The capital's 16th dynasty: colliding with the eldest sister, deserving a scolding!

  Sister-in-law is so annoying, she deserves a beating!

  The impeachment case seemed to have ended with the emperor's lenient punishment, but its aftermath was far from over. After Ye Shangshu left the imperial court, before he even returned home, news of what had happened that morning spread like wildfire through all the noble families in the capital. It was said that Ye Shangshu had offered his daughter to curry favor with the emperor, and when the emperor didn't take a liking to his own mediocre third daughter, he ordered his beautiful fourth daughter, Ye Ying, who was known as the most beautiful woman in the capital, to seduce the emperor's son. When one person says it's a rumor, but when a hundred people say it, it seems like fact. No matter where Ye Shangshu went, he felt like everyone was looking at him differently than before. In the end, he could only hold back his frustration and hastily finish his official duties before returning to his estate.

  When Qingfeng told Yelü about the rumors outside with a mischievous grin, Yelü just smiled faintly and ignored him. However, she was worried that this might bring some trouble to her uncle. But Second Uncle wasn't someone who didn't know his limits, so he must have had his reasons for doing this. What surprised Yelü was that her father hadn't taken out his anger on her because of this incident. After all, yesterday Ye Shangshu had stormed back into the manor in a rage and even Wangshi and Yeying had been scolded. Maybe he didn't intend to take it out on her after all; he had already rushed into Qingyuxuan, but for some reason, as soon as he entered the room, he said nothing and turned around to leave.

  Perhaps it was a rare sudden pang of guilt? Leaf Lian carelessly swept her gaze over the simple decor in the room, thinking to herself.

  Leisurely sitting in front of the window, she lowered her head to embroider, and a purple swallowtail flower gradually took shape under her hands. Embroidery is a thing that requires patience, and Ye Li, who was once a sniper in her past life, had an abundance of it. In this life, her mother had personally taught her embroidery since the age of six, and over the years, she had grown to love this art form. Due to her past memories, Ye Li naturally possessed more experience and insight than people of this era, and the things she created always had a unique charm and spirit that set them apart from others.

  A faint commotion came from outside the courtyard, Ye Li furrowed her brow and raised her head, "Qing Xia, what's going on out there?"

  "Miss has returned, Young Master Rong is back. He's making a scene outside the courtyard, insisting on seeing Miss." Qing Xia replied respectfully.

  Ye Li smiled faintly and stood up, pinning the embroidery needle to the silk fabric. "Go take a look." The only male member of the Ye family, Ye Rong, was only eleven years old this year and studied at a famous academy in the capital. Influenced by Wang Shi, Ye Rong had never liked his older sister Ye Li since childhood. After Xu Shi's death, as the only son and heir, he looked down on Ye Li even more. It was already rare for them to meet a few times a year, let alone him coming to see her voluntarily. Needless to say, it was because of what happened yesterday when Wang Shi and Ye Ying were scolded by their father. He had just returned from school yesterday and couldn't wait to come and take sides with his mother and sister today.

  Not yet out, the sound of Qingfeng and Yeron arguing came, "How dare you! You're just a lowly maid, how dare you block my way! Be careful or I'll sell you to a brothel!" Ye Rong glared viciously at the green-clad maid in front of him.

  Others may be considerate of the only young master in this mansion, but Qingfeng didn't have such courtesy. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she looked up at Ye Rong with a cold smile: "Even if I'm inferior, I'm still Miss's maid, whether to beat or sell me has nothing to do with Young Master Rong. Sneaking into the eldest sister's courtyard, is this the etiquette that Young Master Rong learned in school? It's indeed well-taught and well-learned!"

  "Scoundrel! Hit me!" Ye Rong, flustered and exasperated, ordered the little servant behind him to teach Qingfeng a lesson.

  "Rong'er, what are you doing?" Ye Li walked out of the courtyard and gazed calmly at the young man in front of her with his sword drawn. Her eyes fell on the two small servants holding Qingfeng's hand, "Don't let go yet?" The two small servants holding Qingfeng seemed to be burned by fire, hastily withdrew their hands and hid behind Ye Rong. Seeing that the people around him were so useless, Ye Rong felt ashamed and hummed in dissatisfaction towards Ye Li: "Third sister, this girl is very rude, I'll help you teach her a lesson."

  Ye Li gave him a cold look, "I'll take care of the people around me, you'd better spend your time learning the rules." Looking at Ye Rong's expression, Ye Li knew why his father had such mixed feelings towards this son. The only child, and he was still so foolish. The Wang family actually thought their son could compare to the second young master of the Liu family. The second young master of the Liu family was already a renowned young talent in the capital at the age of 16, and this year he had even gone alone to the Rui Mountain Academy to study, with both the Liu family and his teachers and classmates having high hopes for him, clearly a future top scholar. And her half-brother, obviously just a nobody in the capital. Ye Rong had been spoiled by Ye Lao Tai Tai and Wang Shi since he was young, no one in the household dared to speak to him like this, not even his second sister or fourth sister. Ye Rong immediately jumped up like a cat whose fur had been burned, pointing at Ye Li angrily, "You're so daring, how could you say that about me? I'll tell grandmother and she'll definitely make you regret it!"

  It's really beneath me to argue with a child like this, Ye Li has always been unable to understand why the Ye family, although not a hundred-year-old clan, but also a household with some weight in the capital, would raise someone as stupid as Ye Rong. Not bothering to pay attention to the angry and impatient boy, Ye Li turned around and was about to go back to her room, "Please ask Young Master Rong to leave."

  "Yelü, stop right there!" Ye Rong was furious. "You're so shameless! It's clear that King Li doesn't want you anymore, yet you let your uncle speak ill of Father in front of the Emperor, causing Mother and Fourth Sister to be scolded by Father. You deserve to be abandoned by King Li, you deserve..."

  "Shut up, you beast! Didn't I tell you to keep quiet!" Yeh Rong, who was scolding with excitement, didn't notice the coldness in Yeh Li's eyes and the faint smile on her lips. It wasn't until a loud roar came from behind that she stiffly turned around, only to see the people beside her trembling on the ground. And her usually gentle and kind father was staring at her with an ashen face, "Dad..."

  "This governor's mansion is indeed a good educator. A mere son of a concubine who was promoted to the position of legitimate wife actually dares to insult the original legitimate daughter in broad daylight, I'm truly enlightened." A handsome young man following Governor Ye sneered.

  Upon hearing this, Ye's face turned even uglier. "What are you still standing there for? Don't you dare take down this beast! Give him twenty heavy slaps for me!"

  Yeh Rong was immediately frightened and cried out in alarm. He punched and kicked the two servants who rushed up beside him, "Father... Father... I know my mistake..." Unfortunately, he was young and weak, how could he resist these strong and vigorous servants? Soon he was dragged away to be flogged nearby.

  Ye Li's expression was calm, but with a rare hint of delight, she quickly stepped forward, "I've seen Father. Aunt, older cousin, how did you come?"

  Ye Shangshu looked at his daughter, who was respectfully greeting him but showing rare affection to outsiders, and felt a slight discomfort in his heart. However, thinking of the simple furnishings in Ye Lian's courtyard, he couldn't bring himself to scold her. Instead, he smiled and said, "Qingfeng and your aunt came to visit you, so I accompanied them."

  Xu Qingfeng sneered, "Isn't that so? If we hadn't come today, who would have known what kind of days Little Sister was spending in the Ye Manor?" The smile on Ye Shangshu's face froze, and he looked at Xu Furen's cold face and Xu Qingfeng's unfriendly expression, feeling somewhat at a loss. Ye Li smiled faintly and walked forward, pulling Xu Furen's hand, saying, "Aunt, don't stand at the door anymore. Let's go in and have a cup of tea."