After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Behind the landscape screen, Shen Lingyi idly fiddled with her fingers, ignoring the probing attempts from outside.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft shadow on her nose. When she wasn't speaking, she truly had the air of a goddess, detached from the world.

Pei Heng withdrew his gaze.

When the gaze fell upon Xu Yanqing, it carried a thousand burdens. "The Crown Prince was not in the Eastern Palace last night, yet he seemed to know everything about the movements of the other palaces."

Xu Yanqing was already sweating profusely. The Crown Prince, who was the undisputed ruler outside, was just a subject in front of the Emperor: "Your subject did not mean that, it's just..."

He slowly clenched his fist.

But what? He just said he could never fall for Shen Lingyi, that he would only ever love Jiaojiao, but he rushed over this morning after receiving the news.

What did he want to see, and what answers did he want to get from Pei Heng? If he really saw Shen Lingyi inside the palace, what should he do?

Xu Yanqing's mind cleared up in an instant, and he realized that he must have been crazy to come here: "Father is right."

He paused, then said to the screen, "It was my rudeness, please forgive me, Princess."

Xu Yanqing left with heavy steps, and after Pei Heng went inside, he vaguely saw the corners of the woman's mouth curl up.

He unconsciously smiled too, but said, "You should leave the palace."

It's time to go back. Last night, Jiang was tricked back by her using Wei Chengrui as a pretext, but she can't find him.

They're probably searching everywhere for Shen Lingyi right now.

Pei Heng suggested that she take a sedan chair back, but Shen Lingyi refused and went back alone, avoiding everyone.

Madam Jiang was indeed extremely anxious. She pulled Shen Lingyi back and forth, holding her hand tightly, demanding, "Where did you go last night?"

"Mother, don't worry."

Just as Shen Lingyi was about to explain, she was called over by Granny Feng.

"Hmph, a young lady like her staying out all night!"

"Alright, Second Miss, come with me. Don't accuse this old servant of overstepping her bounds this time, because it was the Old Madam who personally ordered that she see you!"

Shen Lingyi knew this was going to happen, so she didn't argue. She packed her things and went to Ning Shou Hall where the old lady lived.

Peony followed nervously beside her, quickly recounting the events that had transpired in the manor the previous night.

Shen Lingyi stopped in her tracks. "Are you sure Shen Tingjiao also didn't get back until almost curfew last night?"

"Yes!" Peony nodded emphatically, her voice firm and resolute.

"I saw it all clearly. Although Linlang helped to cover it up, I recognized at a glance that the one in Feixian Pavilion was not the eldest young lady."

As she spoke, she curled her lip in disdain.

Shen Lingyi's eyes flickered as she recalled the two people who left the table one after the other last night, and she made up her mind.

It turned out to be like this...

As soon as Shen Lingyi entered Ning Shou Hall, she was scolded by the old lady: "You haven't even married yet and you've been out all night? This is outrageous! Kneel down!"

Jiang rushed in to protect her son, saying, "Mother, there must be a reason for this."

"You know Yi'er. Although she's spoiled, she's always been sensible. Besides, such a big incident happened in the palace last night; there must be other reasons!"

"You!" The old lady stomped her dragon-headed cane. "She's like this because you spoiled her! I have to say something to you too. Yi'er and Jiao Jiao are both your daughters, born of the same mother. You should treat them the same."

"You only care about this good-for-nothing, regardless of Jiaojiao's reasons. What kind of mother are you to be so biased?!"

Jiang's body trembled.

But it was full of irony.

The old lady is now putting on this heartbroken act.

But eighteen years ago, wasn't it because she listened to a mad monk's words that she forcibly took the newborn Shen Tingjiao away from her?

The mother and daughter have been separated for more than ten years, and she has never been able to see her own flesh and blood.

She pleaded with the old lady, her body still weak from giving birth, her forehead bruised and raw from banging her head against the ground, before Feng Mama finally opened the door.

But the latter merely repeated, from a superior position, what the mad monk had said: that Shen Tingjiao was born to bring good fortune to the old lady, but her fate clashed with that of her birth mother, and that for the sake of peace in the household, the two should not see each other for at least ten years.

The old lady grew increasingly indignant as she spoke: "Guards, bring the family discipline!"

"Today I must discipline this daughter of yours properly, lest she disgrace the family in the future!"

"If you want to hit me, then hit me!" Jiang roared, her eyes red, no longer caring about her image.

"My daughter, I only wish for her to live a life of joy and happiness. I never force her to learn the arts that girls are expected to learn, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and embroidery. She is a piece of my flesh!"

"Anyone who touches her will lose my life!"

"you……"

The old lady paused for a moment, then grew even angrier, slamming her cane on the ground. "Rebellion! They've all rebelled!"

Granny Feng had already run off and brought the family rules.

It was an iron ruler that was three feet long and weighed over ten kilograms.

It is said that Shen Su was also beaten with this ruler when he was a child. The famous Tiger General of the Great Wei Dynasty actually cried when he was beaten.

Even a grown man like him couldn't withstand it, which shows how painful it was when this ruler hit someone.

Granny Feng's eyes lit up; she was probably the one who most wanted to see Shen Lingyi punished. Her voice trembled with excitement.

"Madam, the family rules are here!"

The old lady snatched the ruler away; everyone in the General's Mansion was skilled in martial arts.

The woman, over eighty years old, lifted a heavy iron ruler weighing over ten kilograms without any effort, saying, "Let's see if you really dare to stop me!"

The Great Wei Dynasty valued filial piety, a custom inherited from the previous dynasty.

If a father kills his son, he gets away with it, but if a son injures his father, he is sentenced to beheading. That's why no one dares to bear the stigma of being "unfilial".

After all, it's true that you can die.

The old lady was using filial piety to pressure Jiang and force her to give way.

But a mother's determination to protect her children is something no one can shake.

Just as the iron ruler was about to fall on Jiang Shi, Shen Lingyi suddenly glared sharply at Linlang, who was cowering in the corner.

"Grandmother thinks I didn't come home all night, and that Mother favors me, but aren't you the same? When I make a mistake, you punish me by making me kneel or by invoking family rules, but didn't my sister also come home late?"

The old lady was taken aback.

Linlang knelt down with a "plop," her eyes red as she shouted at her, "Second Miss, admit your mistake, why do you have to implicate my young lady?"

"Everyone knows that my young lady went home before curfew last night."

"Is that so?" Shen Lingyi just smiled, but it made Linlang feel confused and uneasy.

But...that's impossible. She was very careful last night...

Shen Lingyi looked at the old lady: "Grandmother, would you like to invite my sister over for a confrontation?"

The old lady, with a sullen face, told Granny Feng to go and fetch someone, without a trace of worry on her face.

Granny Feng sneered, "I've truly witnessed the Second Miss's sense of responsibility today. Regardless of right or wrong, she drags her elder sister down with her. Madam, you've taught her so well."

Shen Lingyi was still kneeling, but it seemed as if she was looking down at her.

"Do you need to use your mouth to walk? If you can't walk, I'll have Peony give you a ride."

Granny Feng's face twitched, and she secretly quickened her pace.