Hearing Madam Ye’s words, Concubine Mei thought to herself that Madam Ye was trying to embarrass her.
Who in the residence didn’t know that Fourth Young Master was adept at eating, drinking, and merrymaking, with the one thing he didn’t know how to do being studying?
With a forced smile, she replied, “Fourth Young Master went out with the Master today.”
Although she changed the subject,
who among those present was unaware of the current reputation of the Ye residence’s Fourth Young Master, the one who had taken first place?
They all felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Although Concubine Mei had returned these past months, living in the main Ye residence was not at all as relaxed and comfortable as it had been at the separate estate.
Therefore, she had been waiting for Ye Shaohua to establish his own separate household, not wanting to stay here any longer.
**
On the other side, Ye Qingweng intended for his two promising sons to meet more people.
“Lord Ye, this humble official doesn’t understand, why bring Fourth Young Master along?” Ye Qingweng had been promoted one rank this year. Liu, the Prefect under him, was smiling when he saw Ye Shaoming.
But upon seeing Ye Qingweng had also brought Ye Shaohua, he couldn’t help but frown.
“This occasion is for the Third Prince to win over Young General Yang. You know Young General Yang has always despised this kind of weak, powerless playboy. If he gets annoyed…” Prefect Liu frowned.
He knew Young General Yang’s temperament.
Having followed the Old General to the battlefield since childhood, it was even said he had eaten human flesh on the sands of war.
He was as close as brothers with the current Emperor.
Once, he had broken the leg of the spoiled son of a feudal prince, and the prince hadn’t dared utter a single complaint.
Ye Qingweng, as a civil official in the capital, truly hadn’t heard of this. He stared blankly at Ye Shaoming. “Shaoming, is that true? Would that Young General Yang break your younger brother’s leg? Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Ye Qingweng had originally given up on his fourth son.
But these past months, several of his colleagues had repeatedly mentioned his fourth son to him, especially among them a high-ranking First Rank official, the Grand Tutor.
Thinking that even the Grand Tutor praised his fourth son, Ye Qingweng, who had been disappointed in the boy, began to remember Ye Shaohua again.
For such an important occasion today, after hearing a word from Ye Shaoming, he brought Ye Shaohua along as well.
Who would have thought Prefect Liu would suddenly say such a thing?
Hearing this, Ye Shaoming merely said indifferently, “Young General Yang has an eccentric temper. I have no way of knowing.”
However, he glanced sideways at Ye Shaohua, his expression somewhat gloating, even carrying a hint of mockery.
He knew his fourth brother never attended poetry gatherings, only playing around with some unsavory friends.
“Lord Ye’s two sons are indeed outstanding figures,” the Third Prince’s attendant said with a smile upon seeing Ye Qingweng, then turned his gaze to Ye Shaoming. “Young Master Ye, please come in quickly. The Third Prince has already arrived.”
The people here were clearly very familiar with Ye Shaoming, making some officials regard him with renewed respect.
Ye Shaoming glanced at Ye Shaohua, saw him fanning himself nonchalantly, and withdrew his gaze.
Ye Shaohua followed the group inside.
“This is the Ye family’s young master who became the top provincial scholar at fourteen?” The Third Prince, seeing Ye Shaohua had even brought a birdcage here, couldn’t help but frown. “Why is he here?”
He wore a magnificent purple brocade robe and was exceptionally handsome. With one glance, Ye Shaohua understood why the original host in her past life had fallen for this Third Prince.
Holding the birdcage in one hand and a fan in the other, she completely ignored the looks from others.
Hearing the Third Prince’s words, Ye Shaoming forced a bitter smile. “It’s all my father…”
Seeing his expression, the several young masters from wealthy families and the Third Prince present all understood.
So it was because Lord Ye favored the concubine-born son.
They couldn’t help but think this way.
Look at Ye Shaohua, merely a concubine-born son, yet the robe he wore was Shu brocade fine enough to be a tribute item, and the jade pendant hanging from his waist, judging by its luster, was no ordinary piece either.
Compared to Ye Shaohua, Ye Shaoming’s attire could be considered shabby.
They instinctively assumed Ye Qingweng favored the concubine-born son.
“Don’t worry. When Young General Yang arrives later, he’ll surely give him a hard time. Does he really think the Third Prince and Young General Yang are just anyone one can try to ingratiate themselves with?” A young master from a noble family, also the Third Prince’s study companion, spoke up. He gave Ye Shaoming a sympathetic look and patted his shoulder.
His comforting words carried a faint trace of schadenfreude.
This was precisely the intention behind Ye Shaoming bringing Ye Shaohua today.
Over the past few months, he had had people thoroughly investigate Ye Shaohua’s behavior in the Ye household.
Proficient in all forms of pleasure-seeking, how could such a person pass the provincial exam and rank higher than himself? Especially with Ye Qingweng singing his praises daily, how could Ye Shaoming not feel jealous and resentful?
Especially when Ye Qingweng, upon learning the Third Prince was hosting a poetry gathering, persuaded him to bring Ye Shaohua along as well.
Ye Shaoming hadn’t initially wanted to bring Ye Shaohua.
But upon hearing the Third Prince had even invited Young General Yang, he agreed to his father’s request.
Everyone knew Young General Yang despised people like Ye Shaohua the most—those who spent all day eating, drinking, and playing, yet were weak and powerless.
Few in the capital dared offend Young General Yang. Not only was he the only son of the General of Agile Cavalry, but he also had the distinction of growing up with the Emperor since childhood.
Emperor Duan Yunxiu’s methods were notoriously ruthless and unfeeling. The only ones he was relatively close to were from the General of Agile Cavalry’s household.
Because of this, people generally chose to curry favor with the General’s household.
Precisely for this reason, no one dared provoke Young General Yang.
Those playboy young masters, upon hearing Yang Zijin’s fearsome reputation, would wish to flee eight hundred miles away.
So, seeing Ye Shaohua here, these literati and scholars couldn’t wait to see, once Yang Zijin arrived, exactly which of Ye Shaohua’s hands would be crippled.
Just as the group was talking, someone outside called out, “Young General Yang has arrived!”
Ye Shaoming turned to Ye Shaohua with a gentle expression. “Fourth Brother, shall we go together?”
Ye Shaohua naturally sensed the malice in the eyes of the Third Prince and the others watching her. She smiled, not minding at all. “Alright.”
Seeing her smiling face, Ye Shaoming felt disgusted inwardly. Smile away. Let’s see how you’ll be smiling later!
The door had already been opened by the attendant. Young General Yang entered, bringing a chill with him. His first glance wasn’t at the Third Prince, but at Ye Shaohua, a flash of astonishment crossing his face.
