"Evidence?"
Grandma Yan scoffed. "I knew you'd say that, so I made a special trip to the Guardian Temple and invited Master Liaokong himself to appear!"
As she spoke, a solemn "Amitabha" echoed from outside the hall.
A monk with a compassionate expression, holding a staff, walked in.
Everyone seated, including Elder Yan, rose to their feet.
"Greetings to Master Liaokong!"
Master Liaokong was no ordinary figure in Great Xia. Not only did the emperor hold him in high esteem, but he was also deeply revered among the common people.
However, he usually resided in the Guardian Temple and rarely ventured out. No one knew what method Grandma Yan had used to persuade him to come today...
Amid the murmurs of speculation, Master Liaokong smiled faintly. "Amitabha. There is no need for such courtesy, esteemed guests. General Yan’s family has served with unwavering loyalty. Though I am but a humble monk, I owe them my protection and shall do what little I can in return."
Chu Ruoyan’s gaze remained cold.
She had not an ounce of goodwill for this monk, whose words could ruin half a person’s life.
At this moment, Grandma Yan declared loudly, "Good! Then let Master Liaokong speak before everyone—what was the prophecy you gave for the Third Young Master on his third birthday?"
Chu Ruoyan narrowed her eyes as the monk chanted again, "Amitabha. This matter concerns the Marquis of Anning’s private affairs, yet as I was entrusted by Elder Yan, I must speak the truth—indeed, as Grandma Yan has said, the Marquis of Anning bears the rare and unfortunate fate of a solitary star, destined to bring misfortune upon his kin!"
The hall erupted in shock.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Grandma Yan looked triumphant.
Elder Yan’s eyes dimmed with disappointment—it seemed Yan Xu’s last remaining son could not be saved either...
Just as he was about to speak, a clear, cold voice cut through the murmurs.
"Wait!"
Chu Ruoyan said, "Does Master Liaokong’s prophecy necessarily hold true?"
The crowd gasped.
Lady Xue’s gloating voice rose above the rest, "Oh, dear niece-in-law, how ignorant you are! Everyone in the capital knows Master Liaokong’s reputation. Back then, when he saw Consort Xue—then just an unmarried girl—he declared without hesitation that she would 'soar to the highest branch, attaining incomparable nobility!' Or have you never heard of this?"
Laughter and scornful whispers surrounded her, but Chu Ruoyan remained unshaken. "Indeed, in Consort Xue’s case, Master Liaokong’s prophecy was uncannily accurate. But has every single one of his predictions come true?"
The jeers grew louder.
Yet Master Liaokong’s expression shifted slightly, his snow-white brows twitching as if recalling something.
"Amitabha, this lady—"
Before he could finish, his eyes suddenly locked onto Chu Ruoyan’s face, and his expression changed dramatically.
His fingers moved swiftly in calculation before he strode toward her.
"May I ask, noble lady, in which year were you born?"
Chu Ruoyan was taken aback.
Grandma Yan interjected loudly, "Master Liaokong, this girl was born in the eighth month of the Xinyou year. Read her fortune, so she may be convinced!"
The ancestral hall fell deathly silent.
All eyes were fixed on the revered monk, awaiting his divine revelation.
Chu Ruoyan smirked, curious to hear what judgment he would pass on her.
But to everyone’s astonishment, after a moment of calculation, the monk frowned deeply.
"No... this cannot be her true birth date!"
Chu Ruoyan stiffened.
Grandma Yan demanded, "What do you mean, Master? This birth date was provided by the Duke of Chu’s household during the betrothal inquiries. There can be no mistake."
Yet Master Liaokong insisted, "Impossible! This birth chart suggests a life of moderate fortune, but it pales in comparison to her true nobility—especially—" He abruptly cut himself off, as if afraid to speak further.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
Chu Ruoyan arched an eyebrow.
What was this monk implying? That her fate surpassed even Consort Xue’s?
Still, she had little faith in such divinations and pressed, "Master Liaokong, since you cannot decipher my fate, does that mean your predictions are not infallible?"
Master Liaokong’s face paled. He seemed to want to argue but held back, as if bound by some unspoken taboo.
Grandma Yan exclaimed in disbelief, "Master, how can you allow this woman to disrespect you so?"
Master Liaokong remained silent.
Chu Ruoyan smiled lazily. "If the master does not speak, shall I take it as your tacit agreement?"
After a long silence, Master Liaokong closed his eyes. "Amitabha. It is true—I cannot discern your fate."
The hall erupted in chaos.
This was the first time in half a century that Master Liaokong had ever admitted defeat!
Grandma Yan’s eyes widened in shock. "Master Liaokong, you cannot be serious! You saw Consort Xue’s destiny with perfect clarity—how could you fail with this mere girl?"
Master Liaokong remained silent, eyes still closed.
With a slight bow, he turned and walked straight toward the door.
As he passed Chu Ruoyan, he murmured, "Should you ever find the time, noble lady, please visit my humble abode. You shall be received as an honored guest."
Though puzzled, Chu Ruoyan returned the courtesy with a graceful curtsy.
Once Master Liaokong departed, the ancestral hall was plunged into an eerie silence.
Grandma Yan stood frozen for a moment before exclaiming, "This cannot be! How could Master Liaokong be wrong?!"
Chu Ruoyan replied coolly, "Why not? Have you forgotten, Grandma Yan, that two days after the burial site he selected for Father-in-law and the others at Mang Mountain, an earthquake struck? If he were truly infallible, how could such a mistake have occurred?"
This incident was well-known within the Yan family, though outsiders remained unaware.
The second and third branches of the family had even stormed the estate in protest, leaving no room for denial.
Yan Lin coughed awkwardly. "Mother, since... since that’s the case, perhaps we should let this matter rest. The Third Young Master is, after all, Big Brother’s only remaining heir..."
He nudged Lady Xue, who reluctantly added, "Yes, Mother. If you wish to disown or expel him, you must have solid evidence. Since there is none, perhaps it’s best to drop the matter..."
Grandma Yan had not expected her staunchest supporters to turn against her so swiftly.
Even Elder Yan stroked his beard and said, "They speak wisely, Grandma Yan. Though this is a family matter, the Third Young Master is still the Marquis of Anning, a title granted by the court. Expelling him is not a decision you can make alone..."
The tide had turned entirely in Yan Zheng’s favor.
Every gaze directed at Grandma Yan now held doubt and impatience.
Her mind buzzed with fury—until Chu Ruoyan suddenly knelt before her.
"Grandma Yan, my grandmother! I know these past days have been filled with grief, and you blame the Third Young Master for failing to save his father and brothers. But he is your own grandson! He, too, lost his legs on the battlefield and became crippled!"
"Throughout your illness, he attended to you day and night without rest. Even when you lost your senses and stabbed him with scissors, he bore it without complaint. If filial piety is to be measured, even I, a newly wed outsider, can see that he has been nothing but devoted! Yet you persist in tormenting him—how can you bear such cruelty?"
Grandma Yan’s eyes bulged.
How dare this wretched girl publicly accuse her of lacking compassion?
