The old lady's astonishing words nearly choked Mrs. Jiang. But Yuzhu quickly waved her hand.
"Madam, there's no need for this! I can go back by myself."
Disgust was evident on Yuzhu's face. It wasn't because of her status or fear of offending Mrs. Jiang.
"Grandmother, are you confused? She's just a servant. Why should my mother take care of her?"
"Even if you're trying to curry favor with Yunxi, you don't have to push my mother around like this!"
After enduring so many unfair things today, Yunni couldn't hold it in any longer. She threw down her chopsticks and stood up, speaking up for Mrs. Jiang.
But she didn't realize that her outburst made the old lady's face sink.
"Yunni, is this the way you should talk to your grandmother? Even a prince must abide by the law if he breaks it. Whoever is wrong must bear the consequences!"
"Moreover, Yuzhu is not an ordinary servant. Your mother will now be addressed as Concubine Jiang by you and Qi from now on! From today on, you two siblings must remember this!"
Mrs. Jiang turned pale. Everyone present had their own thoughts. Fearing that her daughter would further anger the old lady, Mrs. Jiang gritted her teeth and spoke submissively.
"Yunni, your grandmother is right. Don't be so childish."
She was at a disadvantage at the moment, so she had to yield for the time being.
"Miss Yuzhu, let's go."
With that, Mrs. Jiang actually lowered herself and walked up to Yuzhu, gently taking her arm.
Yuzhu felt extremely uncomfortable. She looked at Yunxi for help, but Yunxi just smiled and shook her head.
She didn't know what had gotten into the old lady, but she was happy to see Mrs. Jiang get a taste of her own medicine.
Since Mrs. Jiang had used the old lady against her before, why couldn't she do the same? Moreover, the old lady had taken the initiative to show kindness to her.
As for what the old lady was up to, it would soon be revealed.
After seeing Mrs. Jiang help Yuzhu leave, Yunni's eyes turned red with anger.
"I'm not eating anymore!"
With that, she angrily ran out.
The old lady's face changed slightly, but then she quickly put on a smile and said to Yunxi.
"It's rare for our family to gather together happily. We shouldn't let a small matter ruin our harmony."
Yunxi was surprised. Happily? She wondered if the old lady's eyes were failing her. But the old lady continued without a hint of embarrassment.
"An enemy should be reconciled rather than enmity deepened. Since we're a family, we should be united. We mustn't let outsiders laugh at us. Am I right, Yunxi?"
Yunxi thought that the old lady was going to such great lengths to placate her just to prevent her from causing trouble. It must have been quite tiring for her.
"Grandmother is right. A harmonious family leads to prosperity. I naturally understand this truth."
The old lady thought Yunxi would be unyielding, but when she heard this, she felt her strategy was effective and immediately said happily.
"That's good that you understand! So don't be angry with Mrs. Jiang anymore. Grandmother will support you from now on. Don't mention the matter of splitting the family again. It'll only make us a laughingstock in the eyes of others!"
"As for your claim that Mrs. Jiang hired someone to kill you, grandmother thinks you might have misunderstood! It would be embarrassing if it were to be taken to the prefectural government!"
Seeing that the old lady had finally gotten to the point after all this time, Yunxi couldn't help but sigh.
She glanced at her father and Yun Qi, who was quietly eating, and said to the old lady.
"Grandmother, I'd like to have a private word with you. Is that okay?"
Hearing this, the old lady subconsciously frowned, then nodded.
"Sure. Come to my courtyard with me later."
Finally, the tasteless New Year's Eve dinner came to an end. Yunxi accompanied the old lady back to her courtyard.
The old lady specifically sent away her maids, and Yunxi also told Honglu to wait outside. When she saw that Nanny Qian was also about to leave, Yunxi quickly said.
"Nanny Qian is the old lady's confidant. She doesn't need to leave like the others."
Nanny Qian looked surprised, but with the old lady's approval, she quietly stood to one side.
"Grandmother thinks it was a misunderstanding that Mrs. Jiang hired someone to kill me?" Yunxi asked directly.
The old lady hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. You can't just convict her based on the words of a coachman. Maybe the coachman held a grudge against Mrs. Jiang and deliberately framed her."
The old lady was old but still sharp-minded. She remembered the key witness Yunxi had mentioned before.
Yunxi didn't comment. She just asked.
"Grandmother, do you know where I've hidden the coachman? He said he had evidence that Mrs. Jiang had instructed him, which is why she wanted to kill him to silence him."
The old lady frowned. Could it be true?
"Where have you hidden the coachman? Grandmother wants to see him and ask him herself!"
It wasn't to avenge Yunxi, but to verify whether Mrs. Jiang was really so cruel as to harm the descendants of the Yun family. If so, Mrs. Jiang might really have to be removed from the mansion, for she would surely cause trouble in the future.
Hearing this, Yunxi smiled slyly.
"I can tell you where the coachman is, but you have to promise not to tell Mrs. Jiang."
"How could I tell her!"
The old lady immediately denied it. Her expression showed no sign of falsehood.
So Yunxi told the old lady an address, saying that this was where she had hidden the coachman. She even repeatedly asked the old lady not to let it slip.
Believing Yunxi, the old lady was shocked and her face darkened. Yunxi glanced at Nanny Qian, who was listening intently and silently, and said.
"Nanny Qian, the old lady doesn't look well. Go and pour her a glass of water."
"Yes, Miss."
Nanny Qian looked at the gloomy old lady and then left.
Yunxi walked up to the old lady and whispered.
"Grandmother, I will definitely move out of this family. But before that, I'll give you a gift so that you can see the people around you clearly."
The old lady stared at Yunxi in surprise and anger.
"You mean Nanny Qian? That's impossible!"
Thinking that Yunxi was trying to sow discord, the old lady showed her true colors and stared at Yunxi warily.
Yunxi pursed her lips and smiled.
"If I say that Nanny Qian has long been on Mrs. Jiang's side, you surely won't believe me. Why don't you wait a few more days and you'll see if my words are true or false."
Looking at the dejected old lady, Yunxi smiled and walked out of the door. She happened to meet Nanny Qian coming in with a glass of water.
Yunxi didn't even glance at her and just walked straight out.
In fact, the coachman was already dead. She knew this because she had asked Aunt Qin's people to follow him secretly before leaving the capital. When she returned to the mansion, Honglu had already told her the news.
She deliberately made a big fuss and declared war on Mrs. Jiang. Firstly, she wanted to make Mrs. Jiang lose her composure. Secondly, it was to deal with the old lady.
Didn't Mrs. Jiang always like to drive a wedge between her and the old lady?
Well, she would return the favor in kind and use the old lady to restrain Mrs. Jiang's hands and feet!
In this way, she could distract Mrs. Jiang and have a chance to do more things to defeat her once and for all!