Ye Lingyue and the Crown Prince's Grand Protector Hong Fang's relationship is known by Yan Che and Lai Gu.
Yan Che, having been an orphan since childhood, felt indifferent towards parental affection.
However, Lai Gu felt quite indignant on behalf of Ye Lingyue.
Both daughters of the Hong Residence, but Hong Fang treated Hong Mingyue and Ye Lingyue as if they were worlds apart.
"This matter, you handled it very well, Yan Che, take some Silver Tael for her." At Ghost Sect, meritorious deeds are rewarded, and misdeeds punished.
It was also thanks to these Ghost Sect stakes that Ye Lingyue could stay indoors and still be clear about everything happening in the noble mansions of Xia Capital.
Four Great Noble Marquis confronting this mere girl from Lan Residence? Quite intriguing indeed.
"Sect Leader, they know everything while we're in the dark, Lai Gu is right. Unfortunately, we cannot find out what actions Hong Fang and his people are planning to take," Yan Che's resolute face showed a trace of worry.
"Lai Gu, in the next few days, keep an eye on Liu Qing's movements. Hong Fang will definitely consult with Liu Qing on this matter. If I'm not mistaken, this incident will inevitably be linked to Noble Princess Consort Luo and her son," Ye Lingyue had anticipated that mother and son would be driven to despair.
She was quite curious to see what kind of major moves they would play this time.
The news of Ye Lingyue soon to be bestowed the title of Princess Yue had spread, and the very next day, at the morning court, led by Heir Hong, Duke An, and other Four Great Noble Marquis, jointly submitted a memorial.
"Your servants have heard that recently, the Empress intends to bestow the title of Princess on the second young miss of Lan Residence. However, since the founding of Daxia Country, for hundreds of years, the Imperial Family's princesses either belong to nobles or those with great contributions, with impeccable conduct and universally acclaimed reputations. Ye Lingyue, having been raised in the countryside, unfamiliar with proper etiquette, often at odds with noble girls and daughters of officials in various contexts. This girl is cunning and cold-hearted; if she is to be named Princess of Daxia, it would indeed disgrace Daxia Country's dignity."
All four memorials, without exception, criticized Ye Lingyue's character. The memorial from the Crown Prince's Grand Protector Hong Fang went further to claim that Ye Lingyue, still unmarried, flirted with many men and even harbored a foreign man in her own home.
Furthermore, in Xia Capital, several noblewomen, spurred by Zhuge Rou, took turns entering the palace, in front of Empress Dowager, accusing Ye Lingyue of arrogance, and even laying hands on their children.
Upon hearing this news, Great General Lan Yingwu, in court, furiously yelled and started a fight with the Crown Prince's Grand Protector Hong Fang, only separated by the intervention of Marquis and Duke An among others.
Following this uproar, Emperor Xia, deeply troubled, despite the Empress's pleading, decided to temporarily halt the bestowment of Princess title to Ye Lingyue.
In Xia Capital, rumors about Ye Lingyue rampantly escalated within a day; she became the infamous No.1 villainess known far and wide, infuriating Lady Lan to the point of falling ill, and Lan Cai'er wished she could rush to Hong Residence and fight Hong Fang's family to death.
"How could there be such a heartless biological father in this world, Ling Yue, your reputation is ruined, how will you ever get married?" inside the Hong Residence, Lady Lan was deeply worried.
Ye Lingyue was already fourteen this year. Previously, both the Sixth Prince and Heir Qinghai had shown great fondness for her.
Unfortunately, Ling Yue was unwilling to marry into the Imperial Palace, but now with this turmoil, which reputable family in Xia Capital would dare to accept Ye Lingyue.
Lady Lan is a sincere person. When Ye Huangyu entrusted her daughter to her and her husband's care, Ye Lingyue ended up being slandered by rumors, and as an adoptive mother, she was powerless, which greatly upset Lady Lan.
When it came to the heartbreaking matters, Lady Lan couldn't help but wipe her tears, causing both Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er considerable headache.
"Adoptive mother, it's just some villains spreading rumors, time will erase it. Mother, don't take it too seriously. Moreover, I am still young, marriage is far ahead, I want to spend more years with you and adoptive father just like my elder sister," Ye Lingyue said nonchalantly.
Speaking of which, Lan Cai'er was a full nine years older than Ye Lingyue. She was already twenty-three this year. In Daxia, girls could be betrothed at thirteen or fourteen years old, and it was not uncommon to become mothers at fifteen or sixteen.
Lan Cai'er was truly a spinster.
This fact puzzled Ye Lingyue when she first met Lan Cai'er in Li City.
Later, after recognizing the Lan couple as her adoptive parents, she vaguely learned from them that Lan Cai'er had been betrothed at fourteen or fifteen years old, but later the engagement was broken off due to some reasons.
The Lan couple, fearing that Lan Cai'er would be unhappy, never rushed her into marriage.
Ye Lingyue, seeing Lan Cai'er's demeanor, didn't take the broken engagement to heart and thus didn't probe further.
"Mother, don't worry about it. Our sister Ling Yue, who wouldn't want her? At the very least, I guarantee there's someone who will definitely marry her," Lan Cai'er quipped, her mother's character was too gentle and too sentimental after all.
Why must a woman be married to be content? She felt that if one doesn't find a person they truly resonate with, it might be better not to marry at all. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel⟡fire.net
"Is that true? Cai'er, who are you talking about? What is his family name, how many people are in his family, and what do they live on?" Lady Lan brightened up immediately upon hearing this, her changing expressions so rapidly astonished both Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er.
"Sister, I just remembered, I haven't yet delivered a few jars of new wine to Drunk Immortal Inn, come with me to deliver the wine," Ye Lingyue could guess who Lan Cai'er was talking about.
Fearing that Lan Cai'er might speak carelessly and cause misunderstandings, Ye Lingyue grabbed her and they rushed out.
"Ling Yue, why the rush, let Yan Che, that big guy, do that kind of rough work. Oh~" Lan Cai'er yelled, and in a moment, they disappeared, leaving Lady Lan to shake her head with a wry smile.
"Lady, are you feeling alright?" Lan Yingwu walked in.
"Husband, is there any news about Yue'er's situation?" Lady Lan quickly asked Lan Yingwu upon seeing him.
The title of Princess, though it sounds nominal, but for a commoner to be directly titled as Princess before marriage is absolutely unprecedented in the history of Daxia.
If Ye Lingyue were to be titled, it would undoubtedly be a significant victory for the lineage of Daxia commoner officials over the lineage of Daxia nobles!
"Grand Protector Hong Fang and a few Noble Marquis are resisting the ennoblement of Yue'er as Princess. Emperor Xia now has mixed views about Ling Yue, saying that this matter will be revisited later. After all discussions, it's a pity that Yue'er is a girl; if she were a boy, with her intelligence, talent, and using her own hands, she could forge a remarkable destiny in the military," Lan Yingwu's face still showed bruises from the scuffle with Hong Fang in the court during the day.