Hearing Second Wife had come, Little Red’s face immediately changed color, turning from red to white in a flash.

“Eighth Young Master.” Little Red looked at Ye Kong pleadingly.

Even Chen Jiuniang looked at Ye Kong very nervously. After all, the one coming was the actual controller of the Ye Manor. How could she not be nervous?

“It’s fine. What’s the panic? Keep eating as usual!” Ye Kong casually withdrew his hand from Little Red’s lower back and leaned against the chair armrest. He thought to himself, if only he had a cigar and wore sunglasses, that would be even better.

Actually, in Ye Kong’s view, Second Wife was equivalent to a certain gang boss. Her underlings came to wreck his place but failed and got beaten instead. After she returned and learned about it, thinking this person wasn’t to be provoked, she’d inevitably bring her underlings to offer tea and wine to apologize.

The affairs of this inner courtyard harem were really just like triad society.

Ye Kong had seen this kind of thing plenty on Earth. Every time, the boss of their Hanzheng Gang would put on huge airs. What about it? You gonna bite me? If you really dared bite, you wouldn’t have brought your underlings to apologize!

As soon as Second Wife entered the door, the fire in her heart flared up. The several people inside were actually still sitting there eating, with no intention whatsoever of welcoming her.

Every time Second Wife went anywhere, she brought Steward Ye Cai, who’d shout before entering, “Second Wife has arrived.” This was to remind the people inside – hey, stop [stolen content]what you’re doing, Second Wife is here, hurry up and receive her.

This woman actually treated herself like an emperor. From this, you could see how much she valued face, how difficult it was for her to forcibly swallow this insult from Ye Kong.

Following Steward Ye Cai was also startled. He thought to himself that this Eighth Young Master really was bold enough. Seeing Second Wife enter, he actually didn’t move at all, still sitting and eating, looking completely fearless.

Sigh, fortunately, he’d taken advantage of the chaos this morning to go out first. Otherwise, he’d be in difficulty on both sides. Not stopping it would earn Second Wife’s resentment. Stopping it would get him beaten on the spot by this kid. No wonder everyone called him Plague God. Even Second Wife feared him.

“Oh, eating lunch. Hehe.” This Second Wife really could endure. Toward the four people who sat without moving, she walked over familiarly and even smiled.

Chen Jiuniang couldn’t sit still anymore. No matter what, Second Wife was someone more noble than her. Actually, in the back compound inner courtyard, the hierarchy among women was no less strict than officialdom. One rank higher crushes you to death, let alone Second Wife, the director of the inner courtyard.

“Oh, it’s Second Wife. How rude of us. Please, this way.” Chen Jiuniang quickly went over to greet her.

Little Red also stood up. She still held deep reverence for Second Wife. However, she didn’t walk over, only lowered her head with hands folded, standing to the side.

Ye Kong didn’t blame them. He just turned his head to glance at Second Wife, sitting sideways in his chair, picking his teeth with a toothpick.

Such a rude kid! When the time comes, I’ll definitely use toothpicks to stab you all over. visit our siteLet’s see you pick your teeth then! Second Wife held resentment in her heart, but her mouth was affectionate.

“Jiuniang, I’ve disturbed your meal. Hehe, I just got back. I heard my two little rascals caused you trouble here. These two useless things – I brought them to let sister deal with them.” Second Wife said with a smile.

How would Chen Jiuniang dare deal with them? She quickly said, “Forget it, forget it. Our Ye Kong was also at fault. Let’s just drop this matter.”

“Why don’t you hurry up and apologize to your aunt!” Second Wife glared at Ye Wu.

“Aunt, I was wrong. Please forgive me.” Ye Wu actually dropped to his knees with a thud, performing a great bow.

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. No need, no need…” Chen Jiuniang was somewhat nervous. This was a genuine Third Young Master actually kneeling to her. This was something she’d never dared imagine before.

When the weather gets hot, people get agitated easily. When people get agitated, they easily lose their minds. In her agitation, Chen Jiuniang actually said, “My Kong’er was also at fault. He should also apologize.”

Ye Kong, who’d been sitting to the side maintaining his airs and watching coldly, almost fell right onto the floor. Oh my god, Mother, I’m the boss here! Obviously, she lacks reason and is apologizing. I’m still waiting for her to offer tea and wine. How can I kneel to her? This is way too absurd.

Seeing Ye Kong’s eyeballs almost falling to the ground, Second Wife found it amusing. Suddenly she had an idea. Let your mother deal with you, let you fight among yourselves. Consider it collecting some interest for me first.

“Forget it. Aiya, Sister Jiuniang, we’re so close. Actually, I’m [stolen content]just afraid this matter would affect our sisterly bond, which is why I brought Little Wu to apologize.” Second Wife said affectionately, truly like close sisters with harmonious feelings.

The more magnanimous Second Wife was, the more embarrassed Chen Jiuniang felt. She called out again, “Kong’er, quickly come apologize to Second Wife.”

Mother, this is called boosting others’ morale while destroying your own prestige. Ye Kong had no choice but to stand up and shuffle over. He heard Second Wife laugh again, “Apologizing is fine, but sister, you absolutely mustn’t make Kong’er kneel to me. I can’t accept it.”

These words were vicious enough. Obviously reverse psychology. Without thinking, Chen Jiuniang said, “How could that work? Your Ye Wu knelt to apologize. He must also kneel to apologize.”

Hearing this, Ye Kong couldn’t hold back. If it were just bowing and saying sorry, that would be fine. But kneeling to apologize…

Ye Kong’s steps froze. Fury in his tiger eyes rolled like flooding torrents. He pressed his lips together, gritted his teeth. The muscles on his face twitched. He said coldly, “Can’t… do… it!”

Second Wife saw he was about to explode at any moment. Her heart knew she’d played it a bit too far. Wasn’t this forcing him to fight her to the death?

A bit afraid in her heart, Second Wife quickly smiled. “Hehe, look how angry Eighth has gotten… hehe, Second Mother was joking with you. You took it seriously.”

Chen Jiuniang was also frightened by Ye Kong’s gaze. At this moment, little girl Lu Qin quickly walked to her side and whispered in her ear, “Godmother, you said the wrong thing again.”

“No I didn’t. If their Ye Wu can kneel to apologize, he must reciprocate the same way. This is proper.” visit our siteChen Jiuniang still couldn’t grasp this concept.

Lu Qin’s forehead wrinkled. She moved closer again and said, “Let’s not even talk about who’s in the right. Let’s just say, can Brother Ye Kong be the same as Ye Wu? It’s like fighting a war. Ye Wu is just a small soldier. Second Wife is the general. A small soldier kneeling doesn’t matter at all. But on our side, Brother Ye Kong is the general. Before the battle’s even fought, if our general kneels to the other side, this… what kind of thing is that?”

“Oh.” Chen Jiuniang understood. So she was just a small soldier. However, she knew that even if she were made a general, she couldn’t do it. But at this point, she really couldn’t say “then don’t kneel.” She could only keep silent.

Although Lu Qin’s voice was small, Second Wife heard the gist of it. She looked at the little girl with some surprise. This girl was very smart and capable. With just a few words, she’d explained the complex situation on the field, the focal point of the contradiction, clearly and in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

If this girl could become my daughter-in-law, everything would be so much easier. Definitely a virtuous helper. Second Wife’s covetous heart stirred. She began calculating in her mind how to sow discord.

Over there, seeing his mother no longer forcing him to kneel to Second Wife, Ye Kong stopped being angry. He walked before Second Wife, clasped his fists in salute, and said politely, “Second Wife, please forgive me. Everyone knows I, Ye Kong, have a bad temper. But actually, those familiar with me know – if others respect me, I respect them doubly. If they don’t provoke me, I won’t lose my temper. Of course, today I truly went too far. Please don’t hold it against this child, Second Wife.”

Actually, even now, Ye Kong didn’t hate Second Wife. Although she’d directed Little Red to probe him, Ye Kong knew she was trying to help her sons succeed. A mother acting for her son was understandable. The method was improper, but Ye Kong didn’t hate her for it.

If Second Wife knew what was good for her and took this opportunity to step down, then Ye Kong would prepare to take out the fake secret manuals and discuss Little Red’s matter with her.

Although those secret manuals were only secular martial arts, after all, they were someone’s family heirloom treasures. Learning them should be beneficial and harmless.

But who knew Second Wife would have a sudden whim, wanting to sow discord between Lu Qin and Ye Kong’s relationship. But stolen content she didn’t dare go too far either. Her brows furrowed, and a plan came to mind.

“Oh, hehe, your Ye Kong really knows how to talk. Hehe, how could Second Mother blame you? This really was our Little Wen and Little Wu’s fault first.” After Second Wife finished speaking with a smile, she continued, “However, Ye Kong, you have one bad habit. It’s not that Second Mother is criticizing you, but that Treasure Spring Pavilion is not a proper place. You should go less in the future. What if you catch a dirty disease?”

This Second Wife really was an expert at scheming and infighting. These words both exposed Ye Kong’s shame and gave him no reason to get angry. Most importantly, they let Lu Qin understand that this kid kept going to brothels – he was dirty, might even have a dirty disease. Make the little girl fear him, be disgusted by him.

Of course, if Second Wife had used this move on any other day, it would definitely have had great effect. But today, these words immediately raised clouds of doubt in Ye Kong’s heart.

“Going to brothels again! Next time those friends invite you for drinks, you’re not allowed to go to that place!” Chen Jiuniang scolded. However, this time she was also much smarter, making clear that Ye Kong was going for drinks, not to mess around with prostitutes.

“Yes.” Ye Kong stood to the side with his head lowered, but his heart was churning restlessly.

Yesterday, he’d used the back door to enter and exit. When the bailiffs came to cause trouble, he’d hidden in the room and didn’t show his face. Logically, not many people should know he went to Treasure Spring Pavilion. How did Second Wife learn of it?

If you talked about those who knew for certain he was at Treasure Spring Pavilion, there were only three groups.

First, the Lu brothers. These two generally couldn’t have contact with Second Wife. However, this was also hard to say. After all, the Lu brothers’ friendship with him was built on money and force – not that solid. If there was a richer, more powerful master, they might very well defect to someone else.

Second, the women at Treasure Spring Pavilion. This was hard to imagine. What connection could ​noodles​Second Wife, a middle-aged noble lady, have with those courtesans?

Third, Iron Bailiff. Could it be Second Wife went out in the middle of the night to meet with bailiffs, then didn’t return all night… Thinking of this possibility, Ye Kong suddenly felt his heart pounding with alarm.

In any case, Second Wife obtained the information from these three sources. No matter which side she went to meet in the middle of the night, it made Ye Kong extremely displeased.

How could Second Wife know that her casual remark actually let Ye Kong deduce such secrets? It seemed that saying was really true – when the weather gets hot, people get agitated easily. When people get agitated, they easily lose their minds.