After receiving the answer, Princess Fushun left satisfied.

After she left, news finally came that the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion was up for sale or what would happen to it!

Not for sale!

The betrothal gifts have been sent out!

Shen Zhiyan is engaged!

That woman was Ye Yiren, the female protagonist in the cassava impersonation case that caused a huge uproar in May and June.

The news was more explosive than the last.

Princess Fushun generously shared these messages one by one, because the Marquis's residence had told her that it was for the purpose of spreading them.

......

The Lin family—

Lin Yaxian was reclining on the long couch reading a book, with a warm charcoal brazier burning beside her.

Shangxue walked in with a frown: "Madam... I don't know what happened, but the five-courtyard house in the Marquis's mansion is now inhabited. It has a plaque that says 'Ye Mansion' on it."

Lin Yaxian paused, her hand holding the book still: "What did you say?"

Shangxue carefully repeated what she had just said.

A wave of bitterness and sorrow washed over Lin Yaxian: "How could this be... The Marquis's mansion would never sell it..."

She knew very well that the house was intended for Shen Zhiyan. If the family divided their property in the future, they would move there.

But now, a plaque bearing a different surname is hanging there.

Her first thought was: Sell it!

She felt empty inside, as if her original home was gone.

For no reason at all, I had a series of bad premonitions.

"Go and inquire again."

I turned around and went outside to admire the snow.

Lin Yaxian waited anxiously for a long time, but when it got dark, there was still no sign of Shang Xue.

She frowned and called in another maid: "Hasn't Shangxue returned yet?"

The maidservant's face turned pale: "Sister Shangxue... is back... has been standing outside the courtyard for almost half an hour."

"What are you doing standing outside? Let her in."

The maidservant hurriedly ran out.

Lin Yaxian looked at the swaying curtain embroidered with white lotus flowers, and for some reason, her heart was pounding, as if something terrible had happened.

After a long while, Shangxue walked in, her face pale and covered in fine snow: "Madam..."

"So? What did you find out?"

Shangxue gritted her teeth: "I heard that Second Master..."

Lin Yaxian was taken aback: "What's wrong with him?"

That house is related to him? But why does it bear the surname Ye...?

Did he not like that house and buy another one?

Shangxue knew she would have to say it sooner or later, so she simply blurted it out: "Second Master is engaged! This house was given to that woman by the Marquis's mansion as a betrothal gift. That woman is coming to the capital with Second Master and will be making an appearance at the birthday banquet."

"And... I heard... the wedding date has been set. It's after the New Year!"

With a "bang," Lin Yaxian took a step back and knocked over the vase behind her.

She felt a sharp pain in her chest and almost coughed up blood: "Who is that woman...?"

"She seems to be a peasant woman. Ye Yiren..."

"Ye Yiren..."

Lin Yaxian stared blankly, suddenly recalling the woman she had met at the Jiuqin Tea House the day before yesterday...

......

After the plaque was hung up, Ye Caiping never went out again.

Meanwhile, the servant received a large number of visiting cards.

Ye Caiping politely declined, citing illness as the reason.

The visitors all wanted to climb into the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion but couldn't get in. Now that they knew of her existence, they wanted to use her connections.

At this moment, the maid Changxi came in: "Madam Ye, there is a note here. I noticed that the person who delivered it looked very serious and insisted that it be given to you."

Ye Caiping opened it and couldn't help but squint.

Chang Xi also saw the words inside and exclaimed in surprise, "Is this... Mr. Shen's ex-wife?"

Ye Caiping smiled and closed the post.

This invitation was sent by Lin Yaxian, who asked her to meet her at Jiuqin Tea House at 1-3 PM.

Ye Caiping stood up: "Let's go, let's go meet her!"

What's meant to happen will happen, and she hoped Lin Yaxian would stop coming up to her.

Previously, Shen Zhiyan went to the county school to find Li Zhiyuan to play with for her.

Now, for his sake and Manman's sake, she will meet with Lin Yaxian.

Jiuqin Tea House —

As soon as Ye Caiping stepped off the carriage, a waiter approached her and said, "You must be Lady Ye? Madam Lin has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come in."

Ye Caiping nodded and followed the waiter inside.

They found the once bustling lobby completely empty, presumably bought up by Lin Yaxian at a high price.

Ye Caiping went up to the second floor and came to a private room.

Upon entering, one sees a large white lotus screen. Passing around the screen, one sees a woman in white sitting on a long couch by the window, brewing tea on a kang table.

Hearing the sound, she turned around.

Ye Caiping saw that Lin Yaxian was beautiful and elegant, with a scholarly air and the temperament of a well-bred lady. Her white dress made her look like a fairy. She wore a pearl hairpin and two jade hairpins in her hair, but no gold jewelry on her body.

Lin Yaxian was stunned when she saw Ye Caiping.

She had seen her from afar the last time; she was on the second floor, in Ye Caiping's lobby, and couldn't see her face directly, but she could tell she was a slender woman.

Looking at it now, I'm quite shocked.

I thought Ye Caiping, a peasant woman, wouldn't be very pretty, but I never expected her to be so beautiful and elegant, with a refined and graceful demeanor.

Lin Yaxian's indifferent gaze fell on Ye Caiping, and she said softly, "Please sit down. What kind of tea would you like?"

Ye Caiping said, "Anything is fine."

As she spoke, she sat down opposite Lin Yaxian.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!