For a moment, the entire main hall fell completely silent.
Li Yishu struggled to maintain the warm smile on her face, refusing to let it falter. Over and over, she reminded herself: Auntie said this wretched girl is my cousin’s absolute favorite. I mustn’t scare her!
Otherwise, forget becoming the young general’s wife—whether she could even stay the night here would be a problem.
After a moment, Li Yishu forced a bitter smile. “A child’s innocent words are not to be taken seriously. Your cousin doesn’t blame you.” She paused delicately. “Your cousin’s father passed away two years ago…”
Convenient tears welled up instantly, hanging perfectly on her eyelashes with practiced ease.
She looked utterly fragile and breakable.
Old Lady Huo’s heart ached for her, dabbing at her own eyes. “You poor child. My poor, unfortunate cousin.”
Jiang Xingyan would have bet anything that the old hypocrite had completely forgotten what her cousin even looked like. This was pure performance for Huo Ci’s benefit.
Huo Ci nearly choked, wishing he could bury his head under the table.
Stripped of his familial bias, his intellect had finally reclaimed the high ground. This act was so painfully fake it was hard to watch.
Had he really been fooled by such clumsy acting before?
Stupid. So incredibly stupid. The word alone wasn’t enough to describe it!
Jiang Xingyan didn’t take the bait.
Little Ya turned back to her, confused. “Mama, what does ‘passed away’ mean?”
Everyone was accustomed to Little Ya calling “Huo Ci” Mama.
Old Lady Huo had briefed Li Yishu the moment she arrived, telling her not to make a fuss about it.
Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the incident from two days prior.
They all silently accepted that Little Ya had mistaken her identity due to fright.
It saved a lot of tedious explanation.
Jiang Xingyan was about to bluntly say, “Passed away means died.”
Unexpectedly, Yun Chunfeng spoke before she could. “It means he’s gone to another world.”
Little Ya nodded, seeming to understand but not quite. She turned back to Li Yishu. “You should go there to find your daddy, then.”
Jiang Xingyan let out a light chuckle.
Old Lady Huo hurriedly intervened. “Little Ya, don’t rub salt in your cousin’s wounds. Be nice and get close to her.” She pressed on, “From now on, it will be your cousin playing with you.”
The moment she spoke, Little Ya shrank back into Jiang Xingyan’s arms, presenting her little backside to the old woman.
Her resistance was unmistakable.
Old Lady Huo was instantly furious and humiliated. She desperately wanted to grab the little brat and give her a sound spanking.
Such ill-bred behavior!
She shot a look at Li Yishu, who took the hint. With a delicate, willowy sway of her waist, she moved over and practically tried to snatch Little Ya from Jiang Xingyan’s arms.
It was also a chance to impress her cousin with her feminine charms.
“Come, Little Ya, let Cousin hold you and play.”
Terrified, Little Ya dropped the fragrant cake in her hand and clung tightly to Jiang Xingyan’s belt.
“No! Little Ya wants Mama!”
Li Yishu didn’t relent. She leaned most of her body into “Huo Ci’s” embrace and had the audacity to say, “Cousin can be your mama too. Come here, let Cousin hold you.”
Smack!
Huo Ci had completely had enough. He slammed his chopsticks down on the table.
This is beyond insulting!
His rightful wife was sitting right across from them!
Li Yishu jumped, her hand freezing mid-action. She immediately adopted a wounded expression. “Cousin, my cousin-in-law frightened me.”
Huo Ci pointed a finger at Li Yishu, raising his voice in a stern rebuke. “Have you no sense of propriety or shame? Just moments ago you were prattling on about observing filial mourning for your father, and now you’re practically sitting in my husband’s lap! Is there no law? Is there no justice?”
Li Yishu put on the act of a bullied young wife, timidly arguing her case. “Cousin-in-law, please don’t be angry. Although Yishu is not very educated, I do know that the laws of our Western Zhou dynasty permit a man to have multiple wives and concubines.”
Huo Ci was speechless. Yun Chunfeng, sitting nearby, chuckled lightly. “Quite right. A man of General Huo’s exceptional caliber is more than deserving of a beautiful wife and charming concubines.”
Huo Ci felt numb.
He suddenly realized he was surrounded by enemies on all sides.
He had to guard against both men and women!
What kind of sense did that make!
Old Lady Huo nodded gratefully at the mysterious Imperial Astrologer.
His words had hit right on the mark of her desires.
She didn’t just want Li Yishu to marry in; she wanted to find several more concubines for her Ci’er, to have them spread the Huo family branches and leaves.
That way, Ci’er wouldn’t end up as frail as his father.
Even if something happened to Ci’er on the battlefield, having more sons would provide some security.
But Ci’er had always refused to take concubines, citing his father’s example of having only her, his sworn wife, for his entire life. He insisted on having that lowly merchant’s daughter alone, on being the only couple under heaven.
It infuriated her.
She’d spent countless hours trying to persuade him, but he never budged.
Today, however, when the Imperial Astrologer said that, her Ci’er—who had always resisted the idea—didn’t refute it.
Didn’t this mean that after his rift with that wretched woman, his resolve was finally weakening?
She and Li Yishu exchanged a glance, seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.
This could work!
She struck while the iron was hot. “The Imperial Astrologer speaks most wisely. Shu’er and Ci’er were childhood playmates who grew up together. It’s just that fate was unkind and kept them apart.”
Jiang Xingyan sneered inwardly: So, I was the one who got in the way, huh?
Now she finally understood where her mother-in-law’s resentment came from.
She blamed her for ruining Huo Ci’s wonderful marriage prospect.
Fine, fine. Since she was already determined to divorce Huo Ci, she might as well go with the flow. Let Li Yishu take her place, and help Huo Ci marry a few more concubines while she was at it.
Then she’d take back the shops and cut off the General’s Manor’s supplies.
Let this dear cousin see just how easy it was to be the young general’s wife.
Huo Ci stamped his foot in frustration. “I— My husband has always seen her as a younger sister! How could he have any other intentions!”
Yuzhu quickly stepped forward, pinning his wrist, pretending to be respectful. “Young Madam, calm your anger. Be careful of your health.”
Unable to break free, Huo Ci was forced back onto the stool. He could only shoot a pleading look at Jiang Xingyan.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t even glance at him. She acted as if it had nothing to do with her, calmly feeding Little Ya some chicken soup.
Seeing this, Old Lady Huo was overjoyed. Her old face crinkled into a mass of wrinkles, her eyes nearly disappearing into her smile.
“Ci’er, why wait for an auspicious day? Why not let Shu’er serve you in the separate courtyard tonight?”
Li Yishu’s face flushed red with shyness. “Auntie!” she protested coyly.
Jiang Xingyan’s hand jerked.
Don’t be so absurd!
How desperate could they be?
“Mother,” she said firmly, “His Majesty has ordered me to diligently train the troops. I dare not disobey the imperial command or be negligent. I must go and garrison the military camp tonight.”
Although slightly disappointed, Old Lady Huo knew that as long as her son had relented, things would be much easier later.
“Then let Shu’er stay in the separate courtyard to wait for you. When you have time to return, won’t you have someone to warm your bed?”
Jiang Xingyan’s face hardened. She refused sternly. “Absolutely not! The separate courtyard contains sensitive court matters. No one may enter or leave at will.”
Old Lady Huo still wouldn’t give up. “Oh, you child. Why are you so strictly guarded even against your own family? Shu’er is very well-behaved; she definitely won’t touch your things.”
Jiang Xingyan expressionlessly invoked the Emperor. “Mother, surely you know that leaking military secrets is a crime punishable by the execution of one’s entire clan.”
Old Lady Huo immediately dropped the idea.
“Mother, the original reason for inviting Cousin was to teach Jiang-shi the manners and rules of a lady from a great family. Perhaps she should reside in the side courtyard.”
Jiang Xingyan, with a touch of malice, turned to Li Yishu, who hadn’t yet had time to hide her reluctant expression. Her tone was earnest. “Your cousin-in-law’s maternal family was once the wealthiest in Jiangnan. They know all about luxury; their food, clothing, and accommodations must be of the very best. You can tell just by how elaborately ‘she’ dresses for a simple meal at home.” She continued, “In fact, ‘she’ found my separate courtyard unsatisfactory and specifically moved to the side courtyard. Mother says it’s furnished with the most extravagant luxury. You will certainly not be treated poorly if you move there.”