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

Zhan Yu walked over quickly and followed my gaze towards the bottom of the incense burner. "These scratches..." He reached out and touched it, "They look like they were carved by some kind of tool."

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Someone has tampered with the offerings."

Zhan Yu's expression also grew serious. "It seems that the conspiracy of the Third Master of the Han family is more complicated than we imagined."

I looked around. Everything in the warehouse seemed unusually quiet, a silence that made me feel even more uneasy. I picked up the incense burner and examined it carefully. Besides the scratches on the bottom, I also found some black powder remaining inside the incense burner.

"What is this?" I picked up some powder between my fingers and sniffed it gently. The pungent smell made me frown. "This smells... like some kind of medicinal powder."

"Medicine powder?" Zhan Yu's expression darkened. "It seems they are planning to tamper with the sacrifice."

My heart sank. What on earth was the Third Master of the Han family planning? Was he trying to sabotage the ritual and frame the Zhan family?

Just then, my mother-in-law's voice came from the door of the warehouse: "What are you doing?"

I turned around and saw my mother-in-law standing at the door, looking at us with dissatisfaction. "The sacrifice is about to begin, why are you still dawdling here?"

I quickly put the incense burner back on the shelf and explained, "Mother-in-law, we discovered that the sacrificial supplies have been tampered with."

The mother-in-law came over, took one look at the incense burner, and said disdainfully, "Tampered with? I think you broke it by accident. You are always so clumsy that you can't even do the smallest thing right!"

My mother-in-law's accusations made me feel wronged. I had clearly done this for the Zhan family and for this sacrifice, yet I had to endure such injustice. I took a deep breath, tried to control my emotions, and said, "Mother-in-law, these scratches and powder were not caused by me. Someone really did something wrong."

My mother-in-law snorted coldly, "I think you're just trying to find an excuse to shirk responsibility. You're so careless about something as important as the sacrifice. I'm so disappointed!"

My eyes were slightly red. I didn't want to argue with my mother-in-law, but I also didn't want to bear this unjust accusation. I raised my head and looked at Zhan Yu, hoping he could help me explain.

Zhan Yu held my hand, gave me a comforting look, and then said to my mother-in-law, "Mother, let's take care of the sacrificial ceremony first. We can talk about other things after the ceremony is over."

My mother-in-law wanted to say something more, but she didn't say anything. She turned and left the warehouse, leaving Zhan Yu and I standing there.

I watched my mother-in-law leave, feeling helpless and aggrieved. I knew she was always unhappy with me, but she couldn't have wronged me like this!

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Now was not the time to think about these things. The most urgent thing was to solve the problem of sacrificial supplies.

"Zhan Yu," I turned my head and looked at Zhan Yu, "Let's go find the old priest Xu and let him see what this powder is."

Zhan Yu nodded, and we left the warehouse together, heading towards Elder Xu's residence. My steps were heavy, and I felt a surge of unease. What was the Third Master Han's plot? What would happen during this ritual? I clenched Zhan Yu's hand, a chill rising from the depths of my heart. "Elder Xu..." I began, but suddenly heard a startled cry from behind me.

I held Zhan Yu's hand tightly, and a chill rose from the bottom of my heart... "Mr. Xu..." I just opened my mouth, but suddenly I heard a cry of surprise from behind me: "Oh my God! Why did the sacred fire on the altar go out?!"

My heart trembled, and I turned around suddenly. The once blazing sacred fire was now reduced to wisps of smoke. A sense of foreboding washed over me. Everyone was in an uproar, talking and discussing, and the scene suddenly became chaotic. My mother-in-law's face was ashen. She quickly walked to the altar, pointed at the extinguished sacred fire, and demanded sharply, "What's going on?! The sacrifice is about to begin, how could the sacred fire suddenly go out?!"

I tried to stay calm, took a deep breath, walked over to the old priest Xu, and whispered, "Old Xu, look at this sacred fire..."

Elder Priest Xu's face was solemn. He carefully examined the altar and its surroundings, then said gravely, "The Sacred Flame has gone out strangely, as if someone had tampered with it." He picked up the incense burner, carefully examining the scratches and black powder I'd discovered earlier. He then put it to his nose and sniffed, his expression suddenly changing. "This powder... is Extinguishing Spirit Powder! A special powder specifically designed to extinguish the Sacred Flame!"

I was startled. Someone had deliberately sabotaged the ceremony! I looked at my mother-in-law and was about to explain when the third master of the Han family came over with a group of people, a sinister smile on his face. He said in a sarcastic tone, "Hey, isn't this Madam Zhan? What's wrong? The sacred fire is extinguished. Was it your fault?"

The Han family member beside him also echoed, "That's right! I think it was her! She's usually clumsy, and she must have accidentally touched something and extinguished the sacred fire!"

My mother-in-law's expression became even uglier. She glared at me fiercely and said sternly, "Bai Ruoxi! What else do you have to say?!"

I suppressed my grievance and anger and said calmly, "Mother-in-law, I didn't extinguish the Holy Fire. The culprit was the Extinguishing Spirit Powder on the incense burner. Elder Xu has also confirmed that this is a powder specifically designed to extinguish the Holy Fire."

Elder Priest Xu also testified: "Indeed, the sacred fire was not extinguished accidentally, but was sabotaged by humans."

The third master of the Han family sneered, "Mr. Xu, don't be fooled by her! She is from the Bai family. Who knows what she is up to? Maybe she deliberately released the Extinguishing Spirit Powder to disrupt our Zhan family's sacrifice!"

I took a deep breath and tried to control my emotions. I knew that the Third Master of the Han family was deliberately framing me, hoping to use this opportunity to attack the Zhan family. I couldn't let him succeed!

I was about to open my mouth to retort when the Qin family elder approached. He said in a deep voice, "Alright, stop arguing! The most important thing now is to find the real culprit, rekindle the sacred flame, and continue the ritual." He turned to the old priest Xu and asked, "Old Xu, do you have a way to rekindle the sacred flame?"

Elder Priest Xu nodded and said, "I can give it a try, but it will take some time to prepare."

The Qin family elder looked at me again, his eyes sharp: "Bai Ruoxi, do you know something?"

I was about to speak when I suddenly felt a warm hand grasp mine. I turned around and saw Zhan Yu standing beside me. He looked at the Qin family elder with a firm gaze and said in a deep voice, "I believe my wife." Then, he turned to look at the third master of the Han family, his eyes cold...

Zhan Yu's hands were warm and powerful, like an electric current flowing through my body, dispelling the chill in my heart. He stood beside me, like a towering mountain, shielding me from the wind and rain. His eyes were firm and gentle, giving me infinite strength.

"I believe my wife." These six short words were powerful, ringing loudly in the noisy ancestral hall. The Han family's third master's expression instantly turned grim. He hadn't expected Zhan Yu to defend me so strongly.

"Zhan Yu, what do you mean? Do you suspect that I am framing your wife?" The third master of the Han family suppressed his anger, with a hint of threat in his tone.

Zhan Yu sneered, "Master Han, I know my wife better than you what kind of person she is. She is gentle, kind, and virtuous, and would never do such a thing. But there are some people with ill intentions who always try to sow discord and destroy the unity of our Zhan family."

Zhan Yu's eyes were like torches, staring directly at the Third Master of the Han Family, his tone icy, "I advise you to behave yourself and stop playing tricks. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"

The third master of the Han family was intimidated by Zhan Yu's aura and was speechless for a moment, his face turning pale and blue. The Han family members around him were also silent, not daring to say anything.

Seeing this, the Qin family elders hurried out to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, we're all family. Why make things so awkward? The most important thing now is to find the real culprit, rekindle the sacred fire, and continue the sacrifice."

Zhan Yu then retracted his gaze and turned to look at me, his eyes instantly becoming gentle as water. "Ruoxi, are you okay?" He gently held my hand and asked with concern.

I shook my head, trying hard to hold back the tears in my eyes, "I'm fine, it's just..."

"Just what?" Zhan Yu gently wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. His fingertips gently stroked my cheek, bringing a tingling sensation.

"I'm just worried..." I bit my lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally expressed my concerns, "I'm worried that the Han family won't give up, and they will continue to find ways to sabotage the sacrifice."

A cold light flashed in Zhan Yu's eyes, "Don't worry, I will protect you and will not let them succeed." His tone was firm and powerful, which made me feel extremely relieved.

With Zhan Yu's comfort and encouragement, I gradually regained my composure. Elder Priest Xu had already prepared the materials for rekindling the sacred fire. He carefully lit the new flame, and the altar once again erupted in flames.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The sacrificial ceremony could finally continue.

However, at this moment, I suddenly sensed a strange presence. I turned my head sharply to look at the crowd, only to discover a furtive figure quietly leaving the ancestral hall.

An ominous premonition suddenly arose in my heart... "Zhan Yu, look..." I pointed at the figure, my voice trembling slightly.

"Zhan Yu, look..." I pointed at the sneaky figure, my voice trembling. Zhan Yu followed my gaze, his brows furrowed. "It's Luo, the Han family's servant," his low voice rang in my ear, "What is he trying to do by sneaking around like that?"

Before we could react, Servant Luo vanished from the ancestral hall's entrance. A feeling of unease coiled around me like a vine, my intuition telling me this was far from over. The Han family's actions this time were so meticulous; they wouldn't give up easily.

"Zhan Yu, I'm worried..." Before I could finish my words, I was interrupted by Zhan Yu.

"I know what you are worried about," he held my hand tightly, his eyes firm, "I will send someone to keep an eye on him and will never let him have another chance to disrupt the sacrifice." He then called over a confidant, whispered a few words to him, and the man left.

The solemn atmosphere in the ancestral hall returned, and the sacrificial ceremony continued. The sound of Master Xu's chanting, the curling smoke from the incense burner, and the flickering flames all tried to soothe my inner uneasiness.

Yet, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. I couldn't help but look around. The ancestral hall was packed with people, each with a reverent expression, seemingly wholeheartedly participating in the ceremony. Yet, I couldn't help but feel that something was amiss.

I quietly approached Zhan Yu and whispered, "Zhan Yu, I always feel like someone is watching us."

Zhan Yu looked around and whispered, "Don't worry, I will protect you." He held me in his arms and gave me silent comfort.

The sacrificial ceremony progressed step by step, the atmosphere becoming increasingly solemn. Elder Xu, the priest, held high the jade scepter used for the sacrifice, muttering something to himself. Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed in from the entrance of the ancestral hall, extinguishing the sacred fire on the altar.

There was a sudden chaos in the ancestral hall, with screams coming one after another.

"What's going on?" the Qin family elder shouted sternly.

Elder Priest Xu's face turned pale as he trembled as he said, "This... this is an ominous sign!"

At this moment, I noticed a subtle sneer on the corner of Mr. Han's mouth. My heart sank suddenly. It seemed that this gust of wind was no accident.

Zhan Yu also noticed the expression on Han's Third Master's face, and his eyes instantly became fierce. He protected me behind him and said in a deep voice, "Protect Ruoxi!"

Several Zhan family guards immediately surrounded us and protected Zhan Yu and me in the middle.

The ancestral hall was in chaos. Some people fled in panic, while others tried to relight the sacred flame. However, I stared closely at the Third Master of the Han family. My intuition told me that he was manipulating all this.

Suddenly, I felt a cold breath coming from behind me, and I turned around suddenly... a cold hand covered my mouth.