CHAPTER 849: CHAPTER 847: DON’T MISCALCULATE

It’s natural for Liang Ming’s household to be included in Madam Liang’s dowry for Zhou Biyao, as they are quite clever.

Upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s question, she immediately bowed and said aggrievedly, "Grandma Jiang, you are not aware. Before you arrived, our Second Miss was holding a tea bowl with both hands, listening to In-law Madam’s admonishment for nearly an hour. Just now, not only did the tea bowl fall, but our Second Miss also collapsed on the floor. If she hadn’t fallen, who knows how much longer the In-law Madam would have continued her reprimand."

"Oh?" Ye Xinyan’s eyes darted back and forth over Wong Qiao and Lady Zhao’s faces several times, a look of satisfaction on her face as she flaunted, "When I offered tea to my mother-in-law, she took it from me right away. She did say some instructive words but only after letting me sit down."

Wong Qiao’s face looked grim, and Lady Zhao’s even grimmer. After holding it in for a while, Lady Zhao finally said, "Grandma Jiang, how to discipline a daughter-in-law is the Wong family’s business. Besides, my daughter-in-law is not an unruly woman; she is obliged to follow the elders’ instructions. Our Wong family are commoners, unlike noble people such as Grandma Jiang. We cannot afford such connections. Henceforth, you need not concern yourself with Ah Qiao’s wife."

Zhao gave Ye Xinyan a cold look, never having seen someone so shameless. Would her Wong family welcome her? Was there any point in her being so eager to come over and say things that are neither here nor there?

Ye Xinyan found it quite interesting and looked at Lady Zhao in surprise, "Is that so? Aunt Wang Qi, perhaps you’ve forgotten? People from the palace said that Biyao has to work at my Guangsha Construction. If she listens to Aunt Wang Qi, then she intends to defy the imperial order. Defying the order is a crime punishable by beheading, even the extermination of one’s entire family!"

As Ye Xinyan spoke, she looked over the members of the Wong family one by one, as if truly expecting them to be exterminated, trying to confirm if there was anyone she missed.

Lady Zhao’s face was full of anger towards Ye Xinyan’s repeated curses, but deep inside, she was also deeply afraid.

She looked at Wong Qiao suspiciously, hoping to get confirmation from him.

But Wong Qiao did not know what to say to Lady Zhao. The eunuch’s words certainly could not be disobeyed, but much of what Ye Xinyan said was indeed intimidation.

Ye Xinyan would not give Wong Qiao time to explain. She said to Lady Zhao, "I am here precisely for this matter. Previously, for complying with the Imperial Astronomical Observatory’s choice of an auspicious date for the marriage, we delayed many of Guangsha Construction’s matters. Now that the wedding is done, Biyao should focus on the work."

As she spoke, she waved Jiu Yu over.

Jiu Yu held a long package, which she placed on the table in front of Lady Zhao. She opened it, revealing several rolls of paper and some account books.

Ye Xinyan said to Zhou Biyao, "The new year is almost upon us, and time is tight. There are still two days until the return visit. Biyao, you should quickly finish the work, and remember to report to Guangsha Construction promptly after the return visit."

Zhou Biyao nodded quickly in agreement and went forward to rewrap the package, only to meet Lady Zhao’s fiery gaze.

Lady Zhao glared fiercely at Zhou Biyao, then angrily turned her gaze to Ye Xinyan, "Qi Ye, you are being too oppressive! This is my daughter-in-law, and she is still a new bride. How can you treat her like this?"

Ye Xinyan was initially displeased and said to Zhou Biyao, "Hurry and pack it up. If your mother-in-law, in a moment of carelessness, damages these things, you won’t be able to finish them even with overtime. By then, your in-laws will owe me substantial compensation."

Lady Zhao initially wanted to sweep these annoying things to the ground, but she stopped when she heard this. The words "substantial compensation" successfully reminded her of last year’s incident where Ye Xinyan extorted three thousand taels from her son from the court.

She wasn’t stupid and had inquired about it after leaving the Qi family, through the family members of the artisans Wong Qiao often interacted with. They all said that if another construction firm had taken on that task, they might not have even made two hundred taels of silver.

The saying "Even ghosts fear a bully" applies here, indicating that this Ye Family woman is a shrew!

Ye Xinyan watched as Zhou Biyao rewrapped the package, and then she turned to Lady Zhao, "Earlier, we weren’t aware the wedding dates would be so tight, which is why these matters were arranged. We are paying Biyao; it cannot be said we are oppressing her. We pay her a wage not inferior to that of Wong Qiao. Biyao, remember not to hide any money for yourself, and make sure to give your salary to Aunt Wang Qi."

Zhou Biyao had readily agreed last time to Ye Xinyan’s request, which earned her a severe glare from Lady Zhao. This time she glanced at Lady Zhao and dared not agree.

Lady Zhao looked around the room full of people, but there was no one she could rely on, prompting her to turn back and scold Wong Qiao angrily, "You’re a man, and yet you stand here allowing an outsider to overrun our own home?"

Faced with Lady Zhao’s anger, Wong Qiao felt helpless and turned to Ye Xinyan, half-pleading as he said, "Ye Zi, you see, this is our home, could we..." Just as he began, he was cut off by Ye Xinyan.

"Wong Qiao! You need to understand, previously, I refrained from taking issue with you out of respect for Biyao. Don’t get it wrong!"

Wong Qiao immediately stopped.

Ye Xinyan’s expression turned cold, "You do indeed have some skills, but without Grandfather Cheung bringing you out, you’d likely still be struggling to make a living in a small county town in Hezhou. The grace of being recognized and assisted by someone is a rare and significant favor in life, no matter how talented you are, you need people to appreciate and help you. My grandfather appreciated and helped you, yet how have you repaid him?"

Wong Qiao’s face was full of shame. Although he was under orders to work for Prince Fu, it was merely acting according to circumstances. At the time, without the assignments from Jiang Yifan and Prince Yu, he indeed would have left Guangsha Construction when his uncle needed manpower most.

Ye Xinyan’s tone remained severe, "In this world, it’s not just about parents; there are also loyalty and morality. Leaving you in that small county town in Hezhou, could you have made the tools you make today? Could you have led so many craftsmen with authority? From whom did you learn such skills? Grandfather raised you from a small craftsman to a chief manager, so much so that he was like a half-master to you, yet you betrayed him.

Now, you dare to claim that this is a family matter; do you intend, after abandoning your benefactor, to heed what your mother says and defy the message from the palace? Your Wong family is truly bold and daring. Forget it, against someone as disloyal and unscrupulous as you, I can choose to overlook it, but Zhou Biyao’s task must be completed."

Ye Xinyan’s words not only left Wong Qiao ashamed but also made Lady Zhao’s face flush red, unable to retort. Meanwhile, Nanny Zhong and Liang Ming’s household, who had come with Zhou Biyao to serve tea, felt secretly pleased.

Especially Liang Ming’s household, seeing Lady Zhao, who had previously strutted around as if she were second only to the emperor, now left speechless, red-faced, and with her mouth half-open in a sorry state, felt immensely gratified.

Ye Xinyan hadn’t finished speaking. She turned her gaze to Lady Zhao, "I hadn’t said these things before because you didn’t affect my matters, and I was too lazy to bother with you all. Aunt Wang Qi, I’m making it clear today: if Biyao doesn’t finish the work in the next few days, or if she doesn’t promptly show up for work post-return, I will go to His Majesty for an explanation. Guangsha Construction has arranged a perfectly good task, yet the Imperial Astronomical Observatory’s choice of auspicious dates delayed us by a month, and he has to compensate me."

Compensate? How? Lady Zhao’s eyes widened, and she once again remembered those three thousand taels of silver. Could it be that Ye Xinyan dares to ask the emperor for silver again?