Though spoken in an ordinary tone, Zhou Yu inexplicably felt a chill sweep over him.
“She’s been sent away, she was sent away yesterday,” Zhou Yu replied cautiously.
“Is she truly gone?” Xie Bohuai’s eyes were as deep and still as a secluded pond. After asking lightly and noticing Zhou Yu’s almost imperceptible shudder, he concealed his expression and turned to tell Ye Mingyue that he would take his leave first.
Ye Mingyue shot Zhou Yu a glare, then gathered his younger sisters and departed together.
A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on Zhou Yu’s back. He quickly reviewed the arrangements he had made for Xu Zhuling the day before, confirming he had been as careful as possible, and only then did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Xie Bohuai’s interactions with the Ye Family were not particularly close. In the years Zhou Yu had been with the Ye Family, he had never heard the Ye family members mention him. It seemed Xie Bohuai had other matters to discuss with the Ye Family. Zhou Yu silently reassured himself.
Once he had calmed down, Zhou Yu took his servant to the Ye Family’s storeroom.
Ever since Zhou Yu arrived at the Ye Family, they had provided him with a monthly allowance equivalent to that of the family’s young masters. Later, expenses for his examinations and apprenticeship were all covered by the Ye Family’s common funds.
Even after achieving the title of Zhuangyuan and receiving his own official salary, the Ye Family continued to supplement his income with a monthly allowance. Today happened to be the day the Ye Family distributed the allowance. Zhou Yu had sent Feng Ran to collect it, but after waiting for a quarter of an hour, Feng Ran returned in anger.
“Sir, the steward said that since you are about to marry the Eldest Miss Ye, it would not look good if the family continued to give you a monthly allowance. To protect your reputation, there will be no more monthly allowance from now on.”
Indeed, if such news spread, Zhou Yu would be labeled as someone living off his wife’s wealth.
Zhou Yu’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. He understood the reasoning behind the Ye Family’s decision, yet he couldn’t help feeling somewhat displeased.
Since joining the Hanlin Academy, he had needed funds for everything—greasing palms, socializing with colleagues… The gift he presented for the Right Prime Minister’s birthday alone had cost over a hundred taels. How could his meager salary possibly cover such social expenses?
Zhou Yu harbored great ambitions, but the Zhou family’s financial standing was weak and unable to support him financially.
Well, he and Ye Wanning were to marry next month. Once they were united as husband and wife, even without the Ye Family’s monthly allowance, Ye Wanning would surely use her dowry to support him. The Ye Family valued Ye Wanning as the legitimate eldest daughter, and no matter how tight their finances had been in recent years, they would have prepared a generous dowry for her.
With this thought, Zhou Yu felt considerably more at ease.
After he left, a maid went to inform Ye Wanning about Feng Ran’s attempt to collect the monthly allowance.
Ye Wanning was having tea with her two younger sisters. The second sister, Ye Wanyu, let out an undisguised “tsk” of disapproval.
Ye Wanhua, curious, asked, “Didn’t Big Brother say that Brother Zhou is part of our family, and no matter where he is, his monthly allowance would never be cut off?”
The Eldest Young Master of the Ye Family was well aware of the Zhou family’s circumstances. From the time Zhou Yu arrived at the Ye Family, he had started providing the monthly allowance, primarily to preserve Ye Wanning’s dignity and prevent Zhou Yu’s financial struggles from making her a laughingstock in Jingcheng.
“It was my decision,” Ye Wanning said, holding her teacup and taking small sips. “Zhou Lang is now an official in the court. It wouldn’t do for people to spread rumors that he’s living off his wife.”
Outsiders had never actually said such things, as this was a private matter between the Ye Family and Zhou Yu. Without them speaking of it, others would not know. Now that Ye Wanning had brought it up herself, the maids cast sidelong glances her way.
Ye Wanhua, being simple-minded, didn’t dwell on it. Ye Wanyu, however, struggled to hold back her words and finally said in a suppressed tone, “It should have been stopped long ago. He has his own salary now; why would he need this bit of silver?”
The Ye family had seen little income in recent years, and everyone was living frugally. With an extra person to support, the household had to tighten its belt even more. Even the Ye sisters rarely got new clothes made in a year, let alone cosmetics like rouge and powder.
When their parents were alive, the siblings had lived in luxury. But these days, when they went out as guests, the young ladies loved to compare, making Ye Wanyu reluctant to go out at all.
Hearing the resentment in her second sister’s voice, Ye Wanning felt a pang of sadness. Her sisters were now at the age to be considered for marriage, and Jingcheng was full of shrewd people. Without putting on a decent front, they would be looked down upon during matchmaking meetings.
“The residence we reclaimed yesterday—I’ve already asked a realtor to sell it. Once we get the money, we’ll each get a new set of clothes first,” Ye Wanning said.
“How can that be?” Ye Wanyu flushed immediately. She had only complained because she disliked Zhou Yu, not because she wanted everyone to compensate her. “That was Mother’s dowry for you, Eldest Sister—your own property. How can it be used for common expenses? I was just speaking thoughtlessly, without any other meaning. Clothes or no clothes, I don’t need them.”
Before He Shi passed away, she had distributed the family assets. Although Wanyu and Wanhua were born of a concubine, He Shi was kind-hearted and had allotted each of them a residence as a future dowry.
“Dear sister, even if we are all as lovely as flowers, we still need to dress up a little,” Ye Wanning said, understanding her sister’s temperament. She smiled and took her sister’s hand. This is my intention as your elder sister—you mustn’t refuse. Once we have new clothes, I’ll take you all out. Perhaps your destined match will appear.”
All three Ye sisters were beautiful: Wanyu with her sharp, elegant features, and Wanhua with her adorable delicacy. If the Ye family had not fallen from its former glory, marriage proposals would have long since flooded their doorstep.
Even Ye Wanyu was embarrassed by this. She pulled her hand away and said, “I don’t want to marry at all. I just want to stay at home forever.”
“Alright, alright, then I’ll find a match for Wanhua,” Ye Wanning said. No sooner had she spoken than she saw her youngest sister’s face flush crimson, and Wanhua whispered softly for her to stop.
Looking at her lively, spirited sisters, Ye Wanning’s eyes grew moist.
How wonderful.
Everyone was still safe and sound.
In her previous life, when Zhou Yu had ruined her with a filthy disease and destroyed her reputation, it was these two sisters who rushed to the Zhou family. Wanhua, who usually didn’t dare speak loudly, overcame her fear and followed Wanyu to demand her release.
Zhou Yu, hypocritical as ever, refused to let her go, saying that no matter what, he and Ye Wanning had been husband and wife, and he was still willing to provide for her in her old age.
In her desperation to see her own sister, Ye Wanyu cast aside all aristocratic decorum, rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and forced Zhou Yu to lead the way.
At that time, Ye Wanning was haggard and frail. Hearing the door open, she thought it was the old maid bringing food—until her sisters rushed in, and she instinctively shrank away.
“Don’t! Don’t come near!” Ye Wanning curled up in the corner of the bed. “It’s… it’s contagious.”
But Wanyu didn’t listen and still tried to come closer to take her away.
Then Wanyu’s husband arrived, forcibly carried Wanyu off, and Wanhua was dragged away as well.
What happened to them after that, Ye Wanning never knew.
Locked away in the courtyard, she received no news, but she could imagine that Wanyu and Wanhua did not fare well. With a sister like her—accused of “infidelity”—their reputations would surely suffer, especially after they had caused such a scene at the Zhou family home.
Ye Wanning’s residence sold quickly, and the very next day the realtor brought the buyer to finalize the deal with handprints. Once she received the payment, Ye Wanning summoned the owner of the silk fabric shop and selected fabric for every member of the household. With the remaining money, she purchased a plot of barren land on the outskirts of Jingcheng.
When they were alone at night, Yunzhi expressed her confusion, “Miss, why did you buy that wasteland? It may be cheap, but nothing can grow there. Your funds are already limited—won’t this leave you with even less for future expenses?”
“Look at how you’re frowning. At such a young age, you shouldn’t always be knitting your brows. Just wait and see—I won’t let this money go to waste.” Based on Ye Wanning’s memories from her previous life, Princess Longyu, who had been sent for a political marriage, was about to arrive in Jingcheng. The Emperor, feeling guilty toward her, had allowed her to choose a piece of land herself for the construction of her Princess Manor. This Princess Longyu disliked crowds and had specifically chosen a plot in the outskirts of Jingcheng—the very land Ye Wanning had just purchased.
In due time, the eighty taels of silver spent on the barren land would bring Ye Wanning a return of eight hundred taels.
Since heaven had granted her a second chance, she had to make good use of it to ensure her family lived a better life.
While Ye Wanning was planning her next move to earn money, Xie Bohuai stood in the newly purchased residence. Qingshan looked around in confusion, pulled Shuyan a few steps back, and whispered, “Why do you think our lord bought this residence? He isn’t even married yet—is he thinking of setting up a separate household already?”
Shuyan rolled his eyes at Qingshan, unwilling to say more, but Qingshan still didn’t understand.
“Even if he’s buying a residence, with the lord’s capabilities, he should have bought something more spacious and grand. How can this place be worthy of him?” No sooner had Qingshan finished his question than he saw his master turn and look his way, prompting him to quickly press his lips together.
Under the dim moonlight, Xie Bohuai’s features appeared even more sharply defined. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as his thin lips moved, “So many questions—it seems you have too much free time.”
“Not at all!” Qingshan shook his head frantically, covering his mouth with both hands. “I… I won’t say another word!”
Xie Bohuai shot a glance at Qingshan and strode out of the courtyard. Princess Longyu, who had been sent to the Xiongnu for a political marriage, was about to return to the capital. Recently, the city had been filled with spies and informants, making this his busiest period.
While pursuing one such spy into a residence, he noticed candlelight flickering inside, casting the silhouette of a graceful figure. Only then did Xie Bohuai realize he had ended up at the Ye Family residence.
“Who’s there?”
Ye Wanning had been about to blow out the lamp and rest when she sensed a draft sweeping into the room. Her thin undergarments fluttered lightly in the wind as she gripped a dagger tightly, on high alert.