CHAPTER 801: CHAPTER 799: PREPARING FOR WHAT?

In Ye Xinyan’s opinion, Zhao Gang always harbored feelings for Madam Yin, but due to the era’s emphasis on compatible matches, the disparity in their statuses was too great. Madam Yin was betrothed to Ye Hongyang from a young age, and her feelings were never directed towards him. Therefore, he never held any expectations.

Now, however, things were different. Madam Yin had divorced and returned to her family home.

Unfortunately, during this critical juncture, Tangzhou was facing turmoil caused by sea bandits. It was likely that Zhao Gang was provoked by this incident and wished to earn merit by returning with achievements, thus increasing his value.

Ye Xinyan found Zhao Gang in Marquis Zhongyong’s study.

Upon hearing that Zhao Gang had been summoned there by the Marquis, she hesitated outside the study for a long while but eventually decided to enter. Who knew how long Zhao Gang would stay, and she didn’t want to risk waiting outside and missing an opportunity.

In this era, military officers were educated from childhood to be loyal and righteous generals. Even in old age, the fervor to protect the nation remained. Veteran generals especially considered dying in battle and being draped in horsehide the greatest honor.

Perhaps in a moment of heated impulse, Yin Long might not only fail to dissuade Zhao Gang but might even encourage him to go to Tangzhou, fight the sea bandits, and make a name for himself. That would be a classic example of using one’s weaknesses against an enemy’s strengths—in a word, foolishness leading to certain death.

After a servant announced her, Ye Xinyan was let in.

Only upon entering did she realize Yin Xiaocheng was also present.

Yin Long was seated at the head seat, with Yin Xiaocheng accompanying him on one side, and Zhao Gang seated below Yin Xiaocheng. The three seemed in good spirits, not displaying the tension one would expect from disagreements.

Ye Xinyan paid her respects to Yin Long and Yin Xiaocheng, then turned and half-bowed to Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang quickly rose to return her gesture. This was what frustrated Ye Xinyan; given Zhao Gang’s status akin to a family retainer, meeting the Yin family and Ye Xinyan should’ve been as between master and servant, awkward as it was.

Yin Long waved his hand towards her and gestured to a chair beside him, "Why have you come here? Do you have something to discuss? Sit down and let’s talk."

Ye Xinyan thanked him and sat down as suggested, her eyes sweeping over the three of them, cautiously saying, "I have something I’d like to discuss privately with Uncle Zhao, if I may?"

Yin Xiaocheng immediately frowned, "You’re just a child, what could you possibly have to discuss privately?"

Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes; could she not have something to discuss? She was someone important and capable of stirring things up!

However, she remembered the memory of the original owner being ordered by the eldest uncle to be beaten severely on a stool. She didn’t think she had the same toughness as the original owner, and coupled with the fact that she couldn’t voice her thoughts, she suddenly felt hesitant.

"Well... I heard from Aunt that Uncle Zhao plans to go south to deal with the sea bandits. I’ve heard they’re formidable, and naval battles are notoriously tough." She turned her gaze to Zhao Gang, speaking, "Uncle Zhao, please don’t go. You’re not skilled in naval warfare; if there’s danger, we’d all be heartbroken."

Perhaps it was her lack of skill in delivering emotional appeals, as after those words, none of the three men were moved. Instead, their expressions froze, staring blankly. Even the servants standing at the door gaped in astonishment.

Damn, what kind of reputation did the original owner have that, even after six months, couldn’t change their views? Besides, there was nothing wrong with what she said; why the strange expressions?

Ye Xinyan was filled with frustration.

After a long pause, Yin Long finally replied, "These are adult matters; warfare is the court’s decision. What do you as a child know? We will discuss these matters ourselves. You go rest with your mother and Aunt."

Well, after all this trouble, she only ended up qualifying to rest with the female relatives in the back residence.

Ye Xinyan absentmindedly scratched her head in frustration. This wasn’t her main battlefield; she felt she wasn’t hitting her stride here.

She glanced again at Yin Xiaocheng, thinking she, such a formidable young lady, couldn’t easily bow to evil forces.

"Uncle, I have a few questions I need to ask Uncle Zhao privately. Could you please allow Uncle Zhao to step out with me?"

Seeing Yin Xiaocheng about to speak, she quickly added, "I definitely need to ask Uncle Zhao this in private. If you and Grandfather don’t allow it, I won’t leave here, and we won’t discuss any proper business."

Yin Xiaocheng frowned; this girl was becoming harder to manage. She just wanted to speak with Zhao Gang privately, and he couldn’t do much about it.

As for what topics his niece might bring up, Yin Xiaocheng wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling they wouldn’t be pleasant.

"I heard you’re going to the Jiangbei Prefecture to work on the wooden rail track in a few days. You’ll be there for quite some time, won’t you?" Yin Xiaocheng asked.

"Yes." Ye Xinyan was surprised; what did this have to do with her wanting to speak with Zhao Gang privately?

Yin Xiaocheng glanced at Yin Long and continued, "While you’re away for so long, your mother will be quite bored staying here. Why don’t we have Brother Jia and Brother Shun move in with us? Lanxu would have a playmate, and your mother could see Brother Jia often, which would ease her mind."

Ye Xinyan looked at Yin Xiaocheng, then at Yin Long, realizing that in her urgency to find Zhao Gang, it seemed even if she hadn’t come, Yin Xiaocheng would’ve sought her out anyway.

However, Qi Jia and Qi Sanshun were indeed two good children, but were they really that sought after?

In your family, every child is accomplished. Do you really need to take away another family’s support? Is it amusing?

"Uncle, isn’t this inappropriate?" Ye Xinyan impolitely angled herself toward Yin Xiaocheng, questioning.

Yin Xiaocheng looked at her, feeling a bit amused out of place; she must’ve heard something disagreeable, thus her unrestrained reaction showing her old stubborn self.

"What’s inappropriate? I’m just considering your mother’s wellbeing. Brother Jia and Brother Shun would do well here; we are a family of military generals, and living here, they could grow up to be decent young men."

Her younger brother could grow up to be a decent young man within the Qi family just the same.

Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes and replied, "Uncle, if you carry on this way, you’ll anger my grandfather to death." A classic case of plotting for other’s wealth, plotting for other’s children and risking Old Master Ye Tang’s life.

This suggested that Yin Xiaocheng had significant grievances with Ye Hongyang, possibly extending his animosity towards Duke An and the future of the Duke’s Mansion. Thus, he would not want the two Qi family children to bolster the future of the Duke’s Mansion due to their association with his nemesis, Duke An.

She turned her gaze back to Zhao Gang, full of hope. Perhaps if Madam Yin led a serene life in the future, it could lessen Yin Xiaocheng’s dissatisfaction and hostility towards the Ye family. Old Master Ye Tang, though not the best at raising children, was quite kind to his granddaughter.

Yet when Zhao Gang met Ye Xinyan’s gaze, he no longer held the previous candidness; upon contact, he swiftly turned away, making Ye Xinyan’s suspicions even more concrete.

"Alright," Yin Long interrupted, "Ah Cheng, what are you talking about? Duke An has been on the frontier for decades; it’s not entirely his fault regarding Yingnan. Well then, since it’s settled, Dagang, go and prepare."

Prepare?

"Prepare for what?" Ye Xinyan asked, "What have you agreed upon now?"