No one visited her when she was on the verge of death, but when Hong Yicheng entered the manor, everyone of note in the manor came? What could be the reason...? It's something to ponder!
As soon as Ouyang Yue stepped into the hall, a woman in a bright chrysanthemum-colored dress rushed out, grabbed Ouyang Yue's arm, and cried out, "Poor Third Miss, how could you have been caught up in all this? How are you going to live now!"
Ouyang Yue immediately pulled her arm back, looking at the person who was faking tears at her with disgust.
The woman was dressed in bright and beautiful clothes, with a slender figure and a bewitching appearance. She cried with a charming air, but there was something inexplicable about the look in her eyes.
According to my memory, this person is Concubine Hua from the General's Mansion. She came from a brothel and was also brought back to the mansion by General Ouyang. She entered the mansion earlier than Concubine Liu, but she still has no children. However, she is quick-witted and unwilling to suffer a loss. Nine times out of ten, she is the one who starts any quarrels in the mansion.
Ouyang Yue felt a chill in her heart. She had only just arrived, and this Aunt Hua wanted to fight with someone, but she used her as a pretext, and even went straight for her sore spot. It was clear that she was a vicious person!
Ouyang Yue stepped forward and bowed to the woman sitting in the high seat, who was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe and adorned with many pearl hairpins, and who was very dignified: "Daughter greets Mother."
When Ouyang Yue completely ignored her, Aunt Hua's face twitched. She felt that Ouyang Yue was humiliating her. She was about to say something in anger, but then she froze.
Not only her, but everyone in the hall was stunned. Ouyang Yue was not only the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, but also the person the General cherished. Apart from the General himself, no one had ever seen Ouyang Yue be so polite to anyone, including her birth mother, the current General's wife, Madam Ning.
Ning was born into a powerful family, the third of the five great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She was the eldest daughter of the Ning family and had only one child, Ouyang Yue. She was clearly stunned for a moment, looked at Ouyang Yue deeply, and said indifferently, "This is what a daughter of the General's Mansion should be like. She injured her head when she fell in the garden before. It seems she has learned her lesson."
Ouyang Yue felt a chill in her heart. In her memory, Ning Shi had always been indifferent to the original owner of this body, but she thought her own mother couldn't be too bad. She never expected that Ning Shi would not come to see her when she was seriously injured, and now, upon seeing her today, she would first accuse her of misconduct, and in front of so many people at that! It was a slap in the face, and she didn't care at all whether she was embarrassed or not! Is there any mother who doesn't want the best for her daughter?
Ouyang Yue's eyes gradually darkened, something flickering within them...
Aunt Hua, who was annoyed by being ignored by Ouyang Yue, smiled sneer upon seeing this. So what if she pretended to be the proper daughter in front of Ouyang Yue? Anyone could control that stupid temper of hers. She immediately said in a sarcastic tone, "Third Miss! It's terrible! Your fiancé, Young Master Hong Yicheng, has come to break off the engagement!"
Ouyang Yue stared at Aunt Hua with a cold and indifferent gaze, causing the latter to instinctively step back. Ouyang Yue then glanced at Hong Yicheng, who was sitting on the left side of the hall, dressed in a blue brocade robe and exuding a dazzling aura. He was already showing her a complicated expression, and with his rather handsome face, he stirred the hearts of the young girls in the hall.
Ouyang Yue sneered. Did Hong Yicheng and Ouyang Rou, that despicable couple, really think she was a pushover to be trampled on at will?
☆、006, Auntie Gets Suckled!
Ouyang Yue sneered at the gloating Aunt Hua and said, "Aunt Hua, what are you doing? How could Brother Yicheng break off the engagement with me? Do you think he's the kind of hypocrite who would disregard a woman's reputation and maliciously slander others?"
Ouyang Yue spoke righteously, and her face showed the anger of Aunt Hua towards Hong Yicheng for slandering her. However, the meaning behind her words made Hong Yicheng's face change suddenly. He had come to break off the engagement, and he had already told Ning Shi in the hall that he was a hypocrite who did not care about the reputation of a young lady!
This was so different from the gentlemanly demeanor that Hong Yicheng usually displayed in public that he suddenly felt embarrassed and hesitated.
Ouyang Rou saw this and felt a surge of hatred. She gave Aunt Hong a look. She was not yet married, so it was not appropriate for her to interfere in such matters. Aunt Hong would not allow anyone to insult her future son-in-law. She said with some annoyance, "Third Miss, if you ask me, you should understand the reason for this the most."
As she spoke, Aunt Hong suddenly began to sob. Ouyang Yue almost clapped her hands in delight. Ancient women were truly made of water; they could cry at any moment. Before she could finish her thought, Aunt Hong began to accuse her: "Third Miss, you are now the most infamous of the three ugly women in the capital! You haven't forgotten how you got that reputation, have you? A young lady meddling in her sister's marriage, causing trouble at their home and forcing them to break off the engagement—what kind of good woman would do that!"
This accusation is extremely severe. Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Crossing this line is considered improper, disrespectful to the virtues of women, and despised by the world!
Ouyang Yue squinted at Ouyang Rou, who was already covering her face and crying softly. She sneered inwardly. Her predecessor had indeed led people to cause trouble at Ouyang Rou's future husband's house, but it was all Ouyang Rou's doing!
Ouyang Rou pretended to cry secretly more than once, just to tell Ouyang Yue how her fiancé was a beast in human form and cruel. The original owner trusted Ouyang Rou, this hypocritical older sister, so naturally she did not doubt her and even got angry for her. In the end, she was too angry and for Ouyang Rou's happiness, so she led people from the General's Mansion to Ouyang Rou's future husband's house to make trouble. The people were so disturbed that they finally broke off the engagement with Ouyang Rou in anger.
However, after this incident, no one praised Ouyang Yue for her eagerness to protect her sister. Instead, they all scolded her for being shameless and maliciously ruining her own sister's marriage. They said she abused her half-sister by taking advantage of her status as the legitimate daughter, making her an outcast in the capital in an instant!
The original owner of this body didn't care about these things because she cared about her sister's happiness. She also thought Hong Yicheng was a good man and didn't care about these empty reputations. Who knew that Hong Yicheng was the most vulgar and vicious person? How could she not care!
Ouyang Rou used her to get rid of an unwanted marriage, then plotted to kill her, and finally climbed the social ladder to Hong Yicheng herself. She really had a clever plan. Her predecessor was deceived until her death. How pathetic!
Ouyang Yue's eyes widened as she stared at Aunt Hong in disbelief. Her frightening expression caused Aunt Hong to take a step back. Ouyang Yue's face flushed red with anger, and she pointed at Aunt Hong, trembling, and said indignantly, "Aunt Hong! Although you are merely one of Father's lowly concubines, you are still Second Sister's birth mother. Even I, as her younger sister, am concerned for her happiness. How could you want to push her into a pit of fire? You...you..."
How could Aunt Hong not want Ouyang Rou to be happy? Only if Ouyang Rou was doing well could she maintain her foothold in the General's Mansion. How could she accept Ouyang Yue's accusations? "Third Miss, Second Miss was born after I carried her for ten months. How could I not want her to be happy? It's one thing for you to be of bad character, but how can you speak of me like that!" At the same time, Aunt Hong hated Ouyang Yue's constant references to her as a lowly concubine!
Aunt Hua was initially angry with Ouyang Yue, but suddenly laughed: "Why are you so angry, sister? Everyone knows that our Third Miss is the most naive. She said it's for the Second Miss's good, and maybe she really is. Why are you so agitated? Does that mean what the Third Miss said is true?"
Aunt Hua was initially annoyed with Ouyang Yue, but she had always been at odds with Aunt Hong, so she tried to smooth things over with a laugh. However, her words actually made both Aunt Hua and Ouyang Yue look bad.
Ouyang Yue, seemingly oblivious, grabbed Aunt Hua's hand and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Aunt Hua, you understand me best. What you said is all true; it's exactly what I think!" Her praise caused Aunt Hua's expression to change. Seeing Aunt Hong's angry glare at her, she felt something was amiss.
Ouyang Yue had already released the person and said angrily, "Aunt Hong, don't you know about Lin Baiyu of the Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion? It's been all over our mansion that he frequents brothels, beats and scolds the servants, and is both lecherous and cruel. What kind of good man is he! My sister has cried more than once. Don't you know that, Aunt Hong?"
Ouyang Yue was furious, her face flushed red, and her eyes were filled with disappointment towards Aunt Hong: "Anyone who truly cares for someone would be hoping that my sister can cancel the marriage in this situation, how could they blame me, their good sister who is trying to share my sister's burdens! Aunt Hong, what are you really thinking? Do you want my sister to marry into that kind of family and be tormented for no reason!"
Finally, Ouyang Yue said angrily, "Aunt Hong, you are so inconsiderate of my sister's future, I really doubt whether my sister was your biological daughter."
Aunt Hong's face flushed red and then turned pale. She took two steps back to steady herself, her hands clenched tightly, and she said in a trembling voice, "I am the mother who carried the Second Miss for ten months and gave birth to her. If I don't care about her, who will? Third Miss, what are you saying? You did something wrong, and you want to deny it? If it weren't for you, would the Second Miss have had to suffer the stigma of being jilted? What is your heart made of? It's so vicious!"
Ouyang Yue's eyes widened, and she shouted, "How dare you!"
With that, she strode up to the seated matriarch, Madam Ning, and said bitterly, "Mother, you know my temperament best. When have I ever harbored any ill intentions? You also know that Concubine Hong doesn't understand my actions. Besides, Concubine Hong is just a concubine, and she's become increasingly disrespectful. In front of so many people, she actually called herself 'Second Sister's Mother.' You should know that in this entire General's Mansion, only you, Mother, can be in charge. All the children in the mansion are your children. Concubine Hong is just a concubine and has no right to call Second Sister 'Mother.' How could she bypass you, Mother? She clearly doesn't respect you at all!"
Aunt Hong was shocked and immediately explained, "No! Madam, I had no intention of overstepping my bounds. I was just too hasty. I had no intention of disrespecting you."
Of course, Ning Shi was the most powerful woman in the backyard of the General's Mansion. Concubines, apart from bearing children, had no right to be called the mothers of the young masters and ladies in the mansion. They could only refer to themselves as lowly concubines to show their lowly status. No one could find fault with Ouyang Yue's words!
Ning Shi has always disliked women who willingly become concubines and is disgusted with all the concubines in the mansion. However, as a woman from a prominent family, she must be dignified and elegant and cannot leave a reputation as a jealous woman. It is not easy for her to punish these concubines, so she will not let this opportunity pass her by!
"Aunt Hong's words were inappropriate; she should slap herself as a small punishment!" If she could, Madam Ning would rather Aunt Hong slap her face to pieces, but in the end she held back and said.
Aunt Hong felt a tightness in her chest from anger, glaring fiercely at Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Rou, who had been feigning tears, couldn't help but stand up abruptly and say...
☆、007 was punished with a slap!
Ouyang Rou's eyes were red, and she said to Ning Shi with a wronged expression, "Mother, it's all Rou'er's fault. If my sister hadn't seen me crying because I was afraid of the future, none of this would have happened. If my sister hadn't gone to the Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion against my wishes, none of this would have happened..."
"Mother, Aunt Hong is only acting out of love and concern. Please forgive her this time." She pleaded for mercy while secretly cursing Ouyang Yue for acting recklessly.
Ouyang Rou pleaded softly, her shoulders trembling slightly. Her frail appearance immediately filled Hong Yicheng with heartache. Ouyang Yue's eyes grew colder. This trick works on men, but it will only have the opposite effect on women!
As expected, a hint of displeasure flashed in Ning's eyes. She looked at Ouyang Rou indifferently, pursing her lips tightly and remaining silent.
The Ning family comes from a prestigious family and has always valued rules and regulations. In recent years, Ouyang Yue has become increasingly unruly, which has made the Ning family very disgusted. On the other hand, Ouyang Rou is gentle and obedient and often acts subserviently to the Ning family, which has won the Ning family's favor.
Now it seems that she wasn't born of her own flesh and blood. She was the mistress of the household, and the concubine was only half a mistress. She could punish her at will, but she felt sorry for her after only a couple of slaps as a minor punishment? What an ungrateful wretch!
Ouyang Rou was young and only felt that Aunt Hong had contradicted herself in front of everyone, which made her feel ashamed and embarrassed. However, she did not expect that Aunt Hong would notice Ning Shi's displeasure and immediately spoke up before Ouyang Rou, saying, "It was my fault, it was my fault. I thank you for your kindness, Madam!"
As she spoke, she reached out and slapped herself hard twice on both cheeks. Aunt Hong used some force, and her cheeks immediately turned red. Ouyang Rou pursed her lips and immediately understood what Aunt Hong meant. She was afraid that the favor she had finally gained from Ning Shi would be wasted.
She was burning with anger, staring at Ouyang Yue with a deep longing, wishing she could slap Ouyang Yue's face ten times more than Aunt Hong did right now!
Unexpectedly, Ouyang Yue's sudden gaze startled Ouyang Rou. Ouyang Yue quickly walked over and said earnestly, "Second Sister, don't worry about it. Aunt Hong might really be doing this for your own good. The Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion isn't an ordinary family. You're a concubine's daughter; marrying into it might be a good match. Oh no, that's not what I meant..."
Ouyang Yue held onto the argument that Aunt Hong was pushing Ouyang Rou into a pit of fire, implying that Aunt Hong only cared about her own interests and did not consider Ouyang Rou's happiness. In the end, she even pointed out that Ouyang Rou was just a concubine's daughter and that she was climbing the social ladder by marrying into the legitimate son of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion!
Throughout her life, Ouyang Rou has always felt that she is superior to Ouyang Yue in every way. However, as an illegitimate daughter, she is not as noble as Ouyang Yue in any aspect. She hates it most when others step on her sore spots. Ouyang Yue actually insulted her like this!
Ouyang Yue's eyes widened, her bright gaze revealing Ouyang Rou's suppressed anger. She couldn't utter a single word of dissent. Ouyang Rou forced a smile, clearly wanting to laugh but unable to. She slapped Ouyang Yue's hand and said hypocritically, "I know, sister is concerned about me, I understand."
At this moment, it was too difficult for Ouyang Rou to feign gentleness, so her expression was unusually strange. Ouyang Hua, the eldest daughter of a concubine from the General's Mansion, who had been sitting on the side of the carriage, watching coldly, saw this and a cold sneer flashed in her eyes. In her view, neither Ouyang Rou's pettiness nor Ouyang Yue's impulsive and naive nature could compare to her; she disliked both of her younger sisters!
At this moment, she said calmly, "Second sister, don't be sad. Third sister is doing this for your own good. You mustn't blame her. If third sister were to be on such good terms with me, I would be so happy. Second sister should be happy."
Ouyang Rou looked over coldly, only to see Ouyang Hua dressed in a white brocade robe, looking very noble, much better than her. She felt even more resentful and indignant!
Although Ouyang Hua's mother, Consort Ming, was also a concubine in the General's Mansion, she was a noble concubine, more so than Consort Hong. Moreover, Consort Ming came from the Ministry of Revenue's mansion. Although she was a concubine's daughter, the Ministry of Revenue's mansion did not have a legitimate daughter. Before her marriage, Consort Ming lived a life no different from that of a legitimate daughter. In addition, she had powerful backers. In this mansion, apart from Ning Shi, Consort Ming was the most powerful!
Aunt Ming sat quietly and said to Madam Ning, "Sister, our family is used to laughing and joking like this, and we've forgotten about Young Master Hong as a guest. How rude of us!"
Ouyang Yue glanced at Aunt Ming. Don't be fooled by Aunt Ming's previous silence; she was the one who stabbed someone in the back at the last minute. Aunt Hua and Aunt Hong had been arguing, and she had watched coldly, keeping herself out of the mess. But now that things were about to be suppressed, she brought it up. Compared to Aunt Hua, who was competitive and preferred direct confrontation, Aunt Ming was the one to watch out for!
Ning glanced coldly at Concubine Ming, then at Concubine Hua and the others. Everyone immediately returned to their seats. Only then did Ning say to Hong Yicheng, "I apologize for making you laugh, Young Master Hong!"
Hong Yicheng immediately smiled and said, "Not at all, it's Yicheng who's bothering you."
He spoke with a certain politeness, but Ouyang Yue knew he was a treacherous person!
Hong Yicheng looked at Ouyang Yue and sighed, saying with some difficulty, "I am truly sorry to bother you today. I have been studying abroad recently, and as soon as I returned to the capital, many of my friends asked me about Sister Yue. Not only that, but I heard from my father that His Highness the Crown Prince even asked my father about it once."
Hong Yicheng shook his head, looking as if he was disappointed in his daughter: "General's wife, you understand that my father is the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Even if the Hong family doesn't care, it still concerns the Crown Prince's reputation. It seems that Yicheng and Sister Yue are not destined to be together!"
As expected, it's come to this. Hong Yicheng wants to annul the engagement. Fine!
How could Ouyang Yue possibly look down on such low-class people? She just wanted to break off the engagement peacefully. There was no way she would come to embarrass her!
The hall fell silent, but Ouyang Yue shouted urgently, "Break off the engagement? On what grounds! Hong Yicheng, don't forget, it was you who took the initiative to propose to me and claimed that you liked a simple and unpretentious woman like me. If it weren't for your connection, and Father pulling strings for your Hong family, would your Hong family have the high position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince today?"
"Hong Yicheng, what do you take me for, Ouyang Yue? Do you think I'll just give you what you want and obediently do what you say I don't want? What kind of person are you to dare insult me? I am the legitimate daughter of a general's mansion, not someone you can insult as you please! When my father gets back to me, I will make you pay!"
Ouyang Yue's words struck the hall like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's hearts. Of all the people in charge of the General's Mansion, Ouyang Yue was the only one they truly favored. Otherwise, why would Hong Yicheng have proposed to Ouyang Yue in the first place? It was precisely because of her that he valued her!
Looking at Ouyang Yue's angry face, Hong Yicheng felt a little guilty. When he looked up again, he saw Ouyang Yue walking over in a red dress. For some reason, he suddenly remembered the ferocious look on Ouyang Yue's face as she lay in a pool of blood in the back garden that day, and he screamed in fright!
"ah!"
☆、008, how can we let ourselves be taken advantage of!
Hong Yicheng's shout was tinged with fear. As Ouyang Yue drew closer, he felt his heart pounding. Just as Ouyang Yue took another step forward, Ning Shi suddenly spoke up.
"Yue'er, stop fooling around!" Ning Shi was puzzled by Hong Yicheng's reaction, but she remembered Hong Yicheng mentioning the Crown Prince. Hong Yicheng's father, Hong Wantang, was indeed inextricably linked to General Ouyang in his current position.
At that time, Hong Yicheng was very humble and treated Ouyang Yue very well. General Ouyang was also very satisfied, but she was afraid that her daughter would marry Hong Yicheng in the future, so she made some arrangements for Hong Wantang, who was only a sixth-rank official in the court at the time.
Hong Wantang was quite talented. He was introduced to the Crown Prince but was not given important responsibilities. It wasn't until the Crown Prince was assassinated that he stepped forward and blocked a sword, which gave him the opportunity to be promoted. In addition, he was able to show his loyalty and thus rose to the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.
Therefore, General Ouyang can be considered a benefactor to the Hong family!
But no matter how important a person is, they are far inferior to the Crown Prince, the future emperor. Ouyang Yue felt wronged and affected by the reputation of the annulment of the engagement, but Ning Shi thought much further ahead!
Ouyang Yue's reputation was already ruined. Regardless of what Ouyang Rou or Ouyang Yue were like back then, or what other tricks were involved, the fact remained that Ouyang Yue's reputation was completely ruined. Adding the reputation of being jilted to her list of enemies, Ning Shi seemed to be in no better shape. But offending the Crown Prince for this was far too much of a loss.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Ning frowned and said, "Young Master Hong, your marriage to Yue'er was arranged by both families. Now you want to break off the engagement, wouldn't that be a slap in the face of the General's Mansion? The General will not agree to it!"
Ouyang Yue smiled, now she really doubted whether Ning Shi was the original owner's biological mother. At a time like this, all she thought about was her reputation, and she didn't care about her daughter's grievances at all. This person was too old-fashioned!
Hong Yicheng immediately understood Ning's meaning and couldn't help but look at Ouyang Rou, who gave him an encouraging look. Hong Yicheng smiled.
A woman like Ouyang Yue, who acts without thinking, is not worthy of him at all. Marrying her would only bring him trouble. Ouyang Rou is different. It is clear that Ning Shi dotes on her even more. Hong Yicheng knows that the general favors Ouyang Yue, but she is a junior and cannot compare to his bedmate. With Ning Shi and Aunt Hong as his bedmates, Hong Yicheng is confident that the general will not do anything to him!
Then why should he be afraid of Ouyang Yue, that shrew!
Hong Yicheng shared the idea he and Ouyang Rou had come up with long ago: "Madam General, please forgive my bluntness, but this marriage is a matter between our two families. No matter how much it is rumored outside, it doesn't concern the parties involved. Moreover, the Crown Prince only mentioned Sister Yue, but didn't mention any of the other daughters of the General's family. I think we can arrange a marriage with a different young lady, which will preserve the reputation of the General's family and avoid displeasing the Crown Prince."
Ouyang Rou gave Ouyang Yue a smug smile, while the latter simply lowered her head. Ning Shi's eyes flickered, already considering this possibility!
After thinking for a moment, Madam Ning sighed and said, "There's no other way!" Then she turned to Ouyang Yue and said, "Yue'er, you're a good girl. You're the one your father usually spoils the most. You wouldn't want him to offend the Crown Prince, would you? You and Young Master Hong are not meant to be. I think we should just let this matter go."
Ouyang Yue raised her head, her expression indifferent, and walked step by step towards Hong Yicheng. The latter was quite frightened, but Ouyang Yue only said, "Where is the marriage certificate!"
Hong Yicheng was surprised. Shouldn't Ouyang Yue be crying and begging to disagree? Why was she so agreeable? He suddenly didn't want to take out the marriage certificate anymore, but Ouyang Yue suddenly stared at him coldly and said in a deep voice, "Marriage certificate!"