Chapter 64: Aunt Ye Visits to Pay Her Respects

  Madam Xü returned to her residence in Maple Courtyard, passing by Jade Screen Garden. She asked the little maid beside her: "This courtyard is even more grand and majestic than my husband's Chunhui Courtyard. Who lives here?"

  The little maid replied respectfully: "Yes, madam, this is Mistress Ye's courtyard."

  Mrs. Xü heard the words, her face expressionless, she quietly watched for a moment, then turned and walked away. The little maid followed closely behind her, really couldn't figure out what this new Mrs. was thinking in her heart.

  Madam Xü felt a sense of loss in her heart. Although the courtyard originally belonged to Concubine Ye, and although she was originally Madam Xü, she had now been demoted to concubine status due to the Emperor's decree following the impeachment by the Imperial Censor. She couldn't believe that Xü Ruo-yi still doted on her so much, allowing a concubine to live in the main courtyard while the legitimate wife lived in a side courtyard. This was a blatant slap in the face, and it seemed that she wasn't taken seriously at all.

  A surge of anger gradually rose in Mrs. Xu's heart.

  Returning to her own residence, the Xu lady looked at the courtyard that couldn't compare with Yusheng's and felt a surge of suffocating anger. Unable to vent her emotions, she could only twist the handkerchief in her hand with all her might. The little maid beside her wanted to remind her not to use too much force or the silk handkerchief would be ruined. But one glance at the Xu lady's eyes burning with fierce anger and she was too afraid to say anything.

  At this time, the gatekeeper reported: The old master has arrived. Mrs. Xu instantly put on another face and welcomed him with a charming smile.

  Xu Ruoyi saw Mrs. Xu in this state and couldn't help but have a wandering mind. Moreover, the beauty was also good at understanding people's intentions. At this time, he absolutely couldn't think of Ye Yiniang.

  The two chatted for a few words, and Madam Xue said: "Master, I haven't met with my sisters-in-law yet! Why not take advantage of today to pay our respects to each other?"

  Xu Ruoyi's smile froze upon hearing this.

  Originally, when the legitimate wife enters the house, all concubines should come to pay their respects to her. However, Xu Ruo Yu knew that this would be even more unbearable for Ye Niang than killing her. Moreover, he didn't want her to come and pay her respects either. But since Madam Xu had already spoken up, he couldn't refuse, after all, it was the rules. Before Madam Xu spoke up, he could pretend not to know about this matter, but now that she has spoken, he can only agree.

  Xu Shangshu reluctantly ordered someone to go and invite all the aunts.

  Mrs. Xue observed his words and expressions, knowing that Xu Ruoyi was dissatisfied with her actions, but the main house had already been given to Ye Niang to live in, and Ye Niang didn't even come here to pay her respects. What did she want to prove? She was still the high-and-mighty Mrs. Xue of the Xue manor, while she was nothing? Mrs. Xue was furious, but she laughed heartily. As a result, Xu Ruoyi had no idea what Mrs. Xue was thinking in her heart. Although he had been an official for many years and understood people's hearts very well.

  When Ye Niang received the notice, she was extremely displeased and almost wanted to burst out in anger. But in the next instant, she remembered that she was just a noble concubine, and as a concubine, it was her duty to pay respects to the main wife. However, having been Mrs. Xu for over ten years, she had long grown accustomed to being superior and watching the other concubines and maids bow their heads in respect when they paid their respects to her. Now that the roles were reversed, she would have to go and pay her respects to someone else, and just thinking about it made her heart feel like it was being tortured, the pain unbearable. For a moment, Ye Niang began to resent Mrs. Xu again: She's just a concubine who relied on my family to marry into this household, why should I, a legitimate daughter of the Ye family, have to go and pay respects to her? It's really infuriating!

  Yanni's aunt complained while slowly getting up, ordering her personal maid Ziyue to find that embroidered silk Rui Cao Yunyan Guangxiu double-silk gauze dress for her. Ziyue opened her mouth, originally wanting to say that the dress was too luxurious, and not every official family's wife had one or two of them. This was still a birthday gift made by Xu Ruoyi himself last year at the embroidery workshop and given to Yanni's aunt. If Yanni's aunt wore it out as a madam at that time, no one would say anything, but now her identity had changed, she was just a noble concubine. Wearing this dress again would be somewhat eye-catching. Moreover, today was to go and pay respects to Mrs. Xu. Yanni's aunt still wearing this dress, was she trying to provoke Mrs. Xu? But Ziyue didn't say anything because Yanni's aunt was in a very bad mood at the moment. She didn't want to trigger her anger.

  Yeniang changed into that embroidered silk Ruicaiyunyan Guangxiu double-silk gauze Lyuanyi, and had her hair styled in a Wangxianjiu hairstyle. She wore all sorts of hairpins, gold pins, and step shakes... on her head. Her makeup was even more exquisite than usual. This getup was even more impressive than when she was the mistress. Yeniang nodded in satisfaction. Slowly, she walked out of Yepingyuan and headed towards Fengyuan.

  Along the way, they met Xin Niang, Zhang Niang, Zhao Niang... and several other niangs who had also come to Fengyuan to pay their respects. When these niangs saw Ye Niang, they instinctively bowed and paid their respects, and Ye Niang nodded in satisfaction.

  At this time, several madams had reacted and gazed at Ye Niang's dazzling attire with envy, jealousy, and hatred, sizing her up with disdainful glances. Xin Niang spoke contemptuously: "Some people just can't recognize their own status, clearly already demoted to concubine, yet still putting on the airs of a legitimate wife. Truly unaware of their own weight!"

  Yè Yí Niáng listened to this and became furious, just about to retort, when Zhāng Yí Niáng smiled and continued: "You can't say that, look at the concubine's situation, living in the main courtyard, eating and dressing according to the mistress's standard, even surpassing the mistress in attire. This concubine has already reached the pinnacle! If Master could treat me like this for just one day, I would die content!"

  Yeniang listened to her words, every sentence containing a hint of concubine, and couldn't help but feel furious. She coldly sneered: "No matter how fallen I am, I'm still the legitimate daughter of the Ye family, a hundred times better than you people who are so looked down upon by your in-laws!"

  At this time, Zhao Yiniang calmly replied: "Does Ye Yiniang not know that a married-out daughter is like spilled water?" After finishing speaking, she beckoned to Xin Yiniang and Zhang Yiniang, and the three of them left together.

  Ye Yiniang stood on the spot, huffing and puffing. When she was the mistress, they all behaved themselves every day, being extremely cautious around her, afraid of offending her. Now, however, they dared to treat her like this! It's really a case of a tiger falling into a ditch and being bullied by dogs! All of this is Xu Mingjin's fault for putting her in such a state! As soon as Ye Yiniang thought of Xu Mingjin, she felt a burning sensation in her chest. She stood there for a while, slowly calming down, before lifting her feet to head towards the Fengyuan courtyard.

  As she entered the maple courtyard, Ye Niangniang walked straight in without looking around. Every blade of grass and every tree in this courtyard was arranged by her people, and she knew exactly what it looked like even with her eyes closed. Mrs. Xu received the news inside the house and hurried out to greet her. Seeing Ye Niangniang's elegant and noble attire, she couldn't help but stare for a moment. However, she quickly smiled and began to ask about Ye Niangniang's well-being. Ye Niangniang looked at Mrs. Xu, who was trying to curry favor with her, and felt a sense of pride: even if you are Mrs. Xu, I am the concubine, and you still have to come out to greet me! But as soon as she turned around, she saw Mrs. Xu's young and delicate face, which made her feel very uncomfortable. She was already an old woman, while Mrs. Xu was still in her prime, at an age like a water lily. As time went on, even if Xu Ruo-yi had feelings for her, he would inevitably fall in love with Mrs. Xu! What would she do then? Without the favor of men, it would be difficult for her to take a single step in this woman-dominated Shangshu Mansion.

  At present, the most important thing is to grasp Xu Ruoyi's favor. Whoever dares to rob her of it will only end up dead!

  Ye Yiniang had made up her mind. She looked up and saw Xue Ruoyi walking towards her, his eyes widening in surprise at her outfit. Wasn't she someone who never wore this dress easily? Indeed, there was no other woman in the mansion who could pull off this dress except Ye Yiniang. Not even Madame Xue could compare to her. Although Madame Xue had a youthful beauty that Ye Yiniang couldn't match, Ye Yiniang possessed a rich and mature femininity that Madame Xue lacked. Xue Ruoyi approached her, took her hand, and praised, "It's been many years since I've seen you wear this dress, it looks great on you."

  Yè Yí Niáng's face turned red with shame as she lowered her head.

  Xu Ruoyi, however, was reminded of past memories by Ye Yiniang's coquettish behavior like a little girl. While others might find this behavior disgusting when done by someone else, Ye Yiniang did it with an uncommon beauty that shone through.

  "Come, I'll take you in," said Xu Ruoyi gently, taking Ye Niang's arm. At this point, he had already forgotten about Mrs. Xu. Forgotten that he should be taking Mrs. Xu's arm.

  The people around looked at Ye Yiniang with envy and jealousy, but Mrs. Xue's expression was calm, and no one could see that she was angry. But who knew that her palms hidden in her sleeves were almost scratched by her fingernails.

  Yeniang smiled. She raised her head high and glanced back at the crowd, the implication clear to everyone: even if I'm no longer the mistress, in Master's heart, I am still his most beloved person!

  Everyone returned to the flower hall together, where Mrs. Xü and Xu Ruoyi sat in the upper seat, while the aunts went up one by one to pay their respects.

  When only Ye Yiniang was left, Mrs. Xue stepped forward and stopped Ye Yiniang who was about to pretend to pay her respects, saying gently: "Sister, you and I both came from the Ye family, so we sisters don't need to be so polite." She pulled her arm and pressed her into a chair. Ye Yiniang sat down half-pushing and half-allowing it.

  Xu Ruoyi couldn't help but reveal a relieved smile at this scene, and for a moment, he suddenly felt that his wives could get along harmoniously. Only he forgot, where there are women, there is struggle.

  Xu Mingjin knew that when all this happened in Fengyuan, he showed a happy smile: "They all went to fight for favor, now, no one will notice me, it's great."

  "This calm is only temporary."

  Xu Mingjin closed his eyes and said in a relaxed tone, "A moment of calm is a moment. The nerves are always tense, they need to be relaxed! What if one day they snap?" After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've relaxed, but you must be on high alert, paying attention to any movements from the Yushan Institute and the Fengyuan Institute at all times. Do you understand?"

  Yu Zhu nodded and said: "I understand."

  "What did you find out about Xu Furen's past when I asked you to investigate?"

  "Can this small matter stump me?" Yuzhu took out a stack of letters and handed them to Xu Mingjin, saying: "They're all on here."