Huo Ci pressed his fingerprint onto the document.
The five adults and one child held their breaths in unison.
Nothing happened.
Three sticks of incense burned down to ash.
Still, nothing happened.
The anticipated scene—where their souls would return to their rightful bodies—did not occur. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of anything unusual.
As time dragged on, Yun Chunfeng gradually descended into a silent frenzy.
Why!
They were already divorced, so why hadn’t they switched back? How far was the Heavenly Dao going to deceive him?!
A bloodthirsty aura suddenly surged around him. Both Xin Zhui and Huo Ci immediately went on alert.
Jiang Xingyan also sensed the shift in Yun Chunfeng’s emotions and worried he might harm himself in his distress. Before she could speak to soothe him, Xiao Ya suddenly reached out her small hand and grasped his thumb.
“Uncle, don’t worry.”
His boiling emotions calmed abruptly. Yun Chunfeng’s mind cleared instantly.
She’s right. I can’t panic. If even I lose my composure, what will the Young Mistress and Xiao Ya do?
“Perhaps it’s because the household registrations haven’t been officially separated yet?” Xia Feng could only think of this one reason.
“Right! Let’s go, quickly!”
The group moved en masse to the government office responsible for household registration—the Civil Registry of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Western Zhou dynasty had liberal customs, and its successive imperial families were considerate towards women. They did not impose strict behavioral codes on them, nor did they strongly encourage upholding chastity. Divorce and remarriage were not uncommon.
What was uncommon was General Huo getting divorced.
The official in charge didn’t dare make the decision himself. He stalled Huo Ci at the front, while secretly sending a messenger to the palace to inform the Emperor.
Before long, Su Sheng came rushing in, sweating profusely.
“Aiyo, my dear General Huo! What is all this about now?”
When Xiao Ao heard that Huo Ci wanted a divorce from his wife, he was utterly confused. He had just used her dowry, so how could he suddenly demand a divorce? If this got out, regardless of the truth, the people would condemn him! More importantly, would the matter of replenishing the military funds still hold?
He sent Su Sheng to investigate immediately. If Huo Ci had wronged his wife, he must be punished severely as a warning to others! They couldn’t shield him just because they needed him to recapture the mines. What would that say about the imperial family’s integrity?
Jiang Xingyan truly hadn’t expected to alarm the Emperor. She was immensely grateful she had left Yun Chunfeng and Xiao Ya in the carriage. Otherwise, how would she explain to Su Sheng why the National Preceptor was tagging along for a divorce? It made no sense!
Faced with Su Sheng’s question, Jiang Xingyan struggled to find a reasonable answer. “Well, you see—”
Su Sheng, the Chief Eunuch, was a master of reading people. One glance told him the General’s wife had been crying, her eyes still red. Immediately, an image of a heartless scoundrel who used people and cast them aside formed in his mind, firmly attached to ‘Huo Ci’.
“General Huo, if you’ll pardon my frankness, but since ancient times, this is no way to conduct oneself! Deputy General Xin, didn’t you try to advise him? What great contributions has your wife made for our Western Zhou? How can you just divorce her on a whim?”
Jiang Xingyan felt a vein throbbing on her forehead. Huo Ci’s reputation could take a hit any other time, but definitely not now. The sun was already setting in the west. If they didn’t get the household registration sorted soon, she would be the one going to Qingzhou.
Thinking quickly, Jiang Xingyan signaled for Xia Feng to bring out the property deeds.
“Ah, Chief Eunuch Su, you misunderstand. This humble general is not abandoning his wife and daughter! He is trying to protect them!”
Su Sheng was even more perplexed. “How so?”
Adopting a grave tone, Jiang Xingyan explained, “Think back, Chief Eunuch. When this general was away at war for over two years, my wife suffered terribly at home under my mother’s harsh treatment! Now, I am about to embark on a confidential mission, with no certainty of when I’ll return. I fear my mother might revert to her old ways and mistreat my wife and Xiao Ya once my back is turned. Hence, this less-than-ideal plan.”
She handed the deeds to Su Sheng for inspection and heaved a heavy, resigned sigh. “I have purchased a small residence here in the capital. Under the pretext of divorce, I plan to register my wife and daughter’s household there. It’s better than them living in constant fear at the general’s manor. This way, I can also focus on my campaign with peace of mind, isn’t that right?”
Su Sheng was half-convinced, yet he still felt the whole affair was rather peculiar. “That may be so, but your lady wife seems somewhat… reluctant?”
“Not at all, not at all,” Jiang Xingyan said with a forced laugh, reaching out to pull Huo Ci closer to appear more intimate. Unexpectedly, Huo Ci lost his balance and stumbled straight into her arms.
The two of them ended up in an embrace, looking for all the world like a loving couple.
Everyone present was stunned.
General Huo and his wife are so deeply in love!
Xin Zhui: What’s going on? Are we still getting the divorce or not? Huh?
Huo Ci was completely dazed. When he saw Xia Feng produce the property deeds, fresh tears had welled up.
So, A-Yan has been preparing to leave me for good all along. His heart felt like it was being sliced open. Holding back his tears in public was taking all his strength; he hadn’t paid any attention to the conversation between Jiang Xingyan and Su Sheng. Suddenly pulled off balance, he stumbled forward. His heart skipped a beat as he threw out his hands to brace himself, only to be caught firmly against a solid chest.
It was A-Yan.
Does A-Yan want one final farewell?
His tears could no longer be restrained. He buried his face in Jiang Xingyan’s chest, savoring this last moment of warmth.
This is the first time I’ve been this close to A-Yan since returning from the battlefield.
Jiang Xingyan genuinely wanted to shove him away. But Su Sheng was watching them with visibly moved eyes. She had no choice but to reach out and pat Huo Ci’s back gently. “There, there. I promise I’ll return home as soon as I can.”
Su Sheng nodded, now completely convinced by ‘Huo Ci’s’ story. “The General and his wife share such a deep bond, it moves this old servant nearly to tears. In that case, I shall report back to His Majesty immediately to set his mind at ease.”
Jiang Xingyan put on a profoundly grateful expression. “We are deeply honored by His Majesty’s concern. This humble general is overwhelmed. Thank you for your trouble, Chief Eunuch Su, in coming personally to reassure the Emperor.”
Exchanging pleasantries, Su Sheng made his way out. “It’s my duty, no trouble at all. As long as His Majesty is at ease, we, his servants and officials, can also be at peace, isn’t that right?”
Jiang Xingyan bowed her head in apparent chagrin. “Thank you for the guidance, Chief Eunuch Su. This general was indeed inconsiderate. I will be sure to explain things to His Majesty beforehand in the future.”
Seizing the moment, Xia Feng stepped forward and discreetly slipped a thousand-tael silver note into Su Sheng’s hand. Su Sheng nodded with satisfaction.
Who says General Huo looks down on eunuchs? He seems quite respectful to me.
Once Su Sheng was gone, Jiang Xingyan straightened her chest, pushing Huo Ci away. “Keep your hands to yourself!”
Only then did Huo Ci realize it had all been an act for expediency, and he began to cry even louder. But after that performance, no matter how heartbroken his tears seemed, everyone would assume he was pining for his husband, not that he had been wronged by him.
Jiang Xingyan completed all the procedures with a cold face throughout.
Was he always this much of a crybaby? I never saw him shed a single tear when he was covered in wounds. Why is he so determined to cry his eyes out using my body? Does my reputation mean nothing?
Xin Zhui, who witnessed the entire scene: To be honest, if the situation weren’t so urgent, I wouldn’t want the General to switch back. All this weeping is utterly unbecoming!
The group returned to the carriage with the separated household registrations and looked at each other blankly. All they could do now was wait.
They waited and waited, until the sun dipped below the western hills.
Still, nothing happened.
Jiang Xingyan stared blankly at the red setting sun. “So… it’s really up to me to go to Qingzhou now?”
Yun Chunfeng gently set Xiao down, his face dark as water. He grabbed his treasured sword and made to charge out of the carriage. “Young Mistress, wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“Enough!” Surprisingly, Xin Zhui was the most clear-headed of them all. “I’m a rough man, I don’t understand Heavenly Dao or the right timing. All I know is that further delay is useless. The most important thing right now is how to ensure the Lady’s safety!”
“I’ll go with her!” Yun Chunfeng was the first to volunteer.
Jiang Xingyan had now steadied her resolve.
Since our souls haven’t returned, the time must not be right. There must be some factor even Brother Yun hasn’t discerned. For now, I can only rely on myself.
She calmly rejected Yun Chunfeng’s offer. “No. Brother Yun, you must stay and take care of Xiao Ya.”
Huo Ci hurriedly volunteered. “I’ll go!”
Jiang Xingyan pushed him aside impatiently. “You stay home and behave yourself!”
That left only one candidate.
“Xin Zhui will definitely ensure the Lady’s safety!”