"Your fatherās tutor, huh?" That Mr. Luo had always been associated with the Ye Family, but Mr. Luo liked traveling and rarely stayed at home throughout the year. It was feared he wouldnāt be willing to teach students again.
"Return to the manor, discuss it with your father and see what he says."
"Alright, I understand."
The sky was not yet dark when the carriage entered Prince Anās Mansion. Upon returning to the Bamboo Courtyard, they saw Mingqiu bringing in two plates of pastries, "Madam, these are newly made pastries from the kitchen."
"Are these red bean cakes?"
"Yes, red bean cakes, but with added jujube paste."
"Did the young master return today?"
"He went out in the morning and hasnāt returned since."
Yang Chuxia nodded, ate two pieces of red bean cake, and found the taste quite good, "Send some to the eldest young master."
"I will go right away, madam."
Mingqiu said this and then placed the other plate into the food box. Upon stepping out, she bumped into Ye Ziāan, "Young master!"
"Madam is back?"
"Yes, sheās inside!"
Ye Ziāan nodded and went in, "I thought youād stay at the manor for two more days."
"Dongyang asked me to stay, but I declined." Yang Chuxia waved at him, "Besides, Dongyang told me some things. After thinking about it, I came back. In case Iām not home, it wouldnāt be easy for you to handle things alone."
Ye Ziāan raised an eyebrow, "What have you learned now?"
"Someone has their eye on our Lele again."
Ye Ziāan understood. That day after court, someone also stopped him to say a few things, but he refused all by saying that the child was still young.
"Mu Family people?"
"How did you know?" She hadnāt mentioned it yet.
"I guessed it." Ye Ziāan said with a smile, "Doesnāt the second branch of the Mu Family have two granddaughters? Dongyang isnāt familiar with many people; sheās at the manor, so whoever went to talk to her about this is most likely the one."
"You guessed right." Yang Chuxia scoffed, "They think their calculations are clever, even wanting to become a princess consort."
"Sheās stepping on thin ice in the Mu Family, so she wants to try her luck with us. If her granddaughter were to be engaged to Lele, sheād become the Ye Familyās eldest daughter-in-law, leaving Yangyangās wife-to-be out of the picture."
"I hadnāt thought of that point until you mentioned it." Yang Chuxia wiped her hands with a handkerchief, "But I wonāt agree to it, Iāll wait for her to bring it up."
Weāll see how that ruthless old woman scuttles away when she gets rejected.
But after a few days, no one from the second branch of the Mu Family came. She thought maybe the Second Madam Mu had understood and didnāt pay it any more thought.
Before the Mu Family came, a royal decree arrived instead a few days later.
As Ye Ziāan had imagined, Baili Yan conferred a title upon him, and on that dayās court session, Baili Yanās first act was to ennoble the meritorious officials.
Traditionally, ennobling meritorious officials happened after the enthronement ceremony, though it was rare and against protocol to do it beforehand. However, with the Grand Emperor as a precedent of breaking protocol, anything Baili Yan did seemed normal.
Ye Ziāan was made Marquis Changning; although he didnāt reach the rank of duke, the marquisate was hereditary.
Old Mu was leading troops outside, and Baili Yan directly sent the decree to the front lines, appointing him as the State Duke of Defense, also a hereditary title.
At the same time, the title of Marquis Wuāan was restored to the Luo Family. The Luo family ancestor once had a princeās title, which was later elevated and demoted multiple times until it became an earl. When the Noble Princess Consort Luo had her incident, the Luo Familyās title was stripped and never restored until today when Baili Yan granted back the title to his maternal family, with Luo Linhao inheriting it, although not hereditarily.
As for Mu Shaoling, he was appointed as Marquis Changāan, which was also a hereditary title.