Chapter 12: Chapter 12

As it turned out, An Ning's speculation was absolutely correct.

Unlike the lively commotion at the princely mansion, the entire household was gathered in the front hall with an unusually tense atmosphere. The family head, Master Majia, had an old, dissipated face so gloomy it seemed capable of dripping water.

The front hall was eerily silent. Even the usually talkative wives and concubines dared not make a sound now.

Majia Changhai, currently serving as a sixth-rank assistant city gate commander. In his youth, he had possessed a reasonably handsome face. However, after years of indulgence in wine and women, all that remained was an excessively gloomy, orange-peel-like countenance. His turbid old eyes drooped downward, appearing thoroughly unsettling.

Unfortunately, someone failed to read the mood.

"Father, didn't you promise to take us to visit elder sister at the princely mansion? A'Sheng wants that beautiful brush washer, lots of delicious food, and many nice things. Mother said elder brother has a jade pendant worth over a hundred taels of silver!"

"Father, when can we go to the princely mansion? Father..." From childhood, the spoiled Sheng'an instinctively spoke in a coquettish manner.

Yet unexpectedly, instead of reassurance, he received a merciless slap from his father!

Still unsatisfied, Majia Changhai pointed at the boy's nose and roared:

"If not for you worthless brat with your shallow, greedy eyes always coveting what doesn't belong to you, would you have angered your elder brother? Would that boy have said those unnecessary things to your elder sister, bringing such disaster upon our family!"

Their household was merely a sixth-rank bondservant family, something nobles wouldn't even glance at. Yet they had produced a daughter who became a Side Consort to an iron-cap prince, and would soon have a grandson who was practically guaranteed to become a prince - genuine imperial relatives that all his colleagues envied!

Yet this golden opportunity had been ruined by these fools before him!

Even Majia Changhai had to admit.

After this incident, everyone knew the Side Consort held no regard for her biological father, let alone future support from the princely mansion.

Whether they'd even acknowledge this familial connection remained uncertain.

Thinking about tomorrow's court session where all the previous flattery would disappear, Majia Changhai felt blood rush to his head in fury.

All because of these useless burdens!

"My lord, what are you doing?"

Seeing him raise his hand again, Lady Hada could no longer remain seated. She rushed forward to shield her wailing son:

"My lord, don't wrong us! I admit I wasn't kind to the young master before, but recently, regarding his food, clothing, and possessions - even with eight hundred extra courage, we wouldn't dare covet them!"

Even Lady Hada wasn't so foolish as to not realize the princely mansion could crush them like ants. How would they dare scheme for those things?

Not only did she not dare, but for her children's future, she had to hold her nose and ensure Long'an was well-treated during each visit, fearing any slight.

In her opinion, it wasn't about what that little brat said - the elder sister had clearly held grudges against them from the start!

Otherwise, why had the princely mansion's people only taken the eldest son back then?

She refused to believe her husband couldn't see this. Clearly now...

Looking at her son's swollen cheek, Lady Hada gritted her teeth so hard she feared she might bite through them.

"Oh dear, elder sister, that's not quite right!"

A concubine in pink spoke up in a shrill voice:

"If elder sister hadn't abused the previous wife's children so mercilessly as a stepmother, would our household be in this state?"

"With just one word from the princely mansion, would our lord still need to toil inspecting city gates daily? There'd be plenty of respectable, leisurely positions available!"

"I heard how lively the princely mansion was today - half the street's imperial relatives and officials from the eastern district probably attended..."

"If only our lord..."

After carefully observing his expression, Concubine Lin continued softly:

"As the saying goes, there are no overnight grudges between father and daughter. No matter what, the Side Consort is still your blood, especially with the young master present. Even for reputation's sake, she wouldn't truly abandon you."

"Of course, the prerequisite is removing the thorn in the young mistress's heart..." She meaningfully glanced at the mother and children cowering aside.

Seeing his contemplative expression, Concubine Lin couldn't help but smirk.

She admitted her words contained some personal vengeance, but they also genuinely benefited the household.

With a princely sister, her son's future would be much brighter - just look at the young master now. Not long after entering the Imperial College, he'd already become a young scholar.

Who wouldn't envy that?

Other concubines exchanged glances and began "persuading" as well.

Clutching her children tightly, Lady Hada felt even her teeth roots turn icy cold as she watched her husband's deepening scowl.

In her room, listening to the system's passionate real-time narration, An Ning found it utterly tedious.

What was there to say? It was exactly as expected.

She felt not an ounce of sympathy for Lady Hada's predicament. Hadn't she always known what kind of man she married?

Someone who could treat his hardworking first wife and own children so cruelly - how could such scum possibly become a good husband or father?

Such people never reflect on themselves. When interests conflict, their blades always turn first against those closest to them.

As for their talk about filial reputation?

An Ning inwardly sneered.

As a prince's Side Consort and confirmed imperial family member, both she and her son would have these people kneeling before them in future meetings.

In the imperial family, sovereign comes before father.

Would any censor dare accuse her of "unfilialness"?

That an married daughter refusing to support her natal family was unfilial - such nonsense rules existed nowhere, let alone in the imperial household!

As for gossip? An Ning cared even less. Not only would no fool say such things to her face, but she didn't rely on reputation for livelihood like palace concubines hoping for promotions.

Trying to control her with such tactics? They might as well keep dreaming!

In fact... An Ning lowered her gaze.

When pushed to absolute desperation, what wouldn't people do?

Remembering the original owner's stepmother's cruelty, An Ning happily sipped her tea.

In her mindscape, the system suddenly spoke:

"Host, all those times you made such grand displays sending things to that nominal younger brother... was it all for today?"

"What about it?" An Ning didn't deny it.

"Nothing, nothing..." The system shook its head vigorously, though it privately thought its host somewhat terrifying.

But these words, obviously, the system currently lacked the courage to voice aloud.