Volume One, Chapter Five: Who Told You This Nobleman Cherishes You?

As soon as these words fell, the group of women were deeply angered. A mere illegitimate son, and he dared to reprimand the legitimate daughter in public! Such audacity, utterly lacking awareness of one’s place!

Ye Wanqing’s expression darkened slightly. Ye Wansu glanced at Ye Fusang, then sighed softly to Ye Wanqing, “Eldest sister, I read something yesterday: a frog dreams of becoming a swan. Isn’t that amusing?”

A quiet maid beside Ye Wanqing spoke sharply, “Second Miss is right. Some people, when empowered, forget their true worth entirely!”

“Second sister speaks truly. But just yesterday, I saw a strategy book about borrowing arrows with straw boats at the Eldest Princess’s residence.” Ye Fusang exclaimed, “I thought I understood it, but it was shallow indeed. Look, there are no straw boats here, yet some still act despicably.”

“Haha, Brother Hou really is well-versed in military tactics,” Ji Rongxue chuckled.

Ye Wansu’s eyes turned cold, just as she was about to speak, Ye Wanqing interrupted, “Go fetch father.”

The group proceeded to the council hall, where from afar they heard a stern voice: “Ungrateful son, kneel before your father!”

Without the Eldest Princess’s oppressive presence, Ye Yutian arrived in a deep blue robe. Sitting at the head, his brows furrowed with the weight of a clan patriarch’s authority. “What sort of disgraceful public display is this? How dare you make such a scene at the Ye residence’s gate!”

Hearing this, Ye Fusang nodded with sudden clarity. “Indeed, public disgrace is no noble thing, yet Father insists on his son being a public disgrace—perhaps our family’s tradition is simply not respectable.”

“You—!” Never before had any son spoken to Ye Yutian so brazenly. Enraged, he stood, trembling as he pointed at Ye Fusang. “Unfilial wretch! How could I have given birth to such a thing?”

“Someone, administer the family law!”

“Father, please control your anger. Perhaps my brother harbors resentment,” Ye Wansu feigned concern, stepping forward to intervene, but to no avail.

Nearby, Ye Jiang clapped his hands behind Liu Chi Hua, chanting, “Beat that wretch to death! Beat that wretch to death!”

“Father, be cautious!” Ye Fusang calmly dodged the approaching servant, slipping behind Ji Rongxue. “The Eldest Princess loves her son and bestowed upon him the princess’s carriage. His Highness knows my longing for home; in a few days, she will personally come to the Ye residence to stay with her son for a while.”

“Stop!” Ye Yutian’s brows sank deeply, his heart darkened. How could the Eldest Princess come without reason? “Explain carefully.”

Ye Fusang withdrew a folding fan from Ji Rongxue’s side and opened it. On the plain white fan were the words “Worldly Elegance.” Though dressed simply and thin, she carried a refined grace. “His Highness saw the son as handsome and noble, like a true gentleman, naturally mistaking him for the legitimate elder brother. When Her Highness arrives, she will entrust the legitimate elder brother to look after me, the disreputable illegitimate son.”

Then she fixed her gaze on Ye Yutian’s eldest son, Ye Yue. “Elder brother?”

“…Absurd!” The man’s gentle voice carried a hint of anger, his pure white robe unable to conceal the chill. The Eldest Princess had failed to realize the true identity had been switched.

Indeed, she would swallow anything!

“Since when has an elder son pretended to be illegitimate?” Ye Wansu nodded to Ye Yutian. “Father, this is improper.”

Ye Fusang suddenly understood and nodded, “Oh… The Ye family’s treason against the sovereign, among over a hundred members, is less than the elder brother’s grievance. Truly… Father’s life is no life at all…”

Ye Yutian’s deep eyes narrowed, a sudden thought striking him. His fiery anger instantly cooled. “Is this true?”

“How could your son lie to you?”

Ye Yutian turned to Ye Yue at his side, “Do as he says. Yue, when the Eldest Princess arrives, give up Qinghua Residence. I will arrange another place for you.”

“Father, I think Ye Fusang is doing this deliberately,” Ye Yue stood, his thin lips trembling. “Why would the Eldest Princess come to the Ye residence out of kindness?”

“Elder brother, you are an adult now; can you not listen?” Ye Fusang, seeing Ye Yue still sulking, spoke earnestly, “Father is old. Can you not give him some peace of mind? Your stubbornness will bury the Ye family.”

After three pressing questions, Ye Yue glared at his younger brother, who was calm despite being shorter by a head. “Respect for age and distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons—now you preach about being an elder brother? If you wanted to ease Father’s worry, why return to the Ye residence at all?”

Ye Fusang snorted coldly. “Does elder brother mean I’m not a true Ye and unworthy of returning home? Then I might as well clarify this with His Highness.”

“Enough. Since you’ve returned, you’ve returned,” Ye Yutian’s brows remained heavy. “Since Her Highness mistakes you for Yue, then serve well. You are also a son of the Ye family—what benefits one benefits all, what harms one harms all.”

A faint ripple passed through Ye Fusang’s eyes. No guilt, no fear.

She said calmly, “Brother Ji is a good man, but if he helps the Ye family deceive Her Highness, isn’t that also treason?”

“I won’t do that!” Ji Rongxue nodded firmly. “If I see Her Highness, I will report this matter.”

Ye Wanqing watched helplessly as the situation descended into farce, feeling powerless to intervene.

She glanced at the lazy, indifferent Ye Fusang—this brother of hers seemed like a different person. She stepped forward, her clear and calm gaze fixed on Ji Rongxue. “Mr. Ji, why not speak plainly about what you want?”

“How can Miss Ye say such things?” Ji Rongxue’s expression shifted slightly. “I am no common man. Serving beside Her Highness’s bed, how could I ever bear to deceive her?”

“I think Brother Ji likes fine clothes and jade ornaments. Why doesn’t Father give Brother Ji two hundred thousand silver coins?” Ye Fusang suggested.

“Two hundred thousand!” Ye Yutian’s face darkened. Even selling the Ye residence wouldn’t raise that much. “Impossible!”

“Sigh, Brother Ji is not greedy. One hundred thousand should suffice, right?” Ye Fusang looked at Ji Rongxue.

“Cross the thunder pool and shatter your body,” Ye Wanqing warned, her warm voice laced with caution as she gazed at Ye Fusang’s face. “Don’t forget, this Ye residence is your home too.”

“Sigh, if it weren’t for my younger brother’s family, why would I scheme so?” Ye Fusang pursed his lips. “Eldest sister, is this a threat? If angry, you might ask elder brother if he dislikes Her Highness so much that he had me marry on his behalf?”

“You wretch, stop talking nonsense! Fifty thousand, no more!” Ye Yue, seeing the dispute over money, felt deeply insulted. Once the graceful Ye Lord of Clear Winds and Bright Moon, how had he fallen to such depths?

“Fine, for Brother Hou’s sake, I’ve tied my head to my waistband,” Ji Rongxue sighed, snatched back the folding fan, and playfully tapped Ye Fusang’s head. “Who told me to favor you so much!”