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

After leaving Han Tao's room, a cold premonition lingered in my mind.

The Zhan Family Ancestral Hall is ancient and solemn, but in my eyes it now looks like a dormant giant beast, hiding countless dangers.

I stood in front of the ancestral hall and took a deep breath. The preparations for the sacrifice were more complicated than I had imagined.

Servant Luo carefully brought over a few yellowed volumes, which were densely packed with records of the Zhan family's sacrificial procedures and rules.

"Madam, these are the materials of sacrifices from past generations. Please take a look first." He lowered his head and his voice was almost inaudible.

I took the book, it was heavy, like a stone weighing on my heart.

When I opened it, I found that the rituals recorded in it were so complicated and cumbersome, like a huge maze, which made me dizzy.

Where will the Han family start?

I had no idea what to do and my heart was tightening.

At this time, the old priest Xu came over, stroked his gray beard, and looked at me meaningfully.

"Madam, the preparations for the sacrifice are no joke. If there is any mistake, you will offend our ancestors." His tone sounded like a reminder, but also like a warning.

I forced a smile and said, "Master Xu, I know the importance of this matter and will do my best."

"Try your best? Haha," a sharp voice came from the side. Han Mei from the Han family came over. She was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe and had a mocking smile on her face. "Miss Bai, you are an outsider daughter-in-law. What do you know about the Zhan family's sacrifices? Don't make any mistakes and cause the ancestors to blame you."

I suppressed my anger and ignored her provocation.

Taking a deep breath, I continued to flip through the materials in my hand, trying to find some clues.

But the more I looked, the more confused I felt, and the anxiety in my heart grew stronger.

At this moment, Zhan Yu came to my side. He gently held my hand, his eyes firm, "Don't worry, I will be with you through it." His warm palm, like a force, injected into my heart...

Zhan Yu’s warm palm was like a force that injected into my heart.

I held his hand back, feeling the warmth of his palm, and my originally panicked heart gradually calmed down.

"Thank you, Zhanyu."

"Silly girl, why thank you?" He smiled gently, his eyes full of doting. "We are husband and wife, we should advance and retreat together." He turned to look at Han Mei, his eyes suddenly became sharp. "Han Mei, the preparations for the sacrifice are a family affair. I hope you can be careful with your words and actions and not stir up trouble here."

Han Mei's face changed and her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing. She just glared at me fiercely and turned away.

I took a deep breath and refocused my attention on the information in my hands.

Since the Han family wants to do something bad, I have to be more careful and not let them succeed.

I carefully studied every process and every detail, striving to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

Next, I need to discuss the details of the sacrificial items with the elders in my family.

I know this will be a tough battle.

Sure enough, when I put forward some new ideas, some conservative elders immediately expressed their opposition.

"Miss Bai, the sacrificial procedures of our Zhan family have not changed for hundreds of years. You want to change it as soon as you arrive. Isn't it a bit too frivolous?" A white-haired old woman said in a sharp voice, and several other elders around her also echoed.

"Yes, sacrificial rites are important and cannot be taken lightly. Let's just follow the old rules."

"You are a new bride and don't know the rules, so don't give me any random advice."

I patiently explained, "I just want to preserve the tradition while adding some new elements to make the sacrifice more solemn and grand..."

"Nonsense!" another elder interrupted me. "How can you change the rules of our ancestors at will? You are showing great disrespect to them!"

Anger was rising in my heart, and I was about to refute when a familiar voice rang out... "I think the young lady's idea is very innovative..."

Before Zhan Yu finished speaking, an old but loud voice rang out: "I think the young lady's idea is very innovative..." I turned around and saw that it was the family's highly respected priest Master Xu.

He walked slowly to my side with a cane and looked at me kindly.

"The meaning of sacrifice lies in inheritance, not in static," said Elder Priest Xu, looking around at the elders who opposed me. "Miss Bai's idea is novel, but it is also for the purpose of better inheriting the sacrificial culture. We should not be complacent and should be brave enough to accept new things."

Old Priest Xu has a very high prestige in the family. His words made the elders who originally opposed me speechless, and they all lowered their heads in silence.

A huge stone fell from my heart, and I looked at the old priest Xu with gratitude.

"Miss Bai, I've read your plan. It's quite thoughtful," said Elder Priest Xu, turning to me with encouragement in his eyes. "But there are still some details that need to be refined. Let's discuss it together."

I nodded quickly, took out the prepared materials, and discussed them carefully with Master Xu.

His profound knowledge and rich experience have given me a lot of inspiration.

After some discussion, I reorganized the preparation plan based on the suggestions of the old priest Xu.

Looking at the clear plan, I was full of confidence, as if I had already seen the sacrifice going smoothly.

Zhan Yu patted my shoulder gently and said softly, "I knew you could do it." I smiled at him, rolled up the plan in my hand, and prepared to start the next step.

Suddenly, I felt a cold gaze staring at me.

I turned my head subconsciously and saw Han Qiang from the Han family standing in the corner, sneering secretly.

His sinister eyes made me feel a chill in my heart... It seemed like he was secretly plotting something.

I clenched the plan in my hand...

Han Qiang's sinister smile was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, sending a chill down my spine.

I subconsciously clenched the plan in my hand tighter, until my knuckles turned white.

Zhan Yu noticed my strangeness, gently put his arm around my shoulders, and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong?"

I shook my head and forced a smile: "Nothing, I just feel a little tired." I didn't want to make him worry, I would handle the Han family's little tricks myself.

"Don't work too hard," Zhan Yu stroked my hair gently, "As for the sacrifice, just take your time."

I nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to drive Han Qiang's cold gaze out of my mind.

"Mr. Xu, next we..." I turned to the priest Mr. Xu, ready to continue discussing the details of the sacrifice.

"Madam," servant Luo hurried over and interrupted me, "The sacrificial supplies store has sent a list. Please take a look."

I took the list and quickly glanced through it, and found that the incense, candles, and offerings listed were of various types, some of which were even antiques that had not been used for decades.

I frowned slightly, feeling something was wrong.

"These things were prepared according to the ancient rituals recorded in the family tree," Servant Luo explained, "Elder Qin specifically instructed that they be fully prepared."

Elder Qin has always been old-fashioned and focused on tradition, so it's not surprising that he would do this. I nodded and handed the list to Elder Priest Xu, asking him to help check it.

Old Priest Xu carefully checked the list, stroking his beard from time to time, and his brows gradually furrowed.

"Some things don't seem right..." He pondered for a moment, then looked up at me, "Madam, I'd better go with you to the sacrificial supplies store. Some things need to be selected personally."

I readily agreed. Having Master Xu accompany me would make me feel more at ease.

"Zhan Yu, I..." I turned to look at Zhan Yu, wanting him to go with me.

"Go ahead," Zhan Yu gave me an encouraging look, "I'll wait for you at home."

I nodded, and left the Zhan family with Master Xu and headed to the sacrificial supplies store.

The carriage was bumpy all the way, but my heart was becoming more and more uneasy, and I always felt that something was going to happen.

When we arrived at the sacrificial supplies store, the owner greeted us warmly and took us to the storeroom, where he displayed the prepared sacrificial supplies one by one.

I carefully inspected each item, and suddenly, I noticed that the bottom of an incense burner seemed to have been tampered with... I reached out and gently touched the incense burner...