This return home was the first time Yan Yunyao could finally hold her head high.

Madam Yan looked at her spirited daughter, who seemed different from before.

She said with relief, "Yun'er, what good thing happened to you?"

"Mother! I've brought all the shops back," Yan Yunyao said with a smile.

"All of them?" Madam Yan couldn't believe it.

Over the years, she has been heartbroken to see her daughter so weak and vulnerable. Even her dowry shop was swindled away by the Xu family.

She wanted to help, but there was nothing she could do.

After all, it wouldn't be appropriate for Madam Yan to keep an eye on the Xu family's backyard every day.

Besides, there's a whole host of problems in my own backyard.

"Yes, Mother, I have taken back all the shops that were part of my dowry. I will not let the Xu family bully me anymore." Yan Yunyao's eyes flashed with confidence.

Madam Yan looked at her in surprise, as if she didn't recognize the person in front of her. "Yun'er, how did you do that?"

Yan Yunyao smiled gently and told her mother what had happened.

Madam Yan knew her son-in-law's temperament, and it was difficult to take back what he had said in a moment of impulse.

The key was that he saw Yan Yunyao's strong will.

She's not the easy person she used to be.

“Mother, I’ve figured it out. I’m the legitimate daughter of a marquis, and marrying into a duke’s household is already a step down. My husband’s official position was promoted so quickly, all thanks to my aunt’s connections. Why should my mother-in-law still act like a bully in front of me?”

Over the past three years, Madam Xu has certainly put her through a lot of torment.

Upon hearing this, Madam Yan was moved to tears, saying, "My Yun'er has grown up and become so brave and intelligent."

Yan Yunyao hugged her mother, "Mother, I was too cowardly in the past and made you worry. Now, I will never let anyone bully us again."

"Yes, you must tell your mother if anything happens. I was wrong before, I wasn't a strong support for my daughter." Tears welled up in Madam Yan's eyes.

In the past, she always believed that harmony in the family would bring prosperity, and that as long as she made concessions, the Marquis of Yongning would eventually see her good qualities.

It's shameful for a mistress to always be jealous and rival the concubines.

Little did anyone expect that during the years his son was bedridden, the Marquis would try every means to depose his son from his position as heir apparent.

Just think, if her son were really deposed, where would the Marquis's mansion have a place for the mother and son?

Madam Yan longed to go back in time and open her own brain to see how much water it contained.

She had endured this for so many years simply because the Marquis wanted to win his heart.

"Yes, Mother, I will never let you suffer any more grievances in the future," Yan Yunyao said, gently patting her mother's back.

"I wonder what brings Mother back today?" Yan Yunyao asked.

"Come here, I'll show you a portrait." Madam Yan said mysteriously, which successfully piqued Yan Yunyao's interest.

The mother opened the portrait; it depicted a beautiful woman.

Yan Yunyao asked suspiciously, "Mother! Who is this?"

"What do you think about being your sister-in-law?"

Yan Yunyao understood, "Since you're consulting with your elder brother, shouldn't you discuss it with him?"

"I wanted to see it for you first, and I think it's fine." Madam Yan looked at the portrait with delight.

"Whose daughter is this?" The mother is so pleased; her family background must be quite good.

Yan Yunyao has been confined to the inner quarters for many years and is now unfamiliar with the noble ladies of the capital.

"The eldest daughter of the Minister of War," her mother said with a smile.

"Minister of War?" Now it was Yan Yunyao's turn to be surprised.

This isn't something her mother can just decide to do.

"Yes, Madam Song came to propose marriage in person." Madam Yan couldn't hide her joy.

"Mother, this is a marriage of convenience. Will Miss Song agree to it?"

Yan Yunyao was not overwhelmed with joy like her mother.

Marrying down is not a good thing.

If Miss Song is forced to marry based solely on her parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words, she will harbor resentment and cause trouble in the Yan family, which would be disastrous.

“Your concerns are valid. Your mother called you here to make a decision. We haven’t told your father about this yet. If he finds out, he’ll definitely try to curry favor with him, and then your older brother will lose face too.”

Lady Yan was always blinded by love; she used to think everything about Marquis Yongning was wonderful.

Now that he's cleared his head, he finds fault with everything about Marquis Yongning.

"Let's ask our elder brother's opinion first. If he's interested, let the two of them meet."

Yan Yunyao had suffered in her marriage and didn't want her older brother to encounter bad people as well.

In her eyes, her older brother was a first-rate good man.

However, Miss Song was unaware of this.

If a woman is forced into an arranged marriage and harbors resentment, she will not be able to see even the best man.

“Alright! Let me ask your elder brother what he thinks first,” said Madam Yan.

Yan Yunyao knew that her mother was just missing her.

There's no need for her, the younger sister, to advise on her elder brother's marriage.

Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door, announcing that someone from the Xu family had come to fetch the young lady back to her residence.

Yan Yunyao's face turned cold.

My mother-in-law did this on purpose.

She wanted to show off in front of her family.

Yan Yunyao instructed, "Send the Xu family back. I'm staying at the Marquis's residence today."

Madam Yan was secretly surprised.

My daughter has really changed.

Yan Yunyao composed herself, turned to her mother and said, "Mother, then I won't leave today."

"That's fine, Yi-jie has never lived at her maternal grandparents' house since birth."

Madam Yan was referring to Xu Zhangyi, Yan Yunyao's daughter.

She fell asleep on the carriage and slept all the way to her maternal grandparents' house.

The wet nurse took the child to the inner room to sleep.

Yan Yunyao said, "Then my daughter will stay at her maternal grandparents' house with Yi'er and won't leave."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!