Jiang Xingyan let out an amused laugh.
In this world, anyone might take their own life.
Except for her mother-in-law.
That woman had the phrase ‘cling to life and fear death’ carved into her very bones.
“Alright.
Does she want a white silk sash or poisoned wine?
Perhaps a swift knife would be more merciful?”
As she spoke, she turned to observe Huo Ci’s reaction.
He stood there dazed, lost in thought, seemingly having heard nothing.
Jiang Xingyan raised an eyebrow.
Had he truly changed his nature?
Wang Qi was taken aback.
The Old Mistress Huo hadn’t provided such specifics.
“Young Mistress might as well go and see for yourself.”
The voice came from behind her. Jiang Xingyan turned to see Yun Chunfeng, holding Xiao Ya in one arm and gently fanning himself with a feather fan in the other. He looked every bit the domesticated husband tending to the hearth.
Her face flushed as she quickly reined in her wandering thoughts.
“Since Brother Yun suggests it, I shall go and take a look.”
Huo Ci, who had been silently observing the exchange from a distance, felt as if his heart were being sliced by a knife.
So, she just dotes on him like that, does she?
Yun Chunfeng, carrying Xiao Ya, accompanied Jiang Xingyan all the way to the moon gate of the inner courtyard.
“Young Mistress, go quickly and return soon. Brother Yun and Xiao Ya will wait right here for you.”
“Alright.”
Concerned that it might be inconvenient for Yun Chunfeng to hold Xiao Ya alone, Jiang Xingyan instructed Wang Qi to stay and wait. She then proceeded alone towards the side courtyard.
Yun Chunfeng watched Jiang Xingyan’s figure disappear behind the rockery in the rear garden before turning to Wang Qi. “What is it?”
Earlier, when Wang Qi came to report, his eyes kept darting towards Yun Chunfeng’s location, his expression heavy with worry. Yun Chunfeng had guessed that Wang Qi had something to say that wasn’t suitable to discuss with “Huo Ci.” This was partly why he had suggested Jiang Xingyan go to the side courtyard.
“When we signed our service contracts for the General’s Manor, the General said all matters were to be decided by the State Preceptor. Does that still hold true?”
Yun Chunfeng lightly tapped the feather fan against Xiao Ya. A faint, cool breeze wafted over, tickling the little girl’s cheeks and sending a wave of drowsiness over her.
Uncle is going to discuss grown-up matters now. Xiao Ya will take a little nap first.
She adjusted her position, pressing her right ear against Yun Chunfeng’s chest. Her small body curled up, perfectly fitting into the curve of his arm. The strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat reached her ear, and as a second gentle breeze arrived, she was already deep asleep.
Only then did Yun Chunfeng speak. “It does.”
Before Wang Qi could even sigh in relief, he dropped to his knees. “Reporting to the State Preceptor, the covert operatives have just uncovered some long-buried secrets of the General’s Manor—”
“Oh? Tell me.”
——-
“Please allow my niece and me to have a private reunion, Steward Wang.”
Li Yishu spoke, producing a silver ingot from her sleeve.
Wang Qi took a step back, bowing his head with a smile. “Of course, there’s no need for such courtesy, Miss Cousin.”
Li Yishu nodded and entered the woodshed in the side courtyard.
Old Mistress Huo was so hungry she felt her chest sticking to her back. Upon seeing a woman enter, she thought it was Jiang Xingyan and immediately began cursing. “You plague-ridden little harlot!
I am Huo Ci’s mother!
How dare you mistreat me like this?
Release me at once! I demand to see Ci’er!”
Li Yishu impatiently scolded, “Enough! Aren’t you ashamed enough already?”
Old Mistress Huo’s eyes widened abruptly as she finally recognized Li Yishu.
The young woman was dressed in fine silks and satins, adorned with exquisite jewelry and hairpieces of the highest quality. Only then did Old Mistress Huo believe the rumors she had heard these past days.
“You really married the Eldest Prince as a concubine?!”
Li Yishu smiled triumphantly. “Since Aunt knows, why not show the proper courtesy?”
Old Mistress Huo let out a cold snort as if hearing a joke. “I am a legitimate wife! Why should I bow to a lowly concubine like you?”
Li Yishu looked down at Old Mistress Huo and waved her hand. “Taohong, Liulü, teach her some manners.”
“Yes.”
Taohong and Liulü inwardly grumbled: We were tormented by Rong Mama all day, and now we have to do the same to someone else?
Baozhu and Yuzhu immediately stepped in front of their mistress. “How dare you!
The Old Mistress is, firstly, your aunt, and secondly, the legitimate wife of the old General! How can she suffer such humiliation!”
“Ha! Aunt? Legitimate wife?
Is she worthy?” Li Yishu’s laughter bordered on madness.
All the suffering I endured today must be accounted for on this old hag’s head!
It was all her fault for not eliminating that lowly merchant girl earlier, causing Cousin to reject them. It was bad enough this old hag had to eat coarse food and vegetables alone, but she had to drag Li Yishu down with her. Now, Li Yishu had to endure until His Highness the Eldest Prince ascended the throne before her bitterness could turn sweet. Heaven knew how difficult life in the palace was; just this single day had left her utterly exhausted. Whether she could hold on until that day was uncertain. But she absolutely could not lose face in front of others.
“I am now His Highness the Eldest Prince’s honored concubine!
In the future, when His Highness ascends the throne, I will be a consort in the palace! Shouldn’t you bow to me?!
Yinzhu! Where are you!”
Yinzhu entered in response, bringing three sturdy maidservants who firmly restrained Baozhu and Yuzhu.
Taohong and Liulü stepped forward, each taking one of Old Mistress Huo’s arms, and dragged her off the bed. They had long prepared two silver needles threaded with silk. Taking advantage of the moment they laid hands on her, they viciously stabbed the needles into Old Mistress Huo’s ribs.
Caught off guard, Old Mistress Huo immediately screamed in agony.
Taohong had already stuffed a walnut from her sleeve into the old woman’s mouth to muffle the sound. The physical agony and the choking sensation in her throat instantly made Old Mistress Huo experience the torment of being unable to live or die as she wished.
Li Yishu watched with immense satisfaction and pleasure.
She hadn’t realized that watching someone being tortured could be such a joyful thing. She couldn’t help but laugh aloud. The feeling of release and madness was a kind of indulgence she had never experienced before.
After being solidly stabbed four or five times, Old Mistress Huo was drenched in cold sweat, trembling like a leaf in a sieve.
Li Yishu stepped forward, pinched the old woman’s chin, and lifted that mean, aged face. Her tone was chilling. “Don’t think I don’t know how you married into the Huo family, or how you gave birth to Cousin!”
The words caused Old Mistress Huo’s eyes to widen instantly. Her mouth hung open, her body shuddering, unable to utter a single word.
Li Yishu lowered her gaze, looking coldly at her as if observing a down-and-out old dog.
After a long while, Old Mistress Huo finally found her voice, hoarse and trembling, her words barely a whisper. “You… you’re bluffing me?”
Li Yishu scoffed. “Aunt, something as base as drugging someone to climb into their bed, while despicable, is not uncommon. I have no need to bluff you.”
Upon hearing this, Old Mistress Huo’s eyes instantly filled with terror and panic. Guttural whimpers escaped her throat.
How is this possible!
That was her most deeply buried secret! How could this little wretch know?! Everyone who knew the truth back then had been silenced.
“Aunt, didn’t expect the truth to survive in this world, did you?
You were an ungrateful wolf who bit the hand that fed you.
The Huo family, to preserve a bloodline for the main branch of your Li family, braved immense pressure from the late Emperor and the entire court. They were even willing to gamble the entire future of the Huo family to honor the childhood betrothal promise, marrying you into the family and allowing you to escape the fate of your clan’s execution.
Yet, for the selfish desire to secure your own position within the Huo Manor, you didn’t hesitate to drug the old General with an aphrodisiac and climb into his bed.
You brutally destroyed the marriage the old General had longed for his entire life.
You caused that lady general to be heartbroken and distracted, leading to her being caught off guard and pierced by ten thousand arrows.
The old General blamed himself and lived in anguish for the rest of his life.
Tell me, what do you think Cousin would think if he knew? What would he do?”
Li Yishu savored the collapse of Old Mistress Huo’s hypocritical facade, watching her reveal her most vicious expression as she hissed, “Li Yishu, I will kill you!”
Covering her mouth, Li Yishu let out a light laugh. “Aunt, I advise you to abandon such wild thoughts.
Both your life and Cousin’s are in my hands now.
Use every trick you have to coax Cousin over to me.
Otherwise, the moment I walk out this door, by tomorrow at the latest, all your filthy past affairs will be known throughout the city!
When that happens, how you and Cousin will face the world will no longer be for me to decide.”