"Absurd, I just saw the child being so innocent, how could he be a bad omen? People experience both fortune and misfortune, Madam, your perspective is too shortsighted, and you cannot see that Shen Wan is so corrupt and pedantic! Simply ridiculous." Father Ye was the first to step forward and defend.
A bad omen indeed, purely groundless talk.
Unexpectedly, their bookish old father had this kind of insight, Ye Zhi quickly clapped her hands in approval.
"That’s right, Mother, see, even Father says so. He’s the Lord Minister, his words must be right. You can’t blame a child for the death of his parents. Which child in the Capital City can’t go to school, but he can’t attend the academy. A while ago, Li Du saw him listening to the teacher outside the academy’s fence secretly."
Secretly checking her mother’s face for any reaction, then exacerbating the situation.
"He’s been treading lightly in the mansion since childhood, and Housekeeper Shen hasn’t been paying much attention to him. The servants in the mansion also treat him poorly. He’s about the same age as me, and I can see that he has potential. Given time, he will surely become a pillar of the nation, then he can serve as an official alongside Father and eliminate harm for the people."
Though the harm to be eliminated was her...
The novel describes Shen Chen’s childhood as very miserable. When he went to the kitchen for meals, there were only a few pickled vegetables or some greens, seldom any meat.
As a result, later on, he developed stomach issues, and his body became as thin as bamboo.
The Ye Mansion has always been lenient with servants, but in this case, some wicked servants saw him as a child, knowing Shen Wan disliked him and wouldn’t stand up for his grandson. They then snatched his meat, turning it into a habit over time.
Yes, later his diet needs to be improved.
For some reason, she felt reluctant to see him suffer.
Ye Zhi was about to make a big move. Embracing her mother, she buried her head in her mother’s chest, her voice soft.
"Mother, put yourself in his place. If I were Shen Chen, today being the one pointed and whispered about, how would you feel?"
This statement shook Ye Family’s heart.
If her Xiao Ah Zhi was talked about like this, pointed fingers at, without parents or friends, lonely, she wouldn’t rest in peace even in death.
With her hand, she returned her daughter’s embrace, patting her back: "Thinking this way, it’s true that Mother has been too extreme."
Ye Family, born into a business family, ranks within the top ten of the Capital City’s richest list, never lacking Silver Tael.
Ye Yuan is the Minister of Rites, a marriage of officials and merchants.
"Ah Zhi, promise Mother that your future marriage will be decided by me. I’ll definitely help you find a suitable husband." Hidden meaning, you should not fall for Shen Chen, this is her condition.
"Yes, yes, good Mother."
Rest assured.
The heroine was there watching like a hawk. Anyone who dared to come close to Shen Chen would either face death or injury. Her mother’s worries were unnecessary.
Stroking his goatee, Father Ye shook his head and murmured helplessly: "Children are just kids, little ones with hair down their tails, what can they understand? Lingling worries too much. Stately as the wind beneath a pine, rising slowly in grace, Shen Chen seems to be a promising talent. Let him inherit Ah Zhi’s grace, when he succeeds in fame, he can also lend Ah Zhi a hand."
Ye Family nodded.
Thinking about it, it makes sense. Shen Chen is indeed pitiable; her prejudice was too strong.
Raising one more person isn’t much, just regard him as a companion to her daughter.
"Ah Zhi, leave this matter to me. I’ll have Yun Xiu bring you the contract of servitude later. When the teacher arrives in a couple of days, you will study together."
"Yes, yes, okay."
Thus, the matter was settled.
Handling matters with a gentle demeanor, Ye Family’s methods were swift and decisive, immediately citing shortage of manpower as the reason to relocate Housekeeper Shen from the Capital City to Shangluo.
Promoted Deputy Housekeeper Zheng Qi to become the Ye Mansion’s housekeeper.