HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 34: A Great Scholar of the Age

Chapter 34: A Great Scholar of the Age

The Xu family’s young masters, under their eldest brother Xu Qingchen’s complete guidance, had a cordial meeting with Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye. As for Madam Wang, sitting to the side and unable to interject despite several attempts, she was deliberately ignored. The Xu family’s fifth young master later stated he had no interest in conversing with other people’s concubines. Indeed, in the Xu family’s eyes, they had never acknowledged Madam Wang’s position as principal wife. Setting aside Madam Wang’s grievances with the late Madam Xu, the Xu family fundamentally didn’t recognize the practice of elevating concubines to principal wives – though this might also relate to the fact that, apart from extremely rare exceptions, no one in the Xu family for generations had taken concubines. If Madam Wang had truly been a noble lady of good family, virtuous and frugal, they might have shown some respect, but unfortunately, she lacked these qualities.

Afterward, Xu Qingchen very tactfully and politely expressed his father’s longing to see his niece after many years, requesting to have Ye Li stay at the Xu family villa for some time. Old Madam Ye naturally refused without hesitation, stating that Ye Li was about to marry and needed to remain home in preparation. Xu Qingchen then explained that because their aunt died early, Grandfather feared his cousin might be looked down upon by her in-laws if she couldn’t manage household affairs. He had specially asked Second Aunt to invite several of the capital’s most capable matrons to instruct her and sent several senior maids to re-teach his cousin proper etiquette. After all… rumors outside had been calling the Ye family’s third young lady a “triple-lacking” young lady – lacking talent, virtue, and beauty. This clearly showed his cousin desperately needed strict instruction in etiquette, comportment, and conduct.

Seeing Old Madam Ye fall silent with a suffering expression, unable to voice her complaints, Ye Li again confirmed that dealing with shrewd elders like Old Madam Ye required avoiding confrontation and harsh words. Looking at how elegantly and politely her cousin spoke, who wouldn’t believe this was simply a gentle, courteous junior respectfully listening to his elder’s opinion? But looking at Old Madam Ye’s less-than-pleased expression, could she raise any objections? Even Old Madam Ye’s final attempt to have Ye Shan and Ye Lin accompany Ye Li to the Xu family villa was deflected by Xu Qingyan’s smiling concern about propriety between men and women potentially affecting the young ladies’ reputations. She could only watch helplessly as Ye Li was led away by the Xu young masters.

Once they left the Ye residence, everyone became much more relaxed and casual. Even the usually cold-faced Xu Qingze showed a faint smile. The estrangement between siblings who hadn’t seen each other for many years seemed to vanish instantly. As for Xu Qingyan, too young to remember Ye Li, he was naturally gregarious and soon acted as close as if they’d grown up together. Because the current Xu clan leader – father of Xu Qingchen, Xu Qingbai, and Xu Qingyan and Ye Li’s eldest uncle Xu Hongyu – didn’t want to make too much of a display, they hadn’t stayed at his brother’s Censor’s mansion but directly moved into a modest Xu family villa in the capital. Thus Ye Li’s group headed straight there.

“Elder Uncle…”

Seeing the still elegant and cultured middle-aged man before her, Ye Li called out hoarsely.

Xu Hongyu likewise looked at this beloved niece he had doted on since childhood. Seeing a face seven parts similar to his deceased sister’s, but with additional strength his sister never had, he couldn’t help sighing softly. He beckoned to Ye Li: “Li’er, these years have been hard. Your uncle knows about everything in the capital. With your uncle here, who would dare trouble you!” Ye Li also felt her eyes stinging but forced a smile: “With Second Uncle here, who would dare trouble Li’er? Li’er just missed Elder Uncle and Grandfather.”

Xu Hongyu cast a somewhat dissatisfied glance at his brother sitting to the side: “If he were useful, could those two from the Ye family have been so smug?” Xu Hongbian knew his elder brother’s temperament and could only smile helplessly: “Elder Brother’s criticism is justified. I failed to take good care of Li’er.”

“Elder Uncle!” Ye Li tugged at her elder uncle’s sleeve protestingly. She felt no pressure about acting spoiled with her elder uncle – after all, she’d always been that way since childhood. Who could blame her when she was truly a child then? Moreover, she was the only child in the entire Xu family who wasn’t afraid of Elder Uncle.

Xu Hongyu fondly rubbed the back of Ye Li’s head, smiling: “Alright, your uncle was just saying. You girl, after so many years you only side with your Second Uncle now.”

“Not at all, Li’er has always missed Elder Uncle and Grandfather.”

“Then why did you dare refuse when your grandfather wanted you to go to Yunzhou?”

“…”

After chatting with her two uncles for a while, Xu Hongyu had Xu Qingyan show her to the prepared room and meet the two waiting senior maids. Ye Li also knew her uncle and cousins probably had things to discuss, so she obediently followed Xu Qingyan.

Ye Li’s room had long been prepared, located in the most secluded courtyard of the villa. The Xu family residences, whether the Censor’s mansion, their former capital residence, or this villa, all shared the same simple, elegant, and dignified style that suited Ye Li’s taste. As soon as she stepped through the gate, people came to welcome her: “Young Miss!”

Two appropriately dressed senior maids hurried forward, both stunned upon seeing Ye Li, their eyes brimming with tears.

“Nurse Lin… Wet Nurse…” Ye Li called out. Nurse Lin had been her mother’s maid since childhood and was nearly fifty now. Ye Li’s wet nurse was also a Xu family servant by birth, now in her forties. Ye Li still remembered when she had forcefully sent Nurse Lin and Nurse Wei back to the Xu family, how they had knelt before her begging, preferring death to leave her. Though she had no one truly trustworthy by her side until meeting Qingshuang, Ye Li didn’t regret it. She knew clearly that with her state then – just recovered memories, occasional mental confusion, and extremely poor health – she couldn’t have protected these two people who truly cared for her.

“Young Miss… Young Miss…” The two senior maids hurried to Ye Li’s side, Nurse Lin speaking through tears: “Young Miss has finally grown up… looking so much like the First Young Lady…”

Nurse Wei’s feelings for Ye Li ran even deeper, having raised her personally: “Sob… this servant has failed First Young Lady, leaving Young Miss alone in that Ye manor for so many years. Thankfully… thankfully Young Miss is alright…”

Ye Li sighed inwardly, still awkward with such scenes, and could only clumsily try to console the two senior maids. To the side, Xu Qingyan secretly laughed at Ye Li’s stiff manner while becoming more convinced the Ye family had mistreated his cousin. “Ahem. Nurse Lin, Nurse Wei, you’ll be staying by Sister Li’s side from now on. There’s no rush. Why not go inside to talk?” Reminded by Xu Qingyan, the two senior maids hurriedly wiped their faces, nodding repeatedly: “Fifth Young Master speaks truly, we were careless. Quickly, Young Miss, see if you like your room. If not, we can change it.”

Watching helplessly as Ye Li was pulled away by the two senior maids, the forgotten Xu Qingyan stood dumbfounded for a moment, rolled his eyes at the sky, and then turned to leave.

While Ye Li endured the two senior maids’ enthusiasm in her room, the atmosphere in the villa’s study was rather cold.

Xu Hongyu sat behind his desk looking at his brother, smiling yet somehow making Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingbai, shrinking behind, shiver involuntarily: “So, Prince Li felt Li’er wasn’t worthy of him and turned to pursue the Ye family’s fourth daughter instead. And His Majesty thought Li’er’s reputation as a ‘triple-lacking’ young lady and the shame of being rejected by Prince Li would be perfect to humiliate Prince Ding?”

Everyone couldn’t help but twitch their lips. “Pursue”… Father/Uncle, you’re a great scholar of the age, couldn’t you phrase it more elegantly?

Xu Hongbian nodded: “Indeed so.”

As if the study’s atmosphere wasn’t heavy enough, Xu Qingchen, sitting below with an even more graceful smile than his father, pulled a letter from his sleeve: “Just earlier today, Prince Li publicly declared at Chu Xiang Pavilion that no matter how Li’er tried to attract attention, he would never marry her.”

Shiver… Xu Qingyan, who had just slipped in, inconspicuously moved closer to his Fourth Brother.

Xu Hongyu took the letter and read it for a while, saying nothing for a long time. Just as Xu Hongbian was getting worried and about to speak, Xu Hongyu laughed heartily: “Not bad… truly worthy of being my Xu family’s daughter…” He handed the letter directly to Xu Hongbian, who tugged at his lips, holding back laughter. Having stayed in the capital, how could he not know his niece was not as refined as she appeared on the surface, though such… forcefulness was rare – she must have been provoked by Prince Li.

“Was Prince Ding also present at the time?” Xu Hongbian folded the letter, ignoring the eagerly waiting Xu Qingyan behind him, and tucked it directly into his sleeve. He needed to study how to create more trouble for Prince Li – clearly, he was too idle to be making trouble for Li’er.

“Li’er seemed to have quite a conversation with Prince Ding. It appears they’ve reached some sort of understanding,” Xu Qingchen said mildly.

Xu Hongyu thought for a moment, then waved his hand: “Your grandfather thinks highly of Prince Ding, and since Li’er seems to have no objections to the marriage. Qingchen, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Xu Qingchen nodded with a smile: “Son understands. It’s perfect timing as I haven’t seen Prince Ding for many years since leaving the capital.”

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