Chapter Ninety-Three: The Ye Family

The following days passed quietly and uneventfully. Nothing particularly noteworthy happened. Jiang Li and Mr. Ming from Ming Yi Hall knew they would soon return to Xiangyang and were simply waiting to depart together with Ye Mingxuan.

Madam Jiang summoned Jiang Li to the Wanfeng Hall multiple times, giving her careful instructions—clearly, she valued Jiang Li’s return and the relationship with the Ye family. Remarkably, Ji Shuran and her daughter did not come to cause trouble this time. Jiang Li knew well that Ji Shuran would not let matters rest easily; she was likely plotting some new scheme. But for now, yearning for home left Jiang Li with little energy to worry about that mother and daughter.

Jiang Jingrui often visited Fangfei Garden, evidently still unwilling to give up on the idea of going to the Ye family with Jiang Li. No one understood why he was so restless in the capital, always yearning to roam rather than settle down. Ye Shijie also came by once, but did not mention Xiangyang, only recounting recent events as an assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Since Ye Shijie became assistant minister, many watched closely to see which faction he would align with. Given the Ye and Jiang families’ ties, Ye Shijie was considered part of the prime minister’s faction. But everyone in the capital knew the Ye and Jiang families had severed ties years ago. It was speculated that Ye Shijie might join the Cheng King’s faction, whose influence was growing. Yet Jiang Li felt it best for Ye Shijie to remain loyal to Emperor Hongxiao. For some reason, she sensed that although the young emperor’s power seemed modest now, he was far more complex than he appeared.

Time passed swiftly, and ten days later, Ye Mingxuan arrived to escort Jiang Li as they prepared to leave the capital for Xiangyang.

This time, even Madam Jiang came to see them off at the gate—a rare occurrence. Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yuer were still absent. Ji Shuran smiled at Ye Mingxuan and said, “Please take good care of Li’er on the journey.”

Ye Mingxuan smiled back, “Don’t worry.”

Ye Shijie added, “It’s getting late; you’d better set off soon. The earlier you start, the more ground you’ll cover, and the sooner you’ll return to Xiangyang.”

Jiang Li turned back and bowed slightly to Madam Jiang. “Father and grandmother need not worry. After visiting my maternal grandmother, I will return soon.”

“Of course,” Ji Shuran’s eyes brimmed with sincere affection. “We await your return.”

Jiang Li smiled gently, no longer hesitating. Tong’er helped her into the carriage. The curtains were drawn, shielding them from the gazes of the Jiang family outside. Ye Mingxuan’s orders to the caravan were clear, and the carriage rumbled forward.

Her heart finally relaxed, then surged with excitement.

This was the road home.

Though no longer Xue Fangfei, though now the eldest daughter of the prime minister’s family, at last she was on the path back to her roots.

From the capital to Xiangyang, traveling nonstop would take just over a month. Fortunately, the route was a government road, not rugged or perilous like the path from Qingcheng Mountain to Xiangyang. Ye Mingxuan, cautious by nature, had hired an escort caravan to ensure Jiang Li’s safety. Jiang Yuanbo also provided bodyguards, so even if they encountered bandits, they could escape unharmed.

Thankfully, the journey was peaceful and without incident. Ye Mingxuan had expected Jiang Li, accustomed to luxury, wouldn’t endure such a long, rugged road—far longer than the trip to Qingcheng Mountain. If she faltered, the entire caravan would slow, and they’d arrive in Xiangyang late into the night.

But Jiang Li surprised everyone.

She was unpretentious and easy to care for. Whether lodging at inns or enduring the cramped carriage, she never complained. Sometimes, when no inn could be found, she stayed outdoors. When the guards hunted and roasted rabbit meat, Jiang Li eagerly watched and even helped when they fumbled. This astonished Ah Fu, Ye Mingxuan’s servant, who whispered to Ye Mingxuan, “Second Miss seems well-versed in such things. She must have done this often before.”

Ye Mingxuan was puzzled. Even his son Ye Rufeng, mischievous as he was, didn’t handle such tasks as well as Jiang Li. Though a noble lady, she seemed utterly at ease with these humble matters, as if they were second nature.

When asked, Jiang Li smiled and said, “At the Qingcheng Mountain convent, Tong’er and I often caught wild rabbits outside. The vegetarian meals weren’t filling, but there were plenty of rabbits in the mountains.”

Though Tong’er was puzzled—she couldn’t recall ever having caught rabbits with Jiang Li—she nodded seriously. Ye Mingxuan chuckled, unsure whether to feel amused or pity.

The journey went smoother than Jiang Li had imagined. By the time they neared Xiangyang, just over a month had passed. According to the original plan, they should have taken another half month, but because Jiang Li neither complained nor delayed, the caravan moved swiftly.

At Xiangyang’s city gate, Ye Mingxuan presented their travel permits to the guards. Tong’er pulled back the carriage curtain, peering out curiously. “So this is Xiangyang City. It looks quite lively.”

Jiang Li gazed at the bustling scene, a flicker of nostalgia in her eyes.

Tongxiang was a county beneath Xiangyang. Xue Huaiyuan had only come to Xiangyang during festivals to buy things for Xue Fangfei and her brother Xue Zhao. Back then, she and Xue Zhao eagerly awaited these trips; Xiangyang was far livelier and richer in food and entertainment than Tongxiang. But such chances were rare. Counting from the time she married Shen Yurong three years ago and left Tongxiang, it had been seven or eight years since she last saw Xiangyang.

The city before her looked familiar yet more prosperous and vibrant than years ago—more enchanting.

If Xue Zhao were still alive, he would surely laugh and pull her to explore the city again...

Lost in thought, the guards outside announced loudly, “Second Master has returned!”

After about the length of a burning incense stick, the caravan slowed and finally stopped. Ye Mingxuan’s voice called from outside, laughing, “A Li, get down. We’ve arrived.”

The gatekeepers immediately opened the doors and called inside, “Second Master is back! Second Master is back!”

Tong’er helped Jiang Li down from the carriage.

As the wealthiest family in Xiangyang, or rather, with fortunes renowned even in the capital, the Ye family mansion was grandly maintained, said to have been occupied since the days of the first elder Ye. The gates were a noble vermilion, with finely carved floral patterns on the pillars. Even the hanging lanterns were draped in fine Jiangnan-style white gauze.

Tong’er and Bai Xue stood wide-eyed beneath the grand gates. The Ye family's grandeur contrasted sharply with the refined elegance of the prime minister’s residence. To common folk, such spacious and magnificent architecture was more eye-catching.

Ye Mingxuan smiled, “A Li, first time at the Ye family? How do you like it?”

“Very nice,” Jiang Li replied with a smile.

She and Xue Zhao had heard of the Ye family’s fame and once passed by their mansion, wishing they could see inside. Now she could enter openly through the grand red gates and behold its splendor.

Ye Mingxuan laughed, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Li and Ye Mingxuan stepped inside.

The Ye estate was even more spacious and bright than the prime minister’s, less austere and more lively with a bustling atmosphere. The servants and maids wore fine fabrics, comparable to Tong’er and Bai Xue’s attire, a testament to the family’s wealth. Upon seeing Ye Mingxuan, they all bowed. When they noticed Jiang Li, curiosity filled their eyes as they speculated about her identity.

Inside the brocade painting hall stood several people.

“Father is finally back,” a boy of fourteen or fifteen said. “I wonder what treasures he brought from the capital?”

“You only think about that,” a scholarly-looking woman beside him chided. “We don’t lack anything here. What’s in the capital isn’t new to you.”

“Don’t blame Rufeng,” another round-faced woman smiled. “If Shijie were here, he’d be the same.”

Next to Ye Rufeng stood a beautiful young lady, slightly older, who worried aloud, “I wonder how big brother is faring? Now that he’s assistant minister of revenue, can he handle it?”

In the center, a middle-aged man in blue sat silently, sipping tea.

Suddenly, a servant’s voice outside called, “Second Master is back!”

The slender woman immediately brightened and stood. The brocade curtain was swept aside, and Ye Mingxuan laughed, “Big brother, madam, I’m home!”

“Father!” the boy rushed forward.

Jiang Li stood behind Ye Mingxuan, unfamiliar with the Ye family but sensing that the real Second Miss Jiang would feel the same. They hadn’t met in ten years.

The youth was Ye Mingxuan’s son, Ye Rufeng. His gaze fell on Jiang Li, and stepping away from his father, he asked suspiciously, “Who is she?”

Jiang Li smiled and stood quietly behind Ye Mingxuan. Her clothing suggested she was no servant, so she was not one picked up along the way.

Zhuo Shi, the tall, scholarly woman—Ye Mingxuan’s wife—saw Jiang Li and paled, assuming she was a woman Ye Mingxuan had taken in on the road. Wealthy merchants often brought back strange women and alleged children after years away. Although Ye Mingxuan had been gone only months, it was not impossible to take in a woman during travel.

Men were careless about such matters. Ye Mingxuan had yet to notice his wife’s changed expression, but Jiang Li saw it and guessed Zhuo Shi’s identity. To avoid misunderstanding, she stepped forward, smiling warmly, and called out, “Aunt.”

The single word “aunt” stunned Zhuo Shi, and her pale face faded into confusion. “Master, who is this girl? Why does she call me aunt?”

Ye Mingxuan laughed heartily and turned to the man in blue standing nearby, Ye Minghui. “Big brother, I didn’t come back alone this time. Look who’s here. Do you recognize her?”

Everyone was puzzled, but Ye Minghui noticed Jiang Li calling Zhuo Shi “aunt” and guessed something.

“She’s Zhenzhen’s daughter, A Li,” Ye Mingxuan said. “The last time I saw her, she was just a little girl. Now she’s a young lady. A Li, this is your Uncle Minghui and Aunt.”

Jiang Li smiled, “Uncle Minghui, Aunt.”

Ye Minghui and his wife Guan Shi were surprised. Guan Shi was at a loss, but Ye Minghui frowned deeply.

The room fell silent.

After a moment, Ye Rufeng sneered at Jiang Li, “She’s the daughter of Auntie, the eldest sister who looked down on our merchants and made grandmother ill?”

Zhuo Shi quickly tugged at Ye Rufeng’s sleeve, but he continued bluntly, “Once it’s done, why be afraid?”

The atmosphere became extremely awkward.

Indeed, Ye Mingxuan had said nothing about Jiang Li returning to Xiangyang. The Ye family was unaware she would come, so no one knew how to react. Years ago, Jiang Li’s words had hurt Old Madam Ye’s heart and the whole family’s pride; they had since acted as if she did not exist. No one expected her sudden appearance.

Ye Minghui reproached Ye Mingxuan for not informing them earlier. Ye Mingxuan looked innocent but kept glancing at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li insisted on returning with him; he should have anticipated this outcome. The Ye family would not easily forgive, so what would she do then?

Jiang Li looked at the tense scene, her smile unwavering.

Tong’er felt both embarrassed and wronged. She knew what had happened to Jiang Li and admitted Jiang Li was at fault. But her mistress was only five years old then, and so much time had passed. Why cling to old grievances? If she had known this would happen, the young lady should never have returned to Xiangyang to endure such humiliation. It was truly frustrating.

Just then, Jiang Li’s gentle voice rang out, “Yes, I am that Jiang Li.”

The Ye family members were stunned.

Ye Mingxuan almost choked on his own saliva.

Jiang Li spoke softly, kindly, and cheerfully, extending goodwill with her smile. How could anyone strike a smiling, lovely young lady? Except for Ye Rufeng, the others were at a loss.

This girl really did respond to change with unchanging grace. Ye Mingxuan recalled Ye Shijie’s remark that Jiang Li was unpredictable; it was true. She never showed shame, embarrassment, or confusion, always handling situations with exceptional composure—including the present.

Ye Mingxuan almost laughed, imagining his usually composed older brother, Ye Minghui, also caught off guard. Fortunately, knowing their family ties, he cleared his throat and introduced Zhuo Shi, “This is your second aunt.”

Jiang Li nodded at Zhuo Shi with a smile, “Second aunt.”

Zhuo Shi smiled reflexively, then paused, struck by the sincere warmth in Jiang Li’s expression. She had never seen Jiang Li in person when she arrived in the capital—only heard the family’s gossip, which was unanimous. Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan would not lie, and there was no reason to. So no one doubted Jiang Li was once callous and unfeeling. But seeing her now, Zhuo Shi wondered if perhaps it had all been a misunderstanding. How could such a sweet and gentle girl be the person they described?

“This is your cousin Jia’er and cousin Rufeng,” Ye Mingxuan continued.

Ye Jia’er, a year older than Jiang Li, was graceful and poised, bearing the demeanor of a refined official’s daughter rather than a merchant’s child. Her eyes held curiosity but she nodded warmly at Jiang Li.

Ye Rufeng was less cordial, snorting and turning away without looking.

“Your Uncle Mingyu will be back in a few days; he’s not here yet,” Ye Mingxuan added.

Jiang Li nodded. “Grandmother...”

“Old Madam’s health has been poor lately,” Ye Minghui hesitated, then said, “If she knew you were here, she might get too excited. Perhaps we should wait a while before telling her. What do you think, A Li?”

Before Jiang Li could answer, Ye Rufeng coldly said, “Don’t meet her. What if Grandmother falls ill again because of it?”

“Rufeng!” Zhuo Shi warned him.

Ye Rufeng fell silent. Jiang Li said, “I’ll follow Uncle Minghui’s advice.”

Ye Minghui nodded, then said to Guan Shi, “Find a spare room in the courtyard and prepare it for A Li to stay.”

He addressed Jiang Li, “You and your second uncle must be tired after such a long journey. Rest today and don’t worry about anything. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Jiang Li was momentarily stunned. Ye Minghui’s tone was polite but distant, as if speaking to a distant guest rather than family. She sighed deeply. The gap between Second Miss Jiang and the Ye family was too wide to bridge quickly. Even Ye Mingxuan still doubted her motives for returning to Xiangyang.

Truly, it was a long road ahead.

She smiled sincerely, “Thank you, Uncle Minghui.”

Compared to the two uncles, the aunts were awkward—unable to be as distant as the brothers, but not close either. The contradiction was palpable. Jiang Li wanted to laugh, relieved she wouldn’t have to endure this for long. Once Guan Shi prepared a clean room, only her two maids would accompany her.

At last, some peace.

Tong’er closed the door. The room prepared by the Ye family was fine, with no flaws to complain about. Jiang Li sat down while Bai Xue brewed tea. Tong’er whispered, “Miss, the Ye family is clearly keeping you from seeing Old Madam Ye...”

Everyone could see it. Ye Rufeng’s harsh words were hurtful but truthful. Old Madam’s health was fragile, and seeing this granddaughter unexpectedly must be difficult. Even the other family members were shocked.

“Miss, if it really doesn’t work out, after seeing Old Madam, we should return to the capital,” Bai Xue said. “If the Ye family treats you this way, living here will be awkward.”

The Ye family was well-mannered; they neither drove her out nor mistreated her, and were courteous. Yet this very politeness made her feel like a stranger visiting a foreign home.

“It’s fine. We’re all new to this,” Jiang Li smiled. “Besides, I was at fault back then. The Ye family’s attitude is already much better than I expected. Let’s wait a few days and I’ll see Old Madam first.”

Her visit to Xiangyang was a pretense for family reunion and meeting Old Madam, but her true purpose was to investigate Xue Huaiyuan’s affairs. For now, she dared not inquire recklessly, lest suspicion arise. Even if she sought to clear Xue Zhao’s name, it would take effort. The Ye family was a powerful backing, but first, mending relations and dissolving old grudges was urgent.

She must think carefully.

Meanwhile, in Ye Mingxuan’s quarters, Zhuo Shi was questioning him.

“How did Jiang Li come here? You didn’t tell me beforehand, not even big brother knew. What now? She’s living with us. People outside will gossip. This... you’re impossible!”

Ye Mingxuan laughed helplessly, “How can you blame me? She insisted on seeing her mother, and both Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbo agreed. What could I do? Could I stop my own niece from coming back? It would be embarrassing if others saw her.”

“Hmph, just because big cousin is assistant minister of revenue,” Ye Rufeng sneered, “and we’re merchants seeking profit, I think the Jiang family, like the prime minister, is just opportunistic. When Ye family had no officials, they cut ties. Now that the Ye family has connections, they cling to us.”

“Stop it,” Ye Jia’er interrupted. “Even if big cousin is assistant minister, the Jiang family wouldn’t flatter us. There are plenty of powerful people in the capital who seek favor with uncle. Why would they let Jiang Li come to Xiangyang because of big cousin’s position?”

“You say uncle,” Ye Rufeng retorted, “but you forgot he remarried. She doesn’t care about us. Calling him uncle so warmly, are you hoping to ride the prime minister’s coattails and become the capital’s First Lady?”

“You!” Ye Jia’er was too angry to reply.

“Enough, stop fighting,” Zhuo Shi groaned. “Things are messy enough. If you two want to quarrel, take it outside.”

Just then, a knock came. Ye Minghui and Guan Shi entered. Now, except for Ye Mingyu who hadn’t returned, the two branches of the Ye family were gathered.

“Second brother, what’s this about?” Ye Minghui asked sharply.

Ye Mingxuan, rarely seeing his elder brother so impatient, paused. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you bring her back? Without notice? What are you up to?”

“Big brother, don’t scold me like I’m a child,” Ye Mingxuan pleaded. “Bringing Jiang Li back wasn’t my idea. She asked to come.”

“She asked?” Guan Shi was puzzled.

“Yes.” Ye Mingxuan sat and recounted everything: reuniting with Ye Shijie in the capital, how Ye Shijie mentioned Jiang Li, his visit to the Jiang family, and Jiang Li’s proposal to return to Xiangyang with him. “That’s the whole story. What do you think she’s thinking?”

None had expected such events from Ye Mingxuan’s trip to the capital. Nor that Jiang Li, back only half a year, would be the subject of so much gossip.

“She really topped the Six Arts at Ming Yi Hall and received the emperor’s honor?” Ye Jia’er asked in surprise. “Cousin was in the convent for eight years with no tutors. How could she come first?”

“Yes,” Ye Minghui pondered. “Could she be a genius?”

“There are no such geniuses,” Ye Mingxuan shook his head, smiling. “I think Jiang Li holds many secrets. When I visited the Jiang mansion, I thought with Ji Shuran there, life would be easier for her. But it’s not so. Her status in the Jiang family is even higher than I expected. Think about it: in half a year, she reached such a position. That’s no ordinary feat.”

The room fell silent, digesting Ye Mingxuan’s words.

“She helped Shijie at the palace banquet and warned him about Li Lian. Whether she’s using the Ye family or has other plans, she won’t harm Shijie for now. I thought her return was Jiang family’s idea, but Jiang Yuanbo and Madam Jiang seemed unaware. So I agreed to her plan to see what she was up to. As for not telling you on the way, it was too rushed.”

After a pause, Ye Minghui said, “You weren’t wrong. Since we don’t know her intentions, let’s wait and see.”

His tone lacked warmth, treating Jiang Li more as a stranger than family.

“But second brother,” Guan Shi worried, “you brought her back to see her mother. But mother’s health is fragile. If she finds out Jiang Li is here, who knows what might happen? Will you still let her see mother?”

Ye Mingxuan looked to Ye Minghui.

Ye Minghui said firmly, “Let her see, but we must first prepare mother, so she won’t be shocked.”