A Moment of Triumph

"Of course! Even if you hadn't mentioned it, we'd still have to invite the Grand Diviner to cast a fortune." Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu looked at her with a complicated expression. "Zhu Minghan, look at you—you're not even as sensible as Grace!"

Zhu Minghan was so frustrated he didn't even want to speak.

"Alright, that's settled then!" Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu declared. "Everyone, you're dismissed!"

"Yes!" Everyone began to leave.

Uncle Ernest strode away with an extra spring in his step.

"Uncle Ernest!" Grace called after him.

He paused and turned his head. "Grace, what's up?"

"Uncle Ernest, just now you said that if Bobby and I were innocent, you'd kneel and serve tea to apologize!" Grace grinned. "You wouldn't forget that so soon, would you?"

"Heh!" Uncle Ernest was thick-skinned enough to just chuckle and say, "It was just a misunderstanding. You wouldn't really make me kneel and apologize, would you?"

"You're my elder—if you knelt to me, I couldn't possibly accept it!" Grace said. "But please kneel and serve tea to my grandmother as an apology! You cursed her own granddaughter so badly you'd think I was worth less than dirt!"

"Huh? This... Sister-in-law, what do you think...?"

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu glanced at Grace with a half-smile. "Well then, I'll accept this tea from my second brother."

With that, she sat up straight and gave Uncle Ernest an expectant look.

No one else left; they all watched him.

Uncle Ernest's face turned from green to pale, but he had no choice. He poured a cup of tea, knelt down before Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu, served her, and apologized. Only then was the matter settled.

Grace watched from the side, the corners of her mouth lifting in amusement.

In these big families, how many brothers and sisters-in-law are truly loving?

When Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu was young, she and Uncle Ernest's wife were always at odds, fighting openly and in secret.

And rumor had it that she'd suffered plenty of hidden losses at their hands.

Now, she finally got to hold her head high for once. That tea tasted especially sweet...

Once everyone had left, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu smiled and patted Grace's hand. "Girl, you're getting more and more sensible these days."

"I'm just glad Grandmother doesn't blame me for being willful," Grace said humbly.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu glanced at Zhu Minghan. "You should talk some sense into your father!"

"Yes, ma'am." Grace shot her father a look.

Her father's expression... reminded her of a firecracker just waiting to go off.

After finishing, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu left, accompanied by Aunt Autumn.

Only Grace and Zhu Minghan were left in the Council Hall.

"Dad—"

"Who told you to come?" Zhu Minghan snapped the moment she called him 'Dad.' "Who tipped you off? Drag them out and beat them to death!"

"Dad, don't be angry! Just listen to me—"

"Listen to what?" Zhu Minghan cut her off. "I don't even know what to say to you!"

He turned and stormed off.

"Dad!" Grace chased after him. "I just didn't want you to make Grandmother mad, that's why I said all that. I was helping you!"

"Helping me? You call that helping?" Zhu Minghan couldn't take it anymore. "Lian'er is your real mother! What kind of daughter encourages a concubine to threaten her own mother's position? You know Grandmother doesn't like your mom. If things really go south... won't your mom have it even worse?"

"But won't they still have to do the divination?" Grace said meekly.

"Divination! He can't divine squat! It's all just smoke and mirrors!" Zhu Minghan was so angry he started cursing.

"Exactly!" Grace winked at Zhu Minghan.

Suddenly, Zhu Minghan seemed to realize something, and his eyes sharpened.