Lady Ye, the Matriarch

Early autumn had arrived. In the north, wild geese flew in a perfect line across the vast sky, heading toward the warm south.

The once-lush branches in the courtyard were now beginning to wither.

Even the colorful fish in the pond seemed colder than usual.

A young girl stood there, her jet-black hair styled into an elegant bun, adorned with a delicate coral hairpin.

She wore a deep red dress embroidered with clouds and geese, accentuating her slender figure.

Bi Yu gently draped a silk cloak over Ye Lily's shoulders.

"Miss, your illness hasn't fully healed yet. Be careful not to catch a chill."

Ye Lily shook her head slightly.

She was petite, shorter than both Ye Amy and Ye Cindy.

Her round face and timid demeanor made her appear younger than her actual age—like an eleven or twelve-year-old child.

But today, something about her felt different.

Frost, standing nearby, couldn't help but notice it.

The young girl's pale skin gave her a fragile appearance.

Now, however, her expression was unreadable—not cold, not foolish, but distant, as if lost in thought.

Yet, there was also a hint of nostalgia in her gaze as she stared at the sky.

Though she stood just as she always did, there was an air of dignity about her that hadn't been there before—an unexpected regal presence.

Frost shook her head, trying to dispel the strange thoughts forming in her mind. Smiling, she asked, "Miss, what are you looking at?"

Since finishing breakfast, Ye Lily had been standing in the courtyard, staring at the sky.

"I'm just wondering," Ye Lily murmured softly, "if these geese flying from the north to the south pass through the deserts of the northwest."

The northwest desert—that was where General Ye Xin was stationed, along with Lady Ye and their eldest son.

Last month's letter said that while the capital had only begun to cool, snow had already started falling in the northwest.

"Are you thinking of Lord Ye and Lady Ye?" Frost smiled.

"By the end of the year, Lord Ye will return. He'll be so happy to see how much taller you've grown!"

Ye Lily forced a smile, though bitterness lingered on her lips.

Once a year, the great general returned to Dingjing.

And what would greet him this time?

His own daughter's scandalous attempt to force a marriage upon herself—a disgraceful act driven by blind love for a man who only sought to use the Ye family's military power to seize the throne.

The Ye family had wanted no part of such schemes, but her reckless affection dragged them into the chaos, leading to their tragic downfall.

Ye Lily closed her eyes briefly.

So much could happen in half a year. Since coming of age, her marriage had become a tool for manipulation by those in the eastern wing of the household.

It was as if they had shed their masks, revealing themselves as monsters slowly pushing her into a dead end.

"Miss! Miss!" Bi Yu called out softly, noticing her mistress gripping the edges of her cloak tightly, her knuckles white.

Ye Lily snapped back to reality.

Gu Yu came running over. "Miss, someone from Rongjing Hall is here to hurry us along."

Rongjing Hall—where Lady Ye, the matriarch, resided.

Early that morning, one of the maids had checked on Ye Lily, saying she could pay respects once she felt better.

Of course, everyone knew this wasn't just a casual visit—it was more like a summons.

Ye Lily smiled faintly, pulling her cloak tighter. "Let's go."

In the Ye household, the eastern and western wings were sharply divided.

Back when Old General Ye was alive, he often practiced swordplay in an open yard in the west wing.

After his death, Ye Gui and Ye Wan pursued scholarly careers, leaving only Ye Xin to carry on the family legacy.

That empty yard, along with the entire west wing, became Ye Xin's domain.

The east wing, larger and brighter, housed the main family, the second family, and Lady Ye.

In truth, the west wing was far less impressive. Its location meant it received little sunlight—only half as much as the east wing.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about it.

But Ye Xin didn't care. To him, the simplicity of white walls and black tiles was enough. Unlike the ornate elegance of the east wing, the west wing exuded a straightforward charm.

Ye Lily used to resent living in the west wing, envying the refined beauty of the east wing and blaming Ye Xin for it.

Now, she laughed at her own ignorance.

Their home might have been simple, but it wasn't shabby. It radiated a sense of openness and honesty—unlike the hypocritical pretense of the east wing, which was all show and no substance.

After walking down a long corridor and passing through a meticulously trimmed garden, they finally reached the entrance of Rongjing Hall.

To emphasize its scholarly atmosphere, the hall was decorated elegantly.

A plaque reading "Elegant Bamboo Heart" hung above the door, and the brass handles shaped like pine trees and cranes sparkled with intricate craftsmanship.

"The fifth miss has arrived," announced Xi'er, one of Lady Ye's attendants.

Ye Lily stepped inside.

Inside Rongjing Hall, the scene was lively and harmonious.

Almost everyone was present. Lady Ren Wan Yun (the second wife) and Lady Chen Ruo Qiu (the third wife) stood beside Lady Ye.

Ye Cindy sat near the matriarch, holding a plate of snacks.

On the other side sat Ye Yuan Bai, the five-year-old son of the second branch of the family. He was stuffing sweets into Lady Ye's mouth, making her laugh uncontrollably.

No one seemed to notice Ye Lily's arrival until Ye Amy spoke up with a smile.

"Fifth Sister, why are you so late? Little Brother Seven has almost finished all the sweet pastries!"

Ye Lily bowed her head slightly. "My health isn't completely recovered yet. I felt dizzy after walking a few steps, so I rested for a moment. That's why I'm late."

The room fell silent for a moment.

If Ye Amy accused her of being arrogant for arriving late, Ye Lily wouldn't hesitate to point out that Lady Ye had summoned her despite her poor health.

After a pause, Lady Ren chuckled. "Little Five really does look weak. We've called the doctor twice in the past few days, but thankfully, she seems fine now."

"How are you feeling?" A hoarse, stern voice rang out, laced with barely concealed impatience.

Ye Lily looked up at Lady Ye.

Lady Ye's smile had vanished, replaced by an air of arrogance as she tilted her chin upward.

Despite being in her seventies, she wore a bright pink silk robe with green jade buttons at the collar and a white orchid embroidered headband.

Her silver hair was styled into a cloud-like bun, adorned with jade beads.

She was a woman obsessed with appearances.

In her youth, Ye Lily had admired Lady Ye, believing her to be the epitome of grace and beauty even in old age. Now, she found it laughable.

Lady Ye hadn't always been the matriarch.

The original wife of Old General Ye, Ye Xin's mother, came from a prestigious family but passed away early.

Later, during one of his campaigns, Old General Ye saved a courtesan from thugs.

With nowhere else to go, she begged to become his concubine and eventually bore him two sons, Ye Gui and Ye Wan. Over time, she rose to become the new Lady Ye.

Though her status had changed, her petty nature remained.

Ye Lily remembered how, in her previous life, Lady Ye had forced her to marry a crippled prince merely to pave the way for Ye Qing's ambitions.

Looking at the woman before her, Ye Lily noted how Lady Ye's sharp features had aged poorly.

Her once-beautiful face now resembled dried leather stretched over bone, with two bulging eyes. Yet she refused to accept her age, insisting on painting her lips with garish colors.

Truly... utterly undignified. Ye Lily, recalling her experience as an empress in her past life, inwardly scoffed.

Outwardly, she humbly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I've taken my medicine and feel much better."

The next moment, Lady Ye barked loudly, "Disrespectful child! Kneel down!"