At the main gate of the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence, Ye Qingxue stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the sky. The sun was already beginning to slant westward. It was almost noon, and it seemed that everyone was ready by now.
She stepped down from the carriage.
The Marquis's mansion has towering high walls and an imposing gate, with two stone lions standing in front of it, exuding a majestic aura.
Ye Qingxue lifted her foot and walked up the steps; the door was right in front of her. Suddenly, a shadow pounced on her and grabbed her leg.
"Mommy, Mommy, I've finally found you!" It was a child's voice, full of excitement.
Ye Qingxue lowered her eyes and saw a little dumpling about five years old hugging her leg. The little boy was fair-skinned and chubby, and looked very cute, especially his chubby face, which made people want to pinch it.
But she quickly realized that the child was probably found by Madam Min from somewhere, and that she deliberately called her "mother" to make outsiders believe that she had given birth out of wedlock, thus completely ruining her reputation.
The Marquis's residence was bustling with activity today, with many people standing not far away, waiting to see what would happen.
Ye Qingxue wanted to kick the glutinous rice ball away.
"Unbelievable! The young lady has returned to the manor with a five-year-old child! How could you be so indecent, young lady?" Han Yu's cold and mocking voice came from inside the gate.
Having been whipped yesterday and having watched helplessly as the Second Miss, whom she was protecting, had her face disfigured by Ye Qingxue, Han Yu now considers Ye Qingxue her number one enemy.
Therefore, she volunteered to wait at the gate so that she could inform Madam Min as soon as Ye Qingxue returned.
But she never expected that Ye Qingxue would bring a child back to the manor, and that the child would call Ye Qingxue "Mother"!
It was such a surprise, and such a delightful surprise.
The little rice ball clung tightly to Ye Qingxue's leg like a leech, turned to look at Han Yu, and said angrily, "My mother gave birth to me, how can she be shameless? You were also born of your mother, is your mother shameless too?"
Ye Qingxue drew her dagger and pointed it at the glutinous rice ball: "If you don't let go, I'll cut off both your hands, believe it or not?"
The child seemed to be defending her, but his words were also a firm assertion that he was her son.
The onlookers nearby were already pointing and whispering about her, saying that the child's appearance was just kicking her when she was down.
She ruined her own reputation, which is not the same as someone kicking you when you're down.
Madam Min is too despicable; she actually dragged a five-year-old child into the "battlefield." But she will not show mercy just because the other party is a child.
Xiao Bao glanced at Ye Qingxue and saw that the fierceness in her eyes seemed genuine. So, like a round ball, he rolled off her lap, moving with great reluctance.
Xiao Bao stood obediently to the side, looking up at Ye Qingxue with a serious expression: "But Mother, I really traveled a very, very long way and searched for a very, very long time before I came to Mother's side."
His voice was youthful and crisp, without any trace of affectation, which surprised Ye Qingxue. But she was only seventeen years old and couldn't possibly give birth to a five-year-old child.
Han Yu finally had a chance to speak, refuting Xiao Bao's earlier statement that her mother was immoral: "My mother gave birth to me after marrying my father, which is perfectly in accordance with propriety. But the eldest daughter gave birth to you out of wedlock, so isn't that immoral?"
Ye Qingxue walked up the steps without looking to the side, gradually closing the distance between herself and Han Yu. Han Yu didn't understand what she wanted to do and subconsciously stepped back. Ye Qingxue then crossed the threshold of the Marquis's residence.
Dongbai followed behind her, and even Xiaobao, with his short legs, silently followed.
After taking a few steps back, Han Yu suddenly stopped. The one who made the mistake was Ye Qingxue, and the one who was attacked by rumors was Ye Qingxue. She came here to vent her anger for the Second Miss, so how could she be suppressed by her?
Han Yu sneered: "It's common knowledge that the eldest daughter and the eldest son of the Pan family had a secret rendezvous all night. Now she has a five-year-old child. She is simply unworthy of being the daughter of a marquis. You should not have entered this marquis's mansion!"
"Not only that, you are not worthy to marry Prince Ding as his consort. If you have any sense of shame, you should find a lake and jump in to end your life!"
Ye Qingxue reached for the leather whip at her waist. Han Yu's pupils shrank, and she instinctively dodged the whip. But Ye Qingxue did not pull the whip out; instead, she slapped her across the face.
This action took Han Yu by surprise. She couldn't use her martial arts skills and was slapped hard. By the time she reacted, Ye Qingxue had already pulled out a leather whip. Han Yu was afraid of being beaten earlier and dared not move rashly now.
"Whether I am worthy to be the daughter of a marquis is up to my father, the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor. What are you to dare to make decisions on behalf of my father?" Ye Qingxue's voice was sharp and stern.
"Whether I am worthy to be the Princess Consort of Prince Ding is for Prince Ding and the Emperor to decide. What, you, a mere servant, dare to overstep your bounds?"
Han Yu trembled in fright. This crime was too serious. If it got out, even Madam Min or the young marquis wouldn't be able to protect her.
Ye Qingxue raised her lips in a cold smile, her eyes full of mockery, looking at Han Yu as if she were a fool.
"And another thing, open your dog eyes and see clearly how old I am and how old this child is. Tell me, what kind of girl is sixteen or seventeen and already has a five-year-old child? Don't you all have brains? A bunch of idiots!"
These words were not only spoken to Han Yu and the servants of the Marquis's mansion, but also to the onlookers outside.
Everyone suddenly realized that most twelve-year-old girls hadn't started menstruating yet and were not in a position to have children.
They were so stupid just now, actually believing that Xiao Bao was Ye Qingxue's biological son.
Han Yu suddenly felt a burning sensation on her face.
"Mother, don't lower yourself to the level of a fool!" Xiao Bao stepped forward and hooked his finger around Ye Qingxue's.
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