At this moment, of all the things that had happened, the biggest shock to everyone was perhaps not Ning Yi's sudden outburst, but his earlier statement, "Miss Nie should still be a virgin." As soon as this sentence came out, everyone suddenly had a bad feeling, similar to suddenly realizing they had been tricked.

This matter had been quite a spectacle from the beginning. More than twenty women had returned crying, saying that Ning Yi had lost his mind and that when they went out to beat the woman he was keeping, he had actually lashed out and hit them. Naturally, if that woman wasn't his woman, why would he hit people? And after the subsequent commotion and Su Wenxing's fueling of the flames, everyone was thinking about how Ning Yi would explain himself when he returned. Ning Yi's tough attitude upon his return also seemed somewhat exasperated, constantly steering the conversation towards domestic conflicts. If the issue with that woman wasn't difficult to address, why would he bother doing so?

If it weren't Ning Yi here, but some other Su family member, showing such a tough attitude at the beginning would likely have resulted in Su Zhongkan calling the guards to beat them first. Such was the family law at the time – shouting at one's elders was simply unacceptable. But Ning Yi had already gained considerable influence in the Su family. Once his momentum was established, people had to listen to what he had to say, at least for a short time, especially since the guards' force couldn't subdue him. It wasn't until he said that sentence that everyone could turn around and carefully consider whether this whole thing might be fake. And if it was fake, what should they do?

Judging such matters ultimately lacked clear official standards.

If such a thing happened in an ordinary family, the most surefire way to prove it was with the woman's indenture in the man's possession. In this era, there was no longer any talk of slavery. Even if a family servant had signed an indenture, it was still a very troublesome matter if they were killed. But if it was a courtesan, even if she was killed in such a dispute, the government usually wouldn't intervene, or would only settle it with some compensation. If there was no indenture, and the other party was caught red-handed, it was an offense against local morals, and killing them wouldn't be a big problem.

But if it deviated from these two situations, and the other party wasn't some helpless, bullied prostitute, it came down to the backgrounds of both sides. If something like this happened today – hitting someone on the street and tearing their clothes – as long as the other party had someone, they could come directly to the Su family's door. Even if someone was killed in the conflict, they would be in the right. Even if it went to court – even to the imperial court – as long as it was confirmed that Miss Nie was still a virgin, the situation would instantly tip to one side.

As for other things, Ning Yi knew Miss Nie, and even claimed to be her backing. The interactions between talented scholars and beautiful women, Miss Nie admiring his talent, him respecting her noble character, and them being able to restrain their emotions and conduct themselves with propriety – in this day and age, that was a beautiful tale! Literary talents and the upper class praised such things. The key was that they had no physical contact. The strongest evidence, of course, was that Miss Nie was still a virgin.

Of course, Su Wenxing didn't seem to have any evidence, and Ning Yi couldn't have anyone prove on the spot that he didn't have any lewd relationship with Miss Nie either. The only thing that had happened so far was that Ning Yi had hit family members in front of his elders. Su Zhongkan was able to react instantly. He said through gritted teeth, "Right now, no one can prove that you have an affair with that Miss Nie! What evidence do you have that Wenxing is involved in this? You dare to commit violence in front of so many people. As a Son-in-Law, I can immediately send you to the authorities, do you know that!"

As soon as he said this, the people from the second and third branches immediately clamored, some shouting to arrest him, some shouting to beat him up, and some shouting for family law to be enforced. Ning Yi looked at these people and smiled: "You still think that's what I'm talking about? Didn't any of you understand what I just said!" Before he could finish speaking, the family doctor had already arrived and was about to squat down next to Su Wenxing, when a loud bang echoed, deafening. The shoulder strap of the doctor's medicine chest was broken, and the medicine chest rolled a long way. The doctor was stunned and frightened. At the same time, another scream of "Ah!" sounded. Su Wenxing, who had been wailing on the ground, was kicked in the thigh by Ning Yi, who had suddenly stood up, and his body turned halfway around.

These two loud noises caused the clamor in the hall to subside again. The flintlock in Ning Yi's hand was pointed at the doctor, and the muzzle was still smoking. After a moment, Ning Yi lowered the muzzle. The surroundings had quieted down, and his voice wasn't loud, but he said, word by word, "I don't care if he dies or not, his leg is definitely broken. You take care of it."

The doctor was still stunned. Su Zhongkan roared in anger, took a few steps back, and pulled a steel knife from a guard's hand: "I'll kill you!" Su Yunfang pushed the doctor: "Hurry up and save him!" Ning Yi took a step back, sat down in the chair, and looked at Su Zhongkan, who was holding a knife and about to rush over: "Second Uncle, you'd better listen to me finish these words. Then, if you want to kill me or cut me up, I'll accompany you." Su Zhongkan was unwilling to let it go, and was about to come over, but was immediately pulled back by Su Yunfang: "Can't you see that this guy is really capable of doing it..."

After all, their understanding of Ning Yi wasn't as deep as Su Tan'er's. Ning Yi had always been gentle on the surface, but ruthless when facing enemies. He wasn't the kind of person who would lose everything if he left the Su family. His background was already very deep. If Su Zhongkan were to start slashing at him at this time, no matter who was injured, the relationship between Ning Yi and the Su family would probably be irreconcilable. Su Yunfang still had some sense: as long as Ning Yi was still the Su family's Son-in-Law, many things could be done to him according to the rules. But if he really left the Su family, although he would be condemned for a while, the Su family might not be able to defeat him.

With his obstruction, Su Zhongkan couldn't rush over after all. The doctor frantically picked up his medicine chest and went to take care of Su Wenxing. Ning Yi lowered his head to put away the flintlock, then put away his saber. After thinking about it, he propped himself up with both hands and stood up from the seat: "I'm really getting tired of these things..."

He said this in a low voice, as if talking to himself, but then he said to the people around him: "Last year, I settled the Wu family in the first half of the year, and went to Hangzhou in the second half of the year. Later, during the disaster in Hangzhou, rumors kept spreading that Tan'er and I couldn't return. You people thought you saw an opportunity and started digging into the First Branch's business and taking advantage of them. Everyone saw what you were doing. The Wu and Xue families started fanning the flames in this matter. Although the Su family's business decreased, you were all very proud! After all, you got more things in your hands..."

"Ning Yi, you..." Before Ning Yi could finish speaking, someone stood up to interrupt. Ning Yi suddenly looked over: "Su Wenji, if you speak again, I'll break your legs!"

Su Wenji glared at Ning Yi for a moment, but ultimately didn't dare to speak. Ning Yi's gaze swept over the people of the first branch: "What you've done, my father-in-law and the old master have seen it all. They couldn't say anything at the time because they were afraid that Tan'er and I had really died in Hangzhou. But since Tan'er and I have returned, things will start to be settled. You have to start spitting out what you've eaten. To be honest, even if you spit out some of it, you'll still be taking advantage of the business compared to when Tan'er and I left here."

"After all, we're family. Tan'er doesn't want you to spit out too much. But some people are never satisfied and think that the First Branch has wronged them and eaten their interests. You, the Xue family, and the Wu family realized that the problem was with our couple and started thinking of ways to solve the problem from the root, which is to create problems for us ourselves. Coincidentally, you found a way, the matter between me and Miss Nie. Tan'er is about to give birth, and the old master has already started settling accounts. This is your last chance... You can all see who's leading and who's doing what... You're really a bunch of geniuses..."

"Ning Yi, if you want to say who it is, say it clearly. Don't beat around the bush here. If you don't have any evidence..."

"I don't have any evidence today! I just want to beat around the bush! Because you're all participants! More or less! I'm not here today to prove this to you! I'm here to tell you what will happen in the future!" Ning Yi looked at the person who spoke, and slammed his palm on the coffee table, "So you better listen to me finish."

"There's never a shortage of people like you! You don't dare to take things from the outside with real knives and guns, you only dare to have designs on the people around you. Why? Because your family and relatives won't kill you. You bully the weak and fear the strong, you're useless in success and more than capable of ruining things! Today, you bunch of trash are doing this kind of thing! Others can only swallow their anger, I'm different."

"I'm an Son-in-Law, and I know you look down on me, and I've always looked down on you. So I didn't want to get involved in these things in the past. It's your business how you ruin this Su family. I only took over the imperial merchant business because Tan'er was sick. I don't mind that you have limited abilities. Every family has mediocre people. The family wasn't strong enough before, but after taking down the Wu family, business will be easier to do, and your second and third branches can take advantage of the momentum. If you feel that you can't do business, you can travel around and compose poems, and if you're short of money, you can take it from home or ask Tan'er. The Su family has money, you can go outside to hug women and listen to songs. What can't you do!"

"What I'm afraid of is that you simply can't see that you don't have the ability! You claim to be powerful, scheming and fighting, and using all kinds of bad ideas on your own family, but you have no way to deal with outsiders, and you always feel that you're the ones who have a way! I'm different from Tan'er, I hate this kind of thing the most! Today, I broke his leg not because of what he did, but because of the heart he had!"

He said these words with a cold gaze: "I didn't care about being an Son-in-Law in the past because I simply didn't expect to deal with you, but if you think you can manipulate me like this, or force me to swallow my anger and do this and that, then you're wrong. Today is not about you waiting for me, but about me coming over to tell you clearly that what I hate the most is this kind of thing, family members stabbing each other in the back, more hateful than outsiders. If there's a next time, I guarantee that he will definitely lose more than just one leg. I'm going to the capital soon, so I'm telling you these things clearly today, you can think about it, or try it."

After saying these words word by word, there was no sound around. Ning Yi then said, "As for my identity..." But he couldn't say these words after all, because suddenly there was whispering, and it seemed that someone was coming from the side door of the hall. Then everyone there unconsciously made way, and what appeared in their sight was Su Tan'er, holding the door frame with one hand, her face a little pale. Xiao Chan and others were supporting her from the side and behind. Su Tan'er tilted her head, her eyes filled with anxiety and a little worry, and looked around at everyone in the hall.

Ning Yi originally had an extremely cold aura, but after looking at her like this, his shoulders finally slumped, he frowned, and said to Xiao Chan and the others, "Why did you..."

Su Tan'er slowly walked in. Her body was weak after childbirth, and perhaps she had come in a hurry after hearing the news. Her lips were slightly open, and she was breathing hard. After coming over, she also saw Su Wenxing on the ground. She took a few steps. Others probably thought she wanted to go over and see her cousin's injury, but Su Tan'er suddenly did something that others did not expect.

She reached out and pushed a chair over Su Wenxing. The chair hit Su Wenxing's chest, and then Su Tan'er turned her head and pushed the tea tray, teapot, teacups, fruit plates, and everything else towards Su Wenxing, crying as she threw these things. After all, she was weak at this time, and her throws were not accurate. Then Ning Yi hugged her and prevented her from moving around.

"Don't come out, let's go back, let's talk about it when we get back..."

Since Su Tan'er was already like this, no one dared to say anything anymore. No matter who it was, they might not like Ning Yi very much, but over these days, they had mostly recognized that Su Tan'er would be the mainstay of the Su family in the future. Ning Yi supported Su Tan'er towards the side door. Just as they were about to cross the threshold, the sound of a cane came from the other side, and everyone began to pay their respects.

Then, it was Su Yu's voice, a little tired, and also a bit of a sigh.

"I've been outside all the time, watching this... This is good too. Think carefully about what Liheng said. Is it really good for you if Tan'er falls... Some things, the family should also think about it. It's good to learn to do things, but for those who don't have the talent or the temperament to manage things, there's no need to force them. Just do something casually, it's better than doing business. Even if you want to be a rich idler, the family can afford to support you in the future."

After he said this, he had already approached the center of the hall. One of the old brothers vaguely said to him: "Today's matter... after all, we still need evidence... otherwise..."

Su Yu looked at Su Wenxing on the ground, shook his head tiredly and indifferently: "What kind of messy things are these today... Can't anyone see it..."

He leaned on his cane, finished speaking, raised his head and looked over here, and said, "Liheng, invite that Miss Nie to come to our house in a few days, so that the family can apologize to her in person."

The ginger is really old and spicy... Ning Yi was slightly stunned, and nodded after a moment, helping Su Tan'er, who was clinging to his arms, to leave...(To be continued. Vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)