Jiang Xingyan rushed back to the military camp in a frantic hurry. She searched all around but couldn’t find Xiao Ya.
Even Qiu Yan was nowhere to be seen.
The shop was short-handed today, so Chunxue had been pulled away by Dongyang to help.
No one else was left in the tent.
“Don’t worry, Miss. Maybe Qiu Yan took Xiao Ya out to play?”
Jiang Xingyan said firmly, “Impossible. Qiu Yan wouldn’t take Xiao Ya out without telling me.”
Huo Ci also panicked. “I’ll go ask around.”
He asked several sentry soldiers on guard, but they all said they hadn’t seen Miss Qiu Yan leave, let alone holding Xiao Ya.
Buzz!
Jiang Xingyan instantly felt all the blood in her body rush to her head.
Yun Chunfeng immediately began a divination.
He had just put the copper coins into the tortoise shell and hadn’t shaken it twice before Jiang Xingyan grabbed his wrist.
Just as she was about to speak to stop him, a clear voice from the top of the tent pleaded desperately:
“Ow, ow, ow! It hurts! Senior Brother, let me go! I won’t dare do it again! We can’t solve problems with force! It’ll be a bad influence on Xiao Ya!”
The tent flap was lifted, and a tall figure entered, dragging in a girl in red by the wrist with one hand while holding a little one in the other arm.
It was none other than He Han and Yu Jiaojiao!
Behind them followed a crestfallen Qiu Yan.
Jiang Xingyan was stunned for a moment, her heart soaring and then plummeting, causing a wave of dizziness.
“Xiao Ya!”
Xiao Ya was plumply sprawled over He Han’s shoulder, burying her head low, looking utterly pitiful as if she’d done something wrong.
Qiu Yan stepped forward and knelt on the ground to admit her fault. “Miss, it’s all my fault for not stopping them. I made you worry.”
Jiang Xingyan had no time to deal with anything else now. Her first priority was to take Xiao Ya.
The little girl wore an awkward, timid expression and whispered, “Mama.”
Jiang Xingyan held her tightly, a lump in her throat. She couldn’t lose Xiao Ya again.
Seeing Jiang Xingyan cry, Xiao Ya panicked. “Mama, Xiao Ya was wrong. Xiao Ya should have told Mama before going to play with Auntie.” Her tiny hands clung tightly to Jiang Xingyan’s neck, full of regret.
He Han was inwardly shocked: The rumored iron-blooded, ruthless ‘King of Hell’ Huo actually has such a soft side? It seems Xiao Ya is his Achilles’ heel.
Thinking how his reckless junior sister, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, had actually snatched the general’s beloved daughter, He Han felt a surge of fear at the thought of returning to their sect. He hurriedly clasped his hands in salute and asked for punishment. “It was my junior sister’s recklessness. Please punish us, General.”
This was Jiang Xingyan’s first time seeing He Han’s true appearance. He was half a head taller than Xiao Mi, with a slender, fair complexion and long, flowing hair. There wasn’t a trace of the rough soldier left; he looked every bit the dashing scholar.
Yu Jiaojiao also knelt on one knee, looking ashamed and dejected. “Please punish me, General.”
Jiang Xingyan composed herself and gently patted Xiao Ya’s little bottom as punishment. “Get up. Don’t let it happen again.”
Yu Jiaojiao stiffened her neck stubbornly. “No. The state has its laws, the army its rules. How can this be treated lightly?”
Jiang Xingyan’s heart stirred, and her eyes darkened a few shades. “Since you’re so eager to earn merits, this General specially orders you and Captain He to infiltrate the envoy from Great Xia tomorrow to gather intelligence. Stay close to Shangguan Luoyue. Report to this General immediately if she makes any suspicious moves. This is your first mission after joining the camp. Complete it successfully, and it will atone for your offense. If you fail, you will be punished for both the new failure and the old mistake!”
Yu Jiaojiao was overjoyed. “Yes, sir!”
He Han looked at her with helpless affection. Before he could finish his bow to Jiang Xingyan, his junior sister yanked him away.
Having gotten rid of that livewire, Jiang Xingyan let out a heavy sigh and looked at Xiao Ya with exasperation.
Xiao Ya hugged Jiang Xingyan’s face, nuzzling against it affectionately. “Mama, don’t be angry.”
Jiang Xingyan gave her another light pat. “It’s Mama who has been too busy. I’ve neglected Xiao Ya these past few days. I haven’t had time to take you out for some fresh air. Xiao Ya must feel very cooped up staying in the military camp every day, right?”
Hearing her mother say this, all the little grievances that had been scattered in Xiao Ya’s heart came bubbling up. “Mama… wu wu wu…”
She was young, but she had her own feelings too. Tell me, what child doesn’t want to cling to their mother every day? It’s just that Mama had so much to do every day, and she wanted to be a good, sensible child. Little did she know, Mama was aware of all her hidden sorrows.
Huo Ci watched from the side, his nose stinging with regret. If only I had cherished them properly, A-Yan wouldn’t have to work so hard and could spend every day playing with Xiao Ya. I could also have found time to take them to the outskirts to fly kites or go for spring outings. That kind of scene was something he had refused to imagine in his past life, and could only yearn for in this one.
“Starting today, no matter where Mama goes, she’ll take Xiao Ya with her, okay?”
Xiao Ya nodded repeatedly, little stars shining in her round eyes. “Mama, Xiao Ya will be good. I won’t disturb you.”
Jiang Xingyan picked up Xiao Ya lovingly and rubbed noses with her increasingly plump cheek. “Come on, let’s go stay at the General’s Manor tonight.”
“General!”
Xin Zhui came bouncing in, holding a piece of paper. Seeing only familiar faces in the tent, he blurted out without thinking: “A-Xing, take a look. This is the list of the, ahem, detained martial artists we intercepted today. Some lacked skill, others had impure motives. We interrogated the shifty-eyed ones and sent them all to the magistrate’s office. Guess what happened, A-Xing—”
He took a dramatic pause, making Jiang Xingyan urge impatiently, “What on earth happened?”
“Hey, just as A-Xing guessed, there were some with criminal records daring to try their luck. We didn’t even need to use torture. Just taking them down to the dungeons was enough to scare them into confessing everything. Several were common burglars who picked locks, a few were cat burglars scaling walls. Even worse, there was a ‘flower thief’ mixed in.”
Jiang Xingyan instantly erupted with intense killing intent. Her tent housed female attendants; it was hard not to feel murderous.
Xin Zhui shuddered from the chill. “A-Xing, don’t be angry. I already arranged for them to receive ‘proper hospitality’. I’ll make sure to chop up the tools of his trade and stuff them right down his throat!”
“Xin Zhui!” Huo Ci and Yun Chunfeng roared in unison. You openly call her ‘A-Xing’? And just listen to the kind of crude language you’re using!
Jiang Xingyan didn’t react at first, looking strangely at the two men who reacted so vehemently, wondering what was wrong. Then, turning back, she suddenly understood.
Her face flushed crimson with a mix of embarrassment and anger. “How crude!” she chided Xin Zhui through gritted teeth, picked up Xiao Ya, and left.
Qiu Yan hurried after her, the tips of her ears bright red.
Realizing his mistake, Xin Zhui wished he could slap himself hard twice. “A-Xing, I… I didn’t mean to…”
The moment Yun Chunfeng heard that form of address, he shot Huo Ci a mocking look. Look, even your sworn brother is coming to compete for the young lady’s favor.
Huo Ci forced himself to appear calm, though inwardly he was no less astonished than anyone. He had still clung to a sliver of hope that he might have misheard last night. He never expected Xin Zhui’s feelings to be confirmed today.
Yun Chunfeng lightly fanned himself with his feathered fan, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. He gave Xin Zhui a deep look, glanced back at Huo Ci, snorted coldly, and followed Jiang Xingyan out.
Xin Zhui scratched his head. “What’s their problem?”
“What did you call A-Yan?”
“A-Xing. What’s the—” Xin Zhui suddenly realized his slip and stopped.
How did I get so used to calling her that, and right in front of the General? Then another thought struck him: Wait, it’s just a form of address. Can’t I use it? Whether emotionally or legally, hasn’t A-Xing divorced the General? Of course I can call her that!
Seeing Xin Zhui straighten his chest, looking entirely justified, Huo Ci felt a tight, suffocating frustration in his heart!
“Xin Zhui, watch your step. A-Yan will never take a liking to you.”
That one sentence successfully ignited Xin Zhui’s stubbornness. “No matter who A-Xing likes, it certainly won’t be the General!” he retorted, then turned and left.
Huo Ci was both shocked and furious. The old Xin Zhui had respected him immensely, if not obeying his every command, then at least serving him diligently. How dare he now talk back so brazenly? Who gave him the courage?!
What Huo Ci didn’t know was that Xin Zhui had once worshipped him as a perfect man, but upon suddenly learning how his blind, foolish filial piety had caused the deaths of A-Yan, Xiao Ya, and the four maids Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong, he completely turned against him, no longer revering him as a deity. Because he had found a new god: A-Xing.
——-
Huo Ci sat listlessly in the carriage. Jiang Xingyan was busy playing with Xiao Ya; how could she have time for him? Yun Chunfeng was still savoring the moment when the young lady had stopped him from performing the divination. So domineering. I like it!
The carriage had just stopped in front of the General’s Manor gate when a clear, timid voice rang out: “Has my cousin returned? His Highness the First Prince has specially allowed your cousin to visit her maternal home tonight. I’ve been waiting here for you, cousin.”
Jiang Xingyan narrowed her eyes. I’ve never heard of a concubine being allowed to visit her maternal home. Something is definitely up here.
She didn’t even lift the carriage curtain, speaking coldly: “You were married to His Highness the First Prince from an inn. Even if you are visiting your maternal home, it wouldn’t be the General’s Manor. Please return to the palace quickly, cousin, and don’t miss the proper time.”
Li Yishu hadn’t expected her cousin to be so heartless, refusing to even see her face. The First Prince had asked her to plead for a favor; she hadn’t even gotten a chance to speak. How was she supposed to report back?
Thump!
Remembering the First Princess Consort’s cruel, tormenting methods, Li Yishu shivered involuntarily and knelt straight down in front of Jiang Xingyan’s carriage.
“To tell the truth, Yishu has a request. I beg you, cousin, to be merciful and grant it! Cousin, just this once. For the sake of all the years Yishu served our aunt, please, please help your cousin!”
Jiang Xingyan laughed coldly. “Li Yishu, just who do you think you are, daring to block this General’s carriage and force this General’s hand? Wang Qi, drive over her!”