Chapter 93: Unmarried Child

We're talking about our own business—what's it to you? Who are you?

One of the burly men reacted, stood up, glared at that woman displeased, and spoke angrily.

Who am I? I am Ye Qingran's mother!

Upon hearing this, everyone watching the spectacle was stunned.

Ye Qingran's mother?

Isn't Ye Qingran's mother General Dingyuan?

Has General Dingyuan come back from the dead?

"Hey, you're General Dingyuan?" the other man at the same table said in a slick manner.

"Nonsense! I am her stepmother!"

Zhao Ya's expression was cold and stern; she seemed very dissatisfied with their behavior of speaking ill of Ye Qingran behind her back.

Ye Qingran's stepmother?

Zhao Shi?

The looks everyone cast over carried a hint of amusement.

Zhao Shi and Ye Qingran have such a good relationship?

Wasn't it said that Zhao Shi and Ye Qingran were on bad terms? Could there be some misunderstanding?

After the shock, Zhao Ya spoke firmly: "Listen up, Ye Qingran may not be my biological child, but she is still a member of the Ye family; I won't allow you to gossip behind her back!"

Zhao Shi's gaze swept around, icy cold.

"But Ye Qingran having a child out of wedlock is a fact; even if you are the Prime Minister's Wife, you can't just use authority to suppress people and hide the truth. If you want no one to know, don't do it. Ye Qingran dares to deviate from the proper path and do such a shameful, unrestrained libertine act—should we not be allowed to speak?"

Such righteous words came from the crowd; upon hearing them, everyone couldn't help but feel they made sense.

Zhao Shi's expression could not be held back.

"Those are all rumors!" Zhao Shi defended.

"Rumors? Lady Ye, Ye Qingran's child—we've all seen it with our own eyes. In an ordinary family, a miss would not bring a child around unless it were her own. Is Ye Qingran truly an unwed mother? You know better than anyone!"

Zhao Shi seemed to suddenly collapse, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Even so, Qingran has her difficulties!"

The crowd revealed smiles of understanding.

Zhao Shi, is this an admission?

"Lady Ye, may I ask what difficulties Qingran faces?"

"You've gone far enough, don't bully people too much!" Zhao Shi gritted her teeth.

"She's already pitiful enough with two children; do you know how much she has endured these past years? Since it hasn't happened to you, what right do you have to scold her?"

Two children?

The crowd found it increasingly interesting.

Who would have thought Ye Qingran not only had a child out of wedlock, but gave birth to two!

Everyone whispered and discussed. Seeing this, Zhao Shi's eyes flashed with a quick gleam, gone in an instant, while her face remained the sorrowful, grieving expression that made people feel pity.

"Who would have thought that Zhao Shi, as a stepmother, would treat Ye Qingran so well, sparing no effort to speak up for her?"

"Such magnanimity is admirable, but Ye Qingran is truly hopeless; even without spiritual roots and unable to cultivate, as the daughter of General Dingyuan, if she behaved properly she would have no trouble marrying well—yet she insists on consorting with others, throwing away her reputation for nothing!"

"I actually think Zhao Shi isn't worth it. What's there to protect in a fickle woman like Ye Qingran?"

……

Upon hearing that, Zhao Shi coldly sneered in her heart.

She simply wants Ye Qingran to be ruined in reputation and beyond redemption!

"Lady Ye?!"

A surprised voice came from outside the wine house.

Everyone saw a noble lady, escorted by servants and maids, slowly enter the wine house.

"Li Lady?"

The visitor was none other than the wife of the Minister of Rites, Li Shi.

"Lady Ye, what are you doing in this wine house? Hey, why are you still crying?"

"I happened to pass by, heard them slandering our Qingran, and in my anger came to confront them!"

Li Lady's face showed sympathy.

"Lady Ye, you are truly kind. Though Qingran is not your daughter, you treat her as your own—truly moving."

Li Shi, using a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, seemed quite moved.

Immediately, the conversation took a turn.

"However, I've also heard about Ye Qingran's situation; things have come to this, you can't deny it. How about this: although Ye Qingran's reputation is poor, given her looks and background she could still find a man."

"Li Lady, how could you say that?!" Zhao Shi jumped up in agitation.

The elderly attendant serving Li Lady became displeased upon hearing that.

"Lady Ye, Ye Qingran brought this on herself; everything is what she deserves. Even five years ago her reputation was bad, and now she's had a child out of wedlock—such a fickle woman, if a man wants her she should be satisfied!"

Zhao Ya covered her face and wept.

"Lady Ye, don't be too upset. How about this: our master's subordinate has a man named Wang Er, of decent character, though a bit ugly, without an official post, but his three wives have all passed away, leaving no heirs—Ye Qingran marrying him would be perfect."

"Li Lady, I know that Wang Er—a pockmarked, naturally flirtatious man who brings misfortune to his wives—you're not trying to harm our Qingran, are you?"

"Lady Ye, don't cry; if you're dissatisfied with Wang Er, we can find another. However, given Ye Qingran's notorious record, finding someone better than Wang Er is truly difficult…"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shi cried even more miserably, shifting from covering her face to wailing loudly, quite the tantrum.

"Qingran, my poor child, how could your fate be so bitter! You're so young yet already a mother of two—how will you manage from now on? In a hundred years, how will I face your birth mother? My unfortunate child—I don't want to live!"

The entire Wine House echoed with Zhao Shi's wailing as if she had lost her parents.

Some people thought Zhao Shi's behavior this time was deliberate, duplicitous and hypocritical; most people were still deceived by her actions, believing she was a good stepmother truly worried for Ye Qingran.

Of course, after Zhao Shi's commotion, everyone became even more convinced that Ye Qingran was indeed an Unmarried Child, and had even given birth to two!

As for Zhao Shi herself, she became famous in one battle at this Wine House, leaving a good impression on the people of Xiliang.

Over the next few days, Zhao Shi went from house to house, seeking a match for Ye Qingran, but none accepted her; for this, Zhao Shi even wailed loudly in the street, carving the image of a loving mother agonizing for her daughter into perfection.

Zhao Shi's name thus spread, and the people of Xiliang City called her the "Number One Stepmother"!

One day, Ye Qingran was on her way back to the Ye Residence when Ye Huanhuan, Ye Sisi, and Zhao Yan intercepted her.

Ye Sisi stepped forward a few steps, scowling, and snapped: "Ye Qingran, do you still have the face to go out? You've lost all the face of the Ye Residence!"

Zhao Yan also wore a look of contempt, rebuking: "Ye Qingran, you are an Unmarried Child; Aunt has exhausted herself choosing a good match for you, and even if you don't appreciate it, you still repeatedly humiliate her—isn't that going too far?"

Passersby stopped and gathered to watch.

Hearing Ye Sisi and Zhao Yan say that, they all began to blame Ye Qingran.

Ye Huanhuan heard everyone's complaints, couldn't help knitting her delicate brows, and walked toward Ye Qingran with a troubled expression.

"Sister, I know you've also been suffering these past days. But no matter how much dissatisfaction you have, you shouldn't take it out on Mother. Besides, we are a family; we will get through this difficulty together!"

Ye Huanhuan's words were sincere and heartfelt, truly presenting the appearance of a good sister.