"Step aside, now." Hongshao, the maid in front of Xing Jinxiu, urged impatiently.
The servant blocking the door didn't want to either, but his master's orders left him no choice.
"Madam,"
"Who are you calling 'Madam'? Watch your tongue!" Hongshao said, rolling up her sleeves and slapping the servant twice.
Xing Jinxiu watched the entire scene without the slightest attempt to intervene.
The struck servant, seething with anger but not daring to speak, lowered his head in apology.
It was useless. He was kicked to the ground, clearing the way.
"Open your dog eyes and see who you're blocking. How dare you stand in my lady's way? Get lost and don't block the lady's path." Hongshao kicked the servant a couple more times before turning around, her expression instantly changing. "My lady, mind your step."
Xing Jinxiu walked away slowly.
The others also followed, leaving the Qunfang Pavilion.
They hadn't gone far when they heard a commotion not far away.
Everyone's faces lit up with the anticipation of a good show, and they unanimously headed towards the source of the noise.
The closer Liang Maimiao got to the noise, the harder her heart pounded. She involuntarily quickened her pace.
"What's wrong?" Ye Yunniang grabbed Liang Maimiao's arm.
"I'm going to see what's happening up front." Liang Maimiao pushed through the people ahead and strode forward.
Ye Yunniang wanted to follow, but Baise took her hand.
"Other people's affairs... it's better for outsiders like us not to get involved too much," Baise said, holding Ye Yunniang's hand and walking slowly.
Following the crowd, they arrived at the place—the bridal chamber.
Wang Dashan and his son, Wang Jinsheng, who bore a slight resemblance to him, were brawling.
Mrs. Wang stood nearby, anxiously trying to mediate.
"Stop fighting, both of you, stop!"
"Dashan, he's your son. You can't hit him."
"Jinsheng, he's your father. You can't hit your father."
...
Unfortunately, her pleas fell on deaf ears for the two combatants.
Mrs. Wang stamped her foot in frustration. Her eyes fell on the weeping figure behind her. She turned and slapped Liang Hemiao twice across the face.
"You slut! This is all your fault. Wasn't seducing my son enough? You had to seduce your father-in-law too!" Mrs. Wang spoke through gritted teeth.
The onlookers: Oho, this is getting spicy!
Liang Hemiao, held by Liang Maimiao with her clothes in disarray, shook her head in denial. "I didn't! It was Father-in-law, he—"
Slap!
"Slut! I will definitely have you drowned in the pond!" Hearing Liang Hemiao still trying to implicate Wang Dashan, Mrs. Wang's face twisted viciously.
"Mother, don't hurt Hemiao. It's all that old lecher's fault." Wang Jinsheng couldn't bear to see Mrs. Wang hit Liang Hemiao.
In his heart, Liang Hemiao was a delicate, clinging vine, incapable of such a thing. It was all Wang Dashan's coercion.
"You unfilial son! Daring to beat your own father for a slut. I'll disown you!" Wang Dashan threatened.
"My unfilialness is because you forced me into it!" Wang Jinsheng's eyes grew redder as he remembered joyfully pushing open the bridal chamber door and seeing what was inside.
"Hemiao, what on earth is going on?" Liang Maimiao was getting more confused by the minute.
"Elder Sister, it's all Ye Yunniang's doing! She set me up, she did!" Liang Hemiao sobbed tearfully, equally bewildered. It was supposed to be Ye Yunniang and Father-in-law... how did it become her?
"Impossible. When I brought the noodles into the room, you were fine. You told me yourself that Yunniang had already returned to Qunfang Pavilion. There was a maid guarding the door. And Yunniang was indeed at Qunfang Pavilion. How could she have harmed you?" Liang Maimiao didn't believe it.
"No, it was—" Liang Hemiao started to say, then suddenly fainted.
"Hemiao! Hemiao! A doctor! Someone get a doctor to look at my sister!" Liang Maimiao shouted.
The doctor who had been dragged along finally had his moment to step forward.
He reached out to take the pulse, and his expression turned grave.
He deeply regretted his greed for those two taels of silver that brought him to the Wang residence.
"Doctor, what's wrong with my sister?" Liang Maimiao asked.
"This old man's skills are insufficient; I cannot discern the pulse," the doctor demurred.
"Is my sister seriously ill? Doctor, speak quickly, what's really wrong with my sister?" Liang Maimiao pressed.
"Doctor, if you know something, just say it," Mrs. Wang said, convinced Liang Hemiao was feigning fainting.
"The young mistress fainted due to emotional agitation. Rest will restore her," the doctor managed after a long moment.
"Doctor, tell the truth. What is really wrong with her?" Mrs. Wang didn't buy it.
"Doctor Tang, the family is asking. Just say what you have to say. What's there to hide?"
"Exactly, Doctor Tang, your medical skills are superb. How could you not diagnose it?"
"Doctor Tang, just tell us what the problem is?"
...
Some of the onlookers, never ones to shy away from stirring the pot, fanned the flames from the sidelines.
Doctor Tang gritted his teeth. "The young mistress Wang is pregnant. About a month and a half."
These words struck like a thunderbolt, stunning Wang Dashan and Wang Jinsheng, who were still fighting.
Wang Jinsheng now looked at Wang Dashan with eyes that wished to devour him.
Wang Dashan denied it. "Wang Jinsheng. I, Wang Dashan, always own up to my actions. If it were my seed, I'd admit it. But what's in her belly isn't."
"If it's not yours, then whose is it?" Wang Jinsheng had always been proper and restrained with Liang Hemiao.
"Liang Hemiao has been cheating on you behind your back for a long time!" Mrs. Wang rushed to Liang Hemiao and started hitting her hard. "Say it! Tell us! Whose child is it?"
Liang Maimiao was also stunned by Doctor Tang's words.
She reacted a beat slower, reaching out to block the blows. "Don't hit my sister!"
"You Liang family have made fools of us Wangs. This matter is far from over!" Mrs. Wang inwardly wished she could tear every member of the Liang family to pieces.
Wang Dashan also came to his senses. He cupped his hands towards the crowd. "Today, we have made a spectacle of ourselves before you all. Please take back your wedding gifts. Consider the banquet our apology feast. Please, eat and drink your fill."
No one was in the mood to eat now. They simply took back their wedding gifts and went home.
On the way back to Sunset Lane, Baise looked at Ye Yunniang. "Well done."
"Done what?" Ye Yunniang was puzzled.
Baise didn't answer, instead asking, "Can a carriage get into the lane?"
"Yes. Uncle Tie Yi lives in the last house in the lane." Ye Yunniang gave directions, arriving at the Tie family gate.
Unfortunately, Tie Yi wasn't home, only Tie Xiong was there.
"Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
"I've brought your future auntie to see her new home," Ye Yunniang said, stepping aside to reveal Baise behind her.
Tie Xiong stepped forward and bowed. "Tie Xiong pays his respects to Auntie."
Baise was pleased with Tie Xiong's attitude. She took out her purse and grabbed a large handful of gold leaf flakes.
"I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything else. Take these to spend. If it's not enough, just tell your auntie."
"Auntie, I have money," Tie Xiong declined.
"A gift from an elder should not be refused. Take it." Baise placed the gold leaves into Tie Xiong's hand.
"Thank you, Auntie," Tie Xiong said earnestly.
"We'll be family soon, no need for such formality. Show me around our home," Baise said, walking into the house.
After touring the Tie residence, Baise tossed out a sentence, "I'll come again tomorrow," and left directly by carriage.
"What did Auntie mean by that?" Tie Xiong asked Ye Yunniang, confused.
Ye Yunniang replied, "You'll know tomorrow."
Ye Yunniang said her goodbyes and headed home.
Passing by No. 7 courtyard, she saw a new family had moved in.
Liang Maimiao had told her. The new family was named Fang, with seven members: parents with two sons and a daughter. The eldest son was married and had a daughter of his own.
As Ye Yunniang passed by No. 6 courtyard, she was called by Qiufang, who was sitting at the courtyard entrance. "Yunniang."
Qiufang was sitting by the door doing needlework and invited Ye Yunniang to sit for a while.
Ye Yunniang declined, saying she had just returned from outside and needed to go home.
Qiufang insisted.
"Qiufang, is there something you wish to say?"
"There's nothing else. I just wanted to thank you." Qiufang's words left Ye Yunniang puzzled.
"Thank me for what?"
