Chapter 48 – Proposal (1/2)

Chapter 48 – Proposal

“Knock! Knock!”

The day after his breakthrough, Ye Wei slept very well. The sound of a few quick knocks on the door woke him up early in the morning. “Son, are you awake?” Joe Wan asked soft and gently.

“Mom? What’s going on? Is breakfast ready?” Ye Wei clumsily opened the door and narrowed his eyes to the person who looked like his mom.

Lit by the morning sun, Joe Wan’s kind smile seemed warmer than usual. “You stink, go get changed.” She urged after pulling her son’s robe to her nose, sniffing it then frowning and narrowing her eyes.

“Huh… Why? What’s happening? You look suspiciously excited.” Ye Wei could tell his mom was hiding something from him by looking at her posture and happy face.

“Something great is going to happen! Just shower and get changed already! You are our family’s pride and Master Yi’s legacy apprentice. You have to be presentable at all times!” Though she started to get a little annoyed, the proud mother was still wearing a smile on her face while gently pushed Ye Wei towards the bathroom.

“Okay…” Slightly confused by the intrusion, Ye Wei reluctantly shook his head then took a quick bath.

Ye Wei was a good looking young man, and even more so now that he was in a dashing white robe. “Yea, that’s better!” Joe Wan straightened the creases and made sure the robe was sitting right. She then nodded satisfyingly. ‘I don’t remember him being this tall…’ She was both proud and sad, sad that time flew by and because she knew her son would not need her soon.

“Mom, can you please tell me what’s going on now?”

“We are all waiting for you, just get to the great hall! You will know soon enough.” Joe Wan winked and smiled as she dragged Ye Wei through the corridors.

“The great hall? What’s the occasion?” Obediently he followed his mom’s lead, scratching his head in confusion. It was hard for him to make sense out of anything this morning.

They followed the stone pathway and hallways and ended up at the bottom of a small set of stairs that led to a magnificent building with a symmetrically arched roof. It was supported by thick, sculpted pillars. Ye Wei pulled back his shoulders then followed his mother into the great hall.

The pair of old wooden doors to this spacious great hall were usually closed, and the fact that they were open meant the family had important guests over.

The great hall was crowded and loud for how early it was. The patriarch too was present, chatting with people around him in his designated seat. On his left sat his sons and daughter, they all wore a smile on their faces. On his right sat the guests, all of them were familiar faces.

The ruddy-faced old man with white hair and beard sat directly to Ye Zheng Qing’s left was none other than Joe Zheng Feng, the Joe Patriarch.

The Joe’s and the Ye’s friendship spanned generations. Ye Wei’s mother was from one of the Joe family branches. Ye Wei had seen today’s guests since he was a toddler. However, they stopped associating themselves with the Ye family three months ago when Du Yuan Ming started their campaign.

To the Joe Patriarch’s right sat a boy and a girl, they were both wearing traditional family robes. The boy had a cold look, and he sat as straight as bamboo. This young man’s eyebrows were arching slightly arrogantly, and the confidence and glow in his eyes drew some of the young Ye girls’ attention.