The moment Xu Jingyang stepped inside, the Duke of Wei’s furious shout rang out.

“Unfilial girl, kneel at once!”

“I went through so much to give birth to you—was it so you could come and demand repayment from me?”

Xu Jingyang remained calm. She drew a freshly written document from her sleeve and handed it over.

“Father, Mother—before you get angry, you should read my petition first.”

The Duke of Wei glanced at it suspiciously. His expression changed at once.

“Everyone out!” he ordered sharply.

All the servants withdrew, closing the doors behind them. The room immediately grew dim, a heavy gloom settling over everyone present.

Only Xu Jingyang stood there, neither servile nor defiant.

Madam Xu picked up the petition and read a few lines. Her face drained of color. She flung the paper away.

“You actually want to report to the authorities that you disguised yourself as a man to take your father’s place in the army? Are you trying to kill the whole family?”

The Duke of Wei barked, “Who gave you the nerve to gamble with the lives of everyone in this household?!”

Xu Jingyang lifted her dark phoenix eyes to them. Her slender, resolute face showed a trace of restrained anger and quiet sorrow.

“Father, Mother, it’s not that I want to destroy the family. But if I don’t speak up, and Brother Jin ever lets this slip outside one day, that would be a true disaster.”

“Nonsense!” Madam Xu snapped tearfully. “Your brother would never speak carelessly.”

Xu Jingyang looked at her. “Earlier today, Jin came to see me. He said that if he hadn’t been too young back then, it wouldn’t have been my turn to disguise myself and go to war in Father’s place.”

The Duke of Wei’s brow twitched. He exchanged a glance with his wife.

They had discussed this matter in private before. They hadn’t expected a child to overhear—and then repeat it to Xu Jingyang.

“Xu Jingyang, you deliberately provoked me just now!” Xu Mingjin glared at her viciously.

Beside him, Xu Rouzhen spoke softly, “Brother Jin is usually very measured. He must have been angry in the moment. When Big Sister wasn’t home, I never heard him say such things. This must be a misunderstanding.”

Madam Xu shook her head. “You’re the one who pushed your brother too far.”

Xu Jingyang turned to the Duke of Wei. “Father, if he complains to me in private, that’s one thing. I’m his sister—I can always yield.”

“But now Brother Jin has been recruited by the Patrol Division. His future could be bright. He may even serve as an imperial guard, close to His Majesty.”

“With the way he speaks now, if he ever lets something slip in front of the Emperor, the entire Duke of Wei’s household would be buried with him.”

At the mention of the family’s reputation and future, the Duke of Wei immediately grew anxious.

He shouted at Xu Mingjin, “How dare you say whatever comes to your mouth! Do you have no regard for your life?!”

Xu Mingjin protested, “Father, she did it on purpose! She angered me—I only spoke without thinking!”

“If someone provokes you, you start talking recklessly? Then if someone sets a trap for you outside, will you wager the whole family’s lives and future on it?”

Xu Jingyang finished speaking and looked at them all. “Rather than waiting to be dragged into disaster, I might as well go to the authorities now. I’ll take responsibility for my own actions.”

She turned as if to leave for the government office.

In a swift stride, the Duke of Wei rushed forward, snatched the petition from her hands, tore it to pieces, and tossed it into the brazier.

Xu Jingyang looked at him in surprise. “Father?”

The Duke of Wei’s face was dark as he turned to Xu Mingjin. “This is your fault. Kneel and apologize to your sister.”

“I apologize to her?” Xu Mingjin shouted. “Father, she’s the one who harmed me—and she beat me like this!”

Madam Xu cried out, “My lord, how has Jin done anything wrong?”

“Apologize. Don’t make me say it twice,” the Duke of Wei said coldly.

Xu Mingjin was only seventeen. Ever since the Xu family’s military achievements accumulated, he had been praised wherever he went. He had never suffered such humiliation.

Yet under the Duke’s fierce stare, he clenched his teeth.

“I’m sorry…” His voice was barely audible.

Xu Jingyang said nothing.

The Duke of Wei frowned. “Kneel.”

Xu Mingjin’s eyes reddened. As the legitimate son, he had always been held up and indulged. When had he ever endured this kind of disgrace?

Watching his humiliation, Xu Jingyang recalled her previous life and found it almost laughable.

Not long after she had returned home in her past life, Xu Mingjin had come to fight her as well.

Back then, she had held back, afraid of hurting him, afraid of damaging his pride.

After winning against her once or twice, he began to believe he was truly exceptional.

Whenever things didn’t go his way outside, or whenever he was overshadowed by someone better, he would come home and pick fights with her—to satisfy his fragile competitiveness.

Now she understood: the more she yielded, the more arrogant he became, feeding on beating her down.

They were the ones most terrified of her secret being exposed. If she cowered and hid it, they would only grow more reckless.

But the moment she showed she was willing to sacrifice herself, they became afraid.

Under his father’s pressure, Xu Mingjin finally kowtowed.

“I’m sorry.”

Madam Xu hurried to pull him into her arms. “Enough, enough!”

Only then did Xu Jingyang speak, her tone calm.

“Brother Jin, you’re my real younger brother. I believe you didn’t mean what you said.”

“If it stays between us, it’s manageable. But if trouble is caused outside, that only brings hardship to Father and Mother.”

She bowed slightly to the Duke of Wei and Madam Xu, then turned and left.

As soon as she was gone, Madam Xu said resentfully, “She’s far too cunning—using her past achievements to pressure us.”

Xu Mingjin shouted, “Father, send her to the estate! I never want to see her again!”

“She has the Eldest Princess’s favor now. I can’t send her away even if I wanted to. And you—causing trouble all day long!” The Duke of Wei pressed his temples, deeply displeased.

He issued a firm order. “If she’s driven too far and reports this to the authorities, none of us benefit. Let things settle first. We’ll think of a way to send her off later. Until then, whoever stirs up trouble—don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

With that, the Duke of Wei left.

Xu Rouzhen said softly, “Big Sister is still Father’s own daughter. It’s only natural he favors her a little.”

Xu Mingjin’s already sensitive pride was pierced. He cursed, “Xu Jingyang is a curse—she’s fooled Father completely!”

“Hush!” Madam Xu warned. “If your father hears, he’ll be angry again. I truly gave birth to a debt collector. Ever since she came back, I haven’t had a single peaceful day.”

Xu Rouzhen gently massaged her temples. “Mother, don’t worry. You still have us.”

Madam Xu said nothing, but she was already calculating.

If all else failed, she could find Xu Jingyang a good match and marry her off far away. That wouldn’t be mistreating her.

A daughter’s marriage was naturally decided by her parents.

If she refused, she could simply be knocked unconscious and stuffed into the wedding sedan. No one could fault that.

Once Xu Jingyang was gone, her presence could gradually fade from the household, and Xu Rouzhen’s position would become more legitimate.

Xu Rouzhen needed to be entered into the Xu family registry as soon as possible.

Thinking this, Madam Xu clasped Xu Rouzhen’s hand. “No matter what happens, we must first have your name officially placed under mine.”

Even as an adopted daughter, a formal ancestral ceremony and entry into the clan register were required to truly be family.

Xu Rouzhen’s fair face showed a hint of worry. “Will Big Sister object?”