She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 412 - 411 Provocation

Chapter 412: Chapter 411 Provocation

Maternal Aunt Liu had a very bad hunch and tentatively asked, "Crown Prince, do you think it’s possible that, because the eldest daughter is now bold and capable, the Duke has allowed her to return and has even started to take a liking to the people she brought back?"

Ye Hongyang furrowed his brow upon hearing this. What Maternal Aunt Liu said was indeed a possibility. He reflected for a moment on his father’s attitude toward that scourge. Although his father hadn’t shown her any kindness, there were also no words of reprimand. Even when it was time to leave, the Duke had easily agreed to that scourge’s plea for mercy on behalf of Granny Jin.

Seeing Ye Hongyang’s furrowed brow, Maternal Aunt Liu thought she had probably guessed correctly.

She hurriedly asked again, "Is the Duke planning on recognizing the eldest daughter officially?"

Ye Hongyang helplessly nodded, his expression full of gloom, "Observing today, father seemed to really mean it. That scourge entered, and father said nothing, just let her kneel, which is clearly the treatment for a family member."

Maternal Aunt Liu looked worried, "Given the eldest daughter’s reputation, the more able and prominent she is, the more she becomes the laughingstock. Ah—, I’m afraid our mansion may have quite a spectacle to witness in the future."

Ye Hongyang pinched the bridge of his nose, full of annoyance, "The old man is already bewitched and has made up his mind, what can we do?"

Maternal Aunt Liu let out a deep sigh as she massaged Yi Hongyang’s shoulders, "The eldest daughter is one thing; even if our mansion becomes a laughingstock, the eldest daughter is still your blood, we could accept that. What concerns me are those two children with different surnames. Princely Heir, why do you think the eldest daughter brought these two children back?"

Ye Hongyang at first was lost in thought, then suddenly sat up straight, turned his head, and with wide eyes said to Maternal Aunt Liu, "Yes, what is she doing bringing those two bastards back? This scourge has always resented us; could it be that after wandering outside for two years, she has completely detached her heart from our mansion and brought back these children to scheme for the Duke’s Mansion’s assets?"

Yet Maternal Aunt Liu seemed somewhat hesitant as if unsure, "This still depends on what the eldest daughter has come back for. If the Duke only allowed her to return for a stay to teach her rules and give her some warnings, then there’s not much to worry about. But I fear that if the eldest daughter plans to stay with those two children permanently."

Ye Hongyang immediately understood the gravity of the situation and exclaimed, "Yes. If that scourge keeps those two bastards as permanent residents, she might just endear them to the old man. Father is a bit muddled now, but in a few years, as he gets older and truly senile, it is not impossible for them to scheme for the assets of the Duke’s Mansion."

Maternal Aunt Liu looked extremely troubled, seeming utterly disheartened yet daring not to speak plainly, "According to what you said today, Princely Heir, since the Duke is so fond of that child, even if the eldest daughter has no such intentions, the Duke, out of sheer boredom, might take it upon himself to cultivate that child. In ten years, our mansion might have an ill-defined yet extremely favored young master."

Ye Hongyang snorted coldly and waved his hand decisively, "That’s impossible. We haven’t fallen so low in Duke An’s Mansion as to let someone with a different surname take charge. At most, it would just be for that scourge to curry a bit of favor with the old man."

Maternal Aunt Liu thought seriously for a moment, then asked Ye Hongyang, "Earlier on, the Duke mentioned the possibility of adopting a child from the clan to be recorded under Madam Yin’s name. If the eldest miss takes these two children of different surnames into her care from a young age and keeps the adopted son under her control, won’t Duke An’s Mansion indirectly fall into the hands of the eldest miss?"

These matters... Overwhelmed Ye Hongyang; his mind seemed insufficient for such complexities.

While speaking, Maternal Aunt Liu’s eyes reddened, "If that really happens, I fear our Hengheng and Yiyi will no longer have a place to stand in Duke An Mansion in the future. Just think of Xinyi, such a sensible child, who has been oppressed by the eldest miss since she was little. She has only just started to live a better life these past two years, and now the eldest miss has returned. In front of the eldest miss, Xinyi will forever be the concubine-born daughter who cannot show her face."

"This would be bearable if it were only due to her lowly birth as a maid’s child, which doesn’t allow me to give Xinyi a legitimate status. But Hengheng and Yiyi are your flesh and blood. If their standing in Duke’s Mansion were to become lower than some unrelated boys from the countryside, wouldn’t that be too tragic? Just thinking about it tears my heart apart like a knife, making me wish they had never been born."

Upon hearing this, Ye Hongyang flared up; how could things be so easily settled? The future of Duke An Mansion was his, Ye Hongyang’s, and his descendants’. In his heart, he had only three children, and he would not allow his progeny to endure such humiliation.

"No way!" Ye Hongyang slammed the table hard, "I must argue with father tomorrow. What’s so good about that scourge? She has brought nothing but trouble to the family her entire life. Especially the incident at my father’s birthday banquet two years ago—I still feel too ashamed to see anyone to this day. That scourge commits such misdeeds, yet she still gains the family’s affection, while Xinyi and my two sons, so clever and understanding, are pushed aside so cruelly. Is there no justice in this? I must question my father, where is the righteousness?"

Maternal Aunt Liu stroked Ye Hongyang’s chest to calm him and tried to reason, "Crown Prince, do not be angry; be careful not to harm your health. You still don’t know the full extent of the situation. Perhaps the eldest miss did not intend this, and if you confront the Duke rashly, you might instead incur his displeasure."

Ye Hongyang was far from convinced, stubbornly retorting, "He has only me as his son; I am the court-recognized heir of Duke An. Even if he disdains me, what can he do to me?"

"Ah," Maternal Aunt Liu sighed again helplessly. "Now that such changes have come to our house, Crown Prince, you can no longer be so willful and carefree. If the Duke is mindful that you are his only son, needed to continue the Ye Family bloodline, he might tolerate you somewhat. But if you truly infuriate the Duke, and he adopts a grandson, and Madam Yin teaches this adopted son not to be close to you, what will you do then?"

Ye Hongyang was truly unafraid, snorting coldly, "That’s easy to handle. Even if I fall out of favor with my father, I still have my mother. I will talk to her, saying we have our own flesh and blood, so why adopt from another family? At most, I’ll let the sons of Hengheng and Yiyi learn martial arts. My mother’s word still carries some weight. Tomorrow, I will first drive those two wild boys out of the mansion."

This time, Maternal Aunt Liu earnestly advised him, "Please heed my words, Crown Prince. After all, the Duke is your father, and he still wishes to be close to you. You should think more kindly of the Duke, and even if you speak to him, it should be as a son to his father, and you must not cause a rift with him prematurely.

Even if you don’t consider your own and my welfare, think of Xinyi, Hengheng, and Yiyi. If they lose your protection, what will they do in the future?" By the end, Maternal Aunt Liu was truly on the brink of tears.

Moved by Maternal Aunt Liu’s emotional plea, Ye Hongyang felt a deep pain in his heart. He shook his head repeatedly and spoke with heartfelt grief, "What sins have I committed to deserve this! To be wed to such a foolish woman as Madam Yin and have that unspeakable scourge of a daughter, they are simply the bane of my