Li Shiyue's outfit consisted of overlapping moon white and snow white, and the gold hairpin with a floral tree design in her hair was particularly eye-catching, which clashed terribly with her current attire.

She reached out and removed the gold hairpin, its sharp point catching everyone's eye. Madam Xu, startled, quickly reached out her hand. Li Shiyue smiled and placed the hairpin in Madam Xu's palm.

“Grandmother, I wouldn’t do anything foolish. This gold hairpin was made when I was at the Earl’s mansion. I had Chunling find two iron stones, and I spent the whole night grinding them to make it so sharp.”

"If it weren't for him, my days in the Earl's mansion would have been even more difficult, but thankfully it's all over now." Li Shiyue turned her head and smiled slightly, but there was more bitterness in her mouth.

"What makes you think that I must marry you and become your bride?"

She stood up and walked step by step to Xu Yunyang, her hands hanging casually at her sides. The moment she closed her eyes, a slight smile appeared on her lips, which sent a chill down Xu Yunyang's spine.

She wished she could have used that gold hairpin to plunge it deep into Xu Yunyang's chest just now—a selfish, immoral, hypocritical, and heartless person.

She was standing with her back to everyone, so only Xu Yunyang could see her face clearly and the mockery in her eyes.

"It was you, you did it on purpose!" Xu Yunyang struggled to get up, but was pushed back down.

Li Shiyue didn't move, tilting her head to look at him. Her raised eyebrows and smiling expression said it all. Turning around, her eyes were filled with sorrow: "Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt."

She knelt on the ground, and Xu Yunci reacted the fastest, taking a big step to help her up.

Seeing this, Yang had no time to wonder. Li Shiyue had already dodged Xu Yunci's hand and said in a calm tone, "Today's matter was caused by me. It involves matters of state and has nothing to do with Yan Yan. However, my third cousin's actions today hurt me. If I cannot guarantee his future, I will not be able to eat or sleep in peace."

Madam Yang got up and helped her up. Seeing her furrowed brows, she glanced at her back and said, "What did the female doctor say? I was terrified to hear you were injured."

"You're injured? Where are you injured?" Old Madam Xu said, reaching out as if to expose Li Shiyue naked in front of everyone.

Chunling quickly replied, "Reporting to the old lady and the duchess, the female physician has already come to see you. This servant and Liandong have applied ointment to the young lady, but there is a large bruise on the young lady's back. Fortunately, it will not leave any scars."

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Xu was so distressed that she couldn't speak. She pulled Li Shiyue aside and said coldly, "Eldest son, you handle it. If he doesn't repent, it's better to divide the family. Forcing him will only distract you more."

Having said that, she didn't care what others thought, and took Li Shiyue's hand as they returned to Shousong Hall. As soon as they entered the courtyard, Old Madam Xu pulled her hand and led her into the inner room.

When Xu Yunci arrived, Old Madam Xu was sitting on the wooden couch. He looked around and saw that Li Shiyue had already dressed and come out.

However, the gold hairpin in her hair bun had already been replaced by a small apricot-pink white jade begonia crown and a pair of white jade hairpins with floral branches, each inserted into one side.

"Father has already made the decision that only the second branch of the family has been separated. As for whose protection the second branch of the family will seek in the future, whether it will be a blessing or a curse, it has nothing to do with the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. Their life and death are up to fate."

“Go through the household accounts to get what the second branch of the family should have received over the years, plus two estates in the suburbs. The rest is up to them to take care of in the west courtyard.”

"Father gave the courtyard with one entrance and one exit in the southwest direction of the Imperial Street to Second Uncle. This is the last thing Father, as the eldest brother, gave to Second Uncle."

Hearing a commotion outside, Xu Yunci didn't say anything, but he could guess that the west courtyard was starting to move things.

With her eyes closed, it was clear that the old lady was thinking of the old Duke.

Li Shiyue walked out, deliberately not making her footsteps very light, and went straight to Madam Xu's side. Just as she was about to squat down, Madam Xu pulled her up and made her sit next to her.

"Grandmother".

"Why did you come out? I told you to rest properly." Old Madam Xu's eyes were filled with heartache, but she couldn't hide her exhaustion. Even though she didn't like the second branch of the family, she was still a little unaccustomed to the separation of the family today.

But in the end, they're not my bloodline, they don't share my feelings, and no one understands my heartache.

Li Shiyue nestled into Madam Xu's arms, her voice muffled: "I can't lie here, Jiaojiao misses you."

Even if it was premeditated, she could still picture Xu Yunyang's sinister gaze as she walked out of the ancestral hall when she closed her eyes. She kept telling herself not to be afraid, but the memories of her past life lingered in her mind.

Those memories, accompanied by Xu Yunyang's sinister gaze, seemed to constantly shroud her, creating a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere from which she could not escape.

She was a woman with no physical strength, possessing only the title of county princess. If she wanted to drive Xu Yunyang out of the Xu family, she could only use herself as bait.

The saying goes, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," and that oriole is Xu Yunci.

But there was still one thing to do. She closed her eyes and buried her face completely in Madam Xu's arms, her voice even more muffled than before: "Grandmother, I don't want to get married, okay? I really don't want to get married."

Madam Xu paused, looking at the little head in her arms, and then looked at Xu Yunci. Her expression was so complex that it could be described as a mixture of all the flavors of life.

With a soft sigh, Old Madam Xu pretended not to see and avoided Xu Yunci's gaze: "Fine, we won't marry her. Jiaojiao will stay with her maternal grandmother and won't go anywhere else."

Li Shiyue nestled in Old Madam Xu's arms. Xu Yunci's gaze was very direct. She deliberately spoke out to tell Xu Yunci that she was unwilling to accept this marriage, no matter who it was.

Regardless of her status, position, or power, she was unwilling. Li Shiyue refused to sit up, clinging to Old Madam Xu and refusing to let go.

Fearing to touch the scars on her back, Old Madam Xu only dared to place her hand on her shoulder, not daring to touch any other part of her body. After seeing it just now, Old Madam Xu was only angry at herself for being so clear-headed.

That large bruise on the back—if it leaves a scar, how will she ever find a good husband? A woman's beauty is for her own pleasure; if she has a scar, she'll be the first person she won't forgive—that rebellious son.

"Now that we've separated, their life or death is none of our business. If the Prince of Yan truly belongs to that throne, they will have their own fortune, and that's none of our concern."

Madam Xu sighed softly, her gaze fixed on Xu Yunci, fixed on the person in her arms, with a hint of disappointment: "I'm making this clear today, anyone who dares to disturb Jiaojiao's peace and quiet will be punished by me personally."

Back when Xu Yunbo was young, he made his younger sisters cry loudly and showed no remorse. He was punished by the family, and it was Old Madam Xu who personally carried it out. Xu Yunbo didn't dare to hold anything for a month.