Free Web NovelChapter 1266: Chapter 1255: Illegitimate Son
"Mother, has something happened in the mansion today? Why does it feel like the servants are all as silent as cicadas in winter?" Ye Sihui went to pay respects to the Li Family in the evening and took the opportunity to ask about the accounts, then asked curiously.
"Isn’t it because of your illegitimate elder brother?" The Li Family pursed their lips, "He angered your father and is kneeling in the ancestral hall."
"Elder brother? Could it be that elder brother brought up the matter of Ye Jing’s marriage with father again? Is he still hoping to make father change his mind?" Ye Sihui frowned, thinking her elder brother was just asking for trouble. With father’s nature, how could he possibly change the arranged marriage?
"It’s not that. It’s his prideful ambition to join the army. With his frail body that falls at the slightest breeze, going to the army is just going to die. How could your father not be angry?" The Li Family sneered, "Reading a few books and really thinking he’s capable, beyond his own ability."
"Joining the army?" Upon hearing this news, Ye Sihui widened her eyes, "Why would elder brother think of joining the army?"
"Who knows what he’s thinking? Anyway, it doesn’t concern us." The Li Family said indifferently.
Ye Sihui frowned tightly. This didn’t happen in the last life. Why did elder brother suddenly want to join the army?
Though trapped in the Prince Wang Mansion in the last life, she was still somewhat aware of state affairs. She remembered the latter years when battling the Northern Barbarians, the Rui Dynasty mostly lost, ceding land and paying indemnities. Finally, it was temporarily alleviated by the Holy Emperor and the Empress sending Princess for marriage alliance. If Ye Qiu wants to join the army, not to mention his poor health, even being highly skilled in martial arts wouldn’t matter. Many military generals were blamed after losing battles back then.
"So what does mother think? Won’t you stop him?"
"What should I stop? I wish those two mother and son would never appear before me."
Ye Sihui understood her mother’s feelings. The year her mother first married her father, she had no offspring for three consecutive years. Later, her grandmother gave father the head maid, who is now Aunt Lan.
And Aunt Lan indeed was fortunate, serving her father for the first year and giving birth to the illegitimate elder brother, the first male heir, receiving grandmother and father’s utmost affection since birth.
Only two years later, when mother gave birth to her and her younger brother, the twins, she finally felt triumphant. Although, in her eyes, grandmother’s actions weren’t wrong, mother was definitely aggrieved. So even though Aunt Lan and the illegitimate elder brother posed no threat to her while growing up, Ye Sihui never had a favorable view of them.
So when her mother said she didn’t care, Ye Sihui also decided not to intervene. If the illegitimate elder brother wants to court death, let him be. After all, it won’t affect them.
At this time, Ye Qiu’s feelings were absolutely not good. His father was truly ruthless, completely ignoring his poor health. He had been kneeling in this cold ancestral hall for two hours. If it hadn’t been for the Spiritual Spring Water improving his health recently, he really couldn’t sustain it.
But he wouldn’t change his mind. If his power is less than his father’s, he would have to remain under his father’s control for his whole life. He doesn’t want his marriage, his children’s marriage to be restricted in future, nor does he want his sister and aunt to be alone.
"Do you know your mistake?" Ye Sheng walked in with a frosty expression.
"Father, I don’t believe it’s wrong. I want to join the army. Please allow me, father." Ye Qiu said with firm resolve.
"Utter nonsense. Do you think war is child’s play? What competence or qualification do you have to join the army?"
"I’ve studied books for years, knowing well that joining the army and fighting wars isn’t child’s play. Father, our family’s heritage is built on warfare. Now I merely wish to pick up our family’s legacy. Why do you oppose this?"
"Why do I oppose it? Ask yourself whether you have that ability? You say you’ve studied books for years. Do you understand whether the power of the literati in court is greater or that of the martial generals? Instead of pondering unrealistic matters, you should focus on recuperating and prepare for the next imperial examination!" Ye Sheng said angrily.
Ye Qiu mockingly laughed at himself: "Why is my health poor, why do I happen to fall ill during each imperial examination? Does father not know?"
Ye Sheng stopped and glared at him: "What do you mean?"
"No particular meaning, just thinking that if I persist with the imperial examination, my health would likely never improve. I want to join the army, please allow it, Father. If you fear I would tarnish the Ye Family’s name, I won’t reveal my identity until I’ve made a name." Ye Qiu kowtowed again.
"You rascal! What nonsense are you talking?" Ye Sheng stormed furiously, "Do you want to vex me to death? What’s wrong with peacefully being the Eldest Young Master? If you worry about your future achievements, wait until your sister gives birth to the Imperial Grandson. Won’t you have everything then?"
"It’s already hard enough for sister to go to the Prince Mansion this time. I don’t wish to be her burden. I can’t support her, so how can I allow her to suffer for me?"
"You are siblings. Siblings should support each other!"
"You said it’s support, which is mutual. I refuse to live off my sister."
Ye Sheng’s veins popped out: "Are you complaining against me?"
Ye Qiu lowered his head: "I dare not."
"You dare not? Is there anything you don’t dare? Fine, you hate me, right? You want success, right? Okay, go join the army, but don’t expect any support from me." Ye Sheng spoke harshly in a fit of anger.
In truth, he regretted the words just after he spoke them. After all, he was his own son, the first one. These years of selective ignorance did make him somewhat guilty facing his eldest son. He waited, hoping Ye Qiu would hesitate or show weakness, so he could retract his words.
However, Ye Qiu immediately expressed gratitude: "Thank you, father, for consenting."
"You!" Ye Sheng was so angry he could barely speak, "Absolutely obstinate."
Early the next morning, Ye Sihui received news that Ye Qiu immediately went to join the army after Ye Jing entered Prince Kang Mansion. This matter, entirely different from the previous life, felt unbelievable, even causing her to doubt whether the so-called previous life was merely a dream.
But she knew no dream could be so vivid. The events from the previous life were real, yet the changes after rebirth were also real.
However, she didn’t quite mind, because she knew the capability of the illegitimate elder brother. If he truly had potential, he wouldn’t have remained mediocre in the past life. Moreover, if he truly succeeds, wouldn’t she also benefit?
She wondered if her intervention, letting Ye Jing replace her in entering Prince Kang’s Mansion, altered everything. Besides the unexpected decision of the illegitimate elder brother to join the army, could other aspects or events change?
Yet she firmly believed that no matter the changes, the throne’s heir would remain unaltered. After all, how could a mere daughter of a third-rank official affect the Holy Emperor’s decision?
