Shen Wan was taken aback by Yin Shuang's words, but then a bright smile bloomed on her lips.

Without any prior warning, the Third Master was suddenly transferred to a post outside the capital. Without asking, it must have been Father's doing.

Father wanted to beat his son to death and drown him in Yunnan, but the old lady refused. Father then wanted to separate the third branch of the family from the main mansion, but the old lady threatened to kill herself again. Father didn't say anything at the time, because he had already made arrangements and didn't want to waste words with the old lady, lest he lose the dignity of a dignified marquis.

In my past life, my father was caught off guard and was harmed by them. After all, he was a general who commanded a large army and was deeply trusted by the emperor. How could he be forced to abandon his principles by an old woman?

You should listen to your father and obediently separate the family property. With that, the old lady could still see her sons and grandsons every few days. But now that they've been sent away, it's no different from separating the family altogether; not only that, the old lady will hardly see them again for a year or two.

I wonder if the old lady is satisfied with this result?

Shen Wan was very curious.

The news of the Third Master's transfer to another post has already reached the Ling Prince's residence, and it should have reached the Old Madam's ears by now.

Inside the Qinghui Courtyard.

The old lady is having dinner.

Lately, many things have been troubling her, and the old lady has had a poor appetite. She can't even eat half of what she usually eats at each meal. The kitchen staff has been racking their brains to get her to eat more. Usually, the old lady's meal consists of six dishes and a soup, but today they made nine dishes and a soup. However, the old lady only tasted one bite of each dish before putting down her ivory chopsticks.

Seeing this, Madam Sun said, "Madam, please eat a few more bites. You're not eating enough."

Sun's mother has said this countless times these past few days. She's never tired of it, but the old lady's ears are practically calloused from hearing it so much.

The old lady waved her hand, "Take the food away."

She raised her arm, and Grandma Sun helped her sit on the small couch.

The old lady sat down and reached for her teacup. Just then, a young maid rushed in from behind the screen, saying urgently, "Old Madam, something terrible has happened! The Third Master has been banished by the Emperor!"

Clang.

The old lady had just picked up her teacup when she heard the maid's words. Her hand froze, and the teacup slipped from her grasp and fell onto the table, with tea dripping down the small table and onto the floor.

The maidservant hurried forward to tidy up, but after taking only one step, the old lady angrily threw the tea tray she was holding onto the small table, startling the maidservant.

The old lady's face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

She gripped the prayer beads so tightly that she almost crushed them.

"Go and invite the Marquis!"

These four words were practically squeezed out from between her teeth.

Even Shen Wan guessed that it was Shen Jing's doing, so how could the old lady not guess?

Not only Shen Wan and the old lady, but everyone in the Marquis's mansion could guess it.

The old lady's face was more pale than ever before.

However, what made the old lady's face even uglier was yet to come: the maid went to invite Chen Jing, but she couldn't get him to come.

The maidservant ran back and reported, "The Marquis said he has military affairs to attend to and is too busy to come."

The old lady was already furious, and when she sent someone to invite Shen Jing, he didn't even come, which only added fuel to the fire.

The third master and his wife were also there. The third master's face was ashen, and the third wife cried, "The Marquis is determined to kick our third branch out of the Marquis's mansion..."

The old lady glared at her, "You still have the nerve to cry?! It's all your nephew's doing!"

One sentence from him silenced the third wife so badly she didn't even dare to cry.

If she weren't afraid of her daughter becoming a widow, she would have killed her good-for-nothing, troublesome nephew long ago.

After ruining her daughter, he ruined her son, and now he's dragging their entire third branch of the family down with him. What sins did she commit to deserve such a family and such a jinx?

The third wife was filled with remorse, while the old lady had already stood up, supported by Granny Sun.

Since Shen Jing is too busy to see her, she will go see him instead!

Sun's mother helped the old lady to the front yard and then to Chen Jing's study.

The old lady couldn't even remember the last time she came to Shen Jing's study. She was the old lady of the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, and Shen Jing had always treated her with great respect. If she wanted to see Shen Jing, she only needed to send someone to deliver a message, and Shen Jing would come to see her. But at this hour, she wanted to come to the study to see Shen Jing. The old lady's face was very long.

Inside the study, Shen Jing was writing a memorial when a servant knocked on the door and said, "My lord, the old lady has arrived."

Shen Jing had anticipated the old lady's arrival and didn't even lift an eyelid.

After the old lady entered the study, Chen Jing did not get up.

Over the years, he had been aware of the old lady's selfish motives, and as long as they weren't excessive, he would turn a blind eye. But this time, the old lady's protectiveness and threat of suicide had crossed Shen Jing's bottom line.

When the old lady walked in, Shen Jing was still writing a memorial. The old lady clenched her prayer beads and said coldly, "Is the Marquis's military affairs really that busy?!"

Shen Jing frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. "Did the old lady only find out today that I've been busy with military affairs?"

The old lady choked, as if someone had grabbed her throat, and couldn't utter a single word.

The old lady took a deep breath before slowly speaking, "I know that the Marquis is busy with military affairs. I have always wanted the second and third sons to help you share the burden. You are brothers by blood. Sending the third son out for the sake of a disobedient nephew is too cruel. You should ask the Emperor to rescind his order. I agree to let you separate the third branch of the family from the Marquis's mansion."

The old lady tried her best to be gentle, but Shen Jing's expression grew increasingly grim.

Steward Li stood aside, at a loss for words. The old lady's protectiveness was truly boundless. She shielded the third branch of the family, completely disregarding the Marquis's status as the head of the household, forcing the Marquis to recommend the third master to the Emperor for an official post. Now that the Marquis was serious, she had backed down, agreeing to the third branch's division of the family property and asking the Marquis to ask the Emperor to rescind his order. Steward Li wondered whether the old lady was actually helping or harming the third branch.

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