domineering but at least somewhat good-looking child into this dull-witted, chubby-faced youth he’d become.

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

“Your son-in-law… pays respects to Honorable Father-in-law.” Upon seeing Master Qing Yun seated at the head, Ye Wen Hua’s expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly stepped forward to bow deeply.

Master Qing Yun leisurely set down his blue-and-white porcelain cup and looked up with a faint smile, “Isn’t this Minister Ye? I heard in Yun Province that Minister Ye had married a virtuous wife and become the former emperor’s father-in-law. I dare not accept the title of Honorable Father-in-law.” Master Qing Yun was highly respected and naturally possessed extraordinary cultivation. In all these years, this was the first time Ye Li had heard him mock someone so sarcastically, showing his deep dissatisfaction with Ye Wen Hua. When they hadn’t met, it was one thing, but now that they had, there was no need to hold back. No wonder her eldest uncle had said that if Grandfather had heard earlier about the Ye family’s conduct, he might have rushed to the capital to beat Ye Wen Hua—something she hadn’t believed at the time. She had always thought such a distinguished scholar would never act that way, but seeing her grandfather’s expression now, she realized that even the most cultivated scholar had his limits of tolerance.

Ye Wen Hua’s face reddened, his expression awkward as he stammered wordlessly. Indeed, he had taken a concubine less than half a year after marriage, and even his first and second daughters weren’t born to his principal wife. Later, he had favored Wang and neglected his wedded wife until Madam Xu died of depression. Over the years, he had come to understand Wang’s true nature and conduct—how could she be called virtuous in any way? The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he became, his face burning red as he stood there helplessly.

“In-law, we’re all family after all, why be like this? Hua’er knows his mistakes,” Old Madam Ye quickly forced a smile and said to Master Qing Yun, seeing her son’s predicament.

Master Qing Yun raised his eyebrows, “In-law? The Wang family are the Ye family’s in-laws. We of the Xu family don’t deserve such an honor.” Did this old woman think he didn’t know she had played a part in his daughter being neglected by Ye Wen Hua?

Old Madam Ye’s smile froze, but she continued with a placating laugh, “How could that be? Li’s mother will always be the Ye family’s principal daughter-in-law. Li, come let Grandmother see you. Grandmother has missed you so much these many years.” As she spoke, Old Madam Ye wiped away tears, looking at Ye Li with apparent affection. Unfortunately, Ye Li wouldn’t gratify her wishes, merely smiling faintly and saying, “Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. As I am with a child, I won’t rise to pay my respects. Please, Grandmother and Father, be seated.”

Having met with this gentle rebuff, Old Madam Ye could only awkwardly take a seat to the side. Ye Wen Hua glanced at Master Qing Yun’s calm expression but didn’t dare to sit, only standing beside Old Madam Ye.

The others at least knew of Master Qing Yun’s special status; even Madam Wang, despite her obvious reluctance, stood properly. Ye Rong, however, completely lacked such awareness. In earlier years when he still studied, he had learned some manners, but after following Minister Ye in the countryside these past few years, he had forgotten even the basic teachings. Protected by Old Madam Ye and Madam Wang, even Ye Wen Hua couldn’t control him, leading to his lawless temperament. Having already dared to fight with the eldest general of the Mo family army’s grandson less than a month after arriving in Li City, he naturally wouldn’t stand quietly now.

Looking at the empty chairs nearby, Ye Rong’s eyes darted around before he walked to one and sat down, not forgetting to say, “Father, Mother, Sixth Sister, why are you all standing? Sit down quickly.”

Ye Wen Hua’s face instantly turned ashen, and Master Qing Yun said coldly, “The Ye family’s upbringing is quite remarkable.”

Ye Rong thought Master Qing Yun was genuinely praising him and smiled proudly, “Of course, Mother, look…”

“Wretched child! Get up this instant!” Ye Wen Hua trembled with anger, feeling he had never been so embarrassed in his life. Even when Xu Hong Yan had accused him of failing to teach his daughter properly, he hadn’t felt his face burn this hot.

Ye Rong startled, then protested, “Why can’t I sit?! Isn’t this Third Sister’s home? We’ve been waiting so long, I’m exhausted. I won’t get up!”

“You… you…” Ye Wen Hua pointed at Ye Rong, shaking all over as if he might collapse at any moment. Ye Li smiled faintly, “Never mind, if you’re tired, then sit. Father, Madam Wang, Sixth Sister, and this young gentleman, please be seated as well.” Ye Wen Hua glanced at Master Qing Yun, who merely snorted coldly and said, “Sit.”

Only then did he carefully sit down below Old Madam Ye, while Wang looked at her son but still walked over to sit beside Ye Rong. Ye Lin carefully pulled the young man to sit in the lowest position. Madam Xu Second, drinking tea to the side, frowned slightly but said nothing. Though the Xu family wasn’t strict about etiquette, proper manners were ingrained in their bones. To Madam Xu Second, the Ye family’s seating arrangement was the height of rudeness.

“Mother, who are these people? Why don’t they bow to you and Great-grandfather?” Little Mo Bao, lying against Ye Li’s leg, asked in his clear voice, his big dark eyes blinking.

Ye Li gently stroked her son’s head, smiling, “This is your great-grandmother, and this is your grandfather. Chen’er, go pay your respects.”

Mo Bao looked at Ye Wen Hua and Old Madam Ye, and finally stood up to walk before them, calling out “Great-grandmother, Grandfather.”

Originally, Old Madam Ye had extended her hand with a loving smile, expecting Mo Bao to kneel in respect so she could help him up and display her affection. However, Mo Bao merely stood there and called out once before considering it done, making her extended hand and bent posture appear awkward and silly. Ye Wen Hua didn’t mind, staring intently at the handsome six or seven-year-old child, seeming to see traces of his deceased wife in the boy’s features. He couldn’t help wanting to reach out and pat the child’s head, “Good… good child, are you Yu Chen?”

Mo Bao stepped back half a step, curiously looking at his grandfather who was staring at him, and said seriously, “Grandfather, you cannot pat my head.” Ye Wen Hua started, asking, “Why not?”

Mo Bao said very seriously, “A man’s head and a woman’s waist, you can look but must not touch.” With that, he turned and ran back to Master Qing Yun. Master Qing Yun lovingly took his great-grandson into his arms, smiling as he patted the little head, “Can look but must not touch? Hmm? Who taught you such nonsense?”

“Han Ming Xi!” Mo Bao unhesitatingly sold out Han Ming Xi, completely forgetting how many treats and toys Han Ming Xi had given him.

Mo Bao lay across Master Qing Yun’s legs, curiously examining these strange people before him. He didn’t like his great-grandmother at all, and his grandfather wasn’t as handsome as his great-uncles. That fat one… was he his uncle too? He was so ugly! Mo Bao covered his eyes and hid in Master Qing Yun’s embrace, unwilling to look at that silly fatty who kept touching things here and there. As Han Ming Xi would say, those actions and expressions were sleazy—looking at them too long would hurt the eyes. Mo Bao, who had extremely high aesthetic standards from a young age, felt this sleazy fatty challenged his lowest aesthetic limits. Uglier than the beggars under the northern bridge! He refused to acknowledge him as his uncle!

“Greetings to First Master, Second Master. Greetings to First Young Master, Second Young Master.” The clear voice of a maid greeting came from outside. Ye Li brightened—so her elder brother had returned.

Xu Hong Yu and Xu Hong Yan entered with Xu Qing Chen and Xu Qing Ze.

“Great-uncle?!” Mo Bao’s eyes lit up as he climbed down from Master Qing Yun’s embrace and happily rushed toward Xu Qing Chen who entered behind them, “Great-uncle, Yu Chen has missed you so much…” Xu Qing Chen smiled faintly, bending down to pick him up, “Oh? Did you miss your great-uncle that much?”

Mo Bao’s eyes grew even brighter as he gazed at Xu Qing Chen’s handsome, otherworldly face that seemed untouched by mortal dust despite being over thirty, nodding repeatedly. Having just encountered an ugly, sleazy man, he desperately needed his great-uncle’s handsome face to comfort his shaken aesthetic sensibilities.

“Yu Chen likes Great-uncle the most.” So, Great-uncle was truly a beautiful man; Father King paled in comparison. Want to touch so badly… Mo Bao secretly drooled. That’s why Han Ming Xi was better—you could touch him freely. Great-uncle was too impressive; you could only look…

Watching her son’s eyes flash with light no different from Han Ming Xi’s at certain times, Ye Li couldn’t help but cover her face. Mo Xiu Yao was right—they really shouldn’t let Little Bao meet with Han Ming Xi so often. Ye Li had forgotten that Mo Bao’s appreciation for beauty was innate; he had become close to Han Ming Xi because of his good looks, not developed a taste for beauty after becoming close to him. The unfortunate romantic young master was being blamed unfairly.