Hua Xian's legs felt weak, but this time she refused to show weakness. Step by step, she walked out of the room. Seeing the sunlight outside, tears suddenly streamed down her face like rain.
Su Momo gently wiped her tears, her gaze falling upon the servants kneeling in the courtyard. Among them were not only members of the Yang household but also dowry attendants from the Hua family. The head matron had already passed away from illness, yet several personal maids had put up their hair and opened their faces—dressed more like mistresses than Hua Xian herself—all having become Yang Qi's chamber companions.
Not a single one of these people had informed the Hua family about Second Aunt's suffering in the Yang household!
Hua Bolin's young face was cold, yet he carried an imposing air. "Cousin, these servants are all unusable. Sell them off."
"Cousin, you've reminded me." Yang Suian returned to the room, ignoring Old Madam Yang sitting there, and retrieved a box of indentured contracts from a cabinet. After flipping through them and confirming none were missing, he returned to the courtyard. "It seems you've all forgotten who holds your contracts. Guizi, take these and find a matchmaker. Tell her the price is negotiable—if she can come immediately to take them away, I don't mind selling them cheap."
"Yes."
"Spare us, Young Master!" The crowd turned pale, some weeping in terror. Few who were resold ended up in good situations, especially the maids who had opened their faces—they might even be sold into disreputable places.
The girl in green, particularly delicate and pretty, slapped herself hard and prostrated on the ground, sobbing, "This servant forgot her place! Please forgive me this once, Young Master! I'll never dare again!"
"Forgive you? How could forgiving you make up for my mother's heartbreak? Qiuyu, when you climbed into the master's bed, did you ever think of how my mother treated you? You forgot your roots—born of the Hua family, yet you didn't even observe mourning for Grandmother. How dare you ask for forgiveness? Guizi, go now."
"Yes."
Su Momo helped Hua Xian onto the back of a sturdy matron. Hua Bolin supported her from the side and said, "Let's go."
As they exited the courtyard, shadowy figures stood watching in the distance, but no one approached.
Outside the second gate, Yang Qi had gathered numerous servants, subtly surrounding the entrance. Seeing Hua Xian being carried out, his heart sank—he had thought his mother could keep her there.
"What does Uncle intend to do? Is the Yang residence a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, where one can enter but not leave?" Without waiting for Yang Qi's reply, Hua Bolin laughed coldly. "How fitting—I particularly enjoy challenging dragons' dens and tigers' lairs. Move forward. Let's see who dares lay a hand on me."
Yang Qi truly didn't dare touch Hua Bolin. As a scholar himself, he knew the influence of the Hua family—precisely why he had resorted to force to pressure Hua Xian into persuading her family to make connections for him.
But he could strike his own son. Stepping forward, he slapped Yang Suian hard across the face. "You disgrace! What are you doing? Joining outsiders against the Yang family?"
Yang Suian didn't know if his nominal father had used full force, but half his face and mouth went numb. Liquid trickled from his lips—wiping it, he saw blood.
He turned and stared coldly at his father, devoid of any emotion in his eyes.
Hua Xian, however, went mad with grief. Struggling down from the matron's back, she nearly collapsed until Su Momo steadied her. She rushed to her son, wanting to touch his face but not daring to, tears instantly flooding her cheeks. "I won't leave, An'er. Mother won't leave...""If you're not leaving, then go back inside immediately." Overjoyed, Yang Qi stepped forward to pull Hua Xian up, but Hua Bolin stepped in front of him and angrily declared, "Let's see who dares lay a finger on my second aunt!"
The Hua family servants, including several matrons, all stepped forward, glaring fiercely at the Yang family servants. They had all trained under Wu Xiansheng and were eager to test how much they had learned!
Yang Suian helped his mother up and signaled for a matron to crouch down. He gently supported his mother as she climbed onto the matron's back and whispered, "If you stay, this slap I took will be for nothing. Let's go."
Su Momo supported her on one side while the matron carried her out, with Hua Bolin and the others covering the rear. The Yang family servants only dared to follow, none venturing to step forward—including Yang Qi.
It wasn't until they reached the main gate and saw the Hua family servants waiting outside that Hua Bolin finally allowed himself to relax slightly.
By then, more and more people had gathered openly and covertly outside the Yang residence. Hua Bolin exchanged a glance with Su Momo.
Su Momo gently patted the matron's shoulder, who understood and set Hua Xian down. They supported her on either side as they walked toward the sedan chair.
Her injuries were all too visible, and gasps came from all directions. Hua Xian buried her head low, so ashamed she wished the ground would swallow her up.
No wonder the Hua family had made such a scene—their lady had been bullied! And the one behind this... could it be the Hua family's eldest daughter in charge? Quite formidable!
Just then, Yang Zheng finally received the news and rushed out, but it was too late. He looked at his eldest grandson's swollen face and tried to salvage the situation. "Suian, this is a family matter after all. Don't let it escalate."
Yang Suian didn't want outsiders gawking either. He approached his grandfather and said softly, "Grandfather, I can accept him hitting me—I can bear it. But my mother can't. One more incident like this and she might lose her life. I can't take that risk. If I can't even protect my own mother, if I don't dare to protect her, I'd be unworthy as a son and unworthy of your years of guidance. Grandfather, she's my only mother. She may be weak and incapable, and she no longer has a powerful maternal family, but she's still my mother."
Yang Suian knelt and kowtowed three times. "As long as you acknowledge me, I am the Yang family's eldest grandson. If you don't, I am still Yang Suian."
Yang Qi gnashed his teeth in fury. "If you leave now, don't ever think of coming back! I don't need a son like you, and you can forget about getting anything from the Yang family..."
"Yang Qi!" If not for knowing he couldn't discipline his son in public, Yang Zheng would have gladly beaten this fool to death. He had other grandsons, but only this one showed the most promise!
"I never wanted anything of yours. From now on, I'll rely on myself to earn everything I want, honorably." Yang Suian stood up. "Grandfather, take care of yourself."
"Suian."
Yang Suian turned back.
"You are the Yang family's eldest grandson—that will never change. This is your home, your roots are here. Always remember that. Families inevitably have conflicts, but family will always be family; they can't become outsiders." Yang Zheng took two steps forward, smiling like a benevolent elder. "Come visit your grandfather more often."
"Yes, I will." Yang Suian didn't spare Yang Qi a single glance. The only one in this family he cared about was his grandfather, even though he knew his grandfather had ulterior motives, and even though his grandfather had never spoken a word in his mother's defense despite knowing she was being mistreated. Yet, the benefits he had received were real.Watching the procession depart, Yang Zheng turned and began walking back. "Close the gates."
"Father..."
Slap! Yang Zheng spun around and struck without hesitation, not a trace of his earlier smile remaining. "Go kneel in the ancestral hall. Don't come out until you've understood your mistakes."
PS: Today I've been exceptionally productive with four consecutive updates. Dear readers, don't miss any! I literally sat at my computer from early morning - aside from bathroom breaks and meals, I haven't stood up once. Haha, finally I can righteously shout: Please vote with your monthly tickets!
OpenNovel