As soon as Ye Liushuang thought about this, she suppressed the urge to run away, while Little Lion Qiuqiu continued to shake its head at her.
"I heard that Miss Ye used to be the steward of the Ji family, so does she know how to manage servants?"
Hai Ling asked calmly, without looking at Ye Liushuang, but instead looked at the little lion in her arms. The little lion was very agitated because it wanted to play with Ye Liushuang's fleshy body. Hai Ling patted the little lion's hand, telling it to calm down. Ye Liushuang really needed to be taught a lesson, but she wanted to see what she was up to.
As they talked, the group headed toward a side hall in Xiangwu Courtyard. Ye Liushuang followed Hailing inside, where a maid had already laid out breakfast. Hailing sat down to eat, paying little attention to Ye Liushuang.
Ye Liushuang stood in the side hall, watching the people enjoying their breakfast, seemingly forgetting herself, while feeding the little lion in her arms meat as she ate.
Ye Liushuang's chest heaved with anger. What right did this damned woman have? What right did she have to come to the Ji residence and act so arrogantly? She used to be the most powerful person here, but now, as soon as she returned, all the servants in the Ji residence obeyed her and completely forgot about her.
While eating, Hai Ling casually turned her head and seemed to only then notice Ye Liushuang. She instructed Fu Yue, "Pour Miss Ye a cup of tea. Miss Ye, please sit down and talk. Does Miss Ye prefer to stand?"
Ye Liushuang plopped down in anger. "Pah! What do you mean she likes to stand? She didn't even greet her!" But thinking of the purpose of her visit today, Ye Liushuang suppressed her anger. "I'll endure it, I'll endure it. It's all for my cousin. Otherwise, I will never forgive this woman."
Fu Yue served tea and stepped aside.
While drinking tea, Ye Liushuang looked around at the side hall of Xiangwu Courtyard. Even a small side hall was decorated extremely exquisitely. Her place was incomparable to it. When she married into the Ji family, the first thing she would do was to take over this courtyard. Ji Hailing had better get out.
"Cousin, you know, Cousin Shaocheng isn't young anymore. What kind of wife will he marry?"
Ye Liushuang's eyes sparkled with a peach blossom-like light, her face flushed. Thinking of Ji Shaocheng, her heart pounded like a deer. She had admired her cousin since childhood and always wanted to marry him, but her cousin seemed to dislike her and had always paid her little attention.
That's why she came today to test her cousin and see if her cousin had someone he liked. After all, Ji Shaocheng was special to this younger sister and would definitely tell her anything.
Hai Ling raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ye Liushuang. She finally understood why Ye Liushuang had been so obsequious today, suppressing her fear of the little lion Qiuqiu and determined to sit here.
She wanted to probe her own thoughts and see if her brother had anyone he wanted to marry.
This woman has always been treacherous; she would never agree to let her marry into the Ji family. Ji Shaocheng is a good brother, handsome, and loyal to the country. Such a fine man deserves a woman who is devoted to him, not someone like Ye Liushuang.
As Hai Ling thought this, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"My cousin certainly has a woman in his heart."
"What?" Upon hearing this, Ye Liushuang hurriedly stood up. In her haste, she even spilled some tea from her teacup without realizing it. Her eyes were filled with resentment as she glared at Hailing.
Little Lion Ball was startled and glared angrily at Ye Liushuang.
Ye Liushuang forgot her fear and anxiously called out to Hailing, "Tell me, who is it? Who does my cousin like?"
She had waited and watched over him for so many years, and she would always rush to his door if she knew anyone was interested in him. But she never expected that her cousin would still have someone he liked.
Hailing had already eaten her fill. She waved her hand, signaling Fuyue to lead the people to clear away the breakfast, and then took a silk handkerchief from Shimei to wipe her mouth.
"I don't know who it is, but I'm sure it's not you."
Hai Ling didn't give Ye Liushuang any face at all. She still wanted to marry Ji Shaocheng? Dream on.
"What, what did you say?"
"Mei'er, what did I say?"
Hai Ling ignored her and instead looked at Shi Mei, who immediately reported loudly, "Miss said that the young general's heart belongs not to Miss Ye, but to someone else."
Ye Liushuang was furious. The anger she had been holding back for days suddenly exploded. She pointed at Hailing and roared, "You're talking nonsense! What right do you have to say that? Who do you think you are? Cousin Shaocheng has me in his heart. You're lying."
Hai Ling raised an eyebrow, her face turning icy cold. The little lion in her arms, Qiu Qiu, was enraged when it saw someone scolding its master. With a leap, it pounced on Ye Liushuang like a fireball. Ye Liushuang had forgotten about the little lion in her anger, but when she saw it rushing towards her, she turned pale with fright and ran away, still barking desperately as she ran.
"Ji Hailing, you actually lied to me. I don't believe it. I don't believe that my cousin doesn't have me in his heart."
After she finished cursing, she rushed out of the side hall of Xiangwu Courtyard, and the little lion followed closely behind. It had always disliked Ye Liushuang and had wanted to teach her a lesson for a long time, but its master had always forbidden it. Now that its master had not spoken, it meant that it was allowed to teach this damned woman a lesson, and it would let her go.
In the side hall, Fuyue walked in from outside, her face full of worry, and asked, "Miss, what about the little lion?"
She wondered if it might bite Miss Ye to death. This was the General's Mansion; if it killed someone, it would be a bad thing.
Hailin stood up and shook her head: "No, it won't happen."
At most, Little Lion would just make her dizzy; he would never kill her, and she believed him on that point.
Sure enough, an hour later, Little Lion returned. A servant reported that Miss Ye had been knocked unconscious by Little Lion Ball and had several scratches on her face that would probably not heal for a while. As soon as Miss Ye woke up, she packed her things and went back to the Ye residence, vowing never to come to the Ji residence again. Everyone in the Ji residence clapped and cheered, almost ready to buy firecrackers to send Miss Ye off.
Now, Hailing felt even more at ease. Everyone in the Ji family, from the old general to the servants, treated her very well. This period was the most peaceful and comfortable time of her life.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, the Ministry of Revenue sent over the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection, and Hai Ling's expression turned sour.
Unexpectedly, Ye Lingfeng still included her in the selection list. Hai Ling looked at the list with resentment, wishing she could go to the palace immediately and throw the list in Ye Lingfeng's face.
Doesn't he know about her behavior lately? She doesn't want to enter the palace; he can choose whoever he wants, just not her.
However, she held back in the end because she really didn't want to face Ye Lingfeng alone. He was different from the one in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was domineering and dictatorial. If she went to him, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, or offering herself up. But did she really want to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection?
Hai Ling was deep in thought in her room when Ji Shaocheng's voice came from outside the door.
"Is Miss asleep?"
"No, I'm just annoyed."
Fu Yue lifted the curtain, and Ji Shaocheng entered. He saw Hai Ling nestled on the couch in the room, looking at the roster in her hand over and over, her face full of resentment.
A glint flashed in Ji Shaocheng's eyes. In truth, he didn't want his sister to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection either, because she had just returned and they should spend more time together. Moreover, the thought of Ling'er getting married made him feel very uncomfortable and sad.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Shaocheng's voice was gentle as he looked at Hailing with concern.
Hai Ling waved the roster in her hand, then gestured for Ji Shaocheng to sit down.