Huo Ci’s face was frosty, his gaze sharp enough to hook into one’s soul.
The interior of the carriage instantly transformed into a battlefield, with two powerful auras clashing back and forth.
The nickname “Little King of Hell” wasn’t given to him for nothing.
“What are your intentions, deceiving A-Yan like this?” he demanded.
Yun Chunfeng seemed to find this incredibly amusing and let out a scornful laugh.
“And is General Huo any sort of good man himself?”
Huo Ci knew he was in the wrong, but he refused to back down.
“This general has already realized his mistakes. I will treat A-Yan well from now on and atone for my past ignorance and arrogance.”
Though Yun Chunfeng wore a smile, it was colder than the deepest winter.
“Not every mistake can be corrected.
If you cause someone’s death, no matter how much you regret it or how your heart breaks, that person will never come back to life.”
Huo Ci’s eyes widened abruptly, as if an invisible hand had seized his throat, stealing his breath.
He knows?
How could he possibly know…
Yun Chunfeng gave his feathered fan a gentle wave, dissipating the tense atmosphere.
“Truthfully, General Huo, you are only suited to grow old alone… with your dear mother.”
Huo Ci’s mouth twitched.
This man truly had a gift for insults.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Jiang Xingyan handed Xiao Ya inside.
In the time it took for Yun Chunfeng to lower and raise his fan, his expression had already shifted back to its usual spring-like warmth.
Huo Ci was speechless: Are you a master of face-changing?
Xiao Ya toddled unsteadily toward Yun Chunfeng, making Huo Ci’s heart twist with a sour jealousy he couldn’t put into words.
After Jiang Xingyan got into the carriage, she eyed the subtle tension between the two men and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“I thought I heard something about a mother just now. What were the State Preceptor and my… wife discussing?” she asked (using the term ‘wife’ to refer to Huo Ci’s body she inhabits).
Huo Ci desperately wanted to expose this hypocrite.
He clenched his fists, warning himself not to act impulsively.
If A-Yan finds out Yun Chunfeng already knows we’ve swapped souls, wouldn’t she only grow closer to him?
That’s a foolish move I refuse to make.
Yun Chunfeng seemed to have anticipated Huo Ci’s silence. He settled Xiao Ya comfortably on his lap before answering Jiang Xingyan leisurely. “General Huo, this humble one merely had a question I was discussing with your… lady.”
Jiang Xingyan grew even more curious. “Oh? What question?”
“This humble one understands it’s natural to be closest to one’s mother. Yet, Xiao Ya seems more attached to you, General. It is quite remarkable.”
Fearing he might detect something amiss, Jiang Xingyan explained carefully, “Xiao Ya used to be very attached to my… wife as well. It’s only been this way since the fright she had.
Imperial Physician Sun said it’s because the first person she saw when she opened her eyes was me, creating a sense of dependence.
Much like how a newly hatched duckling will imprint on the first living creature it sees, considering it its mother.”
Xiao Ya pouted, unconvinced.
She had recognized her Niang (mom) in an instant! She wasn’t nearly as silly as a duckling!
Even if her Niang looked like her annoying Die (dad), or even if she turned into a little kitten or a blade of grass, she would still know her.
Yun Chunfeng acted as if a great truth had dawned on him. “So that’s how it is. The General’s insight is truly sharp.
I must say, it must be wonderful to have a mother’s protection. This humble one envies it greatly.
People, no matter the circumstance, will always naturally side with their own mother. It’s only right and proper.
I imagine when Xiao Ya grows up, she will definitely protect her Niang, right or wrong. Isn’t that right, Xiao Ya?” He looked down and asked the little girl lovingly.
Xiao Ya, clenching her small fists and pressing her lips together, nodded with grave seriousness.
Huo Ci’s heart suddenly grew alert.
This man seemed, perhaps, maybe… to be speaking in his favor?
Jiang Xingyan fell into deep thought.
It was true. Huo Ci was indeed a filial son. He hadn’t done anything wrong there.
Initially, she had fantasized that after Huo Ci saw his mother’s true nature, he would resolutely cut ties with her and announce her misdeeds to the world.
Now, thinking back, it seemed incredibly naive.
Her mother-in-law’s venom was directed solely at her.
She treated Huo Ci so well; why would he ever turn against her?
The most rebellious act he could conceive of was moving out to live separately.
But so what?
Given time, once that old hag squeezed out a few more tears and uttered a few words of repentance…
He would surely plead her case, urging Jiang Xingyan to let bygones be bygones and for the family to start anew.
SNAP!
With that thought, the string of obsession that had been pulled taut within Jiang Xingyan’s heart suddenly snapped.
She shouldn’t have hoped for Huo Ci to break with his mother for her sake.
What she should do was take Xiao Ya and leave him completely, to live their own free lives.
Huo Ci watched helplessly as the light in Jiang Xingyan’s eyes shifted through several emotions, finally settling into a faint smile of release.
He panicked.
This wasn’t right!
He could feel it clearly – the connection between him and Jiang Xingyan had suddenly vanished by half.
What had gone wrong?
In a fluster, he grabbed Jiang Xingyan’s wrist, his eyes begging: A-Yan, whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong!
Jiang Xingyan, however, didn’t shake off his hand with her usual aversion.
Instead, she murmured as if to herself, “So, my grandfather and I were mistaken from the very beginning.”
These words struck Huo Ci’s heart like an arrow shot from a fully drawn bow.
He understood now. A-Yan was truly ready to give up on him.
Before, even when Jiang Xingyan uttered harsh words, saying she wanted the Huo family dead, Huo Ci, though in agony, felt his heart was still on solid ground.
Where there was hatred, there must have been love.
Even when Jiang Xingyan pushed him away time and again, he felt a bitter sweetness.
It meant he could still affect her emotions.
But now, A-Yan no longer cared about him.
Damn that Yun Chunfeng to hell!
He knew it! How could that man possibly be so kind-hearted!
“Husband, I—”
“Whoa!”
“We’ve arrived at the military camp, General. Please disembark.”
Jiang Xingyan was puzzled; the voice sounded remarkably like Xin Zhui’s.
She rose to get off the carriage, but her sleeve was tugged by Huo Ci.
His eyes were full of panic and fear. “Husband…”
Jiang Xingyan didn’t interrupt him, nor did she shake him off. She merely looked at him calmly, waiting for him to continue.
But Huo Ci found himself speechless.
What could he say?
He hesitated for a long moment before finally releasing her hand in defeat.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t press him either. She lifted the carriage curtain and swung herself down from the carriage.
Yun Chunfeng picked up Xiao Ya and let out a soft, derisive snort.
Huo Ci felt utterly defeated.
With her decision made, Jiang Xingyan felt considerably lighter, almost nimble as a swallow as she jumped down from the carriage.
Suddenly, a figure flashed before her eyes. Reacting instinctively, she sent a palm strike flying out.
The figure grunted. In the split second before being sent flying backward, they slapped a sticky yellow talisman firmly onto her forehead.
Before she could react, a shower of fine grains rained down upon her head and shoulders.
She looked down. It was glutinous rice.
Immediately after, Xin Zhui’s booming voice erupted around them: “Everyone, stand back! Watch me perform my Three-Step Exorcism!”
Jiang Xingyan’s head snapped up just in time to see Xin Zhui charging toward her, holding a basin of dark red liquid aimed right at her.