Early the next morning, Jiang Fengyuan and his wife, Madam Chen, went to Cangwu Courtyard to pay their respects.

Hearing of their arrival, the Old Madam frowned in suspicion. “What are they doing here?”

She had a bad feeling.

Nanny Wang, her trusted confidante, was meticulous in handling matters, and she had every confidence in her.

Besides, only the two of them knew about that particular incident.

After the last confrontation, Duke An had expected that without the prestigious title of the Duke’s household, Jiang Fengyuan would have a difficult time in the military.

So today, he assumed, they must have come to apologize and seek reconciliation.

Duke An leisurely sipped his tea, maintaining an air of authority.

“Wanzeng, let them in.”

“Yes, Master.”

The couple slowly entered.

“Father.”

“Mother.”

“We pay our respects.”

Before waiting for a response, Jiang Fengyuan and Madam Chen found their seats and sat down on their own accord.

The Old Madam shot them a glare. “Such disrespect.”

Duke An frowned. “The first virtue of filial piety is to observe decorum. Very well, since you are here to admit your mistakes, then—”

“Father, you are mistaken,” Jiang Fengyuan interrupted. “My wife and I are here today to settle accounts.”

The Old Madam’s heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Fengyuan continued, “During my visit to the temple, I was ambushed and nearly assassinated twice. I wonder if Father had any knowledge of this?”

“Impudent!” Duke An’s face darkened with anger.

He had assumed his rebellious son had come to apologize, but instead, Jiang Fengyuan had the audacity to interrogate him.

Wanzeng quickly stepped forward. “Young Master, the Master truly knows nothing about this.”

Jiang Fengyuan’s gaze shifted to the Old Madam.

“If that is the case, then Mother must surely be aware.”

The Old Madam forced herself to remain calm. “What nonsense! How would I know anything about this?”

She took a sip of tea, trying to mask her inner turmoil.

Jiang Fengyuan chuckled and smoothed out the creases in his robe.

“Bring him in.”

Jiang Yuanfan pressed a man forward.

With just one glance, Nanny Wang’s expression changed to panic.

Jiang Yuanfan dragged the man before them and said, “This man is called Boss Mo Laoda, an assassin by trade.”

He then cast a glance at the Old Madam. “Unfortunately for him, we captured him. Under interrogation, he confessed that half a month ago, someone approached him with a thousand taels of silver to buy the lives of everyone in our household.”

“This person—surely Grandmother recognizes him.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about! You ill-mannered brats!” the Old Madam snapped. “And besides, where is your proof that I was behind this?”

“If you cannot produce evidence, then you are falsely accusing me!”

Jiang Fengyuan sneered and pointed at the man on the floor. “I do not know, but he does.”

Boss Mo Laoda lifted his head and suddenly pointed at Nanny Wang.

“It was her! It was her! The one with the mole at the corner of her eye!”

Nanny Wang’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees.

“Master, Madam, I have been wronged!”

Boss Mo Laoda, enraged, shouted, “I’d recognize that voice anywhere, even if she were turned to ash!”

During the assassination attempt, many of Mo Laoda’s men had been injured or killed, so he had demanded more money.

This old woman had become furious and lost her temper, arguing with them on the spot.

Because of that, Mo Laoda never forgot her voice.

The Old Madam’s hands trembled.

She had believed everything was foolproof, yet now she had fallen into a trap.

With a loud crack, Duke An slammed his teacup onto the floor, shattering it.

“Speak! Did you do this or not?!” His face was filled with fury.

Though he was indifferent toward Jiang Fengyuan, he would not allow anyone to harm Jiang Yuansheng—his hope for the future.

The Old Madam fell to her knees, trembling.

“Master, I truly knew nothing of this!” She pointed at Nanny Wang. “It was all her doing!”

Nanny Wang stared blankly at the Old Madam before catching sight of the warning in her eyes.

She gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face.

Even if the Old Madam had not spoken, she would have taken the blame for her.

That look just now—she understood it too well.

She had never imagined that the Old Madam would use her son, Li Zi, as leverage against her.

Nanny Wang felt a deep chill in her heart.

“Master, it was all me! The Old Madam knew nothing! Please, for the sake of my years of loyal service, spare me!”

Desperate, she tried to clear the Old Madam’s name.

Madam Chen caught on to something and signaled to Chun Zhi with her eyes.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the Old Madam—no one noticed Chun Zhi quietly slip away.

Jiang Yuan said coldly, “Two thousand taels is not a small amount. You alone could not afford such a sum.”

Nanny Wang steeled herself. “The Old Madam trusted me with the household funds. I took the money in secret.”

“For years, the eldest house has flourished, while the second house has remained weak. I simply wished to remove potential threats for the Old Madam.”

She took all the blame upon herself.

Jiang Fengyuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Duke An roared in anger. “Guards! Beat this old servant to death!”

Fifty strikes later, Nanny Wang lay lifeless.

Servants carried her body away.

The Old Madam slumped to the floor.

Nanny Wang had served her for over fifty years—she had never wanted to sacrifice her.

It was all that wretched woman’s son’s fault!

Jiang Fengyuan remained expressionless. “Father, Nanny Wang has been dealt with, but the Old Madam harbored a servant who attempted to harm the family, spread malicious rumors, and tarnished my son’s reputation. What shall be done about that?”

They had waited patiently for this moment.

“What more do you want?! She is your mother!” Duke An’s dissatisfaction with his eldest son grew.

Jiang Fengyuan’s voice was calm. “My mother’s memorial tablet rests in the ancestral hall. A lowly concubine dares to call herself my mother?”

The Jiang family had forgotten, but he had not.

When his father married his mother, he had been forced to swear that he would have only one legitimate wife for life.

That meant that, to this day, the Old Madam was only a secondary wife.

Simply put, she was nothing more than a concubine.

“Jiang Fengyuan!” Jiang Qisheng stormed in from outside. “Who gave you permission to speak to Mother this way?”

“Big Brother, we are family. Why must you make things so ugly?” Wu Cuirou interjected, trying to play mediator.

She had heard everything.

It was a pity that the assassins sent by the Old Madam had failed to eliminate this family.

Madam Chen stood up and looked down at Wu Cuirou.

“Family?” She sneered. “When you tried to steal my daughter-in-law, why didn’t you say we were family?”

Wu Cuirou was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Fengyuan continued, “Father, for years, you ignored everything. She repeatedly tried to harm me. No matter what, today, I will send her to court!”

“How dare you?!” Duke An’s palm struck Jiang Fengyuan’s face.

Jiang Qisheng had never seen his father this furious before.

Jiang Fengyuan was determined to take the matter to court.

“If you dare, you are no longer part of the Jiang family!”

“Fine!” Jiang Fengyuan answered without hesitation.

Madam Chen’s heart leaped with joy.

She pinched her leg to stop herself from smiling too much. Tears filled her eyes. “Since Father is so heartless, our branch voluntarily severs ties with the Duke’s household!”