Chapter 29: You Are Truly Disheartening

Madam Yan felt both tempted and uneasy about Yan Chaonian’s proposal. Her father was an incredibly stubborn man; as he aged, he grew increasingly intolerant of anyone challenging his authority. In the Li household, his word was absolute. While Father Yan was usually good-tempered, he would turn hostile the moment his two children were involved. She worried that a meeting between the two men would once again end in bitterness.

"Perhaps we should let it be," she suggested. "Although your grandfather is obstinate, he has never stopped your uncles from interacting with us."

She was a spirited woman herself, but she felt powerless when dealing with the old man.

Yan Chaonian pondered for a moment. "How about this: Mother, you try to persuade Grandfather first, and I will go to the Li residence to see him myself. If I can convince him, we will then arrange the meal."

"I am confident that Grandfather will not be as he once was. Only with his full support can this family remain stable. I worry that if I leave, the Jin Workshop will fall into chaos."

She could not rest easy without settling matters with the old man. The Li family was not yet under the full control of her two uncles, and if her grandfather were to have a change of heart and stir up trouble, it would be a true headache.

Madam Yan eventually nodded. She thought it would be easy to persuade her husband, but she had not anticipated his deep-seated resentment toward the old man.

"Have you not seen the truth all these years?" Father Yan asked. "The old man cares only for the glory of the Li family. He schemed to marry you to me just to bet on my potential. Look at how they treated you during the years I held office, and how they treated us after we fell into misfortune. And those things he said about Niannian—is that how an elder should speak?"

"If he doesn't even value his own granddaughter, how could he care for a granddaughter-in-law? Say no more. I will never forgive him."

Madam Yan felt her own anger rising, yet she didn't know what to say. Usually, it was the men who were caught between their wives and mothers, but here, she was the one trapped in the middle, truly unable to please anyone.

That same day, things were not peaceful at the Li residence in Rongcheng. Li Chun suggested that since Li Changji had managed to enter the Jinye Office, it was entirely thanks to Yan Chaonian. Could they not take this opportunity to repair their relationship?

"Although we are relatives, we cannot simply ignore her after benefiting from her help. The Jin Workshop is thriving now, and Niannian deserves the credit. I think we should host a meal at home, invite them over, and exchange pleasantries. All past grievances can be put to rest."

Li Xia agreed, adding that the old man’s words toward Yan Chaonian had been truly excessive. He spoke of how capable and clever she was. "If not for her, our weaving workshop would have collapsed long ago. How could we have such glory today? Don’t look at how the customers flock to us now; it was difficult when Niannian first took over. She never held a grudge and gave her all for the workshop. Father, what you said back then was truly overboard."

"Clap!"

The sixty-year-old Master Li slammed the table with a dark face. "She is a junior! Is she allowed to hold a grudge just because her elder scolded her a few times?"

"Without the Jin Workshop, what does her talent matter?"

Li Xia was unconvinced. "What does it matter? With her skill in hand-weaving alone, she could live a good life. Besides, she is not alone. Have you forgotten she is married? What kind of man is Yuan Shen?"

"No matter how important he is, he is a military commander. Who knows when he might fall? Can he compare to a Count's estate?"

"Father!" Li Chun was angry. "Don’t you feel ashamed? Is this something a grandfather should say? We have benefited from them these past two years; how can you say such things?"

"You are going too far. How would Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law feel if they heard this?"

Master Li regretted his words the moment he spoke them, but he would never admit it. "Let them think what they want. If they’re so capable, let them come and throw this old man into prison."

Li Xia stood with hands on his hips, pacing back and forth in front of him, furious. "You old man, you really are..."

Utterly infuriating.

Seeing that neither of his sons stood with him, the old man became even angrier. "If she hadn't been so unreasonable back then, none of this would have happened. If she had been more magnanimous and considered her family, she wouldn't have been so relentless just because her husband took a concubine."

"Never mind a Count's estate; any man with a bit of money wants to take a concubine. Why is she so overbearing?"

Li Xia felt it was impossible to reason with him. "Was that just taking a concubine? That was forcing her out and trying to demote her to a concubine! Would the Yan family not have their pride? If she had truly gone from wife to concubine, would you have felt honored?"

"We didn't know how difficult things were for her then. You, as her grandfather, should have felt for her, yet you say such things. It is truly chilling."

He was simply unreasonable.

Li Chun agreed. "Father, do not say such things in the future. Don't forget, we are still benefiting from her influence."

Li Changji and Li Changxiang, who had remained silent, also spoke up for Yan Chaonian. "Cousin has had a hard time. Grandfather, don't talk about her like that. Besides, Cousin has been so good to us."

With his sons and grandsons all complaining about him, Master Li was so angry he nearly rolled his eyes. Instead of reflecting, he became even more biased against Yan Chaonian, beginning to view her as a bane to the family.

The "bane," Yan Chaonian, arrived at the Li residence under these circumstances. When she stepped inside, the expressions on their faces had yet to fade, leaving them looking flustered and somewhat comical.

"Niannian, why are you here? Has something happened?"

Grandmother Li, who had been sitting in the next room listening to the men argue, hurried out. She greeted Yan Chaonian while signaling the others with her eyes, not wanting her to know they had just been bickering over her.

"Grandmother, I came to see Grandfather. There are some things I would like to discuss with him."

"See... see your grandfather?"

Grandmother Li wondered if someone had tipped Yan Chaonian off and if she had come to hold them accountable.

Li Chun and Li Xia thought the same, and even Master Li stiffened, feeling a twinge of guilt.

"Yes. I am going to the capital in two days and might be away for a long time. I wanted to speak with Grandfather before I leave."

"Go to the capital?"

The whole room was stunned. "Why go to the capital?"

"Niannian, you must not do anything foolish."

Li Chun and Li Xia’s first thought was that Yan Chaonian had been deceived by Jiang Wencheng again, and they were frantic.

"I am not being foolish," Yan Chaonian smiled. "I will explain everything later. For now, please let me have a moment with Grandfather."

Li Xia would not agree. He pulled Yan Chaonian aside and whispered, "Are you going back to the Count's estate? You absolutely must not go back. It is not too late to change your mind. The old man doesn't know that the bastard from the Jiang family has arrived."

The old man had just been yearning for the Count's estate, and if he knew, he would likely agree immediately. A strange thought struck him: "You aren't here to mock the old man about this, are you?"

This comment successfully made Yan Chaonian roll her eyes. "Do I seem like someone with that much time on my hands?"

"I am truly not being foolish. The Imperial Court requires me to go. I will explain it to you in a moment."