Zhong Zhaoli signaled Hongling to knock on the door.

Hongling knocked lightly, and Qiushuang opened the door.

“What a coincidence to run into you here, Madam Jiang. I hope you don’t mind my uninvited arrival,” Zhong Zhaoli greeted her amiably, stepping into the room and bowing to Ye Yunniang.

“Madam Jiang, I apologize for testing you earlier.”

As the saying goes, one shouldn’t slap a smiling face. With Zhong Zhaoli being so polite, Ye Yunniang couldn’t bring herself to give her the cold shoulder.

“Is there something you need, Miss Zhong?”

Zhong Zhaoli stood still, a hint of pitifulness in her tone. “You are unwilling to forgive me, Madam.”

“You made me lose a friend,” Ye Yunniang said, not hiding her displeasure.

“No, I helped you see a friend for who she truly is.” Merchants value profit over loyalty.

“Should I be thanking you, then?”

“You’re welcome,” Zhong Zhaoli smiled brightly.

Ye Yunniang thought to herself: She really knows how to flatter herself.

Zhong Zhaoli sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and sipped it leisurely.

Ye Yunniang paid her little mind and looked toward the gates of the Imperial College, her thoughts turning to Li Pan’s examination.

“The eldest young master has Count Jiang’s recommendation. The Imperial College’s assessment is merely a formality.”

Hearing this, Ye Yunniang turned back to look at Zhong Zhaoli.

“One of my older cousins is an erudite at the Imperial College. He is in charge of instructing the newly admitted students.”

“What are you trying to say, Miss Zhong?”

“I want Tong Mo.”

“Tong Mo is a person, not an object.”

“It is the person I want.”

“Then work hard for it, Miss Zhong,” Ye Yunniang repeated her usual stance. She would not interfere in their romantic affairs.

“Everyone in the Prince Jing’s Manor has accepted me. The Bao family has also agreed.”

Zhong Zhaoli had smoothed everything out on Tong Mo’s home front.

The only one she hadn’t smoothed over was Tong Mo himself.

Otherwise, Zhong Zhaoli wouldn’t have repeatedly sought out her romantic rival.

In her heart, Ye Yunniang admired Zhong Zhaoli for managing to settle his entire family backing.

“You look very smug, Madam.”

To have a man so dead set and fiercely loyal to her.

Ye Yunniang wasn’t smug at all. She was genuinely happy for Tong Mo that there was a girl who adored him so much.

She also felt a bit sad for Zhong Zhaoli, who pinned all her affection onto one man.

“Madam Jiang, as long as you help me, I will get you whatever you want.”

Zhong Zhaoli spoke with supreme confidence. The family backing her could allow her to have anything she desired.

And Tong Mo was the only person who had consistently rejected her.

Ye Yunniang didn’t really want anything.

Her children were growing up healthy.

Cai Damei had partnered with Princess Yanping to open a branch of Xiaocaiji in the capital.

Before the shop was up and running, Cai Damei hadn’t planned to tell Ye Yunniang, wanting to spare her the worry.

Afraid that something might happen to Cai Damei, Ye Yunniang had privately asked Jiang Mingzhe.

Jiang Mingzhe had people investigate, which was how they found out Cai Damei was working with Princess Yanping.

One had a father and brother who died on the battlefield, while the other had a son whose remains were never found.

Cai Damei and Princess Yanping had a lot to talk about. They also discussed how many families of soldiers struggled to make ends meet after losing their men.

Princess Yanping wanted to help them. Giving them money might be risky if they couldn’t protect it, and it would only be a temporary fix anyway.

Cai Damei suggested to Princess Yanping that they teach the women ways to make a living, bringing up her own experience of opening Xiaocaiji in Jiangcheng.

Princess Yanping thought it sounded like a good idea and discussed opening a Xiaocaiji in the capital with Cai Damei.

Cai Damei originally wanted to take Cai Shuyi back to Jiangcheng, feeling her position in the Jiang household was somewhat awkward.

Ye Yunniang and the children disagreed, declaring that if Cai Damei left, they would follow her.

Having nothing to do all day in the Jiang household and spending the Jiang family’s money made Cai Damei feel uneasy. Moreover, Pan’er was a descendant of the Li family and couldn’t rely entirely on Jiang Mingzhe.

Wanting to do some real work, Cai Damei hit it off instantly with Princess Yanping.

The two selected a group of people from impoverished families or those with disabilities to grow vegetables for Xiaocaiji.

They picked another group of nimble-handed individuals with pickling skills to learn how to make the pickled side dishes.

Finally, they chose a group of eloquent and outgoing people to work in the shop and sell the vegetables.

Of course, the core research and development were led by Cai Damei to pickle dishes tailored to the tastes of the capital’s residents.

Knowing that Cai Damei had something meaningful to do, Ye Yunniang felt relieved.

Aside from Yuanyuan and Shushu, who were too young to work, Ye Yunniang was the only one at home feeling bored.

Ye Yunniang pondered whether she should find something to do herself.

If she were on good terms with Baise, Ye Yunniang would have thought of talking to Baise for some ideas.

Now, Ye Yunniang could only brainstorm on her own.

“Madam Jiang, for the sake of my sincere heart, won’t you help me?” Zhong Zhaoli’s words interrupted Ye Yunniang’s train of thought.

“Zhong Zhaoli, can you stop being so annoying all the time?” Tong Mo pushed the door open and strode in.

“Give it up. It is impossible for me to like you. Stop pestering me, it’s annoying.”

“How do you know you won’t like me if you don’t even try?” Zhong Zhaoli believed that as long as Tong Mo gave her a chance, she could definitely make him fall head over heels for her.

“Impossible.” Tong Mo had already experienced what it felt like to love someone.

In this lifetime, he would never feel that way about any woman other than Ye Yunniang.

“Ye ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Yunniang is already married. She is someone else’s wife.” Zhong Zhaoli couldn’t understand why Tong Mo simply wouldn’t look at her.

“Don’t argue. Sit down and talk properly.” Ye Yunniang reached out, gesturing for the two of them to take a seat.

“I have nothing to talk about with her.” Facing Ye Yunniang, Tong Mo’s tone turned gentle. “Pan’er will definitely pass the Imperial College entrance exam. Don’t worry.”

This was a gentleness Zhong Zhaoli had never received.

“Sit down to talk. With you standing, my neck hurts from looking up.”

Hearing this, Tong Mo sat down.

Ye Yunniang then looked at Zhong Zhaoli. “Miss Zhong, please have a seat.”

Zhong Zhaoli sat opposite Tong Mo, her eyes fixed on him.

Tong Mo turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

“You two have a good chat. Neither of you is allowed to leave until you reach a conclusion.” Saying this, Ye Yunniang stood up and walked toward the door.

“Ye Yunniang, do you hate me so much that you can’t wait to push me far away?” Tong Mo’s voice was full of grievance, like an abandoned little beast.

Ye Yunniang stopped in her tracks, turned to look at Tong Mo, and said earnestly:

“Tong Mo, you are not your father. Miss Zhong is not your mother. And I am not your step-parent.”

After saying this, Ye Yunniang didn’t look at the stunned Tong Mo or the thoughtful Zhong Zhaoli. She walked out of the room and shut the door firmly.

Hongling ordered people to bring over stools, tea, and pastries. Then she led the Zhong family’s servants to stand guard a short distance away.

Qiushuang watched Hongling’s actions and silently committed them to memory.

Ye Yunniang beckoned Qiushuang to sit down and chat with her.

Qiushuang complied, sitting down and picking up a piece of chestnut pastry.

“It’s not as good as the ones in Jiangcheng.”

“You’re homesick.”

Qiushuang hummed in agreement; she missed their life in Jiangcheng.

Ye Yunniang missed their life in Jiangcheng too.

Jiangcheng could be considered Ye Yunniang’s second home.

Just wait a little longer. Once Yuanyuan grew up, they could go home.

Looking at Qiushuang, who was taking big bites of the pastry, she asked, “How are things between you and Captain Chen?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep