Jiang Xingyan’s heart shattered at Little Ya’s cries.
It must have been her blood-stained appearance that frightened the child, stirring up painful memories buried deep in her subconscious.
It had only been two days since her life hung by a thread.
For such a young child to have mostly returned to normal was no small feat.
How could she withstand such a shock?
“Be good, Little Ya. Mother is alright.”
Jiang Xingyan’s throat tightened with emotion, and her eyes reddened despite herself.
Little Ya clung tightly to her neck, sobbing uncontrollably, as if trapped in some terrible memory.
“Little Ya doesn’t want to leave Mother!”
“Mother! Mother!”
Each heart-wrenching cry felt like a knife twisting in Jiang Xingyan’s heart, and tears streamed down her face.
“Mother is here. Mother will stay with Little Ya, always with Little Ya. Don’t cry…”
Though she urged the child not to cry, her own voice choked with emotion.
Huo Ci, frantic and heartbroken, dropped to one knee before Yun Chunfeng.
“Please—”
Before he could finish, Yun Chunfeng rushed toward Little Ya with hurried steps.
He formed a seal with his left hand, murmuring incantations under his breath, and gently touched the top of the little girl’s head.
Gradually, Little Ya’s panicked emotions were soothed.
Beads of sweat dotted Yun Chunfeng’s forehead, his expression pained, yet he did not stop.
Only when Little Ya’s cries subsided into faint whimpers did he produce a small pill from his right hand.
“This is a Calming Pill. Quickly, give it to Little Ya.”
Jiang Xingyan took it, her hand trembling, and brought it to Little Ya’s lips.
The child opened her mouth slightly and swallowed the pill.
Yun Chunfeng sped up his chanting, his left hand maintaining the seal without the slightest relaxation.
After what felt like an eternity, Little Ya finally fell into a deep sleep.
Her nose was red, and tiny teardrops clung to her tightly closed eyelashes—a heartbreaking sight.
With Little Ya now calm, Jiang Xingyan felt as if all her strength had drained away. She nearly collapsed to the ground but barely managed to stay upright.
Xin Zhui, who had just finished receiving his military punishment, witnessed the scene and resolutely walked back to the punishment room. With a wave of his hand, he declared, “Twenty more strikes!”
Only now did he truly realize his own recklessness and absurdity.
Little Ya was so vulnerable, yet he had failed to consider her feelings.
By making such a spectacle of targeting the general whom Little Ya relied on, it was no wonder the child had been traumatized.
He deserved the punishment!
Yun Chunfeng’s face was pale, and he staggered unsteadily.
Jiang Xingyan instinctively moved to support him, but he awkwardly avoided her touch.
With a guarded expression, Yun Chunfeng questioned her sternly, “General Huo, I have always respected you as a noble man, which is why I stepped in to help.
But what have you done to your wife and Little Ya?
Why is Little Ya so terrified of you?”
Huo Ci, his heart clenched with anxiety, wept silently: Brother, must you really do this now?
Won’t you rest until you’ve ruined me?
“Little Ya was suffering from a soul-separation disorder brought on by extreme fear.
If I hadn’t had enough strength left to perform the Soul-Guiding Incantation, her soul would have scattered completely!”
Buzz—
Jiang Xingyan’s head spun.
Soul scattered…
A sharp, ringing noise exploded in her ears, as if dozens of iron spikes were piercing her skull simultaneously.
The intense pain forced her to crouch down.
In her confusion, she felt as if she had become Little Ya.
She saw the disappointment in Huo Ci’s eyes as he looked at her: “You’ve really been corrupted by your mother!”
Then, she saw her mother-in-law’s chilling, venomous glare: “The wretched spawn of a vile woman—I’ve had enough. Make her disappear!”
Finally, she saw Jinzhu’s grotesque, aged face, forcing her head underwater again and again.
A suffocating sense of agony overwhelmed her.
Gasping for air, Jiang Xingyan opened her eyes and saw Yun Chunfeng arguing with Huo Ci, who was inhabiting her body.
“Enough!”
She forced herself to stand and bowed deeply to Yun Chunfeng.
“State Preceptor, one day, I will reveal the whole truth, but now is not the time.
I beg you to trust me.”
Her words were vague and seemingly out of context, but Yun Chunfeng agreed without hesitation.
“Very well. I trust you.”
Huo Ci was on the verge of tearing down the last barrier of secrecy, but he didn’t dare draw attention to himself now.
Yun Chunfeng was too calculating, always seizing every opportunity—even using Little Ya’s sudden episode to take a dig at him.
No doubt, A-Yan must already despise him utterly.
If he spoke up now, it would only add fuel to the fire and make things worse.
“Someone, escort my wife back to the estate.”
Jiang Xingyan didn’t even want to look at Huo Ci again. She carried Little Ya and walked toward the tent.
Only she knew what foolish hopes she had still clung to deep in her heart.
Now, those ridiculous thoughts were gone.
In their place was cold rationality and pure hatred.
Huo Ci stood frozen, unsure whether to obediently return or chase after her and apologize on his knees.
Suddenly, Yun Chunfeng turned his head and flashed him a provocative smile.
The breeze stirred the soft gauze covering his eyes, and his vacant pupils shimmered with a bizarre, frenzied light.
Huo Ci clenched his fists.
He knew he was in the wrong, but Yun Chunfeng was no saint either.
He couldn’t let A-Yan be deceived by someone like this.
Even if the worst outcome was divorce, A-Yan must never end up with Yun Chunfeng!
As Huo Ci stepped forward, ready to catch up to Jiang Xingyan and explain everything, the sound of carriage wheels clattering to a halt came from the entrance.
“Young General, the Old Madame requests your presence at the estate for a meal. Your cousin has arrived.”