The Xuan Ancestral Residence stood on an old street, surrounded by buildings that seemed decades behind the times, steeped in the weight of history. But everyone knew that even the moldy gray bricks here were valuable. The Xuan Household had endured for three generations, spanning a century.
If Tang Wansu had not understood the value of this place, she would have wanted to move out long ago. Every trip to the city center for shopping required walking a long way. She still preferred standing before floor-to-ceiling windows and watching the city lights glitter outside.
Early that morning, Xuan Zhong had sent Tang Wansu out to receive Xuan Zhe. She was dressed with noble elegance, like the mistress of the household, welcoming the Xuan family's relatives and friends. Everyone smiled affectionately at her face, but the moment they turned away, their expressions went cold.
Tang Wansu had risen from being a mistress. She had been with Xuan Zhong before he divorced Ran Yao. Originally just a worker at a bathhouse, she had caused a huge commotion back then. Tang Wansu had been ignorant of the world and actually dared to come to Ran Yao's door to provoke her. Before Ran Yao could say anything, Xuan Zhe's grandfather learned of it and flew into a rage. After plenty of turmoil, Tang Wansu had entered the Xuan Household, but Xuan Zhe's grandfather refused to let the child she bore take the Xuan surname. So he took his mother's surname and was called Tang Weisheng.
That was one of Tang Wansu's deepest grievances. More than anyone, she knew that no one in the Xuan Household thought highly of her.
Tang Wansu had repeatedly asked Xuan Zhong to change Tang Weisheng's surname, but the old man had left behind final words before his death. If