Chapter 498: Chapter 499: Do You Acknowledge This Kind of Daughter-in-law? Isn’t This Ruining the Zhao Family’s Reputation?

“Hey, I really didn’t expect the Marquis to act so quickly. If I had known it would be this easy, I should have stayed and watched.”

With the crisis resolved and Song Gensheng’s life finding a direction, Qi Yue’s mood immediately improved.

“Master, all is well now. We can stay at Youyun Mountain for a while longer, until Gensheng recovers.”

Huang Zai’an responded with a string of vague agreements, his mind, however, was filled with complaints.

[Alas, my disciple is so shrewd in front of others, but the moment Zhao’s boy coaxes her, she scurries about, believing anything he says! Ah, who knows what the real situation is? Anyway, it’s none of my old man’s business; all I need to do is make sure my disciple doesn’t return home, and all will be well…]

After resting for one night at the branch office, the next morning Qi Yue ordered all the assorted gifts to be loaded onto the carriage, and they set off for Youyun Mountain.

Although this place was remote, it was still managed by the Villa Master of Youyun Mountain, with many checkpoints set along the way. Ordinary people couldn’t easily enter here.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiyan had sent word in advance, so all along the way their passage was unimpeded, and they quickly ascended the mountain.

Shen Yu and the others had already been waiting early on at the mountain pass.

As soon as they saw Qi Yue’s carriage, they threw aside their noble birth and status, shouting and running over.

They embraced Qi Yue and bombarded her with endless questions.

It wasn’t until Huang Zai’an tactfully reminded everyone that pregnant women should rest more, that Shen Yu was shocked into silence.

This beautiful woman, who had longed for a grandson for many years, immediately burst into tears, frightening Qi Yue considerably.

Soon, Qi Yue was escorted by her mother-in-law and three sisters-in-law into the courtyard where they lived.

After finally sitting down, Cong Zhonglan and the two children insisted on paying their respects to Qi Yue, causing another commotion.

The three sisters, Zhao Shuangyu and the others, had grown considerably during this time, each of them blooming like flowers.

Seeing them, Qi Yue was also happy.

After distributing the gifts she had brought to everyone, the entire courtyard erupted with excitement.

The reason was that the gifts Qi Yue had prepared were all needed and wanted.

For Zhao Yongzhe and Zhao Yonglian, it was two fine horses and a set of excellent archery equipment each.

The younger sisters all received rouge and face powder as well as beautiful jewelry.

Cong Zhonglan and her two children received various clothes, assorted study materials, as well as a letter from Zhang Zhao that Huang Zai’an had brought back for them.

Shen Yu got the most and the most private gifts; all were items commonly used by women, including various generous presents for her little brother-in-law, who was just over a year old.

The maids and numerous servants all received gifts as well.

Living in the mountains, many items depended on being brought from outside, so with Qi Yue’s visit, everyone was overjoyed.

The family was in the midst of their merriment when suddenly, an odd, nasal female voice drifted in.

“I hear we have distinguished guests and that they’ve brought gifts. Show me what wonderful things they are!”

The atmosphere suddenly quieted down, and everyone frowned.

The newcomer was Shen Zhen’niang.

She originally followed the Shen Family’s uncle, Shen Changzhi, along with the Zhao Family to Youyun Mountain, Zhao Xiyan’s cousin.

Naturally, Liao Ruyan accompanied her.

Liao Ruyan was still dressed in white, playing the part of the delicate, frail woman.

With slightly furrowed brows, her small hands clutched a handkerchief, occasionally pressing it against her chest.

One couldn’t tell if she was trying to imitate a sick beauty or to replicate a perpetually ill and sorrowful Lin Daiyu.

Seeing her, Qi Yue felt her stomach turn.

The morning sickness she hadn’t experienced in a while was nearly unbearable!

Qi Yue was well aware of the situation with these two upon her arrival!

Initially, after ascending the mountain, they lived with Shen Yu and her family.

But because these two were extremely lazy and often caused trouble with Shen Shuangyu and the others, disrupting the household’s peace,

Shen Yu, in a fit of anger, allocated a separate courtyard for them and dispatched a maidservant and two maids to attend to them, leading them to live apart.

Under normal circumstances, these two wouldn’t come over.

It must be because she heard that Qi Yue has arrived and couldn’t contain herself from coming over to provoke.

Not that Qi Yue knows, but at the beginning, Shen Zhenniang and Liao Ruyan frequently had the Black Feather Guard deliver messages to Zhao Xiyan, offering all sorts of warm regards–clearly, they were relentlessly scheming.

It was only after Zhao Xiyan issued a direct order that anyone who dared to bring messages from these two would be expelled from the Black Feather Guard, that the affair ceased.

But Qi Yue could imagine how great the resentment from these two must be!

Isn’t this just obvious!

She curved the corner of her lips and remained silent, elegantly eating the fried pine nuts that Shen Yu had peeled.

Competing with such people was a loss of her own dignity; naturally, there were others to stand up for her.

“Zhenniang, what are you doing here?” Shen Yu’s tone was cold, her eyes full of disdain.

“Auntie, what kind of question is that? I am naturally here to join in the excitement,” she said.

Shen Zhenniang flapped the silk handkerchief in her hand, her gaze skipping over everyone and landing on Qi Yue.

Where her gaze fell, nobody knew, but Shen Zhenniang’s face suddenly soured.

“I didn’t expect to see Miss Qi here!”

Qi Yue had no intention of making a peep.

If someone had the sense to treat her as a true relative, she would naturally greet them.

But not for someone who couldn’t read the room–it was better to forget it.

“What Miss Qi?” Shen Yu snapped, “You should call her ‘cousin-in-law’!”

Shen Zhenniang just curled her lip, her face portraying complete indifference.

Liao Ruyan, however, stepped forward gracefully and bowed to Qi Yue.

“Sister Ruyan has seen her cousin-in-law. Are you well?” she greeted.

Seeing her act this way, Shen Zhenniang started to cause a fuss again.

“Sister Ruyan, why bow to her? She and cousin brother aren’t even married yet…”

“Shut your mouth!” Shen Yu was truly infuriated, her typically gentle demeanor flaring up like a cat’s fur.

“Shen Zhenniang, if you can’t speak properly then get out, you’re not welcome here!”

Liao Ruyan saw that things were going south and hurriedly stepped forward to pull on Shen Zhenniang.

The two exchanged a look and somehow came to an understanding, and when Shen Zhenniang lifted her head again, her face was again wreathed in a smile.

Mirroring Liao Ruyan, she stepped forward and bowed to Qi Yue.

“Zhenniang pays her respects to her cousin-in-law!” she said.

Qi Yue didn’t even lift her brows.

Savoring the delicious pine nuts, she gave a slight wave of her hand.

“You may all leave; I, Qi Yue, have no desire to accept your grand gestures.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhenniang, who was already reluctant, immediately jumped up.

“Qi Yue, don’t bite the hand that feeds you! I’m the true cousin of Brother Xiyan, what are you? If Sister Ruyan weren’t so intent on befriending you, I would have never bothered with you!”

“In that case, please, Zhao Xiyan’s dear cousin, leave my sight; or better yet, go directly to your dear Brother Xiyan and see if he even cares,” Qi Yue retorted sharply.

Such words were a blatant slap to the face.

Zhao Xiyan had always treated this cousin with disdain–if not for the sake of Shen Yu’s face, he wouldn’t have bothered with her at all!

As expected, Shen Zhenniang’s face twisted with anger.

Her originally pretty face, overtaken by jealousy, turned her into an extremely ugly woman in an instant.

“You, you…”

Stomping her foot, Shen Zhenniang turned to Shen Yu, almost ready to fling herself at her and cling to her legs.

“Auntie, look at her! Can you accept such a daughter-in-law? Isn’t she tarnishing the Zhao Family’s reputation?”