"But you are my cousin, if not ācousinā then what should I call you?" Cao Lingling felt wronged; after all, their families were relatives.
At this thought, she couldnāt help but resent her grandparents. Why sever ties with other people for no reason? Now, an opportunity for wealth presented itself before her, yet because of the broken familial connection, she found herself shunned.
Ye Ziāan had no desire to waste words with her, fearing it would lead to an endless argument.
So he planned to walk past her, but inside he wondered why his wife hadnāt yet sent her away.
"Cousin, wait," Cao Lingling hurriedly called out when she saw him leaving.
But Ye Ziāan didnāt stop. She quickly added, "Cousin, Sister-in-law Li told me to wait here for you, saying that the bathwater is in the side room, and the madam of the harem has already gone to sleep."
Hearing this, Ye Ziāan turned back to look at her.
She braced herself and continued, "Sister-in-law Li said she was worried about waking the madam and mentioned that you would surely want to bathe upon your return, so she prepared everything in the side room."
"What is Sister-in-law Li doing now, then?" Ye Ziāan asked.
"Sheās preparing food for you."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziāan didnāt respond to her, but instead headed straight towards the harem.
Seeing him about to enter the harem, Cao Lingling hurried ahead of him by two steps, but before Ye Ziāan could speak, she stumbled, and moreover, fell towards him.
Ye Ziāan, seeing this, quickly stepped two paces back.
Consequently, Cao Lingling fell straight down, and Li Wu, witnessing her fall, felt pain on her behalf just hearing the thud.
This was truly an endless barrage of tactics, and they were becoming bolder by the day. She even dared to behave like this in the presence of the madam.
Previously, when there was no madam in the county office, she only thought of approaching the young master with food or tea, or by sending clothes, but it was a pity she never got close to him.
The most outrageous attempt was nearly bursting into the young masterās room in the middle of the night. But that was all done in secret.
Not like now, right under the madamās watchful eye, and in front of their servants, she even dared to throw herself at the young master. She really had some nerve.
Meanwhile, Cao Lingling, still lying on the ground, watched Ye Ziāanās retreating back and clenched her fists.
She was infuriated.
In the past, although she never really got close to Ye Ziāan, at least there was a chance to approach him.
But ever since Yang Chuxia arrived, she had not had even the slightest opportunity, being watched closely. She had only learned from Mingcui inquiring around the front courtyard that Ye Ziāan had not yet returned, which is why she had put her roommate to sleep and sneaked out herself.
The prepared bathwater was just an excuse.
All she wanted was to present him with a fait accompli. She knew very well that if she couldnāt secure her position soon, she would be sent out of the manor again. It may seem that Yang Chuxia had not yet acted against her, but she knew that Yang Chuxia would not let her off.
So she was desperate, looking to drop a bombshell.
But she hadnāt expected him not to believe her words, not going to the side room.
Cao Linglingās eyes dimmed at the thought, knowing that Yang Chuxia would soon learn of this incident and would surely settle the score with her. It would either lead to her being sent out of the manor or some other tactic.
Hmph, if Yang Chuxia decided to send her out of the manor, it remained to be seen whether she would really be let go or if it would cost her life. Her father and grandfather had inquired about Yang Chuxiaās ruthlessness. That was also why she was sent directly to Mianyang instead of Yangshu Village.