The Stepmother is Unkind

August fifteen.

After the auntie's greetings early in the morning, she disappeared invisibly.

At dusk, Yin Mingyu got dressed and sat drinking tea in Madam Xie's main room, while Xie Ce also sat steadily on a chair and waited.

Mrs. Xie came out on crutches and looked around. Just as she was about to ask, Mrs. aunt arrived late.

Xie Ce opened his mouth and exclaimed, "Wow—"

When Yin Mingyu saw Mrs. Gu's appearance, her hand holding the tea stopped.

She was already very beautiful, but at this time, she was wearing jewels, and she was even more dazzling. She was so dazzling in the dimly lit main room, you can imagine what would happen if she appeared outside.

Mrs. Xie didn't make any comments on the dress of the prostitute, just like she didn't have any comments on Yin Mingyu's men's clothes.

However, when the aunt saw Yin Mingyu's shabby clothes compared to her, she said unhappily, "niece-in-law, are you going out like this?"

Yin Mingyu quickly unfolded the folding fan and shook it gracefully, "Didn't my aunt say that I want the most fashionable dress in Beijing? My dress is the most fashionable among the little ladies in Beijing."

Her long hair is pulled up by a crown, the fabric of her clothes is excellent, and the style is indeed the most fashionable in Beijing, and she has a somewhat suave taste.

My aunt really couldn't refute her words, but she didn't want this fashion.

Xie Ce's clothes were made of the same material as Yin Mingyu's. Except for their hair, the two were dressed almost exactly the same, and they even held a small folding fan in their hands.

At his age, he loves learning from others. When he sees his mother swinging a fan, he also imitates her style.

Madam Xie looked at the lovely appearance of her great-grandson with a kind smile, and then said to the two: "Don't delay, let's go."

The auntie glanced at Yin Mingyu with disgust again, raised her chest, and stepped out behind Mrs. Xie.

Yin Mingyu looked amused with her armoured posture, she stood up leisurely with a folding fan, and walked behind them in a hurry.

Yangzhou does not have a curfew like the capital. There are two bustling streets on both sides of the river. Strings of lanterns are hung high on the streets, and it is usually very lively.

Because of the dragon lantern performance, the Yangzhou Governor specially prepared a viewing platform for some powerful people in Yangzhou. Mrs. Xie naturally also received the invitation, and the Yangzhou Governor himself wrote the invitation.

The officers guarded the entire viewing platform. As soon as the carriage of the Xie family appeared, Mrs. Xie Shi came over in person. When the female relatives of other families learned that Mrs. Xie was coming, they also followed behind Mrs. Xie Shi to welcome him.

The atmosphere in the capital is very different from that in the south. Yin Mingyu took Xie Ce out of the carriage first, and the female relatives saw her dressed in men's clothes and shook their heads a little, they really thought it was the lord of the family.

However, the female relatives recognized Yin Mingyu, after all, she had attended many banquets before and knew her well.

Moreover, the capital and Yangzhou are often connected. Although there are few ladies in Jiangnan wearing men's clothing, it is not without them. Therefore, the women's relatives were a little surprised by her clothes and passed by. What is even more strange is the relationship between the stepmother and son. state of nature.

Xie Ce was still young, and Mrs. Xie didn't let him go out. These female relatives in Yangzhou were the first time they saw the Xie family's little prince, and it was the first time they saw their stepmother and son appear at the same time.

The two are dressed similarly, and at first glance, there are actually three points alike.

But before the female relatives had time to think about it, the auntie came down after Yin Mingyu.

All around are quiet.

The current prefect of Yangzhou is the next prefect after the white prefect. Naturally, she has had contact with the auntie, but the contact is limited. She has only heard a little rumor about the auntie in Yangzhou, but has never seen her power with her own eyes.

Therefore, Mrs. Yangzhou's prefect quickly returned to normal, and it was very natural to chat with Yin Mingyu, and politely praised the aunt's "look better than before".

However, some of the other family members have seen and even personally felt the impact of the aunt's wife in all aspects.

The auntie didn't know it, or even if she knew, she went her own way, and went over enthusiastically to talk to the lady she knew.

Many of the female relatives were well-dressed, especially some young unmarried ladies, like delicate flowers, but as soon as the auntie approached, many people were eclipsed by her reflection.

They obviously couldn't laugh, but they still had to hold on to their smiling faces to greet their auntie.

This is the benefit of power.

Yin Mingyu stared at the scene in front of him with amusement, then calmly retracted his gaze, turned around and stretched out his hand towards the carriage.

Xie Ce was originally standing beside Yin Mingyu, but when he saw her movement, he ran to the other side and stretched out his hand towards his great-grandmother.

When Mrs. Xie saw it, she smiled with relief, and first handed her hand to Yin Mingyu. After she got off the carriage with her strength, she gave the other hand to her great-grandson and bluntly praised her "filial piety".

As for Yin Mingyu, she didn't say anything, just patted her hand lightly when she let go, and took the crutch.

Mrs. Yangzhou Prefect saluted Mrs. Xie's blessed body and complimented: "Old Mrs. is in good spirits, and Xiao Lang is also smart and cute."

When other family members saw Mrs. Xie, either to please Mrs. or to stay away from the auntie, they also followed Mrs. Prefect to visit, and they were all warm and attentive.

Mrs. Yangzhou Prefect stopped enough, and did not say much, it seemed deliberate, and invited Mrs. Xie and the others to the viewing platform.

A few members of the Xie family came to the viewing platform surrounded by the female relatives, and Mrs. Inspector invited them to sit first. Even though Yin Mingyu was young, his status was not low, and he did not refuse. He sat down directly on the chair in the middle of the first row, next to his auntie.

On such an occasion, Xie Ce, a little baby, has a good background, and there is no reason to arrange a seat for him in the front row. Mrs. Xie was worried that the nurse would hold him and sit in the back to see the dragon lantern show, so she asked Yin Mingyu to take care of him. follow him.

Yin Mingyu was also unequivocal, and lifted him directly and put it on one of her legs. Xie Ce moved around by himself, found a comfortable position, and freely shook his head left and right to look at the novelty.

The female relatives behind them exchanged glances. If they didn't know the inside story, they might have thought that the two were mother and son. Looking at it like this, who would have thought that Yin Mingyu turned out to be the successor?

Yin Mingyu now needs to worry about what other people think. The dragon lantern performance is still early, and now everyone is listening to the show. She doesn't like listening to it.

Xie Ce had to hold it with both hands before he could hold it. Because of his upbringing, he couldn't lower his head to nibble. He looked at the grapes, then twisted his body and raised his head, "Mother, I can't eat it."

Under the eyes of Xie Ce and the female relatives who followed them, Yin Mingyu picked a grape... and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Mother?" Xie Ce's immature face was full of doubts.

Yin Mingyu said, "Bring it to my mother."

So the fact is, she didn't eat it for Xie Ce at all, she was holding the grapes for him, so she found a plate.

The female relatives at the back: "..."

Sure enough, it's a stepmother and son, how could it be like this.

The female family members quietly looked at Madam Xie's face again, and seeing that she hadn't seen it, their eyes were exchanged more frequently, all of which were curious about the Xie family.

They wish they could spy on the liveliness of the Right Prime Minister's family more, so that they can talk about it in the future.

The auntie was used to it, and didn't realize there was anything wrong with Yin Mingyu's behavior. She looked around and saw Bai's family on the viewing platform. Knowing Father Xu, the Bai family is fundamentally invincible in Yangzhou."

Yin Mingyu: "..." It's too contrived.

Xie Ce was not short of food and clothing, but the grapes decreased a little in front of him, so he couldn't help but swallow.

Yin Mingyu fed him a grape, and then asked her in her aunt's ear, "Isn't this what your aunt wants?"

No, auntie is sorry.

Can't see the Bai family, didn't she dress up in white?

My aunt really didn't want to miss this opportunity, so she asked Yin Mingyu again: "niece-in-law, let's go around the neighborhood?"

At this time, Xie Ce finished eating a grape, and then opened his mouth to Yin Mingyu, "Ah—"

Yin Mingyu: "…"

This child has really grown up again, and even turned to support her.

The aunt urged: "niece-in-law, shall we go?"

Yin Mingyu is also a watcher, so of course he won't miss it, so he got up, put Xie Ce on the chair, and went to Mrs. Xie to talk about it.

Madam Xie only asked them to come back earlier.

Yin Mingyu agreed and walked back to signal his aunt to go.

Xie Ce was anxious, "Mother!"

Yin Mingyu was sure not to bring him this little trouble, so he took out the grape saucer from his hand, put it on his lap, and motioned him to eat the grapes by himself.

Xie Ce realized that she really didn't intend to take him with her, so she held her hand tightly with two small hands and said the condition: "I want a windmill."

But it was bad for him to grow.

Yin Mingyu scratched his stomach with his fingers, and Xie Ce released his hand instantly.

However, Yin Mingyu still agreed to buy him a windmill, and then left the viewing platform with his aunt.

The auntie kept walking forward as if she had a purpose.

And her appearance was too conspicuous when she walked into the crowd, and the guards had to clear the way for them, and walked on both sides to block pedestrians.

The last time it was so eye-catching was at the Shangyuan Lantern Festival.

Yin Mingyu's eyes swept across a stall selling masks regretfully, and continued to search for windmills.

A seven- or eight-year-old child happened to run over with a windmill. Yin Mingyu looked forward and saw that there was a stall selling windmills in the distance, so he walked over to his aunt and told her.

The two walked over, and Yin Mingyu picked the windmill.

The auntie saw that she was picking and choosing, and said, "Just buy it all. There are so many children in the Xie family."

The street vendor's eyes lit up and looked at them eagerly.

It's not that she spends money, she's more generous than she said.

Yin Mingyu pointed to the jewelry stall that was two stalls away, and gently chased people away, "Go over there and take a look."

The auntie had no interest in seeing the worthless jewelry, but after taking a closer look, she caught sight of a few people, her eyes lit up, and she walked over.

Leaving Yin Mingyu behind, he glanced at the attentive reception of the stall vendor, and glanced at the windmill on the stall, thinking that she was a grandmother in Yangzhou, so she couldn't be stingy...

In the end, when he raised his hand, he looked like he was full of air, but he said, "I bought it all."

"Hey! Good!" The street vendor was overjoyed, "Thank you, noble! You are very rich!"

These windmills don't have much money, but since she arrived in Yangzhou, all the gifts she gave were prepared with her own money.

Yin Mingyu turned around and didn't find his auntie at the jewelry stand, "Where's the person?"

Jin'er was paying, and Yin'er came over, pointed to a restaurant behind them, and said, "My maid saw my aunt brought someone in."

When Yin Mingyu heard this, he instantly got up, "Let's go, let's go in and have a look."

In the restaurant, the auntie went straight to the second floor as soon as she entered, and before stepping out of the stairs, she slowed down and walked up with great manners.

A few members of the Bai family had just seen Mrs. Gu come up, and when they saw her, they looked at each other with a slightly stiff and somewhat pleasing smile.

One of the long-faced middle-aged women stared at the jewelry on her head and her smooth face, with a flash of jealousy, before she reluctantly called out, "Sister-in-law."

The auntie walked over, looked at the woman up and down, and said sincerely: "Brother and sister, why are you looking so much older? Worrying a lot?"

While she was talking, she looked at the young children next to the middle-aged woman, and said earnestly: "You children, although you can't learn the wisdom of your sister Xu, you can still learn filial piety."

The auntie's every word is sincere, that's what she thinks.

But it was precisely because of this that the middle-aged woman became more and more panicked.

Seeing that she was uncomfortable, Mrs. aunt felt relieved, and Shi Shiran found another empty table to sit down.

The man came forward to ask questions, saying "VIP" every word, and the auntie didn't talk to him, and the maid conveyed it on his behalf.

Seeing her attitude, the middle-aged woman couldn't hold back for a while, and said yin and yang: "I just saw my sister-in-law and a young descendant in public without knowing taboos, and she planned to let the eldest brother cut off the incense and take the property of the Bai family with him. Remarried?"

What young offspring? What remarriage?

The aunt was stunned.

Yin Mingyu at the entrance of the stairs also turned to look at Jin'er Yin'er, the folding fan pointed at him, and asked silently, "Young Offspring... Are you referring to me?"

Jin'er Yin'er: "..." It seems so.

When the auntie reacted, she burst into laughter.

The middle-aged woman's face was drawn longer, "Is my sister-in-law worthy of the dead brother?"

When Mrs. Gu heard her talk about the dead father Zhi Xu, she smiled and said seriously, "Father Zhi Xu listen to me."

The middle-aged woman believed that the Xie family would not do anything to them because of her reputation, and continued to accuse: "If the elder brother has a spirit under the spring, he knows that if you don't follow the way of women, you will not be able to live in peace."

The auntie's wife is righteous, "I am the daughter of the Xie family. If I really remarry, what can you do?"

"Besides..." Mrs. Gu paused deliberately, and said in a gloomy tone, "Knowing that Father Xu listens to me, you dare to be disrespectful to me, and he wants to find what you said in his dream..."

The middle-aged woman choked, but the dead eldest brother just let her go. If there is a spirit under the spring, it is really possible to be so stupid.

Inexplicably, there was a chill behind him.

The auntie thought she was frightened, and smiled triumphantly. In a blink of an eye, she saw Yin Mingyu at the entrance of the stairs, and waved cheerfully, "Youngsheng, why didn't you come?"

Yin Mingyu listened for a while, and was too complimented by his aunt's childish finding fault. Hearing her voice, he walked over.

The middle-aged woman didn't expect the aunt's wife to be so blatant, but she turned her head and looked at Yin Mingyu's face, and suddenly froze: "Xie, Mrs. Xie?"

Only when they were upstairs, they only saw Mrs. aunt talking to a gentleman who had his back turned to them, and his attitude was intimate, so they guessed like that, but they didn't expect it to be Mrs. Xie's young lady.

And Yin Mingyu didn't pay any attention to her at all, with an air of condescension, but bowed his hands to the aunt's wife very respectfully, and said, "Aunt, it's time to go back, grandmother and the prefect's wife are still waiting for you."

The auntie was a little flattered, but Yu Guang caught a glimpse of the uneasy look of the Bai family, and immediately understood, nodded reservedly, and reached out to Yin Mingyu, "Let's go."

Yin Mingyu picked her up and gave the Bai family a cold warning look.

The Bai family had seen the attitude of the ladies to Mrs. Xie Shao at the banquet. Seeing her expression at this time, they finally realized that the Xie family in the capital had more than a superficial attitude towards the concubine...

Instant panic.

The group walked downstairs, and Yin Mingyu just took back his hand.

The auntie grabbed her hand and shook it, "niece-in-law, you are so clever!"

Yin Mingyu: "…"

Is that her cleverness?

It's some kind of... temperament on the auntie's body is too obvious, so it is also a fox and a tiger, and the effect is very different.

I heard that the uncle of the Bai family passed away before, and the Bai family wants to adopt a son-in-law to the aunt's lap...

With the power of the Xie family in Yangzhou, people with a little brains would not dare to offend easily.

Yin Mingyu glanced at his auntie, the so-called Bai family "bullying" orphans and widowed mothers is one of them. The main purpose is to not want to break the relationship with the Xie family, right?

Did the aunt understand it wrong?

But it doesn't matter if it's true or not, the Xie family probably doesn't care.

It's just that Yin Mingyu couldn't help sighing when she thought of the second Mrs. Bai who couldn't make a good climate at all, and then looked at the carefree auntie: This is the one who is really lucky...

After they returned to the viewing platform, Mrs. Xie didn't ask any further questions.

Xie Ce asked Yin Mingyu for a windmill.

Yin Mingyu asked Jin'er to take him to pick from the guards, and then sat down.

After Xie Ce finished picking, he came back with the windmill, just as the dragon lantern show started, the river in the distance was suddenly lit by lights, and all the people on both sides of the river looked at the light.

At the end, the sky lanterns rose slowly, lighting up the night sky.

"Wow-"

Xie Ce forgot the windmill and walked forward unconsciously.

Yin Mingyu grabbed his back, hugged him, and watched with everyone.

Immediately, a connected ship full of lanterns came winding, and the bow was in the shape of a dragon's head. Looking at it from a height, it really seemed to see a golden dragon breaking through the water.

On both sides of the river, gongs and drums were loud, and people dancing dragon lanterns shuttled in the middle of the road. It was very lively, and everyone was smiling and looking forward to it.

Xie Ce's eyes didn't seem to be enough to see. He looked forward at one time, left and right at the same time, and his small mouth couldn't close, and he was always amazed.

And Yin Mingyu watched this scene with shock in his eyes.

The solemn and dignified capital is very different from Yangzhou. Even the most lively Shangyuan Lantern Festival has scars that have not healed after the war. It is a unique atmosphere of Daye. It is not like Yangzhou. generally.

At that moment, under her feet was the homeland of her dreams. She looked at the sky lanterns, and sincerely hoped that the four seas of Da Ye would be peaceful and prosperous, and that there would be such a grand scene every year.

This scene was too unforgettable, and when they were on their way back to their ancestral home, Xie Ce was still expressing his amazement in his childish language.

This child, at a young age, is already looking at this great river and mountain with his eyes.

Yin Mingyu couldn't forget it, even in his dreams, he saw it tonight, and he felt extremely at ease.

She had another good night's sleep, and the next day she was radiant and in a great mood.

Then Mrs. Xie asked her, "When are you going to leave?"

Yin Mingyu: "...Are you willing to leave Xiao Langjun?"

Mrs. Xie said with an expressionless face, "If you leave early or late, you have to leave, so why delay?"

Blood relatives have definitely kissed in-laws, no doubt about it.

Yin Mingyu didn't mention himself, but changed his mouth and said, "What if Jun Xiaolang can't bear you?"

Mrs. Xie's eyes were bright and she said, "There must be a certain date so that the boat can be prepared."

Yin Mingyu smiled at the old lady Xie, and said cheerfully: "Then five days later, just leave time to prepare."

When Mrs. Xie heard her set the time, her face lost her decisiveness, she nodded slowly, and shifted her attention to ask: "It's not far from your hometown, do you want to go back and have a look?"

The Yin family's ancestral home is indeed quite close to Xuancheng, but Yin Mingyu is completely unfamiliar with the Yin family on the other side of Xuancheng, so she shook her head directly, and Mrs. Xie didn't care too much.

However, the Yin family in Xuancheng did not know how to get the letter, so they specially sent someone to greet Mrs. Xie and Yin Mingyu. There are elders in the Yin family, and the etiquette could not be ignored. Yin Mingyu had to temporarily add a trip to Xuancheng.

And since he was going to Xuancheng, he had to give the younger generation a meeting ceremony. Xuancheng also had the family of his first-born mother, the Han family, which was also her uncle's family.

Yin Mingyu saw that the money in her account had been reduced by another amount, and it was extremely painful.

When Xie Ce finally left Yangzhou, he knew that he was leaving his great-grandmother with tears in his eyes.

Yin Mingyu was more reluctant than Xie Ce to hold Mrs. Xie. Xie Ce pulled Mrs. Xie's left sleeve, and she pulled Mrs. Xie's right sleeve.

Xie Ce howled, "Woooooo...great-grandmother, don't go..."

Yin Mingyu couldn't help crying like Xie Ce, so she reluctantly shook Mrs. Xie's sleeve, "Grandmother, grandson-in-law can't bear you..."

Xie Ce burst into tears and snot, and buried it sadly on Mrs. Xie's sleeve, "Woo woo woo..."

Yin Mingyu saw with his own eyes that Xie Ce's snot was all rubbing against Mrs. Xie's sleeves, and she couldn't compare to him, so she looked at Mrs.

Seeing this scene, the auntie was so moved that she burst into tears and sobbed: "My niece and Ce'er are going to leave the old lady at such a young age, it's so pitiful..."

She couldn't move either of her hands, and there was another person beside her, who was full of sadness for parting, and was speechless: "...don't cry..."

Xie Ce was still crying and muttering something.

The aunt also cried even more sadly.

The two cried one after another.

Madam Xie took a deep breath and shouted, "Don't cry!"

Xie Ce was startled, raised his head, and stared at his great-grandmother sobbing, "Hiccup~"

The auntie also shrank in fright, holding the handkerchief tightly, looking at Mrs. Xie in fear.

Mrs. Xie lowered her head and looked at the sleeve where he buried his head. The color was a lot darker than the other parts. She had a headache, and then turned to the other sleeve.

Yin Mingyu coughed and slowly loosened Mrs. Xie's sleeve.

Madam Xie looked at the folds on her sleeves, calmed her breath, and said calmly, "Get on the boat quickly."

Yin Mingyu led Xie Ce, Xie Ce led the sheep, and Ma Liuer boarded the boat.

When the boat left, Mrs. Xie suddenly remembered that she had prepared a box of silver for Yin Mingyu and forgot.

But thinking that she was not short of money, Mrs. Xie turned around without hesitation, "Go back, your third cousin was afraid that I would be sad, so he hired a play troupe for me..."

The auntie wiped her face and hurriedly followed.