Traveling through time and space

"Yuanyuan, what's wrong with you?" The eldest brother stood up.

"Brother, grandma doesn't want Yuanyuan anymore. She left on her own. She doesn't want me anymore." Su Yuanyuan lay on the coffin and cried. They had been together for such a long time, and the old lady was really good to her. Su Yuanyuan was reluctant to let her go from the bottom of her heart.

"Yuanyuan, grandma has passed away, you have to take good care of yourself." The eldest brother comforted her, and one came over to say a few words, and then another came over to say a few words. It turned out that everyone from the Cai family had arrived.

"Yuanyuan, how could you do this?" The eldest uncle came up and condemned Su Yuanyuan. "I am the eldest son, and it should be our Cai family who should be in charge of this. But why are the servants in your house trying to stop us?"

"Master Cai, our princess has just returned," Mother Yan stepped forward to stop him.

"Mother is our Cai family's legitimate mother. Her mourning hall should be set up in our Cai Mansion and buried in our Cai family's ancestral tomb."

"Master Cai, my grandmother is the concubine of the 1st wife, not the original wife. Instead of letting her be humiliated in the Cai family's ancestral tomb, it is better to let her rest in peace in the Su family's ancestral tomb, accompanying her parents." Su Yuanyuan explained patiently.

"A woman must obey her husband when she gets married, and her son when his father dies. I have the final say on this matter. Come here."

"Grandmother has no sons. You are just her stepsons and have no right to judge this matter."

"A stepson is still a son, but you, a woman, can't be counted."

"What? Master Cai, do you want to act tough in front of me? Do you want to be the boss here? Do you want to be the boss of me?" Su Yuanyuan became angry.

"Master, the old lady's last wish was to be buried in the Su family's ancestral tomb, accompanying the old grandfather and the old lady." Mother Wu and the others stepped forward at the same time to stop her.

"You are causing unrest to the ancestors of the Cai family."

"Yes, mother has lived in the Cai family for nearly thirty years, and we have called her mother for so many years. She should rest in the Cai family's ancestral tomb."

The Cai family members were arguing with Su Yuanyuan. Some even suggested reporting her to the prefectural yamen, saying that even a princess shouldn't bully others like this. Others said that Su Yuanyuan insisted on keeping the shrine there just to collect the gift money. They thought that the Cai family had been away from home for so many years and that they should take this opportunity to collect the gift money related to the old lady. This made Su Yuanyuan laugh and cry. "Grandma, these so-called stepchildren you raised are arguing like this in front of your shrine. Don't worry, I will never let you go back to a place you don't like, no matter what the law is," Su Yuanyuan stood up from her kneeling position and looked at her eldest brother, who nodded. "Come here, anyone who dares to make a scene in front of Grandma's shrine will be beaten to death and thrown out." Su Yuanyuan ordered, and soon the servants from the outside rushed in.

"Yuanyuan, are you going to become an enemy of the Cai family? Don't you need the Cai family's protection anymore?"

"Master Cai, when my grandmother moved out of the Cai family, she said we would have nothing to do with each other. Now that she has passed away, you, as her children, have the filial piety to burn a stick of incense on her spirit and cry a little. This will complete the mother-son relationship between you. But if you want to cause trouble here, I will not make it easy. Now, please leave. I am the only mistress of this Su Mansion and you are not welcome."

"Husband, let's go to the government office and sue her. She is disobedient and unfilial."

"Madam Cai, please come in. This princess welcomes officials to come at any time. This princess has lost her patience. If you continue to make trouble here, Dongmei, I will beat you with sticks. This princess is not afraid of being laughed at." Su Yuanyuan knelt in front of her grandmother's spirit again.

"Everyone, please go out. We do not welcome you in the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion." Dongmei stepped forward. Su Yuanyuan, who was kneeling, chose not to hear and just knelt and looked at her grandmother's coffin.

"Princess, I am Eunuch Du who serves in front of the emperor. The palace has heard the news about the death of the old lady of the first rank, and I am asked to come to offer condolences. Please accept my condolences, Princess." During the stalemate, a group of people came in. It turned out that they were people from the palace.

"Thank you, Eunuch Du," Su Yuanyuan didn't have the energy to respond. She simply replied and stopped talking. When it quieted down, she realized her eldest and second brothers, her fourth uncle and his wife, and their two children hadn't risen yet, but were kneeling before the coffin. "Yuanyuan thanks Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, eldest and second brothers. I'll remember this kindness." Su Yuanyuan didn't rise, speaking directly. The palace staff also left. It seemed that her eldest brother had helped to deal with the matter.

"Silly child, this is what we should do, don't thank me." Fourth uncle looked at grandma's spirit tablet and said, "Shaowu, Shaocun, grandma loves you two the most. You must take good care of grandma's funeral and take good care of Yuanyuan in the future so that mother can pass away in peace."

"We know, Fourth Uncle," the eldest brother replied. In the next few days, apart from these people, no one from the Cai family showed up. During these days, Su Yuanyuan knelt motionless in front of her grandmother's coffin, not speaking or moving, not washing or sleeping, not eating or drinking. No one responded to anyone who came to see her. When someone asked about the kidnapping, Su Yuanyuan only replied that everything would be discussed after grandmother was sent away. All matters in the mansion were decided by the eldest brother. People from the Su family's main branch also came and made a commotion, but fortunately they were all suppressed. Grandmother's favorite person in her life was the eldest brother. Let her favorite grandson take care of her funeral. In the last few days, Su Yuanyuan's body could no longer support her. She ate simple meals and stayed with her grandmother in the mourning hall. Su Yuanyuan talked to her, telling her not to worry, that she would live a good life, and asked her to find her daughter, her own mother, so that they could be reunited... Su Yuanyuan asked several maids if her grandmother was in pain before she passed away. They all said that grandma was not at peace when she passed away. She was still worried about her own safety and how she would live alone in the future. But she said that she was going to find her daughter whom she missed so much. She felt very happy because she was her only daughter. Su Yuanyuan also gradually calmed down. Everything should be discussed after sending grandma away. On the day of sending grandma away, Su Yuanyuan took a bath and changed clothes on purpose. She didn't want to find out that those people from Cai family had arrived again when she was about to go to the funeral. Su Yuanyuan didn't say anything. This was the last thing for grandma. This was what they should do. They should be respectful at grandma's grave. She kowtowed respectfully, "Grandma, please go find mother. You and your daughter should live well together. Yuanyuan has grown up and can take care of herself. She will also avenge you. If you miss you in the future, Yuanyuan will come and talk to you. If you and mother miss Yuanyuan, please come to Yuanyuan in your dreams..." In front of her grandmother's grave, Su Yuanyuan kept chattering and said, "Grandma, rest in peace." After returning to the mansion, standing in front of the mansion gate, Su Yuanyuan was a little stunned. The mansion of the Marquis of Xiaoyong can no longer be called a mansion. It can really be described as ruins.

"Princess, that torch burned the mansion into this state," the maids who followed her choked with sobs.

"Are there any casualties?" Su Yuanyuan asked.

"Yuanyuan, there are four injured people, and I have already taken care of them," the eldest brother stepped forward and replied.

"Okay, thank you, big brother, you have worked hard these days. Uncles and aunts, thank you for coming to see grandma off for the last time." Su Yuanyuan entered the house and bowed to the uncles and aunts in the room.

"Yuanyuan, what are you going to do in the future? No one can live here anymore. You should go back to live in Cai's house." The eldest uncle stepped forward.

"No, thank you for your kindness. Yuanyuan wants to renovate the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion. This is where my grandmother grew up. Yuanyuan wants to take care of this home on her behalf."

"Yuanyuan, your grandmother has more than just you as her grandson or granddaughter," my third aunt suddenly stood up.

"Excuse me, third aunt, what do you mean?" Su Yuanyuan didn't understand at first.

"Uncle San, Aunt San, it's time for us to go." The second brother stood up and tried to block Aunt San.

"Yuanyuan, Third Auntie means that the estate left by our grandmother should be divided equally." Third Auntie's intention was to divide the family property. "Your grandmother is the mistress of our Cai family. Shouldn't her estate be divided among us, her children? How can you monopolize it all?"

Su Yuanyuan understood a little, "Everyone, do you have the same idea?" Su Yuanyuan asked.

"Your third aunt is right. We have been serving your grandmother wholeheartedly, serving her tea and water all these years. Why did you get all her property?" The eldest aunt also stood up.

"Mother, didn't I tell you a long time ago not to think about grandma's property?" The eldest brother stood up and pulled his mother to ask.

"Brother, please don't interrupt. Uncles, do you have the same idea as my aunts?" Su Yuanyuan asked.

"Yuanyuan, you can't spend so much money by yourself, right? Besides, we have been filial to our mother over the years, so it is only natural that we should inherit her fortune."

Su Yuanyuan sneered a few times, "Uncle, this princess really overestimated the so-called family affection between us. Although you are not my grandmother's children, you have been with her all these years. Money is only a thing outside of the body. Dongmei, go call the head and second housekeepers over."

"Yuanyuan, that's what grandma left for you. You'll be alone from now on..."

"Brother, Yuanyuan can make money on her own. If Yuanyuan clings to grandmother's property, and several uncles and aunts are also concerned about grandmother's property, we will all be unhappy, and then grandmother will die with regrets. Yuanyuan doesn't want to do this. Yuanyuan wants to live a quiet life in the future. But from now on, Su Yuanyuan has nothing to do with the Cai family, and we are no longer relatives. If we break off the relationship, everyone will treat us as strangers when we walk on the street. From now on, no one from the Cai family will ever set foot in our Xiaoyong Hou Mansion again. Brother, second brother, don't blame Yuanyuan for being ruthless."

"I don't blame you. From now on, I'm just your second brother and have nothing to do with the Cai family," the second brother stepped forward and saluted.

"Princess," the chief butler, the second butler, and a group of people came.

"Butler, please stand up and speak. How much did the mansion lose in the last fire?"

"In reply to your question, Princess, only the old lady's Cunshan Hall and Shanhe Hall are still intact and habitable. The other Biming Garden and Yixin Garden... are almost completely burned. Don't worry, Princess. Xu Kun and his guards have already taken everything from Yixin Garden."

"Okay, butler, how many properties does the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion have now? Besides this courtyard?" Su Yuanyuan asked.

"In reply to the princess, there are two farms and four shops in the mansion. The old lady has not taken good care of them over the years," the butler said with some embarrassment.

"Princess, the old lady has said that all the shops are left to you." The two old ladies Wu and Liu hurried forward to explain.

Su Yuanyuan shook her head, signaling them to be silent. "Uncles, leave this mansion to Yuanyuan. Divide the rest among you. Big brother, you will take care of this matter. Have the chief steward assist you in selling all the properties. Then, big brother, you will distribute the money equally. Grandmother doesn't care whether it's a legitimate son or a bastard's son. You will divide it equally among the uncles, aunts, and my aunt. From now on, Su Yuanyuan will have no connection with the Cai family anymore."

"Yuanyuan, you are still a child, how can you live alone?"

"Fourth aunt, thank you for your kindness. Yuanyuan can live on her own. Please take care of yourself in the future." Su Yuanyuan wanted to go back and rest.

"No, we can't divide it this way. Yuanyuan, you have to stay with Laixitang on Luohong Street and Yongxiang Grocery Store on Kuqin Street. You need to live and repair this mansion, which will cost a lot of money. Otherwise, I won't agree. Father, Mother, if you don't agree, take all the money. From now on, Shaowu is no longer your son. Shaowu will be removed from the Cai family."

"And me." The second brother stood next to the eldest brother.

"You two," my uncle was very angry, "just do it this way." My uncle agreed helplessly.

"Now that mother is gone, the glory of the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion has truly fallen. I doubt the Emperor will give you any titles like Princess or Princess anymore. Don't contact the Cai Mansion anymore. These two sons are my children and I raised them. Don't have anything to do with the Cai family anymore. Don't even think about trying to cheat them out of a tael of silver. You, by yourself, have occupied two shops and a large courtyard. I think you can live well on your own." The aunt stood up and pulled the two brothers apart. "If you agree, we agree."

"Yes, sister-in-law, there are so many people in our Cai family, and we only get so little money."

"Mother, I can't control what Shaowu wants to do. Yuanyuan, no matter what happens in the future, I will always be your big brother."

"Yes, Yuanyuan, and second brother too. Second brother, study hard and come back with a top scorer. Then, big brother and second brother will support you in the future."

"Brother, second brother, thank you for your kindness. Madam Cai, I, Su Yuanyuan, swear here that from now on, even if I am alone, I will never go to the Cai Mansion to ask for a single ounce of silver. Even if I become a beggar, I will still beg for food outside the Cai Mansion. Please rest assured." Su Yuanyuan said firmly.

"But I hope you will do what you say, sir. Let's go." Aunt pulled uncle.

"Okay, let's do it. Big brother, second brother, please take these people away so that grandma can have some peace and quiet. Butler, Mother Wu, please assist the eldest master in getting this done. Second butler, ask everyone in the mansion to come to this courtyard. This princess has something to say." Su Yuanyuan waved her hand.

"Yes, Princess, I will help the eldest master to do this." As the people in the room left one by one, the room became quiet.