The Duchess's Scheme

One evening half a month later, Ye Tianming was meditating in his courtyard when Dai Yutong suddenly ran in, crying.

She did not even knock. She rushed straight into his arms, trembling all over.

"Brother Tianming, something terrible has happened!" She could barely speak through her sobs.

"The duchess... the duchess sent someone to say that Mother and I are lowborn and have been eating the mansion's food for nothing."

"She wants... wants to send us to the countryside. She said someone would take us away first thing tomorrow morning."

Ye Tianming's gaze turned cold.

He had known the Duchess would not let matters rest.

If she did not dare act openly, she would resort to underhanded tricks.

While Dai Hao was away on campaign, she would send Huo Yun'er and her daughter to an estate in the countryside. Once the deed was done, even Dai Hao would be powerless to change it when he returned.

With the sky high and the emperor far away, whether mother and daughter lived or died would be hers to decide.

Ye Tianming steadied Dai Yutong by the shoulders and spoke softly.

"Don't cry. As long as I'm here, no one can drive you away."

"But... but the duchess said... she said those are the mansion's rules. She runs this household, so what she says goes."

Tears streamed down Dai Yutong's face.

Ye Tianming stood at once, took Dai Yutong's hand, and said,

"Even if she runs the household, she has to be reasonable. Come on. Let's go to the main hall. I want to see what gives her the right to drive anyone out."

When they reached the main hall, the Duchess was seated at its head, sipping tea. The steward and several senior maids stood to either side, all wearing an air of official business.

Two older servants supported Huo Yun'er. Her face was pale, and she had not fully recovered from her illness. She could barely stand, yet she struggled to plead her case.

"Duchess, please have mercy... my daughter and I have nowhere to go..."

The Duchess merely set down her teacup and replied coolly,

"What do you mean, nowhere to go?"

"This mansion doesn't support idlers. You're a concubine who started out as a maid, and you gave birth to a good-for-nothing with barely any Soul Power."

"Letting you eat and drink here for free all these years was more than generous. You'll be sent to the estate in West City tomorrow morning. I've made my decision. There's nothing more to discuss."

"I'd like to see who dares!"

Ye Tianming's voice rang out from the doorway.

Holding Dai Yutong's hand, he walked into the main hall step by step and stopped in its center under everyone's gaze.

The Duchess frowned slightly at the sight.

"Ye Tianming? What business do you have here?"

Ye Tianming raised his head and looked the Duchess straight in the eye.

"Concubine Huo belongs to my adoptive father's household, and Yutong is his daughter."

"Before he left, my adoptive father personally told me to take good care of them. If you drive them away now, are you saying his words count for nothing?"

The Duchess's face darkened.

"Don't use my husband to pressure me."

"He's away on campaign, and I run this household now. When I deal with two servants, an adopted son like you has no place speaking up!"

"Servants?"

Ye Tianming laughed, but the smile never reached his eyes.

"Concubine Huo is my adoptive father's concubine, and Yutong bears the surname Dai. That makes her a young lady of the Duke's Mansion. Since when did she become a servant?"

"If you want to drive them away, then tell me: which family rule allows it?"

The question left the Duchess momentarily speechless. Then she said coldly,

"If I say she's a servant, then she's a servant. An unrecognized maid and a girl with a Trash Martial Soul—what right do either of them have to bear the name Dai?"

Ye Tianming refused to give an inch.

"That isn't for you to decide."

"My adoptive father gave them their standing. If you object, you can wait until he returns and tell him so to his face."

"But you're in such a hurry to drive them away while he's gone. If word gets out, what will people think of you? What will they think of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion?"

"You!"

The Duchess had never expected a seven-year-old child to be so sharp-tongued. For a moment, she had no answer.

Ye Tianming gave her no chance to recover and continued,

"And as for Yutong's Martial Soul, you call her useless. But do you know that a Spiritual Martial Soul is one in ten thousand?"

"You could scarcely find a handful in the entire Star Luo Empire. Even the Soul Master who oversaw her awakening didn't dare make a definitive judgment on the spot. Do you understand Martial Souls better than Lord Soul Master?"

As he spoke, Ye Tianming pulled out the Command Token Dai Hao had given him and held it high.

"My adoptive father gave me this Command Token before he left and told me to seek Deputy General Zhou if anything happened. If you insist on driving them away today, I'll take this Command Token to the Military Camp right now."

"I'll ask Deputy General Zhou and every soldier there to judge who's in the right."

"The White Tiger Duke has only just left on campaign, and already his daughter is being driven from her home. If news of this reaches the Military Camp, how will my adoptive father hold his head up?"

"And what will His Majesty think of the Duke's Mansion?"

Every word was backed by reason, with persuasion and pressure in equal measure.

The main hall fell so silent one could have heard a sparrow land. The steward and senior maids exchanged glances. None had expected a seven-year-old adopted son to speak with such eloquence and force.

The Duchess's expression shifted again and again. She knew everything Ye Tianming had said was true.

If the matter reached the Military Camp, or even His Majesty, she would be the one to suffer.

Besides, her husband already felt guilty toward Huo Yun'er and her daughter. If she forced them out now, then when he returned—with this adopted son at his side—he would make her pay for it.

But if she simply let the matter drop, how could she, the mistress of the household, save face?

As they stood at an impasse, Ye Tianming suddenly softened his tone.

"Duchess, I know running this household isn't easy. Its expenses are high, and two more mouths to feed really are a burden."

"How about this? I'll pay for all of Concubine Huo's and Yutong's food, clothing, daily needs, and medicine out of my monthly allowance and the private funds my adoptive father gave me."

"It won't cost the Duke's Mansion a single coin. They'll live quietly in the Side Courtyard and cause no trouble."

"That way, you'll save the expense while honoring my adoptive father's instructions. Wouldn't that satisfy everyone?"

The Duchess stared at Ye Tianming for a long time. At last, she slowly lifted her teacup, concealing the complicated look in her eyes, and said coldly,

"Since you put it that way, they may... stay for now."

"But let me make one thing clear: if I hear they've caused trouble, I'll punish you along with them."

Ye Tianming bowed, neither servile nor defiant.

"Thank you, Duchess. They won't cause trouble."

Outside the main hall, the evening breeze stirred. Only then did Huo Yun'er let out the breath she had been holding. Her legs buckled, and she nearly fell, but Ye Tianming caught her in time.

Dai Yutong rushed over too. She threw her arms around Ye Tianming, and tears spilled from her eyes once more.

"Brother Tianming... we don't have to leave, do we?"

Ye Tianming crouched down, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and answered gently,

"You don't have to leave."

"I told you. As long as I'm here, no one can drive you away."

Dai Yutong nodded through her tears and wrapped her arms tightly around her neck, as though she were holding on to her whole world, lost and found again.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck and said over and over,

"Brother Tianming, thank you... thank you..."