Jiang Xingyan stomped back to the carriage in a huff, followed by a thoroughly chastened Huo Ci.
Her mother-in-law certainly had skillful methods, even going so far as to plant spies in the shops.
She was desperately afraid she’d take them back, wasn’t she!
Fortunately, she had discovered it in time.
If she had waited for that spy to report to Old Madame Huo, given her cunning and Yuzhu’s shrewdness, plus considering her and Huo Ci’s unusual behavior these past few days, they would surely have guessed something was up.
Even without a clear lead, it would have aroused plenty of suspicion and probing.
That would have been real trouble.
Manager Qian was filled with retrospective fear and immediately decided to shut the doors to deal with the traitor.
Not only did they apprehend the spy Jiang Xingyan caught, but they also nabbed an accomplice.
Jiang Xingyan left the disposal to him and hurried non-stop to the next shop.
It was unlikely that spies were planted in just one shop.
She rushed through over ten shops in the northern city in one go.
Although the managers had different personalities, they were all extremely loyal.
After learning about the breach at Ruyi Grocery, they all became serious and stern.
They immediately closed shop and conducted unified inspections.
By the time they emerged from Yuxiang Workshop, it was already late afternoon.
Jiang Xingyan had been busy all day and was both tired and angry. Staring at the more than fifty deeds still in her hand, she fell into deep thought.
Having too many shops was also a kind of nuisance.
Yun Chunfeng had seen the Jiang family at its peak and was naturally calm and unruffled.
Huo Ci, however, was distraught.
So many shops—not only had his dear mother not left a single one for A’yan, swallowing them all herself, but she also wanted to drive her to her death.
Was this something a human being would do?
Jiang Xingyan brushed the dust off her clothes and glanced at Huo Ci. “Alright, it’s getting late. We’ll look at the rest tomorrow. I’ll take you back first.”
“Starting today, I have to station myself at the military camp by imperial decree.”
Huo Ci grew anxious; he didn’t want to return to the manor yet. “A— Husband, your wife also wishes to see the military camp.”
Jiang Xingyan refused him with a cold look. “No. A military garrison is not some shop you can just look at whenever you please.”
These were the same words he had used to brush her off in the past.
Huo Ci remembered it clearly. Not long after he returned home, his mother suggested a family outing for some spring greenery.
Jiang Xingyan had finally found an opportunity. Holding Xiao Ya, she said she wanted to go back to the military camp with him.
Hadn’t that also been her way of trying to save herself?
But at that time, influenced by his mother’s slander, he held a grudge against Jiang Xingyan and flatly refused.
Jinzhu happened to see this.
She found an excuse and forcibly dragged Jiang Xingyan away.
He didn’t know how his mother had punished her after they returned.
Suppressing the ache in his heart, Huo Ci shamelessly clung to her arm, not letting go, his eyes full of entreaty. “Husband, please. I just want to take a look.”
The Huo Army had followed him for years and was most familiar with his every move.
If A’yan went there abruptly, she would be seen through very quickly.
Especially by Xin Zhui.
That fellow seemed rough and careless, but in reality, he was meticulous and cunning—a tough nut to crack.
If it caused a mutiny then, it would harm A’yan.
Huo Ci only wanted to tell Xin Zhui in advance the truth about his soul swapping with Jiang Xingyan, so Xin Zhui could assist from the sidelines and make A’yan’s path smoother.
Jiang Xingyan was adamant. She pried his hand off forcefully and pushed him aside.
Yun Chunfeng, who had been watching from the sidelines all along, suddenly spoke up. “General Huo, it wouldn’t hurt to let your esteemed wife accompany you. It would also let the officers and soldiers meet the heroic woman who solved the urgent problem of military funds.”
Jiang Xingyan thought, that’s true. She had spent a fortune on this. She couldn’t just let all the credit go to Huo Ci!
“Since the State Preceptor has spoken, then come along.”
Huo Ci felt even more stifled.
Why did she agree as soon as he said something?!
The smile on Yun Chunfeng’s lips widened. He spoke to Jiang Xingyan, praising Xiao Ya. “General Huo, Xiao Ya is very well-behaved. She didn’t cry or make a fuss and even took an afternoon nap in my unworthy arms.”
“It seems this unworthy one and Xiao Ya are quite kindred spirits.”
As he spoke, Yun Chunfeng reached out and pinched Xiao Ya’s little hair bun.
Xiao Ya tilted her little head and grinned at Jiang Xingyan, showing her tiny teeth.
As if to say: Mama, I’m being good.
Jiang Xingyan lovingly took Xiao Ya into her arms and nuzzled her cheek with her nose.
When she was pregnant with Xiao Ya, her mother-in-law had worn her down, leaving her hungry one meal and full the next.
Xiao Ya was born a size smaller than the average baby.
As she grew up, not having enough to eat was the norm.
Naturally, she grew slower than other children her age.
Now past two years old, she had only just learned to walk and could only say simple words.
Every time Jiang Xingyan saw Xiao Ya, she felt immensely guilty towards her.
So she often held and comforted her.
Xiao Ya would always reward her with a big smile.
They relied on each other for survival; even hardship tasted sweet.
Huo Ci felt discontented.
Why could Yun Chunfeng hold her, but he couldn’t?
He refused to believe this unreasonable situation!
“Xiao Ya, come here. Mama wants to hold you. Be a good girl.”
He reached out his hands, waiting for Xiao Ya with eager eyes.
Xiao Ya’s little mouth quivered. She twisted her little bottom around, buried her head in Jiang Xingyan’s chest, and clutched the armor tightly with her small hands. Two bean-sized teardrops fell, plop plop.
Huo Ci instantly flustered.
“Xiao Ya, don’t cry. Mama—”
“Enough!”
Jiang Xingyan frowned and interrupted him irritably.
“Do you have to make Xiao Ya cry to be happy?”
Huo Ci had bitterness he couldn’t express. “I… I just wanted to get close to Xiao Ya.”
“Not needed! Stop with the false sincerity!”
At this point, Jiang Xingyan could no longer care that Yun Chunfeng was still in the carriage.
Huo Ci was so unreasonable.
Xiao Ya had been very willing to get close to him before.
But then, who knows what that old witch [his mother] said to him. The moment he saw Xiao Ya, he said he would take her away, far from her mother, so she wouldn’t learn bad habits.
It scared Xiao Ya so much she never dared let him hold her again.
From Huo Ci’s perspective, it was again Jiang Xingyan who had turned their daughter against him.
Jiang Xingyan gritted her teeth in hatred.
Xiao Ya was still sobbing in her arms. Jiang Xingyan had no choice but to hold her and comfort her properly.
Suddenly, a piece of candy appeared before Xiao Ya’s eyes.
Yun Chunfeng’s voice was soft and warm. “If you’re sad, eating candy will make it better.”
Jiang Xingyan’s heart shook violently.
These were the words she had told Brother Yun when they were children.
Back then, she was only six, and Brother Yun was already twelve.
She had specifically asked for Brother Yun to play with her.
Brother Yun, who usually indulged her, actually sent word refusing.
She got angry and searched for him room by room.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that she found him crying in a corner of the garden rockery.
He said today was the anniversary of his parents’ death.
His parents died on the same day. He was only five years old then.
Because of his white hair, the villagers thought he was a monster and drove him out.
They said he had caused the death of his parents.
He wandered homeless, suffering greatly, eventually making his way to Suzhou in Jiangnan. There, he caught a cold and lay on the street waiting to die.
It was her grandfather who found him, cured his illness, brought him home, and gave him a bowl of rice to eat.
He said Old Master Jiang treated him very well, and he was very grateful.
But he still missed his parents so much.
Little Jiang Xingyan, though she had also lost her mother and didn’t even know who her father was, or if he was alive or dead, still took a piece of candy from her small pouch and handed it to Brother Yun.
“If you’re sad, eating candy will make it better.”
“Grandfather said so!”
She never thought Brother Yun would still remember.
Xiao Ya ate the candy and stopped crying, but she still hid her face in Jiang Xingyan’s chest, unwilling to turn around and acknowledge Huo Ci again.
Huo Ci’s face burned with shame.
Everything today was his own fault, the consequence of his own actions.
He couldn’t blame anyone else.
Xiao Ya finished the candy carefully, drank some honeyed water, and then became happy again.
She pointed at the fittings in the carriage and babbled.
As if introducing something to Jiang Xingyan.
Jiang Xingyan responded seriously, translating a few words now and then, and Xiao Ya laughed in agreement.
After laughing for a while, Xiao Ya suddenly covered her little belly and said in a milky voice, “Mama, shush shush. Xiao Ya shush shush.” [ needing to urinate ]
Jiang Xingyan hurriedly called for the carriage to stop and carried Xiao Ya out.
The moment the carriage curtain closed, the gentle, spring-like aura around Yun Chunfeng abruptly vanished, turning sharp, cold, and highly aggressive.
This feeling was all too familiar to Huo Ci.
In every confrontation with Yun Chunfeng, he always had this damned attitude.
“You knew all along?”
Even through the soft smoke gauze covering his eyes, Huo Ci could feel Yun Chunfeng’s gaze sharp as a knife.
“Heh. Not everyone is as stupid as a pig as you are, General Huo.”