Chapter Fifty-One Leaving the Capital

  This can't be Xue telling him off straight away, could it?!

  Ye Qinglan weighed it in her mind for a moment and felt that this possibility was very great. Otherwise, with Ye Yuanshou's temperament, how could he have stayed quietly at home these past few days without coming to look for her?

  Later, the two were separated by thousands of miles, and even if Ye Yuanshou had any thoughts, he wouldn't have the opportunity to disturb himself.

  Thinking of this, Ye Qinglan was in a very good mood.

  Ye Chengli led his wife and children to Changhetang to bid farewell. Ye Sheng and Jiangshi each reminded a few words, although the expression was not very warm, but revealed a little reluctance.

  Almost everyone from the second house and the long house came to see them off. Compared to the cold reception when they returned to the mansion, the treatment of setting out to leave Beijing was much better. It seems that there are only a few people in Changyuanbo's mansion who truly care about the third house, and they can't wait for them to leave early.

  Ye Qinglan stood alone in the corner, as she usually did, quietly observing everyone's expressions without drawing attention to herself.

  Ye Chengli whispered a few words to Zheng, who nodded slightly and glanced over quickly, but before she could return a smile, she had already looked away.

  It's obvious that Ye Chengli must have taken care of her before he left. This cheap old man is still not bad to her.

  By Zheng's side stood her eldest son, Ye Yuanwei, and his wife, Cui Wan. Ye Qingning stood beside Zheng with a careless expression, trying to hide the impatience in her eyes.

  Ye Qinglan was secretly thinking about whether to go forward and greet Ye Qingning when Cui Wan walked over with a smile.

  Cui Wan said with some apology, "I heard that you haven't been feeling well these past few days, I should have gone to see you. But Yun Jie has been inseparable from me every day, and I really couldn't find the time to come. I hope Shixia won't mind."

  Yeqing Lan hastily smiled and replied: "Elder sister Yatang, please don't say that. I had a lingering illness from before that wasn't completely cured, and then I caught a chill, so I've been resting in bed for a few days. In the future, there will be many opportunities to trouble you, so please don't get tired of me."

  Cui Wanshao smiled and politely responded with a few words. Her gaze, however, kept wandering over Ye Qinglan's face.

  How can someone who was fine suddenly fall ill and even pass away?

  Three rooms all returned to Zhengzhou, but she was left alone in the house, which seemed a bit off. However, looking at her expression, there was no dissatisfaction, nor any hint of being abandoned. If it's said that she didn't get along with her parents, Third Uncle had solemnly entrusted Grandma Zheng to take care of this frail little girl.

  This seemingly gentle younger sister, is she born with a kind heart or too calculating?

  Take advantage of this period to observe carefully before making plans...

  Cui Wans heart was racing, but her face didn't show any signs. Ye Qinglan had already noticed Cui Wan's inquiring gaze, but she pretended not to know and continued to chat with Cui Wan about some trivial matters with a faint smile.

  Cui Wan's eyes swept across, and she suddenly said: "Qing Ning seems to be in a bad mood these past few days. Do you know what's going on?"

  Of course I know.

  Zheng Junyan's words that day were enough to make Ye Qingning lose her appetite and feel gloomy and irritable all day. With Ye Qingning's proud temperament, she naturally didn't dare tell anyone about this humiliating matter. Even Cui Wan, the sister-in-law, was kept in the dark, thinking only that the little bride's temper had become even more eccentric.

  Ye Qinglan smiled apologetically and said: "I've been staying in the house for several days, how would I know what's on Liu sister's mind?"

  Her expression was very natural, even Cui Wan was also deceived, and she smiled casually: "Girls grow up, it's inevitable to have some worries. You're still young now, wait another year or two, you'll know the taste."

  Ye Qinglan's face turned red with feigned shyness.

  Damn this feudal society's accursed early marriage custom! A girl who's just in her teens, is already worried about lifelong matters. No matter how mature she is mentally, physically she's still an underdeveloped little loli ahhhhh!

  Please, sister-in-law, stop looking at me with that gaze as if you're seeing my future daughter-in-law!

  Cui Wan had no idea that Ye Qinglan was secretly mocking her in her heart, and thought that Ye Qinglan was really shy, couldn't help but laugh, and looked at Ye Qinglan with a meaningful gaze: "A man should get married when he's old enough, a woman should get married when she's old enough, what's there to be shy about? Maybe someday, you'll even come to me on your own accord and ask me to be the matchmaker for your good marriage!"

  Ye Qinglan's face turned red and she remained silent, but in her heart, she was secretly suffering.

  It's done, Cui Wan's mother must have really taken a liking to herself! The tone of Cui Wan's words doesn't seem like she's just joking around.

  Cui Wan saw Ye Qinglan's face turn red with embarrassment and didn't continue the conversation, casually changing the subject.

  The tedious farewell ceremony finally came to an end. Ye Chengli led his wife and children out of Changhe Hall, and when they reached the side gate, a row of carriages had been waiting for some time.

  Xue led Ye Qingfu onto the carriage first. Xue Yushu should have followed, but for some reason he thought of something again and hesitated for a moment before turning around and walking back to Ye Qinglan's side.

  "Sister," Xue Yushu said with a burst of courage, "take good care of yourself!"

  Ye Qinglan smiled lightly: "Brother Ye, take care of yourself too."

  Xue Yushu wanted to say something more, but under the gaze of everyone, he really couldn't speak out, and could only reluctantly wave goodbye. At the moment when he got on the horse carriage, his heart felt both sour and astringent, not to mention how hard it was to bear.

  Yè Yuánzhōu was also in a difficult situation.

  Xue Shi was using his eyes to hint that he should get on the carriage quickly, Ye Yuanzhou gritted his teeth and pretended not to see it, walking straight up to Ye Qinglan.

  Xue's heart tightened and his face turned ugly.

  With so many people around, if Ye Yuanshou shows any unusual behavior, it'll be disastrous...

  Ye Qingfu didn't know what was going on and impatiently muttered: "What are big brother and third sister talking about, why are they still dawdling and not getting on the carriage?"

  At a distance, Xue Shi naturally couldn't hear what Ye Yuanzhou said in the end. She unconsciously clenched her fists, and her long fingernails pinched her palm painfully.

  Actually, Ye Yuanzhou didn't say anything out of line. He was like an ordinary brother, sincerely reminding his weak sister: "You rest and recover, I'll come to pick you up soon."

  But when Ye Yuanzhou says such an ordinary sentence, it has a layer of inexplicable meaning.

  He must have been very clear that she was not ill at all, but just wanted to use this excuse to stay behind and avoid him. Yet, on the eve of their parting, he suddenly said such a sentence to her.

  Is he implying that he won't give up?

  Yè Qīnglán smiled faintly and replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, big brother. However, I've fallen ill with a lingering disease, and I don't know when I'll recover. Please don't worry about me."

  Refuse people clearly and explicitly from thousands of miles away!

  Ye Yuanshou's eyes dimmed for a moment, his gaze fixed on Ye Qinglan's face for a while before he finally turned and left.