「West City Villa.」

Ye Shixian was carefully combing her hair when she heard a commotion outside.

"Let go of me! Are you deaf?! I told you to let go of me!"

The shrill voice was piercing enough to make one’s eardrums ache. Annoyance welled up inside Ye Shixian. She casually selected a red jade hairpin, tucked it into her hair, and then rose to open the door.

But in the next moment, the expression on her face instantly froze.

She had, of course, recognized Mrs. Gao’s voice. What surprised her were the two burly servants standing beside her.

She quickly recognized them as Murong Ye’s men.

"What are you two doing here?" Ye Shixian asked, stunned.

The two men glanced at her and gave a perfunctory bow.

"Greetings, Miss Ye. We are acting on Mr. Murong’s orders to escort Madam Ye home. She went to Yunlai Tavern today and caused quite a scene. It seems she’s not in her right mind—"

"Nonsense!" Mrs. Gao couldn’t stand to hear such talk. Growing even more agitated, she shrieked, "It’s one thing for him not to help me, but how dare he slander me like this! Does he have any respect for his elders?!"

The servant sneered.

"Oh, we wouldn’t dare. In this entire Capital City, who would possibly dare to cross you?"

The mockery in his words was blatant. It was as good as cursing her to her face.

Ye Shixian’s face fell. But she was rational enough to realize, after a moment’s thought, that for Murong Ye to be so discourteous, Mrs. Gao must have done something truly out of line.

’How can we afford to have a falling out with Murong Ye at a time like this?’

Ye Shixian took a deep breath, put on an apologetic expression, and hurried forward.

"My mother has been unwell lately. I’m sorry to have troubled you to bring her back. If she has offended you—"

"Offended them? So what!?"

Mrs. Gao was still in the middle of her tirade.

"They’re all just bullies who pick on the weak and fear the strong! And that Murong Ye! He clearly made a promise, but then in front of everyone he—"

"Mother!" Fearing she would say something even more unpleasant, Ye Shixian quickly raised her voice to cut her off. She shot a look at Shaoyao. "Hurry and help the madam back inside!"

"Yes!"

Shaoyao quickly stepped forward, half-pulling and half-dragging Mrs. Gao away.

Even after she was taken inside the house, the sound of her cursing continued unabated.

Ye Shixian was mortified, but she forced a gentle expression. "Why didn’t Mr. Murong come himself?"

’For Murong Ye to be so discourteous, something major must have happened. I just don’t know what it could be.’

But the two men merely exchanged a glance and clasped their hands.

"Mr. Murong has urgent business and will not be visiting for the time being. Now that Madam Ye has been safely delivered, we will take our leave."

With that, they truly paid her no more mind and turned to leave.

"Wait—"

Ye Shixian took a step forward but stopped, the unease in her heart intensifying.

’Murong Ye’s men have always been so attentive and polite to me. This is the first time they’ve ever dared to be so insolent!’

’Aside from Mother truly infuriating Murong Ye, it must also be because I’m living under his roof now. In the end, I’m a step below everyone else!’

Ye Shixian was seething with anger. She wanted to go and ask Mrs. Gao exactly what had happened, but hearing the vile curses, she abandoned the idea.

However, she soon learned the reason for all of this—Ye Chutang had returned.

...

Thanks to the scene Mrs. Gao had caused, the news of Ye Chutang’s return to the Capital City spread like wildfire.

Everyone now knew that the Ye Family’s second young miss was the true owner of Yunlai Tavern.