Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 14

Because Yunxiyue was unwilling to pay, the second and third wives had to pay two thousand taels of silver for nothing.

The money was originally intended for them to buy jewelry, but now it's gone, and Shen Ling and Shen Huan are both giving Yun Xiyue a cold shoulder.

"That's right, Princess Sister-in-law is so generous."

Lin Bao'er looked displeased and said, "Alright, don't talk about my sister like that. She's your sister-in-law too."

"Whatever you want in the future, your kind and generous older sister will buy you beautiful jewelry, as she loves the younger generation the most."

"Right, sister?"

Yun Xiyue was dressed in a noble and elegant manner, exuding the aura of a matriarch. As soon as she arrived, Lin Bao'er felt instantly outshone and was very resentful.

"I'm not a princess, and I'm not as generous as a princess. From now on, if you want anything, you should buy it from the princess!"

Shen Yue and the others' expressions changed slightly. They couldn't understand what was wrong with Yun Xiyue. In the past, if they wanted something, they only needed to tell her, and someone would buy it and deliver it to them the next day.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?" Shen Huan couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing much, I just suddenly felt that it's my money, and I should be able to spend it however I want. Why should others have to spend it?" Yun Xiyue said.

Shen Huan bit her lip. "Is your sister-in-law upset that we spent your money?"

"When have we ever spent her money? Don't talk nonsense. We've been spending the Marquis's money." Shen Yue glared at Shen Huan, cursing her inwardly for being clueless. Even if they were spending Yun Xiyue's money, they shouldn't have said it.

It would be shameful for the Marquis's mansion to use his daughter-in-law's dowry if word got out.

That would damage his reputation and make others look down on him.

Shen Huan was so frightened that she lowered her head and dared not say anything more. She was the youngest and hadn't thought so much, but she knew in her heart that there was no money in the Marquis's public account. Over the years, it was Yun Xiyue who used her dowry to support the Marquis's family, and that's how their lives gradually became more comfortable.

They receive three new outfits each month, and two sets of jewelry were purchased with Yun Xiyue's money after she arrived.

Shen Ling quickly changed the subject, saying, "It's getting late, my brother and the others are waiting for us, let's go!"

The group quickly pulled Lin Bao'er away.

Qingmei spat in anger, "Shameless!"

"Madam, they are utterly shameless!"

Yun Xiyue smiled and said, "Tell Granny Cao that from today onwards, there's no need to prepare any more new clothes and jewelry for the three young ladies."

"Furthermore, the meals in each courtyard will be prepared according to the standards of the former Marquis's residence, clearly distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children, and there will be no need for extra meals."

Qingmei was secretly delighted, "It should have been done a long time ago!"

The food and supplies in the Marquis's mansion used to be worse than they are now.

When the lady arrived, she felt sorry for the girls. As daughters of the Marquis's mansion, they didn't have a decent set of clothes and were ridiculed when they went out.

She came back to Yunxi Yue and cried, looking pitiful.

Yun Xiyue then bought them jewelry and clothes, giving them enough dignity to show off when they went out.

Qingmei was furious that she had raised a bunch of ungrateful wretches. She wanted nothing more than to go over and scratch their ugly faces.

"Madam, the Marquis and the others have gone into the palace first." Only Yun Xiyue's carriage remained at the gate. The servant was someone she had brought from the Yun family. Seeing his mistress being neglected, he felt just as indignant and decided to tell the master and the others.

"Yes, let's go to the palace!"

Yunxi Yue brought Qingmei into the palace.

Inside the palace, Shen Yue brought Lin Bao'er to his seat. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought that Lin Bao'er was the legal wife.

Many of those who witnessed this scene were gloating and secretly mocking Yun Xiyue.

"She is, after all, a merchant's daughter; she's no match for the Southern Qiang princess at all."

"How can you compare them? One is a noble princess, and the other is a lowly merchant's daughter. Besides, the Southern Qiang princess is a skilled warrior and has given birth to three children for the Marquis. Even a fool would know which one to choose."

When Yunxi Yue arrived, she heard all sorts of mocking voices.

"Madam," Qingmei said, very worried about her.

Yun Xiyue, however, seemed indifferent, only thinking that Shen Yue and Lin Bao'er were foolish for showing off their affection in such a situation.

Do you think she's just a merchant's daughter, easy to bully because she has no one to back her up?

The Yun family indeed had no way of attending such a palace banquet.

Because these powerful and wealthy people look down on merchants, no matter how rich they are, they are considered inferior in their eyes.

This is because in this era, status and position are measured by power, not money.

But if they think that Yun Xiyue is still the same Yun Xiyue who was bullied by everyone in the past, then they are sorely mistaken.

"It's alright." Yun Xiyue chuckled and walked confidently to Shen Yue.

She stood there watching the two adulterers, saying, "My lord, I am your legal wife, and it is only right that I sit beside you."

"Sister, please give up your seat."

Lin Bao'er was immediately embarrassed. With so many people watching, she had no choice but to step down as the secondary wife of Marquis Anjun. However, she was a princess of the Southern Qiang and a general with military achievements. How could she give up her position to a mere merchant?

I should never have let her enter the palace.

Shen Yue was at a loss for what to do. He had forgotten about the matter and hurriedly whispered, "Go and sit with Mother! Father is not here. Today is a celebration banquet, so Bao'er and I need to sit together."

Mrs. Li was already very anxious and wanted to send someone to call her over.

Yun Xiyue merely glanced at her and smiled, "Is the Marquis planning to favor his concubine over his wife?"

Everyone fell silent instantly, watching the scene with the anticipation of a good show.

She secretly cursed Yun Xiyue for being so audacious, openly undermining her husband.

She is a woman of courage.

"Yun Xiyue, don't be ridiculous!" Shen Yue's eyes darkened as he angrily rebuked her.

To everyone's surprise, Yun Xiyue's eyes reddened, and she burst into tears. "I know, Lord Marquis... you don't like me, but if you don't like me, then why did you..."

"Shut up!" Shen Yue's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly stood up and covered her mouth, then turned to Lin Bao'er, "Bao'er, go sit with your mother."

Today's celebration banquet is very important to them, and we can't let Yun Xiyue ruin it.

Lin Bao'er was unwilling, but she had no choice but to move her to a different spot.

"Yun Xiyue, I'm warning you, you're not allowed to speak later." Shen Yue was furious. He hadn't expected her to be so presumptuous, and he really regretted letting her enter the palace.

"If you dare to spout nonsense again, I will not spare you."

When news spread that he had used a woman's dowry, he lost all face, and his colleagues would look down on him.

Yun Xiyue glanced at Lin Bao'er and smiled, "Then you'd better not provoke me, sir, or this kind of thing will happen often in the future."

From Lin Bao'er's perspective, the two appear to be very close.

Her face was dark and gloomy, and she wished she could come over and tear Yun Xiyue apart.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

A purple figure appeared, and everyone stood up and bowed.

"Rise! You have all worked hard at today's victory banquet, my dear ministers. There's no need for formalities." Murong Yu's voice carried a gentle smile.

A victory celebration banquet is a time to reward those who have made contributions.

Many military officers came, and only those with meritorious service had the opportunity to enter the palace to attend the banquet. Civil and military officials each stayed in their own places.

The victory in this war, which lasted five years, was made possible by the generals present. This is the most glorious moment for any soldier.

Shen Yue was calm and composed, as if victory was assured. Everyone thought so too. Although Shen Yue did not achieve the highest honor or serve as the commander-in-chief in this war, he was the one who ultimately defeated the enemy and made them surrender.

They will certainly receive a great deal of reward, and promotion and increased salary will be a given.

The Ministry of Rites began reading out the list of those to be rewarded.

The greatest credit goes to the Chu family, the commander-in-chief, and the group of fierce generals led by General Chu. Some were promoted and ennobled, while others were rewarded with tens of thousands of taels of gold, beautiful women, fine wine, and jewelry.

Looking at these rewards, the members of the Shen family were so excited that they almost shouted. There were two members in their family who received 20,000 taels of gold alone!

With this money, they can turn their lives around.

Those who received the first-class merit, followed by those who received the second-class, third-class, and fourth-class merits, were successively rewarded, but there was still no word about Shen Yue and Lin Bao'er being asked to go up and receive their rewards.

"What's going on? Why aren't Yue'er and Bao'er being rewarded? Shouldn't rewards be given according to merit?" Madam Shen asked anxiously.