Why is the bond between father and daughter so easily overlooked?

At that moment, Third Master Xu, who had remained silent, hurried to Second Master Xu and cried out in anguish, "Second Brother! Hua is young and naïve, deceived by others, but now that things have come to this, please help your brother and persuade Yi!"

Xu Yan was utterly shocked that even his younger brother could be so muddled, and exclaimed, "Xu Min, you failed to discipline your own daughter, yet now you come to pressure mine. Do you take me for a dead man?"

His words were heavy, and the Fourth Master and his wife, already trembling, anxiously tried to mediate, "Second Brother, that's too harsh, it's supposed to be a day of celebration..." They were at a loss for words, truly flustered.

"What day of celebration? The shameless one and the Ren family’s big day?" Xu Yan roared in anger, and everyone in the room shuddered.

Madam Jiang, teary-eyed, tried to take Madam Hua's hand, "Second Sister-in-law! Hua grew up before your eyes—you can't just stand by and watch her die, Second Sister-in-law!"

Madam Hua’s face was flushed with rage, but her tongue failed her; she could utter no harsh words, only glared fiercely, wishing her gaze could pierce like daggers.

But Madam Jiang believed otherwise. She thought Madam Hua was always the most reasonable, and would surely soften now and perhaps help persuade the stubborn Xu Yan. Pretending to be pitiful, she knelt, "Second Sister-in-law, have mercy on Hua. She’s not like Yi—by appearance, by talent, she’s inferior in every way. Without Third Young Master Ren, Yi could find better, but Hua... she has no choice now but to marry into the Ren family. Otherwise, her life is ruined... Second Sister-in-law!"

Her words painted a picture: now Xu Guiyi was being forced to push Xu Zhuhua into the abyss.

Before Madam Hua could retort, Seventh Miss Xu could no longer hold back, "Third Aunt, whatever happens to Fourth Sister is her own doing—what does it have to do with my sister? Why must you all press my sister?" In her urgency, she forgot all etiquette.

Beside her, Fifth Miss Xu, Xu Ximei, gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head, signaling her words were too strong.

But Xu Luwei flung her sleeve impatiently, "Fifth Sister, I know you’re close to Fourth Sister, but you must distinguish: Third Sister is our real sister. Now her fiancé has been stolen from her—you, her own sibling, refuse to stand up for her, and instead advise me not to trouble that shameless wretch."

Her words made Xu Ximei flush with shame and guilt; she quickly lowered her head, her face crimson.

Indeed, Xu Luwei was not merely chastising Xu Ximei; everyone present understood her meaning.

"Luwei is right. Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, my daughter has been wronged and you must give Yi justice," Xu Yan declared sharply, his gaze stern.

Xu Min bowed low and murmured, "Second Brother, what's done is done. The Ren family is already at our door. If we don’t go out soon, the Xu family will become the laughingstock of all Jiangdong."

Madam Jiang and Fourth Master’s couple dared not say another word, silently awaiting Xu Yan’s decision. Madam Hua, seeing her husband so cornered, trembled even harder.

"Father, please decide for me," unexpectedly, Xu Guiyi knelt, teeth clenched. She did not cry or protest, only knelt to ask her elders for justice.

Such filial and reasonable conduct, compared to the disgraceful one sobbing in bed, made the difference stark.

Xu Yan was always strict, but everyone knew he loved his eldest daughter most.

Seeing Xu Guiyi thus, Madam Jiang’s heart turned cold, and she stumbled back two steps.

"Second Brother, I beg you…" Xu Min also knelt, pleading. As the saying goes, a man's knees are worth gold, but today, for his daughter, Xu Min cared not for such pride.

Indeed, Xu Yan loved his daughter, and so did Xu Min. But this time, it remained to be seen whether Xu Yan loved his daughter more, or his brother and the Xu family’s reputation.

"I can agree to let Zhuhua marry into the Ren family," Xu Yan said coldly, and at his words, everyone present was stunned—some with sorrow, some with joy, some with anger, some with sighs.

"Father!" Xu Guiyi looked utterly incredulous, her lips trembling, unable to form further words. She couldn’t believe that the father who always cherished her would abandon her now.

"Father!" Xu Luwei cried out in grief and fury—she was indignant for Third Sister, and for the second branch. Must the family’s reputation be preserved at the cost of sacrificing a daughter to satisfy a villain’s sordid desires? She could not understand.

"Second Master?" Madam Hua came forward and clung tightly to Xu Yan’s broad sleeve. Though Xu Guiyi was not her own child, she had raised her for years, and the girl had always been respectful. Now, suffering such humiliation, how could she, as a mother, remain unmoved?

Xu Min seized the moment, "Second Brother, are you serious?" His voice could not hide his joy.

Xu Yan replied icily, "I can agree to let Zhuhua marry into the Ren family." As his words settled, the mood in the room soared to a new pitch.

"But—she can only enter as a concubine." Silence fell, then the room erupted.

Madam Jiang’s piercing scream shattered the stupor: "What?! You would make Hua a concubine? Hua is a legitimate daughter of the Xu family—you would have her as a concubine?!"

If some had not fully grasped Xu Yan's intent before, Madam Jiang’s outcry made it clear: Xu Yan had sentenced Xu Zhuhua.

"Yes. Either face the family punishments, or continue the marriage alliance with the Ren family. You’re all so fond of this match, so what difference does it make if she enters as a concubine?" Xu Yan’s voice was stern, cold with anger.

No one dared voice dissent. Xu Yan turned and personally helped his kneeling daughter to her feet. Father and daughter walked out of the dim room, followed by Madam Hua and her other two daughters, heads held high. Perhaps it was relief, but Xu Luwei’s expression was unmistakably lighter.

Outside, the courtyard was lush, petals scattered everywhere, spring in full bloom.

The Xu family’s punishments were many, but Xu Zhuhua’s offense—engaged, but secretly consorting with another and becoming pregnant—was the gravest.

If lenient, she would be forced to drink abortive medicine, imprisoned in a convent for a decade or more, then sent to a country estate to live out her days.

If strict, a white silk cord—two lives ended.

Inside, Xu Zhuhua stared at Madam Jiang, despair written across her face, "Mother, what do we do? What do we do?? What do we do?! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to go to a convent… Mother, you must save me…"

Madam Jiang, heartbroken, watched her beloved daughter as tears streamed down her face, "Hua… my dear Hua…"