I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 207 The Adoption Dispute
Pulling Qin Chulin closer, Ye Wanshu said directly, "Steward Feng, my father has no sons. On the day of his funeral, I'm afraid there won't even be anyone to help with the funeral procession. I've decided to have Chulin adopted by my father and mother, so that the Ji family will have someone to rely on in the future."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the mourning hall.

Aunt Zheng had long intended to have her nephew adopted into the master's family, but the master had never agreed. Now, however, this little bastard from Aunt Qin's family had gotten the better deal.

She had just learned from someone in the palace that the emperor intended to posthumously confer a title upon him. Given his loyalty to His Majesty and the merits he had made, he should at least be a marquis. How could such immense wealth and honor be given to someone else?

“Young lady, this is no small matter. How can you make this decision on behalf of the master and the Ji family without my permission?” Aunt Zheng rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction. “Young lady, don’t forget that you are now surnamed Ye, not Ji.”

"What a joke! My father only thought about being buried in the Ye family's ancestral grave after he died. Does it matter whether I am surnamed Ye or Ji now?" Ye Wanshu sneered disdainfully. "If Aunt Zheng has any complaints, she should go down and have a good talk with my father herself."

Aunt Zheng was so frightened that she choked, and secretly glanced at Aunt Sun: "Are you mute?"

Aunt Sun was always a pragmatic person. She was only taken back to the manor because the master mistook her for his first wife when he was drunk. How could she dare to interfere in the affairs of the master's family?

“What the eldest young lady says makes sense,” said Aunt Sun. “The master has passed away suddenly, leaving us orphans and widows behind. We will inevitably be bullied in the future. Chu Lin is Aunt Qin’s nephew and is highly regarded by the master. It would be most appropriate for him to be adopted into the family.”

“You!” Aunt Zheng glared at her, her face turning ashen with anger.

"I disagree."

Ji Ningxi pouted: "Eldest sister really doesn't treat us younger sisters as her closest relatives anymore. Even if eldest sister gets married in the future, there are still me and the other younger sisters. At worst, she can find a husband to marry into the family. Why bother adopting someone from another family?"

Ji Ningxuan could easily see through her second sister's thoughts. If Qin Chulin couldn't be adopted into the family, she would find a son-in-law to live with her after her eldest sister got married, and then she would be in charge of the Ji family from then on.

I don't know how my mother became so confused, letting her instigate things. If it weren't for His Majesty's approval, how could her cousin from the Zheng family have been adopted into the Ji family?

"Second sister has been talking far too much today."

Ji Ningxuan said, "Second sister, have you forgotten that you boasted that you would sever your father-son relationship with him in order to enter the Qi Prince's mansion? Now that eldest sister is kindly taking you back to the mansion out of sisterly affection, how dare you still have the nerve to interfere in the Ji family's affairs?"

"That was just something said in anger, how can it be taken seriously?" Ji Ningxi was so angry and embarrassed that she was about to slap her, but Ji Ningxuan pushed her to the ground.

"The Ji family is no longer under your control, little lady. You, a criminal woman from the Prince Qi's mansion, dare to boss me around?"

Ji Ningxuan walked straight up to Ye Wanshu and said with a fawning expression, "Big sister, don't worry, we will definitely treat Chu Lin with the same respect as our own brother from now on."

Knowing that a daughter born out of wedlock like herself would have to win the favor of her elder sister and maintain a good relationship with her younger brother if she wanted to have someone to rely on in the future, she knew she had to do so.

Zheng's cousin is no pushover. His uncle's family has always been eyeing the Ji family's business. Even if Zheng's cousin is adopted into the Ji family, she and her stepmother won't get any benefits. Only her stepmother is foolish and easily fooled by her uncle.

It would be better to take good care of Qin's younger brother, who has no relatives or friends.

Although Ye Wanshu hadn't been in the Ji family for long, after dealing with Zhou Ru last time, she realized that Ji Ningxuan was no simple person and was quite intelligent. Tingfeng, standing to the side, still couldn't figure out what the eldest daughter was thinking, but even if she didn't bring up the matter of adoption, someone in the clan would probably object sooner or later.

After all, the family fortune left by the master was enormous, and even half of it would be enough for the Ji family to covet, not to mention the upcoming posthumous conferment.

Knowing that the Third Miss was a trustworthy person, he hurriedly gestured to Ye Wanshu, saying, "Eldest Miss, since the Master has just passed away, according to the customs of our Great Ye Dynasty, His Majesty intends for you and Prince Yongning to get married within a hundred days. After you get married, it would be appropriate for the Third Miss to help the young master manage the affairs of the mansion."

Emperor Zhaolie had no children, and now that he had decided to make Fu Mingchi his heir, his biggest concern was probably Fu Mingchi's offspring. Ye Wanshu could guess his good intentions in rushing her to get married.

If the marriage could not be completed within 100 days, the emperor would have to wait until after the three-year mourning period. He was worried that he could not wait and wanted to see a new child born into the royal family as soon as possible.

Nodding to Tingfeng, Ye Wanshu's gaze gradually turned to Ji Ningxuan: "Third sister, I know that you and everyone else have complaints about Father's will, but as long as you keep your promise, I will prepare another dowry for you on the day you get married."

Ji Ningxuan quickly shook her head: "I don't blame Father. My eldest sister has been away for many years, so it's only natural that Father wants to make it up to her."

After saying this, Ji Ningxuan glanced at Aunt Zheng and continued, "I have no other thoughts than that after Father passes away, our Ji family will not decline and cause Father heartache."

These words were spoken both to the younger sister and in the hope that the elder sister would think more about the Ji family in the future.

Ye Wanshu could understand the implication in her words. After all, the Ji family was her mother's hard work, and she certainly wouldn't watch the family decline like this.

"Don't worry, our Ji family will only get better and better," Ye Wanshu reassured her.

Ji Ningxi listened silently for a long time, her heart filled with endless resentment.

Kneeling before Ji Yuan's coffin, she cried out in anguish, "Father, did you see it all? My elder sister is so biased. She would rather hand over your family business to an outsider than let her daughter inherit it. If I hadn't risked my life to get into the city last night, my elder sister wouldn't be here here, pointing fingers and gesturing. She is truly ungrateful."

"If it weren't for your interference, how could my eldest cousin have died?"

Ye Wanshu angrily bent down and grabbed Ji Ningxi's collar: "Ji Ningxi, considering what happened last night, if you behave yourself, you can still stay in this mansion. If you continue to harbor ulterior motives, we have no affection for each other, and I can only kick you out."

Ji Ningxi was stunned and dared not complain anymore.

Having arranged everything, Ye Wanshu had no interest in discussing anything else. She simply instructed Tingfeng, "Steward Feng, please invite the clan leader here as soon as possible to finalize Chu Lin's adoption. This will also help with the arrangements for Father's funeral."

As soon as she finished speaking, Emperor Zhaolie led a number of court officials in, guided by servants.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict first read out the imperial decree posthumously conferring upon Ji Yuan the titles of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Marquis of Wenzhong. Immediately afterwards, Emperor Zhaolie personally went to the altar to offer incense.

After gazing silently at the memorial tablet for a long time, Emperor Zhaolie finally asked, "Jinghe, has the person who will escort your father's coffin back to his hometown been chosen?"