Glory

She pointed at Yin Shi's stomach. "What I mean is, if possible, you should find a royal physician to help regulate your health. Perhaps you could still bear a son."

Yin Shi had injured her body while giving birth to Ye Yayin, and for over a decade there had been no further signs of pregnancy. The Yin family had constantly worried about her, and over the years, their interactions with the Ye family had lacked confidence, always feeling that Yin Shi had failed to bear a son to continue the Ye family line, leaving them indebted to the Ye family.

Now that Ye Yaming had achieved success, even the prefect had come personally to offer congratulations out of regard for her. While Lü Shi was happy for her niece, she also thought of her sister-in-law.

Yin Shi looked at Lü Shi speechlessly. "How could we ask a son-in-law to invite a royal physician to help his mother-in-law regulate her health and bear a son? Sister-in-law, are you joking?"

Only then did Lü Shi realize how abrupt her words had been.

Fortunately, she knew that the Ye household had many servants with mixed loyalties, and some words could become distorted when passed around. Thus, she had spoken these private words to Yin Shi away from the maids and elderly servants.

Blushing, she quickly said, "I wasn't thinking carefully enough. Please don't blame me, sister. I've been so preoccupied with this matter that I became delusional."

As she spoke, she lightly slapped her own mouth.

Yin Shi's eyes reddened, and she grasped Lü Shi's hand. "Sister-in-law, you mean well."

In previous years, Old Madam Yin and Lü Shi had accompanied her, seeking numerous doctors and medicines. Now that her mother had passed away, only her sister-in-law remained to care for her and think of her well-being.

Seeing that Yin Shi wasn't angry, Lü Shi said, "Perhaps we shouldn't mention inviting a royal physician, as it's likely not easy to request one. If there are any good herbalists in the capital, we could ask for recommendations from there, and we won't mention anything about bearing sons. Ming'er is filial to her mother and wants to invite an herbalist to help regulate her health—surely no one would object to that?"

Yin Shi pondered without speaking.

Seeing this, Lü Shi hurriedly added, "I was just thinking out loud. You should discuss this matter with your husband."

After chatting a while longer, Lü Shi took her leave.

The Ye family only held a noon banquet for their daughter's wedding; the Xie family would host the evening banquet.

Most guests at the Ye residence left after the noon wedding feast. Some who lived farther away would not depart until the next day, so the Ye family hosts had to entertain guests during the evening meal. Ye Hongsheng did not return to his own courtyard until after dark.

Ye Hongsheng did not enjoy drinking, but hosting banquets inevitably required toasting a few cups. Yin Shi had someone prepare sobering soup for him to drink and personally fetched his clothes for him to bathe.

Ye Hongsheng sensed something unusual in her mood. After bathing, he asked her, "Did something happen today?"

Yin Shi shook her head.

She bit her lip and finally brought up the matter of inviting a capital herbalist to regulate her health.

Ye Hongsheng looked at her steadily. "Who said these things to you?"

Before Ye Yayin turned ten, Yin Shi had sought doctors and medicines everywhere, taking countless doses without any sign of pregnancy.

Whether it was because he expressed that he didn't care about having a son and wouldn't take a concubine, or because she had finally given up hope, the constant smell of medicine that had permeated their courtyard eventually disappeared.

Now that Yin Shi was bringing this up again, especially after having guests, Ye Hongsheng didn't need to guess to know that someone must have said something to her.

The concern from her maiden family had always been a source of pride for Yin Shi. Moreover, they had always been honest with each other. So Yin Shi did not hide anything and recounted her conversation with Lü Shi.

After listening, Ye Hongsheng asked her a question: "Ming'er would use her connections to have her husband invite a famous capital herbalist to help regulate your health so you could bear a son. But what about sixteen years from now?"The leap in logic was too abrupt for Yin Shi to grasp immediately. She stared blankly and asked, "What do you mean?"

"People often say that the rafters that stick out rot first. As a girl, Ming'er should have been carefree like Qing'er and Yayin, simply playing the zither and doing embroidery at home. When she came of age, we would have naturally chosen a good husband for her to marry. With a generous dowry and her business acumen, she would certainly have lived a very comfortable life in her later years."

"So why did she give up such a comfortable life and take on the heavy responsibility of the Ye family? When she heard the words of Xiuer from the main branch yesterday, do you think Ming'er wasn't hurt? When she listened to the sour remarks of our sister-in-law, do you think Ming'er felt no pressure? Why would a delicate young lady travel thousands of miles to Huizhou and Minzhou? Why does she endure such hardship?" These questions left Yin Shi speechless.

She recalled the conversation she had with Ye Yaming two years ago, after the girl had recovered from an illness and came down from the mountain.

After a long silence, she finally said, "It was for me."

"Yes, it was for you," Ye Hongsheng said, looking directly into Yin Shi's eyes. "It's because you bore no son. She didn't want you to suffer humiliation at home and wanted you to hold your head high. That's why she took on burdens she shouldn't have, working tirelessly to achieve her current status."

"Have you ever considered—if you had a son, when he comes of age, would the sixty percent of the Ye family's property designated for the second branch go to your son or to Ming'er? If it goes to your son, what merits does he have to deserve it? If it goes to Ming'er, would your son be content? In the end, who would you support? As a mother, harboring such thoughts while Ming'er secures benefits for you—is that fair to everything your daughter has sacrificed for you?"

Yin Shi stared blankly at her husband, her eyes slowly reddening as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I... I hadn't thought that far," she stammered.

"It's not that you didn't think—it's that you refused to think," Ye Hongsheng's eyes were filled with disappointment.

In the past, Yin Shi always felt that her maternal family was poor, that she had no money of her own, and that she had borne no son. She spent her days overthinking, and although she cared for her daughters, it was clearly insufficient—so much so that she, as a mother, didn't truly understand her own daughter.

When Ye Hongsheng discovered how intelligent and capable his eldest daughter was, his disappointment in Yin Shi was accompanied by even greater self-blame. He himself had been too absorbed in tea-making to properly care for his daughters, so he couldn't criticize his wife too harshly.

Since then, he frequently summoned the matrons from Ye Yaming and Ye Yayin's courtyards to inquire about his daughters' daily routines, meals, activities, and moods. He would also have nourishing soups prepared for them or new clothes made to show his paternal concern.

The more he learned, the more his heart ached for his eldest daughter's hardships. Thus, the man who never used to contend for anything was now willing to stand up for his daughter, disputing with his father and elder brother to secure benefits for her.

And what had Yin Shi done for Ye Yaming when the girl made changes for her sake, striving to become the son of the second branch and support it? She still wallowed in self-pity, lamenting her failure to bear a son. Even when Ye Yaming brought her honor, Yin Shi showed no additional care for her daughter.

To be honest, Ye Hongsheng was disappointed.

There was no denying that Yin Shi loved her husband and daughters, but she loved herself more.

This wasn't entirely blameworthy—his elder brother's wife and fourth brother's wife didn't necessarily love their children above all else either. His elder and fourth brothers were the same. Therefore, Ye Hongsheng ultimately chose to be tolerant of Yin Shi.He consoled himself that at least Yin Shi was sensible and didn't cause trouble. Whatever he advised her, she would listen and didn't hold Ming'er back.

But today's talk about having a son disappointed him utterly.

Off-topic

There will be another chapter later to make up for yesterday's. Come check at noon, everyone.

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