Yu Mingyue watched as the old madam's face contorted with anger. "Sister Su Mu is truly formidable. That pressure point she mentioned, when pressed for a long time, indeed renders one speechless."
"Aunt, even if Mr. Zi An refuses to take Cousin as a student, you shouldn't vent your anger on me. If the Imperial Consort were to break off the engagement because of this, it would be my misfortune. But what if it affects the marriage prospects of the other sisters in the household?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the various family branches thought, "Isn't that the truth?"
Yu Mingyue's engagement to the royal family was also beneficial for the marriage prospects of the other daughters in the household.
If the engagement were to be broken off, it wouldn't just ruin Yu Mingyue's reputation, but that of all the Yu family's daughters.
Yu Ruyi, this troublemaker, couldn't live her own life well and came to disrupt her maternal family's peace as well.
She was so annoying.
Madam Zhao of the second branch was the most impatient, almost jumping up to curse Yu Ruyi. "What your aunt is doing is truly self-destructive. Mr. Zi An is a renowned scholar of our time; not just anyone can catch his eye. If he doesn't accept your cousin, you would slander the Sixth Miss's reputation. What kind of aunt does this?"
Her own precious daughter was about to be engaged. If the Yu family's reputation were truly ruined, Miao Yan would be the first to suffer.
Thinking of this, Madam Zhao wished she could lunge forward and tear her mouth to shreds.
"What do you mean by that? When did I slander Yue'er's reputation?"
"Aunt, don't try to hide it. The two maids outside have said everything. Even Uncle is furious and threatening to beat them to death," Yu Mingyue said, wiping her tears.
The chili in her handkerchief stung her eyes, causing tears to stream down, making her entire eye sockets red.
Qin Muyan, mentioned by Yu Mingyue, obsequiously nodded at his elder brother-in-law. "It really has nothing to do with me. I truly knew nothing."
Was Mr. Zi An someone their children were even worthy of learning from?
Yu Ruyi was so angry she almost spat blood. "This foolish man, may he be foolish to death! I haven't even acknowledged her yet, and he's already completely acknowledged her."
"Sister Wan Qing, you say I stole your father and your identity. But Yue'er hasn't. Yue'er has only had this one father since birth, and she is the Sixth Miss of this ducal mansion. I haven't stolen you. If you want Yue'er's jewelry and clothes, Yue'er will give them to you. But Father cannot be given away..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the fig leaf was completely torn away. Everyone present looked at Su Wan Qing with disdain.
She was truly shameless. A distant cousin residing in the ducal mansion, how could she have the audacity to say such things? Even her deceased mother wouldn't dare.
She claimed to have stolen her father? Why didn't she say the whole world owed her a father?
Su Wan Qing knelt down with a thud, her face pale and ashen, tears streaming down like rain. "No, Wan Qing wouldn't dare. I never said such a thing."
These were thoughts she kept in her heart; she wouldn't be so foolish as to speak them aloud.
"Sister Wan Qing, there's no need to explain, because Sister has already done so..."
Yu Mingyue's words were ambiguous, but she cried even harder.
She couldn't help it; she couldn't control it.
Seeing his daughter cry so miserably, Yu Ze Yan was heartbroken. He helped his daughter up. "Yue'er, don't cry. Come to Daddy."
"Daddy, Yue'er is so sad!"
Her eyes hurt, she was truly in pain.
Next time, she absolutely must not use chili water.
Yu Ze Yan patted the two little buns on his daughter's head. As a father, he was incompetent, allowing his daughter and wife to suffer too much.
This time, he couldn't let it go so lightly.
Yu Ze Yan paused for a moment, then finally made up his mind.
"The Old Madam has not been feeling well recently and requires rest. Tomorrow, she will move to the manor outside the city to recuperate. No one from the various branches should disturb her without reason."
The Old Madam cried out in distress but couldn't utter a word. Hearing her son tell her to move out of the ducal mansion, this unfilial wretch dared to send her to live in a separate residence.
She couldn't catch her breath, her eyes rolled back, and this time, she truly fainted from anger.