Inside the grand hall of the Ning Mansion, a heavy and solemn atmosphere filled the air.
The large hall was quiet, with tall wooden pillars standing on both sides and the ancestral tablets of the Ning family placed at the far end. Thin streams of incense smoke drifted slowly through the air, making the entire hall feel even more serious and tense.
Seated at the very front, on the head seat, was Ning Chang-Pu, the head of the Ning family.
His posture was straight and dignified as he looked over the hall with a calm but authoritative expression.
To his right sat Concubine Jing-Yi.
Even though she was only a concubine, she was sitting in the seat that normally belonged to the Main Wife of the Ning Mansion. She sat quietly with a composed expression, clearly enjoying the importance that came with that position.
On Chang-Pu's other side sat Ya-Ting.
She was seated in the position of the Main Lady of the Ning Mansion's younger generation, sitting proudly with her back straight and her chin slightly raised, as if she already believed that the position belonged to her.
Below them, the rest of the Ning family members were also present, each sitting in their respective seats according to their status within the family.
The hall was filled with people, yet no one spoke.
A strange silence hung over the gathering, making it clear that this meeting had been called for an important matter.
However, two members of the Ning family were not present.
Bon-Hwa was absent because she had once again gone on a water pilgrimage, traveling to sacred rivers and temples to pray and seek spiritual blessings.
Jia-Hai was also not in the mansion.
After the recent beast attack at Huang-Lin Academy, the academy had suffered serious damage. Because of this, Jia-Hai had stayed there to supervise the repair and reconstruction of the academy buildings.
Just then, a servant's voice echoed from outside the hall.
"Third Lady Bai-Xue has arrived."
A moment later, the large wooden doors slowly opened.
Bai-Xue entered the hall calmly, accompanied by Jan-Mei walking a step behind her. Her posture was straight and composed, her expression calm as her gaze swept across the hall filled with members of the Ning family.
When she reached the center of the hall, Bai-Xue slightly bent her body and greeted respectfully.
"Greetings, Father."
The moment her words fell, Ning Chang-Pu's expression darkened.
He clenched his jaw tightly before suddenly grabbing the teacup placed beside him and throwing it forward in anger. The cup rolled across the smooth floor and stopped right in front of Bai-Xue's feet.
Chang-Pu's voice thundered through the hall.
"How can you be so useless that you cannot even arrive on time?"
His eyes burned with anger.
"All of us have been waiting here for you for so long! Do you have no sense of time at all? Because of you, how many times must I be embarrassed in front of the family?"
At the side, Ya-Ting and Hai-Rang quietly covered their mouths as they laughed, clearly enjoying the scene.
Yet Bai-Xue remained silent.
Her expression did not change at all.
Seeing the tension grow heavier, Jing-Yi gently spoke from her seat.
"My lord, please calm down. She is still a child... she must have been sleeping."
Chang-Pu immediately turned his cold gaze toward Jing-Yi.
"It is because of your excessive pampering that she has become so arrogant!"
Then he looked back at Bai-Xue with clear irritation.
"Why are you still standing there staring at me? Go and sit down!"
He pointed toward a chair placed far away from everyone else—at the very end of the hall, behind even Shu-Fen's seat.
It was clearly the lowest position in the room.
However, Bai-Xue did not move toward that chair.
Instead, she calmly began walking in another direction.
Her steps were steady as she walked straight toward Ya-Ting's seat.
The moment everyone saw where she was going, surprise flashed across their faces.
Bai-Xue stopped beside Ya-Ting's chair and spoke calmly.
"Sister Ya-Ting, it seems you are sitting in the wrong seat."
Ya-Ting's brows immediately furrowed. Though irritation flashed in her eyes, she still forced a polite smile.
"Sister, I have always sat here. This seat belongs to me."
Bai-Xue's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Then it seems you have been sitting in the wrong seat for a very long time."
Her voice was calm, yet every word carried quiet authority.
"As the daughter of a concubine, you have no right to sit in the seat of the Main Lady."
She looked directly into Ya-Ting's eyes.
"So I am giving you an order."
"Stand up and return to your proper seat."
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
Not far away, Jing-Yi's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Bai-Xue carefully.
Earlier, when Hai-Rang had told her about the strange incident involving Bai-Xue, Jing-Yi had still doubted the story.
But now, seeing Bai-Xue standing there with such calm authority—
it felt as though the girl before her was no longer the same timid Bai-Xue she once knew.
At that moment, Jing-Yi finally understood.
Bai-Xue had truly changed.
The moment Ya-Ting heard the words "daughter of a concubine," anger surged through her chest like a sudden flame.
For a brief moment, her expression stiffened, but she quickly forced herself to calm down. Maintaining her graceful posture, she spoke with a polite smile, though irritation could clearly be heard in her voice.
"Sister Bai-Xue," she said softly, "a young lady should not speak in such a manner. After all, it is only a seat. I have always sat here."
Before she could continue further, Bai-Xue calmly interrupted her.
Her tone was gentle, almost innocent.
"Oh? I had always believed that you were the most sensible person in this hall, Sister Ya-Ting," Bai-Xue said with a faint smile.
"But now it seems I may have been mistaken."
Her gaze slowly swept over Ya-Ting before she continued in the same calm tone.
"It appears that you still need to learn the most basic understanding of rank and seating etiquette."
Every word fell into the hall like a silent blade.
At the front, Chang-Pu had been listening to the entire exchange with growing fury.
Suddenly, he slammed his hand against the armrest of his chair and stood up abruptly.
His voice echoed loudly through the hall.
"Bai-Xue! How dare you!"
His face was filled with anger as he pointed at her.
"How dare you speak to your elder sister in such a disrespectful manner? Go back immediately and sit in your seat!"
Yet Bai-Xue did not move.
There was no fear, no hurt, and no hesitation in her eyes.
Instead, her crimson eyes seemed to glow even more intensely, cold and unwavering.
She looked directly at Chang-Pu and spoke calmly.
"It is difficult to believe that you are truly the head of the Ning family."
Her voice was steady, but the weight behind her words was heavy.
"A concubine is sitting in my mother's seat."
"A concubine's daughter is sitting in mine."
"And all of this is happening right before your eyes."
She paused briefly before continuing, her gaze unwavering.
"Yet you remain silent, Father."
The entire hall froze.
Bai-Xue's voice grew colder.
"You accuse me of embarrassing the Ning family..."
"But tell me, how can a family that does not even understand basic court etiquette continue to exist?"
A faint smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"Oh... now I remember."
Her eyes turned colder than before.
"This family has survived until now..."
"only because of my mother's name."
Before Chang-Pu could say anything further, Bai-Xue spoke again, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"It seems everyone here has forgotten..." she said slowly, her gaze sweeping across the hall, "...who my mother was, and who I am."
Her crimson eyes then shifted toward Ya-Ting.
Seeing that she was still standing there, Bai-Xue spoke lightly.
"Sister Ya-Ting, are you still standing here?"
Then Bai-Xue gave a small signal with her eyes.
Understanding the command immediately, Jan-Mei stepped forward.
She walked toward Ya-Ting and bowed politely before speaking with respectful calmness.
"Lady Ya-Ting, please leave this seat and return to your proper place."
At those words, Ya-Ting let out a cold laugh.
A smirk appeared on the corner of her lips as anger burned in her eyes.
"You cannot humiliate me like this," she said coldly. "I am a third-level Summoner. I am the pride of the Ning family!"
Before she could continue further, Bai-Xue cut her off.
"And I," Bai-Xue said calmly, "am the Princess of Wang-Jin Country."
Her voice was soft, yet every word carried an overwhelming pressure.
"You have no right to sit in my place."
Ya-Ting stared at Bai-Xue with blazing anger, but before she could say another word, Jan-Mei raised her hand slightly, gesturing for her to move aside.
After a few tense seconds, Ya-Ting finally stepped away from the seat.
Her eyes burned with humiliation and rage as she moved aside.
Without hesitation, Bai-Xue walked forward and sat down gracefully in the seat of the Main Lady.
Ya-Ting could only stand there, staring at her with hatred.
Even Chang-Pu, despite the fury written across his face, could not openly object.
After all, Bai-Xue had only spoken the truth.
Grinding his teeth, Chang-Pu slowly sat back down in his seat.
Once Bai-Xue settled comfortably into the chair, she casually gave another signal to Jan-Mei.
Jan-Mei immediately stepped closer and bowed slightly.
Bai-Xue leaned forward and whispered something into her ear.
Jan-Mei's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Bai-Xue.
For a brief moment, hesitation appeared on her face.
Then she took a slow, deep breath.
I cannot keep living in fear forever, she thought to herself.
With that thought, she stepped forward.
But instead of stopping near Bai-Xue...
she walked directly toward Jing-Yi.
The entire hall looked at her in confusion.
No one understood what she was about to do.
Jan-Mei stopped in front of Jing-Yi and gave a respectful bow.
Then suddenly—
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed throughout the hall.
Jan-Mei had struck Jing-Yi across the face.
Before Jing-Yi could even process what had happened—
SLAP!
Another loud slap landed across her other cheek.
Jing-Yi was completely stunned, her mind going blank as she tried to understand what had just happened.
Chang-Pu immediately exploded in rage.
"You lowly maid! How dare you—!"
But before he could finish speaking, Jan-Mei calmly turned toward him and bowed respectfully, standing silently in front of him.
Meanwhile, Jing-Yi still sat frozen in shock, her mind unable to comprehend how things had escalated so suddenly.
At that moment, Bai-Xue leaned back comfortably in her chair.
She rested one elbow on the armrest and lightly supported her cheek with her hand. Crossing her legs lazily, she closed one eye slightly while twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.
Then she spoke in a relaxed, almost amused tone.
"She is not a lowly maid."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"In fact... her status is far higher than that of your concubine."
Bai-Xue slowly lifted her gaze toward Chang-Pu, her expression calm yet carrying an invisible pressure that filled the entire hall.
"Father," she said slowly, her tone almost casual, "you must surely remember the history of the Jan Family, don't you?"
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"For generations, the Jan family has served the direct imperial bloodline of our empire. They are the only family whose every generation has faithfully served the Empresses and Princesses of the royal blood."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Jan-Mei standing beside her.
"Although Jan-Mei-Hui now serves me instead of the Empress, there is only one reason for that."
A faint smile appeared on Bai-Xue's lips.
"Because I am a pure-blooded Princess of this nation."
She leaned slightly back in her chair.
"So in a way, Father... Jan-Mei-Hui holds a status higher than everyone present in this hall."
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Chang-Pu's face darkened with rage.
"You—!" he shouted angrily.
Then he pointed toward Bai-Xue.
"How dare you allow your maid to raise her hand against your own mother?!"
At those words, Bai-Xue suddenly covered her mouth lightly and let out a soft laugh.
"My mother?" she repeated with amusement.
Her eyes turned cold.
"How could she possibly be my mother?"
The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.
Then Bai-Xue looked toward Jan-Mei.
"And as for those slaps..."
Her voice turned calm again.
"Jan-Mei, why did you stop?"
Jan-Mei immediately bowed toward both Chang-Pu and Bai-Xue, acknowledging their presence before once again raising her hand toward Jing-Yi.
Seeing this, Jing-Yi quickly jumped up from her seat.
Her face was pale as tears filled her eyes.
"What kind of behavior is this, Bai-Xue?!" she cried angrily. "How can you treat me like this?!"
Jan-Mei calmly bowed toward Jing-Yi and spoke respectfully.
"First Concubine Jing-Yi, please return to your proper seat."
At that moment Bai-Xue spoke again, her voice firm and commanding.
"From today onward, everyone in the Ning Hall will sit according to their proper rank."
Her gaze swept across the room like a blade.
"If anyone dares to sit in my mother's seat or my seat again, then as the Princess of the Ning Family, I will be forced to deliver even harsher punishment."
Then Bai-Xue gave another order.
"Jan-Mei."
Jan-Mei immediately turned toward the other servants.
"All maids, step forward," she commanded. "Reset every seat in the hall according to proper rank."
The servants hesitated and instinctively looked toward Chang-Pu, waiting for his approval.
But before he could speak, Bai-Xue said calmly,
"Jan-Mei, it seems the servants of this mansion may also need to be replaced."
The moment those words fell—
panic spread through the servants.
Without wasting another second, they rushed forward and quickly began rearranging the seats throughout the hall.
Within a short time, the entire seating arrangement was corrected.
Chang-Pu remained seated at the center, as the head of the Ning family.
To his left, at the higher seat of the younger generation, sat Bai-Xue.
The seat to Chang-Pu's right, which belonged to the Main Wife, remained empty.
Meanwhile, the seats for the First Concubine and Second Concubine were properly arranged according to their status, and they were made to sit there.
The hall had finally returned to its proper order.
Chang-Pu rubbed his forehead with visible frustration, his anger barely contained.
After a moment, he raised his hand and called for a maid.
"Go," he said coldly, "bring in the messenger..