At this moment, Wang Chenbi could not even care about her own belly. She lowered her head to stare at the floor tiles before her, wishing she could find a crack to crawl into.
Unfortunately, there was no crack on the ground large enough to accommodate a living person. Therefore, Wang Chenbi had no choice but to endure Swallow Holding Branch’s scrutinizing gaze.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this was her sister-in-law Madam Bai’s revenge—using a child to humiliate her.
If so, then Madam Bai had succeeded.
Wang Chenbi swore she would never forget this day for the rest of her life.
Swallow Holding Branch watched Wang Chenbi’s fluctuating expression with satisfaction, knowing she must be feeling utterly humiliated. With that, she turned her gaze away.
In this grand performance of “bearing thorns to apologize,” Wang Chenbi was merely a supporting character. Although she carried a child in her womb, the so-called “love for the house extends to the crow” meant that if the Old Master valued his son, he would also value his son’s child.
But if the Old Master was disappointed in his son, how much weight could an unborn child hold in his heart?
Thus, the real showdown was between the Old Master and his son. Only after the outcome of this confrontation would it become clear whether the child in Wang Chenbi’s womb truly mattered.
Swallow Holding Branch shifted her gaze to the Old Master and Yan Jingzheng. Yan Jingzheng crawled on his knees to the Old Master’s feet, kowtowed earnestly several times, and said, “Father, I was wrong. Please punish me.”
As he spoke, Yan Jingzheng removed the thorny branches from his back and placed them beside the Old Master’s hand. He then turned around, exposing his back, assuming a posture ready to endure the Old Master’s beating and scolding.
True to his word, the Old Master ordered a servant beside him to carry out the punishment. The thorny branches, though stripped of their thorns and smoothed, still left bloody marks on Yan Jingzheng’s flesh with each strike.
After twenty lashes, Yan Jingzheng’s back was a bloody mess, yet he gritted his teeth without uttering a sound. He turned back around and prostrated himself motionless at the Old Master’s feet.
The young Wang Chenbi, perhaps due to her pregnancy and her usual pampered upbringing, turned pale and seemed on the verge of collapse at the sight. She truly hadn’t expected the Old Master to be so serious!
But what came next was even more unexpected for her!
The Old Master’s anger was no ordinary rage. He berated Yan Jingzheng so fiercely that it seemed as though he wanted to bury him in the mud. Everyone in the ancestral hall, whether kneeling or standing, was too terrified to even breathe loudly.
The Old Master continued his tirade for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. When he finally stopped, the visible anger on his face had noticeably subsided. Just as Wang Chenbi and Yan Jingzheng thought the matter could be downplayed and resolved, someone else arrived outside the ancestral hall.
It was the steward Yan Tang, carrying a tray to the Old Master. “Marquis,” he said, “Mr. Bai, your in-law, recently acquired a pair of exquisite nine-bend bamboo joint brush holders. He specifically sent one to you, saying that once you have fully recovered from your illness, you could arrange to engage in literary pursuits together.”
Swallow Holding Branch blinked as she looked at the nine-bend bamboo joint brush holder on the tray. Scholars often used brush holders made from nine-bend Xiang bamboo, with the nine natural bends in the bamboo joints symbolizing the “nine reflections” of a gentleman.
These brush holders were typically placed on scholars’ desks as a reminder to reflect carefully and act with prudence. By sending such a brush holder to the Old Master, the Bai family’s message was clear: in dealing with Madam Wang and the second branch, the Old Master must think thrice and then think again.
If the eldest branch was not given a satisfactory resolution, the Bai family would step in to support their daughter and son-in-law.
This gift was a case of first offering courtesy before resorting to force—whether they wanted courtesy or force would depend on Old Master’s decision.
Even if Old Master had felt somewhat softened by his second son’s initiative in admitting his mistake, upon seeing the brush holder sent by his in-laws, he had to suppress that slight softening.
The matter of the poisoned teacup had been uncovered with the Bai family’s help. If this were brought before the emperor, his second son would absolutely be unable to escape the consequences.
Old Marquis’s wavering thoughts hardened once again at this moment. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Someone, escort Second Master and Second Mistress back to rest and tend to their injuries.”
Beyond that, not a single word of comfort was offered to the anxious and uneasy Yan Jingzheng and Wang Chenbi.
Yan Jingzheng’s heart immediately sank—had the “bitter flesh” strategy failed?
Before he could say another word, Old Marquis’s loyal servants lifted him and Wang Chenbi together and escorted them toward the door.
Seeing Old Marquis’s strictly businesslike attitude, Swallow Holding Branch felt reassured and waited for Old Master’s next move.
Once Old Marquis made up his mind, he would not procrastinate. After the clan elders in the capital had rested sufficiently, he announced a decision: to open the ancestral hall for a meeting to handle family matters, inviting the clan elders to serve as witnesses.
On a day with less-than-favorable weather, the gates of Jingyuan Marquis’s ancestral hall swung open, and the adjacent meeting hall was prepared to receive guests.
Old Marquis had already been waiting for some time. After the clan elders offered incense to the ancestors, they proceeded to the meeting hall and took their seats in order.
Following the clan elders’ incense offering, it was Madam Wang’s turn, along with everyone from the eldest and second branches. As the large incense burner emitted wisps of blue smoke and the scent of sandalwood filled every corner of the ancestral hall, everyone gathered in the meeting hall, waiting for Old Marquis seated at the head to speak.
The clan elders wore inscrutable expressions. Swallow Holding Branch guessed that Old Master had likely already informed them, which was why each appeared so composed.
Madam Wang and the couple from the second branch were not so calm. Madam Wang, who usually valued dignity above all, today bit her evenly applied rouge into a mess, leaving her entire mouth smeared and blotchy, as if she had just taken a bite out of someone.
Yan Jingzheng’s face was pale, his injuries not yet healed. The most unfavorable situation had arisen, causing him immense distress, the veins on his hands bulging prominently.
Wang Chenbi’s face was ashen, her head bowed as she avoided looking at anyone. As a defeated party, sitting there to be scrutinized—who would feel comfortable in such a position?
Moreover, she was pregnant, a time when her emotions were particularly sensitive. Feeling the gaze of many upon her, Wang Chenbi’s handkerchief, used to cover her face, became soaked with tears, revealing the depth of her bitterness and sorrow.
Old Master, however, paid no attention to the second branch’s various subtle reactions. He surveyed everyone in the meeting hall from head to toe, and after confirming that all were present, dropped a bombshell with his opening words: “Everyone, I intend to have the second branch adopted out.”
These simple words elicited different reactions from all sides. The clan elders remained unmoved, while the eldest branch seemed overjoyed, as if hearing heavenly music.
As for the second branch and Madam Wang, upon hearing Old Marquis’s words, they were momentarily stunned before realizing what they meant. Madam Wang let out a piercing scream: “No!”
After uttering these two words, Madam Wang’s vision darkened, and she collapsed on the spot.
Fortunately, the maids attending to her quickly caught her; otherwise, a fall to the ground could have caused serious injury.
Yan Jingzheng and Wang Chenbi turned as pale as paper, their eyes bulging as if about to pop out. Both swayed unsteadily, looking as though they might follow in Madam Wang’s footsteps and faint on the spot.