Shang Jingchen held her hand tightly, in a deep voice, "My grandfather just needs some time to accept you. I won’t let you be wronged for me anymore. Although I can’t give you a formal status right now, you are the mistress of the Shang Family. I want to take you back to our family, to take care of you and our child."

Then, holding Yuan Jiayin’s hand, he walked up to Ye Lu, eyeing her coldly.

"Listen well. Even if I agree to grandfather’s terms, that doesn’t mean I recognize you as my wife, because Jiayin is my wife. Don’t think about playing tricks, just stay quiet this year, then get out of the Shang Family. Otherwise, I will make your life a living hell."

Yuan Jiayin sneered and mocked Ye Lu.

"Don’t worry, even if you don’t want me gone, I’ll still leave," Ye Lu removed her earplugs and looked at them coldly.

...

After Shang Jingchen returned to take control, Ye Lu still had to attend board meetings as she was an essential board member and needed to participate in important decisions.

Yuan Jiayin, feeling disgruntled at Ye Lu’s growing influence and fearing they might develop feelings for each other over time, begged Shang Jingchen to give her a post within the corporation. Thus, Yuan Jiayin was made a department manager.

Yuan Jiayin gleefully commuted to and from work with Shang Jingchen, publicly displaying their affection at the office to deliberately humiliate Ye Lu, the legitimate Young Mistress Shang.

Rumors circulated throughout the corporation, suggesting that Ye Lu had been abandoned and would soon be dethroned.

This Manager Yuan was the apple of the prince’s eye, the future mistress.

The higher-ups, all crafty foxes in the corporate world, began to curry favor with Yuan Jiayin, openly and secretly ridiculing Ye Lu.

Even the employees whispered behind her back, with varying degrees of sarcasm and sympathy.

"Look, a crow can never be a swan, no matter how high it flies. She used to strut about in front of us, but in reality, she’s just an abandoned woman trying to mingle with higher-ups. Who knows what tricks she used to marry into the family," some sneered.

"It’s quite pitiful, having her husband openly bring his mistress to work, flaunting their intimacy in front of her. He has no regard for her feelings as his wife, and everyone mocks her. How embarrassing must it be," others sympathized.

Yet, Ye Lu ignored their comments, maintaining her poise.

To the onlookers, her indifference seemed pathetic. They assumed she was just desperately trying to uphold her dignity. After all, who could not be upset about being treated this way by her husband?

Look, even at the company’s critical annual party, the prince arrived with Yuan Jiayin, treating her like the mistress. The pair appeared as a beautiful couple and were warmly received by everyone, praising Yuan Jiayin for her beauty and nobility, and endorsing their match.

Some even called her "Young Mistress," making Yuan Jiayin glow with happiness. She laughed inwardly, comparing herself with Ye Lu, who, despite being the legitimate Young Mistress, was considered by everyone as just a mistress.

And the real mistress Ye Lu had become a joke.

Today was the Shang Family Corporation’s significant annual party, where they had invited their business partners and friends.

Shang Jingchen had given her the honor of acting as the hostess, intentionally displaying her status in front of everyone.

"Jingchen, should I act as the hostess? Wouldn’t that be improper, considering she’s your official wife?" She voiced her concern.

Shang Jingchen scoffed, "What kind of wife does she count as? I want to prove, in front of everyone, that you are my real wife. Who does she think she is? I want her to understand, even though she won the title of Young Mistress Shang, she is still an unloved joke."

He hated Ye Lu for using sly tactics to marry into the family, and yet still maintaining an icy-cold demeanor towards him.