Jiang Xingyan paused mid-step.
Li Yishu was here.
Heh, perfect timing. She was just about to return to the estate to organize the things she had brought to the military camp. She might as well “organize” this woman while she was at it.
If it weren’t for this dear cousin, she wouldn’t have been driven into such dire straits.
Back when Jiang Xingyan and her grandfather had just settled in the capital from Jiangnan, this cousin had sought her out.
She presented herself as harmless and graceful, constantly trying to get close to Jiang Xingyan.
One day, she would bring a box of pastries; the next, a set of jewelry.
Initially, Grandfather Jiang disliked her and advised Jiang Xingyan to keep her distance.
But Li Yishu went all out—to protect Jiang Xingyan from a group of wild cats, her entire back was shredded by their claws.
She lay in bed, burning with fever, unconscious for three days and nights.
After that, Jiang Xingyan regarded her as a life-and-death friend, a confidante.
Since she had no friends in the capital, she dragged Li Yishu along everywhere and shared all her thoughts and feelings with her.
She truly treated her like Huo Ci’s own younger sister.
Then, Jiang Xingyan married into the Huo family. The very next day, Huo Ci donned his armor and left for the battlefield. That afternoon, her mother-in-law led a team to seize all the assets her grandfather had left her.
The location of the deeds—she hadn’t even had time to tell Huo Ci, only Li Yishu.
She still remembered how she and her four maidservants (Chun, Xia, Qiu, Dong) were pinned to the ground by several matrons, watching humiliated as her mother-in-law carried away that rosewood box.
Li Yishu, following behind, flashed her a brilliant smile: “Cousin-in-law, such valuable items are hardly safe with you.
I’m doing this for your own good. I’m sure you understand, right?
Don’t blame me. If anyone’s to blame, it’s you for being so foolishly trusting. You deserve this.”
Jiang Xingyan clenched her fingers.
The feeling of being betrayed by someone she trusted most—she would return it to her tenfold.
Huo Ci, hearing that his cousin had arrived, felt a flicker of hope.
His cousin was well-mannered and reasonable. Perhaps she could help mediate between him and A-Yan.
After he left for the battlefield, his cousin had even stayed at the estate for a while.
In his previous life, after A-Yan took her own life, his always composed cousin cried her eyes out for the first time, lamenting how tragic A-Yan’s fate was.
Her grief moved everyone who heard or saw it.
She even joined him in resisting his mother’s decision to arrange a new marriage for him.
She knelt before his mother, her face full of sorrow: “Cousin-in-law has just passed. How could my cousin possibly be in the mood to remarry?
Besides, I was close to her. I simply cannot bear to see this happen.”
Surely, she and A-Yan must have been very close.
Although, in the end, under his mother’s relentless pressure, he was forced to marry his cousin—
Huo Ci suddenly realized he couldn’t remember any details from after his wedding to his cousin.
Had he been reborn before he could experience it?
“Escort my wife back to the estate first. I will return shortly.”
Huo Ci’s heart sank.
A-Yan no longer wanted to share a carriage with him.
He took a step forward, trying to grasp at something: “Husband, I—I can wait for you.
Shall we return together?”
Jiang Xingyan didn’t even look at him, her voice冷淡: “Get lost.
Don’t make me say it again.”
The servant who had brought the carriage from the general’s estate kept his head down, his eyes darting.
Huo Ci knew that insisting further would only backfire.
Gritting his teeth in frustration, he followed the coachman back, glancing over his shoulder every few steps.
Yun Chunfeng, for his part, said nothing more. He followed Jiang Xingyan into the military camp.
Xin Zhui, who had returned at noon, grumbled and cleared out a spot in the most remote corner for Yun Chunfeng.
He even chased away the young Taoist novice who had come looking for his master, sending him over there.
Yun Chunfeng calculated silently and understood the situation.
He curled his lips into a smile.
It seemed that neither Huo Ci nor his lackey knew how to behave.
He coughed lightly twice to get Jiang Xingyan’s attention.
“State Preceptor?”
Yun Chunfeng seized the moment to ask meekly: “General, it’s getting late. I dare not impose, but may I ask where my tent is located?”
Jiang Xingyan called over a soldier to inquire.
When she learned where Xin Zhui had placed Yun Chunfeng, she laughed in anger.
Her initial appreciation for Xin Zhui had now turned to disgust.
As expected, anyone associated with Huo Ci is no good!
“Where is Vice General Xin’s tent?”
“Reporting, General—right next to yours.”
“The State Preceptor was personally sent by His Majesty to discuss military affairs. Naturally, he should be close to me.
Swap Vice General Xin’s tent with the State Preceptor’s.”
“Yes, sir!”
Orders in the military camp were strict and immediately obeyed.
No matter how incomprehensible, the general’s commands had to be followed. This was the first rule of the Huo army.
Soon, Xin Zhui’s voice could be heard outside the tent.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing? This is my tent!
What?! Give it to the State Preceptor?
What right does that charlatan have to—”
Xin Zhui was dragged away, his mouth covered by Old Zhangtou.
Within moments, the soldiers had cleared out and prepared the tent for Yun Chunfeng.
The young Taoist novice obediently entered, bowed deeply to Jiang Xingyan, and only after receiving her permission did he begin arranging the tent.
Despite the unfair treatment from Xin Zhui, not a trace of dissatisfaction showed on his face.
Jiang Xingyan sighed inwardly: Indeed, like master, like follower.
She changed into a round-necked robe with a treasure pattern, picked up Little Ya, and prepared to return to the estate.
Stepping out of the tent, she found the sky had already darkened.
Suddenly, someone called out from behind her: “General Huo, please wait.”
Jiang Xingyan turned around. Yun Chunfeng had changed into a new dark blue gauze Taoist robe embroidered with intertwined lotus patterns and precious motifs, over which he wore a white cloud-patterned gauze cloak. The soft gauze still covered his eyes, making his complexion appear even more sickly pale.
The lamplight from the tent behind him cast a warm glow around his figure, rendering the smile on his lips mysterious and ambiguous.
For a moment, Jiang Xingyan was stunned. Countless thoughts raced through her mind, but she failed to grasp any of them.
“State Preceptor, is something the matter?”
A hint of shyness appeared on Yun Chunfeng’s face: “Today, my arrival caused Vice General Xin to receive military punishment and lose his tent. Once you leave, General, I fear—”
He stood alone, evoking the helplessness of a tree that stands out in the forest only to be toppled by the wind.
Jiang Xingyan looked down at Little Ya, unconscious in her arms. Fearful that the child might be in danger again, she had actually considered inviting Yun Chunfeng to accompany her.
But she thought he must be exhausted after following her around all day and expending so much energy to save Little Ya. He was probably resting now, and she didn’t want to trouble him further.
Unexpectedly, he had brought it up himself.
Jiang Xingyan seized the opportunity: “If the State Preceptor doesn’t mind, would you care to join me for a meal at the estate?”
Yun Chunfeng’s smile widened: “It would be my honor.”
Once in the carriage, Yun Chunfeng proactively reassured her: “It takes about an hour for the soul to fully settle. There’s no need to worry, General.”
Jiang Xingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Gazing at Little Ya’s sleeping face, a dull ache pierced her heart.
Little Ya had suffered far too much alongside her.
Unable to hold back, her eyes reddened. Afraid Yun Chunfeng might notice, she quickly turned away to compose herself.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yun Chunfeng meditating with his eyes closed and relaxed.
As the carriage wheels rumbled over the cobblestones, the tension she had held all day gradually eased, and her consciousness drifted away.
“Whoa!
Heavens! A ghost—there’s a ghost!”
The coachman’s terrified cry jolted Jiang Xingyan awake.
She tightened her embrace around Little Ya, frowned, and lifted the carriage curtain.
There, in front of the General’s estate, stood a slender figure dressed entirely in white.
The two red lanterns at the estate gate flickered in the wind, casting shifting light on the fluttering white robes. Combined with the mournful gaze directed their way, it was no wonder the coachman mistook her for a ghost.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s not a ghost.”
Jiang Xingyan alighted from the carriage. A cool, gentle voice, tinged with faint delight, came from the figure at the gate: “Cousin, you’re back.”