Ye Lanyin murmured, "Zhao, Zou, Zhu! So that's how it is!"

"The same homonym suggests that the Crown Prince might be a cousin of Lin Shixuan. Only with such blood ties would someone disregard the opposition of ministers and the people and be single-mindedly focused on restoring the Zhu family."

"After all, even the emperor needs a powerful maternal family as a backing."

The old general was horrified after hearing this.

Ye Wennan agreed.

“Little sister, if the Emperor finds out about Zou Shuang’er, it will surely implicate you and the children. You must leave the Marquis’s residence as soon as possible.”

"I see."

Ye Lanyin then looked at the old general: "Father, I have a request."

The old general was heartbroken for his daughter; he would have agreed to have ten daughters, let alone one.

He said in a sharp voice, "Speak, and I will certainly do it."

"After the imperial examination, I would like you to help me invite Master Xuanchan down the mountain and ask him to exorcise the evil spirits in the Marquis's mansion."

"Okay, don't worry, I will definitely deliver it to you."

Then, his gaze turned to Ye Wennan.

"Second brother, I also need your help. I don't trust anyone anymore, I only trust my family."

"You said it, and your second brother will definitely do it."

"I want you to go to Luochuan County and find me a thirty-four-year-old woman, preferably who will give birth in the forty-eighth year of Tianyuan."

"Okay, your second brother will definitely find it for you."

Ye Lanyin looked at the two of them, wondering how she could possibly have such family members who silently supported her.

It's all because she's unfilial that she's dragged the Ye family down and caused her elderly father so much worry.

"Little sister, take this jade pendant. It's not of much use to your second brother, but it might be of some help to you."

She tried to calm her anger, "Okay, thank you, Second Brother."

The atmosphere gradually eased, and the old general then looked at Lin Rui'an, who had been sitting quietly in his seat.

His stern gaze softened.

"Ruian, the scientific expedition is next month. Are you confident?"

"This time, the Imperial Academy is recruiting students, and the General's Mansion and the Marquis's Mansion each have one quota, but the Marquis of Zhenbei will definitely not give you one."

“My maternal grandfather was heartbroken. Your cousin Yurong said he didn’t want to go to the Imperial Academy and asked me to give you the spot.”

Lin Rui'an calmly said, "Grandfather, let Cousin Yurong go. I can still learn well even if I don't go to the Imperial Academy."

The boy's gaze was firm, his clean face expressionless, and a faint smile played on his lips, leaving the old general momentarily unsure whether to feel heartache or sadness.

My grandson is only fourteen years old, but he is more mature and composed than Yurong, who is sixteen.

"Good child, your grandfather is heartbroken to hear this." The old general wiped away a tear.

Why didn't Ye Lanyin feel indebted to her eldest son?

"Father, don't be sad. It's a good thing that we found out now. If it weren't for Wanwan..."

She stopped mid-sentence.

Everyone understood.

Lin Rui'an's gaze was gentle, and his voice was clear and resonant.

“Mother, your son is not suffering. Having a healthy body is better than anything else. You don’t need to feel indebted.”

“It is your sons and brothers who have dragged you down and put so much pressure on you.”

If it weren't for them, Mother wouldn't have had to endure such humiliation and hardship.

“Silly children, you are my children. My hardships are my own choice and have nothing to do with you. It is my fault for not giving you a healthy family and for not loving you from a young age.”

The old general neither confirmed nor denied it.

If I had insisted more back then, would my daughter have refused to marry?

He shook his head. "Alright, why say all this? With your grandfather here, he will definitely protect you."

He thought for a moment, then glanced at his second son.

"Have the ministers in the court been discussing anything with Wanwan?"

"No, on the contrary, everyone is secretly cursing the Marquis of Zhenbei for favoring his concubines over his wife and for valuing concubines over legitimate wives."

"My son always felt that His Majesty deliberately demoted him. During this sacrificial ceremony, he actually carried Wanwan to light up the Purple Spirit Pearl."

The old general's hand trembled slightly. "And then?"

"Fortunately, it was the Seventh Prince who snatched the chick from my sister's arms and placed it on the altar, lighting the spirit pearl."

"Otherwise, if it were Wanwan who lit it up, it might become a tool for the Marquis of Zhenbei to use."

Ye Wennan felt a chill run down his spine just thinking about it.

He was down there at the time, and luckily the line wasn't arranged according to official rank, but rather on a first-come, first-served basis. He was standing at the very front and saw that familiar little chick.

It was the very one that Wanwan had just grabbed.

Ye Lanyin remained silent.

"Daughter, have you thought about your plans regarding the backgrounds of these children?"

“They will grow up eventually, and their sharpness will likely become impossible to conceal in the future. What if their biological father finds out and tries to take the children from the Marquis of Zhenbei?”

"At that time, Father fears the world..."

The old general felt sorry for Ye Lanyin. The noble lady he had painstakingly raised had ended up with a tarnished reputation, which was the last thing he wanted to see.

In this world, women value their reputation; it's their fate.

Second Uncle Ye Wennan clenched his fists slightly.

My sister is an innocent woman. She was married to the Marquis of Zhenbei with a grand wedding procession, but she spent her wedding night with someone else.

Who doesn't hate?

But then I thought again, and I was glad that I hadn't been defiled by such a person.

"Don't be afraid, Dad. The child's father wouldn't do that."

As soon as Ye Lanyin finished speaking, the room fell silent, and even the sighs stopped abruptly.

Old General: ? ? ?

Ye Wennan: ? ? ?

The two held their breath, waiting for Ye Lanyin to continue.

Ye Lanyin looked a little embarrassed and lowered her voice as she said:

"Father, second brother, the child's father is... the Regent."

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