Chapter 12: Forget It. Don’t Make Her Cry.

With no hope of going out for a drink and a little tagalong she couldn’t shake at her heels, Yan Zhi’an looked at the meddling child before her as if life had lost all meaning. “I’ll make sure you can’t sleep tonight.”

Xunqi was bewildered. In front of her, Yan Zhi’an called for Wushuang. “Where is Fifth Miss?”

“Detained in the Ancestral Hall,” Wushuang replied.

Yan Zhi’an lowered her head to adjust her cuff, her fair fingertips gracing the sleeve in an easy, free manner. “What does Grandfather say?”

“No reply yet.”

“Then we’ll go to the Ancestral Hall. Have Grandfather and Second Uncle come there too.” Yan Zhi’an raised her head, cold ripples stirring in her dark eyes. Then she looked at Xunqi. “To the Ancestral Hall.”

“Aren’t we eating dinner?” Xunqi was puzzled. It was already dark. Forget the wine—now they weren’t even having dinner?

Yan Zhi’an smiled eerily and, with feigned affection, stroked the back of her neck. “You probably won’t be hungry tonight.”

The Yan family had stood in the world for over a century, its branches spread all over Jinling; the main line had always lived in the ancestral residence. The Ancestral Hall was built grandly and occupied wide grounds, guarded by retainers at the gate, with white lanterns swaying in the night air.

Xunqi wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, looked up at the gloomy building, and her heart began to drum.

The Yan family was strict about rules—women were not permitted in the Ancestral Hall. But as women’s status had risen, that rule had been broken.

Forget merely entering—if Yan Zhi’an smashed the Ancestral Hall to pieces, no one would dare say a word. In this world, whoever had capability and power had the right to speak.

When Xunqi entered, she found a person kneeling on the ground, disheveled and filthy, yet wearing fine clothing. She looked closer—the person’s limbs were bound, a cloth stuffed in her mouth, and her eyes were positively fiendish as they fixed on people. Startled, Xunqi couldn’t help stepping back. She looked again and realized it was Fifth Aunt.

Composing herself, she watched Old Master Yan walk in, supported by Second Master. Stepping over the threshold, he said, “Why are you mobilizing everyone in the dead of night?”

“Haven’t the others come?” Yan Zhi’an swept her gaze around. “We should summon the elder brothers as well.”

Old Master frowned. “What are you planning?”

“Killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.” Yan Zhi’an looked at the ancestral spirit tablets, her expression somber.

Old Master fell silent. Second Master was displeased—Fifth Miss was his daughter, after all. This was clearly stepping on the Second Branch to establish Xunqi’s authority. “Ninth Miss, what happened in the day was a trivial matter. Why make such a fuss?”

“Trivial? Grandfather always says it doesn’t matter how the family quarrels at home, but we must know who our enemies are. What Fifth Miss did today violated the family precepts. Is that acceptable?” Yan Zhi’an slowly swept her gaze over Second Master, authority glinting in her cold eyes. “Second Uncle, what do you think?”

Second Master Yan was rendered speechless. He shot his daughter a vicious glare—she was simply too stupid. She knew perfectly well that Ninth Miss had returned to make everyone accept this bastard girl, yet she’d gone out of her way to hand her a weapon.

He said, “Beat her or punish her as you like. Just leave her alive.”

“Have the elder brothers come,” Yan Zhi’an insisted.

Wushuang, hearing this from outside the door, immediately sent people to summon them.

The Ancestral Hall was bleak and cold. Even with braziers burning, the chill couldn’t be kept out—a coldness seemed to slip through clothing and bore into the bones, making people shiver.

Yan Zhi’an bent to sit, chin propped in her hand, watching Xunqi, who was staring at Fifth Miss. Fifth Miss’s limbs were bound, her mouth stuffed, so she could only glare at Xunqi with fierce eyes.

Xunqi simply looked back at her, neither retreating nor advancing. Finally, she said to Fifth Miss, “Actually, you were very stupid today.”

It would have been better left unsaid. At those words, Fifth Miss lunged forward, trying to ram Xunqi. But the girl was quick—she sidestepped, and Fifth Miss planted her face on the ground.

Yan Zhi’an couldn’t keep from laughing. Even Second Master couldn’t bear to watch—how had he raised such a foolish daughter?

Xunqi rose and walked slowly to her mother’s side, standing tall and elegant. Yan Zhi’an raised a hand and tapped her forehead, but didn’t scold her, let alone blame her.

As she was musing, the Yan family’s Eldest Young Master and the others arrived one after another. Third Young Master, seeing his sister bound, instinctively moved to untie her. He had just leaned in when his father coughed lightly, and he instinctively withdrew his hand.

“Ninth Miss, she… spare her.” Third Young Master Yan’s tone was delicate.

Yan Zhi’an smiled—a smile gorgeous but not seductive. “What do you think?”

Third Young Master looked up at her, then silently stepped back. He knew this ninth younger sister’s capability too well to contend with her.

In the family, one could offend anyone—they all stood on equal footing—except for this Ninth Miss. She was not to be provoked lightly.

Since Third Young Master, her own brother, dared not beg for mercy, the others naturally pretended to see nothing.

Then Yan Zhi’an walked over slowly, stood before Fifth Miss, and pulled the cloth from her mouth. The woman spat at her. “Yan Zhi’an, what do you think you are? Do you think you’re clean? You bring back some girl of unknown origin and claim she’s the Young Mistress with nothing but your word.”

“Yan Zhi’an, I used to think you were pure as ice and chaste as jade. But you bore a child out of wedlock—what elegance are you playing at? You’re dirty to the bone…”

“Enough!” Old Master Yan roared. “Fifth Miss, look at yourself. Have you any shred of human decency left?”

“Grandfather, what did I say wrong? Who is this bastard’s father? Who can prove she carries Yan blood?” Fifth Miss Yan seized the chance to sow discord. “Grandfather, the Yan family has many children. The capable ones aren’t limited to Yan Zhi’an. Why must we obey her in everything? If we acknowledge this bastard, what face will we have left to stand in Jinling?”

Xunqi’s face turned deathly pale.

Yan Zhi’an smiled. “Then break her legs, and she won’t need to stand in Jinling at all.”

“Yan Zhi’an, what crime have I committed? You cover the sky with one hand—the Yan family isn’t yours alone!” Fifth Miss Yan’s features twisted in fury. “What crime have I committed? I’m just telling the world this bastard knows nothing, that she’s nothing but a country girl, incapable of being the Young Mistress of the Yan family. Our family has stood in Jinling for a hundred years—she will ruin us!”

The others exchanged glances. What Fifth Miss said was exactly what they were thinking.

What ability did Yan Xunqi have to become the Yan family’s Young Mistress?

“I’ve said it before—I won’t force any of you. Whoever is dissatisfied can leave the Yan family. Fifth Miss, don’t portray the Yan family as so aggrieved. The Yan family spends without restraint—who do you think supports it?” Yan Zhi’an straightened, her face grave. “It’s me. I support you.”

At those words, Xunqi looked at her.

Yan Zhi’an wore a blue cloak; the soft white fox fur made her complexion seem as snow. Her cold, dignified bearing inspired awe and fear.

She said: It’s me. I support you.

A single sentence stripped Fifth Miss Yan of all her dignity, turning her earlier clamor into a joke.

Yan Zhi’an said, “Go audit the Yan Mansion’s ledgers. How many hold office? How many businesses are there? Who sustains the massive expenditure of Quxian Tower? It is the mines I found for the Yan family. Fifth Miss—you were born into the Yan family. What merit have you for it? What benefit?”

“I…” Fifth Miss Yan was struck dumb.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t bother with her embarrassment. She looked at her uncles and cousins. “If any of you share Fifth Miss’s views, you are free to leave the Yan family and start your own households—I won’t stop you. Or I can leave the Yan family and return to you a pure, upright Yan clan.”

“Ninth Miss, that’s going too far.” Old Master finally spoke. “Fifth Miss was spoiled by your Second Uncle. She doesn’t know her limits. A beating and a scolding should suffice.”

“No. Fifth Miss is stricken from the Yan family registry. From today, she can never return to the Yan family, and no one in the family may give her aid.” Yan Zhi’an overruled Old Master’s decision.

“Ninth Miss…” Second Master Yan grew anxious. Yan Zhi’an looked at him. “Second Uncle, choose: the whole Second Branch is stricken, or just her alone.”

Third Young Master Yan grew urgent. “Ninth Miss, you’re sending her to death!”

“She sought her own death.” Yan Zhi’an remained unmoved. “Since I am the Head of the Family, you will listen to me.” She looked at Fifth Miss. “You are no longer a person of the Yan family. I will post a public notice—you have no further relation to us.”

Fifth Miss Yan completely collapsed. Unwilling to accept it, she looked to her grandfather. “Grandfather! Grandfather! I’m a Yan. You can’t be so heartless!”

But Old Master Yan said, “You brought this on yourself.”

Yan Zhi’an rose and left. Passing Fifth Miss, she paused, her cold, sharp eyes sweeping across the room. “The Yan family honors me above all because I feed and clothe you. I grant you your noble standing in Jinling. The clansmen who entered officialdom—all have my backing. Do not think that if I, Yan Zhi’an, leave the Yan family, my reputation will be ruined. It is you who would lose your present status if you lose me.”

With that, she flicked her sleeve and walked out. Xunqi hurried after her, not forgetting to glance at the crowd—every face was ashen.

Xunqi scurried to catch up. After Yan Zhi’an stepped outside, she slowed her steps, waiting for her.

“Still having dinner?” Yan Zhi’an asked languidly.

Xunqi looked up and met her mother’s calm, clear eyes, and warmth surged in her chest. “Yes. Why not? I didn’t do anything wrong. They’re the ones who were wrong—they’ll be the ones who can’t eat or sleep tonight.”

The young girl, lips red and brows dark, stood under the lamplight, her face pale as snow, gazing up at the goddess in her heart.

Yan Zhi’an let out a scoff, raised a hand to pat her head. “What are you thinking?”

“I’ll study hard. Mother, will you teach me mineral prospecting?” Xunqi looked up eagerly. The next moment, Yan Zhi’an extended a pale pink fingertip and poked her puffed-up cheek. “How shameless!”

Teaching the apprentice starves the master.

Fearing Xunqi might overthink it, she deliberately sighed. “It depends on talent. One of these days, I’ll take you to try.”

Sure enough, Xunqi’s face blossomed into a smile. “I’m your daughter, so I definitely have the talent.”

Yan Zhi’an: “…”

“Let’s go eat.”

She turned and walked off. Xunqi jogged two steps to catch up and took her hand.

For an instant, Yan Zhi’an wanted to shake it off. She raised her hand, but her heart faltered, and she lowered it again.

Forget it. Don’t make her cry.