Xin Zhui wasn’t like the four maids, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, who would occasionally buy and read those popular romance novels for fun.
Plot devices like borrowing a corpse to return to life, soul swapping, or vengeful ghost possession were already clichés worn thin by writers’ brushes.
When such things actually happened close to you, you could accept them relatively quickly.
But he was an orphan. Picked up by Old General Huo and raised in the army camp since childhood, his mind was occupied only with warfare, killing, and repaying kindness. Where would he have heard of such fantastical tales?
The only ghost stories he knew were the ones Old Man Zhang had told him, which had scared him out of his wits.
Confronted with Jiang Xingyan’s body, yet housing Huo Ci’s soul, he was momentarily struck dumb, unable to utter a single word.
Huo Ci’s gaze rested on Xin Zhui for only a moment before shifting away, looking towards the carriage speeding into the distance.
Recalling how Jiang Xingyan had just been so attentive and accommodating towards Yun Chunfeng, his heart ached sharply.
Last night, he had been drifting in and out of consciousness, burning with fever repeatedly, yet no one had come to check on him.
Even when Chun Xue brought him medicine, it was only out of consideration for Jiang Xingyan’s body.
In his feverish haze, it seemed he had returned to those days recuperating in Jiangnan.
Old Master Jiang was out busily working for him, assembling an army for revenge and stockpiling military supplies.
And Jiang Xingyan was there in the inner quarters, taking care of him.
That pampered young mistress, changing his bandages without so much as a blink.
When the terrifying, bloody wounds were revealed before her, she showed not a trace of disgust or discomfort, only more heartache.
Her soft, tender hands gently touched his body, making him tremble uncontrollably.
Back then, he had only felt ashamed.
The murder of his father was a sworn, irreconcilable enmity.
If he wasn’t focused on revenge, how could he be entertaining such sentimental, romantic thoughts!
It was truly wrong!
He deliberately kept his distance from Jiang Xingyan.
But she was utterly sincere and pure-hearted, concerned only with his recovery.
Even when he had a fever late at night, it was she who waited by his bedside, warming towels in hot water and carefully wiping his forehead, neck, hands, and feet.
Though, for some reason, it only seemed to make him feel hotter.
Now, everything was gone.
If Yun Chunfeng was really A-Yan’s childhood playmate, then he should have seen him before too. Why did he have no impression at all?
Ah, that’s right. Back then, his mind was single-mindedly focused on the word ‘revenge’. Where would he have found the energy to pay attention to some attendant?
A bitter taste rose on Huo Ci’s tongue.
If only he had trusted her, cherished her… how could things have come to this?
“General?”
Xin Zhui’s voice interrupted Huo Ci’s swirling thoughts.
Huo Ci nodded, putting away the demeanor of a resentful woman. “It’s me.”
Seeing a trace of doubt still in Xin Zhui’s eyes, Huo Ci said gravely, “You have a scar on your left buttock, from when you sneaked out as a child to play the hero and my father whipped you for it.”
“You lay in bed for half a month, unable to get up. It was me who attended to you for all your needs—”
“Enough! General, for heaven’s sake—”
Do you even realize you’re in a woman’s body now!
How could you say his secret out loud like that, with no expression on your face? What about his dignity?
Xin Zhui’s face was turning bright red.
“If you don’t believe me, I can list a few more.”
“I believe you, I believe you! General, please, no more!”
To think that beneath Jiang Xingyan’s delicate and docile appearance was the General’s soul… How was he supposed to accept this!
“A-Yan… she is good. You must assist her, lend her a hand. You must not make things difficult for her.”
Xin Zhui agreed sullenly.
Maybe you should have told me that before she nearly strangled me to death, General?
“How did you two swap?”
“I don’t know.”
“When can you swap back? This is very important to me!”
“…I don’t know.”
Xin Zhui and Huo Ci fell into silence, facing each other.
Xin Zhui asked weakly, “General… is everything the Madam said true?”
Now, it was Huo Ci’s turn to fall silent.
After a long pause, he spoke with difficulty. “Yes.”
In that moment, the golden, idolized image of Huo Ci that Xin Zhui had built over years of reverence and worship began to crack and crumble.
The young general in his mind was supposed to be perfect, righteous, and just.
How could he have made such a fundamental error?
How could he have been so biased and credulous?
Perhaps Huo Ci’s prowess on the battlefield was so strong that Xin Zhui had forgotten he was also a living, breathing person.
And people make mistakes.
But Xin Zhui couldn’t accept it.
He desperately wished Huo Ci would deny those accusations. Even if he lied, Xin Zhui would have believed him.
He was like the most devout believer, suddenly discovering it was all an illusion.
After the confusion and pain, comes the desire to slay the false god.
“General, she is your wife.”
“The person you pledged to spend your life with, to grow old together!”
So what if she was a bit pampered and extravagant?
Old Master Jiang left her all those businesses; she wasn’t using your salary!
She’s the heiress of the wealthiest family in Jiangnan, General!
Why should such a privileged young mistress have to suffer after marrying you?!”
Each of Xin Zhui’s questions stabbed into Huo Ci’s heart like a knife.
He couldn’t answer. He didn’t dare to answer.
He was afraid everyone would see the fear and insecurity hidden deep in his heart.
He was afraid that if he couldn’t provide for Jiang Xingyan’s lifestyle, she would leave him.
He was also afraid others would point fingers, saying he married for money and lived off his wife.
Wouldn’t that tarnish the Huo family’s reputation for nothing?
But he had forgotten that the Huo army, his proudest achievement, was also built with the resources Old Master Jiang exhausted his family fortune to secure for him.
Without the Jiang family, he would have been just a powerless orphan left on the battlefield, with countless people waiting to carve up his father’s military power. He wouldn’t even have been able to seek revenge.
Seeing the look of utter despair and pain on Huo Ci’s face, Xin Zhui became even more furious.
“Don’t make such a weak expression!”
“She wouldn’t like it either!”