Chapter 33 -

Chapter 33: Chapter

"From this day forward," Grandma Bai continued, her voice cold and unyielding as iron, "An Yulan, Bai Wenxiu, and Bai Shishi will have their monthly allowance cut in half for the next six months!"

A collective gasp rippled through Madame Chen’s side of the table. Bai Wenxiu and Bai Shishi turned ghost-white, their jawlines slackening in horror, while An Yulan whimpered softly from the floor, clutching her swollen cheek.

"Furthermore," Grandma Bai snapped, her sharp eyes boring into the three pale women, "you three will spend two hours every morning in the ancestral hall, kneeling before the family tablets and copying the Rules of Filial Piety fifty times. Maid Lu will personally supervise you. If a single stroke of ink is sloppy, you will start over from the beginning!"

Madame Chen looked like she was about to faint. "Mother! Half an allowance? Copying scriptures? They are young ladies of noble blood!"

"They are troublemakers who need to learn how to keep their mouths shut!" Grandma Bai barked back, shutting Madame Chen down instantly. "If I hear another disrespectful word come out of any of their mouths toward the Main Wife or the First Young Master, I will strip their allowances completely and send them to the family temple in the mountains!"

An Yulan pressed her forehead against the cold floorboards, her tears dripping onto the wood. "I... I accept Grandmother’s punishment," she choked out, her voice dripping with pure humiliation and resentment.

Bai Wenxiu and Bai Shishi quickly bowed their heads as well, trembling in terror, not daring to make eye contact with anyone in the room.

Across the hall, Madame Bai took a long, quiet breath, her chest swelling with relief as she squeezed little Meiling’s hand. For the first time in years, justice had been served in the Grand Hall, and the arrogant concubine branch had been forced onto their knees.

Right at that exact moment, the heavy oak doors at the front entrance swung completely wide open, letting in a sharp gust of icy winter wind.

Lin Feng walked through the threshold first, his firm grip holding the wooden handles of a polished wheelchair.

Sitting tall and straight in the chair was First Young Master Bai Zhengyu, dressed in his striking midnight-blue silk robes. His pitch-black, dangerous eyes swept across the room, landing directly on the kneeling, weeping An Yulan, before shifting cold and sharp toward his stunned father.

And walking gracefully beside him, holding her head high with unyielding confidence, was Yimei.

The entire hall plunged into a deep, breathless silence.

Old Master Bai Tianming stood halfway out of his seat, his hand trembling so violently that wine sloshed over his knuckles, staining his fine silk sleeves. He stared at the entrance, his mouth open, unable to form a single word.

Two whole years.

For two long years, his eldest son had refused to step outside the Northern Courtyard. Tianming had almost forgotten how tall Zhengyu sat, how broad his shoulders were, and how terrifyingly dark his eyes could be. He had pictured Zhengyu as a weak, bedridden invalid hiding in the dark. But the man sitting in that wheelchair right now looked like an iron mountain.

Beside him, Madame Chen’s face went completely ghost-white. Her hand instinctively let go of Old Master Bai’s arm as she shrank back into her seat. Her drunkard son, Bai Wenliang, who had been slumping over his wine jug a second ago, suddenly sat up straight, his eyes wide with sheer panic.

Grandma Bai was the first to break the heavy silence. A deep, booming laugh burst from her chest, echoing off the high wooden rafters. She slammed her wooden staff against the floor with a loud, ringing CLANG.

"Zhengyu!" Grandma Bai called out, her voice loud and full of joy. "My eldest grandson! Look at you!"

Lin Feng pushed the wheelchair down the center aisle, passing right by An Yulan, who was still kneeling on the cold floor clutching her swollen cheek. Zhengyu didn’t even grant her a single glance. He ignored her as if she were a piece of stray dirt on the stone path.

Yimei walked beside him, her posture straight, her face calm and unbothered by the dozens of gaping eyes fixed upon them.

Stopping right before the high table, Zhengyu offered a slight, respectful bow from his chair. "Grandma. Father. Second Uncle, Third Uncle."

Second Uncle Bai Chengbang stammered, splashing wine onto his own lap as he scrambled to stand up. "Well, well! First Nephew! We... we heard you were far too ill to leave your room! It is a blessing to see you up and looking so sharp!"

Third Uncle Bai Chenghao nodded quickly in agreement, though his wife, Madame Zhang, gave him a sharp, vicious pinch on the arm under the table to shut him up.

Old Master Bai Tianming cleared his dry throat, trying desperately to regain his strict, fatherly dignity. "Zhengyu... you... you actually left your room tonight?"

Zhengyu lifted his head. His pitch-black, ice-cold eyes locked directly onto his father’s stunned face.

"My wife reminded me of my duty, Father," Zhengyu said, his low, deep voice effortlessly carrying across every corner of the silent hall. "She mentioned that the family was gathered to celebrate your return. I thought it best to appear in person, so Father wouldn’t have to spend the evening complaining about my absence."

A wave of quiet gasps swept through the tables. The jab was subtle, but everyone felt it hit hard.

Madame Bai, who had been sitting in pure shame just moments ago, slowly wiped away her tears. She sat up straight, holding her head high as a triumphant smile spread across her face. Her daughters, Rulan and Meiling, looked at their big brother with glowing, proud eyes.

Before anyone could recover from Zhengyu’s words, Yimei stepped forward. She smoothly took a silver tray from Qinqin, who was waiting near the steps. On the tray sat three fine ceramic cups, steaming with rich, aromatic ginger-jujube tea.

"Grandma, Father, Uncles," Yimei said, her voice clear and smooth. "The winter wind outside is bitter tonight. Before the feast begins, I prepared a special warming tea from my shop to clear the cold from your bodies."

Grandma Bai reached out immediately, her face beaming. "A tea from your own shop? Hand it over! Let me taste what my clever granddaughter-in-law made!"

Old Master Bai and the two uncles took their cups as well. The rich, sweet smell of brown sugar and spicy ginger filled the air around the high table, making everyone else’s mouths water.

Grandma Bai took a slow sip. Her sharp eyes literally lit up. "Oh! Delicious! It goes straight to the heart with a wonderful, cozy heat! Tianming, drink this right now!"

Old Master Bai took a cautious sip. The deep warmth washed down his throat, instantly soothing his cold, tense stomach. His strict, frowning face relaxed before he could stop himself. "This... this is exceptionally good tea! Where did you buy these leaves?"

"They are custom blends from the Wenlong Tea House in the East Market, Father," Yimei replied smoothly, raising her voice just enough for the entire hall to hear clearly. "We opened our doors today, and every single batch was completely sold out by mid-afternoon."

The hall erupted into loud whispers.

Second Uncle’s arrogant son, Bai Ruizhe, dropped his wooden chopsticks in utter disbelief. An Yulan, still on her knees, bit her bottom lip until it bled, clutching her bruised face in pure agony. They had all gathered tonight expecting Yimei to be a poor, helpless girl who would get publicly humiliated by Madame Bai. Instead, Yimei had dragged the mysterious First Young Master back into the light and completely won over the family matriarch with a single cup of tea.

Madame Bai sat up straight, her chin raised high into the air as she shot a sharp, victorious look directly at Madame Chen.

For the first time in two whole years, the Northern Courtyard had completely stolen the show, leaving their bitter rivals choking on their own defeat.