Ye Sangzhi saw through it all—how could she not understand the schemes at play?
She mocked openly: “Though Concubine Wei came from a humble family, she has lived by my father’s side for years, enjoying wealth and luxury. Surely she hasn’t forgotten the rules of rank and propriety?”
“From the moment you entered this courtyard, you’ve acted like my true mother, claiming everything is for my own good, trying to morally bind me, to make decisions for me, to force me to obey. Tell me—what do you think you are?”
Ye Sangli could no longer endure it. She rushed forward, pointing at Ye Sangzhi and shouting: “You’ve gone too far! How dare you speak to my mother like that? Apologize at once!”
“Mother? Ha…” Ye Sangzhi’s gaze locked on Wei, her tone dripping with scorn. “My father’s lawful wife is still alive. Who exactly are you trying to be?”
Concubine Wei hurried to pull her daughter back, flustered. “Sang… Eldest Miss, you misunderstand. Lier calls me *concubine mother*, not Mother—you misheard. The madam is alive and well; I would never dare harbor such thoughts.” She bowed with feigned remorse, though inwardly seething. “I was so happy to see you return that I forgot to pay proper respects. I thought you wouldn’t mind. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Ye Sangzhi sneered coldly: “You are nothing more than a concubine in my father’s rear court, while I am the legitimate daughter of his principal wife. If I’m in a good mood, I may treat you as half a senior and overlook your disrespect. If not, you are no more noble than the servants here.”
“I am not my father—I won’t be fooled by your false tears and pretenses, nor will I ever live in harmony with you. So, in front of me, feel free to drop the act. Otherwise, I’ll be disgusted, and you’ll be uncomfortable.”
Concubine Wei trembled with rage, her hand clenched tightly inside her sleeve, barely restraining herself from lashing out. She held Ye Sangli back from attacking. This humiliation—she would remember. One day, she would repay it tenfold.
“Since Concubine Wei is so sensible, do I need to say more? Hurry and move the things.” Ye Sangzhi tilted her head, smiling innocently, as if she hadn’t just spoken such cutting words.
“It’s not that we refuse to move,” an old servant beside Wei interjected sharply. “This courtyard was long ago given to the Third Miss by the master. You’ve only just returned, yet you cause such a scene. Aren’t you afraid of angering the master?”
“You disturb the household’s peace. The master will surely be displeased, and your reputation will suffer. Eldest Miss, please reconsider.”
Ye Sangzhi looked at her curiously. “Are you also a mistress of this household?”
The servant flushed. “I am Nanny Zhang, serving Concubine Wei for many years. Eldest Miss, don’t you remember?”
“Oh! So you’re just a servant. And yet you dare speak to me like this? Isn’t that disrespect, a servant overstepping her place?” Ye Sangzhi’s smile turned cruel. “Bianliu, teach her how a servant should speak—and what it means to think twice before acting.”
She remembered Nanny Zhang well and knew she was no good. A beating was no loss.
“Yes, Miss.” Without hesitation, Bianliu strode forward and slapped Nanny Zhang hard across the face, leaving her stunned.
“Eldest Miss, how can you strike her? Nanny Zhang is my person!” Concubine Wei was truly shocked. First, the steward was beaten, then she herself was humiliated, and now her servant was struck. Was Ye Sangzhi determined to tear all pretense away?
“You think I shouldn’t hit her? Then her disrespect must be your will, Concubine Wei. What, is it that you cannot tolerate me in this household?” Ye Sangzhi retorted.
Concubine Wei: “…”
With so many people around, how could she admit it? She felt utterly stifled.
“Ye Sangzhi, you’re reckless! When Father returns, I’ll make sure he punishes you,” Ye Sangli shouted, her eyes wide with shock and anger.
“Concubine Wei, you are, after all, Father’s concubine. For his sake, I’ll let this go today and not hold it against you.” Ye Sangzhi, utterly unconcerned, rested her chin on her hand with interest.
“But Third Sister, your behavior is disgraceful. To treat your elder sister so rudely shows that you, Concubine Wei, have failed in your duty to teach her properly. As her elder sister, it falls to me to correct her.”
“What are you going to do? You wouldn’t dare hit me, would you?” Ye Sangli faltered, suddenly afraid—this woman was mad.
“Eldest Miss, don’t be angry. Isn’t it just the courtyard you want? I’ll have the servants clear it at once,” Concubine Wei said quickly.
The master had not yet returned; arguing further was pointless. Better to wait until he came to decide. How hateful that she was not the principal wife—otherwise, she would never suffer such humiliation.
As the servants bustled to move things out, Ye Sangzhi was satisfied and calmly signaled Bianliu to stop.
But Nanny Zhang’s face was swollen, one tooth knocked out, landing right at Concubine Wei’s feet. Seeing the bloodied tooth, Concubine Wei’s expression shifted like a palette of colors—truly a sight.
Nanxing and Bianliu couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Ye Sangzhi, in high spirits, strolled around the courtyard. “Though some of the furnishings and plants from my time have been replaced, the current ones aren’t bad. Third Sister, your taste isn’t terrible. I like it—let’s leave it as it is for now.”
She was pleased, but Concubine Wei and her daughter were anything but.
In such a short time, Ye Sangli could only take her own clothes, jewelry, and a few portable items. Everything else—the original furnishings, and even the treasures she had wheedled from her father—were seized by Nanxing and Bianliu.
It was outright banditry. No, worse than bandits.
“Mother, how can I live in this courtyard? The sunlight is poor, it’s too small, the decorations are shabby. I hate it. When Father returns, make him drive Eldest Sister out, won’t you?” Ye Sangli cried, as servants tidied her old rooms.
In truth, her original courtyard wasn’t bad at all, well furnished and never lacking. But she had grown used to Ye Sangzhi’s courtyard, and by comparison, her own seemed small and disgraceful.
“Many of my things haven’t even been taken out yet—some are Grandfather’s private collection, very valuable.”
And of course, some were part of the former wife’s dowry, secretly given to her by her mother. Father hadn’t objected, tacitly allowing it.