The dozen or so shops Ye Chutang had taken back from Ye Heng reopened one after another. Business was booming, and they quickly caught the attention of many.

She hadn’t deliberately hidden her actions, so with just a little inquiry, one could find out that after she took over, those businesses quickly went from loss to profit.

Although outsiders couldn’t see the specific ledgers, looking at the lively sight of full houses every day, it wasn’t hard to guess that the Ye Family’s daily income must be staggering.

In an instant, there were those who were envious, and even more who were green with jealousy.

When Ye Shixian heard this news, she had it confirmed several times.

"Is what you’re saying really true?"

Shaoyao pouted, a hint of indignation in her eyes. "Isn’t it just! Who knows what tricks she used to attract so many customers! The teahouses, fabric shops, and cosmetics stores are one thing, but the real kicker is that Yunlai Tavern! I heard that even the most common pot of Chrysanthemum Drink there costs several dozen taels of silver! It’s sheer robbery!"

Ye Shixian twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her heart filling with ever-increasing frustration and hatred.

Before, when Ye Chutang had demanded those shops back, she hadn’t thought anything of it. After all, they were all money-losing ventures. Even if Ye Chutang took them over, she would just lose money for every day they were open. The only possible outcome would be selling off the storefronts and the land.

But how could she have expected that in the blink of an eye, those shops would turn into hens that lay golden eggs!

Looking at her own shabby residence now, without even a single decent piece of jewelry to her name, the few valuables she’d managed to keep were dwindling by the day. They wouldn’t last much longer...

The contrast between their situations was like heaven and earth!

"She has always been cunning and calculating. Who knows what tricks she’s pulled this time!"

To make matters worse, Ye Chutang had hidden herself away at Feiyun Temple, making it difficult for anyone in the capital who wanted to cause trouble for her!

Just then, another maidservant came hurrying in from outside, her face alight with pleasant surprise.

"Young Miss! Mr. Murong is here!"

After moving here, Ye Shixian had thought Murong Ye would come by soon, but she waited and waited, and he never showed up.

The maids and servants whispered about it amongst themselves, all feeling a little uneasy.

After all, their livelihoods now depended entirely on Murong Ye. If he didn’t keep coming, how could they possibly get by just relying on the Young Miss and the Madam?

Thus, upon hearing that Murong Ye had arrived, all the maids and servants in the courtyard were delighted.

Ye Shixian’s heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip, contemplating what demeanor to present.

’Respectful and earnest? Overwhelmingly grateful?’

But she had always presented herself as proud and reserved in front of Murong Ye. To act so meek and subservient felt utterly suffocating.

But Murong Ye had, after all, helped her immensely. It wouldn’t do to be too cold...

"Xian’er!"

While she was still deliberating, Murong Ye had already arrived.

Ye Shixian quickly collected her thoughts and rose to greet him. She took a single step forward and then stopped, her eyes red-rimmed and her expression full of guilt, as if hesitating whether to continue.

Murong Ye came closer and saw her like this. His heart immediately softened, and the fatigue from running around for her and her family’s affairs seemed to vanish in an instant.

He softened his voice. "Xian’er, are you upset that I came so late?"

Ye Shixian shook her head, tears streaming down her face. The moment she opened her mouth, her voice choked with sobs.

"I have been a burden to you. I can never repay you for saving my life."

As she spoke, she moved to gracefully kneel.

How could Murong Ye allow that? He immediately caught and supported her. Ye Shixian lowered her head, weeping, and took the opportunity to lean against his chest.

The maids and servants exchanged a look and tactfully withdrew.

With the soft, fragrant woman in his arms, Murong Ye’s heart stirred. He gently patted her back while comforting her in a low voice.

"There’s no need for such words between us. I helped you because I wanted to. My only regret is that I couldn’t do more. I’ve been tied up recently and couldn’t get away, which has made you suffer so much." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Although he didn’t say it outright, Ye Shixian could guess that he had probably been reprimanded by Murong Yang.

Murong Yang had consistently refused to help and had even repeatedly blocked Murong Ye’s attempts to assist her. His stance was perfectly clear.

With Ye Heng’s assets confiscated and him being sent into exile, what Murong Ye had managed to do was already quite remarkable.

Ye Shixian looked up at him, looking utterly pitiful.

"I’m fine. Compared to the hardships my father will face on his way to Tongbei, my suffering is nothing. It’s just..."

CRASH!

The sound of something shattering rang out. Murong Ye turned his head to look and heard a woman’s hoarse, wailing sobs.

Yet after a few sobs, the woman suddenly began to laugh, her voice soft and gentle, as if she were talking to someone.

It was incredibly bizarre.

Murong Ye hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is that... your mother?"

He had heard before coming that Mrs. Gao had become mentally unstable after Ye Mingze’s death. Now, it seemed the rumors were true.

Ye Shixian was deeply humiliated, feeling as if she had just been viciously slapped across the face.

Before, in Murong Ye’s eyes, she had been the graceful and charming young lady of a great house. But now—

Ye Shixian bit her lip and said in a low voice, "Yes. My mother injured her head before, and with what happened to Mingze, she... became like this..."

’The truth is right in front of him. I can’t deny it,’ she thought. ’It’s better to just admit it. Maybe I can even win some of his sympathy.’

And just as she’d hoped, after hearing her explanation, Murong Ye’s gaze filled with even more pity.

"So much has happened recently. It’s been hard on you."

He wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and added, "I knew you must be worried about this, so I had someone make inquiries. That group from Fulu Street did indeed take your brother to Bao’er Pass. I originally wanted to stop them, but... it’s better to keep a low profile right now. Besides, those men value money over their lives. If we really caused a scene, I’m afraid things would get ugly. Don’t you agree?"

Of course, he couldn’t be bothered with Ye Mingze’s funeral arrangements. He had only put up those five thousand taels earlier to save Ye Shixian.

Now that the group had taken Ye Mingze to Bao’er Pass, it actually saved him the trouble.

But of course, these were things he could never say to Ye Shixian.

Ye Shixian also understood that he had already gone above and beyond for her. She could only nod silently and whisper through her tears:

"I know. It’s just... I never thought my cousin would be so ruthless. We may have had a small misunderstanding, but my father truly didn’t kill her father and brother! I went to beg her earlier, but she wouldn’t even see me..."

Murong Ye had also heard whispers about these matters, so he wasn’t surprised to hear this now.

In fact, it even made him think of something else—

"That cousin of yours certainly is capable."

Ye Shixian choked on her words, looking up at him in astonishment.

Murong Ye continued, "I hear she’s the one who set up that Yunlai Tavern, isn’t she? I’ve heard from several friends that the place has a unique charm and business is excellent. Even they couldn’t get a reservation!"

Ye Shixian’s eyelid twitched.