Chapter 404: Life Is Full of Despair

ations to the banquet had already begun to be issued in the palace. 。Countless palace maids and eunuchs streamed out from the Imperial Palace, bustling about the grand residences within Lin'an's inner...Xiao Sh beyaz returned home, a disheveled mess. His hair was tousled, his face scratched and marred, and he had even lost one shoe.

The servants gossiped behind closed doors: "This much we know, she came back from the Xiao family. Those who don't know would think she had someone..."

The servant's words grew increasingly harsh, ultimately accusing the second mistress of receiving something from someone outside while she was away from her family home after leaving the Xiao family.

When this got to the old lady's ears, she was so furious that she nearly died of anger. She immediately told Jun Tao: "Go and tie up all those who spread rumors and beat them up! If they dare to talk nonsense again, cut out their tongues! Xiao Shubi, she is still our Ye family's second mistress in public! If this gets out, would the First Rank General's Manor even have any face Go now! Arrest them all!"

Jun Tao immediately went to arrest someone.

Xiao Shubi walked all the way back to her own courtyard. Jinxiu saw her return and immediately rushed over. Seeing her mistress like this, she panicked— "What's wrong What happened to you The fourth young lady wouldn't let me get on the carriage that day, and the gatekeeper kept me in the mansion and wouldn't let me out. I couldn't do anything, so I had to wait for you at home, but mistress... how did you become like this"

Xiao Shubi had endured for a whole day, but now she could hold it in no longer and burst into tears.

Jinxiu hurriedly helped her into the house and had her sit down. She then ordered someone to prepare water for a bath before returning to take a closer look at Xiao Shubi's wounds on her head and face. Upon seeing them, she realized they were caused by being scratched by someone.

"Who dares to treat Madam like this" Jinxiu was shocked. How could she get beaten after going to the Xiao family Who in the Xiao family could... Wait a minute! The Xiao family has a Mrs. Gu, and that Mrs. Gu is quite a skilled fighter! "Was it Ning Guo Fu Ren"

Xiao Shubi gritted her teeth and nodded, "If it wasn't her, who else could it be These years I thought that as she got older, her temper would mellow a bit, but I didn't expect it to be even worse than before. Back when she hadn't married into the family, I disagreed with the match. Unfortunately, since they weren't from the same mother, and moreover, my father had already passed on the title to him at that time, he was the head of the household, and who could say no when he nodded in agreement Who would have thought that he fell for someone like this, and who would have thought that a daughter raised by such a respectable family with a strong literary tradition turned out to be such a shrew!"

Jinshi also shivered when she heard her talk about Gu Chunhe. It seemed that over the years, she hadn't suffered less from Gu Chunhe's hand. Every time she mentioned him, she was filled with apprehension.

But she still couldn't understand: "Why would Gu Chun and the others attack Madam Just because of that silver note Miss Si returned first. The servant heard that our old Madam had lost all her fortune and used the silver note to pay it off. But those were all the old Madam's own possessions, not a single copper coin from the Hou Mansion was touched! What kind of madness did Gu Chun and the others have"

Xiao was unsure whether to cry or laugh. She told Jinxiu, "They found the dowry of that concubine from mother's room. My younger brother immediately turned livid, but considering there were outsiders present, he didn't say anything. Gu Chunhe hurriedly dismissed Ye Wenyan and the others, but when I tried to follow Ye Wenyan onto the carriage, he pulled me out."

She shuddered violently at this point, "Jinshu, you tell me where that Gu Chunhe got the strength Their family has three generations of scholars. People like them should be well-read and cultured, unable to even tie a chicken, right But she picked me up from the gate all the way to the front hall, then threw me to the ground, letting the servants bring over a burning stick and swung it at me."

"How could they possibly hit you" Jinxiu couldn't understand this at all. "The old madam robbed the concubine's dowry, why would they hit you"

"Because she didn't dare hit her mother, she took it out on me, showing off to her mother!" Xiao Shubi gritted his teeth in anger. "But don't think for a second that she doesn't hit her mother because she's afraid of being called an unfilial daughter-in-law who beats her mother-in-law and deserves to be divorced. The reason she doesn't hit is because her mother is old, and she's afraid of accidentally hurting her too badly. Gu Chun and she are practically devils! They're just like Ye Wenyan, devils! How can there be people like them in the world Jinxiu, tell me, how are we supposed to live like this from now on"

Jinxiu didn't know how to go on. Just as Xiao Shubi said, the Ye family had Ye Wenyan alone, and that was enough to be a thorn in their side. The Xiao family also had Gu Chunhe, and they were trapped on both sides. How could she possibly live like this

Xiao Shubi felt that life was full of despair everywhere. How could a good life suddenly become like this

She wept, holding onto Jinxiu tightly, but inside her heart she thought, how had she fallen so low that even her tears could only find solace in the embrace of a maidservant

This head was crying, but there were rustling footsteps in the yard, coming all the way to the door, at least three or four people.

Xiao Shubi heard the noise, her cries stopped, and she frowned, asking Jinxiu: "Who's here"

Jinshu quickly got up to go and look, before running out she didn't forget to help her master sit down in a chair.

Xiao Sh beyaz was holding his sleeve, wiping his tears, but he couldn't wipe away the redness in his eyes, nor could he wipe away the injuries all over his head and face.

A melodious voice came from the doorway: "How did you get here What are you doing here"

Xiao Shubi turned her head and saw it was Xichun.

Nowadays, Xi Chun is no longer the maidservant who was locked in the firewood shed by her. She is now a favorite of Ye Jing Sheng, and even though a new mistress is about to enter the household, Ye Jing Sheng hasn't reduced his love for her one bit.

Xiao Shubi hated Xichun, but at the same time, she saw hope in Xichun. She knew that Yezheng would not divorce her because they shared a secret. For the sake of this secret, Yezheng had given Xichun the status of a concubine and would also protect her position as the main wife.

She could do everything Xi Chun could, and she had already told Ye Jing Sheng the same. She had the same backup plan ready, so there was nothing for her to be afraid of. As long as she remained the second mistress of the Ye family, no matter what kind of life the concubine lived would depend on her.

When Xiao Shubi thought of this, his spine straightened. This also made Xi Chun smile, saying at the time: "Both wives have been beaten like this, can you still remember anything good Why do you straighten your back as soon as you see me Is that trying to put on airs in front of me as the main wife Or are you trying to suppress me even more at this time"

She chuckled as she spoke, “Don’t try that with me. I know what you’re thinking, but let me remind you, if you really think you have the guts, go stand up to the master yourself. You won’t get away with it with me. I hold all the cards, so where do you get off acting tough In that matter, we were never equals, and this inequality will always be between us. Remember that, don’t forget it easily.”

Xi Chun's words once again deflated Xiao Shu Bai's hard-earned momentum.

Yes, even if she had a backup plan, it would only be effective when facing Ye Xing. In front of Xi Chun, she would always be the one trembling in fear. Otherwise, if anyone got upset and casually told Ye Wen about her, she would be finished.

But... "But aren't you afraid of death" Xiao Shubi asked her, frowning. "What's in it for you if this gets out"

Xi Chun shrugged her shoulders, leaned forward until she was close to her ear, and then whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "There are no real benefits, but if I can drag down Master and Mistress Ye Jia at the very end, for someone like me, who started as a maid, wouldn't it be quite glorious A barefoot girl like me, am I afraid of you shoe-wearing people"

After he finished speaking, there was another burst of unrestrained laughter.

Xiao Sh beyaz's face turned even uglier. "What are you doing"

Xi Chun found a chair and sat down, then said, “It’s nothing major, just to inform Madam Er. I'm changing the name of my courtyard. The name 'Courtyard of Concubines' is simply too inappropriate. With the new mistress about to enter, if she sees that, people will think you are a petty and spiteful person! So, I need to change the name of my courtyard. After thinking for several days, I think 'Tayu Courtyard' sounds nice. 'Tayu' means to tread or trample. What do you think, Madam Er”

Xiao Shubi almost lost her breath, Stepping Feather Courtyard Her courtyard was called Huayu Courtyard, Xichun changed it to Stepping Feather Courtyard, and especially emphasized the word "trampling". Now even a concubine could casually trample on her as the head wife

She wanted to say she disagreed, but Xichun clearly wasn't here to ask for her approval. She had just come to inform her.

"I heard that Qiao's Courtyard is also being renamed, who knows what it will be called! After all, the old madam said last time that you gave our courtyard that name, you were showing jealousy. Showing jealousy is grounds for divorce! And besides, don't even think about threatening your master with anything, because with my mouth around, if I insist that the only person who instructed me was you, wouldn't you be speechless"

Xiao Shubi's head was buzzing, but Xichun continued to speak: "As for the matter of returning the silver notes from Yanhuagong, Second Madam doesn't have to be too sad. After all, you haven't suffered any losses, it's your mother who has. Ah, that's why they say it's good to have a good mother! No matter how big a mistake you make, someone will always rush to clean up for you. Unlike us poor souls, when we encounter trouble, we can only rely on our own luck. Fortunately, the master loves me a little more. Second Madam, please don't compete with me anymore in the future. After all, both mother and husband cannot be possessed by one person, right You have to give up one."

Xiao Shubi covered her chest with both hands, gasping for breath in anger.

Why can't we have both Are these two things in conflict with each other No, I don't think so.

“Alright, Second Madam, you should rest now! I have to go back, my husband is still in our room! Tomorrow I'll take care of changing the sign for the new courtyard. When it's hung up, Second Madam must come and see it. According to custom, you should also give a gift of congratulations!”

Xi Chun smiled as she came and smiled as she left, walking far away until her laughter could still be heard.

Xiao Shubi cried out of anger, and Jinxiu could only persuade her again. As she persuaded her, she heard Xiao Shubi ask her, "Where does the new wife live after entering the mansion"

Jinxiu said: "The household is already tidying up the new courtyard. Although it's not big, it's closest to Master's study, just, just separated by a wall. I heard that Master even had someone open a door in that wall."

He opened a door, didn't that just mean they were connected Xiao Sh beyaz felt like he was about to faint from anger.

Jinxiu helped her up and said, "Madam, there's something even more infuriating…"

>d down from the tree. Seeing that there were indeed no people around, she stopped hiding her form and boldly revealed herself, striding straight towards the girl in red.The girl chiseling the ice was...