Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

Ye Zhiheng, who was guarding the entrance of the academy, caught a glimpse of An Jinglian rolling out of the study in a disheveled state from afar. He quickly stepped forward and said...

"Master, what's going on?"

He suppressed the fleeting mockery on his face and quickly put on a concerned expression, stepping forward to help An Jinglian, who was about to fall down the steps again.

As soon as An Jinglian was out of her father's sight, her unruly nature was immediately exposed.

He disgustedly slapped Ye Zhiheng's hand away, as if he had touched something dirty, and subconsciously wiped his hand with his clothes.

"Don't touch me, I'm perfectly fine. Go and have someone prepare some food for me to take to the ancestral hall."

After saying that, he lifted his leg and walked out, showing no trace of the disheveled state he had displayed when he fled the study earlier.

Upon hearing that it was the ancestral hall, and considering that the master had previously ordered him to seal off the entire study's outer courtyard, Ye Zhiheng immediately guessed that the master's outburst was most likely due to An Jinglian causing trouble outside.

He didn't care at all about An Jinglian's earlier disdain for him, and instead quickly called over the servants who were standing not far away.

"Manager Ye."

"Prepare some food and send it to the ancestral hall for the young master."

Upon hearing this, the servant raised his head somewhat flusteredly and stammered hesitantly.

"But that's the ancestral hall... The master has set a rule that we can't eat inside..."

“I know, so put down the food and leave quickly. If the master finds out later, I won’t report you. Go quickly and come back quickly, so that no one will see you.”

Ye Zhiheng slipped a silver coin from his sleeve into the servant's hand.

The servant held the silver in his hand and weighed it in his hand. The reward for this risky move was equivalent to several months' wages for him. He had no choice but to bow his head, accept the order, and hurry to the kitchen to prepare it.

Ye Zhiheng looked up at An Jinglian, who was limping toward the ancestral hall, and his face instantly darkened.

In the study

Upon learning the whole story, Lady Yu collapsed to the ground. At this moment, she no longer cared about the mess around her and instead lowered her head and became meek, fearing that the Duke of Anguo would take his anger out on her.

As if finally releasing the pent-up anger in his heart, Duke Anguo leaned back in his armchair, his face revealing no emotion.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Now that you know, this matter is no longer up to you."

"Does the master have a solution?"

Yu Shi's face lit up with joy. She thought that her precious son was the only child of the Duke of Anguo. No matter how much trouble her son caused, she believed that he, as the father, would not stand by and watch him die.

"There is a solution, of course. Since I'm telling you this, it means I've already made up my mind."

Duke Anguo didn't even raise his head. He was well aware that the main reason his son was so audacious was because of him and his wife, Lady Yu.

We still spoil him too much!

He clenched his fist involuntarily, thinking to himself that even if he regretted it to the core, it would be useless.

"What's your plan, sir? Why don't we send some silver to that girl's family to shut them up, and then..."

"Do you think she's just an ordinary family's daughter? How did she end up causing trouble before the Emperor? Have you forgotten what I just told you?" Upon hearing this, Duke Anguo raised his head and glared angrily at Lady Yu.

Yu was also out of her mind. As soon as she heard that her husband had a solution, she immediately forgot about the trouble her son had just caused.

She felt the Duke of Anguo's gaze and immediately shut her mouth.

She slowly stood up, walked to the Duke of Anguo's side, and squatted down, trying to soften her tone as much as possible.

"Sir... I just wanted to help that young lady, doing my bit in the small way."

When this matter was brought up, the Duke of Anguo's expression did not improve. For the first time, he felt that the Yu family in front of him was so unfamiliar.

He didn't answer Yu's question, but stared intently at her still charming face, wondering how much bewitching potion this woman had given him.

How could anyone tolerate them, mother and son, falling to such a state?

How could they be so nonchalant about it?

Thinking of this, the Duke of Anguo spoke in a naturally impolite tone.

“That girl is from the Zhu family. Don’t forget the group that impeached Zhou Jinghuai before. Now they’ve all set their sights on our An family.”

Before returning home, Duke Anguo had already had someone investigate the background of Imperial Censor Zhu.

He never expected that Zhu Yuanzhi, the censor who had always led a group of censors to impeach Zhou Jinghuai, would actually be a member of the Zhou family!

"Imperial Censor Zhu..."

Yu lowered her head, her face stiff, and it took her a long time to remember.

"Is it that Censor Zhu who impeached the third young master of the Zhou family? He's not someone to be trifled with, otherwise why would he keep targeting the Zhou family for the past few years... Master, what should we do with Lian'er?"

She naturally knew that Zhu Yuanzhi was probably someone who wouldn't listen to reason.

Otherwise, why hasn't the Zhou family managed to subdue him all these years?

Seeing that Duke Anguo did not answer her question, she quickly clutched his clothes, looking like she was about to cry, which was heartbreaking.

Duke Anguo naturally cherished Lady Yu dearly, and could only sigh in resignation.

"This Imperial Censor Zhu is probably in cahoots with the Zhou family. Over the years, Prime Minister Pei and I have been fighting openly and secretly for so long that the court has been divided into three factions. Apart from Prime Minister Pei and me, there is this faction that represents the Zhou family and does not take sides."

"What the master means..."

"This matter needs to be considered carefully."

"Will the Emperor blame Lian'er?"

"...Lian'er, Lian'er, Lian'er! All you know is Lian'er!"

Enraged by Lady Yu, Duke Anguo shoved her aside and stood up abruptly.

He looked at Yu Shi, who was feigning weakness, and his eyes were filled with undisguised disappointment.

He was overthinking things, believing that his wife, Yu, was considerate of him.

Right now, the fate of the An family is unknown. No matter what, he cannot abandon his decades-long secret plan for the sake of his son!

Yu Shi clearly did not expect the Duke of Anguo to push her away. She looked up at the Duke of Anguo, her face full of astonishment and panic, which showed that she had not thought of this at all.

She originally thought that as long as she acted coquettishly as usual, Duke Anguo would forgive his son.

Unexpectedly, despite her pleading for mercy, this arrogant man actually pushed her away!

Upon thinking of this, Yu's face suddenly became somewhat distorted.

"Master...that's your only son! He's the one who will inherit the An family business..."

"Inheritance? Ha, just look at the good son you raised. I bet before I'm even in my grave, the An family's century-old legacy will be destroyed in his hands! This time it was the Zhu family girl, what about next time? Will it be a princess?"

The Duke of Anguo made a startling remark, revealing all his thoughts at once.

"Princess? How could that be! It was that Zhu family girl who seduced our Lian'er! Yes, that's it, otherwise why would our Lian'er be bewitched by that little slut!"