The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

"What's going on?" I stood up suddenly, my heartbeat suddenly accelerating. Zhan Yu's face darkened, and he quickly walked to the window and pulled open the curtains.

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, and the shadows in the yard were hazy and unclear. But the loud noise and noisy shouting were clearly coming from the yard.

"Someone broke in!" Zhan Yu shouted softly and picked up the antique vase in the corner. The vase was made of brass and was heavy. In his hand, it became a powerful weapon.

I was startled and subconsciously grabbed Zhan Yu's arm, "Be careful!" Lawyer Fang also took out a paper cutter from the drawer with a serious expression.

The three of us cautiously walked out of the study and walked down the corridor toward the source of the sound. The corridor was silent, with only the sound of our rapid breathing and the faint shouting intertwined, the atmosphere was tense and suffocating.

Only when we reached the stairs did we get a clear view of the situation in the courtyard. A group of men in black, armed with clubs and knives, were engaged in a fierce battle with the Zhan family's bodyguards. The flashing of swords and the shouting of killing shook the heavens. The once peaceful Zhan family residence had instantly transformed into a battlefield.

"They're from the Song branch!" Zhan Yu immediately recognized the leading figure in black. It was none other than Hu, the Song branch's trusted thug. He was the mastermind behind the previous car accident. "How dare they come!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with anger.

My heart sank, a chill running through my head. The Song branch was desperate! Unwilling to let the evidence fall into our hands, they'd actually sent someone to assassinate us again!

"Quick, call the police!" I shouted to Lawyer Fang behind me. Lawyer Fang immediately took out his cell phone and called the police.

At this moment, Hu the thug also noticed us. He grinned and waved his hand, and immediately some of the men in black behind him split off and rushed towards us.

"Protect the young mistress!" Zhan Yu protected me behind him and smashed the brass vase in his hand fiercely at the man in black who was rushing in front. With a "bang", the man in black fell to the ground.

Although I was scared, I didn't panic. I held onto the corner of Zhan Yu's clothes tightly and tried to stay calm. I knew that now was not the time to be afraid. I had to be strong and face this sudden crisis with Zhan Yu.

Although Lawyer Fang was weak, he bravely stood in front of me and Zhan Yu, and dealt with the man in black with the paper cutter in his hand.

"We let you get away with it last time, but you won't be so lucky this time!" Hu's thug's sinister voice rang out amid the chaos. He approached us step by step, a fierce gleam in his eyes... He slowly raised the steel pipe in his hand and pointed it at us...

Hu's thug's sinister laughter was particularly piercing amid the flashing swords and shadows. "Last time you got away with it, but this time, you won't be so lucky!" He slowly raised the steel pipe, reflecting a cold light in the dim light, pointing it directly at us. His eyes made it seem as if we were lambs to be slaughtered.

Fear surged like a tide, almost drowning me. But I couldn't retreat. Zhan Yu and Lawyer Fang were fighting to protect me. How could I be a coward hiding behind them?

I looked around, my eyes settling on a stick in the corner of the hallway. It was a relic from some gardening, and now it became my lifeline. I rushed over, grabbed the stick, and gripped it so tightly that my knuckles turned white from the strain.

At Hu's command, the men in black pounced like hungry wolves. Zhan Yu wielded the heavy brass vase with ferocious force, each swing accompanied by a muffled thud, smashing the men's heads and drawing blood. Lawyer Fang, though frail, wielded the paper cutter with remarkable agility, weaving between the men in black, occasionally slicing their clothing and leaving streaks of blood.

I joined the fray, using my wooden stick to fend off the black-clad man's attacks. Although I'd never learned any fighting techniques, my instinct for survival gave me incredible strength. I swung my stick, hitting the black-clad man again and again, each blow with all my might.

However, the enemy outnumbered us, and we were gradually losing ground. Sweat beads formed on Zhan Yu's forehead, and his breathing became rapid. Lawyer Fang also had several wounds on his body, and blood stained his shirt. I was even more surrounded by several men in black, and the situation was very dangerous.

"Madam, be careful!" Zhan Yu exclaimed, pulling me away from the attack of a man in black. I stumbled and almost fell.

"Hold on, the police will be here soon!" Lawyer Fang shouted while fending off the attacks of the men in black.

But will the police really arrive in time? I was filled with anxiety. The men in black were pressing closer and closer, and our space was shrinking. I could feel my strength rapidly draining away, and the stick in my hand was growing heavier.

Suddenly, I felt a strong gust of wind from behind. I instinctively dodged, but it was too late. A man in black swung a steel pipe and struck me hard on the shoulder. Intense pain instantly ripped through my body, and the stick in my hand fell out of my grasp, and I collapsed to the ground.

In a daze, I saw Hu the thug, pushing through the crowd and stepping towards me. He had a sinister smile on his face, his eyes filled with greed and murderous intent. "Miss Bai, if you can just hand over the things, I can save you some pain..." He bent down and reached out to my chest... I knew he wanted to snatch the evidence I had hidden in my pocket... My consciousness began to blur, but the instinct for survival made me use my last bit of strength to tightly protect my chest... "No..."

The thug's smirk magnified in my blurry vision. His rough hands reached for my chest. I desperately tried to protect my pocket, which held the crucial evidence proving Song's side branch's crimes. I gritted my teeth, refusing to let go even when my consciousness was fading.

"You stubborn bitch!" Hu, enraged, kicked me in the stomach. The intense pain blinded me, and I nearly fainted. I heard Zhan Yu's heartbreaking roar, followed by the dull thud of fists and feet clashing, but he was outnumbered and quickly overpowered by the men in black.

I felt like a fallen leaf, drifting helplessly in a raging storm. Was this really the day I would die? Despair welled up in my heart, and before my eyes appeared Zhan Yu's gentle smile and the magnolias blooming in the Bai family's old house...

Just as I was about to give up, a shrill sirens pierced the night sky. Then, several bright lights illuminated the previously dim corridor, and a group of uniformed police officers rushed in, shouting, "Police! Don't move!"

The men in black obviously didn't expect the police to show up, and there was a moment of chaos. Hu thug cursed, left me, turned around and tried to escape. Seeing this, Zhan Yu endured the pain in his body and rushed forward, holding Hu thug's legs tightly to prevent him from escaping.

"Catch them!" A police officer ran over and quickly apprehended Hu's thugs and the other men in black. I then noticed that Lawyer Fang had stood up at some point. Although injured, he appeared remarkably calm. He walked over to me and asked with concern, "Miss Bai, are you okay?"

I shook my head and tried to speak, but my throat was too dry to speak. Lawyer Fang helped me sit up and handed me a bottle of water. I drank a few sips and felt a little better.

"Luckily, I made arrangements ahead of time and notified the police," Lawyer Fang said softly. "I just didn't expect them to arrive so quickly."

I glanced at Lawyer Fang with gratitude. If it weren't for him, Zhan Yu and I would have been in serious danger today. The police questioned me about what happened and took Hu and the others away. Zhan Yu's injuries weren't too serious, just minor bruises, but my shoulder was in excruciating pain, and Lawyer Fang insisted on taking me to the hospital for a checkup.

At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed my shoulder as fractured and required a cast. Zhan Yu stayed by my side, his eyes filled with self-blame and heartache. "It's all my fault. I didn't protect you well..."

I held his hand and whispered to him, "It's not your fault. It's the people from the Song branch who are too cruel."

By the time we finished tending to the wounds, it was already late at night. We returned home, exhausted. Although we had escaped this time, we knew the Song branch wouldn't let us off the hook. With the family meeting approaching, how could we prevent the next attack?

I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Suddenly, I heard a subtle noise coming from the study... I gently pushed open the door and saw Zhan Yu standing by the window, holding a black box. In the moonlight, I saw a strange symbol engraved on the box... He slowly opened the box...

I gently pushed open the study door and saw Zhan Yu standing by the window, holding a black box. In the moonlight, I saw a strange symbol engraved on the box, like some ancient totem. He slowly opened the box, and inside lay a simple jade pendant, emitting a faint luster.

"What is this?" I asked softly, walking up to him.

Zhan Yu held the jade pendant in his hand, his eyes complicated. "This is what my mother left me. She said it's a family heirloom." He paused and continued, "It is said that this jade pendant has mysterious powers that can protect the Zhan family from disaster."

I examined the jade pendant carefully. It felt cool to the touch, delicately carved, and exuded a subtle aura of majesty. "Your mother...did she foresee what would happen today?"

Zhan Yu smiled bitterly, "Maybe. My mother always warned me to be careful of fighting within the family. She said that the human heart is more terrifying than a tiger."

I was startled. The Song branch's viciousness was truly beyond imagination. If this assassination attempt fails, they'll surely become even more frenzied. We must be fully prepared. "The family meeting is imminent. We can't just sit there and wait for death."

Zhan Yu placed the jade pendant back into its box, his eyes determined. "You're right. We must take the initiative." He walked to his desk, turned on his computer, and began to browse some information. "Lawyer Fang has discovered that the Song branch has secretly colluded with several family elders and is attempting to impeach me at the meeting and seize control of the Zhan family."

"What can they use to impeach you?" I asked worriedly.

"Some trumped-up charges, such as poor management, embezzlement of family property, etc." Zhan Yu sneered, "They think they can bring me down like this. How naive they are."

"We have evidence of the Song branch's crimes. Should we still be afraid of them?" I clenched my fists, and a fighting spirit ignited in my heart.

Zhan Yu shook his head. "It's not that simple. Although the evidence is conclusive, the method used to obtain it is not legal. If it is made public at the conference, it may backfire."

I immediately understood what he meant. If we couldn't prove the legitimacy of the source of the evidence, the Song branch would likely turn against us and accuse us of framing them.

"So what should we do?" I asked anxiously.

Zhan Yu pondered for a moment, a gleam in his eyes. "I have a plan..." he whispered in my ear. The more I listened, the brighter my eyes became, and my heart was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Over the next few days, we intensively prepared according to plan. Lawyer Fang also actively cooperated, helping us gather intelligence and contact key individuals. While recovering from my injuries, I studied the family's history and rules, striving to quickly integrate myself into the Zhan family and become Zhan Yu's right-hand man.

On the eve of the family meeting, Elder Qin suddenly summoned us to the ancestral hall. His face was grave, and he held a thick family tree in his hands. "According to our ancient family tradition," he said slowly, "the evidence you found does not meet the regulations and cannot be used at the meeting." Zhan Yu's face instantly turned pale, and I felt a chill run from my feet to my head.