The Yu Family Ancestral Temple wasn’t particularly grand, but it was exquisitely refined, perfectly in line with feminine tastes.
Thousands of spirit tablets lined the temple, with those of the direct bloodline in the center and the branch families flanking both sides.
The ancestor worship ceremony was straightforward—merely offering incense and reciting prayers, though the rituals varied slightly.
The atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Yan Zhen trailed behind Mentor Yu Xuan, lighting a stick of incense for the Yu Family ancestors.
He noticed that the Yu Shizun’s gaze, not far away, remained fixed on a particular spirit tablet. It belonged to an elder from an upper branch of the side family—the very one who had adopted her.
It was clear the Yu Shizun missed her foster mother dearly.
The ceremony dragged on for nearly an hour before concluding with the Family Head Yu Lu’s announcement. The procession retraced its steps back to the grounds, and everyone dispersed to rest.
Next up was the Listen-to-Rain Boat Meeting, kicking off at noon and running straight through until the following midday—a full day of festivities.
Clan members would board painted boats to cruise around Heavenly Water Lake, feasting, drinking, singing, and dancing aboard as they went.
Mentor Yu Xuan walked arm-in-arm with the beaming Elder Great-Aunt on her left and the willful Dean Little Aunt on her right, chatting and laughing all the way to the dock. It looked like she was eager for some quality family time.
Yan Zhen and Mentor Aunt followed along behind the three women, careful not to interrupt their aunt-niece gathering.
Suddenly, Shui Bailan sidled up to Yan Zhen and murmured,
“Yan Zhen, did something happen between you and Xuan’er? Things feel off compared to before.”
Yan Zhen scratched his head in bewilderment.
“I’m not sure. Everything was fine last night, but by morning, the mentor was like a completely different person.”
“Xuan’er never throws these little fits. You must have done something last night to upset her.”
“But I really didn’t…”
Yan Zhen furrowed his brow in thought.
“Last night, I just chatted with Mother-in-law, had some tea, and casually treated her lingering symptoms.”
Shui Bailan zeroed in on the key details.
“Sister-in-law sought you out at night? What did you talk about? And what symptoms?”
Her rapid-fire questions left Yan Zhen blinking in surprise. Shui Bailan caught herself and cleared her throat twice.
“I’m just curious, that’s all. If Sister-in-law wanted it kept secret, never mind.”
“There’s not much to hide. We discussed selecting concubines and preserving the bloodline… The symptoms involve Mother-in-law’s private matters, so I won’t elaborate—Aunt, you understand. I gave her some acupuncture to ease them… Then I passed out. When I came to, the mentor had changed completely.”
Shui Bailan pondered this for a moment.
“Xuan’er knew all that already. She wouldn’t get jealous over it. Unless… it was Sister-in-law?”
Yan Zhen let out a sigh.
“Once the boat meeting’s over, I’ll talk it out properly with the mentor. There has to be a misunderstanding!”
“—Hey! You brat, what’s with the sneaky whispering to Bailan behind our backs?”
They looked up to see the three women paused at the dock’s edge. Dean Yu Qing stood there, arms crossed, glaring at them with haughty pique. Elder Yu Yan smiled beside her, while Mentor Yu Xuan’s eyes shimmered with quiet resentment.
Shui Bailan’s cheeks colored slightly, but she steadied herself.
“I was only asking Yan Zhen how things have been going with Xuan’er lately. Don’t twist it, Yu Qing.”
Yan Zhen bobbed his head vigorously in agreement.
“Yeah, exactly! Little Aunt’s always jumping to conclusions!”
Seeing them band together like that, Dean Yu Qing was momentarily speechless. She turned to her niece with a complaint.
“Xuan’er, look at him! Can I just give him a good thrashing?”
Mentor Yu Xuan glanced away and replied coolly,
“If Little Aunt wants to beat him, then do it.”
“Hmph. For your sake, I—wait, what?”
Dean Yu Qing blinked, convinced she’d misheard. Xuan’er usually played peacemaker—why was she egging it on now? Even someone as dense as her picked up on the weird vibe and clammed up awkwardly.
Yan Zhen’s face crumpled into a heartbreaking pout at Mentor Yu Xuan’s words, as if pleading, “Does the mentor not want me anymore?” Her heart twinged at the sight, but the memory of that milky scent on his breath made her huff and turn away.
Elder Yu Yan propped her cheek on one hand, cocking her head to eye the pouting pair, a flicker of puzzlement in her narrowed gaze.
As the senior most there, she stepped in with a warm smile.
“Alright, alright. Let’s get on the boat first. Lingering here will hold up the others. We can chat aboard.”
Six painted boats bobbed at the dock. The five boarded the largest and most opulent one, reserved for the main house.
The vessel had three decks: storage below, a banquet hall in the middle, and suites up top.
Tables lining both sides of the banquet hall groaned under platters of food—help yourself, buffet-style.
A good crowd from the main house had already gathered. Spotting Elder Yu Yan, Dean Yu Qing, and the others, they cleared a path with enthusiastic greetings. The women returned the courtesy one by one before heading into the banquet hall’s inner compartment.
Its door was carved latticewood, screened off from the hall but still somewhat open.
The five slipped past the screen into the spacious room.
The setup evoked a traditional teahouse: low tables, floor cushions, and a cozy, tatami-esque ambiance—only square carpets instead of woven mats.
The table brimmed with delicacies, mostly lake-fresh fare—fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, raw or cooked. Every dish tempted with its colors, scents, and flavors.
A window directly opposite the entrance framed the misty rainy vista beyond the hull. Breezes carrying raindrops wafted in, cool and refreshing.
“Take a seat, everyone,” Elder Yu Yan said. “Elders on one side, you young couple on the other—sound good?”
Mentor Yu Xuan huffed petulantly,
“I want to sit with Great-Aunt, Little Aunt, and Aunt. It’s been ages since we’ve had time together.”
She darted in, wedging herself between Elder Yu Yan and Dean Yu Qing.
Elder Yu Yan hesitated.
“But leaving Little Yan Zhen all alone opposite would be too sad. And we can’t squeeze five in here anyway—we need room for Xiao Lu… Why don’t Little Qing and I switch to the other side? Xuan’er, you sit with Little Bailan and Xiao Lu.”
In a flash, Elder Yu Yan shifted to the spot beside Yan Zhen.
“I refuse to sit with that kid,” Dean Yu Qing grumbled unenthusiastically, before pivoting. “But if it’s Big Sis’s command… fine, I’ll put up with it!”
She executed a Mystic Ancestor expert’s Shifting Form Exchange, landing on Yan Zhen’s other side. She plopped down gleefully, thinking to herself that Big Sis was way more dependable than Bailan, who always hogged him all to herself.
Stunned to see Great-Aunt and Little Aunt flanking Yan Zhen, Mentor Yu Xuan opened her mouth, then closed it without a word.
Shui Bailan frowned as well, glancing from Yan Zhen to Elder Yu Yan, sensing the older woman’s ploy.
Wedged between two stunning elder beauties, Yan Zhen shifted uncomfortably. Their bonds were close now, true, but it still felt awkward—especially after learning of their less-than-innocent designs.
The atmosphere grew distinctly odd.
