Ye Binghuai left the courtyard discontentedly after being snubbed.
“I reckon he’s gonna come to the wedding,” Xia Chunyu sneered.
Ye Jiayao replied absent-mindedly, “Who cares? Even if he comes, I’m not going to honor him.”
“You know it’s really hard to believe that you are this decisive in severing your relationship with him.
“Are you trying to criticize me or compliment me?”
Xia Chunyu pinched her nose affectionately, his eyes shining with tender emotions. “I support you.”
After returning to the Wei residence, Ye Binghuai started to think hard. Jinxuan has changed so much that he almost didn’t recognize her.
Ning walked over to him and immediately knew that his trip wasn’t successful. She laughed coldly and asked, “What happened? Did your own daughter refused to acknowledge you?”
Ye Binghuai gave her disgusted gaze. This was all your fault, you hag.
“What are you staring at me like that for? I knew from a long time ago that Jinxuan is trouble. All that well-behaved and docile attitude was just an act. She hid and made the Heir-son Lord do all the work for her just so we’d fall into her trap. Now that she has found a rich powerful man, the Ye family doesn’t mean anything to her anymore,” Ning said spitefully.
Ye Binghuai snorted. “How can you say all of these things? If you did not allow Rong-er to plot against her, we would not have ended up like this.”
“Yeah, if not for Jinrong, would she have met the Heir-son Lord? Would she have been able to make all the connections she has now? She should be thanking us for that!”
Ye Binghuai shook his head at her preposterous allegations. He stood up and retreated to his study.
Ning rolled her eyes and proceeded to her daughter’s room.
“Mother, is Father back? What did he say?” Ye Jinrong has had terrible morning sickness these past two days and is lying on the bed, unable to get up.
“He didn’t say anything but I know that that bitch wants your father to divorce me.”
“Then, will Father…”
Ning laughed rather maniacally. “He wouldn’t dare. That little bitch thinks she can pull me down. Ha!”
However, Ye Jinrong wasn’t as optimistic as her mother. “She has the Heir-son Lord supporting her! She was the reason Liujiang ended up in such a tragic situation. I really hate myself for not killing her myself then.
“Do not worry about her. This is far from over. I will make her pay for everything she’s done,” Ning swore through gritted teeth. “Enough about this. Your father-in-law is leaving in two days. What are you and Liujiang planning to do?”
Ye Jinrong answered sulkily, “Father-in-law wants Liujiang to go back with him.”
“What for? Your father-in-law is venting all his anger on you right now. If you return to Ji Nan with Liujiang, do you think you everything will go back to normal?”
“That’s exactly what I am worried about. I am still talking to Liujiang, but in any case, he cannot take the imperial examinations anymore. It’ll be better for him if he just stays in Jin Ling or return to Yang Zhou. With Uncle’s connection, I’m sure he can find some other job to earn a living. I refuse to go back to Ji Nan,” Ye Jinrong worried.
“Your right to think that. If you cannot stop him, just do your best to delay him leaving. Tell him that you’re still not feeling well. We’ll play it by ear when the time comes,” Ning told her.
“Young Mistress, that eunuch from last time is here again,” Xia He reported.
Ye Jinrong looked at her mother for help. “Mother, what do I do? I am a little afraid of that princess.”
Ning pondered for a while and smiled slyly. “I’ll go.”
This time, Liu Li did not set the meeting in the palace and instead in a secluded teahouse.
“The Young Mistress Wei is ill, so her mother, Ye Ning, has come in her place,” a servant relayed.
The corner of Liu Li’s lips rose into a smirk. “Well then, let her in.
Ye Ning entered and curtsied to greet Princess Liu Li.
Liu Li shot her an indifferent glance. With one look at Ye Ning’s upturned eyes that reflected her shrewdness and scheming nature, she knew that she wouldn’t be an easy person to deal with. She ordered, “Take a seat.”
Ye Ning unhurriedly sat down. “What would the Princess want me to do for her?”
“No orders, just some questions.”
“Ask away, Your Highness. I will tell you all that I know.”
“Did you guys know that Ye Jinxuan is Li Yao?”
“No, Princess, we just heard about it.”
“So you don’t know whether she has amnesia or not?”
“Amnesia?” Ning laughed as if she found the idea ridiculous. “Princess, Ye Jinxuan is no simpleton. When she was at home, she was filled with deceit, a master at pretense. Just because she is the first young lady and she has the Fang family behind her, she always bullied her siblings. If it wasn’t for me, she would’ve done worse. She has hated me ever since I married her father. She believed that I snatched him away from her and I think that it’s the Fang family that has instilled that idea in her.”
Liu Li was feeling an equal mix of surprise and glee at what she heard. Her suspicion had been right all along, that Ye Jinxuan was filled with tricks and deceit.
“Not only that, but she also excels in seducing men. How else do you think she managed to get the Heir-son Lord to her side in just a matter of time? I have no doubt that she orchestrated all of these schemes, forcing the Heir-son Lord to back her up.” Ning knew that Princess Liu Li had wanted to marry the Heir-son Lord so she used this opportunity to create more discord between her and Jinxuan.
Liu Li seethed quietly. If it wasn’t for that conniving Ye Jinxuan, Brother Chunyu would’ve married her. She snatched him away from her, embarrassing her in the process.
Ye Ning continued, “Now, she is proud, taking revenge on us. The Heir-son Lord used his influence to force Wei Liujiang to admit that he colluded with the bandits. I never thought that she’d be this vicious! We had no choice to admit to it because we cannot go against the Second Young Mistress of the Jing An Marquis mansion. However, Princess, I really feel for you. Everyone knew that that position was supposed to be yours.”
“She shouldn’t get comfortable. It’s never too late for revenge,” Liu Li vowed angrily.
Ye Ning hid her sneer as she watched the hatred on Liu Li’s face grow. Jinxuan, do you really think that you’re untouchable?
Three days until the wedding day.
Ye Jiayao had been staying in the Helian Prince’s mansion up until the wedding day in accordance with the rules.
The Old Ancestress had taken a liking to her, especially when she heard what happened between her and Xia Chunyu. She was impressed with how strong and independent she was. The delicious delicacies that she sends her every day didn’t hurt, too. She also tasked Yu De to prepare her well for marriage, really acting as if they’re marrying off their daughter.
Yu De was more than generous with the 16 sets of dowry she got for Ye Jiayao. Adding this to the 36 sets she got from the Jing An Marquis’ residence and the 16 sets from the Fang family, she has a total of 64 sets of dowry, one of the grandest dowries given in Jin Ling.
Ye Jiayao gladly accepted the dowry from the Fang family, but the dowry that the Helian family has given her was making her feel uneasy.
“Miss, here’s the trousseau that the Old Ancestress wanted to give you,” Cui Yan called as she carried a box over.
Ye Jiayao opened it up to take a look. Inside, it was full of precious jewelry. She hurriedly closed it and turned to the Old Ancestress with a bit of panic. “Old Ancestress, you have already given me a lot. I cannot accept this.”
The Old Ancestress laughed and waved her complain dismissively. “They are not anything valuable. Those are just some of the things that I wore when I was young. I always thought that if Xuan-er and Little Jing have a sister, I can give her these, but that didn’t happen. Now that you are here, you can fulfill this dream of mine.”
“Keep it. You should not reject the gifts of an elder,” Yu De encouraged with a fond smile.
Little Jing pouted jokingly and said, “Ever since Jinxuan got here, Old Ancestress never notices me anymore. You only dote on Jinxuan now.”
“What are you getting jealous over? I still have a set for your wife!” the Old Ancestress assured him with a laugh.
Little Jing looked Ye Jinxuan and his face flushed red. “What wife? You should be telling my brother to find his wife, not me!”
Helian Xuan glared at him. “Don’t drag me into this.”
“Both of you should find your wife. Chunyu is getting married and Chunfeng is also going to get a wife soon. It’s just the two of you left! At this rate, I am going to die of waiting. I should just give all my fortune to Jinxuan and let you two cry in a corner,” the Old Ancestress chastised.
“Forget it. I’d rather not be forced to marry someone like Chunfeng,” Little Jing harrumphed.
“What nonsense are you saying?” Yu De quickly reprimanded him. This wasn’t something he could just say casually.
Chunyu has already rejected the marriage, embarrassing Princess Liu Li and the Empress Dowager. If they hear that Chunfeng doesn’t like Liu Li either, heads will definitely roll.
“It is the truth!” Little Jing insisted, upset with the Empress Dowager’s decree. After the announcement of their marriage, Chunfeng has turned into a pathetic mess.
Seeing that Yu De was about to start her lecture again, Ye Jiayao quickly changed the topic. “Old Ancestress, you are going to live a very long life and you’ll still be able to carry your great-grandson!”
The Old Ancestress laughed, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “I cannot hope to carry my great-grandson from the two of them anytime soon. From you, however, I have no doubt.”
Ye Jiayao has a pretty thick skin, but she couldn’t help but blush at the Old Ancestress’ words. Her marriage with Chunyu was contractual and children were not included in that contract. She doesn’t even know if Chunyu would want children! Despite that, she couldn’t help but imagine how pretty their child would be.
Yu De sighed. “The Prince even made a pact with Marquis Xia to become relatives by marriage. It’s too bad for them that they only had sons.” She then turned to her two boys and said fiercely, “Both of you better buck up. Xuan-er, I will give you until the next year to find a granddaughter-in-law for your Old Ancestress, otherwise, I will decide for you.”
Helian Xuan propped his forehead in his hands. “Mother, do you want me to find a random girl for you?”
“Sure, that’ll work. You are getting old, you can’t afford to be picky.”
“You sure are easy-going,” Helian Xuan sneered.
Little Jing chimed in, “Big brother, you’re my role model so I will also get married at the age that you do.”
“You just try,” Yu De threatened jokingly.
Everyone broke into peals of laughter.
Ye Jiayao really liked the atmosphere in the Helian family. The Old Ancestress was benevolent and loving, and Yu De was so easy to talk to, unlike Xia You. The whole family gets along well and Ye Jiayao knew that whoever is fortunate enough to marry Helian Xuan in the future would be in good hands.
