Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 59 Part 1

Once the Wala diplomats arrived in the capital, Ye Shen could not leave the palace for several days. However, he was aware of the fact that Eldest Master Ye and his wife had made a visit and were going to have a banquet at the Ye Residence. His sister-in-law even sent a message to the palace, asking for her mother-in-law to make an honorable presence on that day for the younger generation and return to the Ye Family’s home.

With the way it was said, how could he not see the little scheme hidden in Eldest Madam Ye’s thoughts?

She was most likely aware that Xiao Youning would be her future sister-in-law and deliberately held a banquet to get to know her better for the future. At the same time, it allowed Ye Shen to infer that the eldest branch would definitely get along with his future wife, and curry favor with his mother.

His sister-in-law was a wise woman.

She took into consideration a variety of situations to have the upper hand, but was still frank and open with him. She didn’t try to get around him to get close to Xiao Youning, leading to his high respect for his sister-in-law.

Ye Shen still sent the information back to his mother. He guessed that his mother would most likely be willing to go. After all, this was the first time that she would formally meet the little girl. After seeing her, he could go and propose marriage, which would make it seem like he held the Marquis Residence in high regard.

As expected, Old Madam Ye replied that she was willing to go back to the Ye Family’s home.

When everything was settled, Ye Shen felt odd again.

Why didn’t the little girl send him a word that she was going to the banquet?

Despite his doubts, he was soon at ease. With her personality, what idea would she be holding back from him to give him a surprise?

Eldest Madam Ye did not know that she had been seen through by her soon to be sister-in-law.

Ye Shen smiled because of this. With his mother there, he didn’t have to worry.

The Emperor officially received diplomats only after the third day of their arrival.

That was also the day when the Ye Family would hold the banquet. Ye Shen would be busy by the Emperor’s side, and Marquis Ningyuan would be standing among the officials in his ceremonial robes.

After a long ceremony, the meeting to receive the diplomats finally began.

Prince Ah Mo wanted to enter the Imperial Court and bring up peace talks several times. However, the Emperor ignored him and his requests. After avoiding the situation continuously, it was time for dinner.

Prince Ah Mo did not look well, and he had to force a smile under the treatment he received. Prince Jihan watched the situation with a sarcastic smirk at the corner of his lips. Prince Ah Mo had suffered a setback, which was a happy thing for him.

Ye Shen’s seat was among the princes, second only to the Crown Prince.

To the other officials, Ye Shen’s seat did not come as a surprise. But to Prince Ah Mo and Prince Jihan it did. They looked at Ye Shen again and felt he looked familiar.

Halfway through the dinner, Prince Ah Mo recalled why Ye Shen looked familiar!

Is-isn’t he the advisor from the Central Plains? The one who provoked the conflict between father and one of the descendants of the previous Emperor Dazhao who was a refugee?!

This was the man who asked father to kill the criminal descendant! 

Prince Ah Mo’s heart went cold and he gritted his teeth.

The current Dazhao actually used such a low plan to make us lose our real advisors!

Right now, Prince Ah Mo couldn’t say he didn’t hate him. He wanted to draw a knife on Ye Shen, but the defeat had been decided. He could only hold back and eat a few mouthfuls of food.

At the same moment, the Ye Family’s courtyard was busy.

When Old Madam Ye went back to the residence, Eldest Madam Ye’s respect for Xiao Youning grew even more. All the young ladies attending the flower appreciation banquet with their mothers looked at her with curiosity.

She was really beautiful. In the past, she didn’t like to go out a lot. They only knew that the military power was in the hands of the Marquis Residence. She was from a first-class noble family, which was not comparable to the daughters of ordinary officials.

Then there was the situation with the Li Family, which made many young maidens in the boudoir more curious about her.

As soon as they saw her today, they naturally became more charming. The familiar attitudes of Old Madam Ye and Eldest Madam Ye made them sigh with complicated feelings.

At the end of the day, the females still needed the support of their maternal home in order to maintain a reputable status. Xiao Youning was a good example of this. Even though she was divorced by the Li Family, she could still go out and be a guest because the status of her maternal family was higher than all of them.

It could be seen how important it was to have good support from the maternal family, which made others envious.

The young maidens only understood this first point, but were far from knowing an even more important second point. Yet, it didn’t prevent them from wanting to be friends with Xiao Youning.

Marquis Ningyuan’s son was not engaged for marriage yet. The families of the maidens did not have high hopes, but if they could marry a good husband, they would be regarded as a family of higher rank.

Xiao Youning realized that she seemed to be the center of everyone’s attention. It made her uncomfortable and constantly looked towards Old Madam Ye for help.

At the beginning of the banquet, Old Madam Ye requested Xiao Youning to sit next to her. She had met Old Madam Ye when she was a child. When she met her again after so many years, the nervousness she thought she would have was gone. Instead, she felt a sense of closeness. Therefore, when she encountered something that she could not escape from, her first reaction was to ask Old Madam Ye for help.

This request for help was so subtle that she was not even aware of it.

Old Madam Ye immediately laughed. She stood up and took her hand. They were going to head towards the waterside pavilion where the banquet was to be held. “Let’s go. It’s almost time for dinner. It is inappropriate for us to let the guests talk and drink tea while they have an empty stomach.”

Everybody laughed. They all got up and went to dinner.