Chapter 810: Chapter 808: Background Character

Following behind Ye Xinyan was Qi Jiaer, who upon seeing Ye Yuan like this, was overjoyed. After greeting the Duchess, he stood by the couch and reached out to Ye Yuan: “Brother Yuan truly is a good child, remembering his sister. Come, brother will hold you, brother will take you to find sister.”

Ye Yuan immediately lunged towards him, scaring the nursemaid and the maids nearby who spread their arms, ready to rush forward to protect if Qi Jiaer couldn’t hold him.

Duke An was not worried at all. Boys need to fall sometimes; that’s how they grow strong.

The Old Master was full of satisfaction, watching his grandson and Qi Jiaer tumble together. With Young Master Qi close to his grandson, naturally, his granddaughter would also be affectionate towards him.

Ye Xinyan loved children. When she saw Qi Jiaer truly pick up Ye Yuan, she hurriedly took a step forward to take the child.

By this time, Ye Yuan was already two years old, a chubby, tiger-headed little fellow.

Since Duke An hardly disciplined him and let him play around outside, the little fellow wasn’t like other rich family kids, exquisite like carved jade. Although his skin was still baby-soft and smooth, it wasn’t fair; the little child’s skin had a hint of wheat color.

“Brother Yuan, you’re so impressive, remembering sister after such a long time apart. How about sister taking you out to play tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Ye Yuan responded with a cheerful smile. Although he wasn’t very articulate yet, people could understand what he was saying.

Maternal Aunt Zhao watched on the side, filled with joy.

The Eldest Lady had divorced and returned to her family, and her Old Master was muddle-headed and indifferent, never cherishing this youngest son, only resenting the eldest daughter and showing a face to Young Master Qi.

Maternal Aunt Zhao feared that the two Qi children would become alienated from Ye Yuan, so whenever Qi Jiaer and his sibling came, she would find ways to prevent them from encountering Ye Hongyang, ensuring they didn’t feel unwelcome at the Duke’s Mansion.

Now, it was Nanny Qian and Maternal Aunt Zhao managing the household affairs of the Duke’s Mansion, but Nanny Qian has taken on fewer responsibilities, leaving most matters to Maternal Aunt Zhao. Apart from Ye Hongyang, Maternal Aunt Zhao indeed had the ability to ensure everyone in the family treated the Qi children well.

Because of Ye Xinyan’s words before she left, Maternal Aunt Zhao had no hesitations, often sending Ye Yuan to the Qi family, to Eldest Granny Guan, yes, who was now Zi Ning.

The Qi Family Mansion was where the Qi family children lived their daily lives, and with Brother Yuan living there, with three children of the Qi family around, they couldn’t help but become close.

In the eyes of Maternal Aunt Zhao, Eldest Granny Guan had a way with children. Ye Yuan would go to the Qi family with his personal nursemaid and maids, ensuring Eldest Granny Guan wouldn’t have to worry too much.

Safety was not a concern, with Master Guan watching over; even those with bad intentions wouldn’t dare make a move on the Qi Family Mansion.

One could say, living at the Qi Family Mansion, Ye Yuan was even more secure than at Duke An’s Mansion. Although every time she saw Qi Sanshun carrying Ye Yuan on his shoulders running around, she’d be frightened, her inner joy was undeniable.

Watching Ye Yuan warmly hug Ye Xinyan’s neck, Maternal Aunt Zhao felt that everything she had done was absolutely correct.

Indeed, her own Brother Yuan got along better with Young Master Qi than with his own brothers from the Ye family. And consequently, the eldest lady was also fond of Brother Yuan, not at all bothered by his clinginess.

Ye Xinyan casually chatted with Duke An, having to respond occasionally to Ye Yuan’s babbling.

The little one wouldn’t settle down; while playing with Qi Jiaer, he would occasionally turn Ye Xinyan’s face back towards him, preventing her from talking too much with Duke An.

Duke An tried to ask questions a few times but was interrupted each time, having no choice but to feel helpless. Seeing how close his grandson and granddaughter were, he couldn’t bear to separate them.

It seemed this conversation wouldn’t go smoothly. Ye Xinyan stood up with Ye Yuan in her arms, saying to Duke An: “Grandfather, this little one is quite restless. I’ll find another time to talk with you. I’ll take him for a round to grandfather’s place.”

So they were going to see Qi Younian? Listening to this, Duke An felt a little sour in his heart.

See how his granddaughter was raised poorly? Despite growing up in Duke An’s Mansion with fine clothes and good food, halfway recognizing another grandfather, and judging by her affection, she seemed closer to him than her blood-related grandfather.

“I’ve already invited Old Master Qi. As it’s almost lunchtime, I’ve invited the Old Master and the Guan He couple; they’ll be here soon, so you won’t have to run in vain.”

Ye Xinyan instantly thought of Ye Hongyang, that scatterbrained fool. If they had a meal together, Ye Hongyang would surely give Qi Younian and Guan He attitude.

As for Guan He, he wouldn’t mind; as long as the environment was comfortable, he didn’t care about passerby’s expressions. Qi Younian was different. As he aged, he thought more, and facing the looks from Duke An’s son, he might suffer indigestion.

“Is this appropriate? My father seems to dislike eating with outsiders at the table.” This was a polite way of saying it to consider Duke An and his wife’s feelings.

However, the Duchess’s expression turned complex.

She had spoiled her son for half a life, and to maintain the facade of marriage between him and his wife, she had put in great effort. In recent years, she had been painstakingly advising him to recognize the situation, but it was to no avail.

How could he be so clueless? Seeing his daughter turn into a Golden Phoenix, yet he didn’t know how to foster a good relationship. Each meeting, he was the same, nose out of joint, a face like stone; the Duke’s Mansion no longer had Madam Yin, yet his attitude amounted to making enemies.

Every mention of her father, her tone was indifferent, as if he was no more than a stranger.

Duke An waved his hand, saying nonchalantly, “Don’t worry about that. Take the opportunity now and go to your father’s courtyard to pay him respects. We won’t have lunch together; your grandmother will arrange a separate banquet table for him to ensure Old Master Qi and Guan He are comfortable.”

Ye Xinyan glanced at the Duchess, confirming she looked desolate.

“Alright, I’ll take Ye Yuan to pay respects to Father first.”

Actually, the Duchess’s worry was unfounded, as Ye Hongyang was now served closely by Yingying, living a quite pleasant life. He wasn’t concerned at all about whether to attend the family banquet for his daughter’s return; in fact, not attending was better.

Back then, Madam Yin was just unfortunate. Shortly after marriage, Ye Hongyang encountered Maternal Aunt Liu. If it hadn’t been for that chance meeting, even if Ye Hongyang was incompetent, they should have been a harmonious couple.

In truth, apart from his unconditional, principle-less pampering of the malicious Maternal Aunt Liu, Ye Hongyang had no severe vices.

But after more than twenty years of rivalry between wife and concubine, he was wholeheartedly biased towards Maternal Aunt Liu, making him and Madam Yin almost enemies. For Ye Xinyan, without Madam Yin, Ye Hongyang was basically a stranger, and not a likable one.

Knowing that Ye Xinyan was returning today, Ye Hongyang was only silently displeased, but seeing her stand before him made him feel like a huge stone was pressing on his heart, making him uneasy.

“Why are you here?” Ye Hongyang frowned.