The onlookers were so shocked they were speechless. That was her own son, yet she spoke of killing him as if it were nothing.

’How terrifying can a person’s heart be?’

It was only then that Mrs. Zhan realized a person could be so wicked.

"You are nothing but a venomous shrew! Men, prepare a brush and ink," the Clan Leader roared, his beard bristling with rage.

A servant boy brought the brush and ink. An elder beside him took a scroll from his robes and spread it on the table.

"I was married into the Xiang family with all due ceremony! You old fool have no authority over me... Mmph! Mmph!" Before the Old Madam could finish, other elders of the Xiang family clamped their hands over her mouth.

"You have violated every ground for expulsion and are utterly devoid of virtue. From this day forward, you are removed from the Xiang family registry." The Clan Leader had no desire to waste any more words on her. He picked up the brush and struck out her name. Then, his eyes fell on the name below it, and without a moment’s hesitation, he struck it out as well. "Xiang Mingli of the family’s second branch is addicted to gambling and attempted to murder his own kin. He is hereby removed from the family registry. His wife and children are removed along with him."

Mrs. Wang finally looked up, her eyes filled with horror. To be removed from the family registry meant she and her children would be people without a clan for the rest of their lives. Her children’s futures were ruined.

"Here is a letter of divorce, jointly issued by the clan elders. From now on, you, woman of the Song family, have no further ties to the Xiang family. Get her out of here!" The Clan Leader threw the letter of divorce at the Old Madam.

The elder bent down, stuffed the divorce letter into her hand, and waved his own in disgust.

The men holding the Old Madam let go. "Get out. You’re no longer part of the Xiang family."

"I won’t go! What right do you have to throw me out? If I’m to be divorced, that dead ghost will have to crawl out of his grave and do it himself! What you do doesn’t count!" The Old Madam struggled as she was pushed down the steps, tumbling to the ground before immediately trying to crawl back up. "None of you can make me leave! The General’s estate belongs to my son! Let my son come out and speak! I want to see my son..."

At this point, the crowd of onlookers was no longer shouting for her to be beaten or killed. They just watched. An old woman was crying so pitifully, yet not a single person felt sorry for her. It was what she deserved.

This was the fate of the truly wicked.

"Carry him out into the street." The Clan Leader couldn’t even bear to look at Xiang Mingli.

Mrs. Wang was frantic with fear. "Clan Leader, Clan Leader, we have nowhere to go!"

The Clan Leader didn’t want to say more. He waved his hand, signaling for everyone to return to the estate.

The guards carried Xiang Mingli away. The crowd parted to make a path. Mrs. Wang followed behind, her cries heart-wrenching.

"Let him go! Don’t you dare touch my son!" The Old Madam scrambled to her feet and clung to Xiang Mingli.

"Clan Leader... we know we were wrong, we were wrong..." Mrs. Wang also clung to Xiang Mingli. She turned and saw Ye Qianning leaning against the doorframe. "Pangtuan, Pangtuan, we were wrong! Please, spare your second uncle!"

"..."

Ye Qianning was speechless. ’What are they dragging me into this for?’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Hearing this, the Old Madam whipped her head around and also noticed Ye Qianning, her eyes murderous. "It’s all your fault! It’s all because of you, you little bitch... COUGH, COUGH..."

The words had barely left her mouth when Zhan Chi’s hand clamped around her neck.

"Zhan Chi, get back here," Zhan Yi growled.

Zhan Chi’s grip on her neck loosened slightly.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... You don’t have the guts to kill me, do you? COUGH, COUGH... I am the General’s mother! If you kill me... COUGH..." The Old Madam had been choked hard. She clutched her throat, gasping for breath.

’No guts?’

Ye Qianning thought the old woman’s confidence was unparalleled. ’She’s a filthy person, through and through. It’s not worth getting my hands dirty. Laying a hand on someone like her would be an insult to myself. She’s just too foul.’

"An imperial edict has arrived!"

A shrill voice rang in everyone’s ears.

Hearing this, the commoners quickly parted to form a path. Mr. Li, holding an imperial edict, strode forward.