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Sunlight filtered through the mottled shadows of the trees, casting a patchy glow over the courtyard of the Liu Residence, draping the ancient estate in a layer of faded light. Liu Jianmin and Yao Xueying, along with Liu Rumeng and Li Ming, had been waiting at the dining table for quite some time. Liu Ruyi's biological mother, Bai Jieqiong, stood timidly to the side, too afraid to take a seat.
Yao Xueying said impatiently, "It's already noon; it seems the Young Lord won't be accompanying Liu Ruyi back home." Her voice carried a hint of sharpness, her gaze filled with disdain.
Liu Rumeng quickly chimed in, "I told you so! Did you really think you could benefit from that daughter? Now the entire Liu Family is being dragged down by her, looked down upon by the Duke's Residence, and has become a laughingstock in the capital." Her words struck like arrows, piercing straight into Bai Jieqiong's heart.
Hearing this, Liu Jianmin felt a surge of anger. He turned to Bai Jieqiong and said, "You, stop being a nuisance here and go away." His tone held authority and impatience.
Bai Jieqiong had no choice but to step back and prepare to leave. However, Liu Rumeng added fuel to the fire, calling out sharply, "Hey, don’t leave! Stay here and serve us lunch!" Her tone was laced with deliberate provocation.
Bai Jieqiong was caught off guard and stood there awkwardly. The second miss's demand was simply outrageous!
Yao Xueying immediately scolded her, "Are you deaf or blind? Didn't you hear Rumeng? Hurry back and serve the dishes!" Her eyes were filled with contempt, as if reprimanding a lowly servant.
With no other option, Bai Jieqiong returned to the table and began serving everyone. Yet Yao Xueying was not done with her; as Bai Jieqiong was ladling soup into a bowl, she intentionally bumped into it, causing hot soup to splash and burn Bai Jieqiong's hand.
"Ouch!" Bai Jieqiong cried out in pain and accidentally knocked over the soup bowl.
Yao Xueying stood up angrily and said fiercely, "Clumsy fool! Just wait until I teach you a lesson!" She reached out as if to strike her.
At that moment, Liu Ruyi and Yuan Yingwu walked in through the door.
Liu Jianmin felt a surge of joy upon seeing them, while Liu Rumeng and Yao Xueying looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Liu Ruyi softly apologized to everyone, "I'm late!" Her voice was gentle and polite, like a spring breeze brushing over a lake.
The other servants began to murmur upon seeing Liu Ruyi's elegant attire.
"The eldest miss has truly transformed into a phoenix!"
"Decked in gold and silver, she rivals even the ladies of the palace!"
Hearing this, Yao Xueying was furious but couldn't express her anger since Yuan Yingwu was right behind Liu Ruyi!
Yuan Yingwu stepped forward and clasped his hands toward Liu Jianmin and Yao Xueying. "There were matters at home that delayed me; I hope my father-in-law and mother-in-law will forgive me!"
"Not at all!" Liu Jianmin exclaimed joyfully as he rose to his feet with a beaming smile.
Liu Rumeng wore a glum expression as she thought to herself: "He was clearly entangled with that woman before; how could he..."
Liu Jianmin nudged Li Ming aside. "Move aside!" He hurriedly approached Yuan Yingwu and said, "Your esteemed son-in-law has important matters entrusted by His Majesty; it's only natural he would be busy. How could we blame him? Come, come! Please take your seat!"
As he spoke, Liu Jianmin pulled Li Ming aside. "You go over there!" Then he tugged at Liu Rumeng. "You too!" He pushed them both down to seats at the lower end of the table.
"Esteemed son-in-law, please take your place!" Liu Jianmin urged Yuan Yingwu.
Liu Ruyi hurried to her mother's side. "Mother, you should sit down!" Her voice carried a hint of warmth and concern.
Seeing this scene, Liu Jianmin urged Yao Xueying to get up and let Bai take her seat.
Yao Xueying was reluctant but dared not oppose her husband's wishes, so she had to yield her seat to Bai Jieqiong.
Noticing that her mother was unhappy, Liu Rumeng softly said, "Mother, they don't visit every day. Once they leave, you are the mistress here, and she is just a servant. Can't you handle her?"
Yao Xueying felt a bit better upon hearing this.
"Mother!" Liu Ruyi affectionately called out to her mother.
Bai Jieqiong looked at her daughter with kindness and asked, "Liu Ruyi, how have you been at the Duke's Residence?"
"Don't worry! He treats me very well!" Liu Ruyi replied, glancing at Yuan Yingwu. Her eyes sparkled with happiness and contentment.
"That's good to hear!" Bai Jieqiong said cheerfully. "Come, eat some vegetables!" As she spoke, she reached out to serve her daughter but winced in pain.
"Mother, what happened to your hand?" Liu Ruyi noticed something was off immediately.
"It's nothing, really!" Bai Jieqiong didn't want to make a fuss.
"Let me see!"
"It's fine!"
Liu Ruyi insisted on looking, and Bai Jieqiong could not evade her scrutiny any longer, revealing a burn on her hand.
"What happened?" Yuan Yingwu inquired with a questioning look.
"The mistress asked Aunt Bai to serve the dishes earlier and deliberately spilled the soup, burning Aunt Bai," a maid bravely stepped forward to explain.
Liu Jianmin wanted to smooth things over. "We're all family; let's just forget about what happened."
Liu Ruyi would not agree. "Fine! Let her put her hand in the soup then! That would settle it!"
Yao Xueying immediately retorted, "What’s wrong with a servant serving my mother? It's perfectly acceptable!"
Liu Rumeng chimed in, "Exactly! Do you think you're so important just because you've climbed up the social ladder? Our family's affairs are not for you to meddle in!"
With a loud bang, Yuan Yingwu slammed his hand on the table. "Is this how your family treats my wife’s mother? Do you think I don't deserve respect from the Ning Guo Gong Fu?"
Liu Jianmin felt anxious and pretended not to understand. "What do you mean by that, son-in-law?"
"You allow my wife's mother to be treated like an insignificant servant here; isn't that slapping my Gongfu's face?" Yuan Yingwu asked angrily, his eyes flashing with intensity.
Liu Rumeng expressed her doubts, "Isn't the Mistress the wife of Da Fang? What right does she have to be the Mistress?"
Yuan Yingwu replied firmly, "My grandmother has already decided to let Liu Ruyi manage the household, so she is naturally the Mistress of my Gongfu." His voice was strong and left no room for doubt.
Liu Jianmin hurriedly said, "This matter is my fault! How about this, I will host a banquet soon and elevate Bai to Concubine status. What do you think, esteemed son-in-law?"
Yuan Yingwu glanced at Liu Ruyi and noticed that his wife was not satisfied. He remained silent and poured a cup of tea for Liu Ruyi. "Wife, have some tea!"
Liu Jianmin felt anxious and suggested, "What if we elevate her to Noble Concubine instead?"
But Yuan Yingwu still did not respond. Instead, he placed a dish into Liu Ruyi's bowl. "Wife, try this dish and see how it tastes."
Liu Jianmin understood his meaning and hesitated, "We can't possibly elevate her to Secondary Wife, can we?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yingwu immediately stood up, raised his wine cup, and said, "Father-in-law is truly wise; I admire you greatly. Here’s to you!"
"Alright, alright! If it must be Secondary Wife, then so be it!" Liu Jianmin decided to go along with it; he couldn't afford to offend the Young Lord, even if he was his own son-in-law.
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