Outside the wooden hut, Grandma Yan, Yan Shu, along with Yan Lin from the second branch and his wife Lady Xue, had all arrived.
Yan Shu supported Grandma Yan’s arm and whispered softly, "Grandmother, don’t be angry. Perhaps I was mistaken…"
"Mistaken? How could you be mistaken? The fact that he rushed here to Granny Sun in such a frenzy proves he has something to hide!" Grandma Yan snapped, her months of resentment toward her grandson finally finding an outlet. "I’ve long suspected he isn’t truly a Yan! So cold and ruthless—nothing like your parents! If you hadn’t mentioned the incident at Cuiping Mountain, I wouldn’t have even thought of this!"
Yan Shu obediently agreed, a cold smirk tugging at her lips.
She wasn’t a fool. The Princess had revealed Granny Sun’s whereabouts while also ordering her to kill the old woman—clearly setting her up to take the blame.
So she had gone to Grandma Yan and casually dropped a hint. The foolish old woman had taken the bait and brought everyone here…
Just then, Chu Ruoyan wheeled Yan Zheng out.
The man’s expression was icy, his dark eyes sweeping over the group. "Is there a problem?"
An invisible pressure weighed down on them. Grandma Yan and Yan Lin were momentarily stunned into silence.
Yan Shu cursed them inwardly for their weakness but forced a gentle tone. "Third Brother…"
"Madam Liu, you’re mistaken," Yan Zheng mocked. "You married a disgraced official—Earl Changlu. I have no sister who’s the wife of a criminal."
Chu Ruoyan couldn’t help but snicker.
Yan Zheng’s words were vicious. Yan Shu’s greatest humiliation was her husband’s downfall, and he was stabbing right at her sore spot!
Sure enough, Yan Shu’s fury erupted, shredding her usual gentle facade. "Don’t get too cocky!!"
Grandma Yan finally regained her composure, brows knitting together. "Yan Zheng! Stop dodging the issue! I’m asking you—is Granny Sun inside?"
"And if she is?"
"Then bring her out! Let her explain what really happened back then at Cuiping Mountain!" Grandma Yan demanded sharply.
Meng Yang quickly stepped forward. "Grandma Yan, this matter is complicated. We should discuss it—"
Slap!
Grandma Yan struck him across the face. "When your betters are speaking, what business does a dog like you have interrupting?"
Meng Yang clenched his fists, swallowing his anger, but Yan Zheng merely said, "Shadow."
A flash of steel—a lock of Grandma Yan’s hair was severed, drifting slowly before her eyes.
"AHHH!!"
Her shriek nearly pierced the sky as she pointed a trembling finger at him. "Y-you dare raise a hand against me?!"
Yan Lin was also terrified by the sword’s sudden strike and hurried to steady his mother. "Marquis of Anning! Have you lost your mind? This is your grandmother!!"
Even Chu Ruoyan was taken aback—not out of concern for Grandma Yan, but because filial piety was sacred in the Great Xia. If word got out, the scholars and officials would drown him in condemnation!
Yet Yan Zheng remained indifferent. "So Second Uncle still remembers she’s my grandmother?"
"!!!"
The group froze. Lady Xue instinctively blurted, "If she’s not your grandmother, then who is?"
Her voice cut off abruptly as the Yans recalled the reason they’d come today. A chill ran down their spines.
Yan Zheng’s implication was clear—if he wasn’t a Yan, then they were strangers to him. And that meant…
This place was desolate. They’d come in haste with few guards…
Their necks prickled as if that sword had already settled against their skin!
"Y-you dare threaten me?!" Grandma Yan finally found her voice, though she kept it low, afraid of being overheard. "Just wait until I report this to the Emperor—"
"Go ahead." Yan Zheng didn’t even glance at her. "The Yan family now consists of only me. If you don’t mind seeing the entire clan ruined, the lineage severed, and our noble name wiped from the capital—then by all means, try."
Grandma Yan had spent her life fighting for status. The thought of the Yan family collapsing was worse than death!
Yan Lin, however, seemed to have an epiphany.
But before he could speak, his nephew cut in as if reading his mind. "Second Uncle, you’d best abandon any hope that the main branch’s fall will lift yours. Have you never wondered why your recent promotion came about?"
Yan Lin stiffened.
He had recently been transferred from the Hanlin Academy to the Ministry of Justice—same rank, but with real power. He’d thought it was due to his own merit, but now that Yan Zheng mentioned it… the transfer had happened after Yan Zheng entered the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice were closely linked. Had the Emperor placed him there to assist Yan Zheng?
The realization struck like lightning. Yan Lin immediately abandoned all rebellious thoughts. "Y-yes, the Yan family’s future now rests solely on you…"
"Master?" Lady Xue gasped in confusion.
Yan Lin shot her a glare before bowing even lower to Yan Zheng. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep Mother in check. Today’s events will never leave our lips—"
"Hm?" Yan Zheng’s gaze sharpened.
Yan Lin quickly corrected himself. "I-I mean, nothing happened today! We’ll leave at once!"
Without another word, he dragged his mother away, ignoring Lady Xue’s protests.
Yan Shu didn’t dare linger either and hurried after them.
"Madam Liu."
Yan Zheng’s voice, colder than winter, stopped her in her tracks. "For Eldest Brother’s sake, I’ll spare you this once. Next time we meet, you can reunite with your husband."
Yan Shu’s body locked up, hatred burning in her eyes.
But she didn’t turn back, only scrambling into the carriage.
"That little beast has gone too far!" Grandma Yan finally dared to curse—though still in a hushed tone, terrified of being overheard.
Yan Lin said grimly, "Mother, he’s right. After Eldest Brother’s death, he’s all that’s left of the main branch. That the Emperor still allows a cripple like him to serve is a miracle! The Yan family’s fate is tied to him now…"
"But what if he’s not a Yan?"
"Whether he is or not, he must remain Yan Zheng!" Yan Lin hissed. He turned to Lady Xue. "When we return, silence everyone who came with us today—"
He drew a finger across his throat. Lady Xue shuddered but nodded.
Feeling his gaze, Yan Shu quickly added, "Don’t worry, I’m still a Yan. I’d never harm the family!"
Yan Lin studied her before replying, "See that you don’t. But as Yan Zheng said, you’re a married woman now. For the time being, you’ll remain at the estate and not step outside."
House arrest?!
Yan Shu’s eyes darkened, though she kept her face calm. "Of course."
Meanwhile, as soon as the Yans were gone, Yan Zheng’s rigid posture collapsed.
His face was deathly pale. Chu Ruoyan anxiously grasped his hand, but he only called, "Shadow."
The young guard stepped forward and bowed.
Yan Zheng glanced back at the hut. "Keep watch. No mistakes."
The guard nodded, then pointed to the hut before miming slitting his own throat—a promise to stake his life on it.
Yan Zheng gave a slight nod and seemed about to speak further when Chu Ruoyan tightened her grip on his hand, saying, "Enough, let’s talk about everything once we’re back home. You look terribly pale..."
The man paused for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement.
The carriage raced swiftly along the road.
Upon their return to the Yan residence, the moment they stepped into the courtyard, a mouthful of blood suddenly sprayed from his lips.
"Yan Zheng!"
"Young Master!"
