Who could have imagined that, in his own home, he'd be reduced to a figurehead by his own wife?
And some of those who understood the situation more deeply, thinking of his wife's background, found their gazes turning even more knowing.
The scene on the Sky Screen continued.
In this world, no matter how much the Duchess resented Dai Yuhao, she could never treat him with the same extreme cruelty as in the original world. Dai Yuhao had a teacher to guide his cultivation, and even basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.
His mother, Huo Yun'er, was also living in slightly better conditions. At the very least, she no longer had to toil at hard labor every day like the lowest-ranking servant.
When Huo Yuhao turned eight and formally absorbed his First Soul Ring, becoming a Soul Master, Duchess Xu Feiyan announced a shocking decision:
"From this day forward, I will personally guide all three children of the Duke's Mansion in their cultivation. I'm very fond of Yuhao, and I'll treat him as my own, raising him to become a pillar of our Duke's Mansion in the years to come..."
In the family meeting hall, Xu Feiyan wore her usual gracious smile as she spoke calmly.
"This... I don't think that's appropriate, Madam. Your esteemed self taking on the task of teaching the children to cultivate..."
"Hmm? As the mistress of the Duke's Mansion, what could be more important than teaching my own children to cultivate their Martial Souls and become capable adults who can inherit the Duke's Mansion?"
The Duchess tilted her head and asked, puzzled.
The family elder shouted inwardly, Of course it's not appropriate! Who doesn't know what kind of scheme you're up to by proposing this? You say you'll treat him as your own, and we're just supposed to believe you?
But after glancing at everyone around him, the elder could only sigh. A sense of helplessness welled up in him too.
In truth, as an old man who had watched Dai Hao grow up, he was one of the very few who hadn't yet been bought off or won over by the Duchess—or by the Imperial Family behind her.
But now, he realized that there was nothing he could do. He had tried several times to send letters to Dai Hao on the border, but none had ever received a reply.
Duke, when will you finally return?
"Madam has her hands full with affairs every day. I'm afraid she won't have the energy to keep up with this..."
Another old minister gritted his teeth and said in a timid voice.
"Hmm? For me, what could possibly be more important than teaching my own children to become capable, so they can inherit the Duke's Mansion?"
The Duchess glanced coolly at the old minister, and he immediately fell silent.
"Very well. It seems no one has any objections, so that settles it. When my husband returns, he'll surely find the Duke's Mansion brimming with life, with all things flourishing."
A faint smile appeared on Xu Feiyan's elegant face as she clapped her hands.
From that day on, although the original teachers were kept on, the Duchess took over the main responsibility for teaching all three children.
Both little Yuhao and Huo Yun'er felt as though the sky had fallen when they heard of the Duke's Mansion's decision!
"No... I don't want Madam to teach me..."
Little Yuhao wailed in the room.
"Could... could you please reconsider? Just look at the child..."
Looking at the expressionless servant who had come to deliver the news, Huo Yun'er's delicate face, still bearing traces of illness, took on a pleading expression.
"Hmph. A child doesn't know any better. You're a grown woman—how can you join in acting so childish?"
The servant snorted and shoved Huo Yun'er, knocking her straight to the ground.
"Enough nonsense, or Madam will punish you again!"
The servant gave her a cold warning, then turned and left.
"Mother!"
Little Yuhao threw himself onto his mother and burst into tears, his eyes filled with hatred.
Why? Why target me and my mother? What had we ever done wrong...
Beyond the Sky Screen, everyone wore complicated expressions.
This kind of thing was hardly rare among great clans. The struggle to become heir had always been this cruel.
What had Dai Yuhao and Huo Yun'er done wrong? They hadn't done anything wrong, and yet they had. Huo Yun'er's mistake was giving birth to Dai Hao's child, then insisting on staying in the Duke's Mansion and waiting for Dai Hao to return.
The mistake was that the White Tiger Duke's Mansion could have only one heir!
Many people couldn't help thinking of the White Tiger Clan's brutal rules of succession, dating back to the days when they had been part of the Imperial Family. It was truly a case of the victor becoming king and the vanquished falling: the triumphant ascended the throne, while the defeated were either exiled or killed!
Even now, though the White Tiger Clan had long since ceased to be royalty and its succession rules were no longer quite so bloody, they remained every bit as brutal!
As the legitimate wife of the White Tiger Clan—and even a princess of the Imperial Family who had married into the clan—could the Duchess tolerate even the slightest chance that someone else might take the position of heir?
One could say that if she had been even more ruthless, she would have poisoned Huo Yun'er and her son to death long ago! Allowing them to remain in the Duke's Mansion at all meant she hadn't gone to the absolute extreme!
The next day, when "Madam's Special Training" began, three children of different heights stood on the training grounds, each with a different expression.
Dai Yueheng was naturally the tallest of the three, already taller than the Duchess. His expression was stern. To him, this was just a minor matter.
In fact, he was already a student at Shrek Academy. He only spent a set period of time with the family before returning to his studies at Shrek Academy.
At that moment, he stood straight as a tower before his mother, as if to show off the results of his training at Shrek Academy.
On the other side, Dai Huabin kept shooting cold, sinister looks at the short, frail "younger brother" beside him. A chilly smile occasionally tugged at his lips. He hardly seemed like a child who hadn't even turned nine.
Dai Yuhao stood in the corner. He was the shortest and frailest of them all. Although he was less than a year younger, he looked almost a whole head shorter than Dai Huabin.
His eyes were red as he glared at the ill-intentioned beauty before him like a young beast, radiating as much defiance and hostility as he could.
"From this day forward, I'm not only your mistress, but also your teacher."
Xu Feiyan clapped her hands and laughed lightly.
"Back in the day, our ancestor Tang San left us a sacred teaching: 'Once a teacher, a father for life.' This is my first day as your teacher. What kind of courtesy should you show me?"
"Of course, the ceremony of taking a master."
Dai Yueheng was the first to answer. Then, without a word, he knelt before the Duchess and knocked his head firmly against the ground three times. Dai Huabin hurriedly followed suit.
"Hmm?"
The Duchess looked questioningly at Dai Yuhao, who still stood motionless in place.
"I... I won't bow my head to you!"
Little Yuhao's eyes were red, his voice filled with humiliation and anger.