"Mom," Shen Meixiu said, wiping away tears of grievance, "I have no other choice but to come to you. Ever since Ye Ziyu arrived, I've had no standing in this family. Everyone dotes on her as if she's the mistress of the house."
Old Mrs. Ye felt no sympathy for Shen Meixiu. She had borne Ye Qianzhi four children over the years, yet she had never managed to secure a place in his heart.
The fact that Ye Qianzhi had the audacity to bring his illegitimate daughter home was a sign of her own incompetence. Voicing her grievances now only invited ridicule.
"You're telling me all this, and then what?" Old Mrs. Ye asked.
Shen Meixiu looked up helplessly, her eyes filled with grievance and confusion, staring at Old Mrs. Ye. "Mom, I..."
"If you don't harden your heart, no one can help you," Old Mrs. Ye chided her.
Harden her heart?
She thought she had no more threats after Lu Yuman, but she never imagined that Ye Qianzhi and Lu Yuman would have a child together.
In fact, before Ye Qianzhi found out, she had tried to intervene, but she couldn't stop him. Thinking of her as just a girl, she was confident she could oust her just as she had ousted Lu Yuman back then.
But she never expected that upon her arrival, she would win over Ye Chenhan and even bring the famous Di Mingjue from the capital. Her plans were completely thwarted here.
Shen Meixiu looked at Old Mrs. Ye with a dazed gaze. "Mom, I understand what you mean, but I don't know how to be ruthless."
How to be ruthless?
Old Mrs. Ye sneered, "You've lived all these years for nothing, unable to handle a mere girl!"
If the Shen family hadn't been useful to the Ye family back then, Old Mrs. Ye would never have allowed Shen Meixiu to enter it. She was incompetent and petty, only managing to be useful through her fertility.
"Go back now, accept her sincerely. If she's not sick, then take good care of her," Old Mrs. Ye instructed.
Take care of her?
Shen Meixiu couldn't accept it. Seeing Ye Ziyu was like seeing Lu Yuman. She was already furious that she couldn't drive her out of the Ye mansion, and now she had to humble herself to take care of an illegitimate daughter. If the wealthy ladies found out, she wouldn't be able to hold her head up.
"Idiot!" Old Mrs. Ye slammed the table, her cane striking the ground forcefully, as if wishing she could strike Shen Meixiu's head.
She actually had the nerve to say she understood!
Seeing Shen Meixiu as unteachable, Old Mrs. Ye left the pavilion, leaning on her cane.
Shen Meixiu felt wronged, glaring resentfully at Old Mrs. Ye's retreating back. Some things were easy for her to say, but if their positions were reversed, could she be so magnanimous?
Not long after Old Mrs. Ye entered the living room, the housekeeper who always attended her emerged.
"Madam," the housekeeper called politely, "The Old Madam said that the care is superficial. You can do as you please in private."
This time, she truly understood!
After hearing the housekeeper's words, Shen Meixiu's eyes lit up, and she immediately expressed her gratitude. "I know what to do now, thank you, Old Madam."
"The Old Madam also said that if you understand, you may leave. Don't disturb her if there's nothing important. She's old and doesn't want to interfere in your affairs anymore," the housekeeper added.
In her youth, the Old Madam had stood her ground for Ye Qianzhi. Now, she wanted nothing more than a peaceful old age. Moreover, Ye Qianzhi still resented her for her actions back then. If she intervened in Ye Ziyu's affairs again, he might completely leave the Ye family and no longer regard her as his mother.
After leaving Old Mrs. Ye, Shen Meixiu arrived at the hospital with bags full of gifts.
"Why are you here again?" Ye Qianzhi, who had just finished his walk, was heading towards the ward. Seeing Shen Meixiu hesitantly in front of him, he immediately pulled her to the end of the corridor.