The ancestral hall was eerily silent.
Just when everyone thought the matter had been settled, they all tensed up again.
Grandma Yan choked for a moment before speaking with a darkened expression, "Are you questioning me?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Chu Ruoyan replied, her hands folded respectfully before her forehead. Though her words carried hidden meanings, her impeccable manners left no room for criticism. "As Third Young Master’s wife, I stand united with him, without a trace of disloyalty. But in this short month, I’ve witnessed his filial piety and his struggles firsthand. Yet you, his own grandmother, have not once extended a helping hand. Instead, you’ve stirred up trouble time and again—and today, you even sought to banish him from the family through the ancestral rites! I merely wish to ask you, what must he do to earn your satisfaction?"
Grandma Yan clutched her chest, feigning breathlessness.
Chu Ruoyan, familiar with such theatrics, remained unruffled. "Steward Fang, Grandma isn’t well. Summon the mansion physician at once."
Then, turning back to the old woman, she added, "If the physician proves inadequate, we may also request Chief Physician Zhang from the palace with an official petition. You needn’t worry, Grandma."
As if struck by a sudden blow, Grandma Yan’s breathlessness vanished, replaced by fury. "What do you truly want?" she snapped, pointing accusingly.
Chu Ruoyan lifted her gaze. "Grandma, you’ve asked the wrong question. It is I who should be asking—what do you want?"
She had called for the ancestral rites on a whim, demanded banishment without hesitation.
The Yan Mansion was already in dire straits, yet this old woman still stirred chaos, as if consequences didn’t exist.
Yan Lin tugged at Lady Xue’s sleeve, prompting her to step forward reluctantly. "Mother, this daughter-in-law believes Third Young Master’s wife merely seeks an explanation. Perhaps you could… yield a little?"
"What? You expect me to yield to her?" Grandma Yan’s voice rose sharply.
Madam Li, unable to stay silent any longer, interjected, "Grandmother! Third Brother and his wife have acted solely for the sake of Yan Mansion. After Father and the others passed, our household lost its income—it was Third Sister-in-law who used her dowry to support us all. If you banish Third Brother today, where will we find our next meal?"
At these words, the servants of the Yan Mansion dropped to their knees in unison.
Nothing mattered more than food. Their voices rang out as one:
"We beg the Old Madam to relent!"
Grandma Yan trembled, her finger shaking as she pointed at them. "You… you dare rebel against me?"
Wherever her accusing finger landed, people bowed their heads, refusing to meet her gaze.
Never in her privileged life had she been cornered like this.
In a fit of rage, she overturned a teacup. "You wretched Chu woman, mark my words—I would sooner dash my skull against the ancestral tablets than yield to you and your husband!"
Her threat carried weight; she meant every word.
Yan Lin could no longer pretend indifference and rushed to steady her. "Mother, don’t act rashly! This isn’t necessary!"
Li Yu of the third branch chimed in, "Yes… perhaps the Lady of Anning Hou could let this go?"
Chu Ruoyan swept her gaze across the room.
When they found Grandma Yan immovable, they turned to persuade her to back down…
A faint smile curled at her lips as she lowered her eyes. "Ah, Grandma… how fortunate to be an elder. Even after grave mistakes, a few harsh words are all it takes to wipe the slate clean."
The crowd flushed with shame at her words.
Grandma Yan, stubborn to the end, retorted, "I am your elder! By virtue of my status, you should defer to me!"
"Is that so?"
A cold glint flashed in Chu Ruoyan’s eyes. She had no intention of letting this woman remain in the mansion any longer.
After all, a "respected elder" like her could inflict deeper wounds than even Prince Yu ever had.
"Second Uncle, Third Aunt, if I recall correctly, when the family divided estates, was it ever stated that Father-in-law alone would shoulder Grandma’s care in her old age?"
Yan Lin and Li Yu froze.
Indeed, no such agreement existed. By the customs of Great Xia, families did not split while parents lived.
But Yan Xu’s achievements had overshadowed his brothers, leaving them stifled under his shadow—hence the division.
Still, Yan Lin sensed a trap in her question. "That’s true, but Eldest Brother was the heir, the most accomplished among us. Mother living with him was for her own comfort."
He sought to shirk responsibility, but Chu Ruoyan countered, "Second Uncle speaks wisely. Yet now that Father-in-law is gone, the main house has fallen into decline. Would it not be better for you or Third Aunt to take Grandma in, ensuring her peaceful twilight years?"
Before she finished, Lady Xue protested, "Absolutely not!"
Li Yu added hastily, "My husband is still in Jingzhou—I fear we cannot care for Mother properly…"
With neither branch willing, Chu Ruoyan remained composed. "Do not fret, elders. I haven’t finished. Since Father-in-law’s passing, the main house lacks leadership… and the Grand General’s stipend now lies unclaimed."
Yan Xu had held no hereditary title but enjoyed the privileges of a first-rank duke.
At this, the second and third branches grew eager.
Yan Zheng, now Anning Hou, could not retain the stipend.
But with Grandma Yan still alive, if the Emperor took pity, the honor might pass to whoever sheltered her…
Yan Lin declared instantly, "With Eldest Brother gone, our second branch will care for Mother! Wife, prepare at once—we escort Mother to our residence!"
Li Yu objected, "Second Brother, this isn’t right! Mother dotes most on our husband. Given the choice, she’d prefer our third branch!"
"Third Brother is absent—a mere woman like you shouldn’t interfere."
"What of it? The Lady of Anning Hou is also a woman, yet she speaks with authority…"
The two families quarreled openly, treating Grandma Yan like a market commodity.
They pulled her in opposite directions, denying her even a chance to speak.
The grand ancestral hall descended into bedlam.
Old Master Yan covered his eyes and hurried away.
He regretted attending today. What he’d assumed was an illustrious household had devolved into a squabble over a stipend. And this foolish old woman—opening the ancestral rites without forethought! Had the Ministry of Rites witnessed this, the scandal would’ve been unimaginable.
What a disgrace!
In the end, the third branch lost. Yan Lin bundled Grandma Yan into a carriage and whisked her away.
As Chu Ruoyan stepped out of the ancestral hall, the sky was clear.
She found Yan Wenjing sitting on the steps of his room. At the sound of footsteps, the boy jerked his head up, eyes brimming with hope and fear.
"Aunt… what happened?"
She smiled and nodded.
The child leapt up. "Really? They won’t drive Third Uncle away?"
She tapped his nose playfully. "Indeed, someone did leave… but it was your great-grandmother."
"???"
Steward Fang, who had witnessed the entire scene inside, recounted the situation and said sincerely, "Third Young Madam is truly remarkable! This old servant thought it was a hopeless situation, yet you managed to turn the tables against all odds!"
Yan Wenjing was so excited that he leaped onto her. "Third Aunt is amazing! Third Aunt is invincible!"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head with a faint smile. She had originally intended to reprimand him for his recklessness earlier when Meng Yang suddenly rushed in with someone in tow.
"Steward Fang, quick! I’ve found someone—he can prove the Young Master’s innocence—"
Before he could finish, he saw them standing in the courtyard, smiling. Stunned, he asked, "What happened? Has the ancestral hall meeting already taken place? Then the matter of the Young Master’s expulsion—"
"Don’t worry, the Third Young Madam has already averted the crisis. But who is this…?"
Steward Fang stared at the man, finding the face beneath the disheveled hair vaguely familiar.
Meng Yang hurriedly shielded him. "No, you’ve mistaken—"
Before he could finish, Steward Fang’s expression changed drastically. "Ji He! You’re Ji He, the attendant of the late heir! Weren’t you dead?!"
Chu Ruoyan frowned in confusion.
Meng Yang’s heart sank—this was bad!
