C116 Second Concubine's Sowing of Discord!

Ms. Mei's usually stern face finally cracked with a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. She coughed to cover it up, "Alright, I'll give you this one, kid." With that, she turned her head, "Take him away."

This time, Wen Shixing was dragged across the floor like a dead dog. The seven burly men Ms. Mei brought with her were imposing and fierce. The manager and staff at the teahouse didn't dare to intervene as they dragged Wen Shixing away.

Ye Mingyuan stood at the door, watching the whole scene unfold without missing a beat. It was quite the spectacle. And this spectacle had everything to do with his beloved daughter, Erya, whom he had raised in a sheltered environment, unaware of the world's darker sides, always indulging her whims and temper.

Ye Mingyuan had never scrutinized his daughter Erya as closely as he did now. He knew her well, having raised her with great care. Erya was the apple of his eye, so much so that he rarely let her out of his sight. Even when he had to attend to business, he entrusted her to his most trusted aides.

As a result, Erya grew up spoiled and headstrong, unaware of the world's dangers. She was impulsive, often getting into conflicts and acting recklessly. This had led to several instances where she was set up by other girls her age, and Erya's response was always direct and physical, never bothering with schemes or explanations.

But today! The show Erya put on was nothing short of brilliant. She orchestrated everything with meticulous detail, weaving a tight web that left no room for the opposition to react.

"Dad, make sure the manager and the staff at the teahouse keep their mouths shut."

Yuvyuv, holding her pale-faced older sister's arm, stood in front of their father, Ye Mingyuan, her mind racing. "We can't let rumors spread."

Yuvyuv was hinting at something specific. Although Wen Shixing had been taken away with a bag over his head, and the guests downstairs had been kept from going upstairs by Ms. Mei's people, preventing them from seeing anything, the young waiter had led the way. He would still work here, and the manager downstairs would surely question him later. So, it was crucial to keep both the manager and the waiter's mouths shut.

Ye Mingyuan looked into his beloved daughter's bright eyes, pressed his lips together, and nodded seriously. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Alright then, Dad, my sister and I will go next door for a cup of tea to calm our nerves," Yuvyuv said, dramatically patting her chest and taking a deep breath. "Phew, that was terrifying. I was scared to death. Come on, sis, let's go get some tea to settle down."

With that, she hurried to the next room, leaving Ye Mingyuan with a bemused expression, taken aback by his daughter's theatrical display.

It was just past noon when the Ye family trio returned home. Several of the wives were sitting on the couch, having just finished lunch and chatting over tea.

The second wife was the first to stand, greeting them warmly at the door. "Oh, you're back! Have you had lunch yet? If not, I'll have the servants prepare something."

"No need, we ate at a restaurant on the way back," Ye Mingyuan replied, sidestepping her and glancing at Yuvyuv and Nianci before heading upstairs.

The second wife smiled awkwardly and turned her attention to the sisters with enthusiasm. "Yuvyuv, Nianci, it's just the start of fall, and the air is dry. You must be thirsty after being out. How about I have the servants make you some fresh juice?"

She wore a flattering smile, showing no impatience as she looked at Yuvyuv and Nianci's little faces, trying to discern something from them.

"Ha, Second Concubine, with all this effort to please, haven't you heard the saying?" Yuvyuv's smile was innocent, her lips curving into a beautiful arc, as vibrant as a chrysanthemum blooming in early autumn, stunningly beautiful.

Even though the Second Concubine resented this little brat for her enchanting looks, she couldn't help but inwardly admire how captivating she was. A casual smile from her naturally exuded charm; if she intentionally tried to attract a man, who could resist this fully blossomed little fox face?

A flash of malice crossed the Second Concubine's eyes, wanting to ruin this exquisite face before her. She suppressed her ill will, maintaining a gentle smile like a dignified lady, and said, "Yuvyuv, I am still your elder. Even if you don't acknowledge me as your second mom, by the old lady's account, I'm your cousin. You should show me some respect."

The Second Concubine raised her voice slightly, noticing Ye Mingyuan had just reached the staircase corner, not yet in his study. She spoke loudly, hoping Ye Mingyuan would hear, clinging to a faint hope that he might make this little brat show her some respect.

But the sound of the study door slamming shut shattered the Second Concubine's hopes. Her eyes flashed with resentment as she looked at Yuvyuv and Nianci, dropping the pretense.

Still smiling, she casually glanced past Yuvyuv and turned to Nianci, "Oh, Nianci, weren't you meeting your boyfriend at the tea house today? By etiquette, since your boyfriend brought gifts to visit the master, he should be invited to stay for dinner. Otherwise, it might seem disrespectful and neglectful."

The Second Concubine sighed with feigned concern, casting a seemingly casual glance at Yuvyuv. It was as if she was hinting to Nianci that the reason they couldn't invite guests over was all because of her younger sister.

Yuvyuv could easily discern the Second Concubine's attempt to sow discord between her and her older sister, trying to drive a wedge between them. Her intentions were nothing short of malicious.

"Ha!"

Yuvyuv, standing beside the Second Concubine, laughed. Her laughter was openly mocking. Suddenly, she stepped right in front of the Second Concubine, looking down at her with a cold, disdainful gaze. Yuvyuv had always been tall, now standing at about 5'5" at just eighteen, with room to grow. The Second Concubine, on the other hand, was around 5'3", so being looked down upon by Yuvyuv made her feel inferior.

Moreover, just a few days ago, she had been slapped and kicked by Yuvyuv, so her body instinctively wanted to avoid this little firecracker. But with the Third and Fourth Concubines watching, she couldn't actually back away, or she'd be the laughingstock of the household.

So, the Second Concubine stood her ground, though her face was stiff, and her smile looked as forced as a dried-up corpse's, quite unsightly.

Yuvyuv's rosy lips parted coolly, "Second Concubine, haven't I reminded you before? Some words, some phrases, need to be thought through before they're spoken. You can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly, don't you agree?"

Yuvyuv smiled lightly, but her smile carried a chilling undertone.