“No, no.” Ye Hui screamed inwardly, thinking, look, there’s a misunderstanding. Visiting a brothel is dishonorable in both modern and ancient times, no matter the reason, one can’t hold their head up in front of family. “Husband, please let me explain. I was chased here by villains and almost lost my life. If you don’t believe me, ask Fa Cai. He’s your disciple’s disciple and won’t take my side. Fa Cai, quickly explain to your master.”
Ye Hui was eager for Fa Cai to prove her innocence, but his voice came back full of grievance: “It was Master’s wife who brought me to the brothel. It’s not my fault. I’m innocent.”
It turned out Zhou Xun had seen his disciple in the brothel, which made him so angry his face turned green. He grabbed the disciple’s ear, and Fa Cai cried out in pain.
Ye Hui gritted her teeth: “Fa Cai, you’re dead. Didn’t you swear not to tell?”
“Eh?” Huang Fuze Dan’s face darkened: “Wife, are you planning to collude with Fa Cai to deceive me?”
Ye Hui realized she had misspoken and forced a laugh: “Husband, there are too many people here. It’s not good for others to see us arguing. Let’s go home. You can do whatever you want. I’m yours anyway. Married to a chicken, follow the chicken. We’ve been out all day, husband. I miss you so much.”
Huang Fuze Dan was pleased by these words, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth: “When we get home, I’ll deal with you.” Ye Hui whispered in his ear: “I like being disciplined by my husband.”
Huang Fuze Dan’s stern expression finally softened, suddenly feeling that with a wife like this, what more could a husband want?
Men are indeed easy to placate! Ye Hui’s tense emotions gradually calmed. She hugged his neck, nestling her head in his strong chest, letting him carry her down three floors to the brothel’s entrance.
Zhou Xun led over Zhu Feng. She felt her husband lifting her onto the horse, but he suddenly stopped. Following his gaze, she saw a tall, strong man arguing with the brothel madam at the entrance.
“Wait here, my wife. I’ll go take a look and come right back,” he said, placing her on the horse’s back.
The two were arguing coarsely, exchanging harsh words.
Ye Hui was angry in her heart, but she didn’t want to argue. She now cared deeply about Huangfu Zetan and wanted to appear as a good wife in front of him, so she held back her anger. She waved to Moki, letting him help her dismount, and slowly walked to Ma Tilian, with a gentle smile at the corner of her lips: “My husband’s junior sister is also my junior sister. It’s rare to meet in Pingzhou City, so why don’t we go back together? I’ll have the kitchen prepare some delicious food and entertain you.”
She inwardly despised her, thinking “muscular and simple-minded” was the most appropriate description for this fourth junior sister.
Ma Tilian was not stumped by Ye Hui’s words and angrily retorted: “Who wants to go to your house? Who wants to eat your food? I won’t eat anything poisoned by you, you black-hearted woman.”
Ye Hui smiled brightly, and Huangfu Zetan’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a trace of annoyance in his wife’s eyes.
“My dear, fourth junior sister is not a child. She knows exactly what she’s doing,” Huangfu Zetan said with a slight smile, walking a few steps, picking up his wife, and approaching Zhufeng. He landed on the ground, mounted the horse, squeezed his legs against the horse’s belly, and Zhufeng’s hooves clattered as they slowly moved down the street.
Ye Hui was held in front of him, looking back. Li Weichen was standing at the entrance of the brothel, staring at her unblinkingly. Further back was the Young Master Hong Wen. She suddenly remembered she hadn’t yet redeemed him!
“Your husband is here,” Huangfu Zetan unhappily turned his wife’s head, thinking she was thinking about the men at the brothel.
Ye Hui muttered to herself that this second husband really thought she would look at any man. She was held all the way back to the Huangfu mansion.
Entering the Ningxiang Courtyard, she realized she was covered in dust from running around all morning. She called for water to be heated, bathed thoroughly, and changed into simple home clothes. While Huangfu Zetan was still working in the front courtyard, she took out some of her dowry from the emperor and selected a few easily carried banknotes, handing them to Moki: “Take these to Liren House and redeem the Young Master Hong Wen who has shown us kindness. Consider it a repayment.”
Since it was redeeming a man, she didn’t want to use money from her husbands.
Heqi handed over Hongwen’s deed of sale to her master. Ye Hui did not accept it: “Burn this thing, there’s no need to give it to me. Alright, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Go to the kitchen and see what there is to eat, or have the cook make something new.”
Moqi retreated and left.
By nightfall, as compensation, Ye Hui served Huangfu Zeduan meticulously, with the unpleasant memories from the brothel long thrown to the winds.
Early the next morning, after finishing her grooming, Ye Hui was informed of a visitor. Accompanied by Moqi, she came to the living room. Shortly after sitting down, she saw Zhou Xun bring in a group of people, and upon inquiry, learned that famous silver shops from Pingzhou City had brought their most treasured items.
The living room was filled with over a dozen jewelry merchants, holding boxes and appearing extremely respectful.
Facai was lecturing the merchants. Since being taken as Zhou Xun’s disciple a year ago, he felt elated. Previously, he would avoid wealthy gentlemen in the city, but now he had the opportunity to stand tall, straightening his back.
Ye Hui entered the living room, and Moqi brought over and brewed the mansion’s treasured fragrant tea.
“Shifu’s wife!” Facai called out, laughing and coming to pay his respects, acting as if he had completely forgotten about selling her out the day before.
Ye Hui, with so many people present, didn’t want to seem petty, but she didn’t give him a good look. She picked up her tea cup, took a sip, and said coolly, “Does my worthy disciple-in-law have something to say?”
Facai was stunned. His shifu’s wife was so easygoing yesterday, but today she seemed different. Unaccustomed to her seriousness, he remembered selling her out and trembled, thinking that women were indeed vindictive.
Facai, being quick-witted, immediately became cautious: “Shifu’s wife, my shifu instructed me this morning to invite the managers of the city’s famous jewelry shops. He said you could choose whatever you like, and after selecting, they should all stay and have the merchants settle accounts with Shifu’s uncle.”
Since appointing Lin’s manager to organize accounts and giving Ye Hui full control of household affairs, and considering her past life of exhaustion, she had sworn to be a leisurely wealthy woman. With Huangfu Zeduan’s consent, she had appointed his second disciple, Shang Hong, as the acting steward.
Ye Hui adopted a lofty attitude, telling the jewelry shop managers: “Open your treasured items for me to see. If I like them, price is no object.”
The second master was clearly a man of status and reputation who cared more about his reputation than money. She would be his virtuous wife and help him save face.
The jewelry merchants carefully opened their boxes, instantly filling the room with dazzling jewels that sparkled before everyone’s eyes. These merchants, experiencing such a spectacular gathering of jewels for the first time, couldn’t help but glance around, their eyes shimmering with amazement.
