The impeachment incident seemed to conclude with the emperor’s lukewarm punishment, but the repercussions were far from over. Before Lord Ye could even return home after court, the events of the morning assembly had already spread like wildfire among the noble families of the capital. Moreover, rumors emerged from who-knows-where, claiming that Lord Ye had sold his daughter for glory—seeing that Prince Li disliked his unremarkable third daughter, he had allegedly instructed his fourth daughter, Ye Ying, the renowned beauty of the capital, to seduce His Highness Prince Li. One person’s words might be dismissed as gossip, but when a hundred people say the same thing, it starts to sound like fact. Wherever Lord Ye went, he felt the weight of altered gazes upon him. In the end, he could only suppress his frustration, hastily finish his official duties, and return home.
When Qing Shuang gleefully relayed the rumors to Ye Li, she merely smiled faintly and dismissed them. However, she couldn’t help but worry whether her actions might bring trouble to her uncle. But her second uncle was no reckless fool—if he had acted this way, he must have had his reasons and considerations. What did surprise her was that her father hadn’t taken his anger out on her over this incident. After all, when Lord Ye had stormed back home yesterday, even Wang Shi and Ye Ying had borne the brunt of his temper. Perhaps he hadn’t intended to spare her—he had even barged into Qingyi House—but for some reason, after entering her room, he had turned around and left without a word.
Maybe he had been struck by a rare pang of guilt? Ye Li glanced indifferently at the simple furnishings in her room, her thoughts drifting idly.
Sitting leisurely by the window, she bent over her embroidery, a purple iris gradually taking shape beneath her needle. Embroidery required patience, and as a former sniper in her past life, Ye Li had patience in abundance. In this life, her mother had personally taught her embroidery from the age of six, and over the years, she had grown to love the art. With memories of her past life, Ye Li naturally possessed more experience and insight than most in this era, and her work always carried a unique charm and vitality that others lacked.
A commotion faintly reached her from the courtyard. Ye Li frowned and looked up. "Qing Xia, what’s going on outside?"
"Replying to Miss, it’s Young Master Rong. He’s outside the courtyard, demanding to see you," Qing Xia answered respectfully.
Ye Li smiled faintly, tucking her needle into the fabric before standing. "Let’s go see, then." Ye Rong, the only male heir of the Ye household, was thirteen this year and studied at a prestigious academy in the capital. Influenced by Wang Shi, he had disliked Ye Li, his eldest sister, since childhood. After Xu Shi’s passing, as the sole male and legitimate heir of the household, he had grown even more arrogant, barely sparing Ye Li a glance. It was rare for him to visit her even a few times a year—let alone actively seek her out. No doubt this was about yesterday’s scolding of Wang Shi and Ye Ying by their father. Having just returned from school, he was already rushing to defend his mother and sister.
Before she could step out, the sound of Qing Shuang arguing with Ye Rong reached her ears. "How dare you! You’re just a lowly servant, yet you dare block me? Watch out, or I’ll sell you to a brothel!" Ye Rong snarled, glaring viciously at the maid in green before him.Others might hesitate before the only young master of the household, but Qing Shuang had no such reservations. Her beautiful eyes widened as she raised her chin and sneered at Ye Rong, "No matter how lowly I am, I'm still the young lady's maid. Whether to beat or sell me isn't for you to decide. Barging into your elder sister's courtyard—is this the etiquette you learned at school? Truly well taught, and well learned!"
"You wretched maid! Beat her!" Ye Rong, enraged, ordered the servants behind him to teach Qing Shuang a lesson.
"Rong'er, what are you doing?" Ye Li stepped out of the courtyard, her gaze cool as she took in the tense scene before her. Her eyes settled on the servants gripping Qing Shuang's arms. "Still holding on?" The two servants recoiled as if burned, quickly releasing Qing Shuang and retreating behind Ye Rong. Seeing his men so useless, Ye Rong felt humiliated and snorted in displeasure. "Third Sister, your maid is utterly disrespectful. I was just teaching her some manners."
Ye Li regarded him coldly. "I'll discipline my own people. If you have time to spare, perhaps you should review the rules a few more times." Looking at Ye Rong, she understood why their father both loved and despised this son. The sole heir, yet so utterly witless. Wang Shi even deluded herself into thinking her son could compare to the Liu family's Second Young Master. At just sixteen, the Second Young Master Liu was already a renowned prodigy in the capital. This year, he had ventured alone to Mount Li Academy to study, with both the Liu family and his mentors placing high hopes on him—clearly a future top scholar in the making. Meanwhile, her half-brother was nothing more than an unremarkable wastrel in the capital. Spoiled rotten by Ye Laofuren and Wang Shi since childhood, even his elder sisters—the former Second Miss and current Fourth Miss—dared not speak to him so boldly. Ye Rong bristled like a singed cat, pointing furiously at Ye Li. "How dare you speak to me like this! I'll tell Grandmother—you'll pay for this!"
Engaging with such a child was beneath her dignity. Ye Li had never understood how the Ye family, though not an ancient lineage, could raise someone as foolish as Ye Rong. With no patience for the boy's tantrum, she turned to leave. "Please see Young Master Rong out."
"Ye Li, stop right there!" Ye Rong bellowed. "Shameless woman! Prince Li cast you aside, yet you had your uncle slander Father before the Emperor, making Mother and Third Sister suffer his wrath. Serves you right, you scheming wretch, to be abandoned by Prince Li—"
"Wretched beast! Silence!" Too caught up in his tirade, Ye Rong missed the icy glint in Ye Li's eyes and the faint smile curling her lips. Only when a furious roar came from behind did he stiffen and turn, finding his attendants trembling on the ground. His usually amiable father stood there, face livid. "F-Father..."
"What fine upbringing in the Minister's household," a handsome youth among Lord Ye's entourage remarked coldly. "A mere son born of a concubine-turned-wife dares openly insult the legitimate daughter in broad daylight. Truly enlightening."
Lord Ye's expression darkened further. "What are you waiting for? Seize this beast! Give him twenty heavy strokes!"Upon hearing Lord Ye's words, Ye Rong immediately let out a terrified scream. He kicked and punched at the two servants who rushed forward to seize him, crying, "Father... Father... I know I was wrong..." But alas, his youthful strength was no match for these robust servants in their prime, and he was quickly dragged away to receive the cane punishment not far off.
Ye Li's expression remained composed, yet with a rare hint of joy, she stepped forward briskly and greeted, "Father. Aunt, Cousin, what brings you here?"
Lord Ye observed his daughter, who paid him respectful homage yet displayed unusual warmth toward outsiders, and felt a faint discomfort. However, recalling the sparse furnishings in Ye Li's courtyard, he found himself unable to vent his displeasure. Forcing a smile, he said, "Qingfeng and your aunt came to see you, so I accompanied them here on the way."
Xu Qingfeng gave a cold laugh and remarked, "Indeed. Had we not come today, we wouldn’t have known our little cousin was living such a life in the Ye household." Lord Ye's smile stiffened, and he found himself at a loss for words under Madam Xu's icy glare and Xu Qingfeng's hostile expression. Ye Li smiled faintly and stepped forward, taking Madam Xu's hand as she said warmly, "Aunt, let’s not stand at the door. Come inside for some tea."
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