“Why are you staring at me?” Ye Jiayao demanded.
“Did you mean what you said in front of the Emperor? Were you really willing to give me up?” Xia Chunyu asked, his voice cold and low.
Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes. When has he become so sensitive? “Chunyu, you don’t belong to me. You’re not mine to ‘give up’. Honestly, I don’t know why you just didn’t take the out that I gave you.”
Xia Chunyu’s breath hitched in his chest.
Ye Jiayao continued, “Nice acting, though! Even I almost fell for that whole devoted husband act in front of the Emperor. Tell me, Chunyu, was that a necessary skill to learn to work for His Majesty?”
Xia Chunyu was so mad, he swore he just felt a vein on his forehead pop. Acting? I poured my heart out in front of the most powerful man in the region and you think I’m acting?
“Ye Jinxuan, you are cold-blooded,” Xia Chunyu said angrily.
“Cold-blooded?” Ye Jiayao sputtered. “How am I cold-blooded? You have kicked me down at every turn. Are you forgetting what happened back in Black Wind Ridge? Are you forgetting what you’ve put me through?”
Just like that, Xia Chunyu’s anger deflated. She was right. How could he be mad at her after everything she has gone through because of him? “I’m… let’s just forget about it. It’s in the past, let’s just look forward to our future.”
“Forget about it? How am I supposed to just forget about it? Every time I think about it, it just hurts all over again. Xia Chunyu, I am telling you now, if you do anything like that to me ever again, I will make you pay for it.”
Xia Chunyu’s eyes widened. They weren’t even properly married yet, and she’s already setting the rules? I’m in for a wild ride.
He shook his head and decided to ignore that comment. “You made a good impression on my father so you’re in with him. You just have to worry about my mother now. She really cares about social status and well… this wasn’t exactly her dream arrangement. So when she makes quips and other bad remarks, I need you to just ignore her. You can’t talk back.”
Ye Jiayao nodded. “I have met your mother before, don’t worry.”
As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the mansion, Xia Chunyu hurried her inside. “Go to my room and change clothes!”
“To your room?”
“Where else do you want to go?” Xia Chunyu looked at her with his eyebrows raised.
“Okay!” Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes. “I guess your room is my room for now.”
The last time Ye Jiayao came to this mansion, the only room she was able to go to was the outer study room. Today though, she was able to see and explore much more. Chunyu’s house reeked of money and opulence, almost as magnificent as the Helian Royal mansion.
“The third part in the east is Big Brother’s yard, behind is Chunfeng’s, the one behind is my fourth brother’s, and two aunts live in the west. Chunfeng and I have the same mother, my oldest brother was born by Aunt Wei, and my fourth brother, who’s turning 11 this year, was born by Aunt Gui,” Xia Chunyu explained as they walked.
“Your family doesn’t have any daughters?” Ye Jiayao asked.
“Only one. My older brother’s first child, Xia Ziyuan, although we call her Ni. She’s only two years old.”
Ye Jiayao kept silent as she pondered over her situation. Well, I guess it’s a good thing that they don’t have a younger sister. In this case, the only women I have to worry about impressing are Xia You and Chunyu’s sister-in-law.
Xia Chunyu’s courtyard was the last one in the center which leaned against the garden, his father’s chamber in front of him.
“Qiao Xi, help Second Young Lady change her clothes,” Xia Chunyu ordered one of their servants.
The girl smiled politely and bowed. “Second Young Lady, please come with me.”
“Hurry up and don’t let my parents wait for too long,” Xia Chunyu told Ye Jiayao.
Pretty soon she’d be calling them ‘parents’ too, two people who are strangers to her. Ye Jiayao shook her head in a bit of disbelief and followed Qiao Xi into the room.
Qiao Xi and two other servant girls attended to Ye Jiayao. The little girl opened the wardrobe, revealing a cupboard full of brand-new-looking clothes in elegant colors.
“Second Young Lady, what would you like to wear?” asked the little girl.
Ye Jiayao pointed at the lotus-colored gown. “That one.
The little girl obediently brought the dress over to her.
“What is your name?” Ye Jiayao asked.
“My name is Cherry.”
“Cherry? Like the fruit?”
“That’s right. My original name meant green flower, but the Heir-son Lord thought it sounded bad so he changed it to Cherry. He said that you might like the name Cherry more,” the little girl answered, her eyes expectant.
Ye Jiayao looked at her naturally rosy face and smiled. “He’s right, I like the name Cherry.”
The little girl smiled happily, proud that she was able to please the Second Young Lady.
“What about you? What is your name?” Ye Jiayao asked the one who was helping her pick her jewelry.
“Second Young Lady, you can call me Pomegranate.”
Ye Jiayao couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Pomegranate?
“Second Young Lady thinks that my name is not good enough?” Pomegranate asked, disappointed.
“No, no!” Ye Jiayao shook her head, still smiling. “It’s a nice name. It just reminds me of an old friend.”
“Second Young Lady, Cherry and Pomegranate are the new servants hired to serve you. I will teach them well,” Qiao Xi said as she helped Ye Jiayao dress.
“Are you going to be serving me as well?” asked Ye Jiayao.
“I follow yours and the Heir-son Lord’s orders. If you want me to serve you, I would be happy to do so,” she answered with a sweet smile.
“I just arrived at the mansion and I’m still not familiar with the people and how things are run here. I’ll ask my husband and then I’ll let you know.” Ye Jiayao wanted to be careful in front of the servant who has served the Xia family for many years. She couldn’t give a hasty answer without knowing more about this place and its people.
“There aren’t many servants in the courtyard. The only girls who serve inside the house are Sweet Peach and I. The four girls serving outside are Cai Wei, Cai Lan, Qin Wen, and Ye Xue. They have served the Lord’s mansion for many years,” Qiao Xi began as she combed Ye Jiayao’s hair.
Ye Jiayao looked at the mirror and almost didn’t recognize herself… she looked so pretty and elegant.
“Are you ready?” Xia Chunyu called as he walked in.
“Almost.” Ye Jiayao got up and turned to him with a smile. “What do you think?”
Xia Chunyu inhaled sharply. This was the first time he saw her dressed up and she was breathtaking. He went to the window and picked out a pink camellia.
“Come here,” he said.
“Why? Are you going to put that flower in my hair?” Ye Jiayao griped as she walked towards him.
Wordlessly, Xia Chunyu put the flower in her hair. He then took her hand and said, “We can go now.”
Ye Jiayao squirmed uncomfortably. “Can you take this out?”
“No.”
“Why not? This is my hair.”
“You’re hair was made up to please me. Don’t you know that a woman dresses up for the one who makes her happy?”
“And you’re that person?”
“Am I not?” he challenged. “Don’t wear that drab men’s clothing anymore. I like seeing you like this.”
Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes.
He commanded, “Do not roll your eyes.”
Ye Jiayao stared at him, deadpan.
“Do not stare.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at how absurd his bossiness was.
“Yes, that’s it. Be a dainty, gentle woman.”
Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes again. Whatever.
Meanwhile, Xia You has gotten impatient. “Shouldn’t they be here already? What’s taking them so long?”
Old Lord Xia Zhuofeng sipped his tea leisurely and said, “Why are you so anxious? We’re not in a hurry to go anywhere. They’re just getting ready. I’m sure Ye Jinxuan wanted to look her best for her future mother-in-law. She doesn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Why do you keep defending her? They aren’t even married yet and I’m already losing my status as the lady of the mansion!”
“Lose your status? That’s not possible! You are the lady of the mansion, that’s not going to change. No one will replace you.”
You just know to help her, she hasn’t married in yet! I lost my status already?”
“Master, Madam, the Heir-son Lord is coming.”
Xia You ran a hand down her gown and fixed her seating position, making sure that she looked immaculate in front of her daughter-in-law. Although her husband’s oldest son has a wife, she had never really bonded with his wife. After all, the boy wasn’t her own blood. Ye Jinxuan was her chance to forge an actual mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bond.
“The son asks his father and mother for peace,” Xia Chunyu said humbly.
“Jinxuan asks her father and mother for peace,” Ye Jiayao followed. She wanted to say ‘daughter-in’-law’ but somehow the word got stuck in her throat. Damn it!
Xia You’s lips twitched imperceptibly, wanting to tease Ye Jinxuan. She wanted to tease her about saying ‘daughter’ when she hasn’t even officially been married in yet. Of course, she said nothing since it was inappropriate, but she was unexpectedly tempted to.
“Please, join us.” Xia Zhuofeng looked at Ye Jinxuan all dressed up and nodded in approval. She looked beautiful. Chunyu has gotten lucky.
