Imperial Capital 44. Where the Aunt Goes

"Miss, the lady is here."

In the comfortably and elegantly decorated Qingyixuan, Ye Li was working on her embroidery with needle and thread when Qingxia came in to report.

Ye Li put down her embroidery and raised her head, "How can she still have time to come here?" Ever since the blunder at Ye Ying's wedding two days ago, Wang's family has been very busy. In the past two days, news came out that the child in Aunt Zhao's belly was incompatible with Ye Ying and Ye Rong, which made the whole place even more chaotic. Minister Ye was also very confused. On one hand, he had to deal with the daughter and only son of Princess Li, and on the other hand, he had to deal with the most favored concubine and future son. Minister Ye was not confused about which was more important, but seeing Aunt Zhao crying, he still felt a little reluctant. Unfortunately, on the second day of Ye Ying's wedding, Ye Rong inexplicably got startled by a carriage on the way to school and was so scared that she lay in bed for two days. Wang's family became even more chaotic.

When Wang came in, her expression was a rare amiable one when facing Ye Li. Unfortunately, Ye Li was neither a concubine's son or daughter who had to live by her facial expressions, nor was she a poor little kid who knew nothing. So she just stood up and greeted him in a light manner, "Fourth sister is about to return home, how come Madam has time to come?" Wang said with a smile that she thought was amiable, "Prince Ding's mansion has already chosen a date and will come over in the next two days to propose marriage. Li'er, your wedding date is also approaching, I came to see if there is anything that is not fully prepared."

Ye Li asked Wang to sit down and said, "Madame Lin and the wet nurse are taking care of her. My aunt and cousin have come to see her several times. She is fine now. It's Madam Lao who is worried about her."

Wang's smile froze. Ye Li's words sounded like she was failing in her duty as a stepmother. In fact, Ye Li didn't have such an idea in her heart, because she never thought that Wang had any obligation to organize a wedding for her. As long as it was acceptable, it was fine.

"Actually... I came here today to discuss something with you, Li'er." Wang quickly regained her composure and looked at Ye Li eagerly.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her in confusion.

Wang sighed, "Li'er has heard about what happened in the past few days. It's not that I, as the legal mother, can't tolerate others, but it's that the child of the Zhao family conflicts with the legitimate child of the Ye family. The day before yesterday, I specially went to ask Taoist Lingxu of Shuiyun Temple for help. He said that the child of the Zhao family had a grudge against our family in the previous life and was born to harm our Ye family. You see... Ever since the news of her pregnancy came out, everything has been wrong in our family. But the old man still blindly protects her..."

Ye Li calmly listened to Wang blabbering about her dissatisfaction with Zhao and Minister Ye. Wang deliberately brought up the fact that Zhao's child conflicted with the legitimate child of the Ye family. Speaking of legitimate children, who in the Ye family was more authentic than Ye Li? If it weren't for knowing the truth and not believing it, after watching Ye Ying's unfortunate wedding, someone else would have really developed a grudge against Zhao and the child of an unborn child.

"What does Madam mean? No matter what, that child is the flesh and blood of our Ye family, and is also Li'er's biological brother. Father will naturally feel sorry for him." Ye Li casually threw the question back to Wang. If Zhao hadn't been so strict that Wang hadn't been able to find an opportunity to take action, why would she come to discuss it with me? If I really fell for it and gave her some advice, I would have to bear the consequences if something happened in the future. Wang was stunned, gritted her teeth and forced a smile: "No matter what, I'm afraid that the child is... Ying'er's matter has already made the Ye family lose face. If Li'er's marriage has any problems, our family will really lose face."

Ye Li lowered her eyebrows and smiled, "I'm afraid I can't make the decision on this matter. Madam should discuss it with father and grandmother. A girl should obey her husband. Besides... there is no need to talk about dignity in Li'er's wedding." After getting married, she will change her surname to Mo. Even if the child really wants to bring disaster to someone, it will be the turn of the one with the surname Ye first, right?

Seeing Ye Li's stubbornness, Wang knew that she would not get what she wanted here. She pretended to comfort Ye Li and then left with the handkerchief that was about to deform.

"Miss, Wang's intentions are so sinister, you must not be fooled by her." As soon as Wang left, Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei came out from the inner room, and Nanny Wei said angrily.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled: "Did the nurse see what she meant?"

Nanny Wei said, "What else can it mean? She herself wanted to harm Aunt Zhao but she dragged the young lady into it. If the young lady is soft-hearted and really listens to her, it will be spread out that her daughter's family interfered in her father's room, and was unkind to her stepmother and stepbrother, which would ruin the young lady's reputation." Nanny Lin smiled and comforted Nanny Wei, saying, "Don't worry, sister. I think the young lady must have a plan in her heart." Ye Li nodded and said, "Wang must be... There is no room for Concubine Zhao. But now there are too many things to do in the mansion and she has no chance to do it. "Mrs. Lin said thoughtfully: "Miss, do you mean to save Concubine Zhao?" Ye Li shook her head and said: "It's not saving, we both get what we want. Concubine Zhao has helped me a lot these days. Besides, I think Rong'er has been taught a little bit by Madam, and the Ye family must have a trace of incense in the future." Nanny Lin said: "I'm afraid that Concubine Zhao will be too careless in the future."

Ye Li waved her hands and smiled, "If she is smart, she should know that there is no conflict of interest between her and me."

Nanny Lin thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Young lady, you are very thoughtful. I am overthinking."

Ye Li smiled and shook her head, saying, "After all, I am still young, and there are always things I can't take into consideration. I will need the nanny and wet nurse to give me more advice in the future."

In the evening, Wang somehow persuaded Minister Ye to agree to send Aunt Zhao back to the old house of the Ye family to wait for the birth of the child. Aunt Zhao naturally cried and begged for a while, and the remaining concubines in the mansion couldn't help but show pity when they saw Aunt Zhao's miserable appearance. You have to know that the Ye family's hometown is not a flat and prosperous place, but Bingzhou, which is southwest of Da Chu and close to the border. Not only is it poor in mountains and bad in water, but it is also thousands of miles away from the capital. Since Minister Ye went to the capital to serve as an official and took Mrs. Ye with him, the Ye family has never returned to their hometown. In the early years, even the ancestral hall was moved to the capital, and there was only an old house and a little land left in Bingzhou for the family members to take care of. Not to mention whether Aunt Zhao can live a good life when she returns, even whether she can survive the journey while being pregnant is a test.

Minister Ye also had a look of reluctance, but he never gave in despite seeing his former concubine begging him. Ye Li watched Aunt Zhao's expression change from sadness at first to despair. Although it was a bit of a show, it was obviously a bit of real emotion. Minister Ye's ruthlessness must have chilled Aunt Zhao's heart.

"Father." Seeing that the commotion had almost subsided, Ye Li spoke up, "Not only is the journey to Bingzhou long, but the journey is also extremely difficult. Even an ordinary person might not be able to endure it, let alone Aunt Zhao who is pregnant."

Minister Ye's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Ye Li and asked, "What do you think, Li'er?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Since Madam wants to send Aunt Zhao away from the capital to be raised, why must she be sent to Bingzhou? What if something happens along the way... Sister Zhaoyi is now pregnant with the heir, we should accumulate blessings for her."

Wang's face turned pale, and she was trembling with anger. What did she mean? She even cursed her precious daughter and grandson!

Madam Ye frowned and said, "Then where would you like to go, Li'er?"

Ye Liqian smiled and said, "Although we can't help but believe in fortune-telling, we can't believe it completely. No matter what, Aunt Zhao still cares about the descendants of our Ye family. If outsiders knew about it, they would say that our Ye family doesn't care about the relationship between flesh and blood. As for where Aunt Zhao will go, I'm sure my father and grandmother have their own plans."

Minister Ye looked at Ye Li deeply, and his eyes were obviously testing her as he said, "We have another courtyard in Yunzhou, and the climate in Yunzhou is also pleasant. How about sending Zhao to Yunzhou?"

"Of course, everything is decided by my father and grandmother."

Madam Ye looked at Aunt Zhao, then smiled at Ye Li and said, "Your father is right. Yunzhou is a place of outstanding people and has produced many literati and saints throughout the ages. Maybe they can suppress this child's fate."

Ye Li said respectfully: "Grandma is right. As long as the Ye family is well, we will be well, right?" Fate? How can a child who has not yet been born have any fate?

Madam Ye nodded in satisfaction, and for Ye Li's general understanding, "Li'er is still sensible. In this case, this matter is settled."

Aunt Zhao knelt in the hall, glanced at Wang who was unwilling, and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Ye, "Thank you very much, old madam. Thank you, old master and Third Miss, for your grace."

Ye Li smiled, "Aunt Zhao, please get up soon. This is all the grace of grandma and father, and we, as the younger generation, can only listen. Aunt, the journey is long, so you must be careful along the way. When my younger brother is born, I hope you will raise him well, so as not to disappoint grandma and father."

Aunt Zhao nodded repeatedly, "Thank you for your advice, young lady."