After the Zhou family mother and son left, Fusheng, who had been standing behind the door, went to De Rong Courtyard to report.
While Lin Shi and the others could block the rumors outside, now that Mother Zhou had visited, it was impossible to keep it from Old Madam Ye.
As things had progressed sufficiently, Ye Wanning and Lin Shi went together to De Rong Courtyard. Not long after, Ye Wanyu and her sister also arrived.
Ye Wanning slowly recounted the details of her meeting with Mother Zhou while observing her grandmother’s expression. “These past few days, rumors have been spreading wildly outside. But since they hadn’t been confirmed yet, my sister-in-law and I thought it best not to trouble you with them, Grandmother. After Madam Zhou’s visit today, I’ve come to see clearly that the Zhou family is not a good match.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a servant entered to announce Fusheng’s arrival.
Old Madam Ye, who had earlier fainted from anger and had only regained some energy after sipping ginseng tea, said, “Let him come in and report. I want to hear what else that Xu woman has to say!”
After entering the room, Fusheng first glanced at Ye Wanning before cautiously replying, “Madam Zhou’s position is that the rumors are true, but so what? Breaking off the engagement would be perfect—it would allow Zhou Hanlin to marry Xu Guniang. She cursed loudly at the gate for quite some time before Zhou Hanlin finally dragged her away.”
“That shameless shrew!” Old Madam Ye, coming from a noble family, refrained from using vulgar language but slapped her chest and breathed heavily, while Feng Momo beside her tried to soothe her.
“Grandmother, please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over this,” Ye Wanning knelt before her grandmother. “You should look at the bright side—it’s fortunate that I saw their true colors before marrying Zhou Yu. Otherwise, wouldn’t I be weeping every day after marrying into their family?”
“My Wanning, I’ve watched you grow up. Since your parents passed away, you’ve matured so much, helping manage household affairs at such a young age and enduring whatever others said about you. I thought that with Zhou Yu becoming Zhuangyuan, you’d finally have your happy ending. But who knew Zhou Yu would turn out to be so black-hearted!” Old Madam Ye hugged Ye Wanning and wept bitterly.
The others also shed tears. Ye Wanyu declared that they shouldn’t let the Zhou family off easily. “I always thought Zhou Yu was fake! He ate our food, used our resources, and yet he already has a child and an Outside Woman? How could he treat Eldest Sister like this? I say we shouldn’t just break off the engagement—we should have our brothers demand an explanation from Zhou Yu and make him return all the money we’ve spent on him over the years!”
Lin Shi tugged at Ye Wanyu’s sleeve, signaling her not to stir up more trouble.
But Ye Wanning agreed, “Second Sister is right. We can’t let people bully us like this.”
“Is this really appropriate?” Ye Wanhua, who was the most timid and usually indecisive, asked nervously.
Ye Wanning replied that it was perfectly appropriate. “Since Zhou Yu could do such a thing, why should we care about his reputation? The Ye family supported his studies because we regarded him as a future son-in-law. Now that we’re breaking off the engagement, we should demand all that money back. If Zhou Yu refuses to pay, let’s show all of Jingcheng how he cheats on people while living off others!”
After saying this, Ye Wanning sent someone to summon her brothers.
Old Madam Ye, having cried several times, had somewhat stabilized her emotions. Holding Ye Wanning’s hand, she said, “Our family is in the right—we have nothing to fear in breaking off the engagement with Zhou Yu. But what will become of you in the future?”
“Grandmother, you needn’t worry about me. Life is what one makes of it. If no suitable husband can be found, I’ll take Yunzhi and live at the estate. This won’t delay my younger sisters’ marriages. Elder Brother and his wife are generous people – they won’t begrudge me my keep.” Ye Wanning had long prepared her contingency plan.
But Old Madam Ye refused, “How could I face your parents if I let you live at the estate? It’s Zhou Yu who’s blind and doesn’t know your worth. We’ll break off the engagement with the Zhou family first, and I’ll definitely find you a better husband!”
Marriage was a woman’s second rebirth. Fortunately, Ye Wanning’s family weren’t rigid traditionalists. They cherished her, loved her, and were willing to confront Zhou Yu for her sake.
When Ye Mingyue and Ye Mingde returned and learned about Mother Zhou’s disruptive visit, even the steady-tempered Ye Mingde smashed his teacup in fury. “This is beyond insulting!”
“The engagement must be broken!” Ye Mingyue, who had long known Zhou Yu’s true nature, chimed in angrily. “That bastard Zhou Yu – the robbers should have crippled him!”
Speak of the devil, Zhou Yu arrived.
The gatekeeper announced Zhou Yu was at the entrance, requesting to personally apologize to the young lady and beg forgiveness from the Ye family.
Old Madam Ye refused to see him. “We don’t need his apologies. Our Ye family cannot bear such honor!”
As head of the household, Ye Mingde considered the broader family interests and had the gatekeeper bring Zhou Yu to the main hall.
Without hesitation, Ye Mingyue rushed to the main hall first. By the time Ye Wanning and the others arrived, Zhou Yu was curled up on the floor while Ye Mingyue delivered two more kicks in unsatisfied rage. “How dare you bully my sister! Did you think our Ye family had no one to stand up for her?”
Zhou Yu was in such pain he vomited, completely stripped of dignity.
Waiting until her Second Brother had vented sufficiently, Ye Wanning approached and said, “Second Brother, don’t waste your energy getting angry. Beating him isn’t worth your effort.”
“Wan Ning, I… I came to apologize to you.” Unlike his mother, Zhou Yu clearly understood that climbing the social ladder required a good reputation. Only Ye Wanning could restore his standing now. He knelt before her. “I was foolish, I was wrong, but my cousin and I never had feelings for each other. The child was an accident after drinking. I never intended to accept my cousin – my heart belongs only to you. The Ye family has shown me great kindness, how could I commit such an ungrateful act? I knew nothing about previous incidents, including my mother’s visit today!”
Zhou Yu swore he could take heaven as his witness.
When Ye Wanning lowered her gaze, only overwhelming hatred remained. “Zhou Yu, I don’t need your apologies, nor will I believe your words. If you’re any kind of man, openly admit what you’ve done and stop pestering me.”
“No, I can’t live without you.” Zhou Yu shook his head vehemently. “I swear to heaven, I’ll never take a concubine in this lifetime – you’ll be my only woman. I’ll send my cousin and the child far away. As for my mother… she gave birth to and raised me, so I should fulfill my filial duties toward her. You can understand that, can’t you?”
“No, I cannot!” Ye Wanning’s stance remained firm. “From the moment your mother insulted the Ye family, I could never regard her as an elder. Zhou Yu, you’ve disappointed me utterly!”
Having spoken, Ye Wanning turned to her Second Brother.
Ye Mingyue immediately understood and began dragging Zhou Yu outside. “From now on, don’t let me see you again, or I’ll beat you every time I do!”
“Second Brother!” Ye Mingde urged Ye Mingyue to mind his comportment, but Ye Mingyue paid no heed.
Ye Wanning took out the prepared marriage certificate and betrothal gifts, handing them to her eldest brother. “I’m sorry to trouble you with this trip, Eldest Brother. Besides calling off the engagement, Zhou Yu must return everything he has taken from the Ye Family over the years.”
“We’re siblings by blood—no need for such formalities.” Ye Mingde looked at his graceful younger sister, who had always been sensible and well-behaved, praised by all who knew her, yet ended up entangled with a scoundrel like Zhou Yu. His heart ached for her, but he dared not show too much on his face, fearing it would add to her burden. “Rest assured, since the Zhou family has acted so shamelessly, I won’t bother preserving anyone’s dignity. We will reclaim what is rightfully ours.”
Ye Wanning gave a soft “Mm” in response. This incident had thoroughly enraged her eldest brother, and neither he nor Second Brother would let Zhou Yu off easily.
Meanwhile, Ye Mingyue had tossed Zhou Yu into a carriage and happened to cross paths with Xie Bohuai and his servant riding by on horseback.
Xie Bohuai tugged on the reins, halting his horse just as a passerby asked Ye Mingyue where he was headed.
“To the Zhou family to break off my sister’s engagement and demand an explanation!” Ye Mingyue climbed onto the carriage shaft. With him there, neither Zhou Yu nor that shrew Madam Zhou would gain any advantage.
Call off the engagement? Xie Bohuai watched the Ye family’s carriage, then turned his horse around.
“Sir, where are you going? Zhenfu Si is to the east!” Qingshan asked in confusion as he hurried after him.