Of course, the guard at the door would not let Ye Wang in. If an ordinary person dared to cause trouble, some threats and intimidation from the guards would be enough to drive them away. But who in the capital wouldn't recognize the little bully from the Duke of Qi's family? Now that he was cursing at the gate of the palace, the guards did not dare to open the door to let him in, nor did they dare be impolite. They could only try their best to persuade him to leave.
Ye Wang naturally refused.
He was very unhappy when he learned that Ye Yunting had been married off by the Holy Emperor to be the consort of deatlhy-ill Prince Yong'an. In the days after the news of the marriage came out, his group of friends also laughed at him, saying that Ye Yunting had become Yong'an Wangfei. In the future, should he be called "eldest brother"? Or "Wangfei" instead? This male Wangfei was the first of his kind, a novelty.
Everyone regarded Ye Yunting as a joke.
Ye Wang felt very unhappy when he heard this, so with a black expression, he flipped a table over and left.
He had never called Ye Yunting "brother" before, so naturally he wouldn't call him "Wangfei" in the future, either. Did Ye Yunting have no other name?
And he couldn't figure it out. In the past two years, so many matchmakers came to the house for Ye Yunting. According to his mother, there were many legitimate daughters of the various officials, but he didn't accept any of them. And yet, now that he was being ordered to marry a dying person, he didn't even make any objections.
Although his father said that it was the Emperor's inviolable order, Ye Wang thought that in his situation, he would have rather died than agree to such a marriage. Moreover, with the power of the Duke's mansion and his father's good name before the Holy Emperor, if Ye Yunting had really been unwilling, he obviously could have just asked his father to intercede, to find a way to refuse.
However, despite how unpleasant the situation was, Ye Yunting chose not to go to their father and ask him to intercede. For the sake of their meager brotherhood, Ye Wang also could have pleaded with his father and mother for his sake. And even if the Duke of Qi's mansion didn't have the power to intervene, surely the Yin family on his grandfather's side would have been able to do something.
But Ye Yunting accepted it without a word of protest.
He thought about it and couldn't figure out why Ye Yunting didn't resist. Everyday, he would go drinking only to hear people talking about the Prince of Yong'an and his male Wangfei. He was so annoyed that he simply went to the manor outside the city to hide for a while.
Who would have thought that, after hiding for a few days and returning home quietly, he would find that Yunting had already been married off to the Prince Yong'an
It was unthinkable to hide for a few days and return home quietly, only to find that Ye Yunting had already wed to the Prince Yong'an. Even when it was the time for Ye Yunting to return for a visit home, not a soul came back to visit.
The maids in the mansion furtively gossiped that Ye Yunting had climbed up the ladder and was now unwilling to return to the Duke's mansion. When these words fell on his ears, he decided to go to Ye Yunting himself to demand an explanation.
How could he have guessed that when he arrived at Yong'an Palace, he wouldn't even be able to get through the gate.
He hadn't believed the maids' nonsense at first, but now he wasn't so sure.
Ye Wang refused to leave. After yelling for a while, he got tired, so he went back to the carriage to drink a few sips of tea and eat some snacks. When he felt better, he came out to yell again.
He didn't believe that Ye Yunting could hide in this palace for the rest of his life.
Inside the palace, Ye Yunting listened to what Ji Lian said, but his expression didn't change at all, as if he was used to it. "Don't worry about him, he will certainly go back when he gets tired of shouting. If nothing else works, when the Duke's mansion hears about this, they'll send someone to take him back.”
It was Li Fengqi who couldn't help himself and said in disbelief: "Is this Second Young Master Ye always like this?"
Although he had long heard that the second young master of the Duke's residence was stubborn and unruly, he didn't think that he would be so… stupid.
Anyone with eyes should be able to read the current situation.
It wasn't just that he was too blind to figure things out; he actually went so far as to knock on the door and demand an explanation
He really was astonishingly stupid.
The expression on his face was too obvious. Ye Yunting glanced at him, took a sip of tea, and said tactfully, "He has been spoiled by his father and mother since he was a child. When it comes to many things in the mansion… he's just out of the loop."
It was just like back in his childhood, when he was the eldest son living in the most dilapidated side courtyard with only a nurse and a servant to wait on him. When he reached school age, he wasn't allowed to have a teacher to instruct him, never mind being allowed to go to the Imperial College… he'd experienced all sorts of neglect and injustice. The reason that Ye Zhili gave was that he was weak and needed to rest.
Most people knew the real reason; only Ye Wang truly believed those words.
The fact that he was chosen by Si Tiantai to be married off to Prince Yong'an had nothing to do with his destiny. It was just because as long as he was around, the position of the heir could not legitimately fall to Ye Wang. Therefore, he became a "noble man" with a destiny complementary to Prince Yong'an's.
Ye Wang didn't know this, either.
His temperament wasn't specifically good nor bad. He simply didn't know what his parents did, and he could not be blamed for it.
But Ye Yunting was precocious and wise. Over the years in the mansion, he had seen too many instances of favoritism and heard too many pitying or mocking remarks. It was impossible to say that had no resentful feelings in his heart. He could only choose to actively resist them.
He just didn't expect Ye Wang to chase him to the palace.
"Ye Zhili has been so smart all his life, why is he so blind when it comes to choosing a successor? Mistaking fish eyes for pearls1…" Li Fengqi didn't miss the flash of sadness in his eyes, scoffed and said, "It's my gain.”
He spoke smoothly and naturally, but if one listened this carefully, they'd be able to hear a hint of ambiguity.
The two of them were now linked together in the same boat, and their life and death were still uncertain. They both had a tacit agreement not to mention the marriage to avoid embarrassment to both parties. But Li Fengqi's words brought this marriage to the forefront for the first time, and his tone was vaguely satisfied.
Ye Yunting wasn't sure what his intention was in saying this, and so he could only remain silent.
Ji Lian, who had been idle at this point, ran outside to hear Ye Wang's yelling. After listening for a while, he angrily came back and told Ye Yunting: "Does he only know those two sentences over and over again? If the Young Master really had climbed the ladder, I'd have gone out and gagged him with a dishcloth by now. Is it his place to be so arrogant?"
"Ji Lian." Ye Yunting paused in stirring his tea cup and glanced at Li Fengqi across the table. Seeing his lack of concern, he turned to Ji Lian and said, "You know that listening to this will make you angry. Why are you still listening?"
Ji Lian opened his mouth, wanting to say that he was just angry. But after thinking about his young master's temperament, he faithfully shut up and said, "I get it. I won't go."
But while they didn't go out, the guards at the door found it difficult to stand Ye Wang’s behavior.
No one dared to chase him off. The man who went to the Duke's mansion said that the Duke and Madame Qi were not at home. No one in the mansion dared to take charge of this little tyrant; they could only send people to find Duke Qi to come back and control him. But how long that would take, no one knew.
The guards were afraid that his continued yelling would attract nearby people to watch this spectacle, making matters worse. Then the situation in the palace would definitely be leaked out, and then they’d be in a great deal of trouble.
That was why the guards had no choice but to invite Ye Yunting in.
"Ye Wang came to see me?" Ye Yunting heard the announcement and was already lying on the luohan bed ahead of time. He held the heater in his arms, but still had a sickly appearance. "I haven't recovered yet, and it's inconvenient for me to see people. Tell him to go back."
The guards were in a dilemma. "But Second Young Master Ye refuses to leave no matter what."
Ye Yunting frowned; here was an even bigger dilemma: "Fine, then. Let him in, I will say a few words to him and persuade him to go back."
"That...would not be proper, we’re afraid."
"So we can’t do either." Ye Yunting also lost his temper. He coughed twice and said sternly, "Then let him yell outside. I'm still sick. I don't have the energy to care about him."
After saying that, he turned his body to the side and turned his back to the guard, signaling with his movements that he was going to rest.
This made the guards anxious. One spoke a little impertinently, "If Wangfei lets Young Master Ye yell at the door, and this matter blows up, the Holy Emperor might get angry."
He said this mercilessly, almost pointing to Ye Yunting’s nose to point out Ye Yunting’s position and situation.
Ye Yunting sat up abruptly and stared at him in anger. His chest rose and fell for a moment, then he covered his lips and coughed twice, with a look of humiliation. "I'll go with you, but don’t you dare say that I’m not allowed to go out once I get to the door."
Hearing this, the guard hesitated for a moment, but then thought that they couldn’t just let people stand at the door and talk. They could only nod reluctantly. "Wangfei, please."
Only then did Ye Yunting put on his shoes, socks and robes under Ji Lian's attention and walk out with the guards.
Before leaving, he looked back at Li Fengqi. His eyes were clear and bright, like divine light.
*
Ye Yunting was assisted to the door by Ji Lian. The two of them went out through the side door and saw Ye Wang standing at the doorway. He seemed to be tired of his haranguing, and the servants around him kept trying to soothe his temper.
Today he wore a navy-blue, narrow-sleeved, round-necked robe, with a beautiful jade waist accessory and a silver guan on his head. Although he was only sixteen years old, he was taller than Ye Yunting. His appearance took after that of Madame Yin, with a bit of masculine flashiness.
If he didn’t put his hands on his hips like a bully and curse, his appearance would be that of a handsome young man.
Ye Yunting looked at him, his mind turned a few times, and he suddenly remembered something. He took two steps forward and said in a gentle voice, "The guards sent me a message, they said that you’re looking for me?"
His voice came suddenly, and Ye Wang, who was unprepared, was startled. He immediately suppressed his shock and looked at him with his chin raised. "So you’re finally willing to come out."
After saying so, he saw that his face was as white as snow and seemed unhealthy, so he hesitantly added, "Are you sick?"
Ye Yunting said, "I got sick the day before yesterday and still haven't recovered from the cold."
Ye Wang frowned, dissatisfied, and said, "Since you’re sick, what are you doing out here? I’ll send you back in. I just have something to ask you, we can talk indoors."
"There’s no need." Ye Yunting stopped him with a gentle smile. "The Prince is ill and doesn't like noise." He glanced around and walked towards the carriage parked by the door. "Is that your carriage? What do you want to talk about? Let’s talk in the carriage.”
Ye Wang rarely saw him smile at him like this. He froze, and then he groaned, refusing to move. "Is this how the Yong'an's Palace treats guests? After all, I am also Prince Yong'an's brother-in-law. And yet, when I arrive at the gate of the Palace, I’m not even offered a mouthful of tea?”
Ye Yunting turned to look at him, a look of helplessness between his brows, but still smiled and said, "Our hospitality today was insufficient. Once I get better, how about I invite you to visit again?"
Ye Wang was just taking the opportunity to complain. He had made a lot of similar complaints in front of Ye Yunting, but in the past, Ye Yunting would either pretend not to hear them or only responded perfunctorily.
But today, not only did he smile at him, he also said that he would invite him to the palace as a guest someday.
Ye Wang tilted his chin, thinking about how there were so many people wanting to invite him as their guest. Whether or not he’d accept would depend on his mood.
He obediently followed Ye Yunting into the carriage.
The carriage of the Second Young Master Ye was certainly very spacious and comfortable. It was furnished with a heater and incense. The curtains, when lowered, granted privacy for the occupants from the outside. Ye Yunting was somewhat satisfied.
With this scheme he played, he planned to take the opportunity to use Ye Wan to temporarily leave the palace so that he could deliver a message to Li Fengqi's people. But after seeing Ye Wang, he suddenly realized something. If Ye Wang could cooperate, he might be able to help Li Fengqi send the secret message to Northern Xinjiang.
===Translator’s Notes===
Li Fengqi being like, “This is my new brother-in-law? *This*??”
- Idiom for someone mistaking inferior or fake stuff for high-quality or genuine ones ↩︎
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I'm actually pleasantly surprised to find Ye Wang is just ignorant instead of being malicious like his parents thank god I hope the brothers can develop a good relationship!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm looking forward to their relationship development, too!
Deleteawww it turns out Ye Wang is just smol little annoying extremely annoying tsun-tsun bro
ReplyDelete"tsun-tsun bro" lmao he is, isn't he? :D
DeleteYay I love a redeemable annoying-ish brother
ReplyDelete