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

Chapter 4

Shen Yue took a step back and raised his hand to restrain her wrist. "As long as you behave yourself and don't bully Bao'er, I won't divorce you."

"Make preparations tomorrow, as I intend to marry Bao'er as my secondary wife."

He shook her off and walked away quickly.

"Madam, the old lady has sent some bird's nest porridge to help you recover."

Li was good at winning people's hearts. Her son slapped her, and she offered him a sweet date, hoping that Yun Xiyue would be as foolish as before, willing to give them money to squander because of a little concern.

The Shen family are all parasites. After Old Master Shen passed away, he did not pass the throne to his son, but directly to his eldest grandson Shen Yue.

Because Shen Yue's father, Master Shen, was a good-for-nothing, a complete failure.

He spent his days walking his dog and fighting birds, and even frequented brothels, often returning home and having people send him money to pay his bills.

Yun Xiyue picked up the bird's nest porridge and took a sip. This bird's nest was bought with her own money. "Tell the old lady that I will no longer manage the household from today onwards. Send the keys to the accounting room and the account books to Princess Nanqiang!"

"Granny Cao, go and settle the accounts."

Granny Cao felt this was inappropriate. "Madam, if you hand over the power of housekeeping now, won't that only make that woman more arrogant? With the power of housekeeping in hand, you are the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, and no one will dare to disrespect you. Even if that woman is a concubine, she is still inferior to the principal wife."

"When the time comes, we'll find a way to bring the three children over, which will make it easier to control that woman."

You want her to raise three bastards? The old woman probably doesn't know that in her past life, those three bastards were all worse than the last.

Yun Xiyue sighed inwardly, knowing that her wet nurse meant well, so she didn't criticize her too much. She simply said, "Nanny, Shen Yue doesn't care about me. So what if I'm the mistress? I'm just their money bag. If the Marquis's mansion runs out of money while I'm in charge, that's my problem."

The Marquis of Anjun's mansion was rotten to the core. There was no money in the mansion's public account. Otherwise, why would Madam Li have so readily handed over the management of the household to her?

Neither the second nor the third wife's family made a fuss.

In her past life, she was mindful of her marriage to Shen Yue. It was not his intention to leave her alone in her room on their wedding night when he led his army to war.

She then used her dowry to supplement the household's expenses.

Little did she know that Shen Yue had gone to the border because he didn't want to marry her at all.

This time, she would never be so foolish again.

"You don't need to worry about it, just do as I say."

Having no other choice, Granny Cao nodded and took the account book and key to Baohua Garden.

"Father, the soft couch in the Marquis's mansion is so soft and comfortable. I want to live in the Marquis's mansion from now on."

"Mom, do I look good dressed like this?"

"Father, Mother, I want to eat meat. It's so nice to be in the Marquis's mansion. We've never had such delicious meat at the border."

Inside the house, Shen Yue, Princess Nanqiang, and their three children dined together. The family was enjoying a harmonious meal, and the dishes on the table were extremely plentiful, truly delicacies from land and sea.

Such good food is not available at the border.

"Xin Xin looks so cute in this outfit. It's made of ice silk snow brocade, which is cool and comfortable to wear in the summer. I'll have the Yun family arrange for them to make a few more sets for Xin Xin."

"And Bao'er, just let me know if you need anything."

Lin Bao'er changed out of her military uniform and into a snow-white brocade dress with gold trim, her hair adorned with gold hairpins, and two jade bracelets on her wrists. Everything about her was precious and luxurious.

"Wouldn't this be too expensive? What if my sister finds out and gets upset? I don't mind, as long as the child doesn't suffer, I'm fine with wearing burlap."

Shen Yue held her hand and said, "How could it be expensive? It's just a few bolts of cloth. You are my wife now, and you've suffered a lot with me at the border. Yun Shi does nothing all day in the Marquis's mansion, only knowing how to enjoy herself. How dare she be unhappy? Bao'er, don't pay attention to that kind of woman."

"Let's eat first. This is bird's nest and abalone soup, which is very nourishing. You've worked hard, so you should take good care of yourself."

“Bao’er is a princess, of noble status, and should be treated with the finest food and clothing. Now that she’s back in the Marquis’s mansion, she doesn’t need to be as frugal as she was at the border. She can eat whatever she wants.”

Lin Bao'er smiled happily, "Yes, you eat too."

When Granny Cao heard this from behind the screen, her heart sank. Fortunately, the madam didn't come; otherwise, she would have been heartbroken.

Baohua Garden has been completely renovated inside and out, and is extremely luxurious. The flowers and plants in the courtyard alone cost several thousand taels of silver, all because Lin Bao'er likes tulips. All of this was paid for by the madam.

The snow brocade they wore was worth a fortune. It was made of extremely rare ice silkworm silk and was part of the lady's dowry. The lady herself was reluctant to use it to make clothes for herself.

They were so shameless as to take it without asking and have it cut up to make clothes for themselves?

And this table full of delicacies, a meal like this will cost over a thousand taels of silver, and we'll have to eat it every meal from now on?

This is all the lady's money. She supports their whole family, and yet the Marquis dares to say such infuriating things.

Granny Cao was instantly enraged. She walked around the screen and came in, wishing she could throw the account book and keys at his face. "Greetings, Lord Marquis."

“Madam is unwell. Now that Madam Lin has entered the household, she should help manage the household affairs. Madam has sent me here to reconcile the accounts with the Marquis and Madam Lin.”

Without giving Shen Yue and the others a chance to speak, they directly threw the ledger and keys at them.

For a man like that, it's right for his wife not to interfere in the household affairs.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Li immediately rushed to Baozhu Garden, asking, "Has Madam Yun stopped managing the household?"

“Mother, if she doesn’t want to manage things herself, then there’s no need to force her. From now on, Bao’er will manage the household. She is the princess of Nanqiang and should be the principal wife. It’s already unfair to her to be a secondary wife.”

Madam Li looked at Lin Bao'er, "Princess...have you looked at the account books?"

"I've checked, Mother. Don't worry, I'll manage this household well. My sister has worked so hard for so many years; she deserves a good rest." Lin Bao'er said with a smile, holding the keys to the accounting room in her hand. She hadn't expected to gain the power of managing the household so easily; Yun Shi was nothing special after all.

Li frowned slightly, wanting to say something more, but Shen Yue interrupted her, not letting her continue. He didn't believe that the Marquis's mansion couldn't survive without Yun's dowry.

"Since you put it that way, then so be it! However, Lady Yun is the Marquis's legal wife, while Lady Yun is merely the daughter of a merchant. Her status is not as noble as that of the princess, but since the princess has just entered the household, we will need to consult her on any matters in the future."

Lin Bao'er's smile froze slightly, and she was displeased, but she quickly smiled it off. "I understand, Mother. Don't worry, I will get along well with my sister."

Granny Cao ran back with a livid face.

"Have some tea, Granny, to calm down." Yun Xiyue had already guessed why she was angry.

If she doesn't witness firsthand the true colors of Shen Yue and Lin Bao'er, she'll continue to urge herself to compete for their favor.

Granny Cao sighed inwardly, "What kind of karma has this person created!"

The following day, a grand wedding was held at the Marquis's residence, attended by all the nobles and wealthy people in the capital, simply because Marquis An was no longer the same as before.

Standing next to Shen Yue, Lin Bao'er acted like the matriarch of the household, stealing the spotlight.

Yunxi Yue became a laughing stock in the capital.

Many people laughed behind their backs.

But she was still the legal wife, and even a concubine had to serve her tea when she entered the house.

"Lady Anjun has arrived."

"I heard that the Yun family is the daughter of a merchant. She shouldn't be as beautiful and noble as the princess, otherwise the Marquis wouldn't have abandoned her on their wedding night."

"That's right, she really is an ugly monster!" The crowd secretly mocked, which made Lin Bao'er feel much better.

"Hey! Who's this?" A sudden commotion arose again.