Lord Song left the Yan residence and hurried straight back to the Ministry of Rites. He reported the matter to Vice Minister Liu, who immediately went to the palace.
In the imperial study, the Emperor listened to their account and chuckled, "This Lady of Marquis Anning is quite something—a mere dream managed to sway her husband's decision."
Vice Minister Liu said, "Your Majesty, the funeral of a high-ranking official is a matter reported to the heavens, with auspicious and inauspicious dates carefully selected. To change it so abruptly may bring misfortune upon the Yan family..."
At this, a man in purple robes lounging nearby suddenly opened his eyes and shot him a sidelong glance. "If it's bad for the Yan family, why are you so worked up?"
The only one who dared act so irreverently before the Emperor was Prince Qin!
Vice Minister Liu hastily bowed. "Your Highness may not be aware, but the Yan family's funeral is being watched by the entire city. The Ministry of Rites posted the notice just yesterday, and many commoners will surely come to pay their respects."
Lord Song also mustered his courage. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Moreover, the date was chosen by Master Liaokong of the Guardian Temple. If it’s changed so casually, it might provoke the temple’s displeasure..."
The Emperor fell into thought.
The commoners were of little concern, but the Guardian Temple had to be handled carefully. After all, it was Master Liaokong’s influence that had helped the late Emperor ascend the throne...
Yet Prince Qin remarked, "I wasn’t aware the Guardian Temple’s reach extended so far—meddling even in the affairs of a minister’s household."
The room tensed.
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened. "Ninth Brother, mind your words."
Prince Qin smirked carelessly. "Imperial Brother, I merely find it amusing. Yan Xu’s funeral arrangements are ultimately his son’s decision, especially now that there’s only one son left. The way Vice Minister Liu and Lord Song are so frantic, one might think they’re surnamed Yan too."
The two officials from the Ministry of Rites flushed red.
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "True, this is ultimately the Yan family’s private matter. Let them handle it as they see fit. As for the eldest daughter of the Chu family, it’s remarkable how well she’s gotten along with Marquis Anning in just a few days. Yin Shun, draft another edict granting her an inscribed plaque—'Virtuous and Graceful Matron.'"
This was tantamount to declaring that Marquis Anning’s actions had the Emperor’s tacit approval.
Prince Qin inwardly scoffed. His imperial brother was truly stingy—last time, he’d only reluctantly bestowed the title of Marquis Anning, and now he wouldn’t even grant a proper honorific, settling for a mere plaque.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the general’s residence.
News of the funeral date change spread like wildfire, and the second and third branches of the Yan family descended en masse.
Yan Lin of the second branch was absent, still at the Hanlin Academy, but his wife, Lady Xue, brought their eldest son Yan Chengwu and second son Yan Chengyong, while Third Madam Li Yu arrived with her son Yan Chenghao, all blocking the hall entrance in a furious uproar.
"Third Nephew, what is the meaning of this? Now that you’ve inherited the title, do you care nothing for the lives of your younger siblings?"
"Changing the funeral date without consultation is a grave taboo! At best, it brings misfortune; at worst, it could doom the entire family to ruin. Are you toying with all our lives?"
Lady Xue raged, hands on hips, her demeanor far from that of a noblewoman.
Third Madam Li Yu dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "Indeed, Third Nephew, this is no joking matter. How could you decide something so significant without consulting us? Even if my husband is away, Second Master is here. How could a junior act so willfully?"
Chu Ruoyan stood behind Yan Zheng, marveling at the spectacle.
Throughout the days the Yan family had kept vigil, these relatives had been conspicuously absent.
Not once had they visited the ailing Dowager in her madness.
Yet now they had the audacity to demand an explanation?
She opened her mouth to speak, but Steward Fang cut in first. "Second Madam, Third Madam, please calm yourselves. This matter—"
"Who gave a servant the right to speak when masters are talking?" Yan Chengwu coldly interrupted. "Yan Zheng, your high-handedness was tolerable before, but today, unless you give us a proper explanation, we won’t leave!"
Yan Zheng lifted his eyes indifferently. "Explanation?"
"Exactly!" Yan Chengyong stepped forward. "Third Cousin, this concerns the Yan family’s future. If you can’t justify your decision, don’t blame us for discarding familial courtesy!"
Yan Zheng took a slow sip of tea.
Then he turned away. "Do as you please."
His utter nonchalance showed how little he cared for their threats.
Yan Chengwu’s face twisted in fury. Pointing at Yan Zheng’s retreating back, he roared, "Yan Zheng, if not for Yan Xun’s protection in the past, you’d never—"
Crack!
The teacup in Yan Zheng’s hand shattered. A shard shot out, grazing Yan Chengwu’s left cheek—
"Ahhh!"
A thin line of blood welled on Yan Chengwu’s face.
Lady Xue and Li Yu froze in shock. Even the other cousins present dared not utter a word.
In the deathly silence, Chu Ruoyan saw Yan Zheng turn back, his gaze colder than eternal ice.
"What right do you have to speak his name?"
Him—Yan Xun.
The Yan family’s heir.
Chu Ruoyan had known Yan Zheng was close to his eldest brother, but she hadn’t realized the depth of that bond.
Yan Chengyong, seeing his brother’s wound, blurted, "Yan Zheng, have you lost your mind? No wonder Second Cousin and the others call you a madman! How dare you attack your own kin?"
Lady Xue rushed to her son’s side. "My child! Are you hurt? Fetch a physician—now!"
Pandemonium erupted.
The second branch wailed, the third branch clamored, and the commotion grew so loud it nearly reached the mourning hall.
Then a sharp reprimand cut through the noise: "Enough! Such uproar—have you no respect for the deceased?"
Everyone turned to see Second Master Yan Lin arriving belatedly, still in his Hanlin Academy robes, having rushed over upon hearing the news.
Lady Xue and her sons shrank under his glare, falling silent.
But Li Yu cried, "Second Brother, you’ve come at last! You must intervene!"
Yan Lin surveyed the scene—his son’s bleeding face, Yan Zheng’s icy detachment—before scowling at Yan Chengyong. "Useless fool."
Then he addressed Yan Zheng. "Third Nephew, I know these days have been hard on you, and I’ve been occupied with official duties, offering little help. But altering the funeral date is no small matter. Not only would it disturb your parents’ rest, but it could also jeopardize the Yan family’s future. You cannot act unilaterally."
His words were more measured than Lady Xue’s, but the message was the same.
Chu Ruoyan found it absurd how these people revered Master Liaokong like a deity. She glanced at Yan Zheng, whose expression remained detached, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
This man… seemed indifferent to everything except matters tied to Yan Xun and Rong Shan.
Yet the standoff couldn’t continue.
Chu Ruoyan stepped forward with a graceful curtsey. "Second Uncle, this decision stems from a dream I had. I—"
Yan Lin waved her off. "A woman has no place in this discussion."
Chu Ruoyan nearly laughed.
A traditionalist, was he?
Lady Xue sneered. "Husband, it’s this new bride, Chu Ruoyan, who claims she dreamed of Eldest Brother saying he wished to stay and fulfill his filial duties. That’s why Third Nephew changed the date!"
Chu Ruoyan frowned slightly.
She had only mentioned these words to Lord Song in the study, and after leaving the estate, Lord Song wouldn’t have spread such matters openly. How, then, did Lady Xue learn of them so precisely?
Could there still be spies within the household?
After hearing Lady Xue’s words, Yan Lin’s gaze toward Chu Ruoyan grew even more unfriendly. Yet, adhering to his principle of not interfering in household affairs, he turned to Yan Zheng and said, "Third Nephew, your Second Uncle is speaking to you with good intentions. If you refuse to listen, then I’ll have no choice but to bring this matter before His Majesty and request the Emperor’s judgment for the Yan Family!"
No sooner had his last word fallen than an announcement echoed from outside: "Imperial Decree arrives!"
