Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 82

Shen Tangning looked at her father-in-law’s retreating back, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Her father-in-law had always been the quiet type — compared to her mother-in-law, who took charge of the household inside and out, he barely had a presence.

She hadn’t expected he’d have such backbone in him.

Madam Chi bit her lip, tears glimmering in her eyes. As a daughter-in-law, what she’d done earlier was already quite out of line — yet her husband had stood firmly by her side. How could she not be moved?

The always-silent, wooden-seeming Second Master of the Chi family had actually stood up straight and publicly defied Old Madam. The room fell into an almost suffocating silence.

After a long pause, Old Madam trembled with rage, clutching her chest as she collapsed back into her seat. Servants scrambled to steady her.

“Old Madam! Are you alright?”

She swatted away the helping hands, eyes blazing with fury as she glared at her illegitimate son.

“Fine! Just fine! The whole world should see what a marvel the Chi family has raised! You defy your legitimate mother for the sake of your wife? Have all those years of studying turned to dog food?!”

Chi Yan’s gaze flickered, a hint of bleakness behind it. Such was the helplessness of living in this era — no matter right or wrong, one word of filial piety could brand someone as an unforgivable villain.

His body suddenly swayed slightly, and his voice was hoarse and weak: “Father… there’s no need to do this for me…”

Second Master Chi had been hanging his head in silence, his back slightly hunched. But hearing this, he suddenly straightened.

His wife had already shouldered such pressure, standing with her back to the wall. If he backed down now — where would that leave her? How could Yan ever hold his head high again?

If a man couldn’t even protect his wife and son, what kind of man was he?

The Marquis of Ningyuan’s face darkened with disappointment. “Second Brother, how can you argue with Mother like this? Just apologize and let this matter pass—”

He had always thought his soft-spoken younger brother would obey as he always did.

But he had miscalculated.

Back when Second Master Chi had asked him for help — and he’d coldly looked away — something in the man’s heart had shifted.

Second Master Chi clenched his jaw, raised his head, and spoke in a low, firm voice.

“Mother’s concern is the Chi family’s reputation, that Yan might tarnish our name. If that’s the case — what harm is there in splitting the family? Whatever the outcome, our second branch will take full responsibility. It won’t implicate the main house.”

The Marquis of Ningyuan’s face turned ashen — as if he’d been accused of coldly throwing them out to protect his own branch!

Madam Hou’s expression changed rapidly. As long as the second branch stayed under her watchful eye, she could control them. But once they split off — there would be too many unpredictable variables.

So she tried to smooth things over. “Mother, Second Brother and Sister-in-law are just acting on impulse…”

But Old Madam was already blinded by rage. She laughed coldly, fury crackling in her eyes. “Since they’re so determined to split, then let them! I want to see how long you last in the capital without the Marquis Estate protecting you!”

Madam Hou gritted her teeth silently.

The Second Master and his wife let out a long sigh of relief, kneeling to bow. “Thank you, Mother, for allowing it.”

To officially split the family, they’d need to invite respected elders from the clan to bear witness — along with preparations beforehand. It would take at least two days.

The second branch returned to the west wing in silence. Once behind closed doors, Madam Chi finally dared ask her son his thoughts.

“Ah Yan… your father and I proposed the split rather suddenly. How do you feel about it?”

Chi Yan dropped his usual lazy demeanor and grew serious. “I know Father and Mother did it for me. From a long-term perspective, it was a wise choice. Grandmother is blatantly biased, and Aunt harbors sinister intent. It’s clear they never considered us family! So why should we keep pretending?”

Second Master Chi had been listening quietly, but when his son’s words got bolder, his eyelid twitched. “You brat! Keep your voice down! Do you want the whole estate to hear?”

But he didn’t scold further — because deep down, he agreed.

He was a concubine’s son, with little standing to begin with. The divide between legitimate and illegitimate in this society was like a canyon — even if treated unfairly, he was used to enduring it.

But what he could bear — his son shouldn’t have to.

Shen Tangning couldn’t help but smile.

No matter what, once the family split, the mess in the marquisate would no longer be their concern.

“But this must’ve been hard on you, Father, Mother,” she said softly. “Once word gets out, people will surely talk behind your backs.”

Madam Chi blinked, then smiled with easy grace. “We’re old now. Do we still care what others think? So long as we can live our lives behind closed doors and be happy — that’s all that matters.”

Without a domineering mother-in-law breathing down her neck, she could finally breathe a little easier.

As for the cheating scandal — once they questioned Chi Yan and he denied involvement, they didn’t press him further.

“If we’re going to split, we’ll need to prepare housing and property in advance.” Madam Chi began thinking practically and promptly sent the young couple away to rest.

Back at Ruyi Courtyard, Shen Tangning noticed Chi Yan seemed distracted. She asked gently, “What’s on your mind, husband?”

Chi Yan replied without thinking, “I’m wondering… will the split go through smoothly?”

As soon as he finished, he heard a soft laugh. Looking up, he saw Shen Tangning resting her chin on her hand, gazing at him calmly. Mischief sparkled in her bright eyes.

“So… back in Fulrong Courtyard, was it all an act?”

Chi Yan jumped to his feet and tugged at his robe, clearly uncomfortable. “W-What act? My clothes are dirty — I need to change!”

She watched him flee into the inner room, the corners of her lips curving up slightly.

When Chi Yan returned, changed into fresh clothes, he found Shen Tangning holding a small round box, looking thoughtful.

Noticing him, she looked up and gestured with her chin. “Sit.”

Chi Yan sat down stiffly, posture straight. “Is there… something else?”

Shen Tangning rose, walking toward him and bending slightly.

The distance between them closed instantly — he could feel her warm breath, and a faint, cool fragrance filled the air.

His body went rigid. Leaning back with raised brows, he stammered, “W-What are you doing?”

Shen Tangning slowly dipped her fingers into the little box, picking up a bit of pale white ointment, and looked up at him with clear, innocent eyes. “Applying medicine for you.”

She’d originally intended to have Batang help, but couldn’t find her. That girl Xueqing had flat-out refused, so she had no choice but to do it herself.

A false alarm, really.

Chi Yan muttered, “…Oh.”

Shen Tangning gently applied the ointment to the red bump on his temple, sighing softly, “It was just hot tea this time… if it were something worse, would you still refuse to dodge?”

Thankfully, the tea had cooled a bit and wasn’t too hot.

Chi Yan stayed stiff as a board, holding his breath. After a moment, he muttered, “I’m not that stupid.” His lashes trembled slightly, voice low. “Besides… didn’t you want the split too?”

Shen Tangning’s hand paused. She looked up at him, speechless.