Chapter 133.1

Zhuo Shi sprang to her feet in shock. She ran towards the door in a few steps, grabbed the maidservant who informed them and asked hastily, “What did you say? Say it again!”

“Marquis Yongle manor has been unsealed, and the Old Madam has returned to the manor. It was a group of soldiers who escorted her back. They went up and tore up the seal.”

“How could that be?! Shouldn’t the marquis manor be conferred to our Old Master? No, Old Madam is Old Master’s dimother. If she is able to return to the manor, it means that our Old Master is returning as well. Quickly, quickly, quickly, go and inform the Old Master that the royal decree for the title of dukedom has arrived and let him go to the Marquis manor to have a look!” Zhuo Shi was appalled at first then overjoyed. She sent the servants into running around like headless chickens.

The Duchess of Jingguo could barely suppress her anger, stepped forward to smile and said, “Congratulations to Younger Sister! Your hard times are over, and the good times are just beginning!”

Zhuo Shi no longer remained in hiding. She lifted her skirt and rushed out. She intended to experience for herself just how rich and honourable the legendary Marquis Yongle manor. It was to the point of causing her parents-in-laws and her husband to be unable to forget it after so many years, even crying out for the title in their dreams.

Yu Jun Wei and his son were drinking with Duke Jingguo when they heard the news and immediately went out to check. They saw the gate to Marquis Yongle manor opened, the seal on the door had been turned into scraps of paper blown by the north wind. Many servants and soldiers were going in and out, carrying things and appearing to be very busy.

The Old Madam held Yu Si Yu’s left hand and Yu Xiang’s right hand. She was standing in front of the door and looking at the gold-stamped imperial plaque hanging in the courtyard’s door. She said loudly, “Set up a ladder later and wipe the dust off the plaque.”

“Yes!” A steward immediately complied and sent someone to get a ladder.

Yu Jun Wei approached them and inquired, “Mother, why did you rip the seal? Is it because the Emperor’s decree has arrived?”

“That’s right. The imperial decree had already arrived a long time ago.” The Old Madam pulled out a roll of bright yellow brocade from her sleeve pocket.

A flash of sparkle could be seen within Yu Jun Wei’s eyes. His breathing became labored and he could barely maintain a composed voice as he asked, “I can inherit the title now? I’ve been reinstated? Hong’er’s title has also been restored?”

“In your dreams! What kind of title do you have now that Yan’er is still alive?” The Old Madam

Without waiting for Yu Jun Wei to speak, Yu Miao Qi, who brought Lin Shi to watch the commotion, hastily asked another question, “What do you mean by that?”

Yu Si Yu laughed coldly and said, “Are you deaf? If my elder brother is not dead, how can anyone else become Marquis Yongle?”

“Not only is he not dead, but he has also vanquished the imperial court of the Western Barbarians and achieved unparalleled feats. Elder Brother has gone to the palace to have an imperial audience. He will be returning home in the evening. Today, the family is hosting a family banquet to celebrate Elder Brother’s victory. Please do not hesitate to visit us.” Yu Xiang said with a smile.

The few people talked amongst themselves, making Yu Jun Wei, Yu Miao Qi and the others be out of their mind and feel the cold seep from their bones into their souls. If Yu Pin Yan was not dead, then the criminal charge of conspiring with foreign enemies and premeditated conspiracy against the throne would be discredited in the light of facts. The title was no longer of any concern to anyone else. This was not all, when he was free, all those who had framed him will be subjected to his cruelest and most merciless revenge, just as it was in previous years.

Yu Jun Wei and the others felt their liver and guts crack at the slightest thought of it. Yu Miao Qi and Lin Shi unconsciously hugged each other. Their shivering bodies revealed the fear in their hearts.

The Old Madam held onto her granddaughter’s wrist and sneered, “What do you mean by family banquet? Other than the three of us, who else are our family members? Ma Momo, go and inform the clan elders that I will break off the maternal connection between Yan’er and Lin ShiI will also do the same to his sibling relationship with Yu Miao Qi on his behalf. From here on out, they would walk separate paths and no longer be related.”

Yu Xiang secretly applauded when she heard of this. Even Yu Si Yu felt that the Old Madam had made the right decision.

“Mother, you can’t! Yan’er came out of my womb!”

Lin Shi cried out mournfully, while Yu Miao Qi remained silent. By hiding incriminating evidence in Yu Pin Yan’s study and instructing Lin Shi to help the third branch of the (Yu) family reclaim the title, she knew that the things she had done left no room for maneuver. One wrongful act had led to another, and her crimes were unforgivable. Even if she had the ability to distort the truth deliberately, the Old Madam would never believe her again.

The third branch of the (Yu) family’s title was gone. Not only that, she was afraid that she would also be charged with framing an official of the imperial court. No, she almost forgot that the ultimate goal of framing Yu Pin Yan was to bring down the Crown Prince and help the Fourth Prince ascend the throne. Now that Yu Pin Yan had returned to the capital, that naturally meant that the Crown Prince was safe. And the Emperor, who orchestrated all of this from behind the scene, was probably aware of everything. Yet, he had kept it to himself, probably because he wanted to take advantage of this incident to purge the court.

All those who were involved in this matter would not get off scot free, not a single one of them! And if she were to dissolve her relationship with Yu Pin Yan, she would be executed through the death of a thousand cuts with only a single evidence about her crime of bringing false charges against an imperial court official.

Yu Pin Yan was always willing to personally take action against those who provoked him. It would be three thousand and six hundred slashes and he would never let them die until the last cut. His heart had always been ruthless.　　

The more Yu Miao Qi thought about it, the heavier the fear and despair in her heart became. She felt suppressed to the point of wanting to scream right then and there. She bit down on the tip of her tongue and ordered herself to stay calm. She told herself that there was still the nobleman, who was wise and brilliant; he would inevitably devise a plan to turn the tide. She momentarily recalled the picture of herself adorned in a phoenix garment, and her frenzied heart slowly settled down.