Speaking ill of someone and being overheard can be awkward for anyone, even for someone like Zhao with her usually thick skin.
Qingyue ignored her completely, walking straight up to the seated Ye parents, and knelt before them. Naturally, someone brought over the prepared tea, "Father, mother, please have some tea."
Adhering strictly to the etiquette, plus being newlywed, Qingyue, dressed in a light red dress, her eyes smiling and her cheeks rosy, made Zhao look utterly inferior.
Nobody in the room paid any attention to Zhao. After Ye parents sipped the tea, they had someone hand over red envelopes. They personally handed them to Gaosheng and Qingyue. With this, the tea ceremony was completed.
Next, it was time for the sisters-in-law to give gifts to the bride. Zhang’s gift was a gold hairpin, deliberately picked from the town, and quite acceptable.
However, Zhao’s gift seemed a bit embarrassing—an extremely thin silver ring.
Fortunately, Qingyue was tactful. She accepted it and let her attendant keep it, her expression unchanged, and she even politely thanked Zhao.
As the newly appointed Sister-in-law, Qingyue also prepared gifts for the family. fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m
For the Ye parents, she made a pair of new shoes each; for her elder and second sisters-in-law, a jade bracelet each; there was nothing for her elder and second brothers-in-law since it was improper for a younger sister-in-law to give gifts to them.
For the younger members of the family, it was simpler—each boy received a set of writing materials. Qinghua and Qingzhi received something special, a piece of clothing each, obviously not made by Qingyue but by the servants.
As the Ye Family’s unseen head and the treasure of the family, Ye Jiu’s gift was undoubtedly the best and most thoughtful—a complete set of jade gourd ornaments, small and adorable, perfectly suited for Ye Jiu’s age. He was exceptionally pleased, happier even than if he had received the gift himself.
After receiving the gifts, the family had breakfast and then everyone went back to their respective homes.
Using his free time, Ye Jiu pulled Gaosheng aside privately, "Fourth brother, I heard that Sister Qingyue hit someone yesterday?"
Although he knew she was skilled in martial arts, Qingyue usually seemed so gentle, it was hard to imagine her striking someone.
At this, Gaosheng’s eyes instantly flashed with anger, "That boy deserved it, it was only right."
Originally, when that young man approached, he had wanted to hit him, but before he could, Qingyue had dealt with it with one kick.
Gaosheng was just beginning to realize how fierce his gentle wife could be!
"He really did deserve it, thinking our family could be bullied by just anyone!" chimed in Ye Jiu, teasingly glancing at Gaosheng, "But, fourth brother, you better be careful now that Sister Qingyue is so powerful. Make sure not to offend your wife because if Sister Qingyue locks you in a room and beats you up, I won’t be able to save you."
Gaosheng immediately blushed, somewhat sheepishly responding, "Qingyue wouldn’t do that, she’s really gentle with me." Speaking of which, Gaosheng disapprovedly looked at Ye Jiu, "And you should change how you address her. She’s your sister-in-law now, and you keep calling her Sister Qingyue, it might make people laugh."
Ye Jiu sighed, "Ah, they say a man forgets his mother when he marries. Whether you’ve forgotten mother, I don’t know, but it seems as though I, your sister, no longer hold any place in your heart."