After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 40
After Huo Xi was taken away by his wet nurse, Madam Gao remembered that due to Huo Xi’s exceptional admission into the Imperial Academy, many noblewomen from prestigious families had become extremely curious about his birth mother, Mrs. Fang. She anticipated that many would seek to befriend her at the upcoming Qianqiu Banquet.
Madam Gao, not wanting Ruan An’s ambitions to become too apparent, decided to use this opportunity to subtly advise her. She asked Ruan An, “Huo Xi is truly intelligent. When you were in your hometown in Shu, with no parents around, how did you manage to raise such a prodigy on your own? Did you hire a tutor for him?”
This question, while seemingly curious about Huo Xi and Ruan An’s past, also subtly denigrated Ruan An’s premarital pregnancy.
Madam Gao intended to use this conversation to dampen Ruan An’s spirits.
Even though Huo Pingxiao had taken advantage of Ruan An back then, the fact that lady Fang had an unarranged, impromptu relationship was undeniable.
It was only because the current era was more liberal than the previous dynasty, and the Huo family was powerful, that no one dared to speak out. Otherwise, lady Fang would have been the subject of much criticism in any other noble family.
Huo Lang had agreed to marry her partly because she was a Fang and also because he had feelings for his late wife, Da Fang.
Thinking this, Madam Gao looked calmly at Ruan An, hoping she would understand her place and not act too rashly.
Ruan An quickly understood the hidden meaning in Madam Gao’s words. Before she could respond, she felt the gaze of He Xingruo on her, making her slightly uncomfortable. Ruan An glanced at He Xingruo.
He Xingruo didn’t look away, and Ruan An saw a sense of superiority in her eyes.
That look was like someone observing a woman of ill-repute.
Ruan An had been an orphan since birth, without siblings, and had spent her childhood and adolescence in Xinghua (Apricot flower) Village, surrounded by close female friends. She had pleasant interactions with girls like Xiao Tao, and although they occasionally had minor conflicts, they never engaged in manipulative schemes against each other.
However, once Ruan An entered Chang’an City in her previous life, she realized that there were many people like He Xingruo.
They were jealous and competitive, and if they couldn’t outdo someone, they would resort to malicious schemes.
Ruan An still remembered two ladies-in-waiting of similar age in the Eastern Palace, who were just like He Xingruo, always competing over trivial matters.
The Crown Prince’s wife, Li Shuying, had unmatched living standards, but if one lady-in-waiting received a lively and adorable brushwood dog from the Crown Prince, the other would surely get a blue-eyed cat imported from Persia.
If one used sandalwood incense from Kunlun, the other would insist on using superior frankincense from the South Sea.
The Eastern Palace, located west of the Forbidden City, was smaller than the imperial palace but still more regulated than a noble residence. The residences of the various concubines weren’t close to each other.
Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the infighting among the consorts became unbearable.
With a glance, the women of the palace saw the heavens in all directions. The fathers of these consorts were former dynasty officials, and their status in the palace often determined their family’s status outside. This involved factional struggles, and the consorts had to compete for the emperor’s favor.
But what was He Xingruo aiming for?
As far as Ruan An knew, Huo Changjue was gentle in nature and kind to his wife. She couldn’t understand why He Xingruo always seemed to want to see her embarrassed.
Ruan An indifferently withdrew her gaze and replied to Madam Gao, “Before the Marquis went to war, he left some gold and silver for this daughter-in-law, so I hired a tutor to start Huo Xi’s education in Shu.”
Madam Gao nodded and added, “Well, you did have the foresight not to neglect our Huo family’s child.”
“But you should also be aware of an old saying, ‘Excessive kindness can be harmful.’ While it’s good that Huo Xi is young and intelligent, you must also ensure he takes care of his health and not push him too hard.”
He Xingruo, seeing Ruan An’s delicate eyebrows furrow upon hearing the phrase “Excessive kindness can be harmful,” smirked and added, “Yes, sister-in-law, you must have heard the story of Cao Chong weighing the elephant. Emperor Wei Wu’s most beloved son, Cao Chong, was naturally talented beyond ordinary people, but he tragically died at the age of twelve from a poisonous mouse bite…”
“Do you know what you’re saying? Are you cursing my son to die early?”
He Xinruo’s words were interrupted by Ruan An’s fierce voice. She suddenly splashed the tea water from her hand onto He Xinruo’s face.
A few green tea leaves stuck to He Xinruo’s face, and the tea water also diluted the makeup on her face. Before He Xinruo could react to what had happened, she saw a sharp look flash in Ruan An’s delicate apricot eyes.
He Xinruo and her maidservant behind her were intimidated by Ruan An’s fierce gaze and didn’t immediately wipe the tea off their faces and hair.
“Elder sister-in-law! I was just persuading you together with mother-in-law, how could you splash tea on me?”
What He Xinruo had just said was deliberately provocative, trying to fan the flames and shift the blame, causing Ruan An to lose her temper in front of Madam Gao.
After all, it was Madam Gao, not her, who first brought up the topic.
But she didn’t expect that this cousin of the Fang family would directly target her.
Madam Gao was also shocked by Ruan An’s behavior, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. He Xinruo really shouldn’t have spoken like that in front of her cousin. After all, she had raised Huo Xi alone over the years, and her relationship with Huo Xi was deeper than that of an ordinary mother and son.
Everyone has a maternal instinct. Wasn’t He Xinruo poking at her heart?
Thinking of this, Madam Gao didn’t dare to show any bias against He Xinruo in front of Ruan An and the other servants.
“Second brother’s wife, you better apologize to your elder sister-in-law. How could you be so foolish to say such things?”
Madam Gao finished speaking, thinking that this would appease Ruan An.
However, when He Xinruo reluctantly got up from her chair to apologize to Ruan An.
She saw the look in the beauty’s eyes, cold and unchildlike, resembling a deep, bottomless ancient well, exuding a ghostly aura, which made her shudder.
Isn’t Lady Fang still not even twenty years old? How could she have such a chilling look?
Such a resentful look should belong to an old woman who has experienced much hardship.
He Xinruo’s spine broke out in a thin layer of sweat.
“If you can’t control your mouth next time, what I splash on your face won’t be tea of this temperature.”
Ruan An’s tone was no longer as gentle and warm as usual, but rather distinctly cold.
He Xinruo’s eyes widened in shock, seeing that Madam Gao was not willing to speak for her, she could only tremble and retort: “Elder sister-in-law, you are too domineering. After all, I am also a legitimate daughter-in-law of this family, how can you humiliate me like this?”
“I am the wife of the Marquis of Dingbei, and your elder sister-in-law. If you speak out of turn, can’t I discipline you?”
“I…”
He Xinruo was at a loss for words and couldn’t respond.
Ruan An then turned to look at Madam Gao, who was sitting at the head of the table, and spoke with respectful tone: “Mother-in-law, today, in front of me, lady He said such rebellious words. If you don’t punish her, or if the way you punish her is unsatisfactory to me, I will have to discuss this matter with the Marquis.”
Madam Gao was somewhat flustered. If Huo Pingxiao or the Marquis learned of this, she would also be implicated.
How could He Xinruo be so thoughtless? Why did she provoke the Fang family cousin?
She is the mistress of this family and an elder, so she can give a few pointers to Ruan An.
But given He Xinruo’s status, she really has no right to speak to Ruan An in such a manner.
Thinking of this, Madam Gao replied helplessly, “Lady Fang, please calm down. How about this? We confine Lady He for a month and punish her to copy a hundred scriptures to atone for her foul speech.”
“Since mother-in-law has suggested punishing Lady He by copying scriptures, why not reduce her meals too? During this month of confinement, she should only eat vegetarian food. This will help her cleanse her mind and spirit, preventing her from speaking out of turn and being so bold.”
“Ah, that’s a good idea.”
Madam Gao sighed, feeling that this was better than Lady Fang making a fuss and disturbing the peace of their household by involving Huo Pingxiao.
She hadn’t expected that the cousin from the Fang family, usually so gentle, timid, and rabbit-like, could be so terrifying when angered.
It seems that after spending so much time with the formidable Huo, she had adopted some of his arrogant air.
She’s not someone to provoke.
The tea on He Xinruo’s face had already soaked into her clothing. Hearing Madam Gao and Ruan An settling on her punishment in just a few words, He Xinruo couldn’t help but tremble with anger.
Lady Fang, that despicable woman, relying on her status as the eldest sister-in-law, not only punished her to confinement and scripture copying, but also reduced her meals, forcing her to eat vegetarian for a month?!
Since childhood, He Xinruo had been pampered and never lacked fine food and clothing. Her mother had never been strict with her about food.
But due to the circumstances, she had no choice but to grit her teeth, bow her head to Ruan An in apology, and accept the punishment.
“Eldest sister-in-law… I misspoke today, please forgive me…”
As He Xinruo said these words, she lowered her head, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
After all, the cousin from the Fang family now only had Huo Xi as her precious son. Let her be overprotective of him.
After Huo Lang discussed state affairs with his officials in the study of Tongjian Garden, it was already late at night.
Steward Su entered in a hurry, saying respectfully, “My lord, the young master had a nightmare and refuses to sleep despite the nurse’s efforts.”
“What happened?”
Huo Lang’s tone was calm as he gestured for his servants to push his wheelchair.
Steward Su anxiously replied, “Ah, this old servant doesn’t know what’s wrong. The young master complained of a stomachache today and didn’t go to the Imperial Academy. He didn’t have his dinner after coming back either.”
Huo Lang, with a profound expression, twirled the jade ring on his thumb. After being wheeled out of the study, he saw lights suddenly lit in Madam Gao’s courtyard not far from Tongjian Garden, beyond the pink wall.
Seeing the unusual lights in Madam Gao’s courtyard, Huo Lang ordered Steward Su, “Send someone to ask in the main mother’s courtyard. Why are they lighting lamps after the curfew?”
“Yes, my lord.”
When they arrived at Huo Xi’s courtyard, Huo Lang could hear the boy’s sobbing from afar.
As the wheelchair approached Huo Xi, Huo Lang frowned and reprimanded in a stern voice, “Men should not easily shed tears. Crying and wailing in the middle of the night, what does this look like?”
Despite his stern tone, he still waved Huo Xi over.
Huo Xi, with tears in his eyes, approached, and Huo Lang asked, “What nightmare did you have?”
“Wuwuwu, I dreamed that my mother was pregnant with my sister.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Huo Lang asked, puzzled.
Huo Xi shook his head vigorously, chokingly replied, “No, it’s not good. My mother almost had a difficult birth with me. Wuwuwu, in my dream, she had a difficult birth again. She drank the wrong thing and bled a lot, a lot…”
“Wuu wuu wuu, my sister is gone, and my mother is gone too…”
Huo Lang gestured with his eyes to steward Su to wipe Huo Xi’s tears and said in a calm voice, “It’s just a dream. Your mother is at the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence, together with your father. Go back and rest well. After school tomorrow, I will have someone send you early to your mother.”
“Mmm~”
Huo Xi’s dark eyes were still brimming with tears, and he nodded pitifully.
After steward Su took Huo Xi to his bedroom, the person Huo Lang sent to the Gao family’s courtyard reported back, “My lord, it was lady He from the second house who suddenly felt unwell in the middle of the night. She sent a servant to ask for permission from the main house to get a pass for leaving the residence at night. That’s when they lit the lamps again in the main house’s courtyard.”
Huo Lang’s eyes gradually deepened, and he asked, “Where was lady He feeling unwell? Did you ask?”
“Yes, I did. She suddenly had unbearable stomach pain. By the way, my lord, today in the main hall, Madam Fang had some conflicts with Madam He. It’s said that Madam He was speaking out of turn, so the main house’s lady punished her with confinement.”
“Were they arguing in front of the young prince?”
“No, the young prince was indeed in the main hall for a while today. After the doctor who came to treat him left, the main house’s lady ordered the wet nurse to take him away. Alas, speaking of which, I saw the young prince in the tea room this morning, and he was fine. After Madam He spoke with him and the third son, the third son led the young prince out of the residence.”
After hearing this, Huo Lang narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “I’ve been ill for a few days and many government affairs have accumulated. It seems the women in the back house have not been quiet.”
The servant sensed that Huo Lang was just talking to himself and hummed in agreement.
“Send someone to the tea room to investigate tonight. In my residence, we cannot tolerate such sneaky tricks.”
“Yes.”
The next morning.
Huo Lang had official duties and had already left for the Ji Zhao Fu office.
He Xinruo’s lower abdomen had been in pain all night. She had always had some menstrual irregularities, and her mother would spend a lot of money each year to have a doctor treat her. Over the years, her menstrual pains had become less frequent.
But this time, her menstruation came with piercing pain in her lower abdomen, yet she couldn’t rest in bed because she had to get up and copy scriptures.
She had to spend at least six or seven hours a day to barely copy three volumes of these one hundred volumes of scriptures. She couldn’t afford any delay.
The maid handed over the medicine that had been simmered overnight and said respectfully, “Madam, this is the medicine prescribed by the doctor last night. Please drink it quickly.”
He Xinruo’s lips were pale, and she nodded weakly. After taking the medicine bowl, she felt she didn’t even have the strength to speak, let alone stand up from bed.
Just after drinking a few sips of the bitter medicine, she heard a maid outside the bedroom reporting respectfully, “Madam, steward Su from Tongjian Garden, has arrived. He wants to meet you in the guest hall.”
Steward Su?
Why was he looking for her?
He Xinruo felt puzzled, but since Su was someone Huo Lang trusted most, she didn’t dare to neglect him. Despite the pain in her abdomen, she let the maid help her to the side hall.
When she arrived at the side hall, just as He Xinruo was about to find a round-backed chair to sit down.
If she didn’t sit and rest, she felt she would almost pass out from the pain.
Steward Su, had a calm expression but said, “Madam He, our lord has instructed that the message I am to convey to you today, you must listen to it on your knees.”