Chapter 314: How Will You Choose?

Chapter 314: How Will You Choose?

Madame Yang hailed from a family of officials. Though her father’s position in the capital wasn’t high, it was still of the third rank. She had two older brothers who were unfortunately dull in both academics and martial arts, often leaving their father sighing in despair, fearing the decline of their family’s fortune.

It wasn’t just ordinary official families that could fall from grace; even noble families with titles and even the royal family could decline if there were no capable successors.

But Madame Yang's father was not willing to accept this fate! When his sons failed him, he focused on cultivating his grandsons. At the same time, he took notice of Yang Taishi, who had just passed the imperial examination. Believing in his great potential and future achievements, he married his daughter to him after several interactions.

Why didn’t Madame Yang's father choose to ally with a more powerful family through marriage?

Madame Yang, in her nondescript appearance, could be called plain, extraordinarily so. Lacking remarkable talents, a marriage alliance for her would scarcely yield an outstanding match. Without personal merits, and should the family's might wane, she couldn't wholeheartedly support them.

Grand Tutor Yang's grassroots origins painted a different picture. Bereft of resources and yearning for advancement, he would rely on Madame Yang's father. In turn, he was bound to support her family wholeheartedly.

Madame Yang's father proved to have a keen eye. Grand Tutor Yang, indeed a man of potential, later provided considerable support to Madame Yang's maternal family. Her nephews, under his patronage, were now prospering in the court.

However, no one anticipated Grand Tutor Yang's romantic follies. His turmoil over a teenage girl from the Yuan family and the ensuing divorce attempts, although unsuccessful, led to his zealous support for Empress Yuan's son in the bid for the throne. Had his affair with Empress Yuan remained secret, Madame Yang might have cooperated; after all, the bond with Grand Tutor Yang was merely one of mutual interest.

But now, with the affair exposed and known to the strategically pressed Lady of the Dingguo Residence, concealment was futile. Her prior insinuations merely indicated Madame Yang's usefulness to her.

Clear-headed, Madame Yang knew she must sever ties with Grand Tutor Yang, for her sons' and grandsons' sake. Thus, she summoned her sons for a discussion.

In the initial silence, Madame Yang began, "At today's banquet at Marquis Anyuan's residence, I encountered the Lady of Dingguo, who shared a story with me."

Her sons, clueless about the Grand Tutor's dealings with Empress Yuan or his relentless pressure on Dingguo Residence, were baffled.

"The Lady of Dingguo mentioned," Madame Yang continued, "recently, she heard of a teenage girl from an official's family, hell-bent on marrying a thrice-her-age, married man. Her family naturally disapproved, but the girl claimed the man would divorce his wife and marry her properly."

At this, her sons looked puzzled. They remembered Grand Tutor Yang's divorce saga. Digesting the information, Elder Son Yang asked, "Why would the Lady of Dingguo suddenly share this with you?"

"What was the real reason for father's divorce attempt?" inquired Second Son Yang.

Madame Yang, with a cold smile, replied, "The story told by the Lady of Dingguo is our family's. As for why she told it, it's because your father's divorce attempt was driven by his infatuation with another woman, who possessed his whole heart."

At her words, her sons clenched their fists tightly.

"Who was that woman?" Second Son Yang pressed.

Taking a deep breath, Madame Yang disclosed, "Empress Yuan of the palace, the mother of the Fourth Prince."

Both sons were rendered speechless by the revelation, never imagining their father's involvement with Empress Yuan, drenched in cold sweat.

Even Second Son Yang ventured, "Could the Fourth Prince be... our father's?"

Why else would their father fervently support the Fourth Prince?

"Unlikely," asserted Madame Yang.

This revelation caused both Yang Da and Yang Er to heave a sigh of relief. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Otherwise, the punishment of the extermination of nine kinships would have been considered light. Yet, should this affair come to light, the same punishment awaits!

No, the affair has already been exposed; otherwise, why would the Duchess of Dingguo share this tale with their mother?

"How did our father manage to offend the Duke of Dingguo?" Yang Da inquired.

Leaning back in her chair, worn out, Madam Yang disclosed, "Your father, in his bid to lend support to the Fourth Prince, sought to have the Duke of Dingguo's only daughter wed to him. The Duke disagreed, and your father must have resorted to some tactics."

"This..."

"This..."

Both Yang Da and Yang Er thought their father was mad. With such a huge vulnerability, he still dared to threaten others, especially the Duke of Dingguo. Had he forgotten how the First and Second Princes fell?

Shocked and angered, with a strong sense of helplessness, they felt a chill around their necks as if a blade was resting upon it.

Madam Yang sat up straight, gathering her energy to say, "I've called you here to discuss a matter. I intend to divorce Yang Huacan and take you both with me. After the divorce, you will no longer be Yangs but will take my surname, Lin."

Silence filled the room. To change one's name and renounce one's birth father was unprecedented. Should they proceed with such an act, they would undoubtedly face societal reproach.

After a lengthy pause, Madam Yang continued, "Change your surname and live, or stick to it and die. What’s your choice?"

Yang Da and Yang Er were at a loss for words, struggling to accept this reality and to make a decision. Yang Da asked, "Mother, is there no other way?"

"There is," Madam Yang said, "and that is to clear the obstacles for your father, Yuan Fei, and the Fourth Prince, eliminating everyone who knows of this affair."

Yang Da and Yang Er fell silent; they dared not and could not kill the Duke of Dingguo.

Observing her sons’ indecision, Madam Yang, exhausted, leaned back in her chair, "Go back and think it over, but not for too long. The Duke of Dingguo will not wait for us."

Yang Da and Yang Er nodded gravely and, after paying their respects, they left the courtyard.

A cold breeze swept in, stirring their hair. The wind in winter was always biting, but at this moment, they couldn't feel it, their hearts were much colder.