Chapter 746: Do not offend 746
Prince Jing had visited twice without much fanfare, and Ye Gaosheng had no idea that he had come to Shuangxi Town again. It was only after Qingyue mentioned it that he found out.
After exchanging a few more words with Qingyue, Ye Gaosheng stepped out and called for Xingwang, instructing, "Go to the station and inquire about the situation, see if the fifth young lady is there."
"Yes, I will go at once." Xingwang immediately sent someone to inquire upon hearing the order.
However, after bustling about for most of the night, the only news they received was that Ye Jiu was still unconscious!
When Mistress He heard this news, she almost lost her footing and fell, if not for the timely support from the old Ye patriarch.
Once she had steadied herself, she hurriedly said in a worried tone, "Quickly prepare the carriage, I must go to the station to see my daughter..."
As she spoke, Mistress He's tearful voice was filled with complaint, "It's all that Prince Jing's fault. Our family was living so well, flourishing day by day, and he just had to come and meddle. Now look what's happened, my daughter is in such a state that she can't even wake up..."
Old Man Ye quickly restrained Mistress He, anxious, "Enough, it's fine to say this at home, but once we get to the station, you must be careful not to say such things in front of Prince Jing. Our family cannot afford to offend Prince Jing."
If they angered Prince Jing, their whole family might well be finished.
As they waited for the carriage, Mistress He was visibly agitated, blurting out, "All you ever do is worry about this and that, don't you care that our daughter might be in danger? So what if we offend him? We're old enough anyway, it's not like I'd miss this old life of mine."
Knowing how anxious Mistress He was, Old Man Ye thoughtfully refrained from arguing with her.
What he couldn't bear to lose wasn't his own life, but their home!
Though their family encountered minor frictions from time to time, they were all healthy and none was missing. How wonderful life was, everyone envied him once he spoke of it.
But if they offended Prince Jing, it would be the end of the old couple; they were old and had lived long enough, and dying would not be a loss. However, what would become of the children at home?
Old Man Ye might seem meek and mellow on a normal day, but at critical moments, he thought more comprehensively than Mistress He.
You can't twist an arm to win over a leg; this truth never changes.
He could lay down his life for his daughter without regrets. However, he could not bring himself to risk his entire family for her sake.
Ye Gaosheng, listening on the side, felt the conversation between Old Man Ye and Mistress He veering off course. Moreover, there seemed to be a persistent aversion and hostility toward Prince Jing.
Ye Gaosheng couldn't help but comfort them, "Father, Mother, don't think too much. We still don't know what's happened to my younger sister. Besides, Prince Jing has been quite kind to her, he surely wouldn't harm her."
Mistress He looked at him disgruntled, "You fool who can't tell friend from foe, your sister is almost being taken away and yet you defend others. I've always been sharp-witted all my life, how did I give birth to such an idiot!"
Ye Gaosheng: "..."
He seemed to realize something terrible. Could it be that Prince Jing…
No, it couldn't be. His sister had just turned 12 years old, and Prince Jing was so much older – she was old enough to be his daughter. How could he…
However, that Liu Yuanwai from their town, who was seventy this year, had recently taken a Concubine who was only eighteen.
The more Ye Gaosheng thought about it, the more troubled his mind became, and gradually, his impression of Prince Jing started to shift as well.