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

Chapter 16

He thought she was being bullied in the Marquis's mansion, but he didn't expect her to be so domineering. Is this still the Yun Xiyue he knows?

Yun Xiyue threw down her riding whip, turned back to look at the man, and her eyes reddened, "Big Brother..."

Her father only had her as his daughter. Her mother couldn't have any more children due to health reasons, so she had no sons. She also had no other brothers or sisters. Yun Xiaohan was her father's adopted son.

They grew up together and had a very close sibling relationship. It was just a pity that she was instigated by others to hurt her brother's feelings, which led him to leave the Yun family.

In her past life, she was imprisoned and abused by the Shen family. Only Yun Xiaohan came to visit her many times, but he was always blocked by the Shen family.

Even so, he did not give up. He gave up all the money he had worked so hard for over the years to save her, but the Shen family lied to him and did not release her. Instead, they plotted to kill him.

"I came to the capital to discuss a business deal. I heard that Marquis An has taken a concubine. Are you alright?" Yun Xiaohan frowned as soon as he saw her. The Yun family was not in the capital; she was someone who had married far away to the capital.

He had never agreed to her marrying Shen Yue.

But she wouldn't listen to advice...

Their relationship was not as close as it was when they were children; she didn't even invite him to her wedding.

"Don't tell Father, I'll take care of it as soon as possible."

Yun Xiaohan's eyes darkened slightly. "How could you possibly be a match for the entire Shen family by yourself? A family like theirs is ruthless and heartless. If you don't want Father to worry, you should..."

Oh well, what's done is done.

She won't listen to advice.

"Take these silver notes. If you need more, just ask me. I have a shop in the capital. You can contact me there if you want to find Manager Qian."

“Your father and mother are in Yunzhou, and their health is deteriorating. If you don’t want them to worry, come to me. I’m not trying to take advantage of the Yun family… The Yun family will be yours in the future, and I won’t compete with you for it.”

Yun Xiaohan knew long ago that he was not her biological brother; her adoptive father had taken him in so that someone could protect his daughter in the future.

Thinking of her parents, Yun Xiyue felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She was truly unfilial. "Thank you, elder brother. I was wrong about what happened in the past. Please don't be angry. I only have you and our parents left."

Yun Xiaohan was stunned. He hadn't realized how much she had changed in the years since they last met. She wasn't as willful as before...

She must have suffered a lot of grievances in the Marquis's mansion to become so sensible.

"Did Shen Yue bully you?" Yun Xiaohan couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Yun Xiyue nodded. "Yes, but don't worry, I'll repay anyone who bullies me a hundredfold."

"Can you go back to Yunzhou to help my parents? They are getting old, and I'm not by their side. I'm worried about them."

Yun Xiaohan sighed inwardly. He had been going back to visit his adoptive parents. "Don't worry about Father and Mother, I will take good care of them. I will also manage the Yun family's shops for you. If you need money, just let me know."

As he spoke, he gave him another stack of silver notes.

Yun Xiyue was both amused and exasperated. "I have enough money to spend."

"Well, I'll be going then. Take care." Yun Xiaohan looked up at the plaque of Marquis Anjun. Given his status, the Marquis's residence did not allow him to enter.

Staying here will only cause her trouble.

"Weren't you supposed to be discussing a sale? Why are you leaving so soon?"

"We've already reached an agreement. You don't want me to stay?" Yun Xiaohan asked in surprise.

"If you're not in a hurry to leave, stay a few more days and I'll arrange a place for you to stay."

Yun Xiaohan smiled and said, "I live in Fuyun Tower."

He was born with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, and his smile was even more handsome.

"Yes, I'll send someone to find you if anything comes up."

After exchanging a few words, Yun Xiaohan left.

"Madam, the old lady requests your presence at Chunhui Garden."

Inside the house, Madam Li berated the gatekeeper, "You worthless wretch! Who told you to be so disrespectful to your brother-in-law! Drag him out and give him thirty lashes, then kick him out of the Marquis's mansion."

“Listen up, everyone. Anyone who dares to be so disrespectful to the lady’s family again will suffer the same fate.”

Yun Xiyue came in and heard this, and a smile appeared on her lips. "Mother, you wanted to see me?"

"Yue'er, where is your elder brother! The servants didn't know the rules, I've already dealt with them." Madam Li hurriedly got up and took her hand. "It's my fault, I didn't instruct Steward Zhang to manage the servants properly, this will not happen again."

"Your older brother is here to visit you, right? Please invite him in quickly."

Yun Xiyue withdrew her hand. "My older brother had to leave first."

"Why didn't you ask him to stay and have a meal with us before you left?"

"It's rare for your family to come to the capital."

Yun Xiyue said, "There's no need for that."

Her father would sometimes come to the capital to discuss business or visit her, but the Shen family never invited him to stay for a meal.

The Shen family looks down on the Yun family.

Why pretend now?

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. I'm a little tired." Yun Xiyue glanced coldly at the servant who was half-dead from the beating, and prepared to leave.

"Sister-in-law, why is there only three dishes and a soup for lunch today? It used to be five dishes and a soup, plus a bowl of bird's nest soup. Why isn't it here today?" Shen Yue came in and said angrily.

Li was just about to bring this up!

The amount of food she delivered today was also reduced.

"Because the Marquis's mansion has no money in its accounts, the old meals can only be restored when the money comes in. There will be no more bird's nest from now on, so anyone who wants to eat it can buy it themselves," Yun Xiyue said with a smile.

Shen Yue couldn't accept it any longer. "There's no money in the company account. Can't you find a way?"

"I have no choice! I'm spending more than I earn every month, so I have to be frugal."

Shen Yue said, "I don't believe it. In the past, the Marquis's mansion didn't have any money in its accounts, but didn't they still eat well and dress well? Didn't they cut back on food and clothing?"

“Sister-in-law, I know you have a way, because you are the only daughter of the Yun family, and your father gave you many shops, all of which are prime locations in the capital! Now that the Marquis’s mansion is in trouble, can’t you take out your private savings to help out?”

"Otherwise, how are we supposed to live?"

Yun Xiyue sneered inwardly, "Weren't you all living just fine before I married into the Marquis's mansion?"

“My dowry shop is part of my dowry. I can’t expect you to rely on my dowry money to support you for the rest of your lives!”

"You have money, what does this little bit of money matter? You are my brother's wife, the mistress of the Marquis's mansion!" Shen Yue muttered. If she had to cut back on food and clothing from now on, she wouldn't have any pretty clothes or jewelry when she went out, and she would be laughed at to death.

Yun Xiyue's eyes darkened slightly, and she said with a faint smile, "My lord, you don't only have me as your wife. You also have a princess sister-in-law. She is a princess of noble birth and has given birth to three children for your brother!"

"Didn't the princess say that she would give you all the rewards after the victory banquet? Look how much she dotes on you."

"If you want to eat bird's nest, ask her to buy it for you."

Shen Yue choked, her eyes fixed on her. "I know, you're just angry! Angry that my brother had a child with the princess at the border. How can you be so petty?"

“My brother and my sister-in-law are truly in love. Besides, her marriage to my brother hasn’t affected your status as the legal wife. You’re just a merchant’s daughter, yet you’re able to marry my brother, who’s even older than the princess. That’s all thanks to the Shen family for giving you face. How can you hold a grudge?”

Seeing that her daughter's words were making Yunxi Yue even angrier.

Li quickly pulled her aside, "Yue'er, apologize to your sister-in-law. Don't talk about her like that."

"Hmph, I didn't say anything wrong. Now that she's not giving me money anymore, why should I call her sister-in-law? If she were still giving me money like before, then I'd reluctantly acknowledge her as my sister-in-law." Shen Yue was full of arrogance. Anyway, Yun Xiyue liked her brother, and as long as she didn't acknowledge her as her sister-in-law, she would definitely come begging to her in order to gain Shen Yue's favor.