Fortunately, Madam Shaoqing was in her own courtyard brewing tea.
When Ye Yuwu went to find her, another woman was seated beside her, dressed in luxurious silk robes and adorned with jade and emerald hairpins, forming a stark contrast to Ye Yuwu’s plain attire.
The woman had delicate features and an elegant, gentle demeanor—this was the true daughter of the family, Lin Qingqing.
Facing Ye Yuwu’s arrival, Lin Qingqing greeted her with a bright smile, calling out, “Sister.”
Ye Yuwu did not respond—to be precise, she didn’t even glance at her, ignoring her as if she were air. Lin Qingqing’s expression stiffened briefly before quickly returning to a smile.
Before them lay an array of exquisite pastries. Madam Shaoqing seemed intent on compensating Lin Qingqing for all the lost years, but none of this concerned Ye Yuwu anymore.
Fortunately, retrieving the indenture contract went smoothly.
Seeing Ye Yuwu’s plain appearance, so different from her former self, Madam Shaoqing felt a pang of pity, her eyes flickering with sympathy. However, when Lin Qingqing coughed beside her, her attention was immediately diverted.
“Is it the lingering chill from your last fall into the water?” she asked worriedly, about to order a servant to fetch a physician, but Lin Qingqing stopped her.
“Mother, I’m fine. It’s just an itch in my throat I couldn’t resist.”
Watching the understanding and comforting Lin Qingqing, Madam Shaoqing’s sympathy for Ye Yuwu instantly vanished.
Madam Shaoqing wanted to send Ye Yuwu away quickly and even refused to accept her money, but Ye Yuwu insisted on paying. Reluctantly, Madam Shaoqing accepted it.
Watching the scene of motherly affection and filial piety before her, Ye Yuwu could only feel like laughing.
Since she had awakened, this former mother of hers had not visited her even once.
She couldn’t be bothered to look at them any longer. When she announced her departure, no one paid her any attention. She turned and left.
Not long after leaving Madam Shaoqing’s courtyard, a smug female voice called out from behind.
“Sister, you probably don’t know that Ziyu is returning to the capital soon!”
Lin Qingqing then approached Ye Yuwu, leaning close to her side and whispering in a tone only the two of them could hear.
“The Emperor himself is hosting a banquet for him. All the noble ladies of Bianjing will attend, and the Emperor might even arrange a marriage for him. Although my status isn’t high enough to be his principal wife, it would still be my fortune to become Ziyu’s concubine.”
Lin Qingqing’s eyes were filled with triumphant laughter, but she stared unblinkingly at Ye Yuwu, hoping to see her expression—whether it was sorrow, humiliation, or anger.
But Lin Qingqing was destined to be disappointed.
“Oh? So what? What does that have to do with me?”
Ziyu? Who? Never heard of him. But she had never seen anyone so eager to become a concubine—truly unheard of.
Ye Yuwu could only mutter these thoughts to herself, not daring to voice them aloud.
After all, she was still within the Tai Mansion, and she was now just an ordinary commoner. She couldn’t afford to provoke unnecessary trouble.
Ye Yuwu’s three consecutive questions nearly shattered Lin Qingqing’s composure.
But Lin Qingqing quickly recovered, convinced that Ye Yuwu was merely pretending. Covering her mouth with her sleeve, she laughed softly. “Sister, everyone in Bianjing knew how desperately you pursued Ziyu back then, following him around every day. Who didn’t know that the former eldest daughter of the Tai Mansion was infatuated with the Marquis?”
Was there such a thing? Ye Yuwu truly didn’t know. But it had nothing to do with her now, especially since she didn’t even know what the man looked like.
“Ah, let bygones be bygones. I am now just an ordinary commoner. Since my sister is fond of him, I wish you and the Marquis a harmonious union for a hundred years and may you soon be blessed with a noble son.”
There, I’ve given you my blessings. Now can you let her go? Don’t block her way—she’s in a hurry to leave!
Lin Qingqing stammered for a long while, unable to speak. Pointing at Ye Yuwu, she stuttered “You… you… you…” repeatedly, feeling as though she had punched a soft persimmon—utterly powerless.
In the past, whenever she said such things, Ye Yuwu would immediately react as if provoked. Yet today, she remained so calm. Lin Qingqing couldn’t tell whether she was pretending or truly indifferent.
Ye Yuwu paid no mind to what she thought. She strode past Lin Qingqing and headed outside, calling her personal maid Huaping, who was waiting in the corridor, to her side.
Ye Yuwu knew Lin Qingqing wouldn’t dare follow her. If others in the Tai Manor saw her stopping Ye Yuwu outside the madam’s courtyard, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.
Ye Yuwu and Huaping walked together toward the entrance of the Tai Manor. Along the way, many maids and servants secretly glanced at her, some even hoping to witness her humiliation in private.
Who could resist watching the spectacle of someone who was once their master reduced to a commoner? But given they were still within the Tai Manor, they didn’t dare be too blatant.
Ye Yuwu remained completely unaffected by these curious gazes.
She owed nothing to the Tai Manor. Although the original host had once received its favor, she had already repaid it with her life. So, as soon as she stepped out of the Tai Manor, she turned and looked up at its grand gates, declaring, “I, Yuwu, owe nothing to the Tai Manor. From this day forward, once I step beyond these gates, all ties between us are severed. There will be no further connection.”
Her resolute words echoed clearly, spoken not only for herself but also for everyone in the Tai Manor.
The guards at the entrance were taken aback by her declaration, and even passersby couldn’t help but pause.
There stood a woman dressed in coarse clothing, her smooth hair simply tied back with a green ribbon.
Without caring whether her words were heard by those inside, she turned gracefully and left with her personal maid.
The guards at the gate watched her departing figure, sensing as though some shackles had been broken free from her.
After walking some distance, the Tai Manor was no longer visible behind them.
“Miss, where are we going?” Huaping asked, puzzled as she followed Ye Yuwu.
“Huaping, have you ever thought about what you want to do in the future?”
“To be honest, Miss, when I was by your side, I did think about it. I don’t have any grand ambitions—I just want to marry a good man, have a few plump children, and devote myself to my husband and family.” Huaping scratched her head sheepishly.
Huaping was already twenty years old, an age considered old for marriage in ancient times when early marriages were the norm.
Hearing this, Ye Yuwu stopped and took out a piece of paper from her bosom. Huaping recognized it at a glance—it was her indenture contract.
Ye Yuwu handed the paper to her.
“You may leave now. You are free. I heard not long ago that your family’s circumstances have improved. Your father is in good health now, and your younger brother has grown up and can shoulder the family’s responsibilities. They must be waiting for you to return. Don’t keep them waiting too long.”
Ye Yuwu smiled at her, her expression filled with sincere blessings.
Huaping hadn’t expected that her casual mention of her family’s situation would be remembered so clearly by her mistress.
“What about you, miss?”
“Don’t worry, I have my own plans.”
Huaping, however, misunderstood her meaning. “Miss! Young mistress! I don’t want to leave you, please don’t send me away. Don’t worry—even if you have no silver, I can embroider and earn money for you!”
Huaping clung to her, tears welling in her eyes, no longer caring about formalities as she repeatedly called her “miss.”
Ye Yuwu looked at the young girl with amusement. “When did I say I was sending you away? I tore up the indenture contract, so from now on we are no longer master and servant. You don’t need to refer to yourself as ‘this servant’ in front of me. Since you don’t want to go home for now, you can return another day.”
“So, you’re agreeing to let me stay, miss!” She jumped for joy, not caring whether they were in the middle of the street.
“Hmm? Didn’t I just say? Now that you no longer have the indenture contract, you’re no longer a little maid. You don’t need to call yourself ‘this servant’ in front of me.” Ye Yuwu gave Huaping a sidelong glance, and Huaping immediately caught on.
“Sorry, miss—I, no, I forgot.”
Passersby glanced their way, watching them cry and laugh in turns.
Ye Yuwu covered her face in embarrassment, but still reached out to gently tap Huaping’s forehead. “We’re still outside!”
Originally, Huaping had been worried they had nowhere to stay and had already planned to persuade her mistress to come live at her home. She would definitely have her parents clean the main room spotlessly for her young mistress.
But soon, Huaping realized her worries were unnecessary.
She followed her mistress to the bustling southern district of the city, then straight into a somewhat shabby bookstore.