Jiang Xingyan rushed all the way back to the military tent, her face flushed bright red.
This is absolutely outrageous!
Can’t she just replace Xin Zhui as her deputy general?
Xia Feng, carrying Little Ya, walked out of the tent and bumped headfirst into Jiang Xingyan, who was storming inside.
“Huh? Miss, you’re back. Little Ya was just looking for you.”
Jiang Xingyan mumbled a response and dashed straight into the tent’s latrine.
Realizing why her mistress was in such a hurry, Xia Feng’s face instantly burned crimson.
She waited by the entrance until Jiang Xingyan emerged, then handed Little Ya over to her. “Miss, breakfast is ready. Should I invite the State Preceptor and Deputy General Xin to join?”
The moment Jiang Xingyan heard Xin Zhui’s name, her anger flared up again. “Just ask the State Preceptor,” she replied sullenly. “From now on, ignore that Xin fellow!”
Xia Feng didn’t need to think hard to guess that Deputy General Xin must have done something stupid again to upset her mistress.
She would always stand by her mistress, no matter what!
Just as she turned to invite the State Preceptor, Jiang Xingyan suddenly called out to her, “Xia Feng, why are you and Dongyang wearing veils?”
Jiang Xingyan had wanted to ask since last night, but she’d fallen asleep before she got the chance.
Xia Feng bowed her head and stood to the side, slowly removing her veil to reveal cheeks still faintly marked with the imprint of five fingers.
Jiang Xingyan slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet. “How dare they! Was it Yuzhu? I’ll break both of her hands!”
Xia Feng quickly stopped her. “Please calm down, Miss. That vile old woman has already lost three of her four personal maids. If we target Yuzhu now, it might push her to desperation, and that could backfire on us.”
“Now that you’ve rescued us from that living hell, we just need to wait patiently for you to switch back. We must avoid causing any unnecessary trouble.”
Jiang Xingyan’s heart ached. “But—”
Xia Feng shook her head calmly, her eyes shining with determination. “Miss, you needn’t worry about us. The humiliation you endured in the past was far worse than what we’ve suffered.”
“A few slaps are nothing. We can handle it.”
Tears welled up in Jiang Xingyan’s eyes. She wanted to take Xia Feng’s hands but suddenly remembered the body she was in now belonged to a man. Instead, she patted Xia Feng’s shoulder, wanting to offer some words of comfort.
Before she could speak, a head popped into the tent from outside.
“General? Hehe.”
Xin Zhui grinned obsequiously.
Jiang Xingyan’s face visibly darkened.
Seeing the situation wasn’t favorable, Xin Zhui hurriedly explained his purpose. “General, please don’t be angry with me.”
“I’ve decided to spend my savings from over a decade of service to treat everyone to drinks tonight. Consider it my apology, and also a celebration of your promotion to first rank. How does that sound?”
Jiang Xingyan wasn’t an unreasonable person.
When Little Ya was in danger, Xin Zhui had been a great help—almost a lifesaver.
His later attempts to test her were also acts of loyalty.
She was just annoyed that his reckless behavior had frightened Little Ya.
As for what happened this morning, it wasn’t really his fault to begin with.
Since Xin Zhui was backing down, she saw no reason to hold a grudge. She nodded in agreement.
Xin Zhui let out a cheerful whistle and bounded away happily.
The moment he turned around, a cold smirk crept onto his lips.
Tonight, I’ll make you show your true colors!
Crack!
A heavily swung whip struck Huo Ci with full force.
He curled up in the icy bedding, not even bothering to open his eyes.
“Well, well, well, this wretched brat still dares to defy me?”
“Beat her harder!”
Now that the young general had taken away those four worthless maids, she had nothing left to hold her back.
This lowly merchant’s daughter had been causing trouble all night and still wasn’t done. This morning, when the maids tried to wake her, no matter how they pulled and prodded, she refused to get up.
Did she really think there was nothing she could do to “her”?
Already irritated, she’d been further angered when Yinzhu came crying early this morning, begging her to retrieve Jinzhu’s body.
She’d merely mentioned it to the old madam and was met with a torrent of abuse, leaving her even more frustrated.
Now, with a whip in her hand, she lashed out ruthlessly, her eyes red with rage.
The blows fell like raindrops, each heavier than the last, striking “Jiang Xingyan” repeatedly.
Huo Ci, drifting in and out of consciousness, faintly sensed someone scolding him and resorting to violence.
He wanted to fight back, but his body felt as heavy as lead, and he couldn’t even open his eyes.
After Jiang Xingyan left last night, the family had immediately bared their fangs at him.
First, his “mother” had Yuzhu pin him down and administer dozens of disciplinary strikes as punishment for speaking out of turn at the banquet.
Later, his cousin had someone move a beautifully carved marital bed into the side chamber.
She disdainfully tossed his bamboo bed into the courtyard.
“So sorry, cousin-in-law. Your room is too small for two beds. I’m afraid you’ll have to sleep outside.”
“But I’m not heartless, you know.”
“I’m aware the nights are still chilly and the dew is heavy, so I prepared a thick quilt for you.”
“For my cousin’s sake, I can’t let you freeze, now can I?”
Two young maids obediently carried a bulky-looking quilt and tossed it onto the bamboo bed. It looked warm enough at a glance.
Huo Ci knew she wasn’t that kind-hearted. With a cold expression, he reached out and touched it, immediately understanding what was inside.
He picked up a bamboo strip that had fallen from the bed and forcefully sliced the quilt open.
Poof!
Countless cattail fluff burst out from the quilt.
Everyone knew that a little cattail fluff could puff up to look bulky, but how could it possibly provide warmth?
It looked thick, but in reality, it was还不如两片粗布裹着 (less warm than two layers of coarse cloth).
Li Yishu’s face stiffened. Seeing the mockery on Huo Ci’s face, she flew into a rage out of humiliation. “How ungrateful!”
“Well then, cousin-in-law, you can just freeze out here.”
“If you catch a cold tomorrow, don’t blame me.”
She turned to go inside, unaware that Huo Ci had reached his breaking point—and was ready to unleash madness.
He grabbed a ladle from the courtyard, filled it to the brim with water from the jar, and dashed it directly over Li Yishu’s head.
“Ah!”
The freezing water instantly soaked through Li Yishu’s clothes. Caught completely off guard, she screamed.
But Huo Ci had no intention of letting her off that easily.
He hauled half a bucket of water, splashing everyone in his path, and stormed into the inner room. There, he dumped the remaining water—bucket and all—onto Li Yishu’s intricately carved bed.
“Fine. Then let’s all stay awake, shall we?”