“She’s just a lowly merchant. How could she possibly be worthy of my Ci’er?!
Your mother was protecting you!
I originally planned to set you up with Yishu so you two would be together, and then I could deal with that lowly merchant on charges of adultery.
But you wouldn’t let Yishu near you, and the very next day you rushed off to the front lines.
You cared for her so much that your mother was afraid you’d be upset, so I held my tongue and let her live.
Yet I never expected that lowly merchant to get pregnant with that beggar’s child and even send you a letter about it.
Your mother sat on pins and needles every day, thinking only of how to get rid of those two, mother and daughter, so they wouldn’t tarnish the reputation of our general’s household.
When I saw your feelings for her gradually fade, that’s when I sent Jinzhu to do the deed—but I never thought you’d catch on.
Your mother went through so much trouble for you. Why can’t you understand?!
Killing those two, mother and daughter, would’ve been good for all of us, wouldn’t it?
Look now—His Majesty has granted you a marriage, you’re still pure, and we’re worthy of Princess Shi’an!”
Old Madam Huo poured out all the old secrets like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.
Everyone thought she was afraid of the immortal nun’s presence and didn’t dare lie.
But only Old Madam Huo herself knew that her mouth was completely out of her control.
She had laid out every thought and feeling in her heart, every last detail.
She widened her eyes in terror, wanting to cover her mouth with her hands, but she found herself firmly restrained by “Huo Ci” and couldn’t move an inch. She had no choice but to confess everything.
Thud!
Jiang Xingyan slammed Old Madam Huo heavily onto the ground, so hard that she couldn’t even cry out “Ouch.”
Bang!
The doors of the Taihe Hall were suddenly pushed open by Huo Ci. He stared in utter disbelief at Old Madam Huo, who had been thrown to the ground.
His own mother had sunk to such an outrageous level of shamelessness!
How could she do something so revolting?!
Could she even still be considered human?!
Jiang Xingyan had long since lost all reason. Her eyes were bloodshot, the corners of her eyes splitting apart. She raised her hand to strike, but the Immortal Nun Buer had already cast a immobilization spell, freezing her in place.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Old Madam Huo, like a madwoman, raised her hand and slapped her own old face four times, hard.
For a moment, the entire hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath.
Xiao Ao gripped the armrest of the dragon throne tightly, his gaze dark and unreadable.
The Empress was so shocked her mind went blank. She didn’t know what to say.
Xiao Shi’an was so frightened she stood up, the handkerchief in her hand slipping to the floor. Her stomach churned violently, and she had to force herself to hold it in, her face pale from the discomfort.
Xiao Zhenhuai looked at Jiang Xingyan with eyes full of heartache.
He had once thought his own life was unfortunate enough.
He never imagined that Jiang Xingyan, as a woman, on the verge of marrying the man of her dreams, could still be schemed against to such an extent.
Xiao Chonghua had never been so dumbfounded in his life.
He felt like a complete fool, utterly stupefied. He could understand every single word, but when they were strung together, he couldn’t make sense of what they meant.
Could there really be such a venomous woman in this world?
If Shi’an married into that family, she’d be schemed against too, wouldn’t she?!
Imperial Physician Sun collapsed onto the ground. A man who had always been kind to others, he now felt a murderous impulse rising within him.
He had a granddaughter too. If his granddaughter were treated like this, he didn’t dare imagine what he might do.
Yun Chunfeng’s face was ashen. Even with shadows veiling his eyes, one could feel the gathering storm within him.
He only hated that he was now truly a mortal. Otherwise, he would have skinned that old hag alive and pulled out her tendons!
How dare she?!
The Immortal Nun Buer flicked her horsetail whisk, her voice cold as ice: “The first slap was for the evil of destroying someone’s innocence.
The second slap was for the wrong of seizing your daughter-in-law’s family property.
The third slap was for the crime of abusing private punishment and treating human life as worthless.
The fourth slap was for the arrogance of lying through your teeth and deceiving both people and the emperor.
From now on, every hour, you will personally slap this old face of yours.
No need to dirty anyone else’s hands.”
She turned to Imperial Physician Sun and said, “Bring another bowl of water.”
Imperial Physician Sun scrambled over and brought a fresh bowl of water.
The Immortal Nun Buer wasted no words. She decisively grabbed Yun Chunfeng and pricked his fingertip.
Yun Chunfeng had been in a state of madness just moments before. The sting of the prick brought back some of his reason.
Why did Master prick me?
Right after, Little Ya’s hand was also pricked.
Little Ya, who had been holding back endless grievance, used that little bit of pain to burst into loud sobs.
“Mother, I’m sorry.”
Tears of blood streamed from Jiang Xingyan’s eyes: “It’s not Little Ya’s fault.
Little Ya will always be Mother’s good girl. With Mother here, Little Ya, don’t cry.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Imperial Physician Sun, who had been staring intently at the second bowl of water, suddenly cried out: “It dissolved! It dissolved!”
“How can that be?!”
Shock after shock left everyone frozen like wooden statues.
This twist had come too fast.
The Immortal Nun Buer turned to the gradually clearing Yun Chunfeng and said, “The dream you cherished most and trespassed upon most in this life—it was real.”
Buzz!
Yun Chunfeng felt dizzy, but his arms held Little Ya tightly.
“It was real?
It was real!”
Yun Chunfeng murmured.
He had once had an absurd, beautiful dream.
He dreamed that he and the young mistress had become husband and wife, on their wedding night.
The young mistress was drunk, her beautiful phoenix eyes curved, exuding a different kind of allure.
Before he could say anything, the young mistress took the initiative to wrap her arm around his, softly collapsing into his embrace.
He thought it was a dream, so he didn’t refuse.
The love and desire hidden deep in his heart finally found its deepest release.
“Young mistress, I’m Yun’er.”
In the dream, the young mistress was dazed, her cheeks flushed, her whole body burning. She recognized no one—not even herself.
He seemed to catch a whiff of a strange fragrance, and for a moment, he suddenly became lucid.
“This is—aphrodisiac?!”
The so-called aphrodisiac was a cheap drug used in brothels to induce passion.
When Yun Chunfeng was young and fleeing, he had secretly scavenged for food in brothels and knew how potent this drug was.
Now he saw that the young mistress had been given a full dose of the aphrodisiac. If she didn’t find release in time, her life would be in danger.
Jiang Xingyan was in agony all over, clinging to Yun Chunfeng, her red lips pressing close. That delicate, girlish charm instantly shattered all of Yun Chunfeng’s reason.
It was just a dream anyway. He might as well indulge himself this once.
He scooped Jiang Xingyan up in his arms and plunged into the red silk bedcurtains.
He couldn’t remember the details of their intimacy, only that he had been more wild than he’d ever been in his life, until he lost all strength and fell asleep holding the young mistress.
He had always thought it was just an old dream with no cause.
Something to vent the love he had suppressed for years, so he could let go of the mortal world and cultivate properly under his master.
After all, the young mistress had married her great hero as she wished.
He shouldn’t have any improper thoughts.
Why was it that today, Master told him it wasn’t a dream—it was real!
And Little Ya was actually his and the young mistress’s daughter.
No wonder Little Ya had been so affectionate when she first met him. No wonder Little Ya had such a strong ability to sense danger.
She was his daughter!
Yun Chunfeng’s hands trembled slightly as he held Little Ya.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
“Little—Little Ya…”
Thud! Thud!
Jiang Xingyan and Huo Ci simultaneously collapsed straight backward onto the ground.
