Baozhu was absolutely gleeful.
Their original general was back!
This meant that his strange behavior over the past few days had to have been either because he’d run into some ghost, or it was just a temporary measure to coax that despicable merchant woman into coughing up money to subsidize the military camps.
Still, the general really was something else.
Turning on a dime like that—at least he could have discussed it with the old madam first!
To make it look real, he not only had her hands chopped off, but also had Yuzhu’s tongue pulled out, and even went so far as to kill Jinzhu.
That price was way too steep!
But then again, everything became worth it when she saw the general berate that merchant woman last night and kick her out of the mansion.
Just like the old madam had said: “Cier still has his old mother in his heart. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have killed all of you?
Our good days are still ahead!”
Seeing the general stand firmly on their side today—wasn’t that exactly what the old madam had predicted?
Thinking of this, Baozhu grew even more smug.
So what if she had no hands now?
As long as the general favored her, would she ever have to worry about someone helping her dress and eat?
Look at that—the people that merchant woman had swapped in, weren’t they still punished whenever they wanted?
She called out left and right: “Someone! Seize this insolent coachman, tie him to a tree, and beat him!”
“Let’s see who dares!”
Yun Chunfeng’s aura exploded outward. A pressure unique to those in cultivation was released instantly, pressing down on everyone’s hearts until they could barely breathe.
Seeing this, Cui Yu quickened his pace, intending to charge forward and confront “Huo Ci”—how could he act like this?
But Liu Suwu grabbed his arm in a flash.
“Minister Liu, you—!”
Liu Suwu knew the man was straightforward.
After years of navigating the officialdom, he’d never changed his stubborn, upright nature one bit—which was precisely why the position of Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple suited him best.
“Minister Cui, don’t rush. Let’s watch a little longer. Besides, the Imperial Preceptor is still here—we won’t lose out.”
Liu Suwu didn’t know how to explain it to Cui Yu.
In any case, everything that had happened today, based on his years of experience in the court, was steeped in an eerie strangeness from start to finish.
“Huo Ci” ignored everyone, striding straight into the general’s mansion.
Baozhu’s heart tightened with unease. She dared not look at Yun Chunfeng anymore, but shot Wang Qi a vicious glare.
Just you wait!
Once that meddling Imperial Preceptor leaves, we’ll settle accounts slowly!
Wang Qi, ignoring the searing pain all over his body, scrambled up and followed them inside.
Elder brother!
They dared to treat even him like this—never mind his honest, simple elder brother.
He had no idea how badly they’d been bullying him.
Yun Chunfeng flicked his horsetail whisk and actually summoned a flying sword. His white hair fluttered, his brows furrowed sharply—clearly, his killing intent had been roused.
He rode his sword straight toward the side courtyard.
Liu Suwu had no choice but to drag Cui Yu along and follow.
The two walked for a while without seeing a single maid or servant. After turning left and right, they finally reached the side courtyard and immediately saw a dense crowd of people kneeling on the ground.
Some had already fainted, some were hanging on by their last breath, and others were covered in wounds.
But they all had one thing in common—not a single one let out a plea for mercy or a sob.
Every single person was silent, their eyes burning with suppressed fury.
They stared fixedly at Old Madam Huo, who sat in the seat of honor.
Over twenty days of torment had thinned her once-plump cheeks, making her look even more harsh and cruel.
“Beat them! All of them, beat them!
Anyone who doesn’t kneel and beg for mercy—beat them to death!”
Kneeling at the very front was Yin Zhu, drenched in blood, and Wang Fu, who was currently being lashed with a whip by Yu Zhu.
When Wang Qi saw this scene, his vision went black and he nearly passed out.
“Elder brother!”
Smack!
Wang Qi threw himself forward and took a whip strike square on his back.
In an instant, a bloody gash was torn open across his entire spine.
“Little brother, why did you come back! Go, go now!”
“No! Elder brother, the Imperial Preceptor is here, along with Minister Cui and Minister Liu. They’ll get justice for us.”
When Old Madam Huo heard that so many people had arrived, she jolted in shock.
Looking up, “Huo Ci” was already standing in front of her, shielding her from behind.
Her heart settled back into place.
Her son—she knew him best.
He’d just been acting a little petulant lately.
As his mother, it was only natural to indulge him and bear with it.
See? Everything was fine again now.
Thinking this, she curled her lips into a smile and leaned back comfortably in her armchair.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning struck down, hitting Yu Zhu’s hand dead-on.
Yu Zhu had no tongue and couldn’t scream, but she trembled violently from the pain.
When she looked again, her right hand was already charred black.
Yun Chunfeng hovered mid-air on his sword, gazing down with contempt at “Huo Ci,” whose killing intent was equally boiling.
“He” stood in front of Old Madam Huo, his tone hostile: “Yun Chunfeng, you’re using private torture in my general’s mansion—what crime do you think you deserve?”
Yun Chunfeng let out a cold laugh: “Why don’t we start by tallying up General Huo’s crime of treating human lives like grass?”
Cui Yu’s fury surged to the heavens. He broke free from Liu Suwu’s hold, pointed at “Huo Ci,” and cursed:
“Huo Ci, are you even human anymore?
They may be servants, but they’re still poor common folk—not slaves you’ve bought and own!
How can you indulge your mother in treating them so cruelly?
Aren’t you afraid Heaven will strike you down?”
“Huo Ci” stared at him with a cold, piercing gaze and curled his lips into a sinister smile.
“Minister Cui is so righteous—why don’t you go report to His Majesty right away and have my position stripped?”
Cui Yu choked: “You—you’re threatening me!”
“Huo Ci” gave a cold sneer: “That’s right. It’s a threat.
If Minister Cui also has the ability to lead troops into battle, by all means, throw me in prison.
The one hundred thousand soldiers of the Huo family army are at your disposal!”
Cui Yu trembled with rage, unable to speak.
Liu Suwu, however, managed to keep a measure of clarity.
He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and spoke with neither humility nor arrogance: “General Huo, that’s not quite right.
No matter how capable a person may be, aren’t they still a subject of Western Zhou?
How could they possibly stand above His Majesty and the law?”
“Huo Ci” showed no sign of backing down.
“No matter whose fault today’s matter is, if anyone so much as touches a single hair on my mother’s head, Huo Ci will immediately resign and go home, never to set foot in court again!”
“My, my—General Huo certainly knows how to throw his weight around!”
A sardonic voice came from behind the crowd.
When they turned in surprise, they saw Su Sheng holding a scroll of imperial yellow silk, approaching slowly.
Behind him followed over a dozen eunuchs, carrying noble robes, ceremonial headdresses, jade belts, their heads bowed as they shuffled forward.
“Huo Ci, receive the decree!”
Swish!
In an instant, everyone knelt to the ground, listening reverently.
Even Old Madam Huo trembled as she lowered herself to her knees.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I take pity on the filial heart of General Huo Ci, the Pacifier of the Northern Frontier, and mindful that he will soon depart for battle, I hereby specially restore the title of First-Class Noble Lady to his mother, Lady Huo Li, and grant her additional courtesies, to comfort General Huo’s longing for his mother.
Thus reads the decree!”
