Chapter Eleven: The Promise

  Ye's daughter opened the door and her face immediately fell. Gao Yuan also didn't dare to say more, supporting one and carrying another, hastily stepping inside the door. In broad daylight, this scene wasn't very pleasant to look at. Ye Jing'er was starting to feel the effects of the wine, seeing her mother but not being afraid, hanging onto Gao Yuan's arm, looking at her mother with a silly smile.

  Ye Shi reached out to support Ye Jing'er, but just as Gao Yuan let go, Ye Jing'er slid down towards the ground. Ye Shi was unable to hold her up and Gao Yuan quickly lent a hand, supporting Ye Jing'er upright again.

  "Auntie, I'll help you." He said in a low voice, his face looking very embarrassed, the two of them had been fine just now, but as soon as they came back, they became like this, especially since Ye Jing was still an unmarried young lady, it wouldn't be good if word got out.

  Ye's face sank and he didn't say a word, turning around to head inside, Gao Yuan dragging one and carrying another, closely following behind. To think that they had known Ye for quite some time now, this was still the first time they stepped through the doorway of this neighbor's house.

  Compared to his own home, Ye's family home seemed much smaller, with only two small wing rooms on either side of the main house, which was roughly a third the size of his own home. The interior decor was so simple that it was heartbreaking, and apart from tables, chairs, and stools, there wasn't a single decent piece of furniture to be found.

  Ye Shi walked straight to the small house on the right side, and Gao Yuan hurriedly followed him. This should be Ye Jing's boudoir. Upon entering, it was indeed so. A faint fragrance lingered in his nostrils. The room was extremely small, with only a bed, a wardrobe, and no other furnishings. The only decoration was a ceramic vase on the windowsill with a few osmanthus flowers inserted, adding a touch of brightness to the small room.

  He helped Ye Jing'er to the bedside, and as soon as he let go, Ye Jing'er had already collapsed onto the bed. Gao Yuan didn't dare look again and quickly retreated, carrying Ye Feng on his shoulders to another room, throwing him onto the bed. Only then did he take a long sigh of relief, realizing that his back was drenched in sweat. Uncle Lu was right, just now when Ye's family stared at him with one eye, he really felt quite pressured.

  He walked out of Ye Feng's room and felt a bit embarrassed, wondering whether he should bid farewell to Ye or just leave like this. As he was still thinking about it, Ye had already walked out of Ye Jing'er's room, her face as gloomy as water, making Gao Yuan's heart skip a beat.

  "Gao Shao Ye, wait a moment," said Ye Shi, "How did these two siblings, Jing Er and her brother, end up like this?"

  "Auntie, I had a great time at home, brewed some wine, it was just right today, the two of us drank a bit and unexpectedly got drunk."

  "Did you just drink a little?" Ye Shi didn't believe it, both of them were drunk to this extent, and they still didn't know how much they had drunk, especially Jing Er, a young lady, who was so drunk that she didn't know what was happening, and he didn't know if she had been taken advantage of by this young master. Thinking about this, his heart kept bursting with anger.

  "I only had a little to drink, Auntie. The wine I brewed is different from what's sold outside, it can't be drunk in large quantities or you'll get drunk." Gaoyuan said truthfully, "If Auntie doesn't believe me, she can go to my house and take a look for herself."

  Looking into his distant eyes, Ye hesitated for a moment before nodding, "I've heard Jing'er mention your wine brewing, I thought you were just fooling around, didn't expect it to actually work out."

  "It's just good luck, Auntie, I'll be off then!"

  "Wait a minute, Young Master Gao, please sit down, I have something to say to you!" Ye seemed to have mustered up great courage, looking at Gao Yuan and saying.

  Gaoyuan sat down somewhat nervously and said that he should still have a favor to ask of Ye Shi, usually he didn't feel anything, but at this time when the two were alone together, Gaoyuan suddenly felt a kind of inexplicable pressure, thinking about it also felt strange.

  "Thank you for taking care of us all these years, Master Gao." Ye Shi said slowly, sitting across from Gao Yuan.

  "It's nothing, it's nothing, just a small effort." Gaoyuan said humbly.

  "It may be easy for you, but it's a lifesaver for us." Mr. Ye waved his hand and said, "I invited you to stay today, young master, because I wanted to ask you something."

  Gao Yuan's heart moved slightly, "I don't know what Aunt wants to ask?"

  "Do you like Xiaoyu?"

  Gao Yuan hadn't expected Ye Shi to ask so directly and couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment before nodding vigorously, "Yes, Auntie, I really like Jing'er."

  "Do you want to marry her?"

  "Yes!"

  Gaoyuan didn't think twice and directly replied.

  Ye was silent for a moment, "Young Master Gao, you are a good person and also a responsible one, but there is something I must tell you. You can make your decision after hearing it."

  "Auntie, please speak."

  "I have some unutterable grievances and some powerful enemies who can topple the heavens. If no one knows about it, then so be it. But once it's exposed, it'll be a disaster that will destroy my entire family. If you marry Jing'er, you'll get entangled in this too, do you understand?"

  "Is it about what happened nine years ago?" Gaoyuan asked softly.

  Ye's expression changed to one of shock and surprise, "How did you know it was something from nine years ago?"

  "It was Uncle Lu who told me that your family is very strange and it's probably related to what happened nine years ago. He asked me not to provoke you."

  "So you still want to marry Jing'er?"

  "It's been nine years since then, and everything has changed. It's unlikely that those enemies still remember you. Even if they do find out, what can they do? I'll just take Aunt and her family to flee with me. We can't stay in Yan anymore, we can go to Zhao, or Qi, or even further away. Is there really no place for us to settle down in this vast world?"

  "Can you bear to leave this place? Once you leave, you won't have an uncle who's an official to take care of you."

  "There's nothing to be reluctant about. With my exceptional skills, I can make sure that Auntie's family lives a comfortable life wherever we go, and won't let Xiang'er suffer any grievances."

  "Alright, I'll agree to this, Gaoyuan. If you're willing, next year when Jing'er turns 16, I'll marry her off to you." Ye Shi fell silent for a moment before finally making up his mind. "I only have one request: be good to Jing'er. This child has had a hard life, originally destined for wealth and nobility, but ended up with the fate of a servant girl."

  "Auntie, in my eyes, Xiang'er is my princess!" Gaoyuan said solemnly and seriously.

  Ye nodded heavily. "This matter, you'd better discuss it with Lu Hong, he's your elder, after all, and you need to get his consent."

  "I understand!"

  "You go ahead, I'm tired!" Ye said with a wave of his hand.

  As he walked out of the Ye's house, Gao Yuan's heart was filled with joy and his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of that day when Ye Jing'er was busy in the kitchen, and he couldn't help but smile happily.

  Ye's family, Ye sat in front of Ye Jing'er's bed, stroking her sleeping daughter's rosy cheeks. "Jing'er, mother's choice may be right, it's almost ten years now, your father is gone without a word, no news at all, Ye seems to have no way out, Gao Yuan may be your best choice."

  Ying Jing'er turned over in her sleep and muttered some dream talk, Ying Shi vaguely heard the three words "Gao Da Ge" and couldn't help but reveal a hint of bitter smile, Jing'er also had feelings for this Gao Yuan, it's good that they will be together, with Lu Hong in Fufeng, they won't suffer any losses.