Chapter 5: He just got back and immediately took over Jing Shu's courtyard.
Ye Jingshu felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, and subconsciously touched the hairpin: "Sister has just returned. If you don't like anything in the yard, just tell me and I'll have someone change it for you."
“Okay.” Ye Wanning continued, “I remember that my mother loved crabapple blossoms the most. It would be nice if we could prune the old crabapple tree in the Red Leaf Courtyard again.”
Ye Jingshu's expression changed slightly. That crabapple tree was Minister Ye's Achilles' heel. After her mother passed away, Minister Ye specifically ordered that no one was allowed to touch it; even she could only watch from afar. Ye Wanning brought it up as soon as she returned—was she doing it on purpose?
"Sister has just returned to the manor and may have forgotten," Ye Jingshu suppressed her displeasure and smiled, "That tree was personally looked after by Father. How could we daughters dare to touch it casually?"
“That’s true.” Ye Wanning feigned realization. “I misspoke. Let’s go take a look now.”
As she spoke, she took a step and walked outside.
Ye Jingshu watched her retreating figure, her eyes blazing with hatred. This Ye Wanning absolutely cannot be allowed to live!
Red Leaf Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation.
As soon as I stepped across the threshold, a faint fragrance of flowers greeted me. The old crabapple tree in the center of the courtyard was lush and verdant, full of vitality even though it wasn't in bloom yet. The east and west wings were spotless, and the furniture in the main room was all made of the finest rosewood. A landscape painting hung on the wall—a gift from my late mother, which had always been part of her dowry.
"What do you think, sister?" Ye Jingshu asked from the side, her expression shifting with a forced smile.
“Very good.” Ye Wanning stepped forward and stroked the frame of the painting. “This painting… I remember my mother always staring at it in a daze when I was little.”
“Father said this was left to him by his mother-in-law, and he has never been willing to take it off.” Ye Jingshu stepped forward, her tone carrying a hint of pride. “Over the years, I have been looking after this yard for my sister. Father often says that I am more considerate than his own daughter.”
"Thank you for your hard work, little sister." Ye Wanning turned around with a smile. "But I won't trouble you anymore. I feel more at ease taking care of Mother's courtyard myself."
"What does this mean, sister? Does it mean my little sister would steal things from the yard?"
"Sister, you're joking." Ye Wanning lowered her eyelashes, her voice filled with grievance. "I just... I just wanted to be closer to Mother. She took me away for so many years, and I didn't even get to see her one last time..."
As she spoke, tears began to fall.
These tears came quickly and suddenly, each one seemingly about to fall from the eyes, making one's heart leap into their throat.
The maids and servants following behind began to whisper among themselves.
"The second young lady is so pitiful..."
"Yes, her own mother is gone, and she was abducted all these years..."
"The young lady is so spineless, arguing with her younger sister who just got back..."
Hearing the conversation outside, Ye Jingshu's face flushed red and then paled. She hated Ye Wanning's character the most! Full of wicked schemes, yet she pretended to be weak, as if the whole world owed her something!
"If you like this courtyard, then stay here, sister." Ye Jingshu gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "I have other things to do, so I won't bother you any longer."
After saying that, she stormed off with Chun Tao.
Watching her retreating figure, Ye Wanning's smile gradually faded. Ye Jingshu, this was only the beginning.
What you owed me in my past life, I will take back every single penny, with interest.
"Miss, the hot water is here." Chun Tao came in carrying a basin of water. Seeing Ye Wanning standing in front of the painting, she whispered, "This courtyard is so nice, a hundred times better than where I live."
Ye Wanning turned around and took the handkerchief from her hand. "From now on, this place will be ours."
Chun Tao nodded vigorously, "Yes! This servant will certainly serve you well, Miss!"
"By the way," Ye Wanning asked casually as she wiped her face, "the hair ornament on Miss's head just now looked very unique. Do you know whose it is?"
“That…it seems to be an heirloom of the late old lady, given to the eldest young lady by the master last year,” Chun Tao said after thinking for a moment.
"Oh," Ye Wanning responded, and didn't say anything more.
It really was Mom's stuff. Minister Ye, you're really something. You're crying and begging me to make amends, while at the same time you're giving Mom's belongings to the murderer who killed me.
The relationship between father and daughter is just pathetic.
“Chuntao,” Ye Wanning put down her handkerchief, “find me some men’s clothing, the more ordinary the better.”
"Why does Young Master want to dress as a man?" Although Chun Tao was surprised that Ye Wanning wanted to dress as a man, she still nodded: "This servant knows."
After Chuntao left, Ye Wanning walked to the dressing table and looked at herself in the bronze mirror.
Her face was deathly pale, her lips were cracked, and her hair was dry and yellow; she was indeed a country girl who had suffered greatly.
But those eyes were frighteningly bright, filled with a hatred and scheming that no one could match.
She opened the bundle Xue Lin'an had bought for her; inside were only two coarse cloth garments and two ordinary wooden hairpins.
This is really a sign of poverty.
But it doesn't matter, soon she will have her own money and her own power.
She would no longer be like she was in her previous life, living only on her father's charity and being manipulated by others.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside.
Ye Wanning walked to the window and saw Ye Chengjing storming in angrily, followed by several servants.
"Ye Wanning! Come out here!" He stood in the middle of the courtyard, his roar causing a few leaves to fall from the crabapple tree.
Ye Wanning raised an eyebrow.
You couldn't hold back anymore?
She pushed open the door, her face showing just the right amount of surprise and timidity: "Big brother? Is there something you need?"
Seeing her like this, Ye Chengjing's anger flared even more: "What right do you have to occupy Jing Shu's courtyard? She has been in charge of Hongye Courtyard for more than ten years, and you kick her out with just a word. What are you up to?"
"Brother, what are you saying!" Ye Wanning's eyes welled up with tears again. "It was my wish to give it to you, and Father agreed... If I had known you were unhappy, I... I wouldn't have stayed..."
"Stop right there!" Ye Chengjing was furious at her behavior and had nowhere to vent his anger. "You think you can fool everyone by playing the victim? Let me tell you, the Ye family doesn't welcome people with your kind of heart!"
"Big brother, I don't understand what you're saying." Ye Wanning stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion and hurt. "I just got back. I only wanted to take good care of Father and get along well with my brother and sister. What did I do wrong?"
"You're not wrong?" Ye Chengjing sneered. "You just got back and you've already seized Jing Shu's courtyard and tried to sow discord between Father and us. You dare say you're not wrong?"
“I didn’t…” Ye Wanning shook her head, tears falling even more rapidly, “I just… I just wanted to live in the place where Mother lived… Big brother, didn’t you love to take me to play under the crabapple tree when we were little? Have you forgotten?”
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