The silence in the room was sharp—hanging in the air like static. Leng Yumo stared at her mother turned back as she stared at Lu Xinyan who is cowering at his sister's back
Then, the steady click of a cane echoed from the hallway, followed by the low, firm voice of the housekeeper, "Old Madam Leng has arrived."
The living room doors opened, and in walked Old Madam Leng, regal in her embroidered deep-maroon cheongsam, her silver hair swept into a perfect bun. Despite her age, her eyes were sharp, commanding every soul in the room with a single glance.
Leng Ruomo immediately straightened. "Mother."
Yumo stepped aside instinctively, while Lu Jingyan lowered her gaze in respect.
Old Madam Leng's eyes scanned them all—pausing on Ruomo, then Jingyan, and finally resting on Yumo. She didn't speak for a moment. Instead, she placed her cane with precision and moved slowly toward the center of the room.
"I heard voices," she said calmly. "Loud ones."
No one answered.
She turned to Ruomo. "Were you scolding your daughter-in-law on her second day?"
Ruomo opened her mouth, but the matriarch raised a hand. "If you were, then stop. This home has seen enough pride and prideful ruin to last generations." Leng Ruomo understood what the old woman said and she felt hurt by it. Madam leng turned her gaze to Lu Jingyan. "And you… you've stepped into a storm. I respect that. Whether you endure it or not depends on your spine."
Jingyan met her eyes and nodded silently.
Then, the Old Madam looked at Yumo. "Good. You spoke up. But next time, don't wait so long."
"I can't believe you would still scold me" yumo said under her breath but the old woman heard her.
With a small nod to the stunned room, she turned toward the inner hall. "Now, since everyone's already standing, let's eat. And behave like the Leng family."
"But mother, this girl is fallen already" Leng Ruomo said making the older women stopped on her tracks and face her daughter in law.
"Fallen? Have you forgotten how you were when my son brought you home?" The old woman said reminding her of her past also.
Leng Ruomo heard what the woman said and she decided to keep quiet.
"I believe a word is enough for you h wise" the old madam said walking off to the inner room.
Leng Ruomo folded her fist as she stormed out of the house making Xinyan afraid of the woman.
"Young miss, Young missus" the butler called "the old madam said she's waiting for you at the inner room" the butler said and leave them alone
Lu Jingyan thought of what happened as she stared at the floor not daring to move an inch from her position. She wouldn't lie she was afraid of the woman in front of her but she had to live up to her name. The general doesn't always win the war.
Yumo gave Jingyan a small smile. As she held her hand giving her some power
"Congratulations to winning your war" Leng Yumo said
"War? It haven't started. What we faced was just a prep of what is coming" Lu Jingyan said
"No matter what. We would stand by you and win the war against the general together"
Lu Jingyan realized that this house, with all its thorns, had just begun to accept her. But the impending war make her afraid and she read hope she is ready for the upcoming war.