Yan Sanhe took a deep breath.

“However, when she saw her own son every day calling someone else mother, many flavors would surge through her heart.”

Unwillingness, grievance, sadness, heartache, jealousy…

Various flavors tortured that innocent, simple fisherwoman day and night. Her simplicity gradually faded.

“I imagine at that time, she was already calculating many future matters. So after the second son was born, she proactively sent her son to Zhang-shi’s side while she herself went to attend the illness.”

Yan Sanhe turned around, looking at Ji Lingchuan.

“If I haven’t guessed wrong, your mother toward your legitimate mother should have been completely obedient. Perhaps when your legitimate mother was gravely ill, she also cared for her without leaving her side, just as she cared for your grandmother.”

Ji Lingchuan’s lips trembled as he slowly nodded.

“So what enabled your mother’s elevation to legitimate wife wasn’t the children in her belly, but Zhang-shi’s deathbed words—words that carried decisive weight with your father.

“The Ji clan and your grandfather didn’t compromise because of your father’s stubbornness, but because of the family behind Zhang-shi.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes changed, her expression adding a few degrees of coldness.

“Before your legitimate mother’s death, besides leaving words for your father, she most likely also left words for her natal family, asking them to look after you more.

“You’re very clear about the importance of the Zhang family to the Ji family and to you. That’s why you did what you did.”

The cause, the effect—not a single word was wrong.

Ji Lingchuan’s eyes slowly filled with blood. His hands, originally resting at the table’s edge, clenched tightly into fists.

“My mother also schemed against her. I was raised by her from childhood—why can’t I speak for her, do things for her?”

He slowly stood up and walked to Yan Sanhe’s side, his voice tinged with anger.

“The Zhang family didn’t agree to a three-person burial. What could I do? What could I possibly do?”

Damn.

Pei Xiao swallowed hard.

The Zhang family looked as if they’d severed all ties with the Ji family, yet they even interfered with Maternal Grandmother’s funeral arrangements!

I need to note this down too, and tell Xie Wushi later.

“The ones who truly disagreed weren’t the Zhang family—it was your legitimate mother, wasn’t it?”

As Yan Sanhe’s last word fell, Ji Lingchuan’s expression suddenly became extremely terrible.

“You, you… how do you know?”

“Because if I were her, I wouldn’t be willing to let everything that should have belonged to me—whether the man, the son, or the decades of glory to come…”

Yan Sanhe’s dark eyes looked directly at Ji Lingchuan. “Ultimately fall into the hands of a mere fisherwoman, a lowly concubine.”

Ji Lingchuan felt something choking his throat.

Pei Xiao sprang to his feet. “So she always knew my maternal grandmother’s thoughts?”

“Not only knew—she was happy to fulfill them.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Pei Xiao. “Fate gave her good family background but didn’t give her a good body. But this doesn’t mean she had no temper, that she could be schemed against at will.”

Pei Xiao’s entire face showed shock. “So not letting Maternal Grandmother share a tomb with Maternal Grandfather was her final revenge?”

“Also the cruelest revenge. She made everything your maternal grandmother struggled for her entire life ultimately become a joke, come to nothing.”

Having finished speaking, even Yan Sanhe herself shuddered fiercely.

How truly ruthless!

No one spoke. All around was deathly silence.

After a long while.

Yan Sanhe’s gaze was cool and indifferent.

“Old Master Ji, you need not put on this aggrieved appearance. In my eyes, there’s no right or wrong. The justice of right and wrong lies in each of your hearts. I only seek the truth.”

These words were completely beyond Ji Lingchuan’s expectations. What surprised him even more was what Yan Sanhe said next.

“Truth often pairs with the word cruelty. You’d best prepare yourself mentally. The deeper we dig, the more you may be unable to bear it.”

I can’t bear it already.

Ji Lingchuan supported himself on the table’s edge, slowly walked back to his chair, slumped down, gasping for breath.

Pei Xiao’s inner state at this moment couldn’t be described with the word “roaring.”

Xie Wushi, hurry and come!

This Yan witch—she, she, she’s practically become a demon!

…

Had Yan Sanhe become a demon?

No!

If she’d become a demon, her heart wouldn’t ache so much for both Zhang-shi and Hu-shi.

A noble lady marrying down into the Ji family—even with poor health, didn’t she still have to risk her life bearing sons to secure her position?

This side had just miscarried and ruined her body; that side, the in-laws were already arranging concubines for their son. Who cared about Zhang-shi’s inner pain and heartache?

And who pitied how much Zhang-shi must have hated seeing Hu-shi bear sons one after another?

The fisherwoman lifted into a great house—though her belly proved capable, her life was held in others’ hands, not a bit up to herself.

Decades of management and scheming—from outside looking glorious, defying fate to change destiny. Only after death did she learn she didn’t even have the qualification to share a tomb with her husband.

Who was the winner?

Both were losers!

The true winner was that man who shared a bed with them—he was the one who gained everything.

Yan Sanhe took a deep breath, suppressing all emotions.

“The questioning must continue. Old Master Ji, your mother had four sons and one daughter. Setting aside the daughter who married out, what positions do the remaining three masters currently hold?”

Ji Lingchuan supported his forehead with his hand, saying weakly, “My second brother serves in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices as registrar.”

Yan Sanhe looked toward Pei Xiao. “What kind of position is this?”

“You’re asking me?”

Pei Xiao quickly said, “Rank seven, manages ritual ceremonies and sacrifices.”

Yan Sanhe: “This position is even lower than yours?”

What outsider talk!

Do positions only look at rank?

Pei Xiao snorted. “His is a lucrative post. Mine is a department without oil—can they compare?”

Yan Sanhe: “What about the other two masters?”

Ji Lingchuan shook his head. “They hold no official positions.”

“May I understand it this way: you and Second Master, because you were registered under your legitimate mother’s name, the Zhang clan paved the way for you both in officialdom.

“While Third Master and Fourth Master, registered under your mother’s name, accomplished nothing?”

Yan Sanhe’s words were too blunt, leaving Ji Lingchuan not half a shred of face.

Ji Lingchuan said through gritted teeth, “If the young lady wishes to understand it that way, it’s not wrong.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who arranged Old Master Ji’s marriage—the Zhang family?”

Ji Lingchuan steeled himself. “My and Second Brother’s marriages were arranged by my father and the Zhang family.”

Yan Sanhe: “Your mother had no say whatsoever?”

Ji Lingchuan: “Father said it wasn’t her place!”

Yan Sanhe spoke coldly, “Do you also think so?”

Ji Lingchuan felt his head aching, splitting-apart painful.

“Miss Yan, marriage is a major matter—parents’ orders, matchmakers’ words. I had no say in this.”

Yan Sanhe: “The Ji household hasn’t divided the family property?”

Ji Lingchuan: “No.”

Yan Sanhe: “Why not?”

Ji Lingchuan: “Before Mother’s death, she entrusted us to help support the two younger brothers more.”

Yan Sanhe: “So among the four sons, your mother doted most on the two youngest?”

“Quite the opposite.”

Pei Xiao’s face was gloomy. “My maternal grandmother treasured my eldest uncle most, followed by my second uncle. Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle had to stand aside in everything.”

While Yan Sanhe was secretly shocked, she also asked, “So your Third Aunt’s discord with the old lady also has this layer of favoritism as a reason?”

Pei Xiao was stunned: “…”

Eh?

Seems like she just outmaneuvered me?