"How did she do it? Tell me."
He returned to his usual lazy demeanor and resumed gnawing on the chicken leg. Babao let out a sigh of relief and began to gesticulate excitedly.
"The second young mistress is truly formidable. Just the timing of her waking up to offer tea is already unprecedented. She slept all the way until afternoon before waking up. Her Highness the princess dotes on her daughter-in-law and specifically ordered that she should not be woken up."
Hearing this, Xiao Yu, who was gnawing on the chicken leg, froze in his tracks. He silently turned his face into the shadows. As the culprit who prevented his wife from getting out of bed, this matter was somewhat embarrassing to speak of.
"The eldest young master also offered tea. He didn't dare say anything, but his expression was as hideous as if he had swallowed a fly."
"Hm."
Xiao Yu sneered, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. Of course he was upset. This marriage was never meant for him in the first place. An esteemed household like the Marquis of Wuchang's estate would never look kindly upon that gloomy eldest young master.
"But none of that is the main point. The main point is that shameless Aunt Mei. That Aunt Mei was also seated at the main table. How is that proper etiquette? But the consort and Her Highness the princess are too good-tempered to bring themselves to drive her out. She really considers herself half a master."
Xiao Yu did not speak, only taking a slow sip of his wine, his eyes completely cold.
"In the end, it was the second young mistress who was truly formidable. She cast her gaze toward the side of the eldest young master and asked aloud who this master was. You should have seen it. Aunt Mei's face instantly turned as green as a moldy flatbread."
Babao grew more and more excited as he spoke. He vividly reenacted how I questioned Aunt Mei during the tea ceremony about her retirement plans. In the end, he sighed with lingering excitement.
"Second master, don't you agree? If this had been anyone thin-skinned, they would have dashed their brains out against the wall in shame. Only an old hand like Aunt Mei could manage to keep her composure."
"Keep her composure?" Xiao Yu sneered. "That is not keeping her composure. She clearly has much grander designs."
At this very moment, he fully believed my words. This Princess Yunyang's manor seemed flourishing on the surface, but in reality, it was fraught with hidden dangers. Only those two idiots, Guiyuan and Babao, still thought that if the sky fell, the princess would hold it up for them. They didn't realize his mother was a paper tiger who would lose her bearings after a few flattering words, while his father was an utterly useless, weak-willed man.
At this thought, Xiao Yu slammed down his wine cup, his expression becoming more serious than ever before.
"Babao, go back and tell them that from now on, everyone in the manor is to listen to the second young mistress. If the second young mistress has no opinion, then listen to my mother. Understood?"
Babao was taken aback. "That doesn't conform to the rules, does it?"
"What are you thinking? My parents are both too weak-willed."
Though he didn't say it out loud, Lin Yaoyao was not weak-willed.
At the same time, at Princess Yunyang's manor, Aunt Mei was panicking. Only now did she realize that I was dead set on driving her out. If she were driven out now, before she could seal the deal with her cousin, wouldn't she lose everything? While my mother-in-law's attention was fully on me, she decided to make a desperate move. Thus she resolutely sent someone to invite Consort Xiao Shun to her private chamber, on the pretext of discussing today's matters.
Although Xiao Shun was indecisive, he also felt it was inappropriate. But on second thought, the matter of his cousin leaving the estate indeed could not be delayed. The sooner the better. It was better to go and make things clear.
"Cousin Mei, you wish to see me?"
It was the first time Xiao Shun had ever stepped into this courtyard, and his entire being resisted it.
"Cousin, you've come. Come on in. Let me pour you some tea."
Xiao Shun stood at the doorway and hesitantly peeked inside. "Where are the maids? Just let them serve."
"Cousin, you must be joking. There are private matters between us, which would be awkward to discuss in front of servants."
Hearing that they would be a man and a woman alone in a room, Xiao Shun's face instantly changed. He stood there completely stiff, like a wooden board.
"Cousin Mei, you shouldn't say such things. Everything between us is honorable and proper. What is there that cannot be seen by others?"
Seeing how eager he was to distance himself, Aunt Mei felt a twist of pain in her heart. Yet she did not get angry. She then shifted her tone and immediately began to play the victim.
"You saw it today during the tea ceremony. That new daughter-in-law clearly has no room for me. Cousin, do you also want me to leave?"
Xiao Shun avoided her burning gaze, his tone softening slightly. "Yaoyao does speak rather directly. I apologize to you on her behalf. But she wasn't wrong either."
He took a deep breath, finally hardening his heart.
"You have stayed in this estate for too long. First, it has delayed your marriage prospects. Second, for an unmarried woman to reside in her cousin's home for so long is indeed improper."
"I understood then. No matter how you put it, Cousin, you still want to drive me away. But why have I been lingering in your estate and refusing to leave? Do you really not know why?"
Xiao Shun froze once more.
Aunt Mei approached him step by step, her voice trembling with tears, each word piercing the heart.
"Back then, on her deathbed, didn't she hold your hand and say that once you finished her funeral arrangements, you would marry me as your second wife, so that I, his own cousin, could take care of Xiao Lang? Xiao Shun, do you dare swear you didn't agree to that?"
The air instantly froze. Xiao Shun closed his eyes in agony. On one side was his promise to his deceased wife, and on the other was his current wife, Princess Yunyang.
"Cousin Mei, this is not fair to me. Yes, I did agree. But I have no romantic feelings for you. At the time, it was only to let her pass away in peace."
"Huh. So you think you have a clear conscience?"
Xiao Shun felt extremely guilty at this moment. Just because of a promise to his deceased wife back then, he would rather wrong my sweet, naive mother-in-law all these years, just to tolerate Cousin Mei in every possible way.
"I am naturally ashamed."
Xiao Shun took a deep breath, trying to reason with her. "Do you think I really didn't know my mother's selfish motive in letting you join the household?"
"Since you knew, why refuse to fulfill my wish?"
Cousin Mei's eyes welled with tears. She reached out pitifully to grab his sleeve. Xiao Shun flinched as if scalded and shook her off.
"You want me to leave? I can."
Cousin Mei suddenly sneered, wiped away her tears, and proposed an absolutely mind-boggling condition. "Give me a child."
"What?"
Xiao Shun's pupils dilated in shock. He stared at this mad woman in utter horror.
"As long as I have a child, I will quietly go back to our hometown and spend the rest of my life caring for them. I will never disturb you and the princess again. Otherwise, you will owe Xiao Lang's mother for the rest of your life. Xiao Shun, stop pretending. There is no man in the capital more hypocritical than you."
Xiao Shun was dying of shame and anger. He took several steps back.
"Cousin, just give me a child. All debts will be settled. Do you really want an innocent person like Princess Yunyang to keep carrying this debt for you?"
"Shut up. Your demand is too outrageous. It completely disregards all human decency."
"Then I will stay at the princess's manor and never leave. Do you have the nerve to kick me out? If you dare, I will go tell Princess Yunyang. Our two families had already arranged our marriage back then. She was the one who used her power to bully others and stole my husband."
"You are talking absolute nonsense."
"You were willing to marry me. It was that princess who interfered halfway. She is a shameless homewrecker."
"Shut up. The princess knew absolutely nothing. Everything was my fault. Back then, I lied to her and said I was unmarried. It had nothing to do with her. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
"I don't blame you, Cousin. I beg of you. Give me a child, and I will let your whole family go."
"This is impossible."
Xiao Shun desperately tried to push her away.
"Then I will go find Princess Yunyang to make it happen. Since I'll end up dead either way, I might as well drag everyone down with me."
Xiao Shun panicked. He quickly reached out to pull her back, trying to stop this crazy woman. With all the pulling and dragging, the two of them became completely entangled. Aunt Mei seized the opportunity to press herself tightly against his chest. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up at him.
"Cousin, do you promise me?"
Just as Xiao Shun was about to speak, with a creak, the door opened.
Standing outside the door was none other than Princess Yunyang. She stood at the doorway, stunned.