Chapter 17: Madam Ye

Zhao Baozhu stood dumbfounded, watching the woman embrace Ye Jinghua, covering her face with a silk handkerchief while sobbing piteously. "Ever since I married into this Ye household, not a single day has passed without me worrying. Who would have thought that in my old age, my eyes would grow dim, and I would be deceived by such death-defying wretches! It is my son who suffers; he studies so diligently every day, yet these servants cannot even manage this tiny courtyard properly, dragging him down for no reason—"

The more she spoke, the more sorrowful she became, eventually bursting into tears: "I have no footing in this Ye household to begin with! Now that my son has moved out of the main estate, these black-hearted, rotten-lunged people must think their master cannot do anything to them, so they bully us mother and son!"

Standing to the side, Zhao Baozhu was stunned by the woman's tearful accusations.

Anyone unaware of the truth would surely feel compassion for this poor mother, believing the servants were disrespectful and bullying a helpless widow and her son. If he hadn't watched Ye Jinghua deal with those servants with such swift, thunderous efficiency from the very beginning, he would certainly have been deceived too!

Seeing the woman weeping, Steward Li hurried forward, reaching out to support her. "Oh, my lady, how can you blame yourself for this?" He pointed toward the ceiling with his right hand and added, "I am a man with one foot in the grave, so I am not afraid to speak my mind. All the complex trifles of the Ye household—which one does not depend on you to function? If one day we were without you, this house would surely collapse!"

Hearing his solemn vows, Madam Ye stopped crying and cast a glance at him. "You say all the good and bad things yourself; I cannot bear such praise."

Steward Li chuckled and gently patted his own mouth. "It is this old servant who is loose-tongued, loose-tongued."

On the other side, Ye Jinghua listened quietly to Madam Ye’s wailing, his expression unreadable. He supported her arm with one hand, his eyes slightly lowered, and said, "Mother, it was my failure to judge people correctly. How could this ever be blamed on you?"

Hearing this, Madam Ye dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and stood up. Supported by Steward Li, she sat in a nearby chair, her slender fingers pressed to her temple as she let out a long, hollow sigh. "Qing'er, Mother is old; I am truly no longer up to the task."

Ye Jinghua lowered his gaze. "It is my fault for causing you worry. From now on, Steward Li and I will strictly discipline and restrain the servants."

Madam Ye raised her eyes, her willow-leaf brows slightly furrowed. "You are a man, and you have your studies; how can you be bothered with these backyard affairs every day? The Spring Imperial Examinations are approaching soon. If I disturb you with these trivialities, wouldn't I become the eternal sinner of the Ye family?"

Her words were biting. Ye Jinghua closed his mouth and said nothing more.

Seeing him remain unmoved, Madam Ye sighed again, feeling her headache worsen. She dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief. "Now that your eldest sister-in-law is here to help, it is somewhat manageable. But when she becomes pregnant and your eldest brother has his firstborn son, won't she have to prioritize your little nephew?"

At this, Madam Ye looked up at Ye Jinghua. Seeing him still looking down with a faint, indifferent expression, as if he were completely untouched, she had no choice but to speak directly.

"When will you take a wife? Firstly, she can assist me, and secondly, your residence needs a mistress to manage the household chores."

Her words were earnest. At this moment, Ye Jinghua’s eyelashes flickered, and he finally looked up.

"There is no rush."

Upon hearing those two words, Madam Ye nearly fainted. She clutched her handkerchief and couldn't help but raise her voice. "What do you mean 'no rush'? Qing'er, you are no longer a child; you turned twenty before the new year! Look at the young masters in this capital—who among them is still unmarried after reaching manhood?"

As she spoke, her expression darkened. "Do you know where those magpies in the courtyard came from? They are from the Minister’s house next door! Their grandson is two years younger than you, and he is already married."

Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu, who was eavesdropping on the side, suddenly realized. He looked up and glanced at Madam Ye. He had been wondering why those magpies didn't look wild, but rather like they had been trained to bring good tidings. And why they wouldn't leave this courtyard—it was likely all this Madam Ye's doing.

Ye Jinghua replied calmly, "Qiyan had been betrothed long ago; it is only logical that he married early."

Madam Ye, hearing him dare to talk back, became even more agitated. Her eyes reddened. "Betrothed? Haven't I betrothed you? I would like to ask you, in what way is the young lady of the Duke’s mansion unworthy of you? Do you know how the people in this capital mock me? They say that while I appear glorious, behind the scenes I am a fool who cannot even manage her youngest son’s marriage!"

With that, she buried her face in her handkerchief and wept bitterly. Steward Li rushed forward, offering comfort and slapping his own cheeks. Zhao Baozhu, secretly observing the scene, felt quite anxious, yet when he looked at Ye Jinghua, he saw him standing as immovable as a jade statue.

What he did not know was that while there were many gossips among the noble ladies of the capital, none had the courage or the nerve to speak ill of the mother of the current Prime Minister’s wife, nor the mother of the Imperial Consort Chen, who was highly favored in the palace.

Not to mention that the eldest son of the Ye family had already entered government service and, in just five years, had risen to the fourth rank, becoming a rising star in the imperial court. With an Imperial Consort and a Prime Minister, the Ye family was guaranteed prosperity for generations, not to mention the Fifth Prince in the palace—who would dare to cross this family? Doing so would be courting death!

With such a background, even if Ye Jinghua were a useless spendthrift, he would have no trouble securing a marriage. Moreover, Ye Jinghua was far from a useless spendthrift.

Ye Jinghua waited until Madam Ye’s sobbing gradually subsided, then picked up a cup of tea from the table and offered it to her with both hands, bowing his head. "It is all my fault. Please, Mother, calm your anger."

Madam Ye clutched her handkerchief. Seeing him bow his head, her expression softened slightly. She took the tea and murmured, "If only I could drink the tea offered by your bride."

Ye Jinghua kept his head down, as if he hadn't heard. Madam Ye sighed again. If anyone else had dared to act this way before her, she would have slapped them long ago. But among her children, apart from her eldest daughter who had entered the palace early, this youngest son was the most handsome. Since he was a child, he had been well-behaved and refined—who wouldn't say he looked like a fairy child brought down from heaven? How could Madam Ye not love and cherish him?

Madam Ye took a sip of tea, sighed, and looked at Ye Jinghua. "If you are unwilling to marry, what about your career? The Spring Imperial Examinations are only two months away. Have you registered at the Ministry of Rites?"

Ye Jinghua remained silent, his eyes downcast for a long time. Seeing this, Madam Ye knew the answer and nearly fainted again.

"You, you—" She pointed at Ye Jinghua, unable to speak, her chest heaving. She gestured toward him with her long fingernails, then turned to Steward Li. "Take the young master’s name card and go to the Ministry of Rites immediately!"

Steward Li was taken aback. He did not move, but instead looked up at Ye Jinghua.

When Madam Ye saw this, she flew into a rage. "You old dog! I sent you here to help him, not to aid him in his defiance! How long have you been here, and my words no longer carry weight?"

Steward Li quickly knelt on the floor, crying out, "This old servant deserves to die!" while slapping his own face.

Ye Jinghua furrowed his brows slightly and said to the furious Madam Ye, "Mother, Steward Li does not know where my name card is kept."

Madam Ye paused and looked at the calm Ye Jinghua. She knew well that her youngest son never let anyone find the things he didn't want touched. Her lips trembled.

"You... you unfilial son!" Madam Ye pressed a hand to her chest, heartbroken. "If you continue to waste your life like this, how can you face the poetry and books you studied so hard since childhood? How can you face your father and brother?"

Ye Jinghua kept his gaze lowered, unmoved.

The jewelry on Madam Ye’s head jingled in her rage. She stood up from her chair and took a few steps toward Ye Jinghua. "When you first began your studies, the Emperor granted you the name 'Huiqing,' saying he would personally crown you when you placed on the golden list. Do you know what that means?"

"You insisted on not sitting for the exams, and yet last year when you came of age, the Emperor still permitted you to keep the name. Do you not understand the expectations behind that? If you do not take the exams this time, how will your sister face the court, and how will your father and brother maintain their standing?"

Madam Ye’s words were earnest. Ye Jinghua did not refute her; he simply stood up and said softly, "Mother must not have had lunch yet." Without waiting for her response, he turned to the maids standing in a row by the door. "Bring a new spread of dishes. Remember to include the hibiscus crab stew."

Having said this, he turned back, helped Madam Ye sit in the main seat, and used a handkerchief to gently wipe the tears from her face. Seeing his softened attitude, Madam Ye hoped her words had finally had an effect, and she looked at him expectantly.

Who would have thought that Ye Jinghua would put away the handkerchief and simply say, "Mother, please eat first," before turning and walking away. Fang Qin followed immediately, and Deng Yun jumped up, grabbed Zhao Baozhu, and rushed after him.

Madam Ye sat blankly in her place, watching her son’s white robes disappear behind the door. As soon as he left, the maids stepped forward to clear the table and then retreated quietly. On the other side, Steward Li stood by Madam Ye’s side, cautiously watching the expression on her face.

Madam Ye remained stunned for a moment before slowly coming to her senses. She murmured, "He just left like that?" Then, she collapsed onto the low table, covered her face with her handkerchief, and wept bitterly. "Why is my life so bitter—how did I give birth to such a son!"

Steward Li sighed heavily. He knew this happened every few days. He supported Madam Ye and comforted her. "My lady, don't make yourself sick. The young master just left to avoid making you angry. He will certainly come to apologize to you later."

Madam Ye cried, "What use is an apology! I am just angry that he is so stubborn that he doesn't even respect the Emperor. He doesn't take his father’s or brother’s words to heart either. I see that no one in this world can control him! Now he doesn't even respect me. What sins did I commit in my past life?"

Steward Li consoled her, "My lady, you are mistaken. The young master is the most thoughtful towards you. Look at how he remembered you liked the crab stew after you had a few bites during last year’s New Year. He saved all the crabs sent from the south just for you. Didn't you see? As soon as you arrived today, he had them prepared."

Madam Ye shook her head, feeling dejected. "These tricks might fool you, but I am his mother! I gave birth to him and raised him; how could I not know what he is thinking?"

She slowly raised her head, two lines of tears sliding down her cheeks. "He was born with a heart like crystal—wise early on and meticulous. In his daily dealings, he manages every big and small matter perfectly. But if you look deeper, he has never truly cared for anyone. We only rely on the fact that we share a bit of blood to receive a modicum of his patience. But he will eventually return to that unknown place, untouched by the mundane world."

Steward Li knew that Madam Ye was having one of her episodes again. This dated back more than a decade, when the second young master was just born. He was adorable, but he didn't speak until he was two, only watching people with his dark, liquid eyes. The Ye household was desperate, and doctors were of no help. One day, a Taoist priest passed by the gate. Upon seeing Ye Jinghua in Madam Ye’s arms, his eyes lit up and he told her, "The young master’s wisdom has been taken by an immortal. He was sent to your home by mistake and will return sooner or later!"

Madam Ye had panicked and begged the priest for a way to break the curse. After being pestered for half a day, the priest untied a jade pendant from his waist, put it on Ye Jinghua, and said, "This is not a long-term solution; if the young master cannot enter the mortal world, he will eventually leave."

Madam Ye had been skeptical, but to her surprise, half a month after wearing the jade, Ye Jinghua began to speak. By three he could recite poetry, by five he had a photographic memory, by ten he knew the Four Books and Five Classics, and by twelve he entered the palace as a study companion. The Grand Tutor, after meeting him, wrote a secret letter to the Emperor, stating that the boy was exceptionally intelligent and possessed a transcendent spirit, destined to reach the highest offices and benefit the world.

But no matter how great his talent, it could not overcome his determination not to enter government service.

Madam Ye lowered her eyes. "So many people in the capital envy me for having such a brilliant, handsome, and thoughtful son... only I know that it is all an illusion. He has always had little emotional connection to me; all these years, I have never been able to warm his heart."

Steward Li knelt on the floor and said gently, "My lady, how can you think that? This old servant doesn't understand the second young master’s mind as well as you do, but I have observed that all these years, whenever the eldest young master, the Imperial Consort, or the children in the backyard had a request, the second young master never refused. When the master was in such great trouble a few years ago, it was thanks to the second young master who went to persuade Young Master Cao. If anyone says the second young master is not devoted to the family, I would be the first to disagree! In my opinion, there are few children in this world as filial as our young master!"

Steward Li was a dowry servant who had followed Madam Ye when she married into the Ye family, and she trusted him more than any other. Hearing this, the sorrowful expression on her face lessened significantly. She dabbed her eyes with her silk handkerchief and whispered, "In terms of efficiency, I suspect all the Ye men combined cannot compare to my Qing’er alone."

"Exactly!" Steward Li said with a smile. "I don't understand the rest, but as long as the second young master is a Ye, he is one with the family, and all other things are trivial. As long as he respects filial piety and is considerate of the master and you, that is enough."

Madam Ye’s expression gradually softened, clearly thinking of Ye Jinghua’s past acts of consideration. Steward Li seized the opportunity to offer a heap of praise. Madam Ye’s furrowed brows slowly smoothed out. As they talked about how well Ye Jinghua treated the servants, her beautiful eyes widened, and she raised her willow brows.

"It is precisely because he is too good to those below that such things happen!"

She finished, pressed her handkerchief to her eyes, composed herself, and asked Steward Li:

"Also, who was that little glutton standing behind Qing’er earlier? He looked very unfamiliar."