“This family is really confused. The general’s wife is still in Jialan Pass, but everyone here treats a concubine like the main wife,” Dan Sha complained unhappily.
“Enough. The young lady already feels bad. Why bring this up?” Gan Cao pushed her gently, then looked at Yan Zigui, who had no expression on her face. “Even close family won’t have feelings if they don’t live together.”
“The madam hasn’t come back from Jialan Pass for twenty years. It’s normal that the family doesn’t really know her. When she returns, blood ties will naturally show who is truly close.”
“Before the young lady left, Madam told her again and again not to have conflicts with the family,” Gan Cao said. She thought Madam had probably expected this. If there was a conflict, they would all stand together, and the young lady would be alone.
“Young lady, please endure it for now. When Madam comes back, you can explain everything.”
“I don’t want Grandmother to come back and still suffer this humiliation,” Yan Zigui snorted. “Let’s sleep. Tomorrow has its own problems.”
If Mo Huan wanted to keep the peace, it would be hard for her, as a newcomer and a junior, to do anything. But now that Mo Huan clearly wanted to suppress her, she would not just sit and take it.
…
Early in the morning, Yan Zijin came to Yan Zigui’s courtyard to go together to Luomei Hall to greet the elders.
Only Gan Cao came out and said apologetically, “The eldest young lady is very tired from the journey and truly cannot get up. We don’t want to delay the Fourth Miss.”
Yan Zijin nodded.
After walking away, she said to her maid, “Elder Sister doesn’t want to go greet them at Luomei Hall. I could tell yesterday.”
“You’re very clever, Miss. Just keep that to yourself. Don’t say it out loud.”
All the children of the Yan family’s third branch were at Luomei Hall. When Yan Zigui did not come, Mo Huan immediately said, “The trip from Jialan Pass was long and tiring. I told her she didn’t need to come greet me and should rest well.”
Nothing unusual happened during the morning greetings.
After everyone left, Mo Huan told Yan Ning to inform every family that they did not need to come to the birthday banquet today.
“I am only a concubine in the Yan family. I do not deserve such kindness from everyone.”
When Yan Ning saw his mother crying, he became anxious and asked what happened. Mo Huan did not answer. Rao Xueniang sighed and said, “Who else could it be? The eldest young lady who returned yesterday doesn’t like us calling her ‘Old Madam.’ She didn’t even come to greet her this morning.”
“If we invite guests and she says something improper at the banquet, where can I hide my face?” Mo Huan sobbed. “She was raised by your legal mother. Of course she protects her.”
“The granddaughter raised by Jiang Cainü is useful. Are the children raised by me useless?” she added bitterly.
Yan Ning became furious and rushed out immediately.
“As her uncle, don’t confront your niece,” Mo Huan called after him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll just ask my elder brother how he taught his daughter.”
Yan Ci returned from court and planned to stop briefly at the office before going home. Today was someone’s birthday in the family. Even if he could not take the day off, leaving a little early was acceptable.
But a servant was waiting at the office entrance. When he saw Yan Ci, he rushed forward. “Master, please hurry home. The house is in chaos.”
When Yan Ci arrived at Luomei Hall, he heard loud crying. Adults and children were crying together. He looked at Mrs. Song, but her face showed nothing. Without any hint, Yan Ci could only comfort his aunt first.
“Today is your special day. You shouldn’t be crying.”
“They cry because they care about me,” Mo Huan shook her head. “With such filial children and grandchildren, I would be willing to die right now.”
“You are going too far. What exactly happened?” Yan Ci asked. He looked around. “Can anyone explain?”
“Aunt says she doesn’t want to hold the birthday banquet,” Yan Fu said. Yan Ning had called him over. “We begged her to wait until after her birthday to talk about anything.”
To be honest, Aunt really was Grandmother’s own niece. They behaved exactly the same.
Yan Ci looked around and did not see Yan Zigui. Pretending not to notice, he persuaded Mo Huan, “The invitations have already been sent. Guests will arrive soon. Why make a scene and let people laugh at us?”
“Elder Brother, why pretend you don’t know why my mother is so upset?” Yan Ning demanded. “Why don’t you ask your good daughter?”
“She just returned and already caused trouble.”
“I want to ask her where she learned about filial piety.”
“Watch your words,” Yan Ci said sternly. “How did this become about filial piety?” That accusation was too serious.
“She embarrassed my mother yesterday and still refuses to admit her mistake. Today she didn’t even come to greet her. What does she mean?” Yan Ning asked. “If not for her, Mother wouldn’t want to cancel her birthday. She ruined a perfectly good day.”
“Don’t speak about your niece like that,” Mo Huan said, hitting him lightly. “It’s not because of that. At my age, each birthday is one less in my life. That’s why I don’t want to celebrate.”
“Zigui had a long and tiring journey. I was the one who told her not to come. Don’t blame her.”
“Even now, Mother is still covering for her. She simply doesn’t understand the rules or proper manners.”
Yan Ning was burning with anger. Mo Huan tried to calm things down. The others watched quietly. Yan Ci had a headache. He looked at Mrs. Song and asked softly, “Why haven’t you called her here yet?”
“She has already been called,” Mrs. Song replied quietly. “When she comes, what will you do? Force her to admit a mistake?”
Yan Ci had no answer. It was just a small matter, wasn’t it?
Mrs. Song glanced at Yan Ning. The meaning was clear. Looking at his temper, even if Zigui admitted her mistake on the spot, he might still not be satisfied.
Yan Ci took a deep breath. Yesterday he had already noticed that this daughter was not easy to control. If he forced her, she might say even more shocking things.
“The eldest young lady has arrived.”
The maid lifted the curtain, and Yan Zigui walked in. Once again, everyone looked at her at the same time. She thought that every time she appeared, there was such a big scene. She was still not used to it.
Under many different looks, she walked to the center of the hall and calmly asked Yan Ning, whose face was full of anger, “Second Uncle, were you looking for me?”
Some people could not help gasping.
How dare she ask that? Could she not see the tense atmosphere?
Seeing his father’s face turning red, Yan Zhenying quickly spoke up. “Elder Sister is here. Everyone was waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me for what?” Yan Zigui asked with confusion. Then she smiled shyly. “If there was something you needed from me, you could have told me earlier. It’s embarrassing to keep so many people waiting.”
“Brother, look at her. She doesn’t even know she did anything wrong,” Yan Ning said to Yan Ci. When she was not here, he could scold her freely. But as her uncle, he could not scold her directly in front of her father.
Yan Ci looked at Yan Zigui. “Today is your great-aunt’s birthday. Say a few nice words to congratulate her.”
“Brother!” Yan Ning widened his eyes. Just like that?
“That should be enough,” Yan Fu said. It was also his first time meeting this niece. She looked delicate and simple, wearing plain clothes with very few hair ornaments. Compared with the luxury in the room, she looked almost poor.
“A child may not understand, but do adults not understand either?” Yan Fu asked. “She has finally returned home. You should treasure and protect her, not force her to bow her head. Isn’t that bullying?”
Yan Ning was furious. “You—”
“Third Brother is right,” Mo Huan supported him. “Your niece just came back from Jialan Pass. She is a guest in this house. Why are you so angry as her uncle?”
Yan Ning looked at his mother. Just now she was crying, saying she had been wronged.
“Fine. You are all one happy family. I’m the outsider. I’ll leave. I won’t care anymore.” Yan Ning waved his sleeve and stormed out.
“Your second uncle gets angry easily. He didn’t mean to target you. Don’t blame him,” Mo Huan said to Yan Zigui.
Yan Zigui nodded. “I came late and still don’t know why Second Uncle was angry. Of course I won’t blame him.”
Mo Huan was speechless. Yan Zigui acted as if she did not understand unless things were said directly. She looked at Rao Xueniang, who glanced at Yan Zhenying.
Yan Zhenying’s palms were sweaty. What should she say at a time like this? She had never experienced such a situation before. Her mind was blank.
“Is Grandmother still holding the birthday banquet?” Yan Shide broke the silence. “I was waiting for Cousin Mo to finish our chess game from last time.”
“If you want Cousin Mo to come, invite him any day. It doesn’t have to be today,” Mo Huan said.
She had many children and grandchildren and lived in comfort. Should she really lower her head to a young girl? Especially one raised by Jiang Cainü?
At that moment, she made a decision. If she did not suppress her this first time, it would be even harder later.
Mo Huan looked at Yan Ci. “If I say no banquet, then no banquet. If you cannot say it, I will go to Ciji Temple.”
“Aunt, why must you do this?” Yan Ci sighed. He turned to Yan Zigui. “Apologize to your great-aunt. A family is not a place to argue about right and wrong. You are the younger one. If you should admit a mistake, then admit it.”
Yan Zigui looked at him.
Her face had no expression.
She did not answer.