The guards at the gate naturally would not let Ye Wang in. If it were an ordinary person causing trouble, a bit of intimidation and threats to drive them away would suffice. But who in the capital didn't know the little tyrant from Duke Qi's household? Now that he was cursing and making a scene at the Prince's mansion gate, the guards dared not open the door to let him in, but they also dared not be too rude. They could only patiently try to persuade him to leave.
Ye Wang, of course, refused.
He had been in a foul mood ever since he learned that Ye Yunting had been bestowed a marriage by the Emperor, to become the consort of the sickly, nearly-dead Yong'an Prince. In the days after the marriage was announced, his group of good-for-nothing friends had even mocked him, asking whether he should call Ye Yunting 'big brother' or 'Consort' when they met? A male consort was truly unprecedented, a novelty.
Everyone treated Ye Yunting as a joke.
Hearing this, Ye Wang had felt deeply displeased at the time, his face darkening as he flipped the table and stormed off.
He had never called Ye Yunting 'big brother' before, and he certainly wouldn't call him 'Consort' in the future. Did Ye Yunting not have a name?
Moreover, he couldn't understand it. Just a couple of years ago, so many matchmakers had come to the estate for Ye Yunting. From what his mother said, many were proposing matches with legitimate daughters from ducal and marquis households, yet he hadn't accepted a single one. Now, being ordered to marry a dying man as a "lucky match," he didn't even object.
Although his father said it was an imperial decree that could not be defied, Ye Wang thought that if it were him, he would rather die than agree to such a marriage. And given the power of the Duke's estate and his father's standing before the Emperor, if Ye Yunting truly was unwilling, he could have clearly begged their father to intervene, to try and negotiate a refusal.
Failing that, if he wouldn't go to their father, he could have come to him for help to plead his case. Out of their meager brotherly bond, he would have spoken up for him to their father and mother. Even if the Duke's estate's influence wasn't enough, adding his maternal grandfather's Yin family should have sufficed.
But Ye Yunting had accepted without a single word of protest.
He turned it over and over in his mind, but couldn't figure out why Ye Yunting didn't resist. Going out to drink every day only to hear people mention the Yong'an Prince and his male consort again made him unbearably irritable, so he simply went to a manor outside the city to find some peace.
Who would have thought that after a few quiet days and returning to the estate, he'd discover Ye Yunting had already married into the Yong'an Prince's mansion. He hadn't even returned for the customary visit home after the wedding.
The maids and old nurses gossiped behind their backs, saying Ye Yunting had climbed onto a high branch and didn't want to return to the Duke's estate. He happened to overhear this, which was what finally made him decide to come and demand an explanation from Ye Yunting.
Who knew that arriving at the Yong'an Prince's mansion, he couldn't even get through the main gate.
He originally hadn't believed the servants' gossip, but now he wasn't so sure.
Ye Wang stood stubbornly at the gate, refusing to leave. After shouting for a while and getting tired, he'd return to his carriage to drink some tea and eat snacks. Once he caught his breath, he'd go back out and continue his tirade.
He refused to believe Ye Yunting could hide in this prince's mansion forever.
Inside the mansion, after hearing Ji Lian's report, Ye Yunting's expression showed little fluctuation, as if this was commonplace: "Don't mind him. When he gets tired of shouting, he'll go back on his own. At worst, once the Duke's estate gets word, they'll send someone to drag him back."
It was Li Fengqi who couldn't hold back, asking incredulously, "Has the Second Young Master Ye always been like this?"
Although he had long heard that the Duke's second son was notoriously unruly, he never imagined he could be so... stupid.
Given the current situation, anyone with eyes should see it clearly.
That he was blind to it was one thing, but to actually come knocking to demand an explanation...
It was truly a staggering level of foolishness.
His expression was too obvious. Ye Yunting glanced at him, took a sip of tea, and said tactfully, "He was spoiled rotten by our father and mother since childhood. Many matters within the estate... he is unaware."
Just like how, since childhood, he, the eldest son, had lived in the most dilapidated side courtyard, attended by only a wet nurse and a page boy; how when he reached the age to begin studies, he had no tutor and couldn't attend the Imperial Academy... For all such instances of neglect and unfairness, Ye Zhili's given reason was always that his health was weak and he needed quiet recuperation.
Most people understood the underlying reasons, but only Ye Wang truly believed it.
His selection by the Imperial Astrologer to be the "lucky match" for the Yong'an Prince had nothing to do with destiny or fate. It was simply because as long as he lived, the position of heir to the Duke could not rightfully fall to Ye Wang. Thus, he became the "auspicious person" whose fate aligned with the Yong'an Prince's.
And all of this, Ye Wang also did not know.
Whether this nature of his was good or bad was hard to say. He was unaware of his parents' actions, so one could hardly blame him.
But Ye Yunting had been precocious. Over the years in the estate, he had witnessed too much favoritism and heard too many cold words, whether sympathetic or mocking. To say he held no resentment at all would be impossible. He could only choose to actively avoid it.
He just never expected Ye Wang to chase him all the way to the Prince's mansion.
"Ye Zhili has been shrewd his whole life. How could he be so blind precisely in choosing an heir? Clutching a fish eye, mistaking it for a pearl..." Li Fengqi didn't miss the flicker of gloom in his eyes and scoffed, "But it worked out conveniently for me."
He said this smoothly and naturally, but upon closer consideration, one could detect a hint of ambiguity.
Their lives were now intertwined, sharing the same boat through thick and thin. With life and death still uncertain, they had both tactfully avoided mentioning the marriage to prevent awkwardness. But Li Fengqi's words were the first time the marriage was brought up explicitly, his tone carrying a vague sense of satisfaction.
Ye Yunting couldn't quite grasp his intention in saying this and could only remain silent.
Having nothing better to do, Ji Lian ran outside again to listen to Ye Wang's shouts. After listening for a while, he'd return, fuming with indignation, to report to Ye Yunting: "Does he only know how to repeat those same few lines? If young master had truly climbed a high branch, I'd have long gone out and stuffed his mouth with a dishrag. How could he be allowed to be so arrogant?"
"Ji Lian." Ye Yunting's hand, swirling the teacup, paused. He glanced at Li Fengqi opposite him, and seeing no displeasure on his face, turned to Ji Lian: "If you know listening will make you angry, why do you keep going to listen?"
Ji Lian opened his mouth, wanting to say it was just because he couldn't swallow his anger. But thinking of his young master's temperament, he honestly closed his mouth in the end: "Understood, I won't go then."
But while they didn't go out, the guards at the gate couldn't withstand Ye Wang's tantrum any longer.
They dared not forcibly drive him away. The person sent to report to the Duke's estate said Duke Qi and Lady Yin were not at home, and the stewards and servants there didn't dare manage the little tyrant. They could only send someone to find Duke Qi to handle the matter. But who knew how long it would take to find him?
The guards feared that if he kept shouting at the gate like this, he'd attract nearby commoners to gawk, blowing the situation out of proportion. Then the circumstances inside the Prince's mansion would inevitably leak out, and they would really be in for it.
Therefore, the guards could only come to request Ye Yunting's help.
"Ye Wang is here to see me?" Hearing the report, Ye Yunting had already lain down on the daybed in advance. He held a warming pan in his arms, but his face wore a sickly, feeble expression: "My illness hasn't fully recovered yet, and it's inconvenient for me to receive guests. Please tell him to go back."
The guard was troubled: "But Second Young Master Ye absolutely refuses to leave."
Ye Yunting furrowed his long brows, looking even more troubled than the guard: "Very well then. Let him in. I'll speak a few words with him and persuade him to leave."
"This... I'm afraid that's not appropriate."
"This won't do, that won't do either." Ye Yunting's temper also flared. He coughed twice, his face darkening. "Then let him shout outside. I'm still unwell and have no energy to deal with him."
With that, he turned on his side, his back to the guard, using his posture to indicate he wished to rest.
Seeing this, the guard grew anxious and his words turned somewhat impolite: "If the Wangfei allows Second Young Master Ye to keep shouting at the gate, and this matter blows up, His Majesty will likely hold you accountable."
His words were utterly blunt, stopping just short of pointing a finger at Ye Yunting to make him recognize his own status and predicament.
Ye Yunting abruptly sat up, glaring at him with anger he dared not voice. His chest heaved for a moment before he covered his mouth with another cough, wearing an expression of humiliation. "I'll go with you then. But don't wait until I reach the gate only to say I'm not allowed out."
Hearing this, the guard's expression faltered momentarily, but then he reconsidered, thinking it impossible to just let them talk right at the entrance. He could only nod reluctantly. "Please proceed, Wangfei."
Only then did Ye Yunting, assisted by Ji Lian, put on his shoes, socks, and robes, and follow the guard out.
Before leaving the room, he glanced back at Li Fengqi, his eyes clear and bright, as if lit by a divine light.
Supported by Ji Lian, Ye Yunting arrived at the entrance. The two exited through a side gate nearby and saw Ye Wang standing at the main gate, seemingly having tired himself out from shouting, with his servant constantly patting his back to soothe him.
Today he wore a dark blue narrow-sleeved round-collar robe, adorned with a fine jade at his waist and a silver crown on his head. Though only sixteen, his stature was slightly taller than Ye Yunting's. His looks took after Lady Yin, blending handsomeness with a touch of striking beauty.
If not for his posture—hands on hips like a tyrant—and the stream of complaints still spilling from his mouth, his appearance alone would mark him as a handsome young man.
Looking at him, Ye Yunting's thoughts churned rapidly, and he suddenly remembered something. He took two steps forward, his voice gentle. "The guard informed me you were looking for me?"
His sudden address made the unprepared Ye Wang jump in fright. Ye Wang immediately suppressed his surprise and looked at him with his chin raised. "You finally decided to come out."
Then, noticing Ye Yunting's face was as pale as snow, seeming ill, he asked hesitantly, "Are you sick?"
Ye Yunting replied, "I caught a chill the day before yesterday, and it hasn't cleared up yet."
Ye Wang frowned with dissatisfaction. "If you're sick, why come out? I'll see you back inside. I just have some questions to ask you; we can talk in the room."
"No need," Ye Yunting stopped him, his smile gentle. "The Wangye is also unwell and dislikes noise." His gaze swept around before settling on the carriage parked at the gate. "Is that your carriage? Let's talk there."
Ye Wang was rarely met with such a smile from him. He was taken aback for a moment, then grumbled, refusing to budge. "Is this how the Yong'an Wangfu treats guests? Am I not, after all, the Yong'an Wang's brother-in-law? To arrive at the main gate of the Wangfu and not even be offered a cup of hot tea?"
Ye Yunting turned to look at him, his brows carrying a hint of helplessness, yet he still smiled. "Today's hospitality has indeed been lacking. Once I've recovered, I'll choose another day to invite you over as a guest, how about that?"
Ye Wang had just been complaining for the sake of it; he had made many similar complaints in front of Ye Yunting before. But in the past, Ye Yunting would either pretend not to hear or offer a perfunctory acknowledgment.
Yet today, not only did he smile at him, but he also said he would invite him to the residence another day.
Ye Wang lifted his chin, thinking to himself that countless people wanted to invite him as a guest, and whether he went or not depended entirely on his own mood.
He obediently followed Ye Yunting into the carriage.
Second Young Master Ye's carriage was, naturally, extremely spacious and comfortable. It was equipped with a warming stove and incense. Once the curtains were lowered, the inside was hidden from outside view, which somewhat satisfied Ye Yunting.
He had been playing along with the situation, originally planning to use this opportunity to temporarily leave the Wangfu with Ye Wang's help, in order to deliver a message to Li Fengqi's people. But upon seeing Ye Wang, he suddenly recalled something. If Ye Wang could cooperate, he might be able to help Li Fengqi deliver a secret letter to the Northern Frontier.
