Even though Huo Ci had already witnessed his mother’s two completely different faces, he was still stunned when faced with Li Yishu—whom he had always treated like a younger sister—revealing herself as someone with a kind appearance but a poisonous heart.
He suddenly understood why Jiang Xingyan would show such disgust whenever his cousin was mentioned.
So, it had all been an act.
His mother’s kindness and gentleness were fake.
His cousin’s elegance and virtue were also fake.
What was real?
Who could tell him what was actually real?
Why were they all targeting Ayan like this? Why had they put on such an elaborate act to deceive him?
Huo Ci was truly exhausted.
He let out a cold laugh, a trace of madness flashing across his face.
Old Lady Huo’s gaze sharpened. Yuzhu understood her meaning and stepped forward, firmly gripping Huo Ci’s wrist and pulling him to a lower seat.
Before releasing him, she gave his arm a harsh twist as a final warning.
Huo Ci’s immediate urge to flip the table instantly vanished.
He couldn’t let Xiafeng and Dongyang be punished again because of him.
Jiang Xingyan coldly observed everything, already calculating how to get Xiafeng and Dongyang out.
If Huo Ci continued like this, he would only bring more trouble and suffering upon them.
Yun Chunfeng suddenly chuckled softly. “The young general’s wife is truly one of a kind.”
Startled, Huo Ci looked up and noticed Yun Chunfeng seated beside Jiang Xingyan.
Great. The male seducer had followed them all the way home.
He blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
Old Lady Huo scolded disapprovingly, “How dare you speak to the State Preceptor like that!”
Yun Chunfeng smiled faintly. “It’s quite alright. Your wife is innocent and unrestrained, unbound by trivial formalities. She is truly a free spirit in this world.”
Li Yishu gritted her teeth upon hearing Yun Chunfeng praise “Jiang Xingyan.”
What was so great about that wretched woman?
She was just a lowly merchant’s daughter.
How could both her cousin and this exceptionally handsome State Preceptor hold her in such high regard?
She remembered the day of her cousin’s wedding—how she had worn only a light veil, her perfect figure faintly visible in the candlelight, captivating and alluring.
Yet even when she approached him like that, her cousin had pushed her away.
Even though he was drunk, almost unconscious, he still went looking for that wretched woman!
She lowered her eyes, concealing her resentment and bitterness.
Jiang Xingyan sighed inwardly. Only Brother Yun still remembered her original self.
She glanced at Li Yishu, who was sitting nearby pretending to be wronged, and snorted coldly. “If you know you bring bad energy, why do you insist on imposing yourself on others? What are your intentions?”
“You were invited here to keep Mother company and to learn proper manners from your sister-in-law, not to observe mourning in the general’s manor.”
“If your mourning period isn’t over, I can send you home to observe it properly.”
“Stop wandering around the manor dressed in mourning clothes. If outsiders see you, they might think someone in the general’s manor has passed away.”
Yun Chunfeng couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
The only elderly person in the entire general’s manor was the Old Lady. Who else could have passed away?
Huo Ci kept his head down, not daring to speak.
Even if Jiang Xingyan stood right in front of him and pointed at his mother while scolding her, he wouldn’t dare utter a word of disagreement.
This was what he owed her.
Both Old Lady Huo and Li Yishu paled noticeably.
“Ci’er, your cousin didn’t mean it that way.”
Jiang Xingyan feigned heartfelt concern and advised, “Mother, you and I may know the reason, but others don’t.”
“If someone sees her like this, who knows what kind of rumors might spread?”
“As the saying goes, ‘repeated rumors can melt metal,’ and ‘three people spreading rumors can create a tiger.’ I’m only worried about your well-being, Mother.”
She might as well have said outright: Li Yishu wearing mourning clothes is cursing you to die.
Sure enough, when it concerned her own interests, Old Lady Huo’s affection for Li Yishu and her support for family took a back seat.
“Shu’er, how could I have forgotten? It’s been two years since your mourning period ended. That’s why I invited you here.”
“If it’s not over yet, why don’t you go home and wait a little longer, as your cousin suggested?”
Li Yishu seethed inwardly.
This old woman had begged her to come, asking her to showcase her filial piety in front of her cousin.
She was supposed to take advantage of the rift between her cousin and that merchant’s daughter to win his favor and secure the position of the general’s wife.
How could she betray her like this now?
Did that gambler father of hers deserve her wearing mourning clothes for him?
She had only endured those two years at home to maintain her image in her cousin’s eyes.
But who would have thought that after returning from the battlefield, her cousin would become so indifferent to delicate beauties?
In the past, he would have praised her repeatedly and love dearly given her many gifts.
Li Yishu put on a respectful demeanor and bowed gracefully. “The two-year period has indeed ended, but my grief for my father remains. I privately thought to extend it by another year.”
“Now that my cousin has spoken, I will naturally follow his advice.”
“Heh, if you’re so filial, why not shave your head and become a nun? You could pray for your father’s blessings in a temple for the rest of your life.”
Seeing the situation slipping out of control, Old Lady Huo hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Ah, Ci’er has always been such a joker.”
“Yuzhu, quickly take Shu’er to the main room to change her clothes before returning.”
Li Yishu lowered her eyes and followed Yuzhu out, seemingly on the verge of tears.
Jiang Xingyan paid her no mind and invited Yun Chunfeng to join them for the meal.
Old Lady Huo preferred light flavors, and Huo Ci had a sweet tooth, so none of the dishes on the table were strongly seasoned.
Although Jiang Xingyan was a woman from the south, she loved spicy food.
The dishes didn’t suit her taste, so she only took a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.
This was Huo Ci’s body—she didn’t care whether he was full or not.
She glanced over and saw Huo Ci happily eating a bowl of rice.
To keep Jiang Xingyan’s body healthy, he tried to eat as much as possible whenever he could.
Old Lady Huo followed “Huo Ci’s” gaze and shot a disgusted look at “Jiang Xingyan,” inwardly cursing: She really is a lowly, unsophisticated wench. Even her table manners are so lacking.
“Mmm, Mama, Xiao Ya is hungry.”
Xiao Ya, who had been held in her arms the whole time, had woken up at some point.
The frustration in Jiang Xingyan’s heart melted away at the sound of that soft, childish voice. Her heart settled, and she looked at the little girl with tender affection. “Xiao Ya is awake. What a good girl.”
She gently adjusted Xiao Ya to lean against her chest, picked up a plum blossom pastry, and handed it to her.
“Here, eat slowly.”
She also asked a serving maid to ladle a bowl of sour bamboo shoot and chicken soup and set it aside to cool.
Li Yishu changed into a brown-grey cloud-patterned brocade dress with a pleated skirt, fastened with a simple silver hairpin into a single spiral bun.
The simple and elegant attire accentuated her shimmering, water-like eyes and her smooth, jade-like skin.
Even among the noble ladies of the capital, her beauty stood out.
No wonder she had developed inappropriate feelings for Huo Ci.
After all, given her family background, marrying a scholar would already be considered climbing the social ladder.
Li Yishu thought the same.
If she had been born with ordinary looks, she might have resigned herself to her fate.
But heaven had gifted her with striking beauty, so she saw no reason not to use every means to climb higher.
She noticed Xiao Ya sitting in “Huo Ci’s” arms, nibbling on a pastry, and her eyes lit up. She gracefully took a seat beside her cousin.
“Xiao Ya, it’s not good to cling to your father all the time. Come, let your aunt hold you.”
Xiao Ya twisted away from Li Yishu’s outstretched hands and said slowly, “You go cling to your own father. Don’t bother with Xiao Ya.”