The maid who had gone out to gather information soon returned.

Not only was the little maid intelligent, but she also had plenty of sources for gossip within the residence, so Zhang Yiyi's expectations were met.

"Fifth Miss, I found out that this marriage was originally arranged when the Third Miss was just born. The other party is the Tang family, the most prominent family in Tangyang, with power far exceeding our Zhang family."

It turned out that the Third Miss's mother had once saved the life of a young master from the Tang family. That was why the head of the Tang family arranged the marriage, allowing his legitimate second son to marry the daughter of his benefactor.

This meant that the Zhang family was actually the one benefiting, as the Tang family was a medium-sized family with a Nascent Soul cultivator in its ranks, while the Zhang family's highest-ranking ancestor was only at the late Golden Core stage.

However, more than ten years later, the Tang family's second son became a cultivation waste due to an accident.

In contrast, Zhang Tongtong, the Third Miss of the Zhang family, not only had exceptional qualifications with a mutated Ice Spiritual Root but also became the most valued direct disciple of the prestigious Yunxian Sect.

In this case, the Zhang family was naturally unwilling to marry their talent to a waste, but they didn't want to lose such a good marriage alliance with the Tang family either.

Therefore, in the end, it was unknown who suggested it, but the idea was to have her replace Zhang Tongtong and marry into the Tang family.

Being used as a pawn felt truly unpleasant. In the end, it was because of her own weakness that she was so casually discarded.

In the world of cultivation, strength is paramount, and families always prioritize their interests. Familial affection is already scarce, especially for someone like her who has no mother and is disliked by her father.

Zhang Yiyi became even more determined to practice hard, striving to live, to be free, and to be able to see one beautiful scene after another.

Half an hour later, she was taken to her grandfather Zhang Qingming.

Zhang Qingming was the current head of the Zhang family and Zhang Yiyi's biological grandfather.

However, this grandfather disliked his granddaughter even more than her father did. They had only met twice, and both times were marked by a cold and undisguised disdain.

Zhang Yiyi suspected that it was Zhang Qingming who arranged for her to replace Zhang Tongtong in marrying the Tang family, as the family's ancestor was too busy to personally handle such minor matters.

As expected, Zhang Qingming's attitude towards her was extremely cold and disdainful upon seeing her.

"Hmph! Not old but quite arrogant. Just a mere eighth layer of Qi Refining, and you think you are some heavenly prodigy who can do whatever you want?"

Zhang Qingming's gaze was filled with contempt, as if the person before him was not his own granddaughter but rather a foe's descendant.

"What a joke! Even if a great master were willing to accept you as a disciple in the future, that's a matter for later. But right now, you're just a small outer disciple of the Yunxian Sect. Your marriage is still under the family's jurisdiction! The family has raised you for so many years, and you have to marry without any room for negotiation!"

These words not only made Zhang Yiyi's face turn pale, but even Zhang Chengkang's face darkened instantly.

"Father! With Yiyi's current potential, how can she be married off so early? If it's a marriage to the Tang family, there are many candidates in the family. Why can't you be more lenient?"

Zhang Chengkang never expected that after speaking so much, his father not only ignored his words but also openly disparaged his own granddaughter.

Even if he had little affection for this daughter, she was still his only legitimate daughter and even his father should not treat her so disrespectfully.

"Shut up!" Zhang Qingming turned to his second son and scolded, "Do you even know what kind of family the Tang family is? Do you have any brains?"

He slammed his hand on the table and began reprimanding his son.

"Do you not know who this marriage was originally for? The Tang family allowed the Zhang family to change the candidate because Tongtong had already become a valued direct disciple of the Yunxian Sect. Her status is beyond the reach of an ordinary second son of the Tang family. Even if the Tang family insisted, the Yunxian Sect would never allow it to happen! But that doesn't mean that after giving up on Tongtong, our Zhang family can just send any daughter to them!"

His words revealed the truth behind the marriage substitution without any care, and Zhang Qingming never thought there was anything wrong or regrettable about having Zhang Yiyi replace Zhang Tongtong to marry the Tang family.

Even though her cultivation speed at the Qi Refining stage seemed decent, the higher the cultivation level, the harder it was to improve, and the differences in spiritual root qualities would become more pronounced.

As for the idea of a great master wanting to take her as a disciple, Zhang Qingming did not believe it at all. It was clearly an excuse made up by Zhang Yiyi for not following the family's arrangement, and it was ridiculous that his son believed it.

"But does it have to be me?"

Seeing her father being reprimanded by her grandfather to the point of almost being speechless, Zhang Yiyi took the opportunity to speak calmly, "Grandfather, can you swear an oath and truly believe that having me replace Tongtong to marry the Tang family is the best choice for the Zhang family? Is it the least damaging and most beneficial?"

"Presumptuous! I am your grandfather. How dare you speak to me like this?"

Zhang Qingming was so enraged that his beard twitched.

Having lived nearly three hundred years, this was the first time he had been questioned so directly by a junior and even asked to swear an oath. It was an enormous affront! "Your granddaughter is merely speaking honestly. Why can't she speak her mind openly?" Zhang Yiyi's brow didn't even twitch; instead, she remained even calmer, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through souls as she looked at Zhang Qingming. "Cultivators like us value staying true to oneself. I merely wish to seek an answer for myself, without regret. And as my grandfather and the head of the Zhang family, you should persuade with reason rather than using your seniority to force compliance."

"Good! Staying true to oneself, seeking an answer without regret, persuading with reason, and forcing compliance! Zhang Qingming truly has a good granddaughter, who dares to teach me, her grandfather, how to be a person!"

Zhang Qingming's eyes turned a frightening red as he raised his hand, ready to teach his impudent granddaughter a lesson. "Today, I will first teach you what respect and strength truly mean!"

Seeing his father about to strike his own daughter, Zhang Chengkang was shocked and prepared to intervene but then hesitated.

His legitimate daughter's personality was indeed too stubborn, even daring to defy her biological grandfather. Perhaps a lesson today might be beneficial. After all, the marriage with the Tang family still had to continue, and his father likely wouldn't really use lethal force.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Qingming used about forty percent of his strength to strike Zhang Yiyi.

With his early Golden Core cultivation, even using only forty percent of his strength was enough to seriously injure Zhang Yiyi, who was at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, causing her immense pain.

He indeed did not intend to kill Zhang Yiyi, but he was determined to teach her a lesson severe enough to make her fear him for life, so she would never dare to defy him again.