The Abandoned Wife of a Military Family: Your disguise has been exposed again.

Chapter 48 Losing Face to the Entire Capital

Madam Shen sighed, "My husband's health is getting worse and worse, and I want to focus on taking care of him."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuniang's doubts vanished. "Since my second brother is unwell, you should indeed take care of him. Don't worry about the affairs of the manor; I will manage them well."

Madam Shen's eyes flickered, and she reminded him, "The matter of my elder brother being granted an official title is of paramount importance to the Li family. Mother had previously instructed that a grand banquet be held to show the imperial court's great favor to the Li family. I have almost finished the preparations, and you will continue to take care of it from now on."

Chen Yuniang nodded, "I know, I will definitely take good care of it and will not let everyone down."

"Then I'm relieved." After saying that, Madam Shen left.

As soon as she left, Chen Yuniang picked up the matching tiles, looked at them again and again, and felt a surge of joy in her heart.

She could say that she lost one thing but gained another.

In a couple of days, the Li family will hold a grand banquet to let everyone know that Chen Yuniang is in charge of the Li family, and to let everyone see her ability to manage the household affairs.

……

Two days later, the Li family decorated their home with lanterns and streamers and hosted a banquet for their guests.

Friends and relatives who had been estranged from the Li family in the past all came, and even many officials from the imperial court attended.

For a time, compliments and congratulations poured in.

Li Yaoting was surrounded by guests who praised him, saying he was young and promising and had a bright future.

For a moment, Li Yaoting was beaming with joy and extremely pleased with himself, and even Old Madam Li looked triumphant.

In previous years, when the Li family fell into decline, their home was deserted.

Now that her son has been granted an official title, aren't people rushing to curry favor with him?
Halfway through the banquet, a group of vendors burst in.

"You bought two hundred catties of mutton from my stall this month, totaling fifty taels of silver. Pay up now!"

"And you also owe me a lot of fish and shrimp on credit, so please settle the bill quickly!"

"You haven't paid for my chickens and ducks yet. It's been a month. You promised to settle the bill at the end of the month, but you keep dragging it out. You have money to throw a banquet, but no money to pay the bill?"

“I sell fruits and vegetables, it’s a small business. You’ve been buying hundreds of kilograms on credit every month. If you don’t pay, we can’t survive.”

The vendors all voiced their condemnation.

……

The guests in the hall were in an uproar.

Li Yaoting's smugness and joy froze on his face.

Madam Li was also stunned, sitting there in a daze.

"A noble earl's mansion, yet they have to buy a few groceries on credit? How shameless!"

"Exactly, these vendors have a hard time making a living, it's really unfair not to pay them."

"Why hold a banquet if you don't have money?"

"I heard that the Li family has been broke for a long time and has been struggling to keep the family afloat thanks to Yun. But the Li family has turned on their mistresses and cheated on Yun. Li Yaoting has been keeping a mistress behind Yun's back and even has a child with her. He has brought the child into the family. Yun must have given up on her duties, which is why the Li family is in such a sorry state."

"Is there such a thing?"

"My God, the Li family is so shameless!"

All sorts of unpleasant words came pouring in.

Li Yaoting's face was extremely ugly.

The more smug he was just moments before, the more pathetic he became at this moment.

Madam Li's vision blurred, and she fainted on the spot because she couldn't catch her breath.

The Li family's banquet immediately descended into chaos.

Looking at the chaotic banquet, Chen Yuniang's previous confidence had completely vanished.

Facing the peddler demanding payment and the guests watching her humiliation, her mind was buzzing. Only one thought kept echoing in her head: The Li family is finished. They've made a fool of themselves in the whole capital...

She never imagined the Li family would be in such dire straits. She had been so smug before, secretly pleased with her chance to take control of the family, but now she realized the Li family was in such a mess. No wonder Madam Shen relinquished control of the family so easily; she had been tricked.

Chen Yuniang was filled with remorse.

……

"...This time, the Li family has lost all face. You didn't see it, Miss, but Old Madam Li was so angry that she fainted on the spot, and the banquet was in complete chaos."

When Yunwei returned to the manor in the evening, she listened with great interest as Tian'er vividly recounted the events that had occurred at the banquet during the day.

After laughing, Tian'er was a little puzzled, "But why did those vendors choose to come and collect their debts just when the Li family was having a banquet today?"

Yun Wei's eyes flickered.

That was naturally because she had someone notify the vendors. After giving them a few pointers, the vendors angrily came to her door, which led to the disturbance at the banquet.

After today, the Li family will be "famous" in the capital.

Li Yaoting will also be unable to hold his head high in front of his colleagues.

She said she could support the Li family, or she could destroy it.

Wasn't Madam Li the one who valued the Li family's reputation the most? Then let her see with her own eyes how the Li family is destroyed.

Yun Wei's lips curled slightly.

However, it's time to get a divorce and leave this filthy place.

The next day.

Yunwei was about to go out when she ran into Old Madam Li in the front yard.

Overnight, Madam Li looked much older and more haggard.

Upon seeing Yun Wei, she put on a fawning smile, "Weiwei, where are you headed?"

Yun Wei raised her eyebrows slightly but remained silent.

Seeing this, Madam Li sighed and asked, "Is Weiwei still angry with me?"

"What are you saying, Madam? What have you done that makes me angry with you?" Yunwei retorted.

Madam Li choked for a moment, then said with a look of regret, "I misjudged people. I took pity on Chen Yuniang and let her into the family because she gave birth to a child for our Li family. I neglected your feelings, so it's understandable that you're angry about it."

Yunwei found it both ironic and laughable.

How could that old hag have the nerve to say such things?
She still vividly remembered the way Li Yaoting threatened to divorce her when she tried to force her to submit.

I didn't expect her to change her attitude so quickly.

However, considering the Chen family's situation, she wasn't very surprised.

The old hag was only interested in profit; she only cared about her own interests.

Her current behavior must be because of what happened yesterday, and after learning about the Chen family's situation, she felt that the Chen family had no hope of recovery, so she wanted to continue to use her and make her a slave for the Li family.

"So it turns out that the old lady misjudged people and made a mistake. In that case, the old lady should kick Chen Yuniang out of the mansion." Yun Wei smiled and looked at her with a leisurely air.

Madam Li was taken aback by her words and hesitated for a moment before saying with difficulty, "This...this is not appropriate. Chen Yuniang has already entered the family, and she has even given birth to a son for our Li family. If we kick her out, people will gossip."

"Is the old lady afraid of gossip, which is why she doesn't want to kick Chen Yuniang out? But now, how much gossip is there about the Li family?" Yun Wei feigned surprise.

Old Madam Li was both anxious and angry when she thought about what happened yesterday, but she dared not lash out. She could only awkwardly say, "It's not entirely because of other people's gossip. The main reason is that our Li family cannot do such a heartless thing."

"But how many heartless things has your Li family done?" Yun Wei said slowly.

Madam Li almost lost her composure, but forced a smile and said, "Weiwei, I know you've been wronged, but I haven't treated you badly all these years."

“You’ve treated me well, isn’t that because I’m useful to the Li family?” Yun Wei said bluntly.

Madam Li was so embarrassed and angry that she almost couldn't control her rage.

She lowered herself to show her kindness, yet she was so ungrateful.

But thinking that Yun was still useful to his family, he suppressed his anger and said with a tolerant expression, "Yaoting has wronged you, so it is understandable that you have resentment. But don't worry, Yaoting has promised me that from now on he will treat you well and live a good life with you. As for Chen Yuniang, I will not let him set foot in her house again."