Swallow Holding Branch didn’t need the Marquis to uncover any hard evidence—the more suspicious Madam Wang and the second branch appeared, the better.
Although the Marquis was frail and sickly, he had previously held a high position in the court. People like him had a particular trait: they were deeply suspicious. Once they doubted something, they would inevitably investigate it thoroughly.
Madam Wang and the second branch were involved in the very foundation of the Jingyuan Marquisate’s legacy spanning a century. Once the Marquis decided to take action, it would undoubtedly be swift and decisive.
Swallow Holding Branch was very confident in this because, in her past life as a wandering spirit drifting through the Marquisate, she had often heard Madam Wang, Yan Jingzheng of the second branch, and Wang Chenbi speak of the Marquis’s achievements.
They often lamented that if the Marquis were still alive, the Jingyuan Marquisate would surely rise to even greater heights. It was just a pity that the old master had passed away early due to illness. Their heartfelt sighs and regrets were not an act.
Therefore, Swallow Holding Branch believed that the Marquis would uphold justice for the main branch. Madam Wang and the second branch would certainly not escape unscathed.
Swallow Holding Branch had great confidence in her grandfather, but her own father did not. Or perhaps, it was a case of being too emotionally involved—one was his lawful wife, and the other was his unborn child.
If Sister Yuan hadn’t overheard these words, Yan Tingbai couldn’t bear to think about what might happen to the main branch in the future.
His stepmother was actually so cruel as to target a pregnant woman. Even if she had directly targeted him, he wouldn’t have been as furious.
Yan Tingbai was almost jumping up in agitation: “Father, I wanted to follow your words, respect my stepmother, and treat the second branch well, but look at how they plan to deal with the main branch.
You must stand up for me! You can’t become a neglectful father just because you have a stepmother!
I am your own son—you can’t just ignore me!”
By the end, Yan Tingbai’s voice had risen to a wail, as if he were ready to throw himself on the ground and throw a tantrum if the Marquis refused to intervene.
The Marquis, who had been stewing in anger, suddenly felt it dissipate at Yan Tingbai’s outburst.
He looked at his son and sighed inwardly. How had he raised his son to be like this?
There were many reasons for this. First, his eldest son lacked the aptitude for wielding power and was not cut out for such matters. To avoid dragging the entire family into trouble when he inherited the Marquisate, the Marquis had deliberately kept him away from such affairs.
Second, the Marquis had seen through the emperor’s obsession with power and his fondness for beauty. With numerous imperial heirs in the harem, it was still uncertain who would ultimately ascend the throne.
Taking sides too early was unwise. For the sake of the Marquisate’s stability over the centuries, the Marquis had deliberately raised his eldest son to be mediocre once he realized his limited aptitude.
After all, only those with value would be remembered, used, or targeted. If one had no value, who would even remember them?
This had been the Marquis’s original plan, but looking at his eldest son now, he felt an inexplicable frustration. I wanted you to be mediocre, but not so mediocre that you can’t keep your composure!
The current situation wasn’t solely the fault of his eldest son. The Marquis reflected inwardly—he hadn’t raised his children well.
Back then, he had thought that his eldest son would inherit the title, while his second son would have to rely on himself to support a family. Therefore, he had been stricter and placed greater emphasis on the second son’s upbringing from a young age.
A mediocre person could lie back and reap the benefits, while a clever person had to work hard for everything. Anyone in such a situation would likely feel resentful. No wonder Wang Shi harbored such thoughts.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to resolve the situation now, and the Marquisate wouldn’t suffer any serious damage. Truly, heaven was watching over them.
“Quiet! What kind of example are you setting by panicking like this in the face of trouble? How will you teach your own children in the future?”
The Marquis scolded his eldest son a few words, making him settle down before saying, “I will handle this matter. Don’t make a fuss; I have my own plans.”
After finishing his sentence, the old man thought for a moment and added, “When you go back later, remember to tell your wife.
Your wife is decisive, far-sighted, and clever. If you ever face something you can’t decide in the future, remember to discuss it with your wife.
One person’s plans are short-sighted, but two people’s plans are far-reaching. Don’t make decisions when you’re restless; nine out of ten decisions made in such moments will surely lead to regret.”
Yan Tingbai nodded, “Yes, I’ll remember. I’ll definitely discuss things properly with my wife in the future.”
Seeing that his son showed no shame or annoyance at being inferior to his wife, the Marquis felt somewhat relieved. Although his eldest son lacked talent, he was willing to listen to advice. While he had the flaw of being easily swayed, with his eldest daughter-in-law keeping an eye on him, no major problems would arise.
The Marquis waved his hand, “Take the child and go back!”
Yan Tingbai served his father another cup of water before carrying Swallow Holding Branch away.
Having already achieved her goal, Swallow Holding Branch stopped causing trouble and obediently let her father take her away.
Watching his eldest son and eldest granddaughter leave, the Marquis closed his eyes for a moment, resting briefly. When he regained a bit of strength, he called out a name, “Yan Tang.”
A young man who looked like a steward entered the room, “Marquis.”
The Marquis instructed him, “Go home and have your father come to the mansion to visit me.”
“Yes,” Yan Tang acknowledged the order and left.
The Marquis gazed thoughtfully at the pine and cypress bonsai by the window lattice. If he truly uncovered any sinister forces, what should he do?
The Cloud-Grasping Pavilion, the residence of the Jingyuan Marquisate’s heir, drew inspiration from Li He’s bold declaration, “A young man’s ambitions should reach for the clouds,” subtly reflecting the ancestors’ expectations for their successor.
Swallow Holding Branch’s family lived here. When Yan Tingbai returned with his daughter, Madam Bai had just finished her work. As the lady of the house, managing such a large marquisate kept her busy every day.
Perhaps due to her busy schedule and pregnancy, Madam Bai felt hungry before mealtime.
In a household like the Marquisate, there was no need to endure hunger. Thus, bird’s nest soup with white fungus and various sweet and savory snacks were laid out before Madam Bai for her to enjoy.
Seeing the father and daughter return, Madam Bai put down her spoon and went to greet them, “You’re back. Did Sister Yuan trouble her grandfather?”
“No, Sister Yuan was very well-behaved,” Yan Tingbai replied casually before focusing on the table full of refreshments. Frowning, he asked, “Gui Rou, can you finish all this?”
“No, I can’t,” Madam Bai shook her head. “It’s just that my appetite is big, and I want to taste everything.”
Hearing this, Yan Tingbai’s frown deepened. Counting the refreshments on the table, even if she only ate one of each, it would amount to a bowlful. And there was also the bird’s nest soup. She ate quite a lot during regular meals too, consuming a considerable amount of food throughout the day.
Worried, he glanced at Madam Bai’s belly, “Have you been eating like this recently?”
Madam Bai didn’t understand his concern, “Yes, I’m eating for two now. It’s normal to eat a bit more, isn’t it?”
“You weren’t like this when you were pregnant with Sister Yuan!”
“The nanny said every child is different, and so is every pregnancy. How can you compare them like this?” Madam Bai explained, feeling that her husband’s obsession with her eating habits today was strange. She asked, “What’s wrong with you?
I can eat, and the baby is growing well. Aren’t you happy about that?”
“Of course not.” Yan Tingbai waved for the servants to take Swallow Holding Branch out to play. Once only the two of them remained in the room, he recounted what Swallow Holding Branch had said in the Hall of Peaceful Longevity to Madam Bai: “…I’m worried you’ve already fallen into the trap.”
Madam Bai’s face paled dramatically. In her agitation, she accidentally knocked over the bird’s nest soup beside her, spilling the broth and soaking her sleeve. But she paid it no mind: “I think I already have.
Ever since I became pregnant, I’ve gradually become more and more ravenous. The physician said I was healthy and didn’t need to be overly cautious about my diet. Being able to eat well during the first three months without morning sickness meant the pregnancy was stable.”
It was no wonder Madam Bai hadn’t noticed herself. Dietary restraint usually only became necessary in the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, when the child was already fully formed. Eating too much then could make the baby too large and difficult to deliver, hence the need for moderation.
But in the early months, the fetus was still just a small mass of flesh. Not eating enough could easily lead to poor growth.
So, Madam Bai hadn’t given it much thought. Now, however, she touched her belly—only a little over two months pregnant, yet it had already begun to swell. It showed just how well she had been eating lately:
“This slow-boiling frog tactic is truly vicious!”