Zhou Yuzhi also realized that his father seemed to have been kept in the dark.
“Of course, even though it’s been ten years since we last saw her, her appearance is almost identical to Lady Ye’s. Moreover, she was wearing that jade pendant, and she didn’t deny it when I scolded her.”
“Just now, when she left, she even declared that once she walked away this time, even if Father brought the entire Marquis household to kneel before her in the future, she wouldn’t soften her heart.”
Zhou Zhili stood there for a long time, unable to process what had happened.
Suddenly, he turned around and sharply questioned the gatekeeper, “Didn’t you say that Little Medical Immortal had arrived?”
The gatekeeper was already terrified. When Zhou Yuzhi was slapped earlier, he had realized that he might have caused trouble.
“Marquis, as soon as she arrived, she directly addressed the master by his name. When I asked her if she was Little Medical Immortal, she didn’t give a direct answer. I thought about your instructions from the other day, saying that Little Medical Immortal would arrive during this period and that we must be careful and attentive, not to neglect her. Moreover, she was wearing a veil at the time, which misled me…”
Upon hearing his explanation, Zhou Zhili grew even angrier and kicked him to the ground.
“Get out! Get out of here!”
Zhou Yuzhi rubbed his stinging cheek and stepped forward, saying, “Father, now is not the time to be angry. Since Little Medical Immortal has promised to come, it’s only a matter of a day or two sooner or later. What we need to consider now is why Zhou Qingran suddenly returned. Since she’s back, Lady Ye probably won’t be far behind.”
“If they come back to the Marquis household and cause a scene, what will happen to Mother and Sister?”
“Sister’s coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. All these years, Mother has felt guilty about what happened back then, and Sister has never felt secure. We’ve only just managed to give them some peace of mind. If they show up, it will surely disrupt the household again.”
Zhou Zhili calmed down, recalling the events of the past.
“Hmph, back then, they chose to leave on their own. So many people tried to persuade them to stay, but they never looked back. How dare they come back now to cause trouble?”
“Since you’ve returned, come with me to pay your respects to your grandmother.”
Zhou Yuzhi nodded in agreement and followed Zhou Zhili to see the elderly Lady Zhang Qiongru. After a warm exchange, he couldn’t help but gossip about what had just happened.
The elderly lady forcefully slammed the teacup lid down, producing a harsh sound.
“That wretched girl! After ten years, she’s even more unruly than before!”
Her anger made her already frail body even more uncontrollable. A fit of coughing was accompanied by clear wet rales, but she dared not cough properly due to chest pain, grimacing in discomfort.
“Mother…” Zhou Zhili stepped forward with concern.
“It’s nothing…”
After coughing for a while, Zhang Qiongru finally eased up.
She waved her hand and said, “It’s fine, I’m not dead yet. Didn’t you already invite Little Medical Immortal? I suppose she’ll arrive in the next few days. I can still hold on.”
“Qinzhu’s coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. Lady Ye and that rebellious daughter returning at this time can’t mean anything good. I think they’re doing it on purpose!”
Zhang Qiongru’s words were filled with bitterness.
“Marquis, Mother, who has returned?”
A nervous voice came from outside the door, followed by a middle-aged woman arriving with a group of servants.
The newcomer was none other than Zhou Zhili’s second wife, the same mistress who had driven Ye Hesheng away back then, and also Ye Hesheng’s half-sister, Ye Lanxin.
Zhou Yuzhi quickly tried to make amends: “Why trouble Mother with this? It’s not someone important, no need to bother you.”
But Ye Lanxin had already received the news.
“You child, no matter what, she is your own sister, and also the Marquis’s flesh and blood. She was only six when she left, and she must have suffered greatly all these years outside. How could you let her leave like that?”
Ye Lanxin’s reaction was perfectly fitting for an excellent mistress of the household.
Zhou Yuzhi grew even more ashamed, his face flushed with anger: “Back when she left with Lady Ye, even at such a young age, she dared to speak harshly to Grandmother and Father, especially to you—she was so disrespectful… It’s only because of your generosity that even after all these years, you’re still willing to speak up for her.”
Zhou Zhili remained silent, which was a form of tacit agreement.
The smile on Ye Lanxin’s face grew a bit more genuine: “What happened back then was indeed my fault toward my sister. I never expected she would be so intolerant of me, even disregarding the Zhou family’s dignity and the Ye family’s reputation. No matter what, Qingran was just a child back then, unlike you who already had your own judgment. How could I hold it against her…”
“All these years, she has been wandering with her mother, with no news at all. Now that she is willing to return, she must truly be struggling outside. As her father and brothers, how can you let her drift alone? Hurry and bring her back!”
“If she wants me to personally welcome her, I don’t mind. Even if she still curses me like she did back then, I can bear it.”
Ye Lanxin’s words left everyone present feeling deeply impressed.
At the same time, their resentment toward Lady Ye and her daughter grew even stronger.
Ye Lanxin saw it in their eyes and felt smug in her heart.
But this alone was not enough. Since Lady Ye and that little wretch dared to return, she and her daughter would naturally give them a proper welcome.
Just as she lowered her gaze, a servant rushed over in a panic.
“Master, Madam, it’s terrible—the Eldest Miss has hanged herself!”
Everyone was terrified.
The old lady flared up in anger, her voice filled with urgency: “What happened? Go check immediately!”
The servant hastily explained: “The Eldest Miss also heard about that person’s return. She said she had taken her place, stolen her father and brothers, and perhaps if she died, that person might let go of the old grudges.”
“Nonsense!”
Zhou Zhili scolded and hurried over.
Ye Lanxin concealed all her smugness and pretended to be anxious as she followed.
At Mingzhu Courtyard, even before entering, they could hear cries coming from inside.
“Don’t try to stop me, let me die…”
Zhou Zhili grew even more distressed, almost sprinting inside.
Zhou Yuzhi also did not hesitate, saying: “Mother, I’ll go check on my sister first…”
and left the lagging Ye Lanxin behind.
“Qinzhu, what are you doing!”
Zhou Zhili, seeing Zhou Qinzhu repeatedly trying to put her head through the white silk, felt his heart ache terribly.
Zhou Yuzhi rushed over, pulled Zhou Qinzhu down, and scolded those nearby: “Are you all useless? Didn’t you know to stop the Eldest Miss?”
Zhou Qinzhu’s tears flowed perfectly on cue.
“Father, Second Brother, I heard that Sister has returned but refuses to enter the mansion because of me and Mother. If this gets out, I won’t be able to show my face anymore…”
“It’s been ten years. My sister must have suffered greatly outside. If my existence is an obstacle to her return to the Marquis’s household, I am willing to exchange my life for her to come back…”
The Zhou father and son felt their hearts shatter upon hearing this.
“Neither you nor Mother should feel guilty. Back then, they insisted on leaving. We could have become a harmonious family, but they were ungrateful, tore apart the relationship between our two families, and even tried to ruin you!”
“For so many years, they never visited Grandfather, nor did they come back to see us. Now that they are returning, it must be because they can no longer survive outside. I have no such relatives!”