Chapter 147: Refusing to Admit Fault

The second woman seated on the right side flew into a rage and demanded, "Are you saying my son deserved to die?"

Yu Youwei replied with aloof indifference, "Whether he deserved to die, I believe the Ning family disciples who entered the Phantom Illusion Realm hold their own public consensus."

Madam Liu chimed in, "Sister-in-law, regardless of the circumstances, you were the team leader. Since the two younger cousins perished, you cannot shirk your responsibility. Why don't you offer an apology to Grandmother?"

Was this eldest sister-in-law trying to step over her to build up her own virtuous reputation? A deeper mockery surfaced on Yu Youwei's face, and she could not be bothered to bicker further. "If you are afraid of death, do not participate in the battles of the Phantom Illusion Realm. If you insist on holding me, the team leader, responsible, I have nothing more to say. Handle this however you see fit. I shall remain in the Imperial Capital for the near future. Once you reach a decision, send someone to the Yu residence with word, and I will return."

How utterly arrogant!

Every single daughter-in-law of the Ning family in the hall was stunned, and the maidservants outside the door held their breath in absolute silence.

Yu Youwei had no interest in caring about anyone's reactions and turned to leave. Old Madam Ning, seated at the head, spoke up, "Don't throw a temper tantrum, Youwei. Go back to the quarters with your eldest sister-in-law to freshen up first, and come back for dinner shortly."

Everyone, including Yu Youwei, looked at the old matriarch in confusion. Many people both inside and outside the room were thinking: It was one thing for Ning Mofei to hold a special status in the family, but why should his wife receive special treatment as well?

Mofei's grandmother appeared to be a reasonable person, and Yu Youwei did not wish to deprive her of face. She offered a slight bow to indicate she would obey the elder's wishes, then stepped outside to stand on the stone steps while waiting for Madam Liu to emerge.

Madam Liu, who had hoped to see Yu Youwei taught a lesson, never expected the grandmother to openly show partiality. Though inwardly resentful, she dared not display it. Emerging with a cordial facade, she greeted warmly, "Sister-in-law, let's go. Our courtyards are rather far apart."

Having no interest in dealing with a two-faced eldest sister-in-law, Yu Youwei gave a cool assent and followed her to the Fourth Branch's courtyard.

The architectural style was identical to the Ning family's estate in Jiangning Prefecture, and the scale was much the same. Ning Mofei's courtyard was named the Verdant Parasol Pavilion, featuring a tall phoenix tree right in the middle of the yard. In the autumn wind, leaves drifted gracefully downward. The two sisters-in-law had just stepped into the courtyard when that simpleton bolted out from the room, wrapped his arms around his wife, and laughed joyfully, "Youwei, I've missed you to death!"

Recalling when she was first married, this same fool had disembarked from the flying ship and hugged his sisters-in-law while proclaiming that he "missed them to death," Yu Youwei said coolly, "Hmph, I'm touched you could still remember."

Ning Mofei tilted his head to scan his wife's expression. His smile froze, and he asked with cautious trepidation, "Youwei, are you angry? Is it because I didn't go to welcome you?"

"Hurry up and thank the eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother for coming to the Yu residence to fetch me. I am going inside to freshen up first." Pushing Ning Mofei aside, Yu Youwei smiled faintly at Madam Liu and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Eldest Sister-in-law. Please excuse me for a moment."

Madam Liu possessed deep cunning. Smiling amiably, she replied, "Sister-in-law has had a tiring journey and truly ought to freshen up first. Fourth Brother, you needn't bother seeing me off; it is getting late, and I must attend to the Old Madam."

True to form, Ning Mofei simply abandoned the eldest sister-in-law and followed Yu Youwei into the house.

Upon stepping outside, Madam Liu did not head toward the Jing'an Hall, but instead returned to her own courtyard. Ning Bowen had just walked in from outside, looking rather displeased. She personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, asking, "Is the Second Branch refusing to let the matter rest?"

"They are creating a massive uproar. Second Grand-uncle smashed a teacup and is demanding that Sister-in-law pay with her life," Ning Bowen said with suppressed anger.

"Sigh, it's always trouble brought about by Sister-in-law. I spoke with her on the way, but she refused to listen. Her attitude in front of the elders of the Second Branch was atrocious. This matter is not easy for us to manage," Madam Liu sighed.

When Ning Bowen pressed for details, and after listening to his wife's account, he drained his cup in one gulp and actually chuckled: "That is certainly Sister-in-law's style. Knowing that it would be impossible to make Sister-in-law apologize, I proactively sought out Eldest Brother to take on this thankless task. Grandmother must have taken this into consideration as well, which is why she spared no effort and followed us to the Imperial Capital."

Madam Liu was nearly driven to distraction with indignation. Did that mean her husband and grandmother had rushed all the way to the Imperial Capital specifically to back up that concubine-born daughter of the Yu family?

With a forced laugh, Madam Liu feigned incomprehension and asked, "I don't understand this at all. Clearly, the brothers of the Second Branch died, and it is only right that Sister-in-law, as the team leader, bears responsibility. Yet you two act as though you're worried she's being wronged."

Throwing a surprised glance at his wife, Ning Bowen retorted, "Who says Sister-in-law should bear responsibility? If anything, because it was Sister-in-law leading, had it been Third Brother, he might have tossed them out of the Phantom Illusion Realm first. Not to mention that Ning Jinwen allowed himself to be bought off and conspired with the Xiang family disciples to entrap his own kin—he deserved to die all along. Eldest Uncle took into account that Second Grand-uncle has served in the Imperial Capital for many years, and if he had no great merits, he at least had bitter toil. The blow of losing two grandsons at once was simply too heavy, which is why he didn't pursue it further. Otherwise, even Second Grand-uncle was at fault."

"So that's how it is," Madam Liu said, pretending to be suddenly enlightened as she patted her chest and laughed, "You didn't make it clear earlier, causing me to worry in vain for the Fourth Sister-in-law. She already harbored resentment in her heart after marrying Fourth Brother; if the family were to chill her heart over this, I'm afraid she would be even less willing to live a life with Fourth Brother."

"That is true." Failing to detect the instigating undertone in his wife's words, Ning Bowen said with deep concern, "Sister-in-law possesses supreme talent and peerless intelligence. One could say the Yu family survived this crisis entirely due to her turning the tide. If she had married Third Brother, they would undoubtedly have matched like lute and zither, a union made in heaven. Having married Fourth Brother, her reluctance is inevitable."

"I could see she genuinely wanted to leave earlier. Upon meeting Fourth Brother, she gave him nothing but cold shoulders and grimaces." Taking the opportunity, Madam Liu recounted the scene of dropping Yu Youwei off at the Verdant Parasol Pavilion, while feigning hypocritical sympathy, "Judging by this situation, even if Fourth Sister-in-law's anger is appeased this time, Fourth Brother's life will not be easy in the future."

Ning Bowen's expression darkened in displeasure. "Less of that talk. The fact that Fourth Sister-in-law protected Fourth Brother in times of peril proves she is settled on living a proper life with him."

Seeing her husband defend the Fourth Sister-in-law so fiercely made Madam Liu feel even more unbalanced. "I was only mentioning it to you; I haven't even brought it up before Mother, purely out of fear that the old lady might overthink things. If it were Second Brother or Third Brother, as the eldest sister-in-law I wouldn't meddle, but Fourth Brother's situation is different, and we need to keep a watchful eye out for him."

"That is true, I wronged you." Being a courteous gentleman, Ning Bowen assumed he had misunderstood his wife and immediately offered a sincere apology, completely oblivious to the petty scheming inside her mind.

Pampering Mofei was one thing, but did they have to treat his wife like a treasured heirloom too? Madam Liu thought with bitter resentment. Since marrying into the Ning family, she had never disliked any sister-in-law. Besides, no other wife in the Ning family was as arrogant as Yu Youwei. She believed that once her mother-in-law heard about this, she wouldn't be as foolish and indulgent toward Yu Youwei as the grandmother had been!

While harboring one set of thoughts, Madam Liu put on a completely different front with her words. "Sigh, it's just my habit as the eldest sister-in-law to worry. Fourth Brother has been close to me since childhood, and he is so innocent, so naturally I treat him differently than the other younger brothers-in-law."

"To marry a virtuous wife is a husband's greatest blessing!" Ning Bowen laughed with heartfelt contentment.

"What use is virtue? I'd rather act on impulse just like Fourth Sister-in-law, though unfortunately, I lack both her talent and looks." Madam Liu could not help tossing out a few sour remarks, but seeing her husband frown, she quickly laughed, "I was only joking, don't take it to heart!"