Free Web NovelChapter 1270: Chapter 1259: Illegitimate Son
Looking at the Imperial City so close at hand, Ye Qiu was overwhelmed with emotions. After three years, he finally achieved some success and did not let his sister wait in vain.
At this moment, the people of Ye Residence were all standing at the door waiting, each looking eagerly. However, the Li Family felt uneasy seeing Aunt Lan standing at the front as well. Just because her son had made a success, the master started to hold her in high regard again.
Thinking this way, she felt very displeased seeing her absent-minded son beside her. The bastard had now accomplished fame, and why didn’t her Qiu’er feel any sense of crisis? In the future, when people talk about Ye Residence, they might only know the bastard and not the legitimate son, which would be such a disgrace!
Seeing the bastard becoming successful, Li Family felt indescribably complex emotions. To be precise, it was resentment!
When she married into Ye Residence, she was unable to conceive for a long time. Her mother-in-law did not treat her well and even gave her trusted maid to her husband. After the bastard was born, the mother-in-law showed even more disdain, so she was not fond of the bastard at all.
Even though she later gave birth to the twins, even though the mother-in-law had passed away, even though no one threatened her status in the family anymore, she still couldn’t regard Ye Qiu, the bastard, favorably. Seeing a hint of cleverness in him, she deliberately tormented him, preventing him from completing the imperial examination smoothly. Who would have known that failing the examination, he achieved such success in the military?
If she had known earlier that despite his frail body, he could achieve fame and success, she wouldn’t have let him leave home then. The bastard being so accomplished, what does her son count for? Most importantly, what would her husband think? Would she lose her status at home again?
Li Family didn’t ignore the fact, no matter how accomplished the bastard becomes, he would always have to respect her as the legitimate mother. It would not be without benefits, but she was just unwilling because things had completely gone beyond her control. Did the bastard and Aunt Lan know what she did before? Would they seek revenge? Would her husband still defend her?
What annoyed her even more was that she couldn’t do anything. Besides, her daughter had specifically returned home to ask her to treat the bastard well because Prince An needed to win over the bastard. How could the unattainable Prince An value a bastard so much, and not make Li Family feel suffocated?
How good it would be if her son had such capabilities? But her son was just not ambitious, for the past two years his marriage affairs were not successful, causing her husband to become increasingly dissatisfied with him, and the bastard returned at this time.
In the future, if the bastard’s marriage turns out even better than her legitimate son’s, where would she put her pride?
What annoyed her was that she couldn’t do anything anymore, her daughter said the Holy Emperor would confer the bastard as a Second-rank Marquis this time, while her husband was only a third-class Earl. If her son inherited it later, it would be the lowest rank. Perhaps years from now, people in the capital would mistake the illegitimate for the legitimate, and her son’s branch would completely exit the power stage.
Unless...
Unless her daughter had great fortune in the future, thinking this way, it wasn’t impossible. Although Prince An had two brothers above, Prince Kang was not favored, and Prince Min was overly powerful and easily envied. The Holy Emperor favored Prince An most, perhaps he really had a chance.
And her daughter bore an Imperial Grandson, although not Prince An’s first son, wasn’t Ye Qiu available now? Perhaps with Ye Qiu’s support, her grandson could ascend to that coveted position someday!
Thinking this way, Li Family no longer felt so suffocated, Ye Qiu becoming successful was all for her daughter and grandson? How could an illegitimate uncle compare to a legitimate uncle? Her son would be the rightful Imperial Uncle in the future!
A smile bloomed on Li Family’s face as she eagerly looked ahead: "Wasn’t it said they’ve reached the city gates long ago? Why hasn’t he come back yet?"
Ye Siqi moved a bit away from his mother upon hearing her words. Although not ambitious, he understood his mother’s temperament. Feeling puzzled and a bit fearful, he moved slightly away. He wanted to tell his mother that her smile was a bit eerie, but afraid of being scolded, he’d rather act the coward and let it be. After all, his mother wasn’t one to suffer losses, besides, she was the official wife, as long as it wasn’t a huge matter, his father usually wouldn’t argue with her.
"He’s arrived, the eldest young master has entered the capital." Just as she spoke, a servant hurried back, "Having returned from reporting at the palace, they said the eldest young master should return home, freshen up, and then attend the palace banquet tonight. The eldest young master is about to arrive home."
"This is truly great news!" Li Family exclaimed joyfully, intending to say something to her husband but found him admiringly looking at Aunt Lan.
"You’ve educated Qiu’er well." Ye Sheng nodded in satisfaction, "Mother loved Qiu’er the most when she was alive; now she can rest easy underground."
"I’m grateful to the heavens for keeping Qiu’er safe." Aunt Lan didn’t view her son’s military achievements as significant; his safe return was the greatest reward for her.
Seeing this scene, Li Family felt sour again, secretly cursing Aunt Lan’s pretentiousness. She didn’t believe Aunt Lan wasn’t proud, pretending to be pitiful for whom?
"I won’t see you off, head home early and see your parents!" Old General Lin bade farewell to Ye Qiu at the intersection, "Dress well this evening, tonight you’re the main character."
Ye Qiu smiled humbly: "All due to the General’s support for my achievements today."
"Alright, don’t pretend in front of me, don’t I know your ambitions?" Old General Lin laughed and jeered, "But, you have quite some skills, if not for you, this old man would’ve lost on the battlefield. I hear you haven’t married, how about I arrange a match for you?"
"Marriage is a major event, it should be decided by parents."
"If I matchmake for you, your father would be delighted, he wouldn’t refuse me. Just tell me what kind you like." Not one for nonsense, Old General Lin spoke frankly.
"Except for the female relatives at home, I haven’t paid much attention to others. I just hope my future wife can understand me. Of course, I promise, if she is true to me, I will never take concubines." Ye Qiu answered directly, knowing clearly that at twenty now, his legitimate mother would definitely talk about his marriage this time, so it’s better to let Old General Lin intervene to avoid getting manipulated.
Old General Lin laughed: "If the lady couldn’t bear children, would you still not take concubines?"
"Having seen much life and death on battlefields, offspring isn’t that important to me. At worst, we can adopt a couple." Ye Qiu met the old general’s gaze candidly, meaning every word, not intending to sound perfunctory.
"I knew you suited my taste, rest assured, I won’t lead you astray." Old General Lin laughed heartily and then rode away.
Ye Qiu then lowered the curtain of the carriage, instructed the coachman to slowly proceed in the direction of Ye Residence.
