Tang Xiaohua said she was not worried — but that was not true.

She was anxious, just not on her own account. Right now, she only wanted to know where these people had taken Old Master.

Since Zeng Lanzhi and Yang Hong were on the same side, Zeng Lanzhi certainly knew Yang Hong’s secrets.

She had known all along that Yang Hong’s continued presence had done Old Master no good at all, and she had still quietly helped Yang Hong stay.

On that basis alone, Tang Xiaohua truly could not feel at ease leaving Old Master in their hands.

Had she not known that Feng Jiu’er had gone in earlier, she would have had no patience at all to be wasting time out here.

Zeng Lanzhi, stung by Tang Xiaohua’s words, was momentarily speechless — but she recovered quickly.

“Tang Xiaohua, do not use your elder brother-in-law to pressure us. Whatever you have given him to make him indulge you this way — we will set that aside for now.”

“Right now, we only want you to answer for your wrongs. You—”

“Second Brother, Third Brother.” Tang Xiaohua cut Zeng Lanzhi off.

She looked at Yue Jianfei’s two younger brothers, her brow furrowing slightly. “Did you two have something to say?”

Both of Yue Jianfei’s younger brothers looked at Tang Xiaohua, their expressions carrying a trace of urgency — yet neither could get a single word out.

Tang Xiaohua’s presence weighed heavily on others. The Second and Third Masters of the Yue family feared her even more than they feared their own elder brother.

Even now, with Tang Xiaohua standing alone, without Yue Jianfei at her side, her presence remained formidable.

If they had not felt absolutely certain of their position, Zeng Lanzhi would not have dared to speak so loudly to Tang Xiaohua.

At this moment, both Zeng Lanzhi and Third Master’s wife Lin Jingmin were watching their husbands, who could not bring themselves to say a single word, and were nearly beside themselves with fury.

In former times, both Zeng Lanzhi’s and Lin Jingmin’s families had backgrounds more distinguished than Tang Xiaohua’s.

Over these years, Tang Xiaohua and Yue Jianfei had built up the Yue Family Hall, not only improving the lot of the entire Yue family but also considerably elevating the Tang family’s standing.

Zeng Lanzhi and Lin Jingmin looked down on Tang Xiaohua — but more critically, they wanted to get their hands on the Yue Family Hall. Their small machinations had never truly stopped over all these years.

Both Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua, much like each other, rarely treated such petty scheming as worth taking seriously.

Perhaps neither of them had imagined things would ever come to this point.

The two men who had spoken so boldly just moments ago inside were now, standing before Tang Xiaohua, unable to produce so much as a single word.

Zeng Lanzhi and Lin Jingmin seethed inside, but both knew this was not the moment for complaints.

“Tang Xiaohua, you know perfectly well that Second Brother and your Third Brother-in-law have always respected their elder brother. Since this is a family disgrace — what would you have them say?” Lin Jingmin spoke in a low, firm tone.

“A family disgrace?” Tang Xiaohua raised an eyebrow. “Yes — that is precisely what this is.”

“Since you have invited an Elder here — why not bring Old Master out? We can confront one another in the Elder’s presence.”

“You say my husband is a fool who has been bewitched by me? Old Master is temporarily not at his best physically, but he is not a fool, is he?”

“Have Old Master come out and give everyone an accounting — that would be the most appropriate course of all.”

“The two of you have been drawing benefits from my Yue Family Hall day after day — never wanting for food or comfort. But if I do not come back to manage things, I fear there will be no benefits left for you to draw.”

Tang Xiaohua took a deep breath and waved her hand: “Go. Bring Old Master out. Do not waste my time or the Elder’s.”

This was Second Master’s home. Without an order from Second Master or Madam Lan, the servants did not dare to act on their own.

Tang Xiaohua swept her gaze across those present, and finally let it rest on Yue Jianfei’s third younger brother.

“Third Brother — what do you say? The Old Madam is gone now. A senior sister-in-law is like a mother. Should you not listen to me?”

“Besides, all I want is to see Old Master. Are you unwilling even to allow that? Could it be that in bringing Old Master here, you intended to do him harm?”

“Of course not.” Third Master shook his head vigorously.

“If not, then have him come out — and will the truth not be clear to all?” Tang Xiaohua said firmly.

“Stop talking nonsense!” Zeng Lanzhi fixed Tang Xiaohua with a cold stare. “Old Master is our guest.”

“That you have not harmed him is already a mercy. And now you accuse us of harming him?”

“Enough!” Tang Xiaohua gave Zeng Lanzhi a dismissive look.

“You—” Zeng Lanzhi was so furious she could not speak.

“Afu — go bring Old Master out. You should know, your wages still come from my Yue Family Hall.” Tang Xiaohua looked at the butler of this household and spoke in a low, firm voice.

The butler looked flustered, pulled his gaze away, and glanced at Zeng Lanzhi.

Zeng Lanzhi glanced back at him and said flatly: “Go. Bring Old Master out.”

“When Old Master comes out — I want to see what she still has to say.”

“Yes, Madam Lan.” The butler gave a nod and turned to head inside.

Out of view of the others, the butler arrived at the door to the inner chamber, hesitated for a moment, then — without going in — turned and walked back out.

“Something is wrong! Something is wrong! Old Master has fainted! Something is wrong! Old Master has fainted!” The butler’s voice carried out from inside the great hall.

Tang Xiaohua heard the sound and could wait no longer.

Without a word, she strode forward at a swift pace.

Qiao Mu and the Yue Manor’s butler came to their senses and fell in on either side of Tang Xiaohua, one to her left and one to her right.

“It is her! She must have given Old Master something again today — whatever it was. Why else would Old Master suddenly faint?” Zeng Lanzhi pointed at Tang Xiaohua.

“Someone come! Do not let her go in! Do not let her in to harm Old Master! Someone come!”

Tang Xiaohua’s heart was in her throat. With a shove she cleared a path through several servants, then leapt up and vaulted clean over the heads of more than a dozen people.

Qiao Mu followed a step behind, keeping pace with Tang Xiaohua.

That left the Yue Manor butler and several servants behind, locked in a standoff with Second Master’s household servants.

“Outrageous! Come quickly! Seize those two! They show no respect for their elders — not only do they seek to harm Old Master, they have not even the slightest regard for the Elder!”

Zeng Lanzhi’s voice carried outside.

Beyond the main gate, the Elder’s people surged in all at once.

What none of them expected — outside the great hall, in a single instant, everything fell silent.

Many turned to look inside, not one of them able to say a word.

Even Zeng Lanzhi, upon seeing the Old Master’s ruddy and vigorous face, stared wide-eyed — and every word on the tip of her tongue was completely forgotten.

Tang Xiaohua and Qiao Mu had just stepped into the great hall when, from inside, Feng Jiu’er came pushing Old Master outward, a man of extraordinary bearing following behind the two of them.

“What is the matter?” Old Master looked at the people outside and furrowed his thick brows slightly.

Scanning the crowd, he caught sight of a familiar figure — and his face immediately broke into a warm smile.

“Elder, when did you arrive? Why did the second not tell me even a word? Ah Lan, go quickly and prepare some good food and drink — I wish to reminisce with the Elder.”

The atmosphere had been tense only moments before. Now outside the hall, apart from the Elder’s people, there was still a crowd of unidentified figures — every one of them armed, poised and ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

Yet none of them had expected Old Master to suddenly appear. His presence made the air warm in an instant.

And he was smiling cheerfully, saying he wanted to reminisce with the Elder. Quite a few of those present were now utterly confused about what exactly was happening.