Huo Ci stood frozen in place, instinctively closing his eyes.
His first thought was surprisingly: At least the scars can be transferred; A’Yan’s face won’t be damaged.
Whoosh!
A pebble shot past, grazing the tip of Huo Ci’s nose.
“Ah!”
Old Dowager Huo screamed in pain and fell to the ground.
Four estate guards hurriedly rushed in, pulling away the people restraining the General’s Lady.
“Stay right where you are!”
“Have you all lost your minds? This is the General’s Lady!”
Huo Ci stood up stiffly.
The scene before him was utterly ridiculous.
“Pah!”
Old Dowager Huo spat forcefully, aiming for “Jiang Xingyan’s” face.
But the distance was too great, and it only landed on Huo Ci’s lapel.
“You lowborn merchant wretch! This old woman wishes she could devour you alive!
If it weren’t for you, this home-wrecker, how could I have come to this?
Ci’er used to be so obedient. It’s all because of you that he’s become so unfilial and rebellious.”
Huo Ci lowered his head and glanced at the saliva-dampened front of his robe.
It looked dull and gray, a stain that seemed to sear directly onto his heart.
Deceived again.
He wondered how many times A’Yan had been tricked like this in the past.
Someone as soft-hearted and kind as her must have suffered greatly.
His mother… she was truly beyond saving.
He turned and walked out, dazed.
Wang Qi chased after him, calling out several times, but received no response.
Wang Qi: Oh no, has the General’s Lady been frightened out of her wits?
Unsettled, he followed Huo Ci all the way to the Huo family ancestral hall.
Huo Ci pushed the door open and knelt down stiffly.
Thud!
His knees hit the blue brick floor hard, but he didn’t even flinch.
He pressed his forehead against the cold floor, tears welling up.
Father, how should your son treat Mother?
The things she has done, each and every one is a capital offense.
But just because she is my mother, I can’t bring myself to be ruthless. I shouldn’t be ruthless.
What… what should I do?
“Move not unless it is advantageous. Use not your troops unless there is something to be gained. Fight not unless the position is critical.”
“Brother Yun, isn’t this just what Grandfather always said? ‘Don’t release the hawk until you see the hare’?”
Yun Chunfeng looked at Jiang Xingyan’s sparkling eyes and couldn’t help but smile.
“Indeed.”
Jiang Xingyan felt military strategy was quite useful; she could apply it to business too.
“Hiss!“
Suddenly, a sharp, throbbing pain shot through her chest. She instinctively pressed a hand against it.
“Young Miss!”
Yun Chunfeng abruptly stood up, his fingers already resting on her wrist to take her pulse.
He frowned, carefully feeling for the pulse. After a long moment, he relaxed.
“Young Miss, don’t be alarmed. This is a resonance between the body and the soul.
Lie back slowly. It will pass in a short while.”
Jiang Xingyan listened to Brother Yun and reclined on the couch. It took about the time for a stick of incense to burn before she felt better.
She rubbed her chest where the pain had faded and asked offhandedly, “I wonder what he saw at the estate to get so worked up.”
Yun Chunfeng’s tone instantly became subdued. “Since Young Miss is worried, perhaps you should return to the estate to check on him.”
“Pfft.“
Jiang Xingyan couldn’t help it; she burst out laughing.
Yun Chunfeng’s ears turned red from her laughter.
“It seems this Brother Yun is lacking, to have provoked the Young Miss’s laughter.”
Jiang Xingyan had much she wanted to say, but it all stuck in her throat due to Huo Ci’s body. After thinking for a while, she just lowered her voice and said, “Wait for me in the dream.”
“General! Someone is here to see you!”
Xin Zhui clamored as he ran in.
Even though Yun Chunfeng turned away quickly, Xin Zhui still caught sight of his cheeks, red as spring peaches.
Xin Zhui realized belatedly: Could it be the State Preceptor has feelings for A’Xing?!
Boom!
His mind exploded.
How could he!
He had always thought Yun Chunfeng’s relationship with Jiang Xingyan was that of a loyal servant and his mistress. He never imagined Yun Chunfeng would actually—
Jiang Xingyan looked strangely at Xin Zhui, whose gaze had suddenly turned unfriendly toward Yun Chunfeng. Irritated, she kicked him. “What are you spacing out for? Who exactly wants to see me?”
Xin Zhui gritted his teeth, temporarily suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and answered in a sullen voice, “It’s someone from His Highness, the First Prince.”
Jiang Xingyan had no time to wonder why Xin Zhui’s mood had taken a sudden dive. She was puzzled as to why Xiao Mingxu would send someone to find her.
Was it about Li Yishu?
“Let him in.”
Xin Zhui called out, and a neatly dressed attendant walked into the tent. Before even looking up at Huo Ci, he knelt with a thud, holding a letter above his head with both hands.
“General Huo, His Highness the First Prince invites you to meet for a talk on the Feihua Pleasure Boat at the midpoint of the You hour.”
(Jiang Xingyan furrowed her brow. “Oh? Do you know what it’s about?”
The attendant respectfully prostrated himself. “This servant does not know.”
While speaking, Jiang Xingyan opened the letter. It read: Mingxu has important matters to discuss with the Great General. I sincerely hope General Huo will not decline.
It was signed with Xiao Mingxu’s personal seal, suggesting a private matter.
Jiang Xingyan originally intended to refuse, but catching Yun Chunfeng’s look, she pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Since His Highness has extended such a gracious invitation, I, Huo, shall certainly attend.”
The attendant offered a few words of flattery before leaving to deliver the reply.
“Brother Yun, what is this?”
Yun Chunfeng lightly fanned himself with his feather fan, a faint smile curling his lips. “A trap.”
Jiang Xingyan: …
“Then why are you telling me to go?”
Yun Chunfeng’s smile became even more inscrutable. He gestured with his feather fan, signaling Jiang Xingyan to lean closer.
“Young Miss need only do this and that, just so.”
Xin Zhui, standing to the side, scratched his head and ears anxiously.
Is there something I can’t hear?!
Aren’t you two standing a bit too close!
Even though the General isn’t here, there’s still me, isn’t there?
Xin Zhui grumbled internally.
After listening to Yun Chunfeng’s analysis, Jiang Xingyan’s eyes lit up.
“Shall we go then, Brother Yun?”
Yun Chunfeng used his feather fan to cover the corner of his mouth and gave a slight shake of his head.
“For this invitation, the First Prince’s advisors will surely be present to assist. My going would be disadvantageous. I shall simply await Young Miss’s good news here in the military camp.”
Jiang Xingyan thought for a moment, then nodded with confidence. “Alright, Brother Yun, just wait for my good news!”
Yun Chunfeng lowered his eyes with a faint smile.
“Come on, Xin Zhui. This General will take you to eat at this ‘trap’.”
Xin Zhui: ?
Although I haven’t read many books, I have a feeling this isn’t a good place to go.
Watching Jiang Xingyan and Xin Zhui’s figures disappear past the tent entrance, Yun Chunfeng could no longer hold on. He spat out a mouthful of black blood.
“Master Immortal!”
The young acolyte Nianxing rushed in from outside and quickly fed a pill into Yun Chunfeng’s mouth.
“Master Immortal, you must no longer perform Daoist arts in front of others from now on. Your previous cultivation is almost depleted.”
Yun Chunfeng gave a bitter laugh. “Bring me my Augmentation Pill.”
“Master Immortal, you—”
“Hush, say no more.
This is a critical juncture. If I lose all my Daoist arts, how can I protect her?”
Nianxing, crestfallen, took a gourd from his robe, poured out a golden, gleaming pill, and helped Yun Chunfeng take it with water from an untouched source.
Almost immediately after the pill went down, Yun Chunfeng’s brow furrowed tightly. He groaned, breaking into a cold sweat all over, seemingly enduring immense pain.
All acts of defying heaven and altering fate come at a multiplied cost.
But if it was for the Young Miss, he would gladly accept it.
“If Brother Yun became an ordinary mortal, would the Young Miss still care for him?”