“…Ever since that day, they have been arguing and fighting daily.
In my humble opinion, as these matters weren’t of critical importance, I didn’t dare disturb the General’s Lady. I was waiting for the General to return so he could decide.
They started fighting again today. Would the General like to return to the residence to see for himself?”
Wang Qi was a thoughtful man.
He had long noticed the subtle and peculiar relationship between the General and his Lady. With the Old Dowager Huo and the Young Miss Li targeting the Lady so vehemently, he had been extra cautious, not daring to bother her with the internal affairs of the General’s estate.
Jiang Xingyan wasn’t surprised by Li Yishu’s willingness to degrade herself.
Everyone wants a good life; that’s normal.
If she had a better disposition, even if she couldn’t marry Huo Ci, he certainly wouldn’t have let her suffer any grievances.
But she feigned weakness and sought sympathy only to tyrannize others and trample everyone underfoot.
It was truly despicable.
As for Xiao Mingxu, a royal prince of the first rank, to be such a greedy and lustful man was even worse than the scheming Xiao Zhonghua.
Jiang Xingyan curled her lip.
What did the affairs of the Huo and Li families have to do with her?
Wang Qi, however, was a pleasant surprise: “Wang Qi, you don’t just bring luck to your wife; you seem to bring luck to your master’s household too.
If it weren’t for you, wouldn’t my General’s estate have been turned upside down long ago?”
Wang Qi lowered his eyes respectfully. “You flatter me. It’s all thanks to the General’s excellent guidance.”
Jiang Xingyan had no desire to return to the estate and get entangled with those two.
Wouldn’t it be better to spend that time in the military camp reading a few more pages of military strategy?
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone was already fidgeting anxiously, sitting on pins and needles.
Jiang Xingyan: …
When on earth will we be able to switch back these bodies!
So frustrating.
Huo Ci truly couldn’t sit still anymore. No matter what, that was his mother.
What child in this world could remain unmoved upon hearing their own mother was being beaten?
“Alright. Hand all matters of the estate over to the Lady to handle.
This General has been extremely busy lately and cannot spare the time.”
Jiang Xingyan didn’t want to see Huo Ci using her body to put on such an act for even a second.
Wang Qi, understanding, agreed and remained by Huo Ci’s side.
Huo Ci was both ashamed and mortified.
He hung his head low, wanting to bow to Jiang Xingyan, but afraid she would accuse him of mistreating her body. After hesitating for a long time, he gritted his teeth and left.
Jiang Xingyan watched his retreating back, feeling gloomy, when a sudden mischievous idea struck her. She playfully pinched her recently bandaged buttock.
Hiss!
Huo Ci nearly jumped from the pain.
He turned back, his eyes wide, brimming with tears, and full of shock.
Jiang Xingyan looked innocently askance, pretending to whistle a few casual notes.
Huo Ci was so angry he wanted to press her down into the armchair and kiss her fiercely.
Huo Ci: ?
Wait, why would such an improper thought cross my mind!
His face flushed bright red, and he stumbled away in a fluster.
Jiang Xingyan secretly stifled a laugh.
Turning back, she saw Yun Chunfeng’s expression—a mix of helplessness and indulgence—and quickly schooled her features, like a child caught misbehaving.
“Brother Yun, could you explain this military text to me?”
The pitiful look in her eyes reminded Yun Chunfeng of the little sticky bun from years past who would cling to his leg begging for candied hawthorn.
If only he could ignore Huo Ci’s irritating face!
“Of course, Young Miss.”
Huo Ci rushed back to the General’s estate in a frenzy, the blush on his cheeks not yet faded, and hurried straight to the rear courtyard.
Wang Qi was utterly baffled.
The General’s Lady was truly foolish, really.
Old Dowager Huo wasn’t even your birth mother. She berated you so harshly, yet you still want to intervene? For what reason?
Look, even General Huo himself has no time to deal with it, yet you love to take on such burdens.
Hey, wait—she’s running quite fast too.
“My Lady, please—please wait for this servant—”
Wang Qi ran until he was out of breath, barely managing to keep up behind Huo Ci.
The situation in the side courtyard was tense.
Yuzhu was not only clever but also fierce. Gripping a laundry paddle, she was actually holding her own against three stout maids.
Baozhu, though missing a hand, used her head and feet together, keeping even Yinzhu at a disadvantage.
Old Dowager Huo was even more experienced and vicious, her hands clawing straight for Li Yishu’s face.
If not for two young maids desperately blocking her, Li Yishu might have been disfigured already.
The worry that had filled Huo Ci’s heart moments before now turned into shock.
When had he ever seen his mother in such a frenzied state, like a madwoman from the marketplace?
The two women in the midst of the fight caught sight of “Jiang Xingyan” arriving and standing calmly outside the courtyard watching the commotion.
Bone-deep hatred flashed in their eyes.
It was all this merchant’s daughter’s fault!
Old Dowager Huo: If it weren’t for her, how could Ci’er treat me, his own mother, this way!
Li Yishu: If she had just died earlier, Cousin would have married me. How could I have fallen to such a lowly state!
The two women exchanged a glance.
They were truly of one mind, reaching an instant understanding.
“Aiyo!”
The two young maids were bewildered.
They hadn’t even used their full strength, so how did this Old Dowager Huo just collapse?
Old Dowager Huo fell heavily to the ground, moaning repeatedly. “My old bones!
I’m afraid they’ll give out here today.
Ci’er, Ci’er, you returned victorious to the capital, why haven’t you come to see your mother one last time?”
Li Yishu sneered. “You old hag, stop pretending! Taohong, Liulü, hit her!
Let’s see if she gets up then!”
Just as the two young maids were about to pounce,
Huo Ci’s heart clenched. Ignoring Wang Qi’s attempts to stop him, he rushed into the courtyard and forcefully pushed them away.
“Mother!”
As if rallying with a final burst of energy, Old Dowager Huo stretched out a withered hand toward “Jiang Xingyan.” “Xiao Yan, my good child.
I never thought it would be you by my side when I die.
I was so terribly wrong before.
This is all retribution!”
Old Dowager Huo lay limp on the ground, her face deathly pale, her eyes rolling back.
Baozhu and Yuzhu stopped their fighting and ran over.
“Old Dowager!”
“Abba abba abba!”
They continuously patted Old Dowager Huo’s chest to help her breathe, crying out through their tears.
“Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan—”
Old Dowager Huo murmured “Jiang Xingyan’s” name in a daze.
Suddenly, Baozhu and Yuzhu turned and kowtowed frantically toward Jiang Xingyan.
“Young Madam, all the past wrongs were our fault! Now the Old Dowager’s life hangs by a thread. We beg you, for the Young General’s sake, please come see her!”
Yuzhu wiped her tears, pointed at Old Dowager Huo lying on the ground, then at herself, and made a slashing motion across her own throat.
She meant she was willing to die in exchange for Jiang Xingyan coming to see Old Dowager Huo.
If Huo Ci had initially watched their actions with suspicion and scrutiny, given the precedent from last time,
now, panic completely overwhelmed his mind.
He wasn’t at an age where he had to consider his mother’s funeral arrangements.
Today’s events had caught him entirely unprepared.
Trembling, he threw himself forward. “Mother, Mother, your son—”
He had meant to say ‘your unfilial son,’ but changed it at the last moment: “Your daughter-in-law is here.”
“Wang Qi, go to the military camp immediately and ask the General to return!
Send someone to fetch the imperial physician, quickly!”
Wang Qi frowned.
They had been fighting for so many days without incident. How could it come to a matter of life and death just as the General’s Lady arrived?
He agreed, pretending to panic as he ran off, only to hide behind a nearby rockery.
Li Yishu’s voice carried a tone of alarm. “Wang Qi, don’t disturb Cousin! That old hag is just pretending!
Wang Qi, come back here!”
Hearing Li Yishu’s shout, Old Dowager Huo seemed to regain a bit of strength. Her lips moved weakly as if she wanted to say something.
Baozhu, tears streaming down her aged face, kowtowed to Huo Ci again. “Young Madam, the Old Dowager might not last until the General returns. She’s trying to give you her final instructions. Please, listen!”
Huo Ci was beyond rational thought now.
He remembered his childhood, his mother holding him, humming lullabies.
Her eyes full of maternal love.
“Mother! Mother!”
Overcome with grief, he leaned forward, wanting to hear his mother’s last words.
Would they be a confession of remorse to A’Yan?
Or an expression of reluctance to part with him?
No matter what, she was his mother.
The one who carried him for ten months and gave birth to him.
He couldn’t just abandon her.
Tears streaming down his face, Huo Ci leaned closer. Caught off guard, someone pinned him down firmly from behind.
Before his emotions could even catch up, the mother before him had already opened eyes that were tightly shut just moments ago.
He saw clearly—they were filled with bottomless resentment and hatred.
“You heaven-cursed seductress! For bewitching my Ci’er!”
As she spoke, sharp fingernails clawed straight for Huo Ci’s face.