HLnovel Chapter 3 Children
Chapter 3 Children
"Cousin, you're being foolish!" Zhou Yu shook off Xu Zhuling's outstretched hand and stood beside Ye Wanning. "The Ye family has been incredibly kind to you, how can you spread rumors about them?"
"No, I didn't, cousin, let me explain." Xu Zhuling's heart sank. Actually, Zhou Yu had asked her to spread those rumors about the Ye family, but Zhou Yu's current attitude clearly meant she was being made to take the blame. "It's really a misunderstanding. You know, I've never even dared to watch a chicken being killed since I was little, how could I..."
"Enough! Your unrepentant attitude is so disappointing! If I had known you were this kind of person, I should have sent you back to your village two years ago." Zhou Yu feigned heartache as he stated his decision.
He knew Ye Wanning's ways well; a girl raised in a large family wouldn't do anything without being sure of success. The fact that Ye Wanning came here to drive people away meant she had reached her limit of patience.
This time, it was his oversight.
He glanced at Xu Zhuling furtively, hoping she would be smart enough to say that she wasn't really going to send her away, but just putting on an act for Ye Wanning.
Keeping Ye Wanning calm is the most important thing right now. His marriage to Ye Wanning absolutely cannot go wrong.
Xu Zhuling was unwilling to be sent away, but after receiving a look from Zhou Yu, she knew there was no way to change her mind. Today, she had been careless; she hadn't expected Ye Wanning to have such methods, and she hadn't noticed at all.
Kneeling down and kowtowing, before leaving, Xu Zhuling didn't forget her persona, "Thank you for taking me in these past few days, Sister Wanning and Cousin. I'm just a weak woman, and I can't defend myself against what others say, but I believe the truth will come out eventually. I'm afraid we won't see each other again after this trip home. I wish you both peace and good fortune."
Listen to that, isn't that interesting?
She implied her innocence, yet still expressed gratitude to Ye Wanning for taking her in, and generously offered her blessings.
If it were Ye Wanning from her past life, she would have softened and kept him. But now, she treats him like a little toy.
Difficult to meet? How could that be? Zhou Yu still values Xu Zhuling highly; otherwise, why would he divorce her and then marry Xu Zhuling as his legal wife?
But what's the use of valuing women so much? To Zhou Yu, women are nothing more than stepping stones to climb the social ladder.
Seeing the old woman packing her things over, Ye Wanning said rudely, "You've packed everything up, so get out of here."
Xu Zhuling's face turned pale and then red. She felt that Ye Wanning was very different today. The Ye Wanning of the past wouldn't have been so direct in her criticisms; if she had any complaints, she would at least use roundabout methods to subtly criticize. Yet, the person was still the same—that aloof, unapproachable face hadn't changed at all.
Despite her reluctance, Xu Zhuling had no choice but to leave.
Zhou Yu felt uncomfortable staying there and was thinking about how to arrange things for Xu Zhuling, so she hurriedly said goodbye.
When Ye Wanning returned to the front yard, she was surprised to see Xie Bohuai still there. Seeing that Xie Bohuai was wearing official robes, he should be on duty today; why was he so free?
"Miss Ye, do you trust Zhou Yu that much?" Xie Bohuai suddenly asked.
Ye Wanning feigned confusion.
"Very well, I'm very busy with official duties." Xie Bohuai didn't pry. He paused in the courtyard and heard a soft "Take care, sir." He snorted and Qingshan, who was standing next to him, instinctively shrank back.
The master and servant left the courtyard. Qingshan didn't dare to breathe too loudly. He had grown up with his master and knew that his master was angry. But what was the reason for his anger? He pondered for a long time but had no clue. He tentatively asked in a low voice, "Third Master, don't you dislike Miss Ye?"
Xie Bohuai turned to the side, "Who told you that?"
Qingshan subconsciously replied, "Two years ago, at the Right Prime Minister's wife's birthday banquet, didn't you say in public that Miss Ye was blind? I was terrified at the time. Although Lord Ye has passed away, the Ye family has deep roots, and the Ye family dotes on Miss Ye." He knew that his master had offended many people, but he was afraid that there were too many, and that one day someone would really retaliate.
Xie Bohuai's gaze lingered on Qingshan's face for only a moment before he mounted his horse. "You have time to think about these things? It seems you're too idle. When you get back, chop a cartload of firewood and then run ten laps around the camp."
"Huh?" Qingshan didn't understand what he had said wrong, but his master had already ridden several feet away, so he had no choice but to speed up and catch up.
Ye Wanning was instructing people to burn mugwort leaves, saying, "Burn a lot to ward off bad luck. Tomorrow, call the real estate agent and sell this place as soon as possible."
After giving her instructions, Ye Wanning boarded the carriage to return to the Ye family home.
Actually, the Ye family hasn't had an easy time these past few years.
The Ye family was small; his father's generation had only two brothers. His second uncle was an unremarkable official, remaining largely unknown in the Ministry of Revenue for the past few years. Five years ago, his father passed away, and his eldest brother, barely twenty, shouldered the entire family's burden. The weight on his shoulders was too heavy, allowing no room for error, which caused him to look ten years older than his actual age of twenty.
My second brother failed the imperial examinations twice and was making a fuss about going south to do business. But the traditional social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was strictly forbidden for him to become a merchant. My grandmother threatened suicide to stop her, and she wouldn't agree no matter what. So my second brother simply stopped going to the academy and spent his days drinking and playing with cats, which also ruined his marriage prospects.
Below Ye Wanning are two younger sisters and a younger brother. The younger brother is still young and looks well-behaved, but the two younger sisters are of marriageable age and it is time for them to be matched with potential husbands.
However, the Ye family had been quiet for several years and still had to maintain the appearance of a prestigious family. In the past few years, they had been unable to make ends meet and had to live a very frugal life. This was one of the reasons why Ye Wanning came to take back the house.
"Hey."
With these thoughts in mind, Ye Wanning sighed deeply, just as the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ye residence.
As soon as I entered the house, Granny Feng, who was by my grandmother's side, came to greet me. "The old lady sent this old servant to wait here. Second Brother went out looking for you. Didn't you run into him?"
Ye Wanning shook her head. "What does Second Brother want with me?"
"Of course we're here to support you. You can know a person's face but not their heart. We never imagined that Xu Zhuling would be such a bad person." Granny Feng was very angry.
Ye Wanning had told her grandmother about driving Xu Zhuling away beforehand, and now that the matter was resolved, she went to Derong Courtyard with Granny Feng. Upon entering the room, she first saw her two younger sisters, whose faces were full of worry.
The second younger sister, Wanyu, grabbed Ye Wanning's arm. "Grandmother said that the rumors spreading against the Ye family these days all came from Xu Zhuling. Eldest sister should have included me. If I were here, I would have slapped her twice on the spot!"
The third sister, Wanhua, had red eyes. "Big...Big sister, were you bullied?"
"I went prepared, how could I be bullied?" Ye Wanning smiled and wiped away her sister's tears. "Good sister, don't cry, your sister is fine."
She led her two younger sisters into the inner room. Her grandmother was ill, and Ye Wanning, fearing that her grandmother would worry, first explained what had happened.
Old Madam Ye fell ill because of Xu Zhuling. A few days ago, Ye Wanning returned to the old house to pay respects to her ancestors, and Xu Zhuling came to inquire after her. Her words and actions subtly implied that Xu Zhuling and Zhou Yu had grown up together and shared a close relationship. Old Madam Ye, having lost her son, was still thinking about her grandchildren. She sensed Xu Zhuling's unusual behavior, spent a worried night, and fell ill the next day.
When Ye Wanning returned, she only told her grandmother to rest assured that she would not be bullied.
No one knew that Ye Wanning, who returned from the ancestral worship ceremony at the old house, was reborn. She and Yunzhi made some plans and went out early this morning.
"Now Grandma can rest assured and focus on her recovery, right?" Ye Wanning smiled and took her grandmother's hand. She was a child her grandmother had watched grow up, and they had a deep bond.
Madam Ye breathed a sigh of relief, but she wasn't completely at ease. "We have no dealings with the Xie family, so why is Xie Bohuai getting involved in your affairs?"
Ye Wanning shook her head, and Ye Wanyu, who was standing next to her, said something surprising: "Big sister, has Commander Xie taken a liking to you?"
Ye Wanning, the eldest daughter of the Ye family, was renowned for her beauty and talent, even before Madam Ye was alive. It's a pity her marriage was already arranged; otherwise, the Ye family's doorstep would have been worn down by suitors long ago.
"Don't talk nonsense." Old Madam Ye immediately defended her granddaughter. "Your eldest sister has always been well-behaved and has hardly ever met Xie Bohuai. You mustn't say such things again. From now on, when you see Xie Bohuai, you should stay away from him. He is now a close minister of the emperor. We don't want to curry favor with him, but we also shouldn't offend him. The Ye family is not suited to associate with someone like Xie Bohuai."
Ye Wanyu quickly covered her mouth, not daring to say anything more.
Ye Wanning almost laughed. She couldn't guarantee anything about the others, but Xie Bohuai definitely had no feelings for her. She still vividly remembered what happened at the banquet two years ago.
After comforting her grandmother, Ye Wanning left with her sisters. She could handle her own affairs with Zhou Yu; her grandmother's health couldn't withstand any more hardship.
Back in the courtyard, Ye Wanning sent someone who had accompanied Xu Zhuling to deliver a message: "The eldest young lady is clever. When Lord Zhou went to see Miss Xu, he didn't send her away but arranged for her to stay in another residence. I took advantage of the fact that no one was around to climb over the wall and peeked out. I even saw a child, about three or four years old, calling Miss Xu 'Mother.'"