Jiang Xingyan took a deep breath.
She had just come back to life—she wasn’t about to let him anger her to death.
Beside her, the blunt and outspoken Xia Feng could no longer hold back. “Madam, what are you saying?! She was the one who—”
“Grand Physician Sun is here!”
Xin Zhui leapt down from the rooftop, holding a trembling old man with a white beard.
General Huo came from three generations of loyal ministers, his military merits so illustrious that the Emperor had granted him the privilege of summoning imperial physicians.
But at this moment, Grand Physician Sun would gladly risk his life to beg the Emperor to revoke that privilege.
A few more summons like this from Huo Ci, and he’d surely die at this man’s hands.
Who the hell used qinggong to fetch a physician?!
Jiang Xingyan didn’t even bother ushering him into the room. She immediately carried Xiao Ya over.
“Grand Physician Sun, please save my daughter!”
The moment Sun saw Xiao Ya’s critical condition, his anger was temporarily set aside.
“General Huo, lay your daughter flat on the ground, quickly.”
Jiang Xingyan tore off her cloak, spread it on the floor, and gently placed Xiao Ya on it.
Seizing the moment, Grand Physician Sun took out his golden needles and began the treatment.
“Xia Feng, post guards here.”
Xia Feng frowned. Though General Huo was usually insufferable, at least he had his priorities straight now.
She bowed in acknowledgment and called for Qiu Yan and Chun Xue, swiftly forming a protective circle around Grand Physician Sun, ready to fight anyone who dared approach.
Jiang Xingyan shot a cold glance at Old Madam Huo.
The woman actually looked displeased to see Xiao Ya being saved.
Clenching her fists so hard they trembled, Jiang Xingyan barely restrained the urge to smash that wrinkled face.
Now wasn’t the time to settle scores. She’d leave that for her precious son to experience firsthand.
Let him see for himself what kind of “kind and benevolent” mother he had been praising all this time!
Meanwhile, Huo Ci stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute. “Grand Physician Sun, your skills are renowned. Please save Matron Jinzhu—spare her life.”
Jiang Xingyan had had enough. She was about to snap when someone else beat her to it.
“Are you out of your damn mind?!
That old hag was strangling Xiao Ya, nearly drowning her to death!
If not for the General arriving in time, who knows if Xiao Ya would’ve survived—and you want Grand Physician Sun to treat her injuries?!
Playing the saint doesn’t mean being this damn stupid!
You’d throw your own daughter’s life away?
The General must’ve owed you in eight past lifetimes to be cursed with a wife like you!
Are you even fit to be Xiao Ya’s mother?!
If I were the General, I’d divorce you on the spot!”
The barrage of accusations left Huo Ci stunned.
“Wh-what? How could…?”
Xin Zhui despised evil with a passion.
If that old servant had fallen into his hands, feeding her to the dogs would’ve been too merciful—and here this woman was, demanding she be treated?!
If not for her status as General Huo’s wife, he’d have already punched her.
At first, Jiang Xingyan enjoyed Xin Zhui’s tirade—until her face darkened with each word.
He was cursing her!
Looking at her own body standing there like a fool, Jiang Xingyan closed her eyes.
This was a humiliation she’d just have to endure.
Old Madam Huo trembled with rage, secretly pinching “Jiang Xingyan” hard as she hissed, “Shut your mouth!”
From the moment she arrived, she’d been playing the doting mother-in-law—only to ruin it all with this outburst, practically begging Huo Ci to suspect her.
How vile!
Truly, merchants were nothing but cunning snakes.
Huo Ci’s heart pounded, the pain of the pinch forgotten.
He stared blankly at his mother, who had always been so gentle and loving—now wearing an expression of pure hatred.
Everything happening before him had become incomprehensible.
Old Madam Huo seized the moment, clutching her chest as if heartbroken. “Jinzhu, how could you?! That’s my precious granddaughter!”
Jiang Xingyan narrowed her eyes in disgust.
So, her dear mother-in-law was cutting her losses.
Jinzhu had served Old Madam Huo since childhood—she understood the implication immediately.
Hoarsely, she replied, “The little girl disrespected the Madam. I only—”
SLAP!
Before she could finish, a brutal strike sent her head snapping to the side.
Jinzhu spat out a mouthful of blood, along with several shattered teeth.
Old Madam Huo flinched.
Huo Ci gaped at his own body, now radiating fury.
It was as if, through his own form, he was seeing a grief-stricken mother who had endured endless suffering—now unleashing it all.
Jiang Xingyan gritted her teeth. “A servant daring to harm her master—this calls for severe punishment! We must interrogate her for the mastermind behind this!”
Xin Zhui couldn’t resist adding a kick.
“Who the hell do you think you are?!
Xiao Ya’s barely two—she can’t even speak properly! What ‘disrespect’ could she possibly show?!
Even if she did something wrong, since when is it your place to discipline her?!”
Old Madam Huo’s heart raced, but she forced herself to stay composed. With a sorrowful tone, she rebuked Jinzhu, “Confess the truth! What were you scheming?!
Or have you forgotten your family?!”
Jiang Xingyan sneered.
The old hag was threatening Jinzhu with her family’s safety!
Sure enough, Jinzhu stiffened for a second before mumbling, “N-no… I acted alone…”
“Waaah—Mama! Mamaaa!”
A loud wail shattered the tension.
Jiang Xingyan rushed to Xiao Ya’s side in an instant.
Grand Physician Sun shakily rose from the ground, wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
“Thank heavens… Any later, and it would’ve been—”
Jiang Xingyan clutched the soaking-wet Xiao Ya tightly.
Only now did she truly feel alive again.
Xiao Ya clung to her armor, burying herself in her mother’s embrace, crying “Mama!” over and over.
Jiang Xingyan’s eyes reddened, tears nearly falling.
Old Madam Huo, terrified Xiao Ya might say something damning, shoved Huo Ci and snapped, “Hurry up and take her!”
Huo Ci turned—only to see his mother’s eyes filled with malice.
How…?
Numbly, he stepped forward. The moment his hand touched Xiao Ya, the little girl clung to Jiang Xingyan desperately, wailing, “No! No! I want Mama! Mamaaa!”