Lin He’s eyes widened as she stared at Li Yuzhen. She had always assumed such cheap tricks were only employed by common village women, never imagining that a daughter-in-law of such a prominent household would stoop so low, casting aside all pretense of elegance and propriety.

After all, experience counts; even though Madam Wen hadn't immediately recognized the man in the room as her own son, her prior suspicions had left her far calmer than Li Yuzhen. Observing her daughter-in-law’s spectacle, she finally called out impatiently, “You are the Eldest Young Mistress of the Wen family! Must you behave like a shrew? Have some decorum! Whatever this is, discuss it in private later.”

Upon hearing her mother-in-law, Li Yuzhen’s wails didn't subside; rather, they grew louder. “Mother! It is your son who has done wrong, yet instead of rebuking him, you scold me as a shrew in front of everyone! You are being utterly unreasonable.”

The Second Madam, observing Li Yuzhen’s tantrum, interjected with a show of mock fairness. “Indeed, Eldest Sister-in-law, this situation is hardly Yu-zhen’s fault. How can you speak to her that way? People will say our Wen family handles matters unjustly.”

Li Yuzhen found encouragement in this support and pressed on fearlessly. “See? Even Second Aunt agrees, Mother. If you do not deliver justice for me today, I will wait for Father to return and have both him and Grandmother adjudicate this matter. I will send someone to fetch Grandmother right now so she can witness firsthand the shameful affair these two have created.”

Madam Wen fixed the Second Madam with a chilling glance before turning her eyes back to Li Yuzhen, her disappointment in her daughter-in-law reaching a profound peak. She wondered how she could have been so utterly misled, agreeing to marry such a foolish woman into the family—one who couldn't even discern if someone was genuinely helping her or merely mocking her, yet dared to throw such a fit here. Perhaps her husband was right; this Li Yuzhen was simply not suited to be the mistress of the house.

After studying Li Yuzhen for a long moment, Madam Wen spoke sharply, “Silence! Utter one more word of noise, and I will have divorce papers drawn up for you immediately. I need no other reason; this shrewish display alone disqualifies you from being the Eldest Young Mistress of the Wen family.”

Li Yuzhen, who had been crying hysterically, shuddered when she met her mother-in-law’s gaze and heard the severe tone. Slowly, she stifled her cries, daring not to scream anymore, leaving only low, broken sobs.

Though foolish, Li Yuzhen understood her mother-in-law’s capabilities. Her threat to involve Father and Grandmother was just a bluff to scare them. Even if they were brought in, the worst that could happen was a few sharp words or perhaps an application of the Wen family's corporal punishment to Wen Ningchen. But what then? Wen Ningchen and Madam Wen would certainly ostracize her afterward, and how would she manage her life in the Wen household then?

Seeing that Li Yuzhen had ceased her commotion, Madam Wen’s expression softened slightly. She gestured for a nearby maid to help Li Yuzhen up and said, “Yu-zhen, you know Mother has always favored you. I will settle this matter for you; do not worry.”

Li Yuzhen looked up, nodded at Madam Wen, and allowed the maid to assist her to a nearby chair.

Lin He smiled inwardly. Madam Wen and Master Wen were truly a pair; they instinctively knew the perfect moment to administer both a harsh slap and a sweet balm. Hadn’t Master Wen used the exact same tactic when he visited her own family? Madam Wen was doing the same now; with just a few sharp words, she had thoroughly intimidated Li Yuzhen, who now dared not even whimper, let alone run off to file a complaint.

With Li Yuzhen quieted, Madam Wen swept her gaze over the assembled company. “With such an incident unfolding in the household, I imagine no one is in the mood for appreciating the flowers. We will postpone this visit to Xuan’er’s courtyard for another day. It is getting late; everyone should return for breakfast, as we must all pay respects to the Old Madam afterward.”

As Madam Wen spoke, she signaled for a maid to fetch Ning Nuo and Wen Ningchen from the inner room so they could leave together. However, since Wen Ningxuan had stated he came specifically to watch the excitement, he was not about to let Madam Wen simply usher the involved parties away.

Wen Ningxuan remained unhurried, still seated by the stone table. As Madam Wen emerged leading Wen Ningchen and Ning Nuo, he spoke casually, “Eldest Brother, I have no interest in the details of which woman you were cavorting with. What I am interested in knowing is how the two of you ended up in my courtyard. If you cannot explain this clearly, we can wait for Father to return and clarify matters then.”

“Second Brother, don't push your luck! Yesterday, it was clearly your subordinate who invited me in. How dare you say such things now,” Wen Ningchen retorted from behind Madam Wen, his voice tight with suppressed fury.

“Oh? Big Brother, that’s hardly fair. It is true I asked my staff to summon you; I did indeed have business concerning the shop accounts that Father instructed us to review. But when I came downstairs, I never saw you. I assumed you had left early. I certainly didn't realize you had entered the room. Are you suggesting I instructed you to commit these acts while inside?” Wen Ningxuan’s face was etched with mockery.

“You…” Wen Ningchen was too enraged to form a coherent response.

“Yesterday, Chen’er claimed Xuan’er invited him. But how did Miss Ning Nuo come to be here? Logically, she knew that Hei’er was not home last night. Why would she deliberately enter Xuan’er’s courtyard?” The Third Madam interjected, asking the question.

Wen Ningxuan smiled faintly. Finally, someone had touched upon the crux of the matter. Now, let’s see how Ning Nuo explains this. If she admits she followed him in, everyone present will draw their own conclusions: a young lady insisting on following a man back to his courtyard when she knew his wife was absent—her intentions would be painfully obvious.

“Third Aunt speaks with great wisdom. I too am puzzled. I rarely exchange more than a few words with Miss Ning Nuo, and my wife is away. Why would she choose to run to my courtyard? Perhaps she, like Mother and the others, found the flowers in my garden appealing and came for a look, accidentally stumbling upon Eldest Brother, whereupon the two became like dry tinder catching fire, unable to control themselves…” Wen Ningxuan paused dramatically.

Wen Ningxuan’s words were startlingly explicit. Several people in the courtyard immediately blushed, while others snickered quietly. Wen Ningchen’s face darkened to the color of soot. Ning Nuo, however, played her part cleverly, leaning on her maid and continuing to sob softly, refusing to look up at anyone, as if the entire affair had nothing to do with her.

Ning Nuo’s pitiable appearance managed to elicit sympathy from all present. Even the sharp-tongued Third Madam and the gleeful Second Madam felt a pang of pity and ceased their remarks, only looking at her with commiseration. After all, in such a situation, a woman was always the object of pity, and Ning Nuo was still just a young girl, always mannerly and obedient when visiting others. To have been ruined by Wen Ningchen like this, and then made a spectacle of in front of so many people—that was a humiliation any woman would find intolerable.