Imperial Capital 17. Family, Relatives

"Aunt, don't stand at the door. Let's go in and have a cup of tea."

After hearing the words of her niece whom she loved like her own daughter, Mrs. Xu's originally cold face immediately became more smiling. She held Ye Li's hand and sighed sympathetically: "Good child, you have been wronged." Ye Li smiled lightly without saying anything, took Mrs. Xu's arm and walked into the yard, not forgetting to turn around and say to her father who was standing aside with an embarrassed look: "Father, if you are not busy, please taste your daughter's tea together." Ye Wenhua then forced a smile and nodded: "Then taste Li'er's tea."

The tense atmosphere finally eased a little. When the group was about to enter Qingyixuan, Wang came over stumblingly, supported by someone. Seeing Ye Rong being beaten with a stick and screaming in shock, Wang cried out and rushed over to hold Ye Rong in her arms. Wang was the mistress of the family. When she showed up, others naturally didn't dare to take action and had to stand aside. When Ye Rong saw Wang coming, he immediately grabbed Wang and cried out in pain as if he had found a backer, pointing at Ye Li and saying, "Mom, she caused my son to be beaten. You must avenge my son. It hurts... Ouch..."

Wang held Ye Rong in her arms and knelt on the ground. She looked at Ye Wenhua with grief and resentment and questioned: "Master, what did Rong'er do wrong that you had to beat him like this? He...he is still so young, he is your only son...wuwu...Miss San, even if Rong'er has offended you in some way...you are siblings..."

"Li'er, follow your aunt into the house. What kind of monsters are there in this mansion? What will happen if the news gets out? If it really doesn't work out, let your uncle report to the emperor and take you away from the Yushi Mansion to marry. I think your grandfather can still make the decision on your marriage, and our Yushi Mansion will not humiliate the face of the Dingguo Palace." Seeing Wang's face kneeling on the ground and crying with a wronged face not far away, Mrs. Xu immediately frowned again and pulled Ye Li inside. The mother and daughter of the Ye family, as well as Ye Zhaoyi in the palace, are all of the same character, but it's okay for Ye Ying and Ye Yue to cry, but Wang is so old that she doesn't know shame.

Ye Li nodded, turned around and said to Wang calmly: "Madam, you are too kind. Rong'er was punished by my father. But speaking of it, Rong'er should also be well managed, so that outsiders will not say that our Shangshu Mansion has no family education." After that, he no longer paid attention to Ye Wenhua's expression on the side, and took Madam Xu's hand and went into the yard. Xu Qingfeng followed behind, looked at Wang with interest, and smiled: "My uncle's second wife... is really interesting." I have never seen a wife with such a virtue. No matter how the main wife of a famous family behaves in private, she is always graceful and dignified in front of outsiders. This one is crying and not forgetting to seduce people with her sorrowful look. It is obviously the look of a concubine. Yes, isn't this a concubine? After saying this, he turned around and followed his mother and cousin, leaving the outside to be handled by the Shangshu, whose face was as black as ink.

In the elegant and quiet flower hall, Ye Li served tea that she had brewed herself to her aunt and cousin who were still angry.

Madam Xu took a sip of tea and felt her anger had subsided. She looked at Ye Li helplessly and said, "Look at your temper. Even a concubine's son dares to bully you." Ye Li didn't care. She smiled calmly at her aunt who was protecting her and said, "After all, she is the head of the Ye family and the biological mother of Zhao Yi in the palace. Besides, Li'er didn't suffer any loss. Aunt, what do you think?"

Xu Qingfeng frowned and said, "We are here today, and your father must be punished in front of outsiders. It would not be so easy at other times." Don't think he doesn't know that the twenty boards were dragged on until Wang came, and the ones that really fell on Ye Rong were just a few light strokes. If it wasn't Ye Wenhua's instruction, how could the servants have such courage to obey the order in public but disobey it in private?

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled, "I'm sorry to have worried my cousin and my uncle and aunt. After all, he is my father's only son, so there's no reason for him not to be partial to me. But Li'er is not a pushover, if he really offended me, would I let him get away with it so easily?" In Ye Li's opinion, Ye Rong was just a spoiled child that people didn't like very much. It would be boring to argue with him too much.

Thinking of someone who had been entangled in bad luck during this period, Xu Qingfeng couldn't help but smile. But he still couldn't help but remind his cousin to be careful.

Madam Xu handed a sealed letter to Ye Li. Ye Li held the thick envelope in her hand. Her heart warmed up. She looked up and saw Madam Xu's gentle and loving eyes. Ye Li felt a little sad. "Aunt..." Since her mother passed away, if it weren't for her uncle and aunt taking care of her, she wouldn't have lived so carefree these years. Before she could say thank you, Madam Xu reached out and held her hand and smiled, "Silly child, you are the blood of the Xu family anyway, aren't you? Your uncle has only one sister in his life, so what's the trouble of doing all this?"

"Aunt..." Ye Li lowered her eyes, not wanting Madam Xu to see the tears in her eyes.

Xu Qingfeng noticed that the atmosphere was a little sad, so he smiled and said, "Mom is right. In this generation of our Xu family, we only have Li'er as a daughter. When Li'er gets married, my uncle, my eldest brother, my second brother, my fourth brother, and my fifth brother will all come to Beijing. If it weren't for the fact that grandpa is not feeling well this year and the doctor forbids him to travel far, he would have wanted to come too."

Ye Li quickly suppressed her surging thoughts, "Grandpa is not feeling well? What about my uncles..."

"Don't worry, Grandpa is old and naturally has some minor illnesses. The climate in the capital is not as suitable as Yunzhou for recuperation. As for the eldest brother, they were originally going to Beijing to prepare for the next year's spring exam, but now they are going a few months earlier because of your wedding date." Xu Qingfeng hurriedly comforted Ye Li, fearing that Ye Li would think too much. Ye Li held back her laughter. It was only the end of March, and there was still nearly a year before the next year's spring exam. It was too early to advance. Knowing that her cousin wanted to comfort her, Ye Li followed his words and changed the topic, asking curiously: "Second cousin, fourth cousin and fifth brother are all going to participate in the spring exam?" Xu Qingze, the second in the Xu family, is nineteen this year, Xu Qingbai, the fourth in the sixteenth year, and Xu Qingyan, who is only thirteen years old. As for the oldest Xu Qingchen, he is twenty-two this year. As early as the age of fourteen, he had already won the title of the first place in the gold list. He became the youngest top scholar since the founding of the Chu Kingdom. However, Xu Qingchen did not like officialdom, so he resigned at the age of fifteen to travel around. At the age of twenty, he became the youngest teacher in Lishan Academy. It is no exaggeration to describe this cousin as stunning and gorgeous. Although Ye Li only met him a few times a few years ago, she had a deep impression of this cousin. However, the three sons of the Xu family participated in the imperial examination at the same time. With the ability of the Xu family, the possibility of failing is also very low. Wouldn't it be too conspicuous?

Xu Qingfeng shrugged and said, "Originally it was the second and fourth elder brothers, but the fifth elder brother wanted to come on his own. It is said that he wanted to surpass the eldest elder brother who won the title of the top scholar at the age of fourteen. The eldest elder brother was born in February, and he was born in September. If he really won the title of the top scholar, he would really be considered to have surpassed the eldest elder brother, but the chance is not high." He has been fond of martial arts since he was a child, and even if he read books, he liked to read military books. He has no interest in whether he will pass the imperial examination or not. In fact, the Xu family is not very interested in the imperial examination, and they don't plan to become officials anyway. It's just that if they don't take the exam and get a certain ranking, they can't teach in Lishan Academy even if they are really well-educated. How could those proud sons of heaven accept someone of the same age as them as a teacher?

Madam Xu also laughed and said, "In fact, the only one who really needs to take the test is Qingze. Qingbai and Qingyan are just taking the opportunity to join in the fun."

"Brother, do you plan to stay in the capital?" Ye Li asked.

Xu Qingfeng smiled and praised: "Li'er is still smart. But your second brother will stay in the capital, and I, your cousin, will have to travel far away."

Seeing Xu Qingfeng's high spirits, Ye Li was moved and asked happily, "Cousin, did my second uncle agree to it?"

Mrs. Xu nodded helplessly but gratified, "Isn't it? This kid finally got what he wanted. Your uncle was planning to let him train in the army." In fact, Lord Yu Shi's thoughts were still very complicated. He hoped that his son would be unable to endure training in the army and return home to carry on the tradition of the Xu family's scholarly family. However, if Xu Qingfeng really dared to hang around for a few months and then run back, he would be afraid of a good fight.

"Congratulations, cousin." Ye Li said with a smile. Second uncle had always been against cousin joining the army, but now he finally agreed. No wonder Xu Qingfeng was so happy.

"I will take your words, Li'er. When I become a general, if Prince Ding dares to bully you, I will avenge him for you!"

"..." Ye Li's face was dark. Even if he was a general, he would not be able to compete with the only hereditary prince of the Great Chu. Moreover, when he went from a small soldier to a general, the opportunity would be gone.