Expelled from the Yan Family?
These four words were both absurd and laughable, but bearing the title of Yan Zheng's grandmother, Grandma Yan had forced Chu Ruoyan to rush back.
At the entrance of the General's Mansion.
Madam Li was already waiting there. Upon seeing her, she immediately approached, "I couldn't persuade Grandma. She seems determined, and she's even invited Elder Yan!"
The Yan Family originated from Longxi and was divided into two branches.
One branch pursued officialdom, which included Yan Xu and his lineage. From grandfather to father to him, they held high positions across two dynasties, achieving great prominence. Unfortunately, this time they were all lost at Hangu Pass.
The other branch was Elder Yan's line. He was the brother of Yan Xu's great-grandfather. This branch's descendants all went into business, but unfortunately, they lacked talent and could only scrape by in the capital.
The two branches rarely interacted, only coming together for major events like ancestral temple ceremonies, where Elder Yan would be invited to preside.
This time, Grandma had actually disturbed him, which meant she was fully determined!
Chu Ruoyan nodded and hurried inside.
Towards the ancestral hall, people were continuously moving things inside.
"Have you heard? This time, Grandma seems to mean business!"
"Isn't that so? It seems she even sent a notice to the Ministry of Rites, though it's unclear why they haven't sent anyone..."
Chu Ruoyan paused.
Was Grandma Yan crazy?
Normally, families looking to expel someone would consider it a great shame and fear others finding out. But not her; she even sent a notice to the Ministry of Rites, as if she feared it wouldn't cause a citywide uproar!
She took a few deep breaths to suppress her anger and rushed to the ancestral hall, suddenly hearing a commotion inside.
"Young Master, you can't do this!"
"Ah! Those are offerings, you can't smash them!"
Inside the ancestral temple.
Yan Wenjing was swinging a wooden stick with his left hand, overturning tables and chairs with his right.
The items that had just been arranged were swept to the ground like fallen leaves. A set of celadon tea bowls even fell in front of the just-arrived Elder Yan, startling the elderly man!
Grandma Yan supported him and quickly stepped back, shouting, "Yan Wenjing, are you mad? Stop this at once!"
The person being yelled at completely ignored her, smashing the last teapot to pieces, and shouted, "Stay back! If anyone dares to set up again, I'll beat them!"
This young master, usually so gentle and sweet-natured, had suddenly gone wild, making the servants too afraid to approach.
Grandma Yan, having settled Elder Yan, personally stepped forward. "What about your great-grandmother? If she wants to go in, will you beat me too?"
Yan Wenjing bit his lip, his fierce little face suddenly turning pitiful. "Great-grandmother, please, don't expel Third Uncle... He's gravely injured and won't be able to return for a while. He won't bother you, I beg you to spare him this time!"
The child's plea was like a soft touch, momentarily softening Grandma Yan's heart.
Yet the next moment, she steeled herself. "Wenjing, you don't understand. Your Third Uncle is the most deceitful. He tricked your father, leading to the deaths of your father, grandparents, and uncles on the battlefield. This time, I will not be lenient!"
Her words cast a deep shadow in Yan Wenjing's eyes.
It was the chilling coldness of a young beast, well hidden beneath his mournful gaze.
Yan Wenjing hung his head, his shoulders trembling with sobs.
Grandma Yan thought he had come to his senses and was about to help Elder Yan inside.
Just as she was about to pass by, Yan Wenjing suddenly swung a wooden stick, aiming at her back—
"Wenjing!"
Chu Ruoyan's stern voice halted his actions just in time!
Yan Wenjing shuddered, as if waking from a trance, and the wooden stick fell heavily to the ground.
But Grandma Yan had already turned and seen everything.
Her eyes widened with rage, and she slapped him to the ground: "Well, well! Yan San, oh Yan San, he has taught my grandson to be so cruel, to raise a hand against his great-grandmother!!"
"It has nothing to do with my Third Uncle! It was me!" Yan Wenjing shouted, clutching his left cheek, "You want to harm my Third Uncle, none of you are good people, none of you!"
He was like a young beast shedding its disguise, baring its fierce fangs, shocking everyone present.
Chu Ruoyan knew that if this continued, it would only push the child further.
She rushed forward and embraced him: "How about it, does it hurt?"
Yan Wenjing trembled all over, his tightly clenched teeth finally giving way to a sob: "Auntie, they... they want to expel Third Uncle from the Yan Family..."
Chu Ruoyan held him tightly: "Don't be afraid, with Auntie here, your Third Uncle will be fine. You go back to your room with Yulu—"
"I won't go back!"
Chu Ruoyan pressed down on his shoulders: "Be good, you staying here won't help. Trust Auntie, today your Third Uncle will not be removed from the family register."
Her words were calm yet resolute, and Yan Zheng remained silent for a moment: "Fine, if Third Uncle is driven away, then I... I won't bear the Yan name anymore!"
With that, he followed Yulu away.
Grandma Yan said coldly: "Elder Yan, you saw it today, didn't you? Yan San truly knows sorcery, turning my good great-grandson into a cold-blooded monster like him. Do you still think I'm being unreasonable?"
Elder Yan said nothing.
Truth be told, the scene just now had indeed startled him.
Filial piety, loyalty, and trust—how could a child dare to raise a hand against his elders, truly a failure in upbringing.
Unexpectedly, Chu Ruoyan spoke calmly: "Grandmother, that's not the way to put it. You know very well how close Wenjing is to his Third Uncle, yet you open the ancestral hall and want to expel him from the house, driving a child mad first and then asking why he resists. Isn't that a bit too much?"
Elder Yan was taken aback, and Grandma Yan snapped angrily: "Nonsense, when did I drive him mad? I'm trying to save him!"
"Is that so? Well, if you say so."
Her accommodating demeanor only made Grandma Yan seem more unreasonable.
Grandma Yan was instantly infuriated: "Outrageous, outrageous! Who let you come here? I didn't invite you today!"
Chu Ruoyan was even more amused by this remark.
She slowly surveyed the room: "Wasn't it you who wanted to open the ancestral hall today, to expel my husband from the house? My husband is tied up with official duties and couldn't come, so he asked me to come in his place... How could it be a mistake? Wasn't it him you wanted to expel today?"
Grandma Yan was speechless, unable to respond.
At this moment, a voice came from outside the ancestral hall. "Third niece-in-law, still as eloquent as ever. Mother, haven't I already told you? There's no need to engage in pointless arguments," said Lady Xue.
Chu Ruoyan's eyes darkened, and she turned her head.
She saw that the second branch of the family had arrived—Yan Lin, Lady Xue, along with their two sons, Yan Chengwu and Yan Chengyong.
Not only that, but the third branch had also come. Li Yu was accompanied by his eldest son, Yan Chenghao.
A crowd had gathered, forming a veritable tribunal.
"Alright, everyone is here. Let's get seated quickly," Grandma Yan ordered. The tables and chairs that had been disrupted earlier by Yan Wenjing were swiftly replaced with new ones. Everyone found their seats, leaving only Chu Ruoyan standing alone in the center.
Grandma Yan paid her no mind and lit three sticks of incense. She respectfully faced the ancestral tablets and declared, "I hereby inform the ancestors: Today, we have an unfilial descendant, Yan Zheng, who has betrayed the family for personal gain, colluded with enemies, committed treason, and acted with utter disregard for filial piety and morality. His crimes are heinous beyond measure! It is unforgivable that my sons and grandsons have suffered at his hands. As the matriarch of the Yan Family, I now expel him from the clan, strip him of his surname, and decree that he shall not be included in the Yan Family genealogy nor buried in the Yan Family tombs after his death. I ask the spirits of our ancestors to bear witness!"
