Chapter 251 Ning is gone
After Ye Jiayao returned home, she stared at the pile of books. She wanted to burn them but felt it was not a good idea. After thinking it over, she decided to put them away and locked them in the safe.

I don’t know when Ning will come back. If she finds that something is missing, she will probably come to her to ask for it. However, she will not admit it.

However, before Ye Jiayao could wait for Ning to come to her house, she heard that Ning accidentally fell into the water on the way back to Jinling and was drowned.

Hearing this news, Ye Jiayao felt a chill down her spine. Wasn't this just a coincidence? Ning must have gone back to threaten Ye Binghuai, and then something unexpected happened on the way back, which made people think that way.

Originally, Ye Jiayao was still undecided about whether to tell Chunyu about the booklet, but now, she dared not hide it anymore and honestly took out the booklet.

After Xia Chunyu saw it, his face looked dark and scary.

"Could Ning's death be a trick?" Ye Jiayao asked anxiously.

Xia Chunyu closed the book and said seriously, "The government has determined that Ning died of drowning. The boatman's confession said that she was depressed after boarding the boat and always stood at the bow and cried secretly. He persuaded her several times, but he didn't expect that something would go wrong. In addition, your father's confession said that Ning returned to Yangzhou this time to seek reconciliation, and left sadly when the reconciliation failed... All signs show that Ning had a tendency to commit suicide."

"Let's end this matter here. It's better to burn these things." Xia Chunyu said.

"But... you are also in doubt, aren't you?" It was really hard for Ye Jiayao to accept the truth. Ye Binghuai could be greedy and ruthless, but to be so heartless was chilling. No matter how bad Ning was, his crime did not deserve the death penalty!

Xia Chunyu held her arms and said solemnly, "What the truth is is something the government should investigate. We can't just draw conclusions based on speculation. Listen carefully, you haven't seen these books, and you'll insist on saying so to anyone who asks you. For Zhongyuan, this matter must end here. Do you understand?"

Ye Jiayao nodded blankly. Of course, this was the end. What else could she do? She had no evidence to incriminate Ye Binghuai. She was just filled with despair and disgust for that family. First it was Ye Jinxuan, then the Ning family. What kind of family was this that could do such a thing?

After Xia Chunyu finished speaking, he tore off the booklet page by page and threw it into the incense burner, where it turned into ashes.

"Chun Yu, I never want to go back to the Ye family again, and I don't want to see that person anymore." Ye Jiayao said softly.

Xia Chunyu burned all the books silently, then came over, hugged her, and comforted her, "Anyway, we don't have much in common, so don't go if you can. Don't think too much. I'm going to pick up Zhongyuan now. It's not easy to get leave from the Imperial College. After all, Ning is his biological mother, so let Zhongyuan and Jinyao go back."

Zhong Yuan took a three-month vacation and went back to Yangzhou with Jin Yao to arrange his funeral. Xia Chunyu was afraid that Zhong Yuan was too young to know anything, so he sent Manager Zhao to go with him. Therefore, all the affairs of Tianshangju fell on Ye Jiayao's head.

Ye Jiayao actually hoped to be busier. Ning's death was an indelible shadow that lingered in her heart and would pop up from time to time, making her feel nauseated and panic.

Strangely enough, the case of Wei Liujiang, which had already been tried, suddenly took a turn for the better. Wei Liujiang changed his confession, saying that everything he did was instructed by Minister Mu, and the 70,000 taels of silver belonged to Minister Mu.

Then the government seized a huge amount of property from the Mu family, including several large boxes of gold and silver, as well as a number of properties and fields in other places. Minister Mu was usually very careful, and he did not buy property in Nanjing, nor did he deposit money in a bank. If it were not for the confiscation of his property, no one would have known that Minister Mu had such a rich family fortune.

Wei Liujiang's confession became a breakthrough, and the case progressed rapidly thereafter.

I heard that Qi cried in front of the Ministry of Justice every day, saying that she was betrayed by her nephew.

Unfortunately, no one would sympathize with her tears, and no one would think about the specific meaning of the word "trap". Being betrayed by her own nephew, she was naturally trap.

Ye Jiayao despised Wei Liujiang's behavior. Others didn't know the inside story, but she knew it clearly. Minister Mu took good care of him, but when the time came, he died in his hands. Only the Mu family knew the feeling best.

Half a month later, Manager Zhao came back.

Ye Jiayao had to ask about the situation over there.

Manager Zhao shook his head and said that the Ning family was making a big fuss, insisting that Ning was killed by Master Ye, and carried the coffin to the Ye family, wanting Ning to be buried in the Ye family's ancestral tomb. As a result, Master Ye's second wife, Yang's family, refused again. After a lot of trouble, Master Zhongyuan finally knelt down and begged Master Ye, saying that being buried in the Ye family's ancestral tomb was Ning's greatest wish, and asked him to fulfill it. Master Ye finally agreed, but the tombstone would not be engraved with Ye Ning, but only with Zhongyuan's name, loving mother Ning.

The dispute was finally resolved and the deceased was finally laid to rest.

Ye Jiayao felt a chill in her heart. Did the Ning family really want to be buried in the Ye family's ancestral tomb? What's the point of being buried in the ground? I'm afraid that the soul will not be at peace!

"What about Miss Ye Er?"

"On the day of Ning's funeral, Second Miss Ye gave birth to a daughter, and both mother and daughter are safe. Now Young Master Zhongyuan is in mourning on the mountain, and Third Miss is at home with Second Miss. Master Ye's wedding date has to be postponed. I heard it will be scheduled after the New Year." Manager Zhao replied.

"Oh, by the way, the Second Miss asked me to tell her whether she saw any books when she sorted out Mrs. Ning's things?"

Ye Jiayao's heart trembled: "I haven't seen it, what's wrong?"

Manager Zhao said, "It was Master Ye who asked about it, but he didn't see it when he went back to Nanjing to pack up his belongings."

Ye Jiayao sneered. Ye Binghuai was indeed nervous about that thing. She guessed that Ye Binghuai would not dare to ask her for it.

If you can't find that thing, you will have trouble sleeping and eating! Let him worry about it, so that he can be more restrained in the future. As June came, the weather became hotter. Ye Jiayao had lost her appetite due to the medicine she took, and now she couldn't eat even more. She went to the doctor at Renhetang to change the prescription, so she had to continue taking it even if she didn't want to.

I really hate Chinese medicine. Why can't it be made into pills or something? It has to be a decoction. It's bitter and smells bad.

That day, Ye Jiayao had just pinched her nose and swallowed a bowl of medicine when Yingtao brought in a note.

When Ye Jiayao took a look, she found that it was an invitation from the Catering Industry Chamber of Commerce, inviting her to attend a business meeting tomorrow.

Shopkeeper Li used to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Now that she has taken over Tianshangju, she should have a seat in the Chamber of Commerce. However, there has been no movement from the Chamber of Commerce. It has not held a meeting for more than half a year. No one knows what to discuss this time.

Since the Chamber of Commerce invited her, Ye Jiayao naturally had to attend.

So, the next day, Ye Jiayao took Zhong Xiang with her.

This time, unlike last time, she was just a little follower of Shopkeeper Li. No one knew her and treated her as air. But everyone came to greet her and were polite to Zhong Xiang. After all, she had won the first place, and this first place was well deserved.

Ye Jiayao returned the greetings one by one with a smile on her face.

"Second Young Madam, long time no see..." Lu Xiaotian walked over.

Last time, Lu Xiaotian won the first place in the cooking group, but like Zhong Xiang, he refused to join the imperial kitchen and continued to run his vegetarian restaurant.

Ye Jiayao returned the greeting: "Brother Lu, do you know why we are calling this meeting today?"

Lu Xiaotian lowered his voice and said, "Maybe we need to re-elect the president."

Ye Jiayao was surprised: "Why? Isn't President Zheng's contract not over yet?"

"Chairman Zheng's father passed away, and he has to go back to mourn. Vice President Zhang Youcheng is old and in poor health, so he was unable to attend this meeting." Lu Xiaotian said.

Ye Jiayao smiled: "Do we still need to choose? The position of chairman will definitely belong to Brother Lu."

Lu Xiaotian sneered and said, "I would like to recommend you. In terms of strength and achievements, who here can compare with you? You are the one that everyone wants."

Ye Jiayao laughed dryly: "Don't do that. I'm a lazy person and I don't want to do anything that will only take up space."

Lu Xiaotian was stunned. The way this Second Young Lady spoke was too...bold and unrestrained.

Ye Jiayao spoke too quickly, and only realized after she finished speaking that she was no longer Li Yao, but the second young lady of the Marquis's Mansion. Words like "shit" were indeed a bit... indecent.

"Haha, I'm just kidding. However, I'm really not suitable to be the president. I'll just be a loyal listener. If Brother Lu has any instructions in the future, I will follow them and firmly support them." Ye Jiayao said with a wry smile.

"Hey, have you two discussed it?" Lin Changchun walked over with a smile.

"Shopkeeper Lin." Ye Jiayao knelt down and bowed.

Lu Xiaotian smiled and said, "What do you want to discuss?"

Lin Changchun said casually: "Let's discuss who will be the president. In Jinling City, Tianshangju and Sushanfang are the leaders in the catering industry. I will not submit to anyone else, but I will submit to either of you."

Ye Jiayao smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Lin, do we need to discuss this? Naturally, Brother Lu is more suitable. I am a woman."

"What's wrong with being a woman? A woman like you makes us men ashamed! Second Young Madam, you have the most ideas. The Chamber of Commerce can only play a real role in your hands." Lin Changchun disagreed.

"Manager Lin is right. I am a rather rigid person and not good at socializing with government officials. The second young lady is more suitable." Lu Xiaotian said.

He sincerely hopes that Ye Jiayao can become the president. Ye Jiayao's abilities, whether in cooking or management, are obvious to all.

Ye Jiayao had a headache. Damn, I'm very busy now, okay? How could she have the time to be the president? She was a very responsible person. Once she became the president, she would have to do something. She would be very busy. Being the vice president would be barely enough.

"Please stop praising me. If you continue to praise me, I will become arrogant. I really cannot be the president. Brother Lu, please go ahead. If it really doesn't work out, I will be your consultant, uh, your master. If you need any ideas, come to me!" Ye Jiayao laughed dryly and declined politely.

Lin Changchun sighed and said, "You two are giving way to each other here, but someone is trying very hard to get the position of the president."

(End of this chapter)