Li Xinghan forced herself to take a few bites, finding the food hard to swallow. Knowing her father would soon bring up a request for her brother's appointment, she excused herself. Her father said nothing, and only her mother walked her out.1

Outside the courtyard, she sent her spiritual sense within. The dining table felt emptier without her presence. Her mother wept, her father sighed, and her brother and sister-in-law exchanged glances in silence. 0

After a long pause, she heard her father's voice say, "She's too proud for her own good… Even without her, your uncle's still there. You'll get your post either way. It's just not a good look and it might draw the attention of Qingdu's clan chief. Tomorrow,...0