Chapter 553 - 552: Promise

Chapter 553: Chapter 552: Promise

The Old Duke’s wife spoke continuously, leaving the Old Master beside her dizzy and overwhelmed. He simply dismissed the gathering, sent the Old Duke’s wife back to her room, and went to the garden, humming a tune and enjoying the moon.

The flower gate between the front and rear courtyards was not yet locked, so Ye Yuzhi went to visit Aunt Liao.

Aunt Liao reclined on the couch, watching the round moon outside the window. Seeing Ye Yuzhi arrive, she smiled faintly.

"How is Aunt’s health?" Ye Yuzhi asked softly, "What did you eat tonight?"

Aunt Liao held Ye Yuzhi’s hand and said, "I am as usual. Now that I no longer have to worry about those matters, I feel more at ease. Life is lighter. The kitchen sent quite a few dishes tonight; I couldn’t finish them all, so I shared them with the staff."

Currently, Mrs. Xiao Guan manages the household, ensuring Aunt Liao’s food and clothing are sufficient.

Anyway, it’s Duke Mansion’s silver, not her dowry money. If she withheld too much, letting even a snippet out would make her a laughingstock.

Laughing at her incompetence and low means, relying on country women’s tricks.

Aunt Liao looked deeply at Ye Yuzhi.

Having spent some years at Shanyu Pass, Ye Yuzhi’s demeanor became more steady and practical, yet he retained the noble air of a Capital youth.

The bright moonlight accentuated his gentleness, and his light smile made Aunt Liao’s smile deepen involuntarily.

This son of hers truly was the product of over ten years of her dedication.

Even if she had been played around by Duke Jing Mansion all this time, Aunt Liao felt nothing but satisfaction with this son.

Because of her satisfaction, Aunt Liao couldn’t help but worry for him at this moment.

"I heard that they mentioned your marriage at the banquet?" Aunt Liao lowered her voice to ask.

The dying camel is still bigger than a horse; though Aunt Liao gave up domestic management, she still had her information sources in the mansion.

Ye Yuzhi wasn’t surprised and nodded, "Yes."

Aunt Liao felt deeply pained. The Old Duke’s wife stood at the forefront. Even if Mrs. Xiao Guan desired reputation, finding a suitable match for Ye Yuzhi could easily be vetoed by the Old Duke’s wife.

That old hag is simply detestable and hateful!

Aunt Liao couldn’t bear the thought of Ye Yuzhi marrying poorly.

Though Aunt Liao didn’t say it out loud, Ye Yuzhi understood that she cared for him, warming his heart as if the wine from the earlier banquet had just now reached his core.

"Aunt," Ye Yuzhi leaned closer and said, "My marriage has been arranged from the palace, so Aunt needn’t worry."

Aunt Liao was startled by this; not only did the Holy Emperor have Ye Yuzhi join the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, but he also arranged his marriage?

"Whose daughter?" Aunt Liao asked trembling.

Flashed through Ye Yuzhi’s mind were images of Huang Jie joking with Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke. He relaxed his eyebrows, saying, "The youngest daughter of General Huang, named Huang Jie."

Aunt Liao’s eyes widened.

She had heard of Huang Jie during past interactions with various families’ wives.

Not forthcoming in personality, being from a martial family yet raised like a scholarly girl—caught between both worlds.

However, these were rumors. Aunt Liao understood how exaggerated rumors could be, having seen An Ran suffer greatly from them in the past.

Back then, when An Ran was favored, how many noblewomen in the Capital surrounded her?

They said Du Yunuo was an unpresentable concubine’s daughter, unlike An Ran, who had good judgment and was well-liked; Du Yunluo was deemed spoiled and difficult. Yet after An Ran’s fall from grace, the only ones who continued relations were those two Du sisters.

First, due to the Liao Family’s reputation, second, because they weren’t troubled by rumors.

Having learned from past events, Aunt Liao did not outright look down on Huang Jie.

Moreover, regardless of Huang Jie’s qualities, she was General Huang’s daughter. Without General Huang’s help and care, how could Ye Yuzhi find an opportunity to break through?

In the entire Capital, at this time, it was rare for anyone, unrelated by blood, to offer Ye Yuzhi support. Each person extending help was worth Aunt Liao’s heartfelt gratitude.

It’s easy to enhance what’s beautiful, hard to lend aid amid adversity.

Huang Jie was free of deformities; it would be presumptuous to pick faults with her.

As for Huang Jie’s temperament...

Uncut jade can’t be crafted; with some refinement, she could greatly improve.

Moreover, without the palace’s intervention, letting the Old Duke’s wife and Mrs. Xiao Guan meddle with Ye Yuzhi’s marriage...

Family status, appearance, conduct...

Each aspect sufficient for those two to haggle over for years, without finding someone more suitable.

Thinking to this extent, Aunt Liao’s anxious heart found considerable relief.

Settled by the palace, the marriage—even if the Old Duke’s wife were dissatisfied—would dare not challenge at Cining Palace with the Empress Dowager.

Ye Yuzhi, in the Central Army Commander’s Mansion with the Ying Family guidance and support, coupled with an influential maternal family, demonstrated the Holy Emperor’s high favor towards Ye Yuzhi.

In the future, the Old Duke couple would be unable to suppress Ye Yuzhi as before by completely blocking his path.

Her son was sure to have a bright future.

Aunt Liao felt immensely relieved, smiling gently, "So, Yu Zhi is about to get married? That truly is good news. You’ll be well, An Ran will be well, and I’ll have nothing to worry about."

It wasn’t just relief; she could already foresee the Old Duke’s wife’s nearly biting expression when the marriage was finalized.

The two conversed a bit more, and as it grew late, Aunt Liao urged Ye Yuzhi to return to the front courtyard to avoid missing the lock signal time.

Ye Yuzhi bid Aunt Liao farewell, unhurriedly walking forward.

The moonlight was bright enough that lanterns were unnecessary to see clearly. Ye Yuzhi passed through the winding corridor, and halfway encountered Ye Jinzhi returning from moon-gazing.

The corridor was narrow, blocked by Ye Jinzhi. Following behind were maids and servants, leaving no space for Ye Yuzhi to pass.

Ye Yuzhi calmly looked at Ye Jinzhi.

Ye Jinzhi scoffed, "Brother, wandering without a lantern at night, I didn’t even see you.

I heard life at the border is harsh, and after a few years in the army, it seems Brother has forgotten even simple Capital customs. Alas, the countryside and Capital are indeed different.

But since Brother is back in the Capital, better abide by Capital rules.

I’m fine, as An Ran has long married, yet if Brother keeps blocking the path, what about Xi Zhi?

Xi Zhi, the legitimate heir, must continue the Duke Mansion’s lineage, not be dragged down."

Were An Ran here, she’d probably mock Ye Jinzhi about the Young Master’s attempt to marry her into the Sun Family for Uncle Sun’s birthday, but reported and reprimanded by the Empress, angering the Holy Emperor. Ye Yuzhi, however, didn’t wish to argue with Ye Jinzhi.

Seeing Ye Jinzhi had no intention of making way, he leaped, effortlessly jumping out of the corridor, circumvented the group, then returned to the corridor, continuing without looking back.

Ye Jinzhi evidently didn’t anticipate Ye Yuzhi’s action, staring blankly, then stomping in anger upon realizing.

The maid beside her sighed repeatedly, witnessing the great young master truly had his own mind.

Blocked paths wouldn’t lead to confrontation; he’d simply find another way.

Just as now, so did he when heading to Shanyu Pass, before.