Yu Qinchun said, "Great-Uncle, the name Yue Fuguang was approved by His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. We dare not change it!"

After acting foolishly for decades, Yu Qinchun finally had a stroke of brilliance—not only did he know how to invoke authority, but he also cleverly concealed the real reason they insisted on keeping this name.

Yu Qi was visibly taken aback. "His Majesty is occupied with state affairs, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is equally busy. Why would they concern themselves with something as trivial as your child’s name?"

He found it hard to believe!

But then again, it wasn’t Yu Qi’s fault for being skeptical. None of his family members held positions at court, so it was natural they wouldn’t be privy to such news.

At court, there was a clear divide between high-ranking and low-ranking officials. While not all high-ranking officials could hear the whispers of the inner circle, one thing was common knowledge—Yue Fuguang, the newly returned granddaughter of the Yu Family, enjoyed extraordinary favor with the imperial family.

His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and even the Crown Prince held the young Imperial Tutor in the highest regard.

So much so that those unaware of the situation began to suspect the Crown Prince might even replace his consort.

Yet, ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‍the Yu Family remained oblivious to the fact that they had an untouchable golden child in their midst.

Yu Chongyan, driven by selfish motives—believing that good things should remain within his own branch, meaning the eldest line consisting of his and his elder brother’s households—deliberately muttered under his breath, though loud enough for his cousins nearby to hear clearly, "Perhaps we should divide the clan? That way, we won’t drag down the rest of the family."

Divide the clan?

Divide the clan?!

The words echoed in the minds of everyone present, especially the heads of each branch, who stared at Yu Chongyan in shock.

This cousin of theirs truly had the audacity!

Yu Qi, after a stunned pause, erupted in anger. He snatched up a brush from the table and hurled it at Yu Chongyan, bellowing, "You insolent wretch! How dare you suggest such a thing? Our Yu Family is already small in number, and you want to split it further?"

Still fuming, he chased after the fleet-footed Yu Chongyan, shouting, "Ungrateful brat! The old patriarch just emphasized the importance of family unity, and here you are, sowing division! What are you really plotting?"

Dividing the clan might sound simple, but once done, they would become independent branches, distancing themselves from the main line—especially the eldest branch.

They would go from being part of the main clan to minor branches, like their rural relatives.

While their own branch’s authority might increase, they would lose the privilege of relying on the main branch—no longer could his eldest nephew exploit the family name or wield seniority to his advantage.

In other words, no more freeloading with arrogance!

Was this a division? No, it was carving flesh from his bones!

Given their current circumstances—his eldest son had only purchased a minor sixth-rank position, and none of his grandsons were accomplished scholars—without the protection of the eldest branch, his own sixth branch, though wealthy, would be devoured in the capital within years.

True, the sixth branch was part of the main line, but his mother had been a second wife—a stepmother. To the eldest and fourth branches, he and his siblings were no different from the illegitimate lines.

His mother, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, had brought a substantial dowry when she married his father. After his father’s death, despite being the youngest son, he inherited her wealth, leaving him well-off.

But wealth without power made the sixth branch a prime target for upstart officials with ambition but no heritage.

Without the eldest branch’s protection, the sixth branch would be ruined in no time.

"Uncle, calm down. Chongyan was just speaking thoughtlessly. Don’t take it to heart," Yu Chongshan interjected half-heartedly, stepping in as a token gesture.

Truth be told, he often found this uncle—barely older than himself but a generation higher—annoying. The man meddled in every family affair, and when it came to Yue Fuguang, his interference was relentless, grating on everyone’s nerves.

Yu Qi, shrewd with age, noticed his eldest nephew’s worsening expression and wisely backed down. After all, his family still depended on the eldest branch’s protection.

Seizing the insincere olive branch Yu Chongshan offered, he grumbled, "Fine, I’ll let that brat off for your sake, Chongshan."

Only then did Yu Qi belatedly realize how fiercely protective the eldest branch—including Yu Chongyan’s household—was of that newly returned girl.

His eyes narrowed in thought. Was there something they didn’t know? Could the position of Imperial Tutor be far more significant than they imagined?

"Chongshan, it’s getting late. The banquet guests will arrive soon. Let’s head over and have your nephews assist with hosting. It’ll ease the burden on you and your sons," Yu Qi said, leading the way out.

He needed to see this little girl for himself.

Meanwhile, what was the little girl Yue Fuguang up to?

She was entertaining guests—though it was still early, several families had already arrived, not just one or two, but five or six at once.

Their matriarchs had brought along a dozen or so young masters and misses.

The young masters were easy—her brothers could handle them.

But the seven young ladies? Even with the help of Yu Ningrong, the eighth daughter of the fourth branch, and a few half-sisters, Yue Fuguang was stretched thin. The half-sisters, after all, weren’t exactly on equal footing with the guests.

She led them to the waterside pavilion near the flower hall in the rear garden. The spacious area was furnished with fruits, pastries, writing supplies, musical instruments, chess sets, and clever toys for amusement.

Once everyone was seated, Yue Fuguang finished introducing her sisters when Madam Zhang arrived with a group of noblewomen and their daughters.

Yue Fuguang was puzzled. Wasn’t Madam Zhang supposed to be hosting the ladies in the nearby Star-Gazing Pavilion?

Why had she brought them here instead?

After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Zhang smiled warmly. "Fuguang, His Majesty and the Crown Prince have arrived. Your grandfather sent word for you to attend them."

She adjusted a slightly crooked hairpin on Yue Fuguang’s head, her expression brimming with maternal affection. "Go on. I’ll take care of things here with your sisters."

The word "mother" caught Yue Fuguang off guard, but she quickly understood—the adoption formalities in the ancestral hall had been completed.

Her uncle and aunt were now her official parents. The third branch’s couple had been demoted to "Uncle and Aunt Third," with official documentation to prove it.

Without missing a beat, Yue Fuguang responded sweetly, "Understood, Mother."

Madam Zhang’s heart swelled with delight, as refreshing as a bite of chilled watermelon on a scorching day.

The noblewomen watching couldn’t hide their envy. To be the mother of the celestial young tutor—even if not by blood—what difference did it make as long as the bond was strong?

Why else had they arrived so early with their sons and daughters? A chance encounter, a favorable impression—who knew what opportunities might arise?

As for the young ladies present, including those from the Yu Family, they watched Yue Fuguang’s retreating figure with a mix of admiration, jealousy, and resentment.