Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 63

“Master, that thing has fallen into Liu Yifu’s hands.”

Yan Xingzhou’s expression darkened, fury flashing in his eyes. “What use are you lot to this palace? A bunch of trash—can’t even handle a bookish scholar with no strength to bind a chicken!”

“Liu Yifu?” His lips twisted. “That man is like that old dog Censor Chen—unyielding, incorruptible. Hard and soft alike won’t work on him. I say, why don’t we just—”

“Your Highness must not!” someone nearby interjected sharply, brows knitted in disapproval.

Yan Xingzhou turned, lips pressed tight in displeasure. “And what brilliant idea do you have?”

The man sat in shadow, eyes inscrutable. “Your Highness’s scheme, using Futing to frame Chi Yan, was already killing a chicken with a butcher’s knife. To then order men to set fire to Chunfeng Brothel—reckless. Now that things have escalated, His Majesty will surely demand a thorough investigation!”

“You dare accuse His Highness?” another advisor cut in, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Yan Xingzhou himself was far from pleased, but he swallowed down his temper.

The man in shadow lifted his gaze, tone calm as still water. “I speak only for His Highness’s greater cause. Whereas Mister Chu here has time and again urged His Highness into reckless acts, exposing himself prematurely. One wonders whose game he truly plays.”

The one called Mister Chu flushed scarlet. “You—!”

“Enough! Is this the time for bickering?” Yan Xingzhou snapped, temples throbbing. He looked back at the calm man. “Continue.”

The man spoke evenly. “If Your Highness strikes at Liu Yifu now, the death of a court official is leagues apart from that of a brothel courtesan. His Majesty would be enraged. He’d order the Three Judicial Offices to dig to the roots—and who knows what branches may be dragged down with it…”

Yan Xingzhou narrowed his eyes, voice low and sharp. “But come tomorrow’s court session, Liu Yifu will surely present everything to Father. Am I to simply sit idle?”

Futing was a chess piece he had cultivated with such painstaking effort, and before her worth could be reaped, she was dead. Even the intelligence she had gathered had fallen into another’s hands. How could he swallow this?

The man chuckled. “Who said Your Highness must sit idle? On the contrary, this is the perfect chance to divert disaster elsewhere.”

Yan Xingzhou’s eyes snapped open. “You mean—?”

The man lowered his gaze, lips curving faintly. “Has Your Highness forgotten? The Crown Prince still commands the border army. Reports of victory arrive daily—within a month, he will march home in triumph. His Majesty has long chafed at the power of the Empress’s clan. Why not take this opportunity to salt the wound?”

Yan Xingzhou’s gaze flickered, then slowly curled into a smile. “Indeed. You have a way—while I nearly lost my head to anger.”

“Your Highness flatters me.”

—

The next morning, within Fu Rong Courtyard.

Chi Yan knelt on the cold floor, surrounded on all sides, the scene arranged like a tribunal.

Hoping to get the lecture over with quickly, he adopted a meek, obedient air, bowing low. “This matter arose from my own frivolity. I caused such chaos—may Grandmother punish me as she sees fit.”

He finished and knocked his head soundly to the ground.

For a long moment, silence. Then a cold laugh drifted from above. Old Madam’s voice was cutting, still heavy with anger. “At least you know enough to confess before I even open my mouth. But do you understand? The family’s face has been utterly trampled by you, you little wretch!”

Madam Chi, his mother, forced a nervous smile. “Mother, this time Yan’er was framed. It was never his fault. Now the Prefecture has already cleared him and released him, isn’t that proof enough?”

Madam Hou covered her lips with her handkerchief, voice airy. “Even so, outsiders won’t know the truth. What they’ll think of the Chi family… that’s another matter.”

Madam Chi stiffened, only for Madam Hou’s light tone to continue. “Sister-in-law, forgive me for being blunt. But Yan’er’s reputation has long been less than stellar. Had this scandal befallen another, people might not have assumed so readily. But with him… well.”

Madam Chi’s face flushed green with anger. For once, she snapped back, voice sharp. “So, in your eyes, my son deserved to be slandered? He suffers unjust disaster, yet it’s still his fault?”

Shen Tangning raised her brows slightly, surprised. For her ever-cautious mother-in-law to speak so fiercely—she must truly be livid.

Madam Hou arched a brow delicately. But before she could retort, Old Madam’s cold voice rang again. “If he’d lived by the rules, would this have come to pass? So many young men in the capital—why should anyone choose to frame him?”

Her gaze slid to the silent Chi Yan, eyes gleaming with disdain. “Most likely, he swaggered too much, offended someone, and now reaps the revenge.”

Madam Chi’s heart chilled.

So this was family—her son suffering injustice, yet instead of comfort, all he received was scorn.

Had the one in trouble been Chi Jingyu, Old Madam would never speak so ruthlessly.

Clutching her chest, she forced through her teeth, “Old Madam…”

“Grandmother’s lesson is just!” Chi Yan’s voice suddenly broke in. Head still bowed, no one could see his expression. Only Shen Tangning, from her angle, glimpsed the faint curve of his lips.

A bitter, self-mocking smile.

“This disgrace is mine alone. I’ve sullied the Chi name, brought shame upon the household, caused all of you to bear the brunt of ridicule. I willingly accept punishment.”

Old Madam gave a cold laugh. “Good. Since it is your own request!”

“Yan’er!” Madam Chi’s eyes widened, voice tight with panic.

“Do not worry, Mother. Your son is willing.” Chi Yan winked at her quickly, avoiding Tangning’s gaze, and lowered his head again.

Slowly, he bent his back until his forehead touched the icy ground. “I beg Grandmother to punish me.”

Inwardly, he thought: Tangning must find me pathetic right now.

A man who couldn’t even stand tall. Wasn’t he too useless?

But what could he do? The last time he’d been stubborn, he’d nearly lost everything he loved.

Better to be spineless—and alive.

“You all heard him! His own words!” Old Madam sneered. “Without rules, a household cannot stand. Bring the family rod! Let him learn his lesson today.”

The room gasped. Few expected her to go so far.

Shen Ximei reclined lazily, watching the spectacle with interest. Only then did she frown slightly—would such bloody punishment upset the child in her womb?

Madam Chi’s heart lurched. She dropped to her knees in desperate plea. “Old Madam! This is too much! Yan’er already knows his fault, please forgive him this once!”

For in the Chi household, “family law” was no small matter.

The rod was as thick as two fingers; a single stroke could tear flesh. Ten strokes minimum would leave him bedridden for half a month.

Shen Tangning’s brows cooled, her voice cutting the air. “Grandmother, is this not too severe?”

Old Madam’s glare cut to her. “This is Yan’er’s household matter. You question me? However noble your birth, however favored the Empress may be toward you, do not forget—you are junior, I am elder. Did the Shen family not teach you respect for hierarchy?”

In this world, ritual and hierarchy outweighed all.

Even if Old Madam was being willfully unreasonable, as elder she could not be openly contradicted.

Tangning’s face was serene, tone steady. “Grandmother misunderstands. This granddaughter-in-law does not question you. But my husband will sit for the Autumn Examinations in less than a month. Should he be crippled now, missing the exams or performing poorly, would that not be a grave matter?”

Madam Chi seized upon her words like a drowning woman clutching a raft. “Yes, yes! Yan’er has prepared so long for the exams. He cannot throw it all away like this!”

Madam Hou lowered her lashes, murmuring idly, “Indeed, insisting on punishment now may make Mother appear… less than compassionate.”

Old Madam’s eyes gleamed coldly. “And what, you think your son can pass? He’s failed how many times already? Why assume this year will be different?”

Madam Chi faltered, speechless.

Yet still—what if?

“Even if the family law is carried out, he’ll be back on his feet in ten days. If he truly cannot perform in the exams because of this, then it is simply fate.”

Tangning’s heart chilled.

Such ruthlessness, even from a grandmother not of blood—rare indeed.

If she felt cold, how much colder must Chi Yan feel?

She glanced at the sun’s height. By now, surely court had ended.

Old Madam’s face hardened. “Why are you still dawdling? Has my word lost its weight?”

The new steward steeled himself, stepped forward, and bowed to Chi Yan. “Second Young Master, forgive me.”

Chi Yan straightened his back, expression calm. The black rod gleamed, heavy and merciless.

Madam Chi’s face drained white, despair clutching her chest.

The steward raised the rod. Madam Hou’s lips twitched ever so faintly upward.

Then—

“The imperial edict arrives—!”

A sharp, shrill voice pierced the hall.

Everyone started, hastily dropping to their knees.

Tangning knelt with them, brows easing slightly. In the nick of time.

Madam Hou’s heart thumped uneasily. Why would an edict come here, of all places?

Eunuch Fu strode in, only to stop in surprise at the sight before him. He raised his brows high. “Well, well! Such lively business. What’s this, then?”

Old Madam’s face collapsed into wrinkles of fawning smiles. “Merely disciplining some family matters. Forgive the sight, Father-in-law. What brings you here so suddenly?”

Eunuch Fu’s gaze swept over the pale, weary Chi Yan. Understanding flickered in his eyes. His smile turned oddly meaningful. “Why, what a coincidence. This decree is precisely for Second Young Master Chi.”

For Chi Yan?

Everyone’s faces froze in stunned confusion.