Director Jiang, don't let the divorce get out of control.

The old lady's cold words almost made Wen Ruan's knees bend instinctively.

But she gritted her teeth and endured it.

The scent of sandalwood mixed with the aroma of aged wood in the flower hall made her feel suffocated. "I don't know what I did wrong? Why does Grandma want me to kneel down?"

Wen Ruan believes she has not done anything wrong recently.

Or is the old lady just looking for an excuse to torment her?

She has encountered similar situations many times over the past three years and is used to it.

But since Jiang Yubai returned, the old lady has become much more restrained. Why did she suddenly make trouble today?

The old woman stopped fiddling with her prayer beads, raised her eyelids to look at her, her gaze icy, "You've certainly grown some guts."

Wen Ruan pursed her lips slightly.

The old lady narrowed her eyes slightly. "At the Wen family banquet, the head of the Wen family, Wen Shaokang, was beaten until his head was covered in blood and sent to the hospital. The next day, the Wen family's wife was also hospitalized."

"The rumors are rampant outside, everyone's laughing at the Jiang family! You still dare to say you're innocent?"

Wen Ruan's breathing tightened slightly. She hadn't expected that Old Madam Wen had called her back because of this matter.

She lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Grandma, the invitation to that banquet was sent in the name of the Institute of Translation and Interpretation. I only found out it was a scheme orchestrated by the Wen family after I arrived."

"Scammed?" The old woman's tone was undisguisedly cold. "You're a key translator at the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, and you couldn't even tell if the invitation was genuine?"

"Yu Bai went to great lengths to clean up this mess for you, having the PR company's accounts frozen overnight. He did all that for you, and you, in turn, got yourself into this mess and now you want the entire Jiang family to take the blame?"

"How can you be worthy of being a daughter-in-law of the Jiang family?"

Wen Ruan pursed her lips, startled. A public relations company?

She was unaware of this.

She was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Grandma is right, Yu Bai has indeed done a lot for me."

"But I have a conflict with... my father. If I keep giving in, outsiders will only think that Jiang Yubai's wife is a pushover that anyone can bully. In that case, it won't just be me who loses face, but the entire Jiang family's reputation."

Since the old lady cared about her reputation, she used her reputation to shut her up.

The old woman stared at her, the coldness in her eyes gradually fading, and she gave a cold snort.

"You certainly have a sharp tongue. Since you think you're so right, then go to the ancestral hall and copy the Jiang family precepts twenty times. You're not allowed to leave the ancestral hall until you've finished copying them."

As she spoke, the old lady glanced at Aunt Zhou and said, "Keep an eye on her."

Aunt Zhou responded and walked up to Wen Ruan, saying politely, "Madam, please."

Wen Ruan did not argue; past lessons had taught her that arguing with the old lady was pointless.

As Wen Ruan walked through the corridor, the night wind blew into her collar, making her shiver.

Incense smoke filled the ancestral hall, and the ancestral tablets of the Jiang family were placed on the offering table.

Xuan paper and ink were already laid out on the table, obviously prepared by the old lady in advance. It seems that she was determined to make things difficult for her today.

Wen Ruan sat down at the desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write, stroke by stroke.

A hint of irony flashed in her eyes; perhaps it was because Jiang Yubai had returned that her punishment had actually improved.

In the past, the old lady would have made her kneel in the ancestral hall. How could she have so gently made her copy the family precepts?

The Jiang family's precepts number over a hundred. Wen Ruan had only copied half of them when her wrists began to ache slightly, and the ink was beginning to bleed on the rice paper.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of unhurried footsteps came from outside the ancestral hall.

The next moment, Jiang Yubai's unquestionable voice rang out.

"stand up."

Wen Ruan turned around; he had already strode in.

Jiang Yubai glanced at the stack of Xuan paper that had already been copied on the table, frowned slightly, and then reached out to take the pen from Wen Ruan's hand and put it on the pen holder.

"Let's go."

Wen Ruan was pulled to her feet by him, her wrists still damp with the coolness of the ink.

She lowered her voice: "I haven't finished copying the family precepts yet, and Grandma's side—"

If you disobey the old lady's request even once, the punishment next time will only be more severe.

"Let me speak," Jiang Yubai interrupted her calmly, but a cold glint was brewing in his eyes behind his glasses.

He led Wen Ruan out of the ancestral hall. Wen Ruan immediately saw the old lady standing at the end of the corridor, with Aunt Zhou supporting her, her face ashen.

"Yu Bai, you won't even let her finish copying the family precepts?"

Grandma Jiang never expected that Jiang Yubai would dare to defy her like this.

This isn't the first time...

Does he really value Wen Ruan that much?

Jiang Yubai stopped, his expression polite and restrained. "Grandma, my wife has not done anything wrong, and there is no reason for her to copy the family precepts. I will take her back today."

The old woman's lips trembled slightly: "You—"

"She worked all day today, and she still has to copy the family precepts on an empty stomach tonight."

Jiang Yubai remained firm, giving the old lady no chance to speak. "If Grandma feels she hasn't done well enough, she can be taught slowly, but she shouldn't be treated like this."

After he finished speaking, he took Wen Ruan's hand and walked past the old lady.

Wen Ruan caught a glimpse of the old lady standing there, her fingers trembling with anger, but she ultimately did not speak to stop her.

As expected, the old lady still cared about her only grandson.

If it weren't for Jiang Yubai... she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

After leaving the old house, Jiang Yubai opened the passenger door, and Wen Ruan bent down and got in.

The moment the car door closed, she slumped into her seat as if all her strength had been drained, her wrists still trembling slightly.

As the car drove away from the alley where the old house was located, Wen Ruan remained silent for a while before pursing her lips and apologizing, "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. Actually, I could have just gone back after copying it twenty times, you didn't need to make a special trip..."

She didn't want to be a burden to him, much less cause him any trouble.

"You've never been a problem, and besides, what I said to Grandma was serious."

Wen Ruan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

Is he saying she's not wrong?

In fact... if word got out that she hit her adoptive father, people would indeed call her an ingrate, unfilial and heartless person.

But he still protected himself, saying, "Thank you..."

The Jiang family's old residence.

Aunt Zhou helped the old lady back to the flower hall to rest. Sitting on the chaise lounge, the old lady held her forehead and took several breaths.

Aunt Zhou quickly brought over some warm water, but the old lady waved her hand, gritting her teeth as she said, "Yu Bai used to be so obedient... ever since we married him, he's become more and more outrageous!"

Aunt Zhou gently comforted him, "Madam, please don't be angry. Young master is young and impetuous, and it's understandable that he might be momentarily blinded by lust."

"In my opinion, that Miss Jiang is very good. She's someone I know well, and she's sensible and knows what's important..."

The old woman's gaze was as cold as ice: "You're right."

She had originally thought that Yu Bai's health condition shouldn't delay Jiang Wanxing's treatment.

But he went too far.

As the heir of the Jiang family, I absolutely cannot have a woman I care about so much by my side!