Chapter 479

Noah saw the change in his mother's expression and immediately advised, "Mom, please, let's discuss this calmly"

"Be quiet, you useless thing! They've already bullied their way into our residence, and you're still playing the part of the dutiful son?" Dorothy shouted furiously, her face contorted with rage. "Get out of the way!"

She walked over and sat down, taking a deep breath as she met Helen's gaze.

"Place and rank? Once the duchess married into our family, she became one of us—our daughter-in-law! Women follow their husbands, both at home and in public. Yet, she stirred up trouble and even incited the Hell Monarch's princess consort to report her own husband, all for some domestic matter. What family doesn't have concubines? Instead of learning from good examples, she's picked up all the bad habits—envy and pettiness. She's learned them all too well."

Helen's eyes widened in shock. Wait, was Dorothy talking about Carissa? Was Dorothy referring to Helen's daughter-in-law, the one who had always protected her even before officially joining the family?

With a loud crash, Helen's cup shattered on the floor, porcelain shards scattering as she shouted, "Old hag! Don't force me to slap your face myself!"

That move stunned everyone into silence. Even Dorothy was taken aback, her eyes wide with disbelief.

How could Helen be so indifferent to propriety?

Helen stood and walked directly toward Dorothy, her finger pointing threateningly, her nails pressing against the old lady's nose.

"You raised such a shameless grandson and still dare to speak so boldly in front of me? You claim Leona incited my daughter-in-law to report this beast of a man? Did you see it with your own eyes? Hear it with your own ears? If you don't produce evidence today, I'll destroy your family!"

"Whatyou" Dorothy's lips trembled with anger. "Lady Helen, this is my family's estate! How dare you speak so arrogantly?"

Helen retorted furiously, "So what if I am arrogant? How dare a mere noble lady sit so calmly in front of me? When it comes to rank and respect, even a duchess must bow before my daughter-in-law, who is a princess consort! How dare you plot behind the scenes! The matter the Oversight Department has brought up against that scum grandson of yours is a court issue. What does it have to do with my daughter-in-law?

"If your grandson had any integrity, no one could accuse him. He's the king's student, but instead of serving his ruler, he's holed up in his residence, favoring concubines and neglecting his wife. Men like him deserve to have dung thrown at them, just like those of the Warren family!"

"Vulgar, utterly insufferable!" Samuel's face turned ashen with anger. Ignoring the woman in his arms, he hurried over to shield his grandmother and shouted at Helen, "Lady Helen, I respect you, but"

(The text then jumps to a seemingly unrelated passage from Chapter 478, which needs to be integrated logically or removed.)

Corrected Chapter 478 Snippet (if to be included):

Chapter 478 (Excerpt)

Ruby was dressed in a green silk dress with floral patterns and a deep blue cloud-patterned cloak. Her hair was loosely styled, clearly undone from sleep, but upon hearing Helen had arrived, she had hastily dressed.

Samuel helped Dorothy to her seat before rushing to support Ruby. Seeing his beloved in such a miserable state, he roared, "Who allowed you to treat her like this? She's my woman!"

"I gave permission," Helen said coldly.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched Samuel cling to Ruby. Moments ago, wasn't Ruby all high and mighty, aloof and untouchable? Now, suddenly, she was the pitiful one?

"What happened to the promise of dragging her out and giving her a beating?"

"Lady Helen!" Dorothy straightened, her voice icy. "We will handle the affairs of our own household. There's no need for you to interfere."

Helen's anger flared. "If your son were a decent person, I wouldn't have had to come. What kind of household is this? Is it worth my late-night visit? A century-old noble family produces such a ruthless and unjust scoundrel who indulges his concubines and neglects his wife. Instead of addressing how to correct the family's morals, you're concerned with covering up and indulging him. Your ancestors would be rolling in their graves at how you're behaving!"

"Lady Helen!" Dorothy slammed her cane on the ground. "No matter how lacking our people are, it's not your place to discipline them. Even the current queen wouldn't meddle in our family affairs. Even if my grandson is ignorant, he has been punished. He has been dismissed from his post and had two teeth knocked out by the duchess's maid. Has our family ever made things difficult for the duchess?"

Helen sneered, showing no regard for the older woman. "The audacity! What right do you have to make things difficult for the duchess? Do you even remember your place and rank anymore?"

(Continuation of Chapter 479 after the correction and possible inclusion of the 478 excerpt):

A resounding slap landed on Samuel's face. Helen struck with such force that she nearly lost her balance, but Violet quickly caught her.

Helen steadied herself and delivered another slap with the back of her hand. "Who gave you the right to interrupt while I'm speaking? Don't you understand manners?"

Samuel received two more slaps, and his once-pristine image as a noble youth was utterly shattered. Embarrassed in front of his beloved, he shouted furiously at Helen, "You're bullying us with your power! Do you think I won't write a proclamation denouncing you tomorrow?"

Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Noah urgently intervened, "Samuel, be quiet!"

The people from the second branch of the family came forward to help, attempting to drag Samuel and Ruby away.

But Dorothy was enraged and shouted, "No one is to take him away! What fault has he committed? It's they who are being outrageous!"

Helen stood before her and spat coldly, "Shameless old hag! You don't even deserve to be called a noble lady. You can't tell right from wrong. All you do is indulge this piece of filth, ignoring even the fact that your grandson's legitimate wife is pregnant with your great-grandchild.

"You must be of illegitimate birth yourself, having learned those filthy tricks from your concubine mother. You harbor a deep hatred for legitimate wives, yet you go to such lengths to favor concubines. Why did you fight to become the primary wife if you preferred concubines so much? When the leaders set a poor example, those beneath them inevitably follow suit. You're setting a terrible example, old hag."

Helen knew it was this old woman who had indulged Samuel, allowing him to get away with everything. It was Dorothy's approval that allowed Ruby to enter the family.