Yan Yunyao joked, her face full of ease.

Madam Yan was relieved.

At this moment, the wet nurse brought Xu Zhangyi over.

Xu Zhangyi struggled to get down.

"Mother!" The three-year-old child was unsteady on his feet, so Yan Yunyao opened her arms and hugged the child tightly.

"Grandma!" The child's sweet voice melted Madam Yan's heart.

Quickly take the child in: "Why don't you stay with your maternal grandmother for the next few days and keep her company?"

"Yes, my granddaughter likes her maternal grandmother." The child, only three years old, speaks so fluently, which delighted Madam Yan.

A rare moment of joy and laughter in the Yan family.

At dinner time, the family gathered together happily. Yan Yunyao looked at her well-behaved and adorable daughter, her heart filled with joy.

After dinner, Yan Yunyao put her daughter to sleep and then went to her mother's room.

"Mother, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," Yan Yunyao said softly.

Madam Yan looked at her with a smile, "What's the matter that makes you so serious?"

Yan Yunyao took a deep breath. "I will personally manage those shops in the future, and I may even make public appearances."

Madam Yan was stunned. "Why must you personally run the shop?"

A confident glint flashed in Yan Yunyao's eyes. "Mother, my husband's heart isn't with me anymore. I don't want to continue to compromise like this. I want to forge a path for myself and my daughter."

“No woman from a prominent family goes out in public; if you do this, the Xu family will dislike you even more.” Madam Yan said worriedly, holding her daughter’s hand. “Have you thought this through?”

Yan Yunyao nodded. "Mother, I've thought it through. I want to fight for a better future for myself and my daughter."

Madam Yan sighed, "Since you've made your decision, then I support you. However, you will face a lot of criticism in the future."

Although Daqing prohibits officials from engaging in business, it is indeed difficult for them to support a large family with their meager salaries.

As long as one doesn't engage in prohibited businesses like smuggled salt, the imperial court will turn a blind eye.

If a woman runs her own dowry shop, no one will interfere.

The Xu family's income over the years has mostly come from Yan Yunyao's shop and the various flavors of pastries she developed.

However, over the years, not a single person has expressed gratitude.

They just treated her like a sucker.

So what's wrong with all the profits going into her own pocket? As for the fate of the Earl's mansion, what does it have to do with her?

Her father-in-law and Xu Qing's concubines were brought into the house one by one, and she supported them with real money!

But what good did it all amount to?

Madam Yan gave a few more instructions, nodding, "When you get back, have a good talk with your son-in-law. If anything happens, just send someone to let him know."

Yan Yunyao responded.

She made up her mind: if Xu Qing felt ashamed of her, then they should just end things!

As long as she dares to challenge the Xu family, she naturally won't be afraid of the consequences.

No matter how impoverished the Marquis's mansion is, it wouldn't be afraid of the equally impoverished Earl's mansion.

Now that his elder brother has gained favor with the Emperor, Xu Qing doesn't dare to openly turn against the Marquis's mansion.

Having made up her mind, Yan Yunyao realized that once a person takes the first step, they will take countless more.

Yan Yunyao stayed at her parents' home for five full days before returning to her own residence.

Madam Xu, her face ashen, waited for her. "Kneel down!"

Madam Xu shouted angrily.

"Aren't you being a bit too bold? Every day, the people I send to pick you up come back empty-handed. Why don't you just stay at your parents' house forever and never come back?"

Madam Xu's face no longer displayed the usual dignified elegance; now it appeared distorted.

"What did my daughter-in-law do wrong to deserve kneeling?" Yan Yunyao remained unmoved.

In the past, whenever Madam Xu got angry, Yan Yunyao would kneel down regardless of whether she had made a mistake or not.

Sometimes they would kneel for several hours at a time.

Now! Don't even think about it.

While Daqing values ​​filial piety, this is not a reason for mothers-in-law to arbitrarily mistreat their daughters-in-law.

"Well, you've really grown bold now, daring to talk to me like that!" Madam Xu pointed at Yan Yunyao's nose and scolded.

Yan Yunyao looked directly at her with neither arrogance nor servility, "If the mother-in-law thinks her daughter-in-law is guilty, she might as well explain why, otherwise the daughter-in-law will not know what crime she has committed."

Madam Xu's chest heaved with anger. She had intended to give Yan Yunyao a hard time, but she hadn't expected her to become so defiant. However, she maintained her composure and said sternly, "Your failure to return home is a heinous crime! I told you to kneel down and admit your mistake, and you dared to disobey! Isn't this disobeying your elders?"

Yan Yunyao sneered, "Mother-in-law, that's a strange thing to say. Does a daughter-in-law become a heinous criminal just because she stayed at her parents' house for a few days? If that's the case, then are there any innocent people in this world?"

Madam Xu was speechless, never expecting that the usually docile Yan Yunyao would become so sharp-tongued.

Just as she was thinking about how to refute, Yan Yunyao spoke up again, "The daughter-in-law is just going back to her parents' home to visit her relatives. What law stipulates that a daughter-in-law cannot return home? If the mother-in-law wants to punish the daughter-in-law for not returning home, the daughter-in-law would like to ask whether this charge is valid!" Yan Yunyao's eyes were sharp and she did not back down.

Madam Xu was speechless. She indeed could not find any legal basis to punish Yan Yunyao.

"Besides, I don't think I've done anything to disobey my mother-in-law. Why is she demanding that I kneel down without even knowing the facts? Is she trying to assert her authority?" Yan Yunyao continued, her tone becoming increasingly forceful.

Madam Xu's face turned extremely ugly. She hadn't expected that Yan Yunyao would not only dare to talk back to her, but also leave her speechless.

"You...you're just being unreasonable!" Madam Xu was furious and raised her hand to hit Yan Yunyao.

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