Good Luck Wedding Chapter 024 – Little Brotherhood

Ye Zhili’s face turned green and red for a while. He was the Duke of Qi who later on became the Secretary of the Central Committee. Only he was the one to give others a hard time; no one dared to give him shame in public.

Prince Yong’an was the first.

His hands covered by his sleeves trembled slightly, and he truly understood why so many people dared not complain about Prince Yong’an in the past.

He really was too mouthy!

However, Ye Zhili was forced to accept the situation¹. And now that the emperor couldn’t do anything about it, he could only bear his anger for the time being.

For a gentleman’s revenge, ten years was not too late.

“Wangye is right.”

Ye Zhili took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. After calming down his anger, he put on a kind, fatherly face in the blink of an eye and looked at Ye Yunting warmly. “Before I came here, I was worried that you weren’t doing well, but now I see that Wangye is treating you like this. This father had just been overly concerned.”

“That’s right.” Yin Hongye covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chimed in, “Our eldest young master has entered the palace on his own, things have been different that they’d been in the past. Back then, when you saw your father and I, we would greet each other in the proper manner. Now that you’re Wangfei, you still have to ask for permission to speak to your family.”

She had a smile on her face, but there was a hidden meaning behind her words. She accused Ye Yunting of holding on to his status and not honoring his parents.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Before Ye Yunting could say anything, Ye Zhili scolded first, frowning in displeasure. “Yunting has been gentle and kind since childhood, and is most filial to his parents.” After saying that, he turned to Ye Yunting with a gentle expression. “You know your mother’s temperament. Her mouth is just unforgiving, but in fact, she cares about you in her heart.” He also pulled at Ye Wang, who had not said anything, and said, “Even your heartless brother, when he heard that your mother and I are coming to see you today, made a fuss to come along.”

Pulled by him, Ye Wang was forced to come forward, face to face with Ye Yunting. He didn’t dare to meet Ye Yunting’s eyes and quickly looked away.

When he heard that his mother and father were going to visit the Prince’s palace, he ended up following them. But when he really saw the other person, his heart was filled with guilt and he didn’t dare face him. He didn’t know what kind of attitude to use to face Ye Yunting.

Ye Wang lowered his head, pressed his lips together, silently broke away from Ye Zhili’s grasp and retreated behind Yin Hongye.

Ye Zhili originally wanted to use their brotherly relationship to ease the atmosphere, but he didn’t expect Ye Wang to be so uncooperative. As soon as his hand was empty, his face froze, and then he laughed and scolded, “Earlier, you were the one clamoring to follow us, but now, why haven’t you even spoken to your elder brother?”

Ye Wang clenched his jaw and did not answer, so Ye Zhili had no choice but to continue singing his one-man show. He was involved in official circles and had long ago developed the ability to tell lies with open eyes. “How about we find a quiet place where we can talk as a family?”

Ye Yunting looked at his kind face and found the entire thing laughable.

In the past ten years, he had never spoken to him in such a gentle tone. Most of the time, he was impatient, bossy and condescending.

The relationship between them was not like father and son, but more like king and subject, master and servant.

In front of Ye Zhili, he never had the right to decide, and could only passively accept all unfair treatment he experienced.

But now, he was no longer the eldest son of the Duke of Qi’s household. He could choose for himself between good or bad, life or death, instead of being forced to accept other people’s arrangements.

Ye Yunting thought this in his heart, then he actually laughed. He originally had a gentle appearance, like a piece of jade that had been polished to a high gloss, but now when he smiled, it was as if the jade was covered with a layer of frost and snow, dyed with a cold color.

“I remember what I told my father on the day I was sent to the palace. I said that from that moment on, I would have nothing to do with the Duke of Qi’s household.”

His face was calm, and his dark eyes looked directly at Ye Zhili. “Now that my father has come to the palace, what does it mean to talk about the relationship between father and son?” He said, word by word: “I know that between us father and son, there is no affection except for the gift of birth.

“The day you sent to the palace, that has been cleared. Between us, what else can we say? What love can we share?”

Ye Yunting had been holding back these words for a long time, and now that he finally said them himself, he felt relieved. There was a peaceful look on his face, no reluctance nor resentment, just calmness as he spoke.

Ye Zhili was used to the roundabout way of talking in official circles. Now that he had been answered so bluntly, he was stunned for a moment and then became furious.

He widened his eyes in anger and pointed at Ye Yunting with trembling fingers: “Good, good! All the propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame you have learned over the years, have you learned it the stomach of a dog? You are unfilial and disobedient, and you have rebelled against your parents! I shouldn’t have kept you back then!”

“Father was confused. I didn’t go to school, and no one taught me propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame.” Ye Yunting looked calm. “I am where I am today because of my father.”

The children of wealthy families were educated starting the age of three and went to family school at the age of eight. If they were more powerful, they could enter the Imperial Academy at the age of twelve.

The Duke’s of Qi’s mansion was a home of some of the most powerful people in the capital. However, Ye Yunting, as the Duke’s family’s eldest son, had never gone to school formally, an unbelievable fact.

Ye Yunting was so ignorant back then that the wet nurse could not hold back her tears and told him that the Duke was too partial. The youngest son was being taught by a teacher, but the eldest son has been neglected.

He didn’t know what being educated meant at that time, but when he saw the wet nurse crying sadly, he went to talk to his father and asked him to hire a teacher to help him, so that the wet nurse wouldn’t cry anymore. Naturally, he was scolded by Ye Zhili. At that time, he didn’t know what this meant, and only felt a little disappointed. On the way back, he passed by Ye Zhi Li’s courtyard and overheard someone reciting the “Cross Writings”, so he got curious and leaned over the wall to listen, and then he vaguely understood why his nanny was sad.

Perhaps it was his natural love of reading and practicing calligraphy, but that day he heard a teacher in the courtyard reciting “Heaven and earth, the universe and the universe. The sun, the moon, the stars and the hosts”, although he didn’t understand what he meant, he couldn’t help but follow the words over and over again. On that day, the teacher recited the “Cross Writings” twice, and he recited it by heart.

But he had no one to teach him, and he couldn’t figure out the meaning of the text. In the end, he couldn’t help but dare to ask the teacher about it on his way out of school. After listening to him recite the Cross Writings once, he did not ask him anything else, but asked him to go to his courtyard after dark every day and personally taught him to read and write.

After several years of this, under the tutelage of this teacher, he learned to read and write.

Later, when Ye Wang turned eight years old, he went to family school. The teacher left the mansion of his own accord, and left many books to Ye Yunting before leaving. He read them in the courtyard everyday, happy to be left alone. If Ye Zhili hadn’t sent him to the prince’s palace to be married off, he might have spent his whole life in the remote courtyard of the Duke’s mansion, and many of the things that happened later would not have happened.

He had no choice before, but now, he was no longer trapped in that confined yard. Even if he had to die, he would die in the wide world outside.

Ye Zhili was stunned by his laugh, and he paused with accusations. Only after he felt half-dizzy did he regain his voice and sneered. “You truly do resent me. I was not wrong at the time. You are as cold-hearted as your mother.”

Yin Hongye’s eyes flickered, and she pushed his arm, saying softly, “The Wang’s family has been dead for so many years, why should my Lord mention her again? The eldest young master has now entered the palace and does not want a relationship us. Let us just follow his will.” She turned to look at Ye Yunting. “Young Master, you must have think carefully about this. If you sever your relationship with the Duke of Qi’s household today, make sure you won’t regret it in the future.”

She curled her lips and waited for Ye Yunting’s response.

They came to the palace today not for the sake of the relationship between father and son, but for the matter of the title of heir-apparent. Ye Yunting taking the initiative to draw a clear division from the Duke’s mansion was saving them a lot of trouble.

Since he was not a member of the Duke’s mansion, the position of heir-apparent naturally would have nothing to do with him.

Ye Zhili came back to his senses after being reminded like this. Previously, he was so angry with Ye Yunting that he forgot the true purpose of his trip. “What your mother said is right. are being so foolish? Since you have dissociated yourself from me as your biological father, in the future, my title as the Duke of Qi will have nothing to do with you.”

“When did this title have anything to do with me?” Seeing that they finally revealed their true purpose, Ye Yunting’s eyes showed mockery. “If you don’t want to give it to me, why do you ask me if I wanted to take it?” If he could sever his ties with the Duke of Qi, not taking this title was fine by him.

He spoke frankly, but the others refused to believe him so easily.

Yin Hongye said, “The eldest young master says pleasant words, but this title must be inherited by the first-born son. Now that you have the support of Prince Yong’an, who can cross you? If you are telling the truth, why not write us a letter of resignation?”

A letter of resignation meant that the successor was declaring that he was not worthy of inheriting the title, and that he was renouncing his succession by presenting his case to the emperor.

From ancient times to the present, few people had ever written a letter of resignation. Even Yin Hongye became foolish when she was impatient. There were other methods that she could have used.

She tilted her chin up with contemptuous eyes. It was as if Ye Yunting was coveting the title if he didn’t write a letter of resignation.

“Do you take this Prince to be dead?” After listening to this for a while, Li Fengqi’s expression became extremely ugly.

His eyes were fierce, sweeping over Yin Hongye and Ye Zhili in turn with invisible pressure. “Qi-Guogong, what little respect this Prince has for you is only because you are Yunting’s biological father. But do you really think that you can be a bully in front of Yong’an-Wangfei?

“Above the relationship father and son is that between the monarch and his subject.” He leaned forward and looked at Ye Zhili with cold eyes. “Since the Duke of Qi is a minister, he should observe the courtesy of a minister when facing the Wang and Wangfei. Do you think this Prince is correct?”

Ye Zhili was forced to look at him, clenching his fists so as not to retreat and show his timidity. His face twitched, and he forced a smile and said, “It’s the minister who has overstepped his bounds. “

Li Fengqi nodded with satisfaction and said, “As for this title matter, the law has its own statutes. The title of Duke and Marquis should be inherited by the eldest son. If the eldest son has no virtue or dies, then it will go down in order.” He slowly stroked his sleeves. “Since Yunting is the eldest son and has no moral defects, the title should be as it should be.”

“The degree of this title is not too special, but what’s his is his. It’s one thing if he doesn’t want it, but it’s another thing if you don’t want to give it to him!” Li Fengqi’s voice steeply dropped, filled with deep resentment: “If you don’t understand this truth, this Prince doesn’t mind teaching you personally.”

His eyes were sharp, and his right hand shook out a long red whip from his sleeve. Although he did not move, his eyes were clearly full of warning.

Ye Zhili didn’t expect that he would threaten him so blatantly. He was a first-ranking official in the court, how dare the Prince of Yong’an humiliate him like this!?!

He gritted his teeth and said, “Wangye, please don’t go too far. Even if this matter is brought before His Majesty, I also have something to say.”

Li Fengqi stroked the whip carelessly and chuckled. “Huh? Li Zong has not dared to see me so for. If Qi-Guogong can persuade him, I would like to thank you.”

“You, you…” Ye Zhili choked. He remembered that he and the emperor had been fighting to the death, otherwise he wouldn’t be treating people like this.

Knowing that he might not be able to achieve his goal today, and that he would be the only one to lose if the argument continued, he flicked his sleeves and stood up. “In that case, I will not be here to hinder the eyes of Wangye and Wangfei. I will take my leave.”

After saying this, he angrily walked out of the hall.

Upon seeing this, Yin Hongye quickly pulled the stunned Ye Wang to follow along.

“Qi-Guogong, walk slowly, don’t fall.” Li Fengqi reminded slowly.

When Ye Zhili heard this, he jumped forward, stabilized his body and left the palace without looking back.

Ye Wang was pulled by his mother to follow him. He subconsciously glanced back and saw Prince Yong’an in the hall, the cold swept away from his face, smiling and talking to Ye Yunting. Ye Yunting’s head was lowered, and although he did not smile, his expression was very soft.

He suddenly stopped and broke away from Yin Hongye’s grasp.

“I don’t want to be the heir.”

Yin Hongye was stunned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Ye Wang shook his head and took a step back. His expression gradually changed from confusion to determination. He said again, “I don’t want to be the heir. I’ll make it clear to him.”

After saying that, he turned around and ran back in large strides.

Ye Yunting was talking to Li Fengqi when he saw Ye Wan suddenly running back. The tall young man stood in front of the door of the hall, looking at him with a bright gaze. “Ye Yunting, I have something to tell you.”

Li Fengqi glanced at him with amusement, then looked at Ye Yunting.

Ye Yunting hesitated for a moment, but still walked up to him. “What do you want to say7”

“It’s not convenient to say here.” Ye Wang suddenly grabbed his arm and led him to run out the hall. He didn’t stop until he found a secluded bamboo forest with no one around.

His breath was a little uneven after running for a while, and his chest rose and fell heavily, but his voice was firm. “I didn’t know before that you were sent to the palace because of me.”

Ye Yunting lowered his eyes. “This had nothing to do with you.”

“But I know now.” Ye Wang shook his head. “I don’t want the position of heir-apparent. That should be yours. I will earn my own title myself.”

“…” Ye Yunting was speechless and could only say, “That’s good.”

“You will live a better life in the Prince’s palace than in the Duke’s residence.” Ye Wang did not intend to stop there. He looked at him with burning eyes and said, “But men are always happy with new things and get tired of old things. In the future, if you become unhappy in the palace, I’ll take you back.” After saying this, he remembered that Ye Yunting probably didn’t want to return to the Duke’s Mansion and hastily added: “If you don’t want go back to the Duke’s Mansion, you can go wherever you want.”

Ye Yunting couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t have to worry about this for me.”

“I know you don’t believe it. In the past, I…and my parents were not good to you.” Ye Wang said seriously. “But from now on, I won’t let anyone bully you again, not even my parents.”

When Ye Wang saw Ye Yunting dressed in beautiful clothes today, he realized more and more clearly what kind of life Ye Yunting had lived in the Duke’s Mansion.

He couldn’t place blame on his parents, but he felt ashamed in front of Ye Yunting. After much thought, he could only make his parents give up their plan to compete for the title by standing out and making a name for himself. Only by becoming stronger would he be able to support Ye Yunting someday if he’s wronged in the Yong’an Palace.

A young person who has not yet grown up was always full of passionate and pure thoughts.

Ye Yunting saw through his foolishness and his eyes shifted slightly, but he did not break his naivete. He hesitated for a moment, then smiled and answered, “Okay.”

Ye Wang then laughed happily. He opened and closed his lips several times, wanting to call him “big brother”, but it felt too awkward and he couldn’t say it out loud in the end. He just said to him, “Then, it’s a deal: I’ll leave A’Qing to you, and you will take good care of it for me. If you are wronged, you can ask it to send me a message.”

A’Qing was the name of the hunting falcon.

Ye Yunting’s eyes were soft, and he said again, “Okay”.

“Then I’ll go first.” Ye Wang affirmed, smiling bright-eyed and youthful. He took two steps back, waved to Ye Yunting, then turned and left.

Ye Yunting looked at his back, and the corners of his raised lips slowly fell.

“I didn’t realize that a good bamboo shoot had come out of a bad bamboo.” Li Fengqi turned his wheelchair and slowly came over from one end.

“Madame Yin protected him very well. The Duke’s family shielded him from many of their private affairs.” Ye Yunting said.

“Then they raised a fool.” Li Fengqi condoned, “But a fool also has the benefits of being a fool. It can be considered as having done this Prince a favor.”

Ye Yunting squinted, looked at the figure that was getting smaller and smaller until he could no longer be seen, and sighed. “It’s a pity that he’ll be disappointed.” Now that he was on Prince Yong’an’s boat, he, the Duke’s Mansion and the Yin family were bound to fight to the death sooner or later.

In court battles and changes in power, it was always either you or me who dies.

In the morning court a few days ago, Li Fengqi forced the emperor to send the second son of the Yin family to Xing Prison in Dali Temple. The two parties had already formed a deadly feud and broken their faces. And this was just the beginning. Prince Yong’an’s counterattack was going to be far more than that.

Ye Wang was too young to see the turbulent undercurrent below, but he could see it clearly.

In the past, he only thought that Ye Wang was arrogant and stubborn, and was not close to him. Even because of the huge disparity between the two parties, every time he saw him, he always felt complicated and unspeakable emotions. As time went by, he would distance himself intentionally or unintentionally so as to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Ye Wang, on the other hand, was so open and reckless and naive that no matter how he tried to cope, he never seemed to be able to understand. On the surface, he waved his teeth and claws, but in reality, not even the tips of his claws were exposed.

Many times, it wasn’t that Ye Yunting failed to understand what he means, but rather that he just pretended not to understand. He just didn’t want to get too involved with him and cause unnecessary trouble.

But after hearing what he said today, he couldn’t bear it.

Ye Yunting talked to Li Fengqi about their relationship with each other in the past. “Do you think I was too indifferent?”

Li Fengqi looked at him and raised his eyebrows high. “I think you are too soft-hearted. Just a few words can make you feel guilty?”

Ye Yunting looked helpless as he pushed him towards the main courtyard. “Well, it’s useless to think about this now. He and I are destined to be brothers.

 

===Author’s Notes===

The author has something to say:
Ye Ergou: I have to force myself.
77:? It’s not your turn (pull hard)

I saw a cute little boy calling his brother “Wangwang” hahahahaha, and I feel like he fits in well with his brother~

===Translator’s Notes===

Aww, Ye Wang.

1. “形势比人强”; literally, “the situation is stronger than the person”. ↩︎

 

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