She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 595 - 593: Don’t Have That Brain

Chapter 595: Chapter 593: Don’t Have That Brain

Maternal Aunt Liu saw Ye Hongyang turn another page of the storybook, showing no intention of putting it down, and couldn’t help but ask softly, "Crown Prince, Old Master Qi is visiting today. Don’t you plan to go and have a look?"

Ye Hongyang moved his gaze slightly from the edge of the storybook, glanced at Maternal Aunt Liu, then returned to reading, but said, "What’s there to see? He’s just a country bumpkin. I heard he’s a mason, probably hasn’t even cleaned the dirt from under his fingernails. If it weren’t for relying on that scourge’s influence, he would never have the chance to set foot in a noble and prestigious house in the capital even if he lived another ten lifetimes."

But Maternal Aunt Liu wanted him to go and have a look, "Nevertheless, it seems the Duke is planning to receive him with respect. Didn’t you say, yesterday the Duchess mentioned that there would be a banquet today to welcome the wife of the heir apparent, the Young Misses, and the Qi family’s grandfather and grandson?"

Annoyed by the persistent topic, Ye Hongyang threw the storybook aside, sat up, and said, "That’s the old man being muddle-headed. I really don’t understand what he’s thinking, attaching such importance to some backwoods clodhopper. He must have forgotten that he is a high-ranking noble of the court. By doing so, he’s even losing the court’s face."

Maternal Aunt Liu quickly glanced toward the window and said in a low voice, "Crown Prince, please speak more quietly, lest someone overhears."

This courtyard was no longer just her residence; Maternal Aunt Zhao was there as well.

Now Maternal Aunt Zhao was in good standing with the Duchess, and having completed her confinement, she had started to manage household affairs again. If Maternal Aunt Zhao were to speak ill of her to the Duchess, the Crown Prince would naturally be unaffected, but it would be different for her.

When Maternal Aunt Liu thought of Maternal Aunt Zhao, she couldn’t help feeling indignant. She hadn’t expected this despicable Zhao to be so cunning.

Visits from the Crown Prince to her room were rare, so her pregnancy was truly unexpected, and to top it off, she had given birth to a son. Most people would be smug at this point, relying on that son to become arrogant and presumptuous in untold ways. Even if not for the sake of being ostentatious, it was still her hope for the future.

But Maternal Aunt Zhao was willing to make a sacrifice. Just a few days after giving birth, she left the child with the Duchess and returned to her own room in the Secluded Fragrance Garden to undergo her confinement, truly not wanting the child and planning to let Madam Yin raise him!

She had assumed Maternal Aunt Zhao would be unwilling to part with the child, so she didn’t worry too much about whether Zhao would give birth to a son. Any woman would regret it, but Maternal Aunt Zhao was heartless.

If this cunning wretch’s son was raised under Madam Yin’s name, without a steadfast reason, that title would definitely fall on little Ye Yuan. What, then, was the point of her scheming all these years?

Ye Hongyang followed Maternal Aunt Liu’s gaze towards the window, realizing that even his mother was now disapproving of Maternal Aunt Liu. He lowered his voice, "Never mind him. Since the old man didn’t call for me, let’s just pretend we don’t know anything." As he spoke, he patted Maternal Aunt Liu’s hand to comfort her.

Maternal Aunt Liu felt troubled. When Duke An and the Duchess allowed Ye Hongyang to have his way in everything, his temper had grown unchecked. He did not worry, did not manage affairs, and always put her first, with other matters set aside.

But now, it was clear that such an approach would not work, and this attitude was not at all beneficial to her and her son. However, the Crown Prince really did not have the mind to consider anything else. What was she to do?

Maternal Aunt Liu implored, "My lord, you are the Duke’s only son. You still need to get closer to the Duke; you cannot remain distant from the Duke’s Mansion here, or it will give others an opportunity to intrude. If the Duke starts to harbor complaints against you, it would not be good."

Ye Hongyang lifted his teacup, took a sip, and scoffed, "You are right about that; my father has only one son, me. Rest assured, let them prance around as much as they like, whenever it is, I am still the heir of Duke An. Could they actually bypass me, a son, and prevent me from inheriting the title?"

Maternal Aunt Liu’s eyes reddened, her voice tinged with sadness, "My lord, please also consider your concubine and Hengheng and Yiyi. You are the Duke’s only son, and naturally, the Duke won’t do anything to you. But have you thought about me, and Hengheng and Yiyi?

Right now, Brother Yuan is being raised in the Duchess’s quarters and is pampered and loved by everyone in the mansion. It’s not just that the Duke doesn’t favor Hengheng and Yiyi; even the servants in the mansion have become much more dismissive towards them. I can bear anything, but it pains me to see the two children suffer, fearing that in the future, there will be no place for them in Duke’s Mansion."

Ye Hongyang immediately grew angry, "Tell me, which servant dared to slight my sons? I’d like to see who has the gall! Have you lost your mind? Duke An’s Mansion in the future is mine; how could there not be a place for my sons?" Ye Hongyang didn’t realize there was a clear flaw in his words, as if aside from Ye Heng and Ye Yi, he had no other children.

Maternal Aunt Liu seemed hesitant but still spoke, "My lord, consider this: you are, after all, the Princely Heir and not yet Duke An. If the Duke feels his energy waning and decides to retire, letting you inherit the title early...

Ye Hongyang slapped his thigh, interrupting, "That’s right, isn’t it? As long as I inherit, then everything will be perfectly fine, won’t it? Don’t worry, by then, Duke An’s Mansion will belong to you and your sons, and no one will be able to snatch it away."

Maternal Aunt Liu sighed, "Inheriting a title must be reported to the court. If the Duke reports to the court to let you inherit the title and at the same time seeks approval for the heir’s position, what then?"

Ye Hongyang’s mind turned quickly, and he instantly grasped Maternal Aunt Liu’s implication. Indeed, with his father’s current regard for Ye Yuan, it was very likely to happen, the old man would secure the position of the Princely Heir for Ye Yuan early on.

Maternal Aunt Liu continued leisurely, "Now, not only has the eldest missus returned herself, but she has also brought the whole Qi family, young and old, to the capital. The Crown Prince himself mentioned it; Old Master Qi is just a mason, yet he has received the Duke’s favor. All because of the eldest missus.

The manpower and influence of Duke’s Mansion, the Crown Prince has not been able to get his hands on any of it. If the Duke hands all these resources over to the eldest missus and Brother Yuan, even if you inherit the title, it will be the eldest missus and Brother Yuan who call the shots in Duke’s Mansion. Where then can your concubine and her children expect to find good days?"

Ye Hongyang frowned, which was rare for him, and said annoyed, "Then what should we do? If only I’d known, I wouldn’t have let that child come into the world."

"Keep your voice down, my lord," Maternal Aunt Liu urged anxiously, almost going to cover Ye Hongyang’s mouth.

Not have that child? When was there ever a chance? Before Lady Zhao had even been diagnosed with pregnancy, those around her—inside and out—were already people from the Duchess’s quarters.

Even before she had any clear news, Lady Zhao had been taken away by the Duchess. Until Lady Zhao gave birth, neither she nor the Princely Heir had been granted an audience with Lady Zhao.

Ye Hongyang waved his hand irritably and said, "Enough, I understand. I’ll go now and discuss that troublemaker’s marriage with Qu Mao. I refuse to believe that if she marries into Marquis Jingning’s Mansion and becomes Qu Mao’s daughter-in-law, my father would still entrust all the guards and attendants of Duke An’s Mansion to a daughter who has married out."