Liang Bo was in his forties, yet he looked much older—like a man nearing sixty. His back was slightly hunched, and he deliberately kept his head lowered, as if trying to hide his missing eye so as not to frighten Ye Yunmian, the young lady.
Ye Yunmian immediately stepped forward and helped him up, treating him with great respect.
“Thank you for your courtesy, Liang Bo. These past years, it’s all thanks to you for looking after my eldest brother,” she said sincerely.
Whenever the eldest brother lost his judgment, Liang Bo would always step in to advise him. Though it wasn’t always effective, the eldest brother did occasionally listen.
Liang Bo looked at Ye Yunmian, and only felt a sense of closeness. “It is merely this old servant’s duty. It is only a pity that I am useless. Over the years, I have allowed the Duke and the Third Young Master to suffer much grievance. Outsiders all think the masters are selfish and cruel, but they do not know… the suffering in their hearts.”
“I understand,” Ye Yunmian said sincerely. “From now on, some things in our household should be changed. I’ll have to trouble Liang Bo to help me.”
“Just give your orders, Miss,” Liang Bo replied immediately.
Ye Yunmian then handed over the copied account books and letters. “Please take these, Liang Bo. Go from house to house—and if necessary, make a big commotion—delivering these.”
Liang Bo accepted them at once. His remaining eye looked somewhat cloudy as his rough hands carefully held the thick stack of papers.
But after only a glance, his expression stiffened in disbelief.
“Miss! But this concerns the Third Young Master’s reputation… If this gets out of hand, I’m afraid he won’t be able to show his face in public anymore. His temperament has always been… somewhat soft and sensitive…”
He certainly hoped the young lady would do this!
But the Third Young Master was not someone who could withstand pressure. If he found out, he might not be able to bear it psychologically!
“It’s fine,” Ye Yunmian said calmly. “He values his life more than anything. This small matter won’t drive him to suicide. Besides, without substance, what use is face?”
Her younger brother truly was useless—unable to distinguish friend from foe, weak and easy to manipulate. But at least he had one advantage: he was afraid of death.
Liang Bo had long wanted to handle things this way, but as a servant he could not make decisions on his own and also worried about his masters. Seeing Ye Yunmian so calm and determined, he immediately agreed.
Moreover, the Duke had already said everything would follow the Eldest Miss’s arrangements.
Over the years, the Duke seemed almost possessed—always revolving around that Lin family girl. Now that he was finally letting the Eldest Miss take charge and showing concern for his younger sister, it was truly a great blessing.
Liang Bo quickly left.
Ye Weiqing did not know that Ye Yunmian had already sent people out to collect debts. Seeing that she had finished her work, he hurried over.
He was holding a pot of orchid in his hands, wearing his usual ingratiating smile. His expression gave a once-bright young man a slightly greasy, flattering air.
“Big sister, I remember you said you had never seen this kind of orchid before, so I brought it here and planted it in your courtyard. Remember to have someone water it daily,” Ye Weiqing said with a grin. Then his gaze drifted to the group of people outside. After a pause, he added awkwardly, “These people… were arranged by grandmother, right? They look pretty good…”
Ye Yunmian’s eyes flickered, her expression unreadable.
“These unimportant people—don’t worry about them. Come with me to see my donkey,” she said lightly with a smile.
“A donkey?” Ye Weiqing also remembered. His elder sister’s mount was truly unusual—the donkey was ugly beyond belief and had once spat all over Young Master He’s face.
“It’s kept in the livestock shed. We already have plenty of fine horses at home. Why not just get rid of the donkey?” he suggested quickly.
“I’m poor. This donkey was borrowed from a lifesaver, and I still need to return it unharmed in the future,” Ye Yunmian said calmly as she stood up. Then she glanced at the orchid. “It’s a good plant. Put it on the windowsill for now. When I move back to my own courtyard, I’ll arrange it properly.”
Ye Weiqing felt a flicker of disappointment but didn’t know what to say.
He followed her silently toward the stables.
After a while, he gathered courage and said, “Big sister, there was quite a disturbance at Xianhe Hall earlier. Grandmother fell ill. A doctor from outside has already come, and they said she was angered into sickness. In my opinion, you should just forget about that courtyard. Grandmother really cares about Second Sister…”
“Doesn’t the household have a physician?” Ye Yunmian asked casually.
“Yes, of course,” he replied immediately.
“If there’s a doctor in the household but they deliberately called one from outside first, then it means Grandmother intended to spread the news that she was angered into illness. Silly brother, if you want to be filial, you must understand the minds of elders. Just follow her lead. She’s only trying to play the victim. If I actually step back, she’d only be disappointed,” Ye Yunmian said calmly, as though stating some strange logic.
Ye Weiqing was completely stunned.
That didn’t sound right at all—but somehow he couldn’t immediately refute it.
“I just don’t want you to suffer, Big Sister. We’re juniors. If such rumors spread, people will look down on us,” he said seriously.
He knew that feeling of being looked down upon too well—it felt like countless knives scraping across his body, every gaze sharp and cutting, making him want to bury himself like the potted flower.
“Our great-grandfather came from poverty. In his youth, he even fought dogs for food. He was vulgar, rough, and foul-mouthed. Before he rose to power, he was barely surviving. Yet in his later years, everyone called him a war god and only remembered his achievements. No one mentioned his past anymore. Why do you think that is?” Ye Yunmian asked calmly as they walked.
“Because great-grandfather was capable and extraordinary, admired by all!” Ye Weiqing replied.
“Exactly. If you are capable enough, your flaws become nothing more than dust,” she said.
Ye Weiqing lowered his head, lips pressed together.
The road beneath his feet was smooth, but he walked as if it were heavy.
He understood what she meant—but he also knew he was not that kind of brave person.
He wasn’t sure how to respond. He didn’t want to disappoint her, but he also couldn’t pretend he was someone he was not.
As they walked, Ye Yunmian suddenly stopped.
She faintly heard the sound of a donkey braying—but it was not coming from the stables.
Instead, it seemed to be coming from the direction of the kitchen.
Her expression changed immediately, and she rushed forward.
That was her borrowed donkey!
After a few more steps, Ye Weiqing also heard it. Unlike her, he wasn’t particularly alarmed—it was just a donkey, after all. A noble household like theirs didn’t need such a dirty, ugly animal.
Sure enough, when they reached the main kitchen, they saw Ye Yunmian’s donkey being dragged by several people. The donkey kicked and struggled violently, already knocking down two of them—but a knife was about to fall.
“Stop!” Ye Yunmian shouted angrily, rushing forward.