Being removed from the family registry without a strong background to rely on would have meant that even mountains of gold and silver wouldn't be enough to satiate the appetite of those people. Once removed, all of Ran Pingyu's hard-earned money would have been swallowed up as well.

"Uncle should never have thrown money their way in Suzhou, feeding a pack of ingrates! Is Uncle still giving them money?" Ran Yan felt indignant in her heart. If the Ran Family had been willing to fully support them from the start, how could Ran Pingyu's family have fallen into the merchant class? After all, many grand families were engaged in business, even the Xiao Family. Otherwise, would the whole family be left to drink the northwest wind?

"They stopped long ago." Mentioning Ran Wen and those people made Ran Yunsheng furrow his brows, "Some time ago, I heard that the Suzhou branch of the Ran Family received the Xiao Family's favor, and quite a few of them have attained official positions. Ayah was chatting with a business associate and discovered that the man was unaware that Ayah was also from the Suzhou Ran Family, so he deliberately inquired a bit. Three generations without engaging in ignoble occupations... Ayah secretly sent someone to check on our clan in Suzhou, and they actually... they feared that it would affect the younger generations' prospects in the imperial exams and had already removed Ayah from the family tree!"

"What?" Ran Yan found herself having underestimated the Ran clan, which was akin to slapping their ancestors in the face with a black hand.

Most people in the clan were aware of Ran Pingyu being disowned, yet they still shamelessly demanded money from him.

In the Tang Dynasty, people placed great value on family and lineage. Being expelled from a family was a catastrophe. Ran Pingyu, driven to desperation, chose to join the merchant class. Over the years, he rarely returned to the Ran Family in Suzhou and had virtually drawn a clear line between them. He even compromised to the extent of agreeing to have his name moved to a collateral branch that was declining and nearly without descendants—although not removed to the extent of the five degrees of mourning, it was practically negligible. All these years, he tolerated the Ran Family's insatiable greed just to avoid being expelled from the clan so that he would not become a wandering ghost after death.

Ran Pingyu was suddenly informed of this matter and, on the spot, vomited blood that he had pent up from the shock. He has been languishing on his sickbed for over a month now.

However, this matter should not be made public; they haven't even told Ran Yan.

"Exactly why were they disowned?" Ran Yan asked angrily. With the Xiao Family's protection, the branch Ran Pingyu had been transferred to was distant.

"It's said that the branch we were transferred into produced a young genius, who is already thirteen years old and about to take the imperial examinations. According to the family tree, my Ayah would be his direct uncle, so..." Ran Yunsheng sighed heavily. It seems that even the heavens were not on their side! It was just their luck that the genius would emerge from that particular branch!

The importance of talent to aristocratic families was self-evident. Sometimes a single high official from a family could elevate the whole clan to glory. Like the family of Fang Xuanling, originally just a modest literati family, it rose to the ranks of the Chang'an nobility with him becoming the prime minister.

In pursuit of talent, sacrifices of others were acceptable, but the Ran Family's handling of the matter was too cruel! They didn't even try to hide the treachery in their bridge-burning.

Ran Yan said coldly, "They are digging their own graves!"

"Yan, what are you going to do?" Ran Yunsheng looked at her suddenly icy expression, startled, "Don't do anything reckless. Ayah and mother have already persuaded Ayah to let go, you must not do anything foolish."

"They like to burn bridges, so let them tear down this bridge of mine as well. Once I am in Lanling, I will look for an opportunity to sever ties with the Ran Family. After all, I will be buried in the Xiao Family's tomb after my death!" Ran Yan declared.

Ran Yunsheng pondered for a moment, "Don't be rash, Yan. Although you have now established a firm position in the Xiao Family, they will probably not tolerate you lacking a family background."

"The Xiao Family didn't value me for my family background! During this time, they've probably seen through the Ran Family's sordid nature. Having such a malignant tumor around could only tarnish their reputation; it would be better to cut ties completely. As long as the Zheng Family still acknowledges my mother and me, I am not without a background," Ran Yan listed several reasons quite casually, not needing any further fabrication.

Ran Yunsheng did not object, firstly because he resented the Ran Family to the core and, secondly, because he thought that Ran Yan was now happy and contented. If she kept being dragged down by the Ran Family, trouble was inevitable. The association might lead to the Xiao Family looking down on her in the future.

The intricate web of interests among large families was complex, and recognizing the Zheng Family as relatives was not an excellent solution. But at least the Zheng Family maintained their dignity and would not conduct themselves in a manner unbefitting their status.

"If in exchange, the Zheng Family tries to insert someone close to Jiulang..." Ran Yunsheng expressed his concern, as the great clans loved to do such 'buy one, get one—or several—free' deals.

"The Zheng Family also desires a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family. Since they have demands, it gives me the position to negotiate terms. The issue of inserting a person might not necessarily come to pass. Most importantly, Xiao Yuezhi isn't just for show—whatever person they want to place close to him will depend on whether he is willing or not," Ran Yan was confident in Xiao Song. In the worst-case scenario, if he was unwilling but had no other choice, she would resort to the method she had mentioned before. If he agreed, then even better; she would secretly take the children and live her own life.

"Think it over carefully." Ran Yunsheng hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Ran Yan, beginning to regret revealing this matter.

Ran Yan smiled slightly, "Don't worry. I will discuss this matter with my husband first, and I won't act impulsively."

Ran Yunsheng felt somewhat astonished in his heart; she even dared to discuss such things with Xiao Song? But seeing Ran Yan's normal expression, he assumed their marital relationship must be good, and he felt more at ease.

After drinking a sip of tea, Ran Yan suddenly remembered something, "Has brother ever considered taking a principle wife? Or perhaps letting Er Dong... After all, Qing'er is now at the age to distinguish close from distant relatives."

If there was to be a mistress of the household, there needed to be time to foster affection.

"I have no other thoughts in this life. Er Dong is understanding and kind-hearted; it would be my fortune to have her as my wife," Ran Yunsheng said with a gentle smile. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for your monthly ticket and recommendation ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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