Chapter 76: The Elder's Confusion and the Youth's Lack of Courtesy

These constables were all veterans at searching homes; if they were truly allowed to proceed, who knew what losses would ensue in the process. Ye Si, anxious, cried, “Wait, wait! Officer, gentlemen, please follow me and see for yourselves…”

“Ahem, Officer Zhong, this is the residence of Young Lord Ye; you must allow him some dignity,” Ye Dan interjected with a cough.

Zhong Wei was moved by this. “Which Young Lord Ye?”

“Why, our Eleventh Young Lord.”

“So this is Young Lord Ye’s house? Forgive my rudeness… I ask Young Lord Ye to come and meet us.” Zhong Wei seemed still somewhat suspicious, but the fierce, threatening look he’d shown moments ago had faded.

Ye Si and Lady Lu exchanged glances. Having been home for some time, they knew Ye Chang was highly respected in the neighboring villages. Yet they hadn’t expected even the county officials to show him such regard.

The two couldn’t help but feel secretly fortunate that, after learning of Ye Chang’s remarkable deeds, they hadn’t outright broken ties with him. Their outward display of familial affection had been maintained all this while.

“I’ll send someone to hurry him back; he’ll return soon,” Ye Si said with a forced smile. “Please, gentlemen, be seated.”

“I care not for any Young Lord Ye! Just bring out my gold and silver!” Zheng, the young lord, was relentless. “Officer Zhong, please!”

Zhong Wei was troubled. He had to give Ye Chang his due, but this Zheng was a formidable figure—even County Captain Yuan would hesitate to cross him. As a mere clerk, how could Zhong risk his own neck for Ye Chang’s sake? He sighed. “Well… Village Chief Ye, how shall we proceed?”

Ye Dan, seeing Ye Si wink at him, was startled and about to stall further when Zheng laughed coldly. “If my gold and silver are short, even your county magistrate will be held responsible… Officer Zhong, examine the marks on the gold ingots carefully!”

Prompted, Zhong Wei turned the gold ingots over and his expression changed.

On the underside were the words “Imperial Treasury,” signifying these ingots came from the palace itself, not from common circulation!

“These are gifts from His Majesty to my family, Officer Zhong. If you act with partiality, do as you please.”

At this, not only Zhong Wei but Ye Dan dared not delay any longer. Still, for Ye Chang’s sake, Zhong instructed the constables to be careful. While their manners remained coarse, they refrained from smashing things.

Soon, the brocade box was found and presented. Inside were eight gold ingots and ten silver ingots, so dazzling they made eyes ache. Each bore the “Imperial Treasury” mark underneath, confirming their palace origin.

“Ye Si, what do you have to say? Will you claim these gold and silver were bestowed upon your family by the Emperor himself?” Zhong Wei’s voice was stern, making Ye Si’s legs tremble. Lady Lu was even more terrified; moments earlier, she’d coveted only two gold ingots to placate Zheng, but now she realized her greed had clouded her judgment.

“These were indeed left in our care by Young Lord Zheng as thanks for looking after his niece Xiang’er these past years…”

“Absurd! A pair of gold ingots would suffice as a reward, more than covering the original price paid for Xiang’er. If it were merely for ransom and thanks, why so much gold and silver? I was moved by your kindness to Xiang’er and your struggles in Bianzhou, so I offered a generous price for your surplus servants. But you grew greedy, and if I hadn’t seen through it and left quickly, who knows what harm would have come to me!”

Now Ye Si and Lady Lu faced grave accusations—not only greed, but intent to harm. Though worldly, they were terrified, and their attempts at defense degenerated into noisy confusion.

“Alas!” Ye Dan could only stomp his foot. Even Ye Chang might have difficulty resolving this.

Just then, he saw a figure at the door and heard a voice: “Is that Officer Zhong? What brings you to my humble home with such a crowd? Has something happened?”

Zhong Wei turned and saw Ye Chang leading a little girl with red eyes. He realized she must be Xiang’er, whose plight had set today’s events in motion. He bowed to Ye Chang. “Young Lord Ye, forgive my intrusion. Someone has accused your honored father and mother.”

“Is that so? And is this… Young Lord Zheng?” Ye Chang was surprised, his gaze sweeping the crowd. Upon seeing Zheng, he understood and showed a hint of anger. “Young Lord Zheng, why do you press your advantage?”

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“I am not pressing my advantage! Your parents swallowed my gold and silver and harbored ill intent—I am only protecting myself!”

The matter was recounted once more. Ye Chang listened in silence, then turned to Ye Si and Lady Lu: “So these gold and silver were gifts from Young Lord Zheng?”

At this point, Ye Si and Lady Lu could no longer act as elders. With Ye Chang’s arrival, the chaotic scene quieted, and they realized just how much influence Ye Chang wielded.

“If so, I ask my lady to bring forth the indentures for Cui Jingxiu and Chunming.”

“This…” Lady Lu bristled, ready to refuse.

Ye Dan interjected, “These people were bought by Eleventh Young Lord. Now he’s cleaning up your mess—don’t embarrass him further!”

As clan leader and village chief, Ye Dan’s word carried weight. Lady Lu knew she had no grounds to resist; to act out now would only invite ridicule.

She could only fetch the indentures. Ye Chang handed them to Zheng. “Now that both people and property are settled, Young Lord Zheng, it was all a misunderstanding. If you choose not to pursue the matter further, what do you think?”

“Young man, you understand reason—your parents are muddle-headed!” Zheng clicked his tongue, storing the indentures. Ye Chang’s gaze shifted, and Zheng smiled, handing the indentures back.

“This must be Xiang’er? I am your uncle,” he said to her.

“Uncle.” Xiang’er bowed, her manner cold, with no joy at meeting family.

Zheng was awkward. “You have suffered these years…”

“Master treats me well. I have not suffered.” Xiang’er glanced affectionately at Ye Chang, then tears began to fall. “I do not want to leave Master. Uncle, please think of me as dead, won’t you?”

“Why say such things?” Zheng was startled. “Don’t be like this…”

“I want to stay with Master. If I leave him, I will truly die!” Xiang’er insisted.

Ye Chang’s expression softened, his eyes reddening. Zheng, helpless before such emotion, looked to Ye Chang for guidance, but Ye Chang only spread his hands, indicating he could do nothing.

“What am I to do?” Zheng looked at Xiang’er’s pleading face, then at the dazed Ye Si and Lady Lu, and said bitterly, “If you had even a fraction of Ye Chang’s character—a tenth—I would let Xiang’er call you foster parents and leave her here. But I simply cannot trust you two!”

Hearing this, Ye Si and Lady Lu hung their heads, wanting to defend themselves but unable to find words.

Ye Chang’s gaze shifted; he whispered to Ye Dan, “Could sister-in-law take in a foster daughter?”

Ye Dan clapped his hands. “Indeed, she is widowed, and Xiang’er living with her would be convenient!”

Zheng, hearing this, inquired further. Learning that the household was headed by a widowed woman with a son and daughter, he nodded. “Very well. I will visit from time to time…”

“I do not wish to be Lady Fang’s daughter!” Just as everyone felt satisfied, Xiang’er spoke up.

Ye Chang was surprised, smiling wryly. “Sister-in-law treats you kindly. When I went to Chang’an, you stayed in her house, didn’t you?”

“I am willing to regard Lady Fang as a sister, but not as a mother,” Xiang’er replied seriously.

This was not unreasonable; to call a widow mother was considered unlucky, but to call her elder sister was fine. Ye Dan sent for Lady Fang, who after hearing the matter, hesitated slightly. Zheng assured her, “Lady Fang, rest easy. Each year I will provide funds and silk for Xiang’er’s living expenses. Her dowry will be my concern.”

“It is not about that,” Lady Fang replied. “I only fear my humble means may treat Xiang’er poorly. If you feel it’s suitable, I am glad to have a new sister.”

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Ye Si and Lady Lu’s faces were green.

Xiang’er had been raised here for four years. They had hoped to use her to connect with the Zhengs of Yingyang, but now matters had turned out thus! The root cause was Zheng’s changeable nature; though Lady Lu had entertained some selfish thoughts, these hadn’t affected the outcome.

Now Lady Fang reaped the benefit—she would climb to the Zheng family’s heights. The rumors Ye Si and Lady Lu had spread in the village would become a joke: if Lady Fang sheltered Zheng’s kin, who would dare pressure her to remarry?

The most humiliating part was that it was Ye Chang who resolved the trouble.

Ye Chang turned to Zheng and thanked him. Zheng laughed heartily. “It is I who should thank you. My own niece must rely on you a while… Indeed, though I leave, I will also leave her some attendants—here!”

Zheng produced another small box, the same one containing the indentures for Cui Jingxiu and others. He handed the brocade box to Xiang’er, who hesitated and looked to Ye Chang. Ye Chang smiled and nodded.

Ye Si and Lady Lu were consumed with jealousy, wishing they could bang their heads against the wall.

This Zheng had played them; his aim was the indentures, to hand thirteen servants—seven children and six adults—over to Xiang’er?

Now, they realized they had fallen into someone’s trap. Looking at Ye Chang, they suspected all was his doing, but could find no proof. And even if Ye Chang was behind it, where had the twenty gold ingots come from?

Unable to figure it out, Xiang’er took the indentures and handed them to Ye Chang. Seeing them return to Ye Chang’s hands, Ye Si and Lady Lu’s eyes almost shot flames, but Ye Chang seemed oblivious, then passed them to Lady Fang. “Please, sister-in-law, keep these indentures for Xiang’er…”

Lady Fang did so without hesitation—she knew well who had spread rumors about her remarrying, and was delighted to strike back at Ye Si and Lady Lu. She put away the indentures and even smiled at Lady Lu, “Please forgive me, aunt.”

Lady Lu rolled her eyes and fainted.

Chaos ensued. After rousing her and helping her into the inner chamber, Zheng’s voice drifted in, “Ah, Young Lord Ye is a rare man—bold and spirited. But this Ye couple, truly unimpressive… Father and son so different, how can it be?”

Ye Chang said nothing. Ye Dan smiled awkwardly. Lady Fang spoke up, “To be honest, Eleventh Young Lord was originally from my branch; my late husband and he were brothers. Later, because our branch had no sons, he was adopted over, but as it turns out, the third branch already had a son elsewhere… This is family business and shouldn’t be discussed now, but since Young Lord Zheng is Xiang’er’s uncle, it matters not.”

Inside, Lady Lu’s eyes snapped open and she cursed under her breath, “That wretched widow!”

Ye Si ground his teeth; this was airing family shame in public. When the guests left, he would surely confront Lady Fang.

Zheng’s voice continued, “Ah, so that’s how it is—no wonder, no wonder. Lady Fang is a capable woman; with Xiang’er in her care, I am reassured. I must attend to matters in the Eastern Capital and cannot stay. Farewell… Young Lord Ye, forgive my frankness: filial piety is the greatest human virtue. A man ignorant of his true parents is less than a beast. I see you and your father are not alike; best to return to your roots and fulfill your duty.”

Ye Si was instantly enraged, about to rush out, but Lady Lu grabbed him.

“He is an outsider—how dare he meddle in our affairs?” Ye Si fumed. “I raised that girl for four, five years; even if there’s no affection, there’s still kindness. Not only does he disregard this, but he sows discord between me and my son. This cannot be tolerated!”

“What can you do? With the clan leader and officials present, you cannot touch him. That man is from the Zhengs of Yingyang—arrogant by nature. Husband, bear it for now!” Lady Lu said, worried. “That widow knows we spread rumors about her, so she seized the chance to retaliate. If you go out now, who will your son side with?”

At this, Ye Si’s anger subsided.

They had failed in business, returned home in debt, only to find Ye Chang had amassed a fortune. According to custom, a son’s fortune belonged to his parents, so they schemed to seize the paper mill and rebuild their lives.

Thinking of the potential profits—thousands of strings of cash yearly—Ye Si and Lady Lu’s hearts burned. For now, they could only shrink back and not show their faces.