ebookland Chapter 53 Breaking the Threshold
Chapter 53 Breaking the Threshold
The Ye family was equally shocked by the matter of the adopted daughter.
When Ye Wanning arrived home, Jiang Si and the others had already received the news that Ye Mingde had returned and that Lin Shi was pregnant. They went to the front hall to talk.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Ye Wanyu thought for a while but still couldn't figure it out. "When I first heard about it, I thought it was a good thing that my eldest sister was favored by Princess Longyu and that no one would be able to bully her or the Ye family in the future. But why didn't my eldest sister and second sister-in-law smile?"
Jiang Si has a perceptive mother who sees things more deeply. "On the surface, it seems like a good thing. Being able to attach ourselves to Princess Longyu is indeed a good thing. But this matter came too suddenly. Logically speaking, if Princess Longyu really had this intention, she would have privately sounded out our family's intentions first, rather than saying it in public."
With so many people asking the question, Ye Wanning couldn't refuse.
Privately, the Ye family could still make a statement, even if it offended Princess Longyu, it was better than getting involved in something without knowing why.
Ye Wanyu understood a bit more. "So, Second Sister-in-law, you feel that this matter came too suddenly and are afraid that something is amiss?"
“That’s how it is.” After Jiang Si finished speaking, she looked at Ye Wanning and patted Ye Wanning’s shoulder. “Since things have come to this, we can only accept it. Don’t think too much about it. Princess Longyu has recognized you as her goddaughter. Whether you are good or not in the future, it will be her face. She wouldn’t do anything to harm you.”
Ye Wanning: "Well, everyone, don't worry about me. Let's take it one step at a time. There's nothing wrong with being the princess's adopted daughter."
Ye Mingde, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up and asked, "Wan Ning, the envoys from Wusu who came this time have not gone to Princess Longyu's residence. You should be careful and not stay at the princess's residence for too long."
Ye Mingde was originally very happy today. With the support of the Jiang and Qian families, he was promoted to the fifth rank of scholar. It was good news that he could share with his whole family, but now he had no interest in talking about it.
After returning home, Ye Mingde told his wife about the incident, saying, "It's good that I've been promoted. As long as I have a position in the court, no one will dare to look down on my younger brothers and sisters."
"A promotion is a good thing. We have to thank Lord Jiang and the others. It was thanks to my second brother's marriage that our family was able to get on the Jiang family's good side." Madam Lin sighed inwardly. If the Lin family were willing to put in a better effort for her husband, he would have had a chance for promotion. Unfortunately, her sister-in-law was petty. "Take my second brother to visit the Jiang family another day. I will also take some gifts to visit Madam Qian."
"My second brother and I will go to the Jiang family. The doctor said you don't need to worry." In the candlelight, Ye Mingde looked at his wife's face. They were a young couple and had been able to discuss things and support each other all these years. They were quite loving.
Knowing her husband was considerate, Madam Lin thought she would visit them to thank them in a few days, but she didn't bring up the topic again in front of her husband. "I really didn't expect Wan Ning's matter. But she has always been a likable person, and it's a good thing that Princess Longyu has taken a liking to her."
Ye Mingde smiled and said yes, without mentioning his worries.
"Tomorrow I'll have someone make some new clothes for all the sisters in the family. Wan Ning is going to the Princess's residence and will often meet noble people from the capital. We can't let the Ye family lose face. Wan Yu and Wan Hua are going to be introduced to potential partners, and they'll be looked down upon if they dress too poorly." After Madam Lin followed Ye Wan Ning's advice to stockpile grain, the public funds gradually became more abundant.
Ye Mingde did not object, and Lin leaned against her husband's chest, feeling very gratified.
On the other side, Jiang Si was sitting under the candlestick looking at the account books when Ye Mingyue returned a short while ago. He was so shocked to hear that Princess Longyu wanted to recognize Wan Ning as her goddaughter that he was speechless.
"Good heavens, as expected of Wan Ning, she accomplishes great things quietly. If our family had a connection with Princess Longyu, wouldn't we be set for life?" As he spoke, Ye Mingyue realized something was amiss. "Wait a minute, this isn't necessarily a good thing. Madam must know that the princes and the Crown Prince are locked in a fierce power struggle, and Princess Longyu is favored by the Emperor. They're all trying to win her over. If Wan Ning becomes Princess Longyu's adopted daughter, won't our family also become entangled with those princes and grandsons?"
"Luckily you haven't lost your mind, that's true." Jiang Si sighed. "But there's nothing we can do, we have to work harder so that Wan Ning won't be looked down upon."
"Don't worry about that. I leave early and come home late every day. I recently closed a big deal, and I should be able to tell my family about it by the end of the year." Ye Mingyue was very careful in his business dealings, afraid of running into his older brother and the Jiang family.
Seeing her husband's troubled expression, Jiang Si smiled. When she returned to her parents' home, her mother asked her how Ye Mingyue treated her. She knew they couldn't be as loving as her elder brother and sister-in-law, but she was content that they treated each other with respect.
The next day, the Princess's residence sent people to deliver the betrothal gifts, a total of thirty-six loads. Granny Jiang also handed over the deeds to houses and land, saying, "His Highness said that she only has Miss Ye as her adopted daughter, and she wants to give Miss Ye everything she has. His Highness has already asked someone to calculate an auspicious date, and will send someone to inform you once the date is set."
Jiang Si smiled politely, slipped a silver note to Granny Jiang, and invited her to stay for tea.
"Thank you for your kindness, Second Madam. This old servant still has to go and report to His Highness, so I dare not stay any longer. There will be plenty of time in the future for us to come and drink your tea again."
After Granny Jiang left, Jiang Si had someone count and catalog the gifts sent by Princess Longyu to mark the beginning of the family relationship. "Send them all to the eldest daughter's courtyard. How they are used from now on is up to the eldest daughter."
The courtyard was filled with gifts for the family reunion. Even the elders who had witnessed the prosperity of the Ye family had never seen such a scene. They all sighed in their hearts that the eldest daughter's luck had turned around and that she was about to have great fortune.
For a time, everyone in the capital was talking about this. Many people felt regretful, thinking that if they had known Princess Longyu wanted to adopt a goddaughter, they would have found a way sooner. No matter how the situation changed in the future, Princess Longyu was powerful and wealthy. She didn't need to marry a princess, yet she could gain power and influence. Why not?
It's a pity that Ye Wanning beat her to it.
Some quick-thinking individuals immediately sent matchmakers to propose marriage to Ye Wanning.
"Second Madam must have heard of him. He is the young master of General He's family, about the same age as the eldest daughter, and he is very handsome and spirited. As long as the eldest daughter marries into the family, Madam He said that the eldest daughter will not have to worry about anything and can just enjoy life."
Jiang Si certainly knew about the He family. Marrying the youngest son meant she wouldn't have to worry about anything, since the eldest daughter-in-law was Madam He's niece, and the eldest son would take over the He family in the future. As for the "dragon and tiger spirit," she had just met the young master of the He family. He was indeed spirited and had a huge appetite; three Wan Nings combined didn't weigh as much as him.
The He family was the first, and as soon as the matchmaker left, other people came to propose marriage. In just two or three days, the Ye family's doorstep was practically worn down by suitors.
That day, Xie Bohuai happened to pass by the Ye family mansion and saw the matchmaker coming out. Qingshan asked her a question out of curiosity.
"Naturally, it's to propose marriage for Miss Ye. You may not know, but these past few days, the Ye family's doorstep has been practically worn down. It's truly a case of 'one family has a daughter, and a hundred families seek her out.'" The matchmaker didn't recognize Xie Bohuai, but seeing his handsome appearance, she enthusiastically promoted herself. "I wonder if you're married yet, young master? I'm the best official matchmaker in the capital. Why don't you leave your name and address, young master, and I'll put in a good word for you?"
"Zhenfu Si Xie Bohuai." Xie Bohuai had just finished speaking when he saw the matchmaker's face freeze, and she awkwardly stepped back.
"Well, I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to. Goodbye, Lord Xie, please continue with your work!" The matchmaker turned and walked away quickly, afraid that Xie Bohuai would call her back.