Zhou Ye was baffled by Wang Yulan's reaction.
Was that the point?
But faced with Wang Yulan's serious expression, Zhou Ye told her the truth. "Mother, I was the one who wanted Young Master Yunshen."
"Oh, oh, that's good, that's good." Wang Yulan patted her chest. "I heard the one on the bottom has a hard time of it. I couldn't bear to have you in pain."
"Wait, that's not right." Something occurred to Wang Yulan, and she grabbed Zhou Ye again. "Is Young Master Yunshen all right, then? I heard he only performs and doesn't sell his body. If he was on the bottom, he'll probably be uncomfortable for days!"
"???" Zhou Ye burst out laughing at Wang Yulan's words.
He looked at Zhou Da, asking with his eyes: This is what you meant by flying into a rage?
Zhou Da was dumbfounded too. He glared at Zhou Er, asking with his eyes: Didn't you tell me Madam was furious enough to die?
Zhou Er looked up at the sky, then down at the ground, not daring to meet Zhou Da's gaze.
After all, he had only heard that the news had reached Madam's ears, so he had instinctively assumed Wang Yulan would fly into a rage and hurried to tell Zhou Da.
Zhou Da had then embellished the story before passing it on to Zhou Ye.
That was why Zhou Ye had come home with his heart in his throat.
"I knew what I was doing. Young Master Yunshen is fine." Zhou Ye relaxed. He continued answering Wang Yulan's questions as he helped her sit down.
He asked her, "Mother, you heard that I like men and that I've grown so close to Young Master Yunshen of the Jade Fragrance House that I've dragged the marquis manor's name through the mud. Why aren't you angry with me?"
"Because a few days ago, when you were doing everything you could to avoid me and wouldn't meet the official families' daughters I'd found for you, I could already tell you had ideas of your own."
Wang Yulan reached out and smoothed the stray hairs at Zhou Ye's temple. "There's nothing wrong with liking men. After all, there's never been a rule in this world saying a man can only be with a woman."
"But since you've chosen this path, you'll have to endure more criticism than ordinary people. My only worry is that their insults will make you unhappy."
"My son..." Wang Yulan patted Zhou Ye's hand. "From now on, whatever you want to do, you don't have to hide it from me. You only need to know that my one hope for you is to live a healthy, happy life. That's enough for me."
Zhou Ye's expression froze for a moment.
Feeling the warmth of Wang Yulan's palm, he found his eyes stinging.
In his modern life, he had had no mother, so he had never experienced a mother's love and acceptance for her son.
Now, he could not help being moved.
But in the end, this life of his would not last long.
He would probably have to make Wang Yulan grieve someday...
At that thought, he lowered his eyes, hiding the emotions in them, and nodded.
"I'll remember everything you've said, Mother."
"That's good." Wang Yulan noticed the dark circles under his eyes. "Now that everything's out in the open, let's not stand around here anymore. Let's hurry and have lunch, then you can go back to your own courtyard and get some proper rest. I'll deal with the rumors outside. As long as I'm in this marquis manor, not one nasty word will reach my son's ears!"
"Mm." Zhou Ye felt warm inside.
When he looked up again, however, his eyes met Zhou Zhenghai's.
The two exchanged knowing nods.
After lunch, Zhou Ye took the initiative to go to the study with Zhou Zhenghai.
As soon as the door closed, Zhou Zhenghai asked him, "I saw you clearly when you sneaked off to the Jade Fragrance House the other night."
"Why did you suddenly stop being discreet today and openly spread the news of your preference for men until the whole city knew?"
Zhou Ye said, "Because Young Master Yunshen finally agreed to become mine today. I was happy, so naturally I made something of a show of it."
"You little rascal..." Zhou Zhenghai said with a laugh, shaking his head. "That story might fool your mother, but you'll have to do better than that to fool me."
He asked Zhou Ye, "Tell me the truth. Young Master Yunshen is more than just a male courtesan at the Jade Fragrance House, isn't he?"
"Since you've seen through me, Father, I won't hide it from you any longer."
Zhou Ye had already come to regard the Zhou family as his own, so he told him.
"I discovered Young Master Yunshen's true identity. He's the orphaned son of Lord Zhang Jingming, the former minister of revenue. What happened today was just an act we put on, so that everyone in the capital would think I was an idle, unambitious wastrel. At the same time, it gives us a legitimate reason to meet frequently in the future."
Zhou Zhenghai looked startled.
His gaze grew distant, as though he were recalling the past.
Only after a long while did he come back to himself and sigh. "So Yunshen is his child..."
"Back then, to protect myself, I stopped involving myself in court affairs after the late emperor passed away. All I could do was watch as the Zhang family met that fate."
"I'm ashamed of it."
He frowned and asked Zhou Ye, "Did you seek Yun Shen out because you wanted to use him and drag him into the struggle for the throne too?"
Zhou Zhenghai had seen everything Zhou Ye had been doing these past days.
Although he had offered no practical help, he had shown no intention of stopping Zhou Ye either.
But now, his tone was noticeably serious.
Zhou Ye noticed and grew serious as well.
"I'm not using him," he answered Zhou Zhenghai. "It's an exchange of interests."
"I'll help clear the Zhang family's name, and he'll provide me with information."
"I understand that you know full well how ruthless emperors can be, Father, and that you don't want to see more innocent people sacrificed in the struggle for the throne. But I've already spoken with Yun Shen."
"His wish in this life is to clear his family's name."
"If he does nothing but hide, the loyal and righteous people who died because of that wrongful conviction will never rest in peace."
Zhou Ye's words moved Zhou Zhenghai.
But he still asked, "Is that really what he wants? You didn't force him?"
Zhou Ye thought it over carefully, then told Zhou Zhenghai everything that had passed between him and Yun Shen.
As Zhou Zhenghai listened, his face alternately darkened and reddened. In the end, he shook his head and laughed. "You really are a shameless scoundrel, boy."
"But you weren't wrong either," Zhou Zhenghai said. "If he truly weren't willing, you could beg him for years and get nowhere."
"It's just..."
Zhou Ye knew what he was going to say and interrupted him.
He said, "I understand your concern, Father."
"If the truth comes out one day and His Majesty investigates, I'll never use Yun Shen as a shield."
"He's my friend, not a pawn to be discarded once he's served his purpose."