Xia You called Xia Chunyu to her room to tell him about the Empress Dowager’s condition. Jinxuan might be okay with this matter but Xia You wasn’t. It wasn’t just Jinxuan’s reputation at risk, it’s the whole Jing An Marquis’ residence.

Xia Chunyu was understandably pissed when he heard about the news. “Mother, please go to the palace again tomorrow and tell them that Jinxuan agreed. On the wedding day, Jinxuan will be cooking for them, I will be serving the dishes, and you and Father will be the one serving them tea. Let them know that if Princess Liu Li wanted to be pampered, the family will serve her wholeheartedly.”

He was seething. Why couldn’t these people just leave them alone? Why was Liu Li so diabolically evil and obsessed with him?

“We can also get Princess Yu De to say something,” Xia Chunyu added. “If we give in to them this time, who knows what kind of trouble they’ll stir up in the future. We can’t let Chunfeng start his marriage out as a submissive.”

Xia You nodded seriously. She can’t let her son be controlled by a woman, even if that woman was royalty. “I will go to the Helian family after dinner.”

Xia Chunyu returned to his courtyard and was greeted by Qiao Xi.

“Welcome back, Heir-son Lord.”

“Where’s the Second Young Mistress?”

“She’s in the house, Heir-son Lord. She seemed upset,” Qiao Xi relayed.

Xia Chunyu nodded in understanding.

“Yaoyao!” he called out but there was no response. He went to their bedroom and saw his wife curled up on the bed.

“Yaoyao, get up. It’s time for dinner,” he said, shaking her shoulder.

“I want to lie for some more time,” Ye Jiayao replied lazily. She has lost her appetite but she didn’t want to tell him that.

Xia Chunyu lied down beside her and said, “Mother told me what happened. Do not worry, we will fix this.”

Ye Jiayao turned to face him and exclaimed, “Don’t do anything! I don’t want to create any trouble for Mother. I’ll get over it in a few days, just leave it alone.”

Xia Chunyu hugged her close to him. With a firm but gentle voice, he said, “This is not just your problem. It’s the whole family’s. If they embarrass you, they embarrass all of us. And you are my wife. I will always do everything I can to protect you. Anyone who tries to hurt you will have to go through me first.”

Ye Jiayao was moved by her husband’s beautiful words. Despite everything, Chunyu really was a standup gentleman.

“I just don’t want to make things more difficult for Chunfeng. He’s only marrying Liu Li because of us. He was robbed of the chance to meet the love of his life because of us. He deserved to marry the love of his life, not to some bitter selfish woman,” she told him.

Xia Chunyu was quiet for a long time before he spoke, “Some things are just meant to happen a certain way.” He was just lucky that he got to marry the woman that he wanted.

Ye Jiayao wanted to say that fate is whatever people make it, but she knew that he wouldn’t understand. This was the ancient time and their concept of choices and freedom were very different and limited.

“Third Young Master, Third Young Master, please wait a moment and let me announce your arrival…” a voice sounded from outside.

The couple hurriedly got up and fixed their clothes.

Xia Chunfeng rushed in seconds later, screaming angrily, “F*ck the wedding! I am not getting married to that woman! I would rather be a monk.”

Ye Jiayao glanced at Xia Chunyu and said, “I am going to get us some tea.”

Xia Chunyu directed his younger brother to sit and said, “You’re about to be married, you need to control your temper.”

“Why do I need to change? She’s crazy!” Chunfeng ranted. “Who does she think she is, making Second Sister-in-law cook for her? What will she ask of us next? Does she plan to make Second Sister-in-law be her personal chef? I can tolerate everything else, but I can’t stand for her disrespecting my family, royalty or not.”

Xia Chunyu nodded. “It is good to be fierce, but you must also remember that the most important key to a relationship is affection. You can use that against her. We can’t move against Liu Li brashly. She’s a princess and whatever she decides will affect our family.”

“Then what should we do? I will never agree for Second Sister-in-law to cook our wedding feast!” Chunfeng swore.

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Xia Chunyu laughed at his intensity. “I don’t agree with it either. Don’t worry, Mother is going to deal with it.”

Xia Chunfeng frowned. “Mother wouldn’t dare to talk to the Empress Dowager, she’s too afraid to get in trouble.”

“Mother is not afraid to get in trouble in the name of our family’s reputation. She will do anything to protect our dignity,” Xia Chunyu explained calmly. “Even if she fails, Father will step in. If he fails too, then I will take his place.”

The atmosphere at dinner was somber.

The Old Lord left after only a few mouthfuls and Lady Xia You followed behind him.

Qiao felt jealous at the concern that everyone was showing over Jinxuan so she said snidely, “I don’t see what the big deal with cooking is. Why does everyone have to suffer over it?”

Ye Jiayao’s eyes snapped up to her. Oh, you want to start this you little tart? Just as she was about to clap back, her husband came to her aide.

“Big Brother, Big Sister,” Xia Chunyu began with a smile. “I’m a little short on money these days so I wanted to ask you when you are planning to give me back the 10,000 silvers you borrowed. You told me you’d pay it off in a month, but it has already been two months.”

He didn’t have the intention of asking for the money back before but when Qiao made a pass at his wife, his mind changed.

Qiao immediately shut her mouth and nudged her husband.

Xia Chunli, embarrassed, answered, “The embroidery shop isn’t doing so well. I will return the money after we start earning some income.”

Xia Chunfeng sneered and said, “Big Sister, weren’t you always saying to Mother that your business is good? Were you just bragging?”

Qiao’s embarrassment worsened. “It’s your brother’s fault. He would always buy unnecessary precious stones.”

“Is it? I heard that Big Brother’s strange stone collection was bought at a high price.” Xia Chunfeng usually respected his Big Sister-in-law, but he wasn’t just going to ignore the malicious quip she made today against Sister Yaoyao.

They may all be family members, but Second Sister-in-law has done for the family in the few days she’d been here compared to Big Sister-in-law. Sister Yaoyao made delicious food for the family and has taken care of the wedding feast preparation and expenses for Chunfeng’s wedding. Sister Qiao has done and offered nothing of the sorts.

Qiao’s face turned red as she looked between Xia Chunli and Xia Chunfeng. Why were they ganging up on her? Her husband wasn’t even trying to defend her as he was just sitting there, enjoying his food.

Angry and humiliated, she stood up quickly, knocking a bowl on the table, and then left.

Ye Jiayao snorted, her mood suddenly brightening with Chunyu and Chunfeng’s antics.

Mean and spiteful witches aside, she has a loving family.

“Come on, let’s not let this get us down. I will make some delicious food for Father and Mother later since they didn’t get to finish their meal,” Ye Jiayao said brightly.

“Second Sister-in-law, the cake you made is so delicious, but Mother only gave me a small piece,” Chunguo said, his eyes wide and filled with eagerness.

“Cake? What cake? I haven’t seen that,” Xia Chunyu inquired curiously.

Ye Jiayao ignored him and said to Chunguo, “Cake is very difficult to make. However, if you can recite the Analects down, I will do it for you. I will make as much as you want to eat.”

Chunguo got excited. “You promise?”

“I promise!”

Chunguo started to shovel big servings of rice in his mouth speedily. His servant cautioned him, “Fourth Young Master, you should eat more slowly or you’ll choke.”

Chunguo merely shook his head, increasing his pace.

Xia You went straight to the Helian family’s mansion with Granny Sun.

Yu De was aghast after Xia You finished telling her the story. “This is too unreasonable. I can’t believe that the Empress Dowager requested that. This must be Princess Liu Li’s doing.”

“It doesn’t matter who came up with the idea,” Xia You said bitterly. “This is what the Empress Dowager ordered. Jinxuan is too gracious to deny the request, but this is inappropriate. Chunfeng and Liu Li’s wedding is a big affair with all the high-class people of Jin Ling in attendance. What would people think if they found out that Chunfeng’s sister-in-law cooked for the feast? Those who don’t know the truth will think that we are treating Jinxuan badly. Those who know the truth will think that Princess Liu Li was merely taking revenge on Jinxuan. It’s a lose-lose situation all around.”