Real Empress from a noble family

After Shao Yuemei arrived, although Princess Yang was full of hatred, she didn't dare to offend Shao Yuemei. Because she was overawed by all the noble ladies who came to visit when Shao Yuemei moved her school last time. Especially, Jiang Family and Princess Yongfu. So, she only managed to maintain her dignity because Shao Yuemei came to mediate and left in a huff.

When she was about to leave, she couldn't help saying, "Yishi's brother and father have already brought people to General's Mansion to seek justice. After this, even Ruan Qingyan marries Yishi, he won't be able to stay in Hanlin Academy anymore. For Yishi's sake, best-case scenario, he will be dispatched to some remote place to be a low-level officer. He deserves this! But my poor niece doesn't!"

"It sounds like Darui belongs to Yang family." Qiu Yelan sneered, "Aunt, you'd better be discreet about your words. In case someone accuses us of having an ulterior motive. Besides, although I'm not well educated, I still know that since it's fornication, they both must have done wrong. Don't sound like it's all the man's fault. After all, not just Yang Yishi, Yang Yifu is also like this. Everyone knows which side misbehaves!"

There were successive rumours about two ladies of Yang Family fornicating with others. No matter how angry Princess Yang was. She didn't have the audacity to argue with Qiu Yelan about the ladies of Yang Family's reputation and integrity. She said a few mincing words with a livid face and left ungracefully.

After she left, Shao Yuemei said a few comforting words to Qiu Yelan and then began to indirectly ask about what exactly happened between Ruan Qingyan and Yang Yishi.

Of course, Qiu Yelan flatly denied, "It's pure slander! After my cousin got the title, he was too busy to entertain his classmates and friends. How could he have time to fornicate with some woman? My cousin got into Hanlin Academy before he turned 20. In your opinion, if he really liked Yang Yishi, wouldn't he be qualified to propose to her honestly? Why should they date stealthily?"

Shao Yuemei also didn't quite believe Ruan Qingyan would be stupid enough to seduce Yang Yishi. Jiang Family intended to let Ruan Qingyan be their son-in-law. Of course, they investigated him. Ruan Qingyan was thoughtful and resourceful which made him perfect for pursuing career in officialdom. This kind of person should know better. Besides, judging by his talent and look, there should be a lot of beautiful women throwing themselves at him.

Among all the ladies in Jing City, the daughter of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Yang Yishi was barely made to the top-level whether judging by her family or herself. And she was not that beautiful. How could Ruan Qingyan risk his career for her?

So, after Qiu Yelan denied, Shao Yuemei left after a few chitchats.

As expected, at dusk on that day, a rumour spread saying that Ruan Qingyan firmly denied having seen Yang Yishi. Neither side could convince the other. Finally, Ruan Qingyan's teacher Xue Chang heard about it. He sent people to invite them to his home to discuss it.

After their discussion, Ruan Qingyan was proved innocent at once. Because Yang Yishi and her close maid were brought to the Minister's Mansion as well. They couldn't identify Ruan Qingyan among a line of young men across the screen.

Xue Chang wasn't pleased about this. Xue Family and Yang Family were close before. But Yang Tao chose to be on Empress Dowager's side because of his sister. So, Xue Chang distanced himself from Yang Family. Now that Yang Tao's daughter was slandering Ruan Qingyan. Who didn't know that among all the students of that year Xue Chang valued Ruan Qingyan the most?

Even the outsiders didn't know that Xue Chang listed him as the candidate of his son-in-law, but agreeing with Empress Jiang, letting Ruan Qingyan into Hanlin Academy, inviting him home to help with his study from time to time…. Everyone should have noticed all these, right?

Although Xue Chang couldn't scold Yang Family out loud considering his status, he still said coldly, "People who have the Jinshi title will be pillars of our country. How could I let them get slandered by a woman randomly? Yang Family must give a proper explanation about this!"

Prime Minister's words sealed Yang Family's tragic fate. Yang Tao and others were in total despair. They didn't know how they went out of the Prime Minister's house. When they went back home and saw Yang Yishi curling up, Yang Yiyong, son of Yang Tao, went towards her and slapped her. His slap made his sister who he adored scream. And blood was dripping from her lips.

"What are you doing?" Lu adored her daughter. She reproached her son in a hurry.

"The good daughter of yours." when Yang Tao looked at Yang Yishi at that moment, there was no love in his look like the usual days. Instead, his look was full of hatred and viciousness, "Prime Minister Xue asked us to give Ruan Qingyan a proper explanation. Tell me how we can explain this?"

Lu was terrified. She knew that putting other matters aside, Yang Yishi was surely going to die. She choked with sobs, "We only have this one daughter!"

"I would rather not have her. It would be better than bringing shame to our whole family." Yang Tao said with a fierce look, "Do you still want to protect her at this kind of crucial moment?"

"Father, I want to know who exactly he is!" Yang Yishi stood up wobbly holding the little table. She regained her senses at that moment. She knew that she was doomed. So, she begged calmly, "Even it's not Ruan Qingyan, it may have something to do with him! Otherwise, why did he tell me that he was Ruan Qingyan?"

Yang Yiyong snarled, "You have the audacity to bring up that bastard!"

"Even I kill myself right now, our family's reputation is still completely ruined, isn't it?" Yang Yishi said with a bitter smile, "If we could find out the connection between the person who lied to Ruan Qingyan and me, we could somehow restore a little of our family's reputation, right? Is father really going to beg a junior to let our family off the hook?"

She had a point.

Yang Tao and his son didn't have time to care about Yang Yishi's life or death right now. They were trying their best to keep their family safe. The explanation Xue Chang wanted was not just a dead daughter and some compensation. Especially, after Yang Family took Empress Dowager Gu's side, they had Empress's clique as their opponents.

If they accused him of lacking discipline of his daughter and slandering Jinshi, he would lose his job as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Worst case scenario, he would end up in jail.

Had to drag Ruan Qingyan into the mess!

"Tell me everything about that bastard…." Yang Tao ground his teeth for a while trying to calm down. Then he instructed in a low voice.

Under the pressure of life and death, Yang Family was super-efficient. They found out the true identity of the person who fornicated with Yang Yishi. But they were all stupefied after they found out about his identity.

"Ding Hanlin's nephew?" Yang Tao said in surprise, "Why did he say that he was Ruan Qingyan?"

Yang Yiyong said with a bitter smile, "He said he never said that he was Ruan Qingyan. It was just that his last name was also Qingyan. His last name and Ruan Qingyan's last name had the same pronunciation but different letters. When Yishi asked his name, he didn't tell her his family name. Yishi probably mistook him for Commandery Princess Ningyi's cousin Ruan Qingyan because of that…."

Speaking of which, an angry look flashed through Yang Yiyong's face, "Ding Hanlin's elder brother only has this one son. It's said that Madame Xue of Ding Family adored him the most among all the grandsons. So, I couldn't actually do anything to him. I have asked him over and over. That bastard clung to his view. In my opinion, he probably misled Yishi on purpose! Otherwise, he and Yishi were already… How could she not know his family name and identity?"

"She thought that bastard was Ruan Qingyan and still went out with him?" thinking about how stupid his daughter was, who he always thought was clever, Yang Tao felt bouts of chest pain.

"Yishi thought that Ruan Qingyan was sincere. She thought if she could win him over, we wouldn't need to worry about how to deal with Commandery Princess Ningyi anymore." Yang Yiyong let out a deep sigh, "Luckily although Ding Qingyan said that he didn't know Ruan Qingyan at all, Madame Xue of Ding Family is Prime Minister Xue's sister. If we got her to help us, Prime Minister Xue would help us clean up the mess for his sister's sake."

Yang Tao frowned tightly and said, "Ding Qingyan… I remember he is such a playboy. Never mind. As long as we can get him to marry Yishi."

However, just when first branch of Yang Family was relieved, third branch disagreed, "We finally got Young Lady He to facilitate the marriage. So, we can get our branch out of the mess. If Yishi married Ding Qingyan, Yinian's and Ding Hanlin's position in the family would be weird."

"At least Ding Qingyan was born in a family with political connections. No matter how misbehaved he is, can first branch be picky right now? They definitely will marry Yishi to him. Ding Family is in the wrong. Can they refuse?"

"Then let's put the marriage aside. We need to divide up family property and live apart at once! First branch only has Yishi living at home now. Yifu of second branch is dead. We have Yinian and Yimian. Their two cousins have that kind of reputation. What should they do in the future?"

Hearing her parents' argument, Yang Yinian bit her lips and went back to her room quietly. Her half-sister Yang Yimian waited for her with a gloomy face, "Yinian, how was it going?"

"Father said that First Uncle definitely wouldn't agree to divide up family property and live apart at this moment. If even we couldn't wait to draw the line, others surely would avoid our family like avoiding plague." Yang Yinian said listlessly.

Yang Yimian almost burst into tears, "Then what about us? How could First Uncle do this? He is dragging all of us down with him, isn't he?"

"Now we only can do as Sister Sheng told the other day." Yang Yinian bit her lips for a while and said fiercely, "Yifu of the second branch was already dead because of Yishi. Now they want to drag us down too. We may as well learn from Yifu's biological mother and put up a desperate fight!"

Yang Yimian asked in surprise, "What did Sister Sheng say?"

"Don't tell others." Yang Yinian crept up to the window and checked outside. Then she went back to the bed and whispered to Yang Yimian's ear, "Sister Sheng asked me to beware of Yishi. Because Sister Sheng has seen her with some guy. Sister Sheng also said that she didn't dare to warn Yifu. Because she and Yishi were always close like siblings. Sister Sheng was afraid that Yifu wouldn't believe her and went to tell Yishi on her."

Yang Yimian said in surprise, "Sister Sheng knew? Then why didn't she say so?"

"Are you stupid?" Yang Yinian pushed her, "First Aunt and Yishi already dislike Sister Sheng. Because of what Yishi did this time even Yifu was… Sister Sheng will never tell unless she wants to die! She was only willing to warn me because we sometimes helped her when Yishi was bullying her."

"Oh… It turns out Yifu was…" Yang Yimian said in fright, "Yinian, go on!"

Yang Yinian whispered, "It was also Sister Sheng who reminded me about Yifu. Otherwise, I also thought Yifu was like Yishi or got dragged down by Yishi. It was Sister Sheng who asked about Yifu's condition before and after she hung herself. Sister Sheng told me her analysis that Yifu couldn't have hung herself. Then I knew that it was Yishi… Never mind, enough about this. Anyhow, we need to separate from first branch right now! Otherwise, not just us, father and our brothers will get dragged down by first branch sooner or later!"

Yang Yinian exhaled, "Sister Sheng said it was obvious that someone hid the truth about Yishi killing Yifu. Otherwise, even she found it suspicious, how could our elders not? It definitely was First Uncle who somehow made Second Uncle let go of it. Second Uncle doesn't love Yifu. But our parents love us. In this case, if Yishi went after us, our parents would have a good excuse to force First Uncle to separate from us!"

Yang Yimian nodded biting her lips. But she thought, "Since Sister Sheng has already known that, if she really cared about Yishi, even she didn't dare to tell First Aunt and Yishi herself, couldn't she ask Madame of Lu Family to send the message for her? Madame of Lu Family adores her. She definitely won't reveal that it was Sister Sheng who told her when she warns First Aunt…."

Suddenly, she was alarmed, "Sister Sheng didn't tell Madame of Lu Family. But she told Yinian again and again. She even anticipated what would happen today…Could it be that she did it on purpose?"

She remembered Yang Yishi once pushed Sheng Shishui into a pond on purpose. Although Madame of Lu Family rebuked Yang Yishi after that, she didn't take it seriously. After she went back to Yang Family, she talked to her sisters about it casually, "It was a shame that I failed to drown that bastard. I have to watch her keep embarrassing Lu Family."

However, Sheng Shishui who got seriously ill after she fell into water never brought that thing up. Moreover, she called Lu and Yang Yishi "First Aunt" and "Fourth Cousin Yang" politely no matter in public or in private. It was like Yang Yishi never pushed her.

Yang Yimian felt chilly all over her body. She grabbed Yang Yinian's sleeve suddenly and said word by word, "We must separate from them! Move out as soon as possible. We can't stay in this house any longer!"