Pei Yan answered with such righteousness that everyone present was startled.

Pei Tong’s eyes even turned red with agitation as he said loudly, “Then you’re admitting it?”

Hearing this, Pei Xuan also grew anxious and rebuked Pei Tong, “Is this your level of intelligence? Just because your Third Uncle admits to being beaten means he wronged your father? If you keep talking like this, don’t bother confronting us! Think whatever you want to think! In any case, if you want to pretend to be asleep, none of us can wake you!”

“Second Uncle!” Pei Tong’s eyes widened as he looked at Pei Xuan with an expression of “you’re actually defending Third Uncle,” then his gaze gradually darkened, showing an expression of “Third Uncle and you are full brothers after all—at the critical moment, you’ll still protect Third Uncle.”

What terrible thoughts these were!

Never mind the Second Madam—even Gu Xi watching this wanted to roll her eyes at him.

Fortunately, Pei Xuan had always been gentle-tempered and particularly caring toward the family’s children and younger generation. Even with Pei Tong being like this, he still patiently said, “You only believe what you hear and see. You already have prejudice against your Third Uncle, so how could you possibly listen to what he says? If you truly want to ‘clear your father’s name,’ shouldn’t you listen to both sides and then make decisions based on your own judgment? Rather than believing whoever speaks louder or says things more to your liking is right. Do you think what I’m saying makes sense?”

Pei Tong didn’t speak for a long while. When he finally did, he slapped the table with a “smack” and sneered, “Fine, I was wrong about this. Since you’ve said so, Second Uncle, if I still just compare volume, I’d seem childish and ridiculous. But why should I take my eldest uncle’s side? Because my eldest uncle has a letter written in my father’s own hand. In that letter, my father told my eldest uncle that because he supported establishing the Third Prince as heir, not only was Third Uncle dissatisfied, but Grandfather was also dissatisfied and had written to scold Father repeatedly. Father said Grandfather was stubborn—nine oxen couldn’t pull him back from something he’d decided. In this matter, Grandfather would definitely stand with Third Uncle. Even if Father tried his utmost to persuade him, Grandfather wouldn’t listen. Father also worried that Grandfather would personally come to the capital and use filial piety to pressure him into returning to Lin’an. If things really came to that, he couldn’t let all his efforts go to waste, so he arranged to meet my eldest uncle that evening—they planned to visit the Third Prince that night and introduce my eldest uncle to him, finding a way to make my eldest uncle a Vice Minister of one of the Six Ministries… Moreover, my father’s health had always been good—he didn’t even have ordinary headaches or fevers.”

He continued mockingly, “Doesn’t the Pei family always pride itself on following ancient rites? My father learned archery and horsemanship from childhood—how could he suddenly fall ill for no reason?”

Thus a few words from Yang Eldest Master made Pei Tong suspicious!

Pei Xuan’s brows immediately knitted tightly, and his gaze involuntarily turned toward Pei Yan.

Everyone also looked toward Pei Yan.

Yu Tang quickly squeezed Pei Yan’s hand, silently giving him her support.

This time, Pei Yan didn’t secretly squeeze back. Instead, he placed her hand on his knee, openly and without concealment holding Yu Tang’s hand as he looked at his elder brother Pei Xuan and said calmly, “Second Brother, regarding Elder Brother’s death, I know you also have many doubts. Why don’t we speak openly this time? After hearing Pei Tong’s words, do you have anything to say to me?”

Pei Xuan, who had been as steady as a pine tree, suddenly turned pale upon hearing this. Looking at Pei Yan, his lips moved several times but no words came out.

Pei Yan sighed.

Pei Tong suddenly laughed “ha ha,” laughing while wiping the moisture from the corners of his eyes, saying to Pei Xuan with no lack of sarcasm, “Second Uncle, clearly you’re just like me—kept completely in the dark by Third Uncle! Why must you preside over this justice then? This justice, I’m afraid, belongs to Third Uncle and has nothing to do with either you or me!”

“Silence!” The gentle Pei Xuan, for the first time showing bulging veins, roared sternly at Pei Tong in a low voice, “Your Third Uncle was not wrong! If anyone was wrong, it was your father, your grandfather!”

“Ah!” Yu Tang’s almond eyes widened in shock.

The Second Madam was even more alarmed, tugging at Pei Xuan’s sleeve corner and calling out worriedly, “Second Master.”

Pei Xuan’s face was ashen. He didn’t speak.

Gu Xi looked left and right, her eyes darting rapidly, finally settling on the tightly clasped hands of Yu Tang and Pei Yan.

Pei Yan sneered, closed his somewhat reddened eyes, then opened them to look at Pei Xuan, saying, “Elder Brother, so you knew all along! I thought…”

His voice carried some sorrow and a hint of barely detectable relief, making Yu Tang’s heart tighten.

Hearing this, Pei Xuan smiled bitterly and said, “I knew you all didn’t want me to know, and I wanted to pretend not to know. But at this point, if I keep pretending not to know, I’m afraid it won’t end well. All your and Father’s efforts to keep me in the dark so I could be a clean, virtuous man will be wasted…”

“Elder Brother!” Pei Yan somewhat urgently interrupted Pei Xuan’s words.

But Pei Xuan waved his hand at Pei Yan, his manner suddenly showing exhaustion as he said in a heavy voice, “I know. I know everything. But I can’t let you take the blame alone. When Father was alive, he told us more than once that when brothers work together, their strength can cut through metal. Elder Brother didn’t believe it and trusted the Yang family more—I couldn’t control that. But I can control myself, listen to Father’s words, be a good elder brother, and also be a good uncle.”

“Elder Brother!” Pei Yan called to Pei Xuan again, his eyes beginning to redden at the corners.

Pei Xuan smiled helplessly and patted Pei Yan’s shoulder.

“What are you saying?” Pei Tong looked at his two uncles in confusion, his voice sharp with false bravado, “What do you mean? What do you mean you all know? What do you all know?” As he spoke, he stood up, walked before Pei Xuan, lowered his head as if pleading, and asked Pei Xuan hoarsely, “Second Uncle, can I, can I still trust you?”

Pei Xuan looked steadily at Pei Tong without speaking.

Pei Tong panicked at once.

“Sit down first!” But Pei Yan suddenly said calmly to Pei Tong, “Let me tell you instead! It’ll save you from wild speculation.”

Pei Tong glared at Pei Yan, standing there without moving.

Pei Yan didn’t force him further but said, “Elder Brother and I did indeed disagree politically. Not many people in the capital know this. Why? Because supporting the Third Prince’s succession was opportunistic speculation from the start.” At this point, he glanced at Pei Tong.

Pei Tong’s face flushed red.

Since ancient times it had been the practice to establish the legitimate eldest son. Supporting the Third Prince was indeed somewhat improper—probably no one would broadcast it.

Seeing this, Pei Yan seemed very satisfied that he still had some sense of shame. His expression softened considerably. Just as he was about to continue, he was stopped by Pei Xuan.

His emotions low, Pei Xuan said, “Xiaguang, let me speak! All along I’ve played deaf and dumb. This time, let me straighten my spine and be an elder brother, be an uncle, for once!”

Pei Yan said nothing more.

Pei Xuan pondered for a moment before saying, “A’Tong, your father truly didn’t die of sudden illness.”

Pei Tong’s expression became stern.

Pei Xuan said, “Your father was killed by your grandfather.”

“Impossible!” Pei Tong was dumbstruck and loudly refuted, “My grandfather…”

Though he’d rarely seen him growing up, he seemed very kind and approachable.

“No, impossible!” Pei Tong murmured, looking at the people in the room as if seeking help.

Pei Yan seemed unable to face it, his eyelids lowered. As for Yu Tang, she only cared about Pei Yan’s emotions. Though shocked, she was more worried. She simply stood up and, embracing Pei Yan’s shoulders, gently stroked his arm. Gu Xi did look at him, but her face was full of hesitation, not knowing what to do—she looked even more at a loss than he was.

Coldness rapidly spread from his fingertips to his heart.

In this world, who else could treat him with complete sincerity? Who else could support him wholeheartedly?

Pei Tong looked around bewildered, feeling as if he’d come to the wrong place, not knowing where the exit was or where he’d come from.

“It’s true!” Pei Xuan’s expression was pained, but he persisted, “Your father, in supporting the Third Prince, not only transferred two hundred thousand taels of silver from the family using his position as clan heir, but also used the family’s carrier pigeons to reveal the Second Prince’s whereabouts to the Third Prince, leading to the Second Prince’s assassination attempt. Your grandfather indeed didn’t approve of him serving in court and had always hoped he would follow ancestral rules and return home to guard the estate. Not only did your father not listen, but he escalated, getting involved in the princes’ succession struggle. One misstep could even bring catastrophic disaster to the Pei family. Your grandfather secretly came to the capital. Your Third Uncle rushed to see your father before your grandfather arrived, urging him to turn back from this wrong path. But your father not only didn’t listen—he even argued with your Third Uncle. Then your grandfather arrived at your house, and afterward your father suddenly died. As for why your grandfather beat your Third Uncle, I don’t know. But I know your father died of poisoning after drinking a cup of tea your grandfather personally handed him.

“Your grandfather felt he’d wronged your father and couldn’t resolve the pain of killing his own son, so he starved himself to death.”

Pei Xuan choked up, “This is also why your grandfather passed away so soon after your father died.”

Yu Tang didn’t even know where to put her hands.

Was it because of this that Pei Yan couldn’t bear to see those gorgeous flowers blooming under the summer sun?

Yu Tang held Pei Yan even tighter in her arms.

Watching helplessly as his father killed his own brother and then committed suicide, yet being powerless to do anything—for Pei Yan, who so revered his father, how painful must it have been?

“Xiaguang!” She couldn’t help but murmur by his ear.

Thinking of the previous life when Pei Yan lived like a shadow in Lin’an.

In that life, how lonely and isolated must he have been?

And who comforted him through those long, endless nights?

She also thought of those rumors and gossip in Lin’an about Pei Yan seizing Pei You’s patriarch position.

Why should he bear that?!

Yu Tang wished she could hold this person in the palm of her hand, protect him well, keep him safe, spare him from shock, spare him from wind and rain.

“This isn’t your fault!” She was partial and protective, “It was clearly the Eldest Master’s fault. If he hadn’t been greedy for fame and fortune, unwilling to honestly and properly serve as the Pei family heir, how would all these subsequent troubles have arisen? Wasn’t Old Master also brilliantly talented and learned? But did Old Master clamor to go out and become an official? To leave his name in history? He’s the one who didn’t follow the rules, he’s the one who caused the disaster, yet you and Old Master had to clean up his mess. You don’t need to grieve for such a brother!”