Chapter 170: A Parent’s Love for Their Child is Far Reaching

Ye Xin Ran’s worries were justified.

After the dishes were all served, the three of them each took a bite, and then all fell silent.

Each dish had its unique taste, one that was hard to describe.

In the end, Xiao Huai’an only ate a bowl of rice, and Ye Xin Ran and Leng Qing Yu only ate a few bites of the dishes before stopping.

“My cooking is terrible, I won’t do it anymore!” Leng Qing Yu said, feeling embarrassed.

Ye Xin Ran could only comfort her: “Luckily, I didn’t inherit such bad cooking skills. You can stay here for now and try my cooking!”

The awkward atmosphere was thus diffused.

With that little incident, Leng Qing Yu’s mood improved a bit. However, when they returned to the room, she became absent-minded again.

When Ye Xin Ran knocked and brought a plate of walnut crisps, Leng Qing Yu couldn’t hold back anymore.

She finally asked, “Xin Ran, is Zhi Yi really Lord Lu’s biological daughter?”

At the Wei residence, Ye Xin Ran had merely used this strategy to make Lord Lu fall into a self-incriminating trap.

No matter what Zhi Yi’s identity was, as long as Lord Lu had this thought, he would have to face the consequences.

At that time, she wasn’t certain either.

After all, just having the same blood type could result in compatibility, so maybe it was just a trap they set.

But now, Ye Xin Ran no longer thought that way.

Because at that time, she had gotten a strand of Zhi Yi’s hair and tested it after returning home.

Now the results were clear, Zhi Yi was truly Lord Lu’s daughter.

The man who had always claimed to love Leng Qing Yu so deeply had such a grown-up daughter!

In response to Leng Qing Yu’s question, Ye Xin Ran nodded. “Zhi Yi is Lord Lu’s daughter, without a doubt.”

Leng Qing Yu’s tears immediately began to flow.

“How could he…?”

Leng Qing Yu choked up and couldn’t continue her sentence.

Ye Xin Ran understood her feelings.

After all, they had been married for many years, and that man had pretended so well.

If it were anyone else, it would be hard to accept at first.

“Madam, although it’s not something I should say, consider this over the years, what has Lord Lu done for you, and what has he gained from you?

He has insisted on not taking a concubine, making it a virtue, but secretly he has been unfaithful. Doesn’t that mean he was trying to gain something more important from you?”

Leng Qing Yu wiped her tears.

“Something more important?”

“What could she have?”

If you exclude her looks and emotions, all she had left was money.

In terms of family background, she couldn’t compare to those from wealthy families.

The only thing she could offer was her profitable business and the vast trade network of the Ye family throughout the entire Da Liang.

“After so many years of marriage, he’s taken quite a bit of money from me,” Leng Qing Yu said, slowly recalling, “but every penny was something I shoved at him, forcing him to take it and spend it.”

“What did he use all that money for?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

Leng Qing Yu smiled bitterly. “It’s hard to understand unless you’re in charge. As the Marquis, he has many places that need managing. Plus, in the Lu family, apart from him, there are two younger brothers.

These two brothers didn’t inherit titles, and they’re not ambitious. The old madam always nagged in my ear, so every month I would give them a living allowance of a thousand taels.”

“So, you’re not just supporting the Marquis’ household, but also his two younger brothers?” Ye Xin Ran couldn’t understand.

Leng Qing Yu explained, “It’s all family. They used to cause trouble with the Marquis over money, but now that there’s enough, the house has quieted down, and the Marquis can focus on his duties. As the head of the household, this is what I should do.”

“Now that you say that, I think I understand why the Marquis hasn’t taken a concubine or secondary wives all these years!” Ye Xin Ran said.

“Why’s that?” Leng Qing Yu asked.

Ye Xin Ran sighed.

She hadn’t expected that her own mother would still be so caught up in romance.

“Of course, he didn’t dare.”

“Didn’t dare?” Leng Qing Yu was puzzled.

“Having concubines and secondary wives in the house would inevitably cause friction with you. If you were hurt by this or distracted by it, not focusing on taking care of the entire family, what would he do?”

Ye Xin Ran said with a calm tone, “Rather than take that risk, it would be better to have two mistresses outside. He could enjoy the benefits of having multiple women, avoid most of the trouble, and still maintain a good reputation.”

“Is that what he was thinking?” Leng Qing Yu murmured.

“I actually asked him about it and even offered to arrange for secondary wives for him. But the Marquis refused and was very angry. Since then, we’ve never brought it up again!”

There was even such a thing?

Now, Ye Xin Ran couldn’t understand either.

So why did the Marquis do it?

Was it for his reputation?

But what use did he have for that false reputation of affection?

Back in their room, Ye Xin Ran shared her doubts with Xiao Huai’an.

After moving to the new house, there were several extra rooms, but the two of them, without even saying a word, seemed to have an unspoken understanding about not needing to sleep apart.

After finishing what was on her mind, Ye Xin Ran asked Xiao Huai’an, “If you were Lu Ting En, what would be the reason you wouldn’t take a concubine?”

Xiao Huai’an was upset inside.

How could she compare him to someone like Lu Ting En?!

However, he still answered, “I wouldn’t take a concubine because I don’t like having a harem. I only have one heart, so of course, I can only like one person!”

He paused and then added, “As for why Lu Ting En refuses to take concubines, I think I know a little bit.”

Upon hearing that Xiao Huai’an knew something, Ye Xin Ran immediately became interested.

“What reason?”

Xiao Huai’an thought for a moment and said, “I heard a rumor before. The old master of the Ye family once said that their family heirloom would be passed down to his daughter.

As for which daughter it would go to, it’s not about which one is more filial, but about which one has a better life.

Harmonious marriage, filial children, and loving in-laws, these are all things he considers important!

Lu Ting En’s actions are definitely related to this rumor.”

“Lu’s old master really is cunning!” Ye Xin Ran praised.

“To use such a petty trick to control both of his sons-in-law!”

Putting aside what the family heirloom actually was, just looking at the old man’s conditions, at least it ensured that his two daughters would live well during his lifetime.

And once he passed away, both daughters’ children would be grown, so even if something happened to the sons-in-law, at least the children would be able to protect their mothers!

As long as the old man was alive, that so-called heirloom was like a carrot dangling in front of a donkey.

It made him forever covet it, but never able to get it!

Parents love their children, and so they plan far ahead for them.

Ye Xin Ran was impressed by the old man’s careful planning.

But soon, another thought crossed her mind.

She looked at Xiao Huai’an and asked curiously, “How do you know so much about the Ye family’s matters?”