Miss Qingyue had moved into Ye Jiu’s courtyard from the beginning, and had never moved since, which conveniently allowed Ye Gaosheng to see her every time he came to look for Ye Jiu.
Just as Madam Zhao reached the front gate, she saw a servant carrying a bolt of cloth and a box out, and asked, "What is this for?"
"To answer the second lady, these are gifts from the fourth master and the young lady for Miss Qinghua. The servant was ordered to deliver them," replied the servant.
Madam Zhao’s eyes flickered, "What about the items for our second branch of the family? You don’t need to go out of your way to deliver them. Since I’m already here, just hand them over to me to bring back."
The servant seemed embarrassed, "Well... the gifts for Miss Qingzhi have already been sent by the fourth master’s orders."
"Fine, off you go. I’ll speak to the old master and mistress myself. We are all his sons; there shouldn’t be such favoritism," Madam Zhao said, her face souring as she walked inside, dragging her pregnant belly with her.
Madam Zhao had made unpleasant remarks on several occasions, causing a ruckus. Annoyed, Ye Jiu had had her driven out many times, even ordering that she be barred from entering for a long while. Having learned her lesson, she dared not make a noisy fuss anymore.
After Madam Zhao entered, by chance, she saw Ye Gaosheng carrying two bolts of cloth, strolling leisurely and humming a tune.
Thinking of the words those outside had said, Madam Zhao felt a surge of irritation but still greeted him with a smile, hurriedly approaching him, "Fourth brother, where are you taking those things?"
Ye Gaosheng’s relaxed expression instantly vanished upon seeing his sister-in-law. He felt a slight headache, "Second sister-in-law, you’ve arrived. I just received two bolts of cloth and am taking them to my little sister’s room."
Madam Zhao squinted, smiling but not quite, "I saw the servants carrying things to the main branch of the family. Surely our second branch isn’t left out, right?"
Ye Gaosheng chuckled, "Second sister-in-law, these items were gifts from others, not particularly purchased. They are all suitable for young girls. The items sent to big brother’s are for Qinghua, and even our parents didn’t get any. Even if I sent them to the second branch, you couldn’t wear them. Besides, I had Qingzhi’s share delivered to her room directly. They are my dear nieces, after all. Even if I, as their uncle, fall short, our parents wouldn’t stint on their own granddaughters."
Madam Zhao wasn’t one to be outdone. Unable to win the argument on this matter, she quickly shifted focus to the next issue.
She scoffed and eyed the cloth in Ye Gaosheng’s hands with a twisted tone, "It seems to me that you’re not taking these items to your sister, but to Miss Qingyue, right?
But as someone who has been through it all, I can understand. After all, you’re about to take a wife. Naturally, the status of parents, sister, brother, and nephew would drop once again in your heart. I understand completely."
Ye Gaosheng’s face turned red immediately at Madam Zhao’s words, "I have nothing to say to you, second sister-in-law. If you have a complaint, go discuss it with our parents."
In this family, probably only his mother and his little sister had the power to deal with Madam Zhao.
Especially after returning from the capital city, his little sister had changed a lot. She no longer tolerated the main and second branches of the family as before. If she was irritated, she could have someone thrown out directly.
Being ignored was one thing, but the embarrassment was certain.
Madam Zhao had a profound experience of this.
Of course, considering that she was still pregnant, Ye Jiu naturally wouldn’t have someone handle her roughly, but it would be very easy to close the main gate and not allow her in.