Baili Xiaosheng’s arrival brought a sudden burst of liveliness to the once-quiet Sheng family estate.

That night, Old Master Sheng held a banquet to welcome Jun Beiyue, Ziqing, and their party. At the same time, he used the occasion to formally acknowledge Baili Xiaosheng and introduce her to the rest of the family.

At that moment, the entire banquet hall fell silent, every gaze fixed on the phoenix-tail sheng flute cradled in the old master’s hands.

What did it mean, for the old master to bring out the phoenix-tail sheng now?

Could it be…

He hadn’t even done anything yet, but that single gesture alone was enough to make more than a few people hold their breath!

In a sense, the phoenix-tail sheng represented the authority of the family head!

That Baili Xiaosheng possessed absolute talent was beyond doubt, and passing the position outside the direct line to her would make sense on those grounds alone—except she was still so young, not yet even an adult!

Wasn’t this move a little too premature?

Sheng Zimo sat at the very end of the row of legitimate sons, and even though his contributions to the Sheng family far outweighed those of the men seated ahead of him, his status as a child born of a concubine meant he could only sit at the bottom—especially at a family banquet like this one.

He watched the phoenix-tail sheng in his father’s hands with a cold, distant expression, his heart aching as though it were bleeding.

He remembered how, back when his father had taught him to play the phoenix-tail sheng, he had never once truly handed the instrument over to him.

Every time the lesson ended, his father would take the phoenix-tail sheng back.

Over the years, the flute had never once been left in his hands alone.

And now, his father was about to hand the phoenix-tail sheng over to a little girl who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere—in front of everyone!

Sheng Zimo gripped his wine cup tightly, unwilling to accept it.

“Xiaosheng is the first person of absolute talent our Sheng family has ever produced, and she is also the one who won our family the position of Beast Clan leader. Today, I will pass the phoenix-tail sheng to her, and I will also hand over to her the position of family head…”

The family head paused there, and at the same moment, everyone present froze.

What…

Even the position of family head… but everyone knew Baili Xiaosheng wasn’t even an adult yet!

Ziqing and Jun Beiyue exchanged glances, equally caught off guard. Still, setting her age aside, they trusted Baili Xiaosheng’s abilities completely.

After all, any disciple personally trained by that wretched old scholar could hold her own anywhere.

Aside from Ziqing’s group, nearly everyone else in the hall was murmuring amongst themselves. Only Madam Sheng smiled faintly, as though she had long expected her husband to do exactly this.

If she could have had her way, she would have wished, more than anyone, that Xiaosheng not have to shoulder such a heavy burden so soon. But no one knew that the illness she had carried for years, quietly festering, had left her little time.

Her husband—he probably wanted to spend more time with her.

Madam Sheng looked at her husband’s solemn, earnest face, then at her daughter’s bewildered expression, her eyes full of tender heartache, and yet she kept smiling calmly all the same.

She thought to herself that no matter what, as long as she still drew breath, she would make sure her daughter gained a true, solid footing within the Sheng family.

The Sheng family was a large clan, and several of the legitimate and illegitimate sons already had families of their own. The eldest grandson was not far off from Baili Xiaosheng in age.

Where there were many people, there were many voices—and even more complicated hearts.

Faced with the rising murmur of discontent, the family head merely cleared his throat lightly, signaling for quiet.

But the news was simply too sudden for everyone, and no one settled down.

A flash of displeasure crossed the old master’s eyes. Abandoning his usual good temper, he gave a cold laugh. “Oh? Does someone have an objection to my decision?”

Who would have thought—even with the old master’s temper flaring, there were still those brave enough, or foolish enough, not to fear the consequences!

The first to stand was the Sheng family’s eldest son, Sheng Qiankun.

“Father, Ninth Sister isn’t even an adult yet. Isn’t it too soon to grant her the position of family head?”

That was how these things always went—once one person took the lead, the others quickly followed.

“Father, Ninth Sister has only just returned home. She doesn’t even know how many branches and households the Sheng family has, how large our holdings are, or how many people are under our roof. How can she win anyone’s respect?”

“Now that Father has become the ruler of the Beast Clan, if you have no time to spare for the family’s affairs, your son is willing to take on that burden.” The eldest son said it so bluntly, without any pretense at all!

Both Madam Sheng and the family head frowned deeply, on the verge of losing their tempers, when suddenly— a loud “bang!” rang out beside them!

In an instant, the noisy hall fell utterly silent. Everyone looked over to see Baili Xiaosheng had slammed her hand on the table and risen to her feet.

The crowd was momentarily stunned—this little girl, barely past ten years old, seemed to have quite the temper!

Under the shocked stares of the crowd, Baili Xiaosheng showed not the slightest hint of nervousness. Instead, she sat calmly atop the table, crossed her legs, and coldly surveyed each of the older brothers who had just spoken against her, one by one.

That look in her eyes—cynical, mocking, yet with a sharp edge hidden beneath—was nothing like what a child her age should possess.

Somehow, everyone found themselves inexplicably unsettled under that gaze.

Seeing that everyone had gone quiet, Baili Xiaosheng finally spoke, her tone cold. “What, so good at talking a moment ago, and now you’ve all gone mute?”

The moment those words left her mouth, the hall erupted into an uproar!

Even the old master couldn’t help but frown. “Xiaosheng, don’t be so rude!”

After all, everyone present was older than her—she was the youngest of the entire Sheng family.

Seeing the old master scold her, the others immediately seized the chance to pile on with accusations.

But Baili Xiaosheng shot back, “Father, if I’m being rude, weren’t those brothers just now being even ruder to you?”

That single line silenced not only the old master, but also the several mouths nearby that had been itching to speak up again.

Baili Xiaosheng hadn’t actually intended to take up the position of family head so soon. But seeing how these brothers and sisters-in-law were circling her like wolves and tigers, ready to devour this newcomer alive today—

if she didn’t strike back here and now, wouldn’t she really end up being eaten alive later on?

Who said someone young couldn’t be family head? She would show them exactly that she could.

As she spoke, Baili Xiaosheng calmly switched which leg was crossed over the other, continuing to sit at ease. “A hero’s worth isn’t measured by their origins, and the capable aren’t measured by their age. The position of family head has always belonged to whoever is most capable. Today, if anyone here can outmatch me, I’ll step aside from the position at once. But if no one can outmatch me, then I’ll take up the position of family head here and now!”

She said it all so calmly and at ease, yet there was an undeniable force behind her words that no one could ignore.

At those words, everyone’s anger surged up to choke in their throats, yet not a single person dared to let it out.

This wretched girl—she clearly knew full well that no one could match her, and yet she could say such things with such calm composure!

It was infuriating!

Both the old master and Madam Sheng were stunned. Neither had imagined their daughter possessed such nerve—so small in age, so small in stature, not even reaching her brothers’ waists, and yet she had managed to render several of them utterly speechless.

Watching the astonished expressions of the Sheng couple, Ziqing couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.

If this couple ever witnessed Baili Xiaosheng toying with people or dealing out punishment, who knew how terrified they’d be!

To those in the Sheng family who thought they could bully Baili Xiaosheng, there were only a few words to offer: you’re thinking way too much.

Seeing that no one dared speak up again, Baili Xiaosheng put on a perfectly serious expression, utterly without a trace of embarrassment, and said, “Father, since everyone clearly agrees I deserve this and no one has any objections, then I’ll take up the position of family head!”

With that, she reached out with both hands to take the phoenix-tail sheng, then immediately turned to Ziqing and flashed her a wide grin.

Well then—the phoenix-tail sheng was hers now!