Xiangzhou Chapter: Transmigrating into Another World, Chapter 8: Returning to the Ye Estate, Visiting the Elders

Hanxiang felt a little more at ease hearing her mistress speak this way, but remembering the words her mistress had left for the magistrate before they departed, she couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Mistress, why did you say that to the magistrate earlier?"

She felt a sense of unease, suspecting that her mistress intended to escalate the situation.

To her surprise, Ye Qiaoqiao just chuckled softly and replied, "If I didn't say it like that, how else should I have said it?"

"Mistress, Hanxiang is only worried that you might do something reckless," Hanxiang confessed.

As if reading her thoughts, Ye Qiaoqiao said, "I know what you want to say, but even if I hadn't said that—or done that—some people would never let us be."

"You mean... Xiang Ling'er?" Hanxiang’s eyes widened, that person being the first to come to mind.

Ye Qiaoqiao shook her head. "No. Xiang Ling'er is pregnant now; whether she can move against us depends on whether the child in her womb allows it. Unless she decides she doesn't want the child, it’s unlikely she would confront us head-on."

"Then who?" Hanxiang asked, puzzled.

Ye Qiaoqiao leaned in and whispered five words into her ear: "Chen Bailei's mother."

Hanxiang then recalled that ever since her mistress married into the Chen family, Chen Bailei’s mother had been a troublesome woman, constantly bad-mouthing people behind their backs. If it weren't for her mistress's dowry, there was no telling how much the mother-in-law would have belittled her. Fortunately, Chen Bailei had gone to the capital for the imperial examinations, and his mother had followed to accompany him, leaving her mistress to guard the empty courtyard for three whole years.

Still, Hanxiang couldn't help but retort, "Even if that scoundrel's mother comes knocking, there is no need for you to fear her, Mistress. Although she has spent years slandering others, she is actually just a paper tiger. She is nothing to be afraid of."

"Indeed, nothing to be afraid of. But I intend to stir up a storm in Xiangzhou and expose the ugly faces of that mother and son!" Ye Qiaoqiao spoke gently, yet a hint of imperceptible ruthlessness flashed through her eyes.

"Then, Mistress, what are you planning to do?" Hanxiang asked, her large, limpid eyes wide, already sensing that her mistress had made up her mind.

Ye Qiaoqiao looked up with a radiant smile; the little maid was quite sharp, after all. "Tomorrow is the day for public grievances. It is a perfect time to beat the drum of injustice."

Hanxiang was beyond shocked. While she had helped her mistress tear into Xiang Ling'er earlier out of loyalty, beating the drum of injustice would undoubtedly blow the matter wide open. Yet, she distinctly felt that the Ye Qiaoqiao before her now possessed a sense of divine protection, as if she were untouchable by any evil.

***

Thinking of how her mistress had earned five taels of gold in such a short time, and how she had become more confident and changed, Hanxiang chose to stand by her side, even if she truly intended to beat the drum of injustice.

Coughing to compose herself, Hanxiang suppressed her fear and said, "Mistress, I believe in you."

As they talked, they arrived at the Chen family estate. A servant dressed in a simple, short dark green jacket, holding a red invitation, seemed to have been waiting at the gate for a long time. Seeing Ye Qiaoqiao, his eyes widened, and he hurried over, smiling, "My dear eldest miss, I have finally waited for you."

"What is it?" Ye Qiaoqiao asked, stepping forward to look at the anxious servant.

She recognized from his attire and her original memories that he was a servant of the Ye merchant family. After a moment of thought, she felt a flicker of confusion. Was her mother looking for her?

At that moment, the servant handed her the red invitation and said respectfully, "Miss, the elders of the Ye family were deeply saddened by the news of your death, but they recently heard the storyteller’s version and learned that you have come back to life. They miss you dearly and wish to invite you over, and also to let you see your newborn nephew."

It was true; it had been several days since she woke up, and she hadn't visited her parents. To put it bluntly, it was quite unfilial. However, she caught the servant's last words keenly. In her memories, the original owner had an older brother named Ye Jinglan... and his wife had given birth to a son?

That was wonderful news!

Ye Qiaoqiao’s face lit up with joy. Her usually composed demeanor gave way to the excitement of a child, and she felt the gold leaf she had just earned felt even more rewarding.

With that thought, she pulled Hanxiang along and said happily, "Let’s go to the Ye estate."

"Eldest Miss, the carriage is already prepared, just waiting for you!" The servant gestured respectfully toward the carriage.

"Very well," Ye Qiaoqiao replied. She and Hanxiang then boarded the carriage.

However, she realized she hadn't prepared a gift for her newborn nephew. She looked at the coin purse in her hand and sighed, not expecting to spend her newly earned gold so soon. But it didn't matter—this was her nephew, after all!

She silently vowed: "Ye Qiaoqiao, rest assured, I will take back everything you lost, and I will certainly take care of the things you left unfinished in your life."

By the time the group arrived at the Ye estate, it was already the hour of the dog (7:00 PM to 9:00 PM).

Knowing her daughter was coming, Madam Ye had been waiting at the door for a long time. The moment she saw Ye Qiaoqiao, tears began to stream down her face. Ye Qiaoqiao felt a lump form in her throat; the original owner had actually had a wonderful family, but she had married the wrong man. One wrong step led to another, and she had fallen into a deep abyss. Fortunately, she had been able to turn back in time.

"Qiao'er, Mother has heard some things over the past few days, but I didn't know the specifics. Regardless, seeing you here truly makes me happy!" Madam Ye said, pulling Ye Qiaoqiao into a tight embrace.

"Mother, I am fine!" Ye Qiaoqiao said sensibly.

"Your affairs have caused such a stir, how could you be fine? The storytellers have several different versions!" Madam Ye looked at her and playfully tapped her on the nose.

Knowing she couldn't hide anything from Madam Ye, Ye Qiaoqiao told her everything: how she had attempted to hang herself, how she had come back to life, and how she had gathered help to drive Chen Bailei out of the Chen house.

Then, feeling a bit wronged, she apologized, "Mother, I’m sorry I haven't reached out to you these past few days. I was just planning to come and see you in a couple of days!"

"Qiao'er, just seeing you alive is enough to make me happy. As for you finally seeing through that penniless scoundrel, it was worth all the effort I spent raising you," Madam Ye said with great relief.

Ye Qiaoqiao's eyes reddened. How deeply must the original owner have hurt her parents for Madam Ye to say such a thing?

"Mother, Qiaoqiao will live a good life from now on. And once I officially divorce Chen Bailei, I must replace the plaque on the 'Chen family estate'! Anyone who doesn't know better would think it was his private mansion!"

"Yes, yes, whatever you say!" Madam Ye laughed, unable to hide her joy.