Chapter 245 Humiliation

The next morning, Wang changed into new clothes, dressed up, and took Yun Yanzhe and Yun Jiaoyue to visit the Marquis of Jiangling.

Last night I went to the street to buy clothes and rented a carriage. The guard drove the carriage, and I also asked Yun Jiaoyue to bring her maid along.

Although the Yun family has temporarily fallen on hard times, they cannot afford to lose face and be looked down upon.

The three of them sat in the cramped carriage, with the maid following behind.

Wang complained that the carriage was too small and cramped, saying, "What a lousy carriage! It's crowded even with just two or three people sitting in it, and it keeps swaying."

"This is the best carriage the company has. It costs three taels of silver a day to rent. Jiangling is a small place and can't compare to the capital."

She didn't control her volume, and the brother and sister were worried about offending someone if they heard them.

Yun Jiaoyue gently advised, "Mother, please don't complain. Compared to walking on your own two legs a few days ago, having a carriage to ride in is much better."

Wang Shi didn't want to live that hard life anymore, so she placed her only hope on her son. Holding her son's hand, she continued to urge him, "Ze'er, after you marry your cousin Ying, you must buy your mother a big carriage to get you through the rest of the journey. If it weren't for the chance to turn things around in Jiangling, I would have given up long ago."

Yun Yanzhe assured, "Mother, rest assured, once I marry Cousin Ying, I will make sure you get what you want. I will work hard to pass the imperial examinations and make sure you return to the capital in a great success."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang nodded with satisfaction, "Good, good, this is my good son, Wang Jinzhen. Your father is far inferior to you. Regardless of whether your uncle agrees to this marriage, I will go to great lengths to make it happen for you two."

"Thank you, Mother." Yun Yanzhe withdrew his hand, lowered his eyes, and clasped his hands to conceal the dark glint in his eyes.

Yun Jiaoyue asked curiously, "Mother, Cousin Ying is seventeen this year, right? Why hasn't she been set up with anyone yet?"

The Marquis of Jiangling was the most powerful and influential family in Jiangling, and people would definitely be eager to marry into his family.

“When you were little, your aunt took your cousin Ying to the capital. I once joked that the two families should get married. A year ago, I corresponded with your aunt. She complained to me that Ying didn’t want to get married. I guessed that the girl had always been thinking about your older brother. Now that she’s finally got him, I just hinted at it during the day and she agreed that very night.”

In Yun Jiaoyue's memory, Li Yuying was arrogant, willful, and probably looked down on the exiled Yun family.

It must be because she married the Third Prince, and the Marquis of Jiangling was secretly working for the Third Prince, that he agreed to the marriage.

Marquis Jiangling is a discerning man; no wonder he was highly regarded by the Third Prince in his previous life.

"I see, then I'm relieved."

The carriage stopped in front of the Jiangling Marquis's residence. The three of them got off the carriage, and the maid carried the gifts.

When Wang introduced herself, she was stopped by the guards at the gate.

"No entry without a visiting card."

The guards observed that they had dark skin, coarse hair, tired appearance, and sunken eyes. If it weren't for the fine fabrics they were wearing, they would have been mistaken for country women.

The carriage, gifts, and entourage all exuded poverty; they had seen plenty of people like that, and there was no way they could possibly see the Lady of the Marquis.

"Go in and announce that Lady Yunyang, the wife of the Marquis of Yunyang, has come to visit!"

"Lady of the Marquis of Yunyang? I don't believe it. Dressed so shabbily. If you are the Marquis's wife, then I am the Duke, hahaha..."

"Smack!"

Wang raised her hand and slapped the guard across the face, interrupting his laughter.

She stepped forward, chin slightly raised, her eyes coldly fixed on the guards, exuding the air of a noble lady from the capital. "Your lady is my cousin. Yesterday, she specially sent someone to invite me to her residence. You two should let her through immediately, or when I see my cousin, I will have them beat you severely with a stick."

The guards, sensing that she was not faking it, dared not delay and immediately went inside to report.

When Wang saw the guard who had gone in to announce her arrival come out, she straightened her collar and sneered, "Can we go in now?"

The guard whispered, "Yes..."

"You snobbish jerk!"

Soon she complained to her cousin, who beat the two scoundrels severely and threw them out of the house.

Lady Wang raised her head and was about to step over the threshold when a guard raised his hand to stop her.

"You can only enter through the back door."

Wang wondered if she had misheard. "Enter through the back door? Was that your madam's order?"

"I didn't see Madam; it was Steward Li's order."

"How dare you! So you're quite the steward, Li! I am the Lady of Yunyang Marquis, your lady's sister. My daughter is the Third Prince's consort, and my son is your future son-in-law. Who does he think he is, daring to let us in through the back door?"

Wang slapped the guard again and shoved another guard aside, yelling, "Get out!"

"Who has the audacity to provoke my sister into such a rage?"

"Cousin, these are the very people who dared to block my way and force us to enter through the back door. Is this your idea, sister?"

Madam Li said, "It wasn't me who ordered them to do it. It's all the fault of the servants who looked down on people and treated my sister poorly. I apologize to my sister."

"Go down and receive ten strokes of the cane."

"yes!"

Wang Shi also came from a wealthy family, so how could she not know that Madam Li was deliberately trying to intimidate them?

Like master, like dog. But they can't afford to break ties yet; they still need to use the power of the Marquis of Jiangling's mansion to avenge her Yang'er.

Neither Yun Zhaoxue nor Chen Shi will escape.

Madam Li then casually turned to exchange pleasantries with Madam Wang, her gaze finally settling on Yun Yanzhe and Yun Jiaoyue. "These must be my nephew and niece, right?"

The brother and sister bowed to Madam Li and said, "Greetings, Aunt."

"This is unacceptable. You are the Princess Consort of Xuan. How can you bow to me?" Madam Li raised her hand to help the woman up and bowed to her again.

"This humble woman greets Princess Consort Xuan."

"Aunt, please get up. We're all family, no need to be so formal. Just call me Yue'er."

"Alright, alright, we're all family. It's been so many years since I last saw Yue'er, but you're still as sensible as you were when you were little." Madam Li affectionately took her hand and patted the back of it.

Yun Jiaoyue's smile was forced; she had only been being polite, but she hadn't expected the other party to take it seriously.

She preferred to be addressed as Princess Xuan.

Madam Li led the people into the front hall.

Have someone serve tea and pastries.

After chatting for a while, a young woman, surrounded by seven or eight maids, gracefully entered the front hall. She wore a flowing gold peony silk skirt, her hair adorned with shimmering pearls and jade ornaments, and two filigree gold phoenix hairpins that jingled as she walked.

Her makeup was heavy, and her forehead was decorated with a brightly colored peony flower.

Her gaze swept over Yun Yanzhe's handsome, fair face, and her eyes lit up. She stared at him intently, as if she had forgotten all about modesty.

Madam Li coughed lightly, "Cough cough..."

Li Yuying then came to her senses and looked at Wang Shi, "Auntie is here?"

His lighthearted tone carried a hint of flippancy.

"You must be Ying'er? It's been so many years and you still recognize your aunt. You have a good eye."

“Auntie is still as young as ever; Ying’er recognized her at a glance.”

Li Yuying's gaze, which had been fixed on Yun Yanze, fell on him again, her eyes slightly frivolous. "This must be Cousin Ze, right?"

Wang and Yun Jiaoyue exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with confusion and disdain.

What kind of unmarried woman acts like this? Anyone who didn't know better would think she came from a brothel.

Madam Li watched this scene with satisfaction.

Li Yuying's reputation was ruined, and no noble young man was willing to marry her. Several families were found to be willing to marry her, but she disliked their appearance. Finally, she found one she liked and was able to marry him off.

Li Yuying sat beside Yun Yanzhe, chatting with the elders, but couldn't resist wanting to touch his hand.

Yun Yanzhe was surprised that a woman would act so frivolously, and he accidentally knocked over his teacup with a loud crash.

The tea was poured and flowed slowly on the table.

Yun Yanzhe's hand was also splashed with a few drops of tea.

Seeing this, Li Yuying took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes full of heartache, "Oh dear~ be careful, Cousin Ze, don't burn your hands, otherwise Ying'er will be very distressed."

She leaned her soft upper body into the man's arms, her full, soft breasts rubbing against his arm.

Yun Yanzhe instinctively wanted to push the person away, but his palm touched a delicate softness, so he quickly withdrew his hand. Whether out of anger or embarrassment, his handsome face flushed red.

Seeing this, Li Yuying covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled softly.

Previously, when he was in the Marquis's mansion, Madam Wang worried that he would become like Yun Xiuwen, indulging in women and neglecting his ambitions.

He should not be near women before he turns twenty.

He was exiled just over twenty years old, and this was the first time a woman had been so intimate with him, which made him very uncomfortable.

Madam Li said to Madam Wang, "Ying'er has been waiting for her cousin Ze for two years, longing for him like the stars and the moon. Finally, he has come. Ze is handsome and talented. The two young people are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

Madam Wang disliked Li Yuying's frivolity. Hearing Madam Li's words, she ignored her displeasure and praised her as well, "That's right. I'm not bragging, but Ze'er is only focused on studying the classics. He is not yet engaged and has no concubines. Countless wealthy families in the capital want to be engaged to the Yun family, but I have not agreed to any of them. If the Yun family had not met with misfortune, our Ze'er might have become a prime minister in the future."

"If my cousin Ruoze can become my husband, it will be a double blessing for our family. I will definitely ask my father to wish him a bright future."

Madam Li said unhappily, "Ying'er, do you understand that a girl should be reserved? You've really been spoiled."

She made an excuse to have a private conversation with Wang Shi and asked Li Yuying to take Yun Yanzhe and his sister for a stroll in the backyard.

An hour later, Madam Li had lunch prepared, and Li Chonghe returned.

He was very satisfied with Yun Yanzhe's meeting.

After seeing the guests off.

Li Yuying couldn't wait to say, "Father, Mother, when will you let me propose to Cousin Ze? I'm very satisfied with him."

"Why are you in such a hurry? He's an exile now. Let's wait two more months until they arrive at their place of exile before we talk about it."

Li Yuying stamped her foot anxiously, "Father, I can't wait any longer. I want him to marry me right now, tonight!"

She couldn't wait to consummate her marriage with her cousin Ze.

Li Chonghe sternly rebuked, "Shut up! If you want him to marry you, you'd better rein in your frivolous behavior before the wedding!"

On the way back to the village.

Madam Wang sighed and said, "I knew no woman could resist my son's charm. Even Li Yuying, the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family, couldn't resist. She disregarded the dignity of a marquis's daughter and acted like the prostitutes carried back from the brothels in your father's backyard."

Yun Jiaoyue noticed that Yun Yanzhe had lip rouge smeared on his collar, a red mark on his neck, and teeth marks on the corner of his lips.

A hint of surprise flashed across her beautiful eyes, "Big brother, you..."

Yun Yanzhe closed his eyes slightly, concealing the humiliation in them, and interrupted her, saying, "I'm fine."