CHAPTER 848: CHAPTER 846: WHERE WERE YOU EARLIER?

Perhaps because Wong Qi and Qi Younian were close back in the day, and Wong Qiao now works for Prince Fu, even though Qi Younian is recognized as the grandfather of Duke An’s granddaughter and has a status much higher than hers and Wong Qiao’s, Lady Zhao does not really care about Qi Younian. Likewise, she is not very intimidated by Ye Xinyan.

Lady Zhao sat unmoving, with a cold face, and said, "Miss Ye, I still remember the Qi family being harsh on my son. Although our two families have not completely severed ties, the relationship has indeed grown distant. My son just got married yesterday and today is the day for meeting relatives and serving tea. Isn’t it rude for a Miss like you to barge in so recklessly?"

Zhou Biyao didn’t take Lady Zhao’s words too seriously. However, Wong Qiao’s face turned somewhat pale, but since he is now part of Prince Fu’s faction, he couldn’t contradict Lady Zhao and could only remain silent.

Ye Xinyan waved her hand casually and bluntly, "It’s alright, I didn’t come here because of the relationship between the Qi family and the Wong family, I came for the sisterly bond with Biyao. As for meeting relatives, we can do it together."

After speaking, she briskly glanced around, pointed to the corner of the wall, and instructed her maid, "Jiu Yue, go move that stool over here."

We, who let you sit there? Lady Zhao was extremely angry, "Meeting relatives is an internal matter of our Wong family, it’s inappropriate for an outsider like you to interfere. Miss... Grandma Jiang should just return."

Ye Xinyan sat on the stool that Jiu Yue moved over, expressing dissatisfaction, "Aunt Wong Qi, your family’s room isn’t big, but you should at least prepare more chairs. Surely, in one family, it wouldn’t be only you sitting comfortably on a chair while everyone else has to endure on the stools?"

Lady Zhao’s face darkened; she deliberately did not prepare many chairs in the room. In her view, she was the only elder at home, so visiting women could sit with her on the kang or couch. If there are no guests, what’s the point of having so many chairs?

"There’s something I don’t know if I should say," Ye Xinyan glanced at Zhou Biyao, who still hadn’t gotten up, and said.

Lady Zhao was very rude, "Then don’t say it."

Ye Xinyan, ignoring the cue, immediately continued, "Aunt Wong Qi, even though you are illiterate and unaware of the teachings of sages, you should have heard of the phrase ’maternal kindness, filial piety’, right? It means that as parents, because of their nurturing and love for their children, filial piety becomes so important."

Lady Zhao sneered, "Why? Does Grandma Jiang think I didn’t care for Ah Qiao?"

"No, no, of course not," Ye Xinyan insisted, "You were pregnant for ten months and gave birth to Wong Qiao, raising him on your own as both father and mother. It wouldn’t be just to be filial to you; even if he becomes a beast of burden for you his whole life or you command him to die right now, it should be as expected."

Lady Zhao’s face turned ashen, her eyes shaking rapidly in outrage, utterly infuriated. Her son, who regards her as the core and respect her, is it not right? Why does it seem so appalling when this venomous woman speaks?

Ye Xinyan smiled at Lady Zhao and asked softly, "Isn’t that what you really think, Aunt Wong Qi?"

Lady Zhao glared, her hands clutching at her clothes trembling with anger, "You..."

Standing nearby, Wong Qiao was genuinely worried that Ye Xinyan would drive his mother into a fit of rage, so he could no longer remain silent and spoke up, "Ye Zi, my mother is, after all, an elder..."

"She is an elder, that’s correct. Did you hear me deny that? Haven’t I been calling her Aunt Wong Qi over and over? What do you mean by saying that?" Staring at Wong Qiao, Ye Xinyan immediately questioned coldly, then turned to rebuke Xiuqin, "Your aunt has been bringing you out for so long, and yet you don’t know how to treat guests properly. A guest has been here for quite a while, and you don’t even serve tea. Does this house have any decency at all?"

Xiuqin shuffled slightly, glanced at Lady Zhao with a pale face, and then lowered her eyes, as though she hadn’t heard anything.

Luckily, Ye Xinyan waved it off without concern, "Forget it, forget it, after all, I’m not really an outsider. Aunt Wong Qi..."

Upon hearing "Aunt Wong Qi," Lady Zhao shuddered instantly. How had she not noticed before that this woman’s words were so vicious?

"As for maternal kindness, Wong Qiao is born of you and raised by you, we won’t mention him. Biyao didn’t receive any of your love. If you want her to be filial, shouldn’t you first let her know your kindness towards her?"

Ye Xinyan turned to Zhou Biyao, who was still kneeling on the ground, as if just now noticing. Pointing at Zhou Biyao, and then at the broken porcelain on the floor, she exclaimed, "Oh, Biyao, you were married on an auspicious day selected by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, and there were even eunuchs from the palace who said something at Aunt Wong Qi’s house. What major outrage have you committed that on the first day of marriage, your mother-in-law makes you kneel on broken porcelain?"

Pfft... Lady Zhao felt a surge of blood in her chest, almost a prelude to spitting out blood.

She couldn’t hold back anymore, abruptly stood up, shaking with outrage, and pointed at Ye Xinyan in shock and anger, "You, you, what nonsense are you talking?" Already beyond enraged, her abrupt standing made her dizzy. She barely spoke a word before her body swayed a few times. Fortunately, Wong Qiao rushed to support her, preventing a fall.

Ye Xinyan didn’t reply, her gaze moving between Zhou Biyao and the broken porcelain on the ground, then raised her head to look at Lady Zhao and her son, her eyes filled with doubt.

Lady Zhao, beside herself with rage, shouted at Zhou Biyao, "Why haven’t you stood up yet!"

Zhou Biyao hesitated and said, "Mother, you haven’t had the tea your daughter-in-law offered."

"Why not drink it?" Ye Xinyan curiously interjected quickly.

Lady Zhao felt like she was about to lose control and really spit blood, continuously signaling Xiuqin, "Quickly, quickly bring it up!"

Lady Zhao hurriedly drank the tea Zhou Biyao offered, placing the cup back on the table with a clatter.

"What took you so long?" Liang Ming’s household muttered quietly from the back.

She truly had her eyes opened this time. Previously, Nanny Zhong mentioned Miss Ye, saying Lady Zhao was fortunate to marry a daughter-in-law like Second Miss.

Even if she understood, she didn’t have much of an impression. Seeing it with her own eyes... She realized it could indeed anger someone to death.

Now Lady Zhao had no mind to care about what Liang Ming’s household was muttering. Seeing Zhou Biyao stand up, she pointed to the clothing around Zhou Biyao’s knees and the floor there, and furiously asked Ye Xinyan, "Did you see clearly, did I make her kneel on broken porcelain?"

"Oh, so she didn’t kneel, that’s good then."

Lady Zhao glared at Ye Xinyan. What did she mean by that’s good? So, after just accusing her, it’s all settled so lightly?

Ye Xinyan ignored Lady Zhao’s angry expression and asked in surprise, "Then where did the broken porcelain on the floor come from?"

"It fell when she was serving tea and didn’t hold it steadily!" Lady Zhao said angrily.

Zhou Biyao didn’t argue, standing quietly to the side.

Ye Xinyan didn’t ask her, her gaze circling Zhou Biyao’s face before turning to Liang Ming’s household, frowning, "Were you the maid Madam Liang sent to accompany Biyao? How did your lady teach Second Miss, to be so disrespectful to her mother-in-law? Know that your lady married into the Wong family, a marriage even His Majesty was aware of and involved in. Disrespecting her mother-in-law is not only unfilial but also goes against His Majesty, which is a great disregard."