Chapter 30: “You are at the frontier fortress, thinking of the Sovereign King, day and night, even unable to sleep?”

She smiled as she looked at Old Master Ye: “Grandpa, don’t you think, in some ways, I resemble you a lot?”

Old Master Ye looked at Ye Tianhui, looking at this girl who indeed had some resemblance to his son and daughter-in-law in her demeanor. After a long while, he laboriously looked at Ye Wenyin: “Then Wenyin—”

Hearing this, Ye Wenyin immediately cried out: “How is that possible, Grandpa, don’t believe her, I am Daddy’s biological daughter, your biological granddaughter, Daddy!”

She pouted, staring at Ye Tianhui with grievance and indignation: “Who are you really, and what are you here for! Look at what you’ve done, you’ve made my daddy so angry, if anything happens to Daddy, I won’t let you off!”

At this point, Ye Wenyin had no choice but to stubbornly continue with her gamble.

She was gambling, gambling on her father’s feelings for her, gambling that this Northern girl would become the family’s disgrace, gambling that Grandpa wouldn’t want this kind of granddaughter, and gambling that Ye Tianhui’s tough temperament would never be as likable as hers!

However, Old Master Ye said: “Shut up!”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was deep, powerful, and full of authority. Ye Wenyin was startled, tears still on her face, staring blankly, not daring to say another word.

Everyone present didn’t even dare to breathe, standing there with their heads down.

At this moment, Old Master Ye looked at Ye Tianhui, his expression serious: “Miss Ye, such words cannot be spoken carelessly.”

Ye Tianhui: “In order to reunite the family, I have said everything I needed to say. If you, Grandpa, refuse to believe and think I am making trouble for no reason, then I have nothing more to say. I will leave now, and you can just think of me as talking nonsense.”

With that, she turned to leave.

The people around were astonished, unsure of how to react.

However, everyone could see that this Ye girl was certainly not someone easy to provoke!

At this moment, Ye Lixuan suddenly spoke: “Stop!”

Ye Tianhui stopped in her tracks.

Ye Lixuan pressed down the turmoil in his chest with difficulty, looking at Old Master Ye: “Dad, this matter needs to be investigated thoroughly.”

Old Master Ye frowned, looking at his son.

As their eyes met, it was clear that Old Master Ye had understood Ye Lixuan’s meaning. In the questioning of this young girl, he had already believed more than half of it.

Ye Lixuan spoke in a hoarse voice: “Maybe she really is.”

Old Master Ye once again looked at Ye Tianhui, this girl who had caused him to feel favorable towards her from the moment she appeared. She was brave, strategic, and bold, and her actions had real decisiveness.

Could such a young girl possibly be his biological granddaughter?

Old Master Ye finally said: “Take her back first, the specific situation still needs to be investigated thoroughly.”

***********

It was obvious that Old Master Ye had started to waver.

Ye Lixuan’s words, Ye Tianhui’s courage, and her determination made him start to believe that maybe Ye Tianhui really was his biological granddaughter.

He immediately ordered to block the news, and took the family and subordinates away from the horse farm.

Fortunately, when Ye Tianhui revealed this information, everyone present was from the Ye family, and Manager Hu was not there. So, with Old Master Ye’s command, the news was sealed.

Before there was a definite conclusion, this matter could not be easily leaked.

As the Ye family left in full force, Manager Hu was rushing over with the blood sample of Black Rose. When he saw that the Ye family was about to leave, he was puzzled.

He hurriedly asked a familiar secretary from the Ye family, but the secretary frowned and shook his head, signaling him not to ask further.

Manager Hu was even more puzzled and whispered: “That Ye Tianhui is one of the key technical staff of our horse farm, someone we plan to cultivate.”

When the secretary heard him mention Ye Tianhui again, he quickly signaled with his eyes for him to stop talking.

That Ye Tianhui was really bold, directly claiming to be the lost daughter of the Ye family. Whether this matter was true or false, Ye Tianhui could no longer stay at the horse farm.

However, Manager Hu didn’t know that, still thinking about Ye Tianhui, he watched as the Ye family members boarded the stretch limousine and left in full force. He couldn’t help but lower his head, shrugging and sighing: “How can this be?”

At this time, Ye Tianhui had already been arranged by Old Master Ye to board a car alone, accompanied by two female servants.

She naturally understood that Old Master Ye seemed to have some intention of surveillance.

This was an elderly man who looked kind and amiable at first glance, such a friendly person.

But once it involved family interests, his expression changed immediately.

However, Ye Tianhui had enough confidence, knowing that at least she should be able to find her place in the Ye family now. No matter what method they used, they would settle her in.

After all, it seemed that Ye Lixuan did have some feelings for her deceased biological mother. She took out the earring, and it had firmly seized Ye Lixuan’s weakness.

As for entering the Ye family, it didn’t mean that everything was settled. In terms of the Ye family’s situation, her path was still long.

Ye Wenyin would definitely not let it go easily, and Ye Lichen was no easy opponent either. There were still many people to deal with.

But she wasn’t afraid of anything. These noble family disputes were nothing. Whoever had the means, let them come. A person who had walked through iron-blooded battlefields was not afraid of this group of people.

Anyway, as long as there were good food and drink, playing mental games with these people was just a way to pass the time.

She savored her series of actions and felt they were quite successful, everything went according to plan, a fatal blow, ensuring that Ye Lixuan would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

No need for too much compensation, just remembering to secure more money for herself in the Ye family.

She let out a slight sigh, comfortably leaning back in her seat. The leather sofa was truly comfortable, luxury cars were indeed different, far better than the bus seats.

She gently closed her eyes, thinking about the events of the day. Somehow, she began to think about some things from her previous life.

For example, when she returned to the court to meet the emperor.

She remembered that year, when rumors spread, accusing her of hoarding soldiers and making decisions on her own. She traveled thousands of miles back to Yan Jing City to beg for forgiveness. The night she arrived in Yan Jing City, it was a heavy rainstorm.

The emperor summoned her to the imperial study late at night. She had her vice-general, who was both civil and military, write a memorial for her. She had read it and memorized it, then entered the palace to meet the emperor.

She knelt on one knee in the imperial study, reciting the memorial with a sorrowful and sincere tone, full of emotion.

As she was reciting, suddenly, the emperor spoke: “Is that true?”

She lowered her head, knelt down to the ground, and without hesitation said, “This subordinate’s words are all from the heart!”

The Sage above did not speak for a long time.

The wind and rain outside fiercely beat against the windows of the imperial study, and Ye Tianhui clearly heard the sound of the palace lanterns swaying, as well as the clear drip of the copper pot.

She lowered her eyes, watching a drop of rain slowly fall from the sleeve of her battle robe and land on the green jade floor tiles.

After a long while, the Sage’s voice once again echoed from above: “The ruler is like heaven and earth, all things depend on it for life… I hear the sound of herding horses, thinking of the king’s great grace, unable to sleep at night?”

Ye Tianhui listened, respectfully and sincerely said: “This subordinate has devoted everything to repay the imperial grace, naturally thinking day and night, wishing to die for it!”

However, this declaration of loyalty only earned her a vague “Oh” from the Sage.

She froze for a moment, looking over in confusion, only to see the Sage behind the imperial desk, wearing a loose silk and cotton robe, with ink-black hair lazily hanging over his shoulders…

It seemed that he had just gotten out of bed and come to the imperial study without even grooming himself?

Was it appropriate to disturb an emperor like this?

She blinked, wondering if she had arrived at the wrong time.

At that moment, the Sage lightly propped his chin with his thumb, a noble smile that carried an inscrutable meaning: “General Ye, so you traveled thousands of miles, in a rainy night entered Yan Jing, disturbing my peaceful dream, just to tell me, that you are at the frontier fortress, thinking of the king, day and night, even unable to sleep?”

The luxurious car suddenly stopped, and Ye Tianhui’s figure paused.

In that moment, her thoughts were pulled back from the distant memories, looking out at the bustling traffic outside the window.

Yet, the Sage’s inscrutable, lazy smile still lingered before Ye Tianhui’s eyes, making her face flush with shame.

That slanderous remark was never mentioned again, silently disappearing. Her heart-to-heart words on that rainy night were met with the emperor’s grand gesture of reward.

However, she couldn’t feel happy.

At a certain moment, she felt regret.

She thought the memorial her subordinates had written for her was too absurd, making her sound like a fool saying impractical things!

But soon, she felt that the Sage was somewhat excessive.

Why did he smile at her like that? Why did he pick apart her words between the lines! He clearly knew what she meant!

In the days that followed, when she rode her horse, when she read in the military camp at night, or when she gazed at the vast wilderness, the Sage’s gaze from that night occasionally appeared in her mind.

Finally, on a certain night, she woke up with a flushed face, clearly realizing that she might have been teased by him.

Ye Tianhui raised her hand, covering her eyes, trying to block the illusion that reappeared before her.

She thought, she had already lived another life, the past golden armor and iron horses were already in dreams, and the once majestic imperial power probably turned into a patch of earth beside the desolate imperial tomb, who would still care?

If she was teased, then so be it, anyway, she didn’t lose anything.

As for that Gu Shizhang, he indeed resembled him, but so what, he is not him, if he is not, then he is not.

Even if he was, she wouldn’t acknowledge it!

***********

The grand motorcade finally stopped when it reached halfway up the mountain. Ye Tianhui looked outside the window and, from the roadside markers, she roughly recognized that this place was Sha Shui Bay. Based on her superficial knowledge of Hong Kong, Sha Shui Bay seemed to be a luxury residential area.

Looking ahead, the luxury cars seemed to have stopped in front of a large courtyard. The courtyard’s surrounding wall was at least seven or eight meters high, and she could vaguely see green trees inside, with a beige Western-style architectural group peeking from the top.

It was evident that this was a mansion, a place as grand as a palace.

The car door was opened, and she was escorted out by the security guard in a suit and leather shoes. Then, surrounded by two maids and two security guards, she walked forward, passed through a tightly guarded iron gate, and after multiple layers of security, the scene before her suddenly opened up.

The garden was vast, with wooden-colored decking paths laid between the plants, and on the white stone-paved path, colorful cobblestones were scattered artistically. Various neatly trimmed valuable tree species were interspersed, lush and dense, showcasing the meticulousness and serenity of this garden.

Ye Tianhui, surrounded by the security and maids, continued walking forward, first entering a large hall. The hall was decorated with an artistic flair, with all white genuine leather sofas that looked expensive and spacious.

Since her rebirth, she had become accustomed to the simplicity of Beijing, occasionally glancing at the exquisite carved patterns on the red brick and gray walls, she could also imagine the luxury of the old city back then.

But everything had long passed, leaving only traces.

However, now that she was here, she understood that in any era, there would always be some people standing at the top of the pyramid, enjoying the unimaginable luxury.

She was led forward, climbing the stairs, walking along the impossibly shiny floor, passing through a corridor lined with various famous paintings, and finally arrived at a room.

A woman in a suit with her hair tied up, looking to be in her fifties, came over, introduced herself, and said her last name was Tan, and she was called “Tan Ma.”

Tan Ma smiled at her and said to let her stay here first.

Ye Tianhui, seeing this, asked nothing.

Anyway, if they want her to stay, she will stay. The Ye family is not an ordinary family, and Old Master Ye is not an ordinary man. Since he knows, he will certainly investigate.

If they want to investigate, let them investigate, she just has to wait for the result.

Before that, she doesn’t need to rush. In fact, the one who should be anxious right now is Ye Wenyin.

And her biological father, Ye Lixuan.

At this moment, Tan Ma stood up and was about to leave when Ye Tianhui called out to her: “Tan Ma, wait.”

Tan Ma turned back: “Miss Ye, is there anything else?”

Ye Tianhui looked at Tan Ma: “I have a question.”

Tan Ma smiled, gently yet unquestionable, saying: “What’s the problem? Miss Ye can ask when you meet with the master.”

Ye Tianhui: “But I just want to know, is there anything to eat? I’m hungry.”

She raised an eyebrow, looking at Tan Ma: “You’re not planning to starve me, are you?”

Tan Ma’s smile froze for a moment, looking at Ye Tianhui, and said: “There is food, of course. Miss Ye, what would you like to eat?”

Ye Tianhui replied indifferently: “The Ye family is a big household, don’t you usually learn some etiquette for hosting guests? Is it this unruly? You even need to ask me what I want to eat? I want dragon liver and phoenix gall, do you have it?”

Tan Ma was momentarily speechless, then said: “It’s not mealtime right now. Miss Ye, would you like to have afternoon tea first?”

Ye Tianhui nodded, and instructed: “Alright, just bring me a variety of things, so I don’t end up with food that doesn’t suit my taste.”

Tan Ma’s expression became slightly unusual: “Then what would Miss Ye like to drink? Milk, coffee, or juice?”

Ye Tianhui: “Milk, just plain milk, hot.”

Tan Ma: “Alright.”

Tan Ma went out, and Ye Tianhui carefully examined the bedroom. It was quite a spacious guest room, luxuriously decorated, with a balcony. Standing in front of the wooden vertical grille floor-to-ceiling windows and looking outside, beyond the scenery in the courtyard and the security personnel at the entrance, she could see the vast sky and clouds, even faintly spotting the bay view of Hong Kong in the distance.

This truly was a feng shui treasure, with an excellent view.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental. Previously, she was in Shenzhen, looking across the coast to this side, always thinking about how to get here. Now, she had finally succeeded and could look back at Shenzhen from the villa’s room.

She walked back into the bedroom and examined it further, discovering that the vase next to her didn’t seem to be an ordinary one. The glaze was smooth, and the color was a mix of green and yellow, looking somewhat aged. It must be an antique.

In her past life, she came from a prominent family and had seen the world. At a glance, she recognized it as valuable ceramic.

Ye Tianhui couldn’t help but sigh.

So, for the Ye family, even a random guest room is filled with valuable antiques? Could it be that the paintings in the corridor are all valuable Western paintings?

For a family like this, if they were to kick her out, could she just pick up a random brick and leave, and that would be enough to cover a few months’ worth of meals?

She sighed again, and continued her examination, only to find that beside her was a sliding door. After pushing it open, she discovered it was a bathroom.

This bathroom is even more spacious than one of the rooms in the house she previously rented. Inside, all the furniture is made of marble, alternating between gold and white. On each side, there is a shower room and a toilet, separated by frosted glass walls.

In the bathing area, there is a very luxurious round bathtub, which looks like it would be very comfortable for a bath.

She explored the bathtub for a bit and quickly figured out how to bathe and make herself comfortable.

When she was in the mainland, she had naturally never seen these things. She rented a place to stay, and the toilets and bathrooms were quite simple. She had never enjoyed such luxurious facilities, so she couldn’t help but feel eager to try them out.

Soon, two Filipino maids^[1]The Philippines was one of the first countries to send workers to Hong Kong through the foreign domestic helper program beginning in the 1970’s. They constitute the largest ethnic minority in Hong … Continue reading came in, carrying trays with a cup of hot milk and various pastries. Ye Tianhui looked at them and was very satisfied, instructing them to arrange the items on the small stone table on the balcony.

After the maids arranged everything, she said, “Please prepare new clothes for me, as well as towels and other necessary items.”

The two maids exchanged glances.

Ye Tianhui noticed their confused expressions and suddenly realized that they hadn’t spoken earlier.

She had pointed to the balcony, and they had placed the afternoon tea on the stone table there, but they probably hadn’t understood.

In other words, these maids didn’t understand Chinese.

Ye Tianhui smiled faintly and said calmly, “If you don’t understand, then learn. You can go now.”

She waved her hand, signaling them to leave. The two maids exchanged a look and then left.