"Very well."
Xu Yuan smiled and agreed to Old Madame Shen’s suggestion.
Old Madame Shen and everyone present were taken aback, momentarily at a loss as to what game Xu Yuan was playing. Only a moment ago, Xu Yuan had shown no intention of backing down, so why had she suddenly agreed? Old Madame Shen looked at Xu Yuan, feeling a faint sense of triumph, more convinced than ever that Xu Yuan’s previous display had been nothing but empty bluster.
Just as Old Madame Shen was about to speak again, she heard Xu Yuan add, "Since that is the case, I shall take the child and return to my maiden home. It seems there is no place for me in this estate."
Old Madame Shen’s eyes widened in shock. She stood frozen for a long moment, unable to react, until Chuner, standing by her side, was the first to cry out, "Quickly, stop the Mistress! Do not let her take the young master!"
With Old Madame Shen’s backing, Chuner spoke with newfound confidence. Triggered by Chuner’s exclamation, Old Madame Shen snapped out of her daze. She had never liked Xu Yuan, and if the woman wanted to leave, she would be more than happy to see her go. But the child was of the Shen Family bloodline—how could she allow Xu Yuan to take him away?
At this thought, Old Madame Shen’s anger toward Xu Yuan flared once more. "What are you all waiting for? Seize the child from her!"
Xu Yuan had not expected them to be brazen enough to attempt to snatch the child by force. Watching the servants and maids blocking her path, a chilling coldness spread through her eyes.
"Take one more step, if you dare!"
Xu Yuan’s voice was icy, and her gaze carried a sharpness that made those it fell upon shiver with inexplicable dread. The servants stopped in their tracks. They knew that no matter what, Xu Yuan was still the mistress of the Marquis’s Estate, and this was ultimately a conflict between her and the Old Madame. Once the dust settled, they would be the ones to suffer the consequences. Fearing this, they glanced at one another, not daring to advance further.
"How dare you disobey the Old Madame’s orders!" Chuner, seeing them frozen in place, grew frantic. Had she not already received a slap from Xu Yuan, she might have rushed forward herself.
Old Madame Shen had not anticipated such a situation, and she trembled with rage. Just as the scene threatened to spiral out of control, a sharp questioning voice cut through the air.
"What are you all bickering about in here?"
It was Shen Yunan. He stood outside the courtyard, his face dark as he surveyed the scene. His gaze faltered for a moment when it landed on Xu Yuan.
"All of you, stand down!" Realizing something was wrong, Shen Yunan commanded the servants.
Chuner, frustrated that the plan had failed, could not hide the look of adoration she cast toward Shen Yunan. Xu Yuan stood where she was, taking in every subtle expression.
Shen Yunan walked up to Xu Yuan, his gaze softening as he looked at the child in her arms. "Mistress, you have just given birth. You should be resting properly—why are you up and about with the child?"
Before Xu Yuan could respond, Old Madame Shen approached, brimming with fury. "Yunan, you have returned just in time. Take a good look at your wife! Not only is she insolent, but she has repeatedly defied me—she has absolutely no sense of decorum!"
Old Madame Shen did not hold back, hurling accusations in front of Xu Yuan, listing every one of her supposed faults.
Chuner, still nursing the grudge of the slap she had received, chimed in, "Marquis, the doctor said the Old Madame must not be agitated, yet the Mistress knew this and intentionally said things to provoke her. She even said she wanted to change the young master's name."
Bolstered by the presence of both the Old Madame and now the Marquis, Chuner’s confidence soared.
Old Madame Shen continued excitedly, "It is true, Yunan! The name 'Shen Yao' was chosen by a master I consulted. I never imagined your wife would be so unwilling."
Hearing this, Shen Yunan looked at Xu Yuan with confusion, as if he had not expected her to do such a thing. However, for the sake of appearances, he did not want to show too much dissatisfaction in front of everyone. He asked her in a tone of feigned bewilderment, "Mistress, is this really the truth?"
"What does the Marquis think?" Xu Yuan did not answer, instead throwing the question back at him. "Marquis, I carried this child for ten months. Why was I not consulted when a master was hired to choose his name?"
"This..." Shen Yunan faltered. He had not expected such a rigid attitude from Xu Yuan. He did not know why, but as he looked at her again, she felt like a stranger. It was as if something about the woman before him had fundamentally changed.
"Mistress, the matter of the name was merely mentioned in passing before," Shen Yunan said in a low voice, attempting to brush the issue aside. "Besides, Mother only wanted our child to have a good name. Why not indulge her wishes?"
Seeing that Xu Yuan remained silent, he continued, "Mistress..."
Xu Yuan’s gaze was complex. She felt a surge of bitterness thinking about how foolish she had been in her past life—Shen Yunan’s duplicity had been so obvious, yet she had failed to see it at all. It had to be said, the mother and son shared the exact same tactics, both trying to force her into submission.
Xu Yuan let out a cold laugh. "Marquis, what you say is correct."
Shen Yunan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she was backing down, only to hear her continue, "Since you agree that it was merely mentioned in passing, then it cannot be taken seriously. Furthermore, my father has already had a name carefully chosen by the Imperial Academy: Shen Yi. If the Marquis feels this is inappropriate, I shall send someone to decline it immediately."
Shen Yunan’s expression shifted. When he had married Xu Yuan, it was not just because of her beauty; it was because she was the daughter of the Duke’s Estate. Duke Xu was a man of integrity with many protégés in court, and his influence was not to be underestimated. The Imperial Academy was where the princes studied; if he could establish a connection there, his future prospects would be limitless.
At this thought, Shen Yunan quickly said to Xu Yuan, "Mistress, how can you say that? Since it is the wish of my father-in-law, as his son-in-law, how could I possibly refuse? I have decided: the child shall be named Shen Yi."
Old Madame Shen was stunned. This was the first time Shen Yunan had not followed her wishes. "No! My dear grandson is to be called Yaoer! Yunan, how could you..." She was so overcome with emotion that she could not finish her sentence and fainted on the spot.
"Mother!" Shen Yunan rushed forward, filled with sudden alarm.