Zheng's departure, Wang's aunt's words and actions became even more unscrupulous. Entering the Biyu residence, she didn't bother to inform the maid, but directly entered Ye Zhuo's room, sizing up the interior decorations while sitting down on her own, signaling Xia Tong to pour her a cup of tea, casting a sideways glance at Ye Zhuo and asking in an insinuating tone: "How is it? Is your mother doing well?"

  Madam Wang's thoughts were clear to Ye Zhuo. She had always thought that Zheng Shi had taken her rightful place as the first wife, so she had hated her for over a decade. Now that Zheng Shi had been divorced, Madam Wang felt relieved and came here to savor the joy of victory.

  "It's not good, but it's not bad either. In the future, I'll find someone who understands me and is considerate, it's better than suffering in this household." Ye Zhuo said lightly. After finishing, she glanced at Wang Niang and a faint smile appeared on her face: "Here, Zhuo wants to congratulate Wang Niang. My mother has left the house, and the position of Leaf House Madam is none other than Wang Niang's. I wonder when I can change my mouth and call Wang Niang 'mother'?"

  The queen's face suddenly changed color.

  Yu Zhuo's words had struck a chord in her heart. She had always thought that without Zheng Shi, the position of Mistress of the Ye household would be hers for the taking. But it turned out that after Zheng Shi left the manor, she was still just a concubine. And the new Mistress that Master Ye was planning to marry was an official's daughter. Not to mention her appearance, but simply because of her identity as an official's daughter, and also being pregnant and young, she feared that in the future she would be left to guard an empty room alone. More importantly, Old Master and Old Mistress's attitude towards that official's daughter would definitely be one of doting and fawning. Did this not mean that from now on, she would have to live her life according to that little Mistress's whims?

  However, she came today to severely beat the fallen dog, and these thoughts naturally couldn't be revealed on her face. She suppressed the discomfort in her heart, smiled brightly, and raised her head, saying: "As for who will be the mistress of the Ye Manor, that's up to the elderly master and mistress to decide, let's not discuss it for now. But, Second Miss wants to change her address to call someone else mother, that's already a settled matter. I'm just worried, even if she calls her mother, it's still uncertain whether Second Miss can keep her status as the legitimate daughter or not."

  Ye Zhuo's expression didn't change at all upon hearing this, and the faint smile on her face remained: "The value of a legitimate daughter and an illegitimate daughter is different. I think Old Master has a good grasp of this in his heart. Wang Shiyi's concern is really unnecessary. If she has such worries, it would be better for her to worry about Lin'er sister and Jue'er younger sister instead. They want to change their status from illegitimate to legitimate, but that's probably very difficult."

  The thorn in Wang Yiniang's heart was stabbed even deeper, and the smile on her face could no longer be maintained, falling down. She looked at Ye Zhuo with a gloomy gaze and said, "I advise Second Miss to restrain herself a bit. These days are not like they used to be."

  "It's not the same, I'm still a lady of the Ye Manor." Ye Zhuo's face still wore that faint smile. "Don't deceive old men, don't deceive young and poor people. Wang Niangniang, mountains are heavy and waters are deep, who can guarantee you won't have to beg someone else one day? For Lin'er sister and Jue'er younger sister, I advise Wang Niangniang to do more good deeds."

  Wang Yiniang's eyes stared at Ye Zhuo, her face changing colors. Ye Zhuo felt her gaze and also raised his eyes to meet hers, with that shallow smile still hanging on his face that made Wang Yiniang resentful.

  After a long while, Wang's wife took a deep breath, withdrew her gaze, stood up and coldly said: "The old lady has something to ask Autumn Moon and Autumn Chrysanthemum, hurry up and call them over, follow me to answer."

  Ye Zhuo picked up the teacup, took a slow sip, and then instructed, "Qiu Ju, go call Qiu Yue and Qiu Ju over." He stood up, looked at Wang Niang, and smiled slightly, "I just have something to say to Old Lady, let's go together."

  The queen seemed to have found an outlet for her emotions and raised her voice: "The old lady only called out to Qiu Yue and Qiu Ju, not Er Gu Niang."

  Ye Zhuo raised an eyebrow: "Isn't it that I have something to say to the old lady, but still need to get Wang's wife's approval?"

  "You..." Wang's aunt glared at Ye Zhuo, her chest heaving up and down. After a long time, she finally took a deep breath, turned her head and walked out of the room.

  "Miss." Autumn Moon came out of the clean room with water, looking at the distant back of Wang's mother-in-law, a worried face, "Otherwise, let me go with Autumn Chrysanthemum."

  Ye Zhuo took the towel and wiped her face slowly, smiling: "Silly girl, haven't you figured it out yet? If Old Lady wanted to blame me, would Wang Niang still be in this attitude? She should have scolded and humiliated me long ago."

  Qiu Yue tilted her head and furrowed her brow in thought.

  "Think about it, Old Master is such a shrewd person, would he do a losing business? My mother was driven out of the house, in his eyes, I already have enough resentment in my heart. If he continues to suppress and cold-shoulder me, one day when they want to use me to curry favor with those in power, I won't even have time to fall into the well and hit rock bottom, how can I help them speak good words? In this way, wouldn't he suffer a huge loss? So, now they must adopt a policy of gentle persuasion, carefully wrapping me around their fingers."

  Ye Chou finished speaking, put the cloth into the basin and stood up saying: "Let's go."

  Qiu Yue found Qiu Ju hiding in the side room eating a pancake, snatched it from her hand and threw it on the table: "Hurry up and go."

  "Where are you going?" Qiu Ju asked with puffed up cheeks.

  "Main Hall."

  Chrysanthemum stuck in her throat, almost choked.

  The three of them arrived at the main courtyard, just as they saw Wang Yiniang coming out of Old Lady's room with red eyes, seemingly having cried recently. Upon seeing Ye Zhuo, she glared at her fiercely and hastily walked away, brushing shoulders with her.

  Seeing Wang's wife like this, and thinking of what the girl said earlier, Qiu Yue's heart was greatly settled. Wang's wife must have come to report earlier, but was scolded by the old lady. Such behavior had never happened when the mistress was alive.

  As expected, when Ye Zhuo came in, Jiang's face floated with a kind smile and beckoned: "Zhuo'er, come, sit by Grandma here." Seeing Ye Zhuo sitting beside her as she spoke, she held her hand and asked, "Have you eaten lunch?"

  "No, I was worried about my grandmother and hurried back." Ye Zhuo's face was smiling, very obediently. Jiang Shi had to pretend to be a loving mother and filial child, she had to cooperate. After all, they still had to live in this mansion in the future, and it wouldn't do anyone any good if they fell out with each other.

  "What's wrong with this child, why isn't she eating?" Jiang Shi glared at her and turned to instruct Zhou Mama, "Go tell the kitchen to make a few dishes that Zhuo'er likes."

  Wait for Old Lady Zhou to respond and go out. Jiang Shi then waved her hand at Qiu Yue and Qiu Ju, saying: "You two go out, I'll talk with your young mistress."

  Is this to let Autumn Moon and Autumn Chrysanthemum go, so that Old Lady Zhou can take them for questioning? Ye Zhuo raised her eyes and looked at Autumn Moon and Autumn Chrysanthemum. However, she didn't make any expression, letting them retreat.

  She knew that with Jiang's attitude towards her, Qiu Yue and Qiu Ju would not suffer any injustice. It is better to clarify things when there is a chance, rather than leaving them unclear. As for what it means to clarify things, Qiu Yue probably has her own thoughts on the matter.

  When there was no one else in the room, Mrs. Jiang beckoned to the mute servant girl to pour a cup of tea for Ye Zhuo and asked: "Zhuo, grandmother wants to ask you something. Who told you today that your father is going to marry the official's daughter?"

  She saw Ye Zhuo lower his eyes, seemingly resistant to this question, and said with a heavy heart: "You're still young, you don't know that the thing this mansion fears most is this kind of disloyal person. You should know that if she betrays her grandmother today by telling you things, tomorrow she might betray you by telling others some private matters. At that time, it's possible that even your life will be in danger. Therefore, we can't keep people like this around. Tell the old lady, and the old lady won't punish her, give her a sum of money, then have her leave Ye Manor on her own accord, how about that?"

  Ye Zhuo hung her head, fiddling with the hem of her skirt, pursing her lips and remaining silent. She looked just like a stubborn yet mischievous child who didn't know what was good for her.

  Thank you for the 10 PK votes from Pi Pishan, the peach blossom fan rewarded by Qin Muzhen, and the peace symbol from Xiao Nan Yu Lei, thank you!