diskusbooks Chapter 26 Reaping the consequences
Chapter 26 Reaping the consequences
"Father, when I faked my death, they tried to adopt You Qingrou into your family, which already revealed their wolfish ambitions. But you are a man of loyalty and righteousness, and you insist on seeing is believing. Alas!" Ye Shishu complained.
"It's all my fault! You've been in the capital for years, so you know them best. I'll listen to you from now on!" Having lost his temper, Ye Gengxin realized the fear that followed. If his daughter hadn't tested them repeatedly, causing them to reveal their true colors, he would never have known that his relatives and friends were so treacherous and vicious!
He couldn't even imagine what his daughter would suffer if these relatives and friends took advantage of his absence from the capital...
The shame on his face was unlike anything he had ever shown before. Ye Shishu took his arm and comforted him, "Father, I don't resent you. I'm just afraid you'll be deceived again."
Ye Gengxin looked at her with satisfaction, "Only when I returned to Beijing this time did I realize that our Shu'er has really grown up."
Ye Shishu laughed, "Don't you think about it? The last time you left the capital for the Northwest, I was only fifteen. Three years have passed, and I'm eighteen now!"
She meant to cheer Ye Gengxin up, but hearing her words, Ye Gengxin couldn't laugh at all; instead, he felt even more guilty. "Shu'er, I've wronged you all these years. Every time I leave the capital, it's for at least one or two years, sometimes four or five, leaving you alone in the capital. I really owe you a lot. I've decided that from now on, I'll stay in the capital as much as possible, and I'll leave the matters on the battlefield to your eldest and second eldest brothers. When you and Prince Cheng have a child, I'll help you take care of the child."
"Okay." Ye Shishu's cheeks flushed slightly. She and Prince Cheng were only husband and wife in name, and she had no idea what the future held. Mentioning the child was incredibly awkward. So she changed the subject and asked, "Father, when will my eldest and second brothers return to the capital?"
“They’re already on their way.” Ye Gengxin smiled. “Originally, they returned to the capital this time for your marriage to Wei Yonghuai. Now that you’ve been betrothed to Prince Cheng as his consort, they should be overjoyed when they find out. Especially your second brother, who admires Prince Cheng so much. If he knew that you married the war god in his heart, he’d probably be laughing in his dreams.”
"Hehe!" Ye Shishu chuckled ingratiatingly.
Three days later.
That night was the anniversary of the death of Shi Shu's mother, You Yueqin.
As is customary every year, Ye Shishu would go to Wanfu Temple to light lamps for his mother.
As the maternal home of You Yueqin, the Marquis of Yufeng's family, Wen, the eldest sister-in-law, also visited Wanfu Temple this year with her daughter You Qingrou.
When You Yueqin was alive, she and Ge were like sisters. Ge also passed away with her son, Wei Yonghuai.
When the families met, everyone looked sad.
After the lamps were lit and the high monks in the temple completed the ritual for the deceased, Ye Shishu was pulled aside by Wen Shi.
"Shu'er, it's so good to hear you're alright. We cried until our eyes were swollen when we heard about your accident. Now that you're safe and sound, your aunt can finally rest easy."
"I feel so bad that my aunt has to worry about me," Ye Shishu replied gratefully.
“We’re all family, let’s not be so formal.” Madam Wen said, pulling her hand as they walked towards the back courtyard. “It’s rare for us to come out, and my aunt has already arranged a vegetarian meal. Let’s have a vegetarian meal at the temple today before we go back.”
"Okay." Ye Shishu was as obedient as ever.
"Cousin, why didn't your uncle come out with you?" You Qingrou asked with concern.
“He wanted to come, but something came up in the army and he couldn’t make it.” Ye Shishu smiled at her. “You all know that’s how my father is; military matters come before everything else. But he did offer incense to my mother at home, and I believe she would understand him if she knew in the afterlife.”
The three of them chatted about everyday things along the way.
Dongqiao walked behind with her head down, together with the maids from the Yufeng Marquis's residence.
About ten steps away, Ge and her son Wei Yonghuai followed at a leisurely pace.
After arriving at a spacious room, Madam Wen glanced at the mother and son behind her before smiling and saying to Ye Shishu, "Shu'er, Madam Wei and Yonghuai have come here specifically to light lamps for your mother. Your aunt knows about you and Yonghuai, and you should avoid each other, but today is a special day. For your mother's sake, let's put everything aside and have a proper vegetarian meal together. What do you think?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Ge and Wei Yonghuai entered the dormitory.
Ye Shishu looked up at them and called out to Madam Ge, "Aunt Ge."
"Hey!" Madam Ge immediately smiled happily.
Ye Shishu nodded to Wei Yonghuai, as if to say hello.
Wei Yonghuai nodded in response.
They remained silent, as if the incident a few days ago when Wei Yonghuai went to the general's mansion to cause trouble had never happened.
Meanwhile, Wen, You Qingrou, and Ge chatted about everyday matters, and none of them felt awkward about Ye Shishu and Wei Yonghuai meeting.
"Rou'er is of marriageable age. Are there any potential suitors?" Madam Ge asked with concern.
“The matchmaker introduced her to a family last time, but she didn’t like it, so she gave up.” Madam Wen glared at her daughter.
"What kind of man does Rou'er like?" Madam Ge said to You Qingrou with a smile. "If you have someone in mind, just tell Aunt Ge, and Aunt Ge will act as your matchmaker."
"Aunt Ge, Rou'er wants to stay home and spend another two years with her parents," You Qingrou replied shyly.
Ye Shishu listened from the side, and she was almost bursting with laughter inside.
The Yu Feng Marquis's mansion is now just an empty shell; its family fortune was long ago squandered by her maternal uncle's family. Moreover, her cousin, You Qingbo, is a gambler and womanizer, a notorious spendthrift in the capital. Which family in the capital, even one of note, would want to associate with them?
The powerful families looked down on them, but they also looked down on those of lower status, which resulted in the fact that the siblings You Qingbo and You Qingrou have remained unmarried to this day.
Not only were her family disliked, but her second uncle and aunt were also implicated, making it difficult for their children, You Hongze and You Hongxin, to find spouses.
This is why, after her 'death,' Wen Shi and You Qingrou were so shameless as to approach Prince Cheng and try to marry him in her place!
Suddenly, Madam Ge looked at her and said, "Shu'er, I heard that you are getting married to Prince Cheng next month on the 18th or 19th. After you marry into Prince Cheng's mansion and meet more people, don't forget to help your cousin Rou'er find a suitable family."
Ye Shishu smiled and nodded, "That's for sure."
You Qingrou's face was expressionless, but her eyes held an unconcealed coldness.
She had thought that after Ye Shishu's death, with the connection between the Ye and You families, she could be smoothly adopted into the Ye family, then marry Prince Cheng in Ye Shishu's place and become the esteemed Princess Cheng...
I never expected that old scoundrel Ye Gengxin would show no mercy at all!
What I didn't expect was that that little bitch Ye Shishu was still alive!
Today, they will find a different way to prevent Ye Shishu from marrying Prince Cheng...
“Cousin.” Ye Shishu walked up to You Qingrou, her smile as gentle as ever. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to make you a set of gold hairpins? I heard you’re coming to Wanfu Temple today, so I brought them for you. Also, while I was away, you returned all the things I gave you before. How could that be? I brought them all today. Come on, let’s go next door, I’ll give them all to you.”
You Qingrou subconsciously looked at Dong Qiao.
Dong Qiao always had a bundle slung over her shoulder. No one had noticed it before, assuming it was something Ye Shishu needed for her trip. But now, upon closer inspection, they realized the bundle was quite heavy.
When Dong Qiao received her gaze, although her body stiffened a bit, she still echoed, "Yes, Miss, my young lady brought everything."
When Madam Wen heard that Ye Shishu not only wanted to give her daughter a gold hairpin, but also wanted to return the things she had returned to the General's Mansion a few days earlier, she was overjoyed. Her smile stretched to her ears, and she completely forgot the fear of seeing a ghost that night.
But then she caught sight of Madam Ge and noticed that Madam Ge had a long face and her eyes were full of jealousy. So she quickly winked at her daughter, "Rou'er, you girls should talk about this in another room."
You Qingrou nodded in understanding.
Then she led Ye Shishu to a small room in the far corner.
She and Wen's maid did not come with them; only Dongqiao followed them with her bundle.
Ye Shishu had Dong Qiao open the bundle and take out a gold-inlaid box. Before Ye Shishu could take it, You Qingrou snatched the box away.
Upon opening the box, setting aside the exquisite craftsmanship and unique design of the gold hairpin, the sheer gold color alone was enough to make her overjoyed, and her originally arrogant face instantly blossomed into a smile.
"Miss, Miss, are you thirsty?" Dongqiao asked.
You Qingrou was slightly taken aback. After a flash of her beautiful eyes, she immediately instructed her, "Quickly, pour two cups of tea!"
"Yes," Dong Qiao replied, glancing cautiously at Ye Shishu before retreating.
You Qingrou hadn't forgotten her purpose for the day, but the golden hairpin in front of her was too eye-catching. In her excitement, she didn't notice the exchange of glances between Ye Shishu and Dong Qiao.
Not long after, Dongqiao came in carrying a food tray.
Smelling the aroma of tea, You Qingrou put the gold hairpin back into the box and greeted Ye Shishu warmly, "Cousin, I've heard that the tea at Wanfu Temple is very nourishing. In the past, when we came to light lamps for our aunt, we only cared about the beautiful scenery outside the temple. Today, we must properly savor the fragrant tea in the temple."
"it is good."
Dong Qiao first handed Ye Shishu a cup, which Ye Shishu naturally accepted and then began to savor.
When Dong Qiao handed another cup to You Qingrou, You Qingrou reached out to take it while giving her a questioning look.
Dong Qiao nodded slightly to her.
You Qingrou was finally relieved.
Ye Shishu took several sips and praised, "The tea from Wanfu Temple is truly unique. It has a hint of fruitiness in its aroma; it smells wonderful." She turned her head and saw that You Qingrou hadn't drunk any, and couldn't help but frown. "Cousin, why are you looking at me like that?"
You Qingrou knew there was nothing wrong with her tea and, not wanting to arouse her suspicion, she tasted it with her.
Seeing that the cup of tea was almost empty, but Ye Shishu was still full of energy, You Qingrou couldn't help but feel anxious and secretly glared at Dong Qiao several times.
But after Dongqiao served them tea, she kept her head down and waited quietly to the side, showing no reaction to her glare.
She grew angrier the more she thought about it. Dongqiao had taken so many benefits from her, yet she didn't follow the plan. She deserved to die!
"I'm going outside for some fresh air..." She planned to go to the Wen family to discuss countermeasures.
However, she had barely stood up, before she could even finish speaking, when a wave of dizziness suddenly surged through her head—