Just then, the gatekeeper emerged from the mansion.
Old Madam Yun immediately berated, "Why did you take so long to report inside? A mere gatekeeper, daring to disregard me. I am your General's mother!"
"Where is your General?" Madam Yang asked with a frown.
Upon closer inspection, why was only the gatekeeper visible, with Yun Changfeng and Yun Shu nowhere in sight?
Seeing their imposing presence, the gatekeeper was initially a little fearful. However, remembering the young lady's instructions, he calmly replied, "The General is not in the mansion. The young lady is currently busy and said she will come to see Old Madam Yun shortly. Please wait a moment."
"What? Changfeng is not in the mansion? Shouldn't Changfeng have returned from the palace by now?" Old Madam Yun's brows furrowed tightly, disbelieving the gatekeeper's words and questioning him angrily.
The gatekeeper lowered his head and replied, "This servant only knows the General is not in the mansion. This servant knows nothing else."
"Don't you forget, I am your General's own mother! Daring to refuse me entry and make me wait here so long! You have such audacity!" Old Madam Yun felt her face was about to be utterly disgraced.
Enraged, she questioned him fiercely.
Yun Yueyin narrowed her beautiful eyes, concealing the coldness within them, and observed the gatekeeper's attitude.
In just a few days, the gatekeeper's demeanor clearly showed he no longer regarded the grandmother and mother as masters.
Although the General's mansion was not small, reporting a message inside should have yielded a quick response, and Yun Shu should have appeared by now.
But now, only a message had been relayed through the gatekeeper, asking them to wait for a moment.
She sneered inwardly.
After years apart, Yun Shu had certainly become bold.
Madam Yang soothed Old Madam Yun, "Mother, do not stoop to the level of servants. We have been away from the General's mansion for a few days, and they have become so unruly; it is truly improper!"
Old Madam Yun said resentfully, "Open the gate. We are going in now."
Seeing Old Madam Yun's aggressive demeanor, the gatekeeper, bracing himself, said, "The young lady will be out shortly. Without the young lady's orders, this servant dares not open the gate to let guests in."
*Slap!*
A slap landed.
"How dare you! You actually call me a guest? I am your Great General's own mother!" Old Madam Yun berated, her face flushed with anger.
Even if she had left the General's mansion, she was still Yun Changfeng's mother!
More importantly, she was the mistress of this General's mansion!
No one could change her status!
These detestable servants!
Madam Yang also couldn't help but reprimand, "Who told you to say such things? Whether it's the Great General or Yun Shu, no one should be so ill-mannered!"
The gatekeeper had not expected them to be so unreasonable, his face turning pale, unable to respond.
People around pointed and whispered.
Inside the carriage, Yun Ying and Concubine Xiao, who had not alighted, exchanged glances.
Yun Ying whispered, "Mother, I feel Grandmother and Eldest Sister will return empty-handed today. I fear they won't be able to return to the General's mansion as they wished!"
Concubine Xiao's brows were tightly knit, and she said worriedly, "It's uncertain yet. After all, Yueyin is the Regent's intended secondary consort. She cannot stand by and watch Yueyin be bullied. However, the recent events have made me realize that Yun Shu is not so easily dealt with. Whether they can return to the General's mansion depends on Yueyin's methods."
"Mother actually thinks so highly of Yun Shu?" Yun Ying frowned deeply.
"Yueyin has tried to harm Yun Shu time and again, but each of the recent times, Yun Shu has resolved it. This is enough to show that Yun Shu is not easy to handle." Concubine Xiao was becoming increasingly calm.
Yun Ying shuddered, recalling the dish she had seen yesterday, and felt a wave of nausea. "Mother, will Father reveal our matters?"
"As long as we are careful from now on and do not anger your father, he should not hunt us down relentlessly. Ying'er, from this moment on, do not oppose Yun Shu!" Concubine Xiao instructed worriedly after much thought.
Yun Ying was dismissive, "Mother, you think too highly of Yun Shu. Yun Shu was never a match for Eldest Sister before, and she certainly won't be in the future."
Concubine Xiao was anxious and about to say something when suddenly, the gate of the Great General's mansion opened.
A graceful figure appeared at the entrance.
The gatekeeper, upon seeing Yun Shu, breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly bowed, "Young Lady!"
The moment Yun Shu appeared, Yun Yueyin's gaze sharpened.
She had heard before that Yun Shu had changed, but she had never imagined a person could change so drastically.
Especially with Yun Shu's casual glance.
And...
Yun Shu's exquisite, radiant, and devastatingly beautiful face!
She appeared perfectly flawless.
Without any imperfections.
Yun Yueyin's gaze, like a knife, sharply scrutinized Yun Shu from head to toe.
Disguise.
It must be a disguise!
She was certain that Yun Shu's face had been ruined by her!
And the many stab wounds on Yun Shu's body, even a divine physician couldn't have restored Yun Shu's appearance or erased the scars.
The jealousy that surged within her the moment she saw Yun Shu gradually gave way to contempt and mockery.
An ugly woman with a disfigured face, who had to rely on disguise to be seen. The confidence she projected was merely to awe those who were unaware of the truth.
Yun Shu's gaze swept past Old Madam Yun and Madam Yang, then settled on Yun Yueyin.
Because Yun Yueyin had instilled such fear in the original owner, her face was deeply etched in her memory for years.
After all, it was Yun Yueyin who had pushed her off a cliff after she transmigrated.
This debt would begin to be settled from now on.
Instantly, their eyes met.
Yun Yueyin's eyes were filled with disdain and arrogance.
Yun Shu's alluring and captivating eyes sparkled with amusement.
But that smile carried a chilling aura.
At that moment, Yun Yueyin's heart pounded fiercely.
Following that, she frowned, sneering inwardly, "Well done, Yun Shu! After years apart, you've become so composed!"
"Second Sister, it's been a long time." Yun Yueyin spoke first with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
Yun Shu, who had been imprisoned and tortured in a cave by her for nearly ten months, with no part of her body unscathed, and who had given birth to three children, one of whom was under her control—no matter how she looked at it, Yun Shu was still an ant beneath her feet!
"Yes, it truly has been a long time." Yun Shu's smile was incredibly radiant, and even her tone carried a hint of amusement.
Yun Yueyin couldn't help but frown. Although Yun Shu was smiling, she sensed a terrifying feeling.
For a moment, she forgot to respond.
Old Madam Yun, already seething with anger, was taken aback by Yun Shu's lack of immediate reaction. Now that she had recovered, she began to scold, "Yun Shu, you have such audacity! I am your grandmother, and you made me stand at the gate for so long. Aren't you afraid your father, if he were in the mansion, would punish you for such disrespect to elders?!"
"It's unbearable! If you were as well-mannered and filial as Yueyin, why would no one dare to marry you now?! Why would our General's mansion become a laughingstock!"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and she instinctively raised her hand to strike.
Yun Shu grabbed Old Madam Yun's hand.