Shanhe Festival 321. Father and daughter meet again

After Mo Xiuyao left, Ye Li's life was very peaceful. Because she was pregnant, people in Prince Ding's mansion no longer bothered her with government affairs. The whole mansion took care of her meticulously, fearing that she would be cold, hungry, or tired. When the news of Mo Xiuyao's appearance in Feihong Pass spread a few days later, many people secretly wondered why they didn't see the princess with Prince Ding. And the people in Licheng knew that the princess was already five months pregnant. Naturally, there was another round of joy and celebration. There was still more than a month before the New Year. While the outside world was still in the midst of war, the people in the northwest were happy and comfortable, and it was more lively than the New Year.

Ye Li had nothing to do every day, so she took the children to have fun with Mr. Qingyun. Now that Mo Xiuyao was not at home and Ye Li was pregnant, Madam Xu II took Qin Zheng to live in the guest house of Prince Ding's Mansion. Firstly, these days, Xu Hongyu, Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingze were all busy and had no time to go home. Secondly, they could accompany Ye Li to relieve her boredom and relax.

On this day, Ye Li played chess with Mr. Qingyun. The three little kids were playing on the thick carpeted floor under the supervision of Mrs. Xu and Qin Zheng. During the game, Mr. Qingyun and Ye Li talked about what happened in Xiling. After listening to Ye Li's story about Mo Xiuyao in Xiling Imperial City, Mr. Qingyun sighed and said, "Prince Ding is a man of great talent and wisdom. If he had a smooth life, he would have been a loyal minister and general who would go down in history. When I saw him when he was young, I felt that he had a powerful aura between his eyebrows, which was seven points more powerful than the then Prince Ding. Such a person... can pacify the world when he is quiet. But he can also complicate the world when he is active. It can be said that his actions are like thunder, and his joy and anger can influence the world. Unfortunately, the emperor was young and reckless, and he would not tolerate the Prince Ding's mansion, so he made a big mistake. But he didn't know that if a person like Prince Ding is not put to death once and for all, he would bury the road to his own death."

Ye Li dropped a piece, looked at Mr. Qingyun and asked, "Grandpa, did you expect the situation to be like this?"

Mr. Qingyun shook his head and said, "Prince Ding was injured too badly at the time, and even I could not have predicted that he would recover. However... even if Prince Ding could not recover, I am afraid that he would inevitably end up in a dead end with the emperor. However... when I first arrived in the northwest six years ago and met Prince Ding, I found that he was very different from when he was young."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Many people have said that his personality now is indeed very different from when he was a teenager."

Mr. Qingyun shook his head and said, "It's not just his temper, but the murderous intent between his brows. Although the Dingwang Mansion has produced many famous generals, none of them are truly murderous. But when I saw Dingwang again, I saw that there was a murderous aura hidden between his brows, and bloodshot eyes occasionally flashed, which was clearly a sign of murderous aura. After you went to Xiling, I also read a hexagram for Dingwang in my spare time, and the hexagram also showed murderous aura. Such a result is not surprising." Ye Li said with some shame. "It's all because of Li'er's carelessness..." Mr. Qingyun waved his hands and said, "Grandfather is not such a pedantic person. The so-called hexagram and face are just another reference. What's more, a person like Prince Ding... once he has made up his mind, he will not be trapped by a mere hexagram. Our Xu family has cultivated their character in recent generations, and there was a lot of blood on their hands in the early years. It's just that killing too much is harmful to one's character. Grandfather is only worried that Prince Ding will fall into a demon barrier and waste his life in vain."

Ye Li nodded, "Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. Li'er will persuade Xiu Yao well."

Mr. Qingyun put down the chess piece, looked at Ye Li and smiled: "Although Li'er has a murderous aura, she is upright and gentle by nature, which is a perfect match for Prince Ding. You are the only one in the world who can persuade him. Li'er is much more discerning than your mother." Mr. Qingyun felt a little sad when he mentioned his daughter who died young. His only daughter was good in everything except that her vision was a little worse and her temperament was not as strong as his granddaughter. If he had known what would happen later, he should not have considered his daughter's feelings and betrothed her to someone else. Maybe she would still be alive and well now. However, if that were the case, I am afraid there would be no granddaughter in front of him who makes people admire and be proud.

Seeing that Mr. Qingyun was not interested in playing chess, Ye Li also put down the chess pieces and said with a smile: "Grandpa, why are you talking about this? Are you missing mother?"

Mr. Qingyun looked at her and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Originally, your uncle wanted to tell you about this in person, but he is very busy now, so I, an old man, will tell you about it when I have nothing to do. Your father... has arrived in Licheng."

Father…Ye Li suddenly realized something. The first person she remembered was her father in her previous life, who was strict on the outside but loved his wife and daughter and respected his elders. Many figures that she thought she had forgotten appeared in her mind. Even after so many years, many vivid figures did not seem to have lost their original colors. Seeing that she looked unhappy, Mr. Qingyun's eyes flashed with worry, "Li'er?"

Ye Li came back to her senses, shook her head and smiled faintly: "Li'er is fine, I'm sorry to have worried grandpa. Why did father...father come to Licheng?" No wonder Ye Li couldn't remember Ye Wenhua for a while. When Xu was still alive, Ye Li was often raised in the Xu family. She didn't have deep feelings for this father who always made her mother sad. After she had the memory of her previous life, she compared the fathers of the previous and next two lives, and what Ye Wenhua did, and the little affection she had for her father gradually faded. After Ye Wenhua took Madam Ye and others back to their hometown, Ye Li gradually got used to only remembering the father of the previous life. She gradually put this father behind her.

Mr. Qingyun smiled faintly and said, "The Ye family is located in a remote place in the southwest. It is there that the Xiling army will bear the brunt of the eastward attack. Your father's character is not to be mentioned, but he is more knowledgeable than ordinary people. He left early with the whole family. Now, it has been more than a month in the northwest. Your eldest brother's intention is to settle them down, and there is no need to tell you. But he is your father after all. Dear, besides, even if we settle him down, he may not be willing to live in the city peacefully. If he says something nonsense outside, it will also be detrimental to your reputation and that of Prince Ding. I didn’t know you were back a few days ago. I heard about your return these days and have come to ask for an audience twice. Qingze said before that you were in a bad mood after just coming back. If you don’t see them again, I’m afraid they will make a fuss.”

Ye Li frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. Li'er understands. I'll go see them later."

Qin Zheng, who was sitting next to her and playing with a few little kids, raised her head and said, "Li'er, that Minister Ye... Old Master Ye is fine, but you must not be polite to Old Madam Ye, Madam Ye, and Ye Rong." Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Why? Zheng'er has met them?" Qin Zheng nodded and said, "That's right, Ye Rong is already in her teens this year, and is spoiled by Madam Ye. She has just lived in Li City for less than a month, and she dared to fight with the grandson of the veteran general. If that's the case, That's fine, he can't beat them, but they are still shouting that his sister is the princess. The people in the family of the veteran general are very sensible, so they didn't spread the matter. Even the little people who were present at the time were scolded, and I'm afraid that someone will come and tell our family. And there is also that old lady Ye, who is still making friends with those ladies in the city at an old age, and showing off your identity to others openly or secretly. "Qin Zheng has been following Madam Xu as the housekeeper for the past few years, and her temper has become much more straightforward than when she was in the concubine's house. She is also very impolite when talking about the Ye family, and it is obvious that she has no good feelings towards the people of the Ye family.

"I understand." Ye Li nodded and smiled, "They are living peacefully in Li City, so naturally no one can bully them. If there are ambitious and capable people in the clan, they will naturally have a bright future. If they still want to make trouble, I am not a living Bodhisattva in the temple. My father and grandmother are blood relatives to me, and other people have nothing to do with me."

Qin Zheng was relieved and said, "It's good that you know what's going on. The Ye family was once a prominent family. How come they don't know anything? What good will it do to ruin your reputation?" Madam Xu frowned and said, "They are just short-sighted people who like to bully others. But there are not many people in Licheng who can buy their accounts." Licheng is not a big place. The really influential people are the confidants of Dingwang Mansion. Naturally, they all understand the attitude of the prince and princess towards the Ye family. At most, they can scare those outsiders who don't know the details.

"Princess, Ye... Old Master Ye has come with his family to ask for an audience." Butler Mo reported outside the door. Because Ye Wenhua was just a commoner now, Butler Mo felt a little embarrassed to address him for a moment.

Qin Zheng laughed and said, "Speak of the devil, and here he comes."

Ye Li stood up and said with a smile: "I will go to meet them." Mr. Qingyun said: "You are not convenient now, what else do you want to do in the front hall? Just let them come over, and let me meet your father at the same time."

"Grandpa, why are you wasting your energy on this?" The old man had betrothed his only beloved daughter to Ye Wenhua, who was from a poor family, but ended up with such a result. No one would believe that he was not sad. Who would be willing to let the old man see that son-in-law again and get sick for no reason?

Mr. Qingyun shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter. I also want to see what else he has to say." Ye Li had no choice but to ask Manager Mo to invite the person over. Qin Zheng didn't want to see these annoying people, so she took Leng Junhan and Xu Zhirui into the inner room.

Not long after, Manager Mo came with his people. It wasn't just Ye Wenhua who came alone, there were also five or six people including Old Madam Ye, Ye Wangshi, etc.

"Grandfather, father." Ye Li looked at the people in front of him calmly. Ye Li hadn't seen Ye Wenhua for six or seven years. Compared with six or seven years ago, Ye Wenhua had aged a lot. His face, which used to be handsome and elegant, had many wrinkles on it. His hair had turned gray, and his eyes were even more gloomy. Seeing the complex expression on Ye Li's face, he moved his mouth but didn't say anything.

Compared to Ye Wenhua, Old Madam Ye and Ye Wangshi are much better. Old Madam Ye is now nearly 70 years old, but she still looks as elegant as she did a few years ago, as if she is still the old lady who was pampered in the Shangshu Mansion. Ye Wangshi is also a little older and plumper than before, but she is also dressed in rich clothes, but her eyes are more shrewd and mean, which is quite different from the virtuous lady she always pretended to be. Next to Ye Wangshi stands a young man of eighteen or nineteen years old, with a vaguely handsome look like Ye Wenhua between his eyebrows, but unfortunately he has gained weight, his eyes are dull, and he does not have the quiet and solemn look of a scholar when he stands. Just like the ignorant rich young master that Ye Li saw in some meaningless TV dramas in her previous life, Ye Li was really a little puzzled as to how Ye Wangshi had turned Ye Rong, who was a bit domineering but at least had some looks, into the fat, big-eared and stupid man he is now.

The young woman standing behind them looked somewhat like Ye Lin, but Ye Li did not recognize the man.

"My son-in-law... has met my father-in-law." Seeing Mr. Qingyun sitting at the top, Ye Wenhua's expression changed slightly, and he quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

Mr. Qingyun put down the blue and white porcelain cup in his hand leisurely, raised his eyes and smiled faintly: "Isn't this Shangshu Ye? I heard in Yunzhou that Shangshu Ye married a virtuous wife and became the father-in-law of the late emperor. I dare not accept the title of father-in-law." Mr. Qingyun is highly respected and his cultivation is naturally extraordinary. This is the first time Ye Li has heard him speak so harshly in all these years. It can be seen that he has been very dissatisfied with Ye Wenhua for a long time. It was fine if he didn't see him before, but now he naturally doesn't have to endure it. No wonder her uncle said that if her grandfather had heard about the Ye family's actions earlier, he would have rushed to the capital to beat Ye Wenhua up. She didn't believe it at all. She always felt that a contemporary scholar like Grandpa would never act like this, but looking at Grandpa's expression, Ye Li knew that even the most well-educated scholar had a temper.

Ye Wenhua blushed, looking a little embarrassed but unable to speak. It was true that he took a concubine less than half a year after marriage, and even his eldest daughter and second daughter were not born to his wife. Later, he favored Wang and neglected his first wife, causing Xu to die of depression. And after so many years, he had already understood Wang's temperament and behavior, and how could she be called a virtuous wife. The more Ye Wenhua thought about it, the more embarrassed he became, blushing and at a loss.

"My dear relatives, we are all family after all, why do you have to do this? Hua'er already knows he is wrong." Seeing that her son was unable to get down from the stage, Old Lady Ye quickly forced a smile and smiled at Mr. Qingyun.

Mr. Qingyun raised his eyebrows, "In-laws? The Wang family is the in-laws of the Ye family, and my Xu family is not worthy of that title." Did this old woman think he didn't know that she was also behind Ye Wenhua's neglect of his daughter?

Old Madam Ye's smile froze, and she said with a smile: "How could it be, Li'er's mother will always be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ye family. Li'er, come here and let grandma see you. I miss you so much after not seeing you for so many years." As she said this, Old Madam Ye wiped her tears and looked at Ye Li with a loving face. Unfortunately, Ye Li could not do as she wished, and smiled faintly: "Thank you for your concern, grandma. I am pregnant and I will not stand up to greet you. Grandma and father, please sit down."

Having hit a soft nail, Madam Ye had no choice but to sit aside. Ye Wenhua looked at Mr. Qingyun who looked calm but did not dare to sit down, so he could only stand beside Madam Ye.

The others knew that Mr. Qingyun had a special status, and even Wang Shi, who looked unwilling, stood obediently. Ye Rong, however, was a man without tact. He had studied a few years ago and had learned a little. In the past few years, he had been in the countryside with Minister Ye, and he had already returned the basic books he had learned in his early years to his teacher. With the protection of Old Madam Ye and Wang Shi Ye, Ye Wenhua could not control him, so he developed a lawless character. He had just arrived in Licheng for less than a month and dared to fight with the grandson of the oldest general of the Mohist Army. Naturally, he would not stand obediently now.

Looking at the empty chairs nearby, Ye Rong walked over to one of them and sat down, not forgetting to say, "Dad and Mom, Sixth Sister, what are you doing standing there? Sit down quickly."

Ye Wenhua was so angry that his face turned blue. Mr. Qingyun said calmly, "The upbringing of the Ye family is quite good."

Ye Rong thought that Mr. Qingyun was really complimenting him, and said with a smug smile: "Of course, mother, you see..."

"You evil beast! Why don't you get up now!" Ye Wenhua was shaking with anger. He felt that he had never been so embarrassed in his life. Even when Xu Hongyan criticized him for not teaching his daughter well, he had never felt so embarrassed.

Ye Rong was stunned, and immediately said unwillingly: "Why can't I sit down?! Isn't this the home of the third sister? We have been waiting here for so long and are so tired. I can't get up!"

"You...you..." Ye Wenhua pointed at Ye Rong and trembled, as if he would fall down at any time. Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Forget it, since you are tired, sit down. Father, Madam Wang, Sixth Sister and this young master, please do it too." Ye Wenhua looked at Mr. Qingyun, only to hear Mr. Qingyun snort coldly and said, "Sit down."

Then he carefully sat down below Old Madam Ye. Wang looked at her son and went to sit next to Ye Rong. Ye Lin carefully pulled the young man to the last seat and sat down. Madam Xu, who was drinking tea, frowned slightly but said nothing. Although the Xu family was not strict about etiquette, the rules were ingrained in their bones. Madam Xu thought the way the Ye family sat was simply rude.

"Mother, who are they? Why don't they bow to you and Grandpa?" Mo Xiaobao, who was lying beside Ye Li's legs, asked crisply, blinking his big dark eyes.

Ye Li stroked her son's head gently and said with a smile, "This is your great-grandmother, and this is your grandfather. Chen'er, go and pay your respects."

Mo Xiaobao looked at Ye Wenhua and Old Madam Ye, and finally stood up and walked up to them and called out, "Great Grandmother, Grandfather."

Originally, Madam Ye held out her hand with a loving smile, thinking that Mo Xiaobao was going to kneel down and salute, and was going to help him up to show her love. However, she didn't expect that Mo Xiaobao just stood in front of her and called out softly, and the action of stretching out his hand and bending over suddenly became a little funny and awkward. Ye Wenhua didn't care, and stared at the handsome child of six or seven years old in front of him. It seemed that there was a bit of his first wife's appearance between his eyebrows. He couldn't help but want to reach out and touch his little head, "Good... good boy, are you Yu Chen?"

Mo Xiaobao took a small step back and looked at his grandfather who was staring at him curiously. He said sternly, "Grandfather, you can't touch my head." Ye Wenhua was startled and couldn't help asking, "Why?"

Mo Xiaobao said seriously, "A man's head and a woman's waist, you can only look at them but not touch them." He turned around and ran back to Mr. Qingyun. Mr. Qingyun lovingly held his grandson Xiaozhong in his arms, smiled and touched his little head and said, "You can only look at them but not touch them? Huh? Who taught you these nonsense?"

"Han Mingxi!" Mo Xiaobao sold Han Mingxi without hesitation, without even thinking about how many delicious and fun things Han Mingxi had given him on a daily basis.

Mo Xiaobao lay on Mr. Qingyun's lap, curiously looking at the strange people in front of him. He didn't like his great-grandmother at all, and his grandfather wasn't as good-looking as his eldest and second uncles. That fat guy...is he his uncle too? He's so ugly! Mo Xiaobao covered his eyes and hid in Mr. Qingyun's arms, unwilling to look at the fat guy who was touching things stupidly. In Han Mingxi's words, the movements and expressions were so obscene that it would hurt your eyes if you looked at them too much. Mo Xiaobao, who had extremely high standards for aesthetics since he was a child, said that this obscene fat guy really challenged his aesthetic standards. He was uglier than the beggar under the overpass in the north of the city! He absolutely could not admit that he was his uncle!

"I've met the eldest master, I've met the second master. First, the eldest master, the second master." The maid's crisp greeting came from outside the door. Ye Li was delighted, it turned out that the eldest brother had returned.

Xu Hongyu and Xu Hongyan walked in with Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingze.

"Uncle?!" Mo Xiaobao's eyes lit up, and he got out of Mr. Qingyun's arms and happily rushed towards Xu Qingchen who followed behind him, "Uncle, Yu Chen misses you so much..." Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, leaned over and hugged him and said with a smile: "Oh? Do you really miss uncle so much?"

Mo Xiaobao's eyes brightened, and he nodded repeatedly as he looked at Xu Qingchen, who was over thirty but still handsome and untainted by the dust of the world. He had just met a wretched and ugly man, and he urgently needed his uncle's handsome face to comfort his shaky aesthetics.

"Yu Chen likes my uncle the most." So, my uncle is the real handsome man, and father is just a weak one. I really want to touch him... Mo Xiaobao drooled secretly. So Han Mingxi is better, I can touch him as I like. My uncle is too powerful, I can only watch...

Seeing her son's big eyes flashing with the same brilliance as Han Mingxi's at times, Ye Li couldn't help but cover her face. Xiu Yao was absolutely right. Xiaobao really shouldn't be allowed to meet Han Mingxi so often. Ye Li forgot that Mo Xiaobao was born lustful. He got close to Han Mingxi because he saw how good-looking he was, not because he started to like beauty after getting close to Han Mingxi. The unfortunate playboy was shot even when he was lying down.