Ye Jiayao asked Chunyu, “Can’t your family just say no to this?”
Xia Chunyu shook his head. “We can’t turn this down. We’ve already offended the Empress Dowager. If we dare to it again, the Emperor will not hesitate to behead us.”
“Chunfeng must be very sad,” Ye Jiayao said sympathetically.
Xia Chunyu sighed helplessly. “He is. He’ll figure it out, though.”
“Why is the Empress Dowager always trying to create trouble for your family?” Ye Jiayao complained angrily.
“It’s because she took care of Princess Liu Li herself.”
“So she’ll always cater to her every whim? Don’t you think that she just dislikes us and wants us to suffer?” Suddenly, a thought came to her and she turned to Chunyu. “Do you have a special relationship with Princess Liu Li?”
Xia Chunyu frowned. “What?”
“She likes you. She’s practically obsessed with you,” Ye Jiayao said, watching his face closely.
Xia Chunyu looked uncomfortable as he fidgeted slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Tell me the truth, Chunyu. This is very important. I want to know whether this is just a matter of dignity or if it involves actual feelings.” If Princess Liu Li has actual feelings for Chunyu, they were in more trouble than they originally thought.
“I don’t know! She just… she just likes to pester me,” he stammered.
“What have you guys done?” asked Ye Jiayao.
“What? I never paid any attention to her!”
“Honestly?”
“I swear.”
Ye Jiayao nodded acceptingly. “I think your family’s about to have more trouble headed your way.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head and put an arm around her comfortingly. “Don’t worry, I will always stand by your side.”
Ye Jiayao gave him a disdainful look. “I am not worried. If she dares to come after me, I will deal with her.”
“You’re going to deal with her?” Xia Chunyu scoffed. “You can’t win against Princess Liu Li. Not with the whole royal family backing her.”
“So you’re saying that I’ve lost already?” she challenged.
“What I’m saying is that you don’t need to fight her. If you cause any trouble, Chunfeng will get caught in the crossfire, too. Anyways, since she’s gonna be marrying into our family, I’m sure she’s not going to stir up unnecessary drama.”
Ye Jiayao stayed silent. Of course, he has no idea how women operate. Spoiled princesses like Liu Li, who was incredibly competitive and has everything handed to her ever since she was born, do not know how to back down.
Jiang Yue suddenly came in and told them, “Heir-son Lord, Sister Yaoyao, someone’s outside. He said he’s your father, Sister Yaoyao, and he wants to see you.”
Xia Chunyu and Ye Jiayao looked at each other, bewildered. How did he find her here?
“I will deal with him,” Xia Chunyu offered.
“No. I’ll have to deal with him sooner or later either way. I’ll go.”
Ye Binghuai sat in the front desk, slightly shaking. Today, Assistant Minister Mu told him that Jinxuan has been found and was actually the Chef Li Yao from Heavenly Residence. He also found out that the Emperor has already approved Jinxuan and Chunyu’s marriage, making her the Second Mistress of Jing An Marquis’ mansion.
Knowing this, he immediately sent out to find her. His daughter has always been devoted to him, so as long as she forgives him, Xia Chunyu will not touch them again.
The people in Heavenly Residence told him that she lived here, but he did not expect Xia Chunyu to be here too.
Ye Binghuai was a mess of nerves as the pair walked over to him.
“Xuan,” Ye Binghuai called out, his hands and lips trembling as tears fell out of his eyes.
Ye Jiayao knew that something was off. This was the same man who claimed to be a filial son, and yet when his mother died, did not even tear up in the slightest.
“Lord Ye,” Xia Chunyu acknowledged indifferently.
Ye Jiayao was worse because all she did was not at him. There was no way she’s calling him ‘Father’. He doesn’t deserve it.
“Xuan, I thought I’m never going to see you again! Thank you, God, for bringing my girl back to me.” Ye Binghuai wiped his tears with his cuffs.
“Didn’t you want me dead?” Ye Jiayao asked, deadpan.
Ye Binghuai was surprised. “Xuan, how can you say that? When I found out about your accident, I wasn’t able to sleep for several nights!”
“Really? Were you worried that I’d make it back to our house and ruin your plans?” She smiled at him but there was nothing friendly about it. In fact, it was rather chilling.
Xia Chunyu remained quiet as he drank his tea. He knew that Yaoyao needed to vent her grievances against her lousy father.
“Xuan, I know you’re angry and I don’t blame you. I am sorry that I didn’t protect you. I just never expected them to do such things. Xuan, they’ve already received the punishment that they deserve. I promise you, no one will harm you again,” Ye Binghuai said sadly.
Ye Jiayao sneered. ” I’d like to know… if I didn’t meet the Jing An Marquis’ son, would you still have come for me? When I came back from Ji Nan and passed Yang Zhou, I stood outside the gate of your house for a long time, not daring to come in. I was wondering what you might do if I just show up out of the blue. Will you, a father who has always ignored me and only cares about his title and career, tie me up? Hang me? Or maybe sink me to save your reputation?”
“Xuan, how can you think that I can do any of that?” Ye Binghuai asked, forlorn.
“Can’t you? Then, tell me, why didn’t you do anything when you found out that my convoy was robbed by bandits? You know what, I actually don’t even want to know. I don’t want to know where you were when Ye Ning mistreated me. I don’t want to know where you were when I was suffering in the mountains. I don’t want to know where you were when I disguised myself as a man and struggled just to be able to eat. All I want to know is after all the truth has been revealed, did you divorce that poisonous woman?” Ye Jiayao was fierce as she spoke to her father. She has been carrying this for a long time, and she now finally has the chance to confront her demons.
Ye Binghuai started to sweat. He never knew that his weak and timid daughter had such a strong side. He also didn’t think about the built-up resentment in her heart and how powerful it was. Of course, she was now backed by the Jing An Marquis’ son so she’s braver and more confident about confronting him.
Ye Jiayao scoffed at his silence. “You didn’t, did you? Ye Binghuai, you don’t have to pretend to be a loving father now. We both know how our relationship had been. I am just letting you know now that I will never step foot inside the Ye’s mansion again.”
Did he really think that she was still the weak and helpless Ye Jinxuan? That Ye Jinxuan had died a long time ago. To save her dignity, she was now reborn as Ye Jiayao. She was not a soft persimmon that let everyone trample over her. She would return kindness to those who had done her good, but she would fight anyone who tries to harm her again.
Honestly, Xia Chunyu was worried at first that Yaoyao would be moved by her father’s tears. However, after watching that whole interaction, he realized he was worrying for nothing. His Yaoyao was a smart, strong woman who can clearly handle herself.
Ye Binghuai’s plan to appeal to Jinxuan’s emotions fell apart before his eyes. Her coldness and fierceness really surprised him.
“Xuan, don’t you think that I hate Ning too? If it weren’t for her, our family wouldn’t have been destroyed like this. Believe me, I regret being with her. But she’s still Zhongyuan and Jinxiu’s mother. They are still so young and they can’t live without her. Xuan, I have already taught her a lesson and punished her accordingly. She knows that what she did was wrong and she swore that she’s never going to do anything like that again. You should think about your siblings,” Ye Binghuai tried.
“Ha! Do you want them to turn out like Jinrong? Because Jinrong only turned vapid because she grew up under Ye Ning’s guidance. ”
“Let me think about this matter, Xuan. I only came here tonight to see if you’re okay. And also, I want to be a part of your wedding. Can’t your family members come?” Ye Binghuai pleaded.
“Who said I don’t have a family? The Fangs are my family,” replied Ye Jiayao.
Xia Chunyu interjected, “You don’t need to worry about that. The Old Princess of the Helian family has recognized Jinxuan as her granddaughter. They will be Jinxuan’s family at our wedding.”
Ye Binghuai gasped. This meant that Jinxuan was now the younger sister of the Helian Prince! No! Now, I must really make this right between us!
“I am very grateful for everything that you’ve done for Xuan, Lord Xia. It’s also extremely kind and generous of the Helian family to take her as one of their own. However, I am still Jinxuan’s father and I would want to give her dowry to give her a bright marriage.”
“No.” Ye Jiayao told him coldly, “Many people can do that for me. I don’t need you.”
He had another thing coming if he thought he can buy her with a silly show of material possessions.
“As long as Ning is still in your life, I won’t be recognizing anyone in the Ye family,” Ye Jiayao said, her words and tone final.
