Shi Mei chimed in, "Yes, someone died at Baoji Hall. Her Majesty the Empress went to handle it, which is why the meal was delayed."
Upon hearing that someone had died at Baojitang, Ye Lingfeng raised an eyebrow and said in a gloomy voice, "Where is Minister of Justice Wu Shang? This murder case is a matter for the Ministry of Justice. Why does Your Highness have to get involved?"
Before Hai Ling could reply, a palace maid brought in the food from outside the hall. It was quickly set out, and Shi Mei respectfully invited Hai Ling to eat. Ye Lingfeng knew that Hai Ling was hungry, but he decided to wait and let her eat first. Pregnant women shouldn't go hungry; she was eating for one person while supporting two.
Inside the main hall, all was quiet except for the sounds of Hai Ling eating, occasionally punctuated by Ye Lingfeng's words: "Slow down, don't choke."
Seeing Hailing so hungry, he felt heartbroken. She was supposed to be officiating a grand wedding, but she was starving like this. How could he not feel sorry for her? Besides, how could someone have died at Baojitang? Ye Lingfeng had a lot of questions, but seeing that Hailing was eating heartily, he stopped asking her. Instead, he brought her water and fed her a sip from time to time to prevent her from choking.
In no time, Hailin had eaten and drunk her fill, and then, rubbing her stomach, she finally felt much better.
Knowing that Ye wanted to ask her about the murder case at Baoji Hall, she ordered the palace maids to remove the food. Only when there were few people left in the hall did she tell Ye Lingfeng what had happened and what had happened at Baoji Hall. After listening, Ye Lingfeng's face turned ugly and gloomy.
"How dare someone from the Prince Zhaoyang's mansion do such a thing! Investigate! No matter who it is, they will not be spared!"
In fact, Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling knew perfectly well that if it really involved someone from the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion, this person was very likely related to Princess Xi Yan of Zhaoyang. She had caused Xi Yan to bleed profusely before, so she naturally hated her and started plotting. However, she had to admit that Princess Xi Yan of Zhaoyang was not a smart person. Think about it, what she did could easily be found out. If it really was her, could she escape?
Hailin yawned, looking a little tired.
Ye Lingfeng reached out and picked her up, then headed towards the palace. He said they could talk about it tomorrow.
"Let's go and rest, it's late."
"Mmm." Hailing snuggled into Ye Lingfeng's arms like a puppy and quickly fell asleep from exhaustion. Ye Lingfeng carried her into the palace and gestured to the servants behind him that they didn't need to come in. He put Hailing down and put her on the bed, then personally wiped her face and hands with a towel, undressed her, and let her sleep. His face was full of tenderness and doting affection.
Inside the palace, all was quiet.
As the night deepened, the Ye residence was in complete chaos.
From the young lady's boudoir, a sound like a pig being slaughtered could be heard, disturbing the peace of the entire household.
The patriarch of the Ye family, with a grim expression, led his men into Ye Liushuang's boudoir. He looked at his daughter lying face down on the bed, her buttocks and below covered in blood, her lower body riddled with wounds, a truly gruesome sight. Earlier, when the maid tried to change Ye Liushuang's clothes, the bloodstains stuck to them. Every time the maid moved, Ye Liushuang would let out a pig-like scream, disturbing the peace of the entire mansion.
Lord Ye led his wife in. As soon as Ye Liushuang saw Lord Ye, she became furious and cried out.
"Father, why didn't you tell me earlier? Why didn't you tell me that my cousin was getting married today? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have let my cousin marry that princess from the Southern Feather Kingdom. I would never have let them get married."
The thought of her cousin marrying someone else made Ye Liushuang cry in despair and sorrow, and she cried out as she cried.
"No, I won't let them have their way. I'm determined to marry my cousin, even if it's as a concubine."
As soon as Ye Liushuang finished speaking, Lord Ye's face turned extremely cold, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes. When Madam Ye saw Lord Ye's expression, she became frightened and quickly stepped forward to stop Ye Liushuang from speaking recklessly.
"Shuang'er, stop talking nonsense. Once you've recovered, behave yourself. Mother will find you a good marriage."
Who knew that upon hearing Madam Ye's words, Ye Liushuang angrily shoved Madam Ye's hand away.
"Mother, do you treat me like this too? Don't you know that the person I've wanted most since I was little is my cousin? I will never marry anyone else but him."
"Shuang'er, what nonsense are you talking about? If you keep talking nonsense, Mother will get angry."
Madam Ye was so anxious that she burst into tears. The Empress had decreed that if Ye Liushuang caused trouble at the Ji residence again, the entire Ye family would be executed along with her. Therefore, the master of the house hated Ye Liushuang intensely. He had given birth to a daughter who not only failed to bring honor to the family but was now also implicating them. Thus, the master of the house harbored murderous intent. Ye Liushuang was born to Madam Ye, who had spoiled her since childhood and naturally loved her dearly. She hoped that her daughter could recognize the reality of the situation and stop thinking about Ji Shaocheng, so that she could save her life. However, Ye Liushuang was unaware of her mother's thoughts and was still blaming Madam Ye.
“Mother, it’s no use being angry. I will not give up my cousin. I’ve been determined to marry him since I was a child, so I will marry into the Ji family even if I have to be a concubine.”
Madam Ye was speechless. Could she really just become a concubine? Even if she wanted to be a concubine, no one wanted her. If Ji Shaocheng liked her, he would have married her long ago. Why wait until today? So, in the end, she only got nothing. Besides, the Empress had already said that if she caused any more trouble, the Ye family would be in trouble.
"Shuang'er, you're so foolish."
"Mother, I'm in excruciating pain, my heart aches and my body aches, and now you're still criticizing me? Do you really want to see me die?"
Master Ye suddenly roared, "You deserve to die!"
After saying that, he turned and left Ye Liushuang's room. As soon as Madam Ye saw her husband leave, she quickly followed. The two of them went back to their room. Behind them, Ye Liushuang was still screaming. Today's beating only made her buttocks bruised. She still had a lot of energy and could still scream and shout. Everyone in the mansion was disgusted.
In Lord Ye's room, Madam Ye pleaded with her husband, "Master, please spare Shuang'er this once. I will definitely persuade her and won't let her cause any more trouble. I will find her a good family to marry into. Master, she is your own daughter. How can you be so heartless?"
Madam Ye thought about how she had carried the baby for ten months and finally given birth to this daughter. Was this all for this ending?
Madam Ye was fine when she didn't speak, but as soon as she did, Master Ye became annoyed. Now, not only Ye Liushuang, but also Madam Ye, disliked her as well.
“You were already there, waiting until she caused trouble before you came to plead for her. Over the years, other families have raised their daughters to know shame and manners, but why is your daughter so unruly and crazy? I don’t know how many times I’ve been ridiculed in private for having no family rules, and now you come to plead for her.”
Master Ye reprimanded Madam Ye, whose face turned deathly pale, unable to utter a single word. She had spoiled Ye Liushuang because Ye Liushuang was her only daughter, and her birth had been fraught with complications, nearly costing her her life. If Master Ye were to eliminate Ye Liushuang, who would she rely on? The Ye family had many children, but none of them were her own. Madam Ye couldn't help but weep.
There was a knock at the door, and the sound rang out.
"master?"
Upon hearing the servants' calls outside the door, Madam Ye quickly wiped away her tears. Master Ye glanced at her, then ordered towards the door, "Come in."
The butler brought in a bowl of medicine and respectfully asked, "Master, this is the medicine you instructed me to prepare for Miss. Shall I send it over now?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Ye was terrified. She grabbed Master Ye's sleeve and pleaded, "Master, please, please! I will teach Shuang'er and make sure she behaves herself. Otherwise, let's send her out of Bianliang City, away from here, and never let her come back. Let's find her a family and let her get married."
Master Ye hesitated for a moment. Ye Liushuang was his daughter. Even tigers don't eat their cubs, so he naturally felt sorry for her. Looking at Madam Ye's expression, he felt a little sorry for her, but when he thought of the Empress's words, he couldn't help but tremble. He wasn't sure that his daughter wouldn't cause trouble, so he didn't dare to gamble the lives of more than a hundred people in the manor on such a daughter. If her madness flared up, she could come back from any place. If she caused trouble, the Ye family would be in real danger.
Once Master Ye had thought it through, he nodded to the butler: "Go."
The butler, having received the order, deftly took the bowl and left. Upon seeing this, Madam Ye rushed over like a madwoman. Inside the room, Master Ye abruptly ordered the servants outside the door: "Stop Madam and take her back to her room. She is not allowed to come out without my permission."
"Yes, sir."
The servants rushed in, grabbed Madam Ye, and dragged her towards her quarters. Madam Ye screamed, "Master, Master, you can't do this! You can't do this!"
The servants immediately knocked Madam Ye unconscious and dragged her away.
Inside the room, Master Ye closed his eyes and sighed heavily. It wasn't that he didn't feel sorry for her, but he didn't dare to gamble the lives of the entire mansion on Ye Liushuang. If she knew the rules and knew how to behave, that would be fine, but she had always been so ignorant. Could he let her have her way?