Chapter 44: She Was Waiting for Her Daughter’s Praise

Chapter 44: She Was Waiting for Her Daughter's Praise

In recent days, she had long conversations with her mother.

When talking about how her mother had struggled to protect her and her brother in the palace, Xiaoyao felt extremely guilty.

If it weren't for Xiao Xi'er being a little fairy, incredibly powerful, perhaps Xiao Xi'er wouldn't be here either, Lin'er wouldn't have woken up, and she might have been killed by those scoundrels in the general's mansion soon enough.

"Princess, there's really no secret. It was just that Hong'er's distant cousin needed money for a wedding and daughter's marriage, so they borrowed some silver from me. They promised to repay it with interest, so I thought using the silver from the treasury would be fine, after all, there is interest, right!" Hu Shi said.

"Very well, then within three days, collect it back. This silver will be used as military pay, so don't delay the supply to the border guards!" Xiaoyao finished, turned around, and took Xiao Xi'er from Dong Ju's arms, saying, "At noon three days from now, I will check the amount!"

"Yes, yes, Princess, rest assured, I will definitely get it back!" Hu Shi said with a grim face, turning and walking out on her own.

Xu Ruzhen got up from the ground and almost ran away from Mozhu Garden.

Xiaoyao patted her daughter, a smile forming at the corner of her lips, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Tsk, Mother is awesome. That's how a princess should behave. With the Empress Dowager and Uncle's love, we can walk sideways!" Ling Yue, satisfied, fell asleep.

Xiaoyao smiled, her eyes sparkling.

She was waiting for her daughter's praise!

For three days, Xiaoyao stayed in Mozhu Garden without leaving. She had Dong Ju and Lady Qin pack up all the valuable items, including her usual jewelry, into boxes.

Meanwhile, in the other courtyards of the general's mansion, things were not peaceful.

In Qinghe Garden, Xu Ruzhen's face, slapped in the palace, was still bruised and discolored, looking patchy.

Shangguan Jingzhe finally returned; he had been leading troops out of the city recently and only came back these past two days.

On his way back to the capital, he heard about what happened in the Shangguan residence and the palace, so he did not go home immediately but instead went to a gambling house to play a few rounds, returning quietly at night.

Xu Ruzhen cried, and Shangguan Jingzhe frowned deeply.

This woman, who used to be somewhat attractive, had become uglier over the years, with a bad temper and personality. Compared to the lady of Mozhu Garden, she was worlds apart, making Shangguan Jingzhe increasingly disgusted with her.

Seeing her haggard and bruised face now, he couldn't bear to look at her anymore.

"What should we do? Speak up! How could she treat us like this? And my mother-in-law, how dare she blame everything on me? I only got two pieces of jewelry, while my mother-in-law took the rest. Now, everything is blamed on me. If worse comes to worst, we'll both die together!" Xu Ruzhen cried.

"You said your mother took one-third of that woman's dowry?" Shangguan Jingzhe asked.

"Yes!" Xu Ruzhen nodded.

At night.

Baby Ruo Xi was feeding when voices sounded outside the courtyard.

"Is Princess Sister-in-law here? Jingzhe has returned and wants to see my niece!" a man's voice called out, which made Baby Ruo Xi inexplicably displeased.

"Her Highness has retired for the night. Second Young Master, please come back tomorrow during the day," Dong Ju stopped Shangguan Jingzhe in the courtyard.

"I brought gifts, Dong Ju. Your master hasn't spoken yet, and besides, the light in this room is still on. Why are you shooing me away?" Shangguan Jingzhe said, stepping forward.

"Whoosh!"

A flash of light appeared.

Being a martial general, Shangguan Jingzhe quickly dodged and retreated.

"Leave Mozhu Garden!" Baiyu appeared, sheathing his sword coldly.

"Guardian Bai, I just wanted to see my niece and brought gifts!" Shangguan Jingzhe said sheepishly, fearing Baiyu.

"The princess and the young county princess are resting. If you want to see the young county princess, come back tomorrow during the day!" Baiyu said coldly.

Shangguan Jingzhe was chased away, but he left the gift behind.

Dong Ju didn't take it, so it remained in the courtyard.

In the middle of the night.

Baby Ruo Xi woke up hungry, wondering whether to call her mother for a feed when she heard noises in the courtyard.

"Hmph, Shangguan Jingzhe, at this hour... asking for trouble!"

Xiaoyao, waking several times each night to feed her daughter, slept deeply.

Baby Ruo Xi listened to the sounds outside, sniffing: "Hmph, using Western Regions' smoke, odorless and colorless. Even if you're a god, you'd be knocked out."

A cold sneer entered her ears as the door was pushed open, and Shangguan Jingzhe, dressed in black, walked in.

"If I just kill him now, isn't that too easy?" Baby Ruo Xi thought.

"Tsk, this beauty, the boss enjoyed her for so many years. I wonder what it feels like..." Shangguan Jingzhe reached out to touch Xiaoyao's face but suddenly met a pair of eyes.

Since she needed to feed, Xiaoyao's room always had a candle lit. Now, the dark eyes in the cradle stared at the ugly man.

"Tsk, my scumbag father looks decent enough. Did that old witch Hu Shi throw the baby away and keep the placenta?"

"Hmph, I heard this little girl is quite evil, even bringing the emperor to court!" Shangguan Jingzhe said, reaching out to grab Baby Ruo Xi.

"Looking for death!" Ruo Xi's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a flicker of her thoughts—

"Ugh!"

Shangguan Jingzhe suddenly felt something pierce his body, sapping him of all strength and leaving him numb.

"Whoosh!"

A flash of light illuminated the room as the lamp beside them lit up once more.

Xiaoyao, who was lying on the bed, threw off the covers and sat up, showing no surprise at Shangguan Jingzhe's appearance.

Xiaoyao was fully dressed, and in this room, by the corner and next to the cabinet, stood Dong Ju and Baiyu, along with Lady Qin.

Seeing this scene, Ruo Xi's little face fell.

"Hmph, Mother had planned this all along, and I didn't even know!"

Xiaoyao couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time; her baby was truly amusing.

Heaven knows, the baby is young and loves to sleep. While she was asleep, her mother and Baiyu had discussed Shangguan Jingzhe's behavior, which is why they were waiting for him here!

"Ugh, ugh!"

Shangguan Jingzhe's tongue went numb, and he collapsed onto the ground.