Yu Tang’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

Pei Yan couldn’t help but lift his head to look at Yu Tang.

Yu Tang’s face was full of determination. She nodded toward Pei Yan and said, “You are not wrong!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but her tone was extremely firm, as if what she said was the ultimate truth of the world.

Who gave her such courage and conviction?

Pei Yan wanted to laugh.

But also couldn’t quite laugh.

She had only married into the family recently—she hadn’t even met everyone properly yet, let alone understood the Pei family’s history.

What gave her the confidence to make such a gesture and say such words?

Of course, it was because she… liked him enough!

Thinking of this, Pei Yan’s heart felt as if it were soaking in a pool of spring water.

It made his heart ripple with brightness and radiance.

This was the wife who would share life and death with him, never parting until their hair turned white. This was his first wife who would spend their entire lives together.

No matter when, no matter what happened, she was willing to stand by his side.

Pei Yan suddenly felt extremely fortunate.

Fortunate that he had decisively married Yu Tang.

Fortunate that he had encountered this person at the Pei family pawnshop.

Even fortunate that Lu Xin had sold that fake painting to the Yu family at a high price.

It was as if Heaven had ordained it—not too early, not too late, not too fast, not too slow.

And he had seized this opportunity.

“A’Tang!” Pei Yan said softly, gripping tightly the slender, fair hand resting on his arm.

He knew that once he held on, he would never let go again.

The intimacy between the two made Second Madam blush as she watched, though she also felt some admiration.

This Yu Shi—her courage was truly remarkable! The family was embroiled in both the assassination case of an Imperial Prince and the emergence of a father-killing-son incident… Either one of these matters could lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan, utterly destroying their reputation. Instead of thinking about what to do in the future, she actually still had the mood and presence of mind to comfort Third Uncle, and could act as if nothing was wrong, completely at ease while being affectionate with Third Uncle.

Was her heart too carefree, not knowing the gravity of the situation? Or was she composed in adversity, never panicking even in dire straits?

It must be composure in adversity!

Second Madam thought about how she had come to marry into the Pei family and sighed inwardly.

No wonder her mother-in-law always said that one must observe people at critical moments—those who can remain steady when it matters are the ones capable of great achievements.

This Third Uncle of hers had very discerning taste.

For Yu Tang to marry into the Pei family, to marry Pei Yan, it certainly wasn’t just because she was beautiful.

At critical moments like this, her character became evident.

She herself couldn’t do it!

Just thinking about it made her afraid.

From now on, it would be better to leave household matters to Yu Tang!

Second Madam was like a quail drenched by rain, not daring to speak, shrinking into a corner while cautiously sizing up her husband.

Pei Xuan felt quite emotional.

His younger brother had been competitive and strong-willed since childhood, always wanting to be the best at everything—even in finding a wife, she had to be more beautiful than others. Previously, he had been quite worried. A person couldn’t just look at beauty—shouldn’t character also be considered? But looking at it now, this character was fierce enough. He hadn’t even said anything yet, and his younger brother’s wife had already defended him. And not just defended him—as if afraid others wouldn’t know, she had directly embraced him.

It made him, the elder brother, embarrassed to watch.

However, his younger brother must be quite pleased.

He had never lost to anyone in his entire life. He had independently decided to marry someone several years younger regardless of family background and social standing. At critical moments, she was not only bold but could also wholeheartedly protect him, as if afraid he might be wronged.

What man could resist such a woman?

Even Pei Xuan, watching this, felt somewhat envious that Pei Yan hadn’t married this wife in vain.

His younger brother could be considered a winner in life, always ahead of others in everything.

Pei Xuan couldn’t help but cough lightly, wanting to admonish Pei Yan to “be more restrained,” but then thought that Pei Yan usually didn’t listen to him anyway, and at this moment with emotions running high, he probably wouldn’t listen even less.

He might as well not waste his energy.

But Pei Xuan’s cough brought Gu Xi back to her senses.

She truly hadn’t expected that Yu Tang was this kind of person in private!

To actually sweet-talk and coax Pei Yan like this.

However, Yu Tang’s skill at speaking nonsense with her eyes wide open was truly impressive—in order to please her own man, she had trampled Pei Tong underfoot. But she was indeed very clever, knowing what words to say at this moment that would make Pei Yan happy.

Pei Yan would definitely treat her even better in the future.

Gu Xi glanced at Pei Tong.

Pei Tong’s face had turned greenish, and the way he looked at Pei Yan seemed as if he wanted to devour him.

Gu Xi sighed inwardly, wondering whether she should also learn from Yu Tang and comfort Pei Tong. If she stood by Pei Tong’s side at this moment, he would surely be very moved, wouldn’t he? Their marital relationship would also improve. But doing so would put her in opposition to Pei Yan and Pei Xuan.

If what Pei Yan said was true, then the fault lay with Pei You, and she definitely couldn’t stand on Pei Tong’s side.

If what Pei Yan said was false, then the family elders would need to acknowledge it.

She thought left and right, her back feeling as if pressed by a millstone, but she simply couldn’t step forward openly and graciously like Yu Tang to walk to Pei Tong’s side.

As Gu Xi hesitated, Pei Tong’s face became ashen.

His reason told him that his Second Uncle Pei Xuan wouldn’t lie, because such a lie would bring his Second Uncle no benefit whatsoever—it might even cause the Pei family’s reputation to be swept away due to the rumor of “father killing son,” dealing a devastating blow to his Second Uncle’s official career. Not only would he be unable to continue as an official, he might never be employed again. But his emotions told him it definitely wasn’t like this. His grandfather was someone who cherished his children most. When they were young, they had been close to the Yang family while distant from the Pei family, but their grandfather still sent them birthday gifts from thousands of miles away every year, along with New Year red envelopes. Once, when the family estate had a bumper harvest, he had specially sent him and his younger brother five hundred taels of silver each to buy writing materials.

How could such a grandfather kill his son?

And how could it be as Third Aunt said—because of his father’s unfilial behavior?

“You’re lying! You’re lying!” Pei Tong murmured, becoming increasingly certain in his heart.

Third Aunt was favoring Third Uncle, which was why she was accusing his father.

It must be so!

He immediately said loudly, “Third Aunt, I respect you as an elder. You must not casually slander my father!”

Pei Yan was already extremely dissatisfied with his elder brother over their father’s death—how could he tolerate Pei Tong accusing Yu Tang?

Without thinking, he immediately interrupted Pei Tong’s words, saying, “A’Tong, this isn’t a schoolroom, and we aren’t teachers instructing you in reading—can everything be discussed? Can everything be questioned? You must take responsibility for the words you speak. You say your Third Aunt is slandering your father—you need to produce evidence! Was what your Third Aunt said incorrect? If it weren’t for Elder Brother’s stubborn willfulness, would Father have been in such pain? Would he have passed away so early? You at least got to see Grandfather and receive his teachings and affection. What about my son? He doesn’t even know what his grandfather looked like! Do you dare say this has nothing to do with your father?”

Pei Tong was stunned.

The words Pei Yan had previously suppressed in his heart he now no longer wished to hide or contain. He spoke without restraint: “Our family’s household rule is that the eldest son inherits the ancestral business—your father should never have participated in the imperial examinations in the first place. But he did! Fine, he did it—at that time, your grandfather made the decision, and since the old man said nothing, we younger brothers couldn’t say anything either.

“But if you’re going to be an official, be an official—why get involved in matters between the Imperial Princes? Was it because the Pei family wasn’t prominent enough? Or because the Pei family wasn’t wealthy enough? I don’t think either is the case! In the end, it was just so he could leave his name in history—if not as a pure minister, then as a powerful minister! But did he ever think about what good it would do the Pei family if he became renowned throughout the realm? It would merely be icing on the cake! But if he chose the wrong side and followed the wrong person, what fate would befall the Pei family? What predicament would all these Pei family descendants face?

“Did he ever think about that?

“You all say Elder Brother was clever, with both literary and martial talents.

“Things that we could all think of—could he really not have thought of them?

“But he still wanted to take shortcuts, to seek opportunistic gains.

“If he wanted shortcuts, fine—who doesn’t like saving time and effort? But he wanted to be a whore while also erecting a memorial arch! Using the Pei family’s silver to curry favor with the Third Imperial Prince, using the carrier pigeons the Pei family employed for business to send messages to the Third Imperial Prince.

“Didn’t he distrust the Pei family’s people and only trust the Yang family’s people? Then why did he still exploit the family fortune accumulated by the Pei ancestors over generations?

“If he had the ability, he should have done it himself! If he had the ability, he should have had the Yang family provide the money and the connections!

“He didn’t care about others—so why should others still care about him?”

Pei Yan continued reprimanding Pei Tong: “You’re not an ignorant woman or child—you’re an educated person. Would you not know these principles?

“You just refuse to admit you have such a father!

“I indeed resent your father! If not for his selfishness, how would your grandfather have borne the sin of killing his son, finding no peace at the end of his life, ultimately paying with his own life!

“Don’t say anything more.

“If the Yang family wants a confrontation, then let’s have a confrontation! Since I could have the Yang family’s second and third sons exiled to Lingnan, I can also ensure they die there and never return.

“Coincidentally, you’ve also grown up and know how to stand up for your father. Let’s make everything clear right now. You can choose the same path as your father—trusting the Yang family more than the Pei family. As the Pei family patriarch and as your uncle, I’ll make the decision to let you leave the clan, and I guarantee you can take everything your Elder Brother left you. If you feel your father was wrong and want to continue being a Pei family descendant, that’s fine too. Starting today, sever relations with the Yang family—from now on, Yang family matters have nothing to do with you. I also won’t have to worry about your mother going out and making a fuss, smearing your deceased father’s name. I can also take charge and let you brothers study properly, hopefully becoming officials in the future and bringing glory to the Pei family!

“Whether left or right, you decide for yourself!”

Pei Xuan was greatly shocked.

He knew his younger brother was strong-willed, but he hadn’t imagined he was strong-willed to this extent.

Casually agreeing to let Pei Tong leave the clan, casually agreeing to stop managing their eldest sister-in-law.

She wasn’t a docile person—they kept their eldest sister-in-law confined, not letting her leave Lin’an City, precisely because they feared she would speak recklessly outside and ruin his elder brother’s reputation, thereby also implicating the Pei family, wasn’t it?

“No!” He shouted loudly, staring at Pei Yan and saying, “We cannot divide the clan, and we cannot let Eldest Sister-in-law leave Lin’an!”