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

The knock on the door was like thunder, sending me into a state of panic. Zhan Yu quickly stood up and opened the door. Two family guards with stern faces stood outside. Their tone was cold and emotionless: "Miss Bai, the Elders Council would like you to come over."

I subconsciously squeezed Zhan Yu's hand. He squeezed back, giving me a reassuring look. I knew there was no way to avoid it. Han Li's situation hadn't been fully resolved yet, and the summons from the Elders Council had come so quickly, it had to be related. Taking a deep breath, I tried to remain calm and followed the guards out of the courtyard.

The meeting room of the Elders' Council was solemn and dignified, a heavy atmosphere permeating the air. The Qin family elder sat in the main seat, flanked by several highly respected elders. Their gazes were sharp as they scrutinized me. I nodded slightly, maintaining due decorum.

"Bai, do you have anything to say about Han Li's death?" The Qin family elder's voice was low and majestic.

I recounted in detail what had happened at the sacrificial ceremony, hiding nothing. My voice, though slightly trembling, remained clear and resolute. I emphasized that I had no grudge against Han Li, and certainly no motive to kill him.

The elders exchanged glances, as if weighing my words. After some deliberation, the Qin elder finally announced, "Based on the current investigation, Han Li's death was not homicide, but an accident. Bai, you are acquitted."

My heart finally settled, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Although I had gained the family's approval, I knew this was just the beginning. There were definitely many hidden undercurrents within the family, and I didn't know when they would surge again.

When I left the meeting room, Zhan Yu was already waiting outside. When he saw me come out, he immediately came forward and asked with concern, "How is it?"

I smiled at him and said, "It's okay. The Elders' Council has already investigated it. It was an accident."

Zhan Yu was obviously relieved, and his tense shoulders relaxed. He gently put his arm around my shoulders, and I could smell his familiar and reassuring scent.

Over the next few days, the family seemed to have returned to peace. After the sacrificial ceremony, the Zhan family began a new round of development plans. Zhan Yu and I strolled through the family garden. He smiled and told me that many people in the family now looked up to me. Those who had previously looked down on me no longer dared to provoke me.

I leaned in his arms, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on us. Everything seemed so beautiful.

However, beneath the calm surface, there were hidden undercurrents. That night, servant Luo came running over in a panic and whispered something in my ear...

Maid Luo's rapid breathing sprayed in my ears, but his words were like a basin of ice water, instantly extinguishing the warmth in my heart: "Miss Bai, Young Master Han's brother, Han Tao, he... he's back!"

Han Tao, Han Li's younger brother, who had been exiled by his family, was a man filled with rage and ambition. I had anticipated his return after news of Han Li's death spread. I just didn't expect him to come so soon.

Zhan Yu noticed my strangeness, he put his arm around my shoulders and asked softly, "What's wrong? What happened?"

I took a deep breath and told him the news brought by Luo the maid. Zhan Yu's face also became solemn. Han Tao's return would undoubtedly bring new waves to the Zhan family.

"Don't worry," Zhan Yu hugged me tighter, "I will protect you." The warmth and strength emanating from him made me feel a little at ease.

Over the next few days, I could clearly sense the tension in the family. Han Tao's presence was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. He moved about, contacting those in the family who were displeased with me, spreading rumors that were detrimental to me, and attempting to sow discord between me and Zhan Yu, as well as between me and the rest of the family.

However, I wasn't deterred by these rumors. I actively participated in family affairs, proving my ability and value through my actions. Elder Master Xu even invited me to participate in the process of reorganizing the family's sacrificial traditions. He said I had unique insights and hoped I could make a greater contribution to the preservation of this family's sacrificial culture. This was undoubtedly a great sign of trust in me and a testament to my abilities. I poured my heart and soul into this work, hoping to earn the recognition and respect of even more people through my efforts.

Zhan Yu has always been by my side, silently supporting me. Every evening, we would walk in the garden, he would gently stroke my hair, whispering words of comfort and encouragement. His company was my greatest comfort during the family struggle.

One evening, we were nestled in the garden pavilion, admiring the starry sky. Zhan Yu suddenly grabbed my hand and said seriously, "Tomorrow, Han Tao will formally propose to the Council of Elders to reinvestigate Han Li's death."

My heart sank suddenly. I knew a new storm was about to come. Han Tao's actions were undoubtedly an attempt to use this opportunity to attack me, or even to drive me out of the Zhan family completely.

I held Zhan Yu's hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm. I knew this struggle would be incredibly difficult, but I wouldn't back down. For the sake of my loved ones and my future in the Zhan family, I must bravely face every challenge.

"Don't be afraid," Zhan Yu's voice was firm and powerful, "I will always be by your side."

His words gave me infinite strength. I raised my head, met his deep gaze, and nodded firmly.

At this moment, servant Luo hurried over again. His face was pale and his voice trembled as he said, "Miss Bai, Master... Han Tao... he..."

Servant Luo's face turned pale, and he trembled for a long time without being able to say anything. "Han Tao...he...he fainted in the ancestral hall!" he finally stammered, his face full of fear.

Ancestral hall? Zhan Yu and I exchanged glances, each one puzzled. Why had Han Tao fainted in the ancestral hall? Was he faking it? Trying to gain sympathy? All sorts of theories raced through my mind.

"Let's go and take a look." Zhan Yu said in a deep voice.

Inside the ancestral hall, Han Tao lay pale on the ground, surrounded by a crowd of people, talking and discussing. I squeezed into the crowd and saw Elder Xu, the priest, checking his pulse. After a moment, Elder Xu stood up and shook his head solemnly. "Young Master Han Tao seems to have been poisoned by some strange poison. I can't tell what it is at this time."

A strange poison? My heart shuddered. How could Han Tao be poisoned? Could someone have deliberately poisoned him? Who could it be?

For the next few days, the entire Zhan family was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. Han Tao's poisoning had further complicated the already complex family relationships. Everyone was on high alert, fearing they would become the next target.

I remained focused on reorganizing my family's sacrificial traditions. In times like these, I needed to remain calm and not panic. I leafed through ancient texts, carefully studying every word, trying to find clues that would help me untangle the complex relationships within my family.

Finally, at a family meeting, my efforts paid off. In front of all family members, the Qin family elders publicly praised my work and expressed their support for some of my new ideas and plans within the family. This significantly increased my voice within the family and forced those who had long harbored resentment towards me to reconsider my existence.

At that moment, I felt a surge of warmth in my heart. I knew I had finally established myself within the Zhan family. However, I didn't let my guard down. I knew that despite this, there were still some people who were jealous of me behind my back, perhaps plotting new schemes against me, which made me feel a little uneasy.

Zhan Yu also noticed my uneasiness. He held my hand and gave me a reassuring look. I knew that no matter what happened, he would stand by me, support me, and protect me.

One evening, I was sorting through documents in my study when I heard hurried footsteps outside. I looked up and saw Luo the servant standing at the door, his face pale and his lips trembling, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"What's wrong?" My heart sank, and I had a premonition that something bad had happened.

Maid Luo took a deep breath and finally said, "Miss Bai, Han... Young Master Han..."

He paused, then said in a barely audible voice, "He's awake." "He's awake?" My pen paused, the ink spreading across the paper, a blurry blob, just like my current mood. Han Tao is awake. What does this mean? Does it mean this scene must continue?

Maid Luo rubbed his hands nervously, "Yes... yes, he just woke up and is shouting to see you and the young master."

I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "I understand. Go reply to him. Zhan Yu and I will be there shortly."

Servant Luo retreated, relieved. I put down my pen and rubbed my swollen temples. I turned to look at Zhan Yu, who was leaning against the door, looking at me with an unpredictable expression.

"It looks like the fun is about to begin again." He walked over to me and gently held me in his arms. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

His warm embrace made me feel safe. I rested my head on his shoulder and nodded gently. I knew that no matter how many storms lay ahead, he would be by my side.

We arrived at Han Tao's room. He was half-leaning on the bed. Although his face was still a little pale, he looked much better than before. When he saw us come in, he struggled to get up, but I stopped him.

"Cousin Han Tao, there's no need to be so polite. You haven't fully recovered yet, so you should rest well." I said in a calm tone with just the right amount of concern on my face.

Han Tao's gaze lingered on my face for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Cousin Bai, thank you for your hard work during this period."

His words sounded polite, but I could sense something strange in them. He seemed... too calm. When he fainted in the ancestral hall, shouldn't he have first questioned why he fainted, or investigated the person who poisoned him? Yet, he didn't even mention a word, and instead came to me first to show concern? This made me even more wary.

"You're welcome, cousin. We're all family, it's only natural." I responded calmly.

Zhan Yu stood silently beside me, his eyes scanning Han Tao sharply, as if he wanted to see through him. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat solemn, as if there was a taut string that could break at any time.

"By the way," Han Tao suddenly said, "Did anything major happen in the family while I was unconscious?"

His tone seemed casual, but I could keenly catch the glint of light in his eyes. I knew he had other intentions.

I smiled slightly. "No big deal. Elder Qin publicly praised my work at the family meeting and expressed his support for some of my new ideas and plans."

I deliberately emphasized Elder Qin's support just to see Han Tao's reaction.

Sure enough, Han Tao's expression changed slightly when he heard what I said. Although it was only for a moment, I still caught it. He quickly regained his composure and said with a smile, "Congratulations, cousin! It seems that your position in the family is becoming more and more solid."

There was a subtle hint of sourness in his tone, which made me more certain that he was not happy about my family's recognition.

I smiled faintly, "It's all the kindness of the family elders. I just try my best to do my duty."

In the following conversation, we all tacitly avoided sensitive topics and just exchanged pleasantries about some unimportant things.

After leaving Han Tao's room, my unease intensified. Han Tao's calmness made me uneasy. He was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment. I had to be even more careful and not give him any opportunity to exploit my weakness.

"What do you think of him?" I looked at Zhan Yu and asked in a low voice.

Zhan Yu pondered for a moment and said, "He hides it very deeply, but I can feel that he is not as calm as he seems. He must be planning something in secret."

"That's what I thought." I nodded. "The Han family failed before, and they definitely won't give up. We must be prepared to deal with their next move."

Zhan Yu held my hand tightly, his eyes firm, "Don't worry, I will protect you."

I know that the days ahead will not be peaceful. But no matter how many challenges lie ahead, I will face them bravely, because I know I am not alone, I have him by my side.