Chapter 13: The Successful Separation of the Family

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“Sister-in-law, have you really thought this through? Once tonight passes, there’s no turning back.” The man’s voice sounded remarkably like Shangguan Zishu’s, and even his tone was perfectly controlled to match the moment.

“Who are you calling sister-in-law, you coward? What are you afraid of? Hurry up!” A bold woman’s voice, indistinguishable from Yu Chaoyang’s.

“You say my elder brother won’t wake up—are you serious?”

“He has only half a year left before he dies completely. My second uncle’s daughter will be left a widow for life.”

...

“Has the second sister woken up?”

“No. I was heavy-handed; if she wakes, it will be tomorrow morning.”

“Better send her over early. We can continue after she arrives.”

“All right, my lady, wait for me.”

Yu Yuanzheng had a hobby in her previous life: ventriloquism. Everything she learned was uncanny.

Her performance was vivid and lifelike.

Everyone who heard these words was struck with terror.

For a moment, the hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

“Uncle, what if I turn this scenario into an illustrated storybook and have storytellers across the capital recite it every day? What do you think would happen?

Leaving aside how the prince and princess would react, what if the emperor hears this? Would he not be furious?

Do you think the Earl’s mansion can bear the crime of treason against the emperor?”

“You, you, you—you were awake at that time?” Shangguan Zishu finally regained some composure, speaking incoherently.

“Yes, my husband, we were formally wed.

You weren’t heavy-handed enough; you should have killed me outright.

Sister, how thrilling is it to sleep with someone else’s husband?

I didn’t know you were so desperate you couldn’t wait a moment.

Even my two kicks and a mouse squeak couldn’t stop you.”

Yu Yuanzheng sneered at the couple, her words vulgar yet irrefutable.

Nothing like what a refined lady should say—she sounded like a common shrew in the marketplace—but no one dared to rebuke her.

By now, Yu Chaoyang was already paralyzed with fear, his face a mix of helplessness and shame.

Shangguan Zishu also wished he could sink into the ground.

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“Uncle, this marriage swap cannot be achieved by just Sister and Second Young Master alone.

Only by dragging me into this can you fulfill your wishes.

You want to be a whore and build a monument to chastity too—you’re playing a cunning game.

So our second branch’s demands aren’t high; just divide out our share according to the proper rules, and we’ll let this matter drop.”

Yu Yuanzheng then turned with a smile toward the two eldest masters of the Earl’s mansion, waiting for their decision.

“You, you, you’re not Yu Yuanzheng—who exactly are you?” Suddenly, Yu Chaoyang screamed madly.

“Sister, have you lost your mind? Aside from being my father’s daughter, who else could I be? Oh, right, I’m now the wife of the heir of the Prince of Rong’s mansion—the identity you refuse to accept.” Yu Yuanzheng’s smile was radiant.

“Why are you so different from how you are inside the mansion?”

“Didn’t I tell you I was pretending? Otherwise, how could I live here in the Earl’s mansion? You’ve bullied me so much it’s become a habit; now that I won’t let you bully me, you can’t accept it?” Yu Yuanzheng mocked.

“You... you just wait.” Yu Chaoyang gritted his teeth fiercely.

“What? Planning to get back at me after you become the heir’s wife? Don’t forget, I’m already married to the eldest legitimate son of the Prince of Rong—that makes me your sister-in-law. Even if you become the heir’s wife, you’ll still have to call me sister-in-law.” Yu Yuanzheng exposed his thoughts outright.

“Yang’er, don’t speak, listen to your elders.” Shangguan Zishu grabbed Yu Chaoyang before he could say more.

“Enough, Yunxin, divide the family. Give their second branch a house—a two-courtyard residence over on Changshun Street.” The matriarch decided with a dark expression.

She glanced at the second branch like looking at enemies for a few moments.

“Father, what proportion of the Earl’s mansion’s property is this?” Yu Yuanzheng ignored the matriarch’s cold face and asked her father.

“A concubine’s son, do you think he can share the inheritance equally with legitimate sons?” The matriarch’s anger flared.

Back then, the old Earl had humiliated this legitimate wife repeatedly for that woman and protected her so tightly that otherwise, this concubine’s son would never have been born.

This was a latent danger.

“I wonder how grandfather’s illegitimate younger brother’s inheritance was divided back then?” Yu Yuanzheng truly didn’t know.

“When second uncle divided his share, he got two shops in the bustling market, a 200-acre estate, and a three-courtyard residence, with twenty servants and household items worth 30,000 taels of silver.” Yu Yunzhi reported meticulously—he was in charge of the mansion’s internal affairs and knew these details well.

“Our demands aren’t high—just the same as second uncle’s share.” Yu Yuanzheng was content with this figure. The main branch wouldn’t agree to more, and causing too much conflict was unwise; after all, a single document cannot bear two ‘Yu’ family names.

In this feudal era, family loyalty was profound.

In truth, this property was only a small fraction of the Earl’s mansion’s wealth.

“Mother, just agree to their terms. After all, second brother is still a descendant of our Yu family.” Yu Yunxin, unlike his mother, did not harbor resentment toward Yu Yunzhi.

Because he too had an illegitimate son.

Though there was distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, that was still his child. That child would also learn about this division in the future.

He truly admired Yu Yuanzheng’s boldness.

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His niece, who usually had no presence in the mansion, had pulled off such a coup today.

In the future, his daughter and she would live under the same roof, which naturally caused him some worry.

He decided to cozy up to the prince later.

The matriarch said nothing, rose with heavy steps, cast a fierce glance at Yu Yunzhi as she passed, then left.

What did that mean?

“All right, second brother, we are one family; no need to quarrel so much. Big brother knows you’ve suffered grievances all these years. Even after division, big brother will still look after you.” Yu Yunxin knew to speak soothing words at this moment.

After negotiation, the second branch received two profitable shops, a three-courtyard villa, and a 150-acre farm, though it was somewhat far—over one hundred miles away.

They also retained eighteen servants accustomed to their household.

They were very satisfied with so much.

Back in the second branch, the younger brother and sister joyfully gathered around their eldest sister, chatting and laughing.

“Big sister, you were so mighty today.” Yu Qingsheng had never seen his sister so assertive; he wouldn’t have dared to be so brazen before the eldest uncle and matriarch.

“Big sister, can I go to the girls’ academy to study now?” Yu Yueyin looked up pleadingly.

At ten years old, she didn’t understand adult matters and still retained innocence. With such a big sister to shield her, Yu Chaoyang had not bullied her.

“Yes, Yinyin, what do you want to learn?” Yu Yuanzheng coaxed her like a child.

In her previous life, at thirty-eight, she was no child—yet facing such a young one, she was just a kid again.

“I want to learn to play the zither.” Yu Yueyin’s status in the Earl’s mansion was low; she could not be taught privately by a governess.

Whereas Yu Chaoyang could hire several masters to instruct him.

That was the difference between legitimate and illegitimate.

“All right, then learn to play the zither.” Yu Yuanzheng patted her head.

“Father, no time to delay—let’s start moving today. It’s only early afternoon now; if the matriarch tries to sabotage us again, we have no grandfather to back us up, and I can only stay home one day.” Yu Yuanzheng suggested.

“Isn’t that a bit too rushed? We don’t have enough hands, and this time isn’t sufficient.”

Yu Yunzhi was still stunned by the sudden turn of events.