Zhao Shi laughed heartily and then sat down unceremoniously on the kang on the other side. She didn’t wait to be invited; she just picked up the pastries from the kang cabinet and started eating.
"Mother, the incident today was not me stirring up trouble; I saw it with my own eyes.
Just now, Fourth Brother carried two bolts of cloth to give to Qingyue; mother, you didn’t know about this, did you?
That alone would be enough, but Fourth Brother even said they were for his younger sister. You know how honest he used to be; now, for Qingyue, he has even learned to lie.
And he’s not even officially part of the family yet. Once he is, it’s uncertain who will be in charge here..."
Zhao Shi, although she loved to incite disputes, understood He Shi’s temperament thoroughly.
As expected, as soon as she said this, He Shi couldn’t help but start to have doubts.
Seeing that things were turning sour, Ye Jiu quickly explained, "Mother, I instructed Fourth Brother to take them there..."
Immediately after, Ye Jiu disclosed the incident of Liu Yunqing’s visit today and mentioned that he had assigned those gifts himself.
This made He Shi feel better.
In He Shi’s eyes, she had been in charge of the household for decades; naturally, anything Ye Gaosheng wanted to give had to be approved by her.
But Ye Jiu was different.
It could be said that because He Shi had suffered much injustice in her youth, once she had a daughter, she raised her as her own, spoiling her immensely and resolved never to let her daughter suffer as she had.
Not to mention, the entire Ye Family now depended on Ye Jiu.
In He Shi’s heart, Ye Jiu’s words should carry more weight than her own in this household; this would show her daughter’s worth and her status within the family.
No matter when it was, even she herself should not overshadow her daughter’s position in the family.
That was He Shi’s truest belief.
Zhao Shi’s attempt at inciting discord had failed, and naturally, her smiling facade faded.
However, having failed to get her way, she was not ready to give up just yet.
Her eyes darting around, Zhao Shi thought she had found a good way to handle Ye Jiu.
"Mother, you initially said you were unwell, which was why Qingzhi was sent to serve you tea and water. Now that you are better and have moved into the big house with servants at your beck and call, do you think I can take Qingzhi back home with me?" Zhao Shi plotted.
By retrieving the maid, not only would she gain a worker, but given Ye Jiu’s fondness for her, undoubtedly, Qingzhi had received many valuable gifts during her time here.
Once she returned home, all those items would belong to herself, while that wretched maid would be living comfortably in this vast mansion, and no one at home would do the chores; Zhao Shi wouldn’t get a touch of anything valuable.
Unlike the main house, everyone says Ye Jiu is smart and capable, but in Zhao Shi’s eyes, this young sister-in-law is foolish—distributing things to both maidens, yet failing to cozy up to her own brother appropriately.
She doesn’t see who her real support is.
A woman’s status in her marital home is always propped up by her parental home.
Zhao Shi thought she had a grip on Ye Jiu’s fears, but she failed to see the increasingly icy look in Ye Jiu’s eyes.
However, before Ye Jiu could speak, He Shi couldn’t restrain herself any longer. Having held back for a long time, her temper suddenly erupted, and she hurled a barrage of insults at Zhao Shi.