Si Ma Roumei was not afraid of being implicated herself, but she feared that because of her, her father’s position as a government official might be affected.
She also worried that her return to the capital at the year’s end would be delayed for the same reason.
Seeing those who were about to be rescued, their condition was still acceptable. Although somewhat disheveled, as long as no one had died, this lesson taught them that harming others could harm themselves.
Si Ma Roumei had known the Ye Family’s sisters for quite a few years, already more than five years.
The personalities of the Ye Family’s sisters were not that bad—they wouldn’t deliberately harm others, but they were not the type to be bullied without fighting back.
It wasn’t Ye Fengqi who instigated today’s provocation, nor was it she who pushed the two women into the fishpond.
Ye Jinxiang and Ye Lanzi were pulled ashore by many people, nearly half dead, their stomachs feeling bloated from swallowing quite a bit of the sugary fishpond water.
Dizzy and disoriented, they were in no condition to seek revenge at this time.
The maids of the two wealthy ladies brought out household sheets and covered them over the ladies.
For Ye Jinxiang and Ye Lanzi, the water in the fishpond wasn’t cold despite it being summer; it was their clothes that were soaking wet. The maids hurriedly thought only of covering them with sheets to prevent others from seeing the ladies’ bodies.
As a mother, the landlord squatted beside her two daughters, calling out, "Jinxiang, Lanzi, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare mother."
Upon seeing his daughters pulled to safety, Ye Zhiwei noticed that the auspicious time was nearly missed. If they didn’t quickly retrieve the bride, further mishaps could complicate matters.
"Quick, quick, quick, Zhengxiong, you lead the people to fetch the bride!"
Ye Zhengxiong... With this debacle, could he still muster up the courage?
"What are you daydreaming about, son? Go and fetch the bride!"
The landlords, who were preoccupied with their daughter, suddenly remembered that today was their son’s wedding day!
"Oh," Ye Zhengxiong responded dully. Did his face still bear the proud and happy smile he had before setting off?
The groom led the way by speeding off on his horse, the rest of the party following suit. The musicians who had stopped playing due to the commotion now resumed their vibrant performance, orchestrated by the landlord.
"Drip-drip-drip-drip-drip!"
On Ye Zhiwei’s youngest son’s wedding day, only the wealthy and relatives attended.
This time of day was typically when others went to work; those needing to work would be busy, only taking a break to eat lunch.
The commotion had attracted only some of those attending the banquet and local villagers of various ages.
Ye Zhengjie saw that what was supposed to be a joyous occasion became less glorious for his younger brother, who had encountered some high-status individuals but refused to bow his head, returning disheveled and disgruntled to get married.
As the eldest brother, he didn’t know why, but he felt delighted by this inside, although he did not show it.
As the eldest son, inheriting the family business was expected, and his younger brother shouldn’t have contested this. Originally, his marriage to a concubine daughter from the Tang Family was supposed to elevate their status, with a dowry coming and the connection to the Tang Family helping their family to climb higher.
Shouldn’t their situation be better than the Ye family’s in the village?
If their business were running, the Tang Family would also invest and help them on a wealthier path.
He did have ambitions, but he had never imagined that the dowry, although significant, was controlled by his wife.
As a husband, he could bask in shared glory, but when he wanted to cooperate with the Tang Family in other business areas, the Tang Family Patriarch didn’t agree.
His dreams of greater wealth had fallen through.
The younger brother was about to marry a rich man’s daughter, and there seemed to be hope for further advancement in the future. The father began to pay attention again, and he felt a dangerous sense of oppression! ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Ye Jinxiang and Ye Lanzi, wrapped only in blankets, had wet hair. They needed to walk a distance from there to get home.
The two sisters had drunk so much pond water, and they had just vomited it out. Their mouths tasted both fishy and stinky, aside from being fresh and foul, their bodies also reeked.
The two of them lay paralyzed on the ground, unwilling to move a step. The landlord’s wife saw the two daughters in this condition and had them carried back home.
Ye Jinxiang and Ye Lanzi were so obese that they had to be carried back in a sedan.
An eight-bearer sedan was needed, and entering through the main gate would expose them to many guests. Their sedan could only enter through the side door.
After Ye Jinxiang and Ye Lanzi got home and bathed, they developed a fever. They missed their second brother’s wedding banquet and were sick for several days and nights.
When they woke up, they blamed the sudden disaster on Ye Fengqi.
They heard from the maids by their side that, during their few days of illness, their parents went to the Ye family every day to confront Ye Fengqi.
Ye Zhengxiong had brought a wife home. Initially, the wife’s family was unaware of the incident.
They only wondered why it took them so long to leave the house?
Such a short distance, and yet the bride had been made to wait for so long!
Later, when Ye Zhengxiong’s people came to take the bride, some casual conversations among others inadvertently revealed the matter.
The bride was unaware. Seeing that it was nearly time to ride the bridal sedan, her family also did not quarrel with the groom and his party.
They only planned to discuss the matter with the other family after the event was over!
Being a rich man, of course, he thought that Ye Zhengxiong should not have offended those people. Young and impulsive, such temperament is not suitable for significant accomplishments. Since the marriage was already decided and he had come to fetch the bride, calling off the wedding was no longer an option.
The bride, veiled, arrived at her husband’s home and married him in a traditional ceremony. Listening to the lively sounds, she did not feel anything was amiss, but she sensed something off about the way they looked at them!
Her head was covered, and she couldn’t see anyone, which frustrated her internally.
On the New Year, she entered the nuptial chamber, where the maid told the lady about the incidents that occurred on the road while fetching the bride!
Contrary to what others thought, the bride felt that her husband’s actions were justified. Their marriage demanded respect from others, and her husband valued their union, which was why he acted the way he did.
The father-in-law and the family lowered their heads inappropriately. The sister-in-law had fallen into a fish pond and justice needed to be sought!
She had already begun planning to discuss this with her parents after she returned home in three days!
Ye Zhengxiong, in the bridal chamber, received his wife’s supportive words and felt comforted and happy!
Three days after returning home, the couple happily went back. The bride discussed the incident with her parents, who criticized Ye Zhengxiong. As a wife, she told her parents, "My husband did the right thing!"
Ye Zhengxiong was subtly criticized by his in-laws, with implications that he should not have acted impulsively. He was somewhat unhappy and wanted to leave abruptly without a smile.
The verbal support from his wife made him much happier, feeling that having a soulmate in life was crucial. At that moment, in Ye Zhengxiong’s heart, his wife mattered more to him than many beauties.
In the end, when the family went to the Ye’s to make a scene, the wife also helped with plotting and strategizing. Though Ye Zhengxiong did not say much, his attitude was supportive!