Ye Hongyang didn’t need to inquire further; Madam Yin had no intention of hiding the fact that her daughter was now so sensible and capable. There was no need for secrecy. As for who Qi Ye was, the family knew very well, so it didn’t matter whether it was kept secret or not. As for outsiders, there was even less to say; the two cookbooks were a token of affection from a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Ah Yan to a mother who had lost her daughter. What others thought was their business, and it was unlikely that anyone would dare confront Duke An directly about it.
The next day, Maternal Aunt Liu received her expected return; Madam Yin went to the Great Cien Temple early in the morning, and afterwards summoned several managers and stewards of her dowry shops and estates to the Flower Hall for questioning. It was said that Madam Yin’s quarters had disbursed quite a lot of Silver Taels.
Nanny Zhang, an efficient worker, had gathered information from outside that Madam Yin had instructed several managers and stewards to look for stores or restaurants to buy in bustling areas.
Then, various stories about Lady Qi of the Qi family of Yuyuan Prefecture began to spread in Duke’s Mansion. When the stories spread, people omitted the Qi family from her name, and no one called her directly, but simply referred to her as Young Lady.
The Young Lady was not only extremely intelligent but also had a straightforward and cheerful disposition, dealing with people honestly and generously.
The Young Lady was very capable; not only did she manage two potentially unlimited industries for His Highness Prince Yu, her family also owned a shop that supplied exquisite pastries. These sweets were not only delicious but also novel and exquisitely made, making them the ultimate delicacy coveted by the top families of Qingyuan County.
In just two days, whenever the Young Lady became the topic of conversation at home, everyone knew that she was the woman who bore a striking resemblance to the Duke and Duchess’s favored daughter. From the way she was addressed, it was clear that Qi Ye had already become part of the family, and her status in the mansion seemed to be even more significant than the former Miss of the house.
In less than two days, Maternal Aunt Liu heard nothing but bad news, each piece more disheartening than the last. Madam Yin suddenly wanted to buy shops and restaurants, certainly because the cookbooks sent back by Ye Xinyan were excellent, likely containing the ultimate delicacies. That was why Madam Yin thought of starting her own business.
What made her even more resentful was the rumor in the mansion that after that idiot left the capital, she seemed to live even more willfully than at Duke An’s Mansion, and nobody criticized her for it.
Another day passed, and just before dinner, Ye Hongyang, in a fit of rage, went to find his parents. He burst through the door and asked, "What did that damn thing give to Madam Yin? Why do I hear that those two books are very important items?"
Duke An and the Duchess were sitting at the dining table, and they calmly said, "That is not any damn thing; she’s a very nice child, at least much better than several others in this mansion right now. I’ve sent someone over again, planning to observe her for a while longer. If she indeed turns out to be as intelligent and spirited as Lian Gui has said, your mother and I are considering having her acknowledge Madam Yin as her godmother."
Ye Hongyang was suddenly stunned. Could such a thing actually happen? To recognize that rebellious runaway as family once again? This action lacked even the most basic discretion; wasn’t it too unseemly?
"Father, you can’t do this! This will make the Duke An’s Mansion the laughingstock of others," Ye Hongyang protested.
Duke An glanced at his son and said indifferently, "I have been used to being laughed at for many years. A few more or less laughs don’t make a difference."
The Duchess, who originally wanted to help her son save face and smooth things over, felt a flush of shame upon hearing her husband’s words. If their son hadn’t pampered Maternal Aunt Liu excessively, maybe Madam Yin could have birthed a legitimate heir, and the old master wouldn’t always be sighing .
"..." Ye Hongyang didn’t know how to respond to his father’s words.
His father had always resented the fact that he hadn’t given Duke’s Mansion a legitimate grandson. After Ye Xinyan, that calamity, ran away from home, the father seemed to dislike his two illegitimate sons even more. He knew that Maternal Aunt Liu had drugged Madam Yin with his collusion, which was why the investigation at the time was so difficult.
At that time, his eldest illegitimate son had just turned one year old, and as he beheld his tender and lovely son and beloved woman, he truly did not wish to pass the Duke’s Mansion to Madam Yin’s son, subjecting his beloved son and woman to indignity. That was why he assisted Maternal Aunt Liu in carrying out that affair, which led directly to the absence of a legitimate heir in Duke An’s Mansion.
Ye Hongyang thought for a long while before he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, "But that calamity truly cannot be presented in decent society, she will only bring shame to our family, I was considering the reputation of our Duke’s Mansion. Father, please think again, if we acknowledge her back into the family and she behaves wildly again, our mansion will be utterly disgraced."
Having smoothly delivered his argument, he then voiced the purpose of his visit, "And what’s with Madam Yin? Summoning the steward and inquiring about buying shops? If the recipes Lian Gui brought back are really so valuable, they should be kept in the public accounts of our manor, how can they be handed over to a mere woman of the household?"
Duke An’s face darkened as he stared at him and said, "Aside from listening to a concubine’s talk, do you plan not to take to heart any of the words and reminders of your parents? Are you thinking that your mother and I can’t bear to let you be disappointed, hmm?"
Ye Hongyang’s eyes shrank nervously for a moment. The question he had just asked was indeed what Maternal Aunt Liu had told him, and he also felt that the profitable business brought back by Lian Gui should rightfully be turned over to the public accounts. Madam Yin was merely a daughter-in-law of the Duke’s Mansion; by what right could she claim a good business that belonged to the Duke’s Mansion?
However, now that his father had put it so plainly, he came across as someone easily swayed by the words of a woman, and moreover a concubine who was not fit to be seen in public.
Duke An continued, "Furthermore, there’s the matter with Xinyan. These last few days, I’ve suddenly felt that all the problems arise because Xinyan is a girl. If she were a boy, her arrogance and unreasonableness would be nothing more than the flamboyance of a wayward young master coming from a place of overconfidence, hardly a major fault, but rather displaying the spirit typical of manhood."
Duke An looked down and pushed the teacup at his hand away, considering that combined with the information brought back by Lian Gui, Ye Xinyan’s current calm, resolute bearing and her nonchalant confidence even in the face of His Highness Prince Yu, had she been a grandson, then no matter how wayward and troublesome he might be, what of it? Born to a high-ranking family, if he lacked even that bit of daring, would it not be a waste of such a birthright, a letdown to the favor granted by the heavens?
The thought made his two illegitimate grandsons appear particularly weak and disappointing, an utter disgrace to the bloodline of Ye Tang.
"If the descendants of Ye Family are indeed unworthy, then it must be the Ye Family themselves to take action and make it right. If there is an outstanding child, even if they commit a grave error, I as the father have the means to afford them a chance to redeem themselves. I will never allow the Ye bloodline to be bullied by others. As for Madam Yin’s business, you should not interfere, and even less with your Maternal Aunt Liu.
Madam Yin is rightfully running a business with her dowry silver, her dowry steward, and the recipe book presented by her daughter. In the future, if Xinyi uses her own things for Maternal Aunt Liu, your mother and I will certainly not ask. Even if Brother Heng and Brother Yi are the male offspring of our household, if they manage to establish themselves and stand on their own two feet, whatever they earn will be at their own disposal."
"As for re-acknowledging Qi Ye after her misconduct," Duke An chuckled, "naturally, it will be I who personally disciplines her." An excellent child naturally requires stricter discipline, and even as a granddaughter, she is better than any worthless scion.
The next day, Maternal Aunt Liu received a message from the Duchess’s personal old woman servant; after arranging the affairs of the inner house, she returned to her own Secluded Fragrance Garden to kneel for three Shichen. This was the first time she had been punished, and the first time she realized she didn’t even have the right to kneel in the Duchess’s Comfort Heart Courtyard.
After kneeling for three Shichen, Maternal Aunt Liu’s legs trembled as she was helped up by her maids and old woman servants, even missing her noon meal.
When Maternal Aunt Liu’s two sons learned of their mother’s punishment, they immediately informed the Princely Heir and then returned to the Secluded Fragrance Garden to join her in kneeling for the full duration, not even daring to kneel in their grandmother’s courtyard.
When Duke An returned in the evening and heard of this, he only remarked, "Quite filial," before going about his own business.