Fenghua Pavilion.
Zhong Lanhua pushed Xiao Yanci while cursing, the latter let her hit him a few times. At first, he endured it, but seeing her relentlessness, his patience ran out, and he pushed her forcefully.
Zhong Lanhua fell to the ground, staring at Xiao Yanci in astonishment, her eyes full of anger.
"Oh, I fed you, clothed you, and gave you an education, and you dare hit me? I think you’re an ungrateful wretch. I should never have let you study; you should have remained a lowly slave for life."
Jiang Yihui chimed in from the side: "Right, his household registration should be changed back, let him continue being a slave. Mom, you don’t know how arrogant he is at the academy, completely disregarding me, his master."
Xiao Yanci looked at the mother and son’s ugly faces, a flash of disgust in his eyes.
In the past life, they didn’t treat him like this. Back then, Jiang Yihuan followed him without status, he felt guilty towards the Jiang Family. He secretly arranged a job for Jiang Yihui and gave Silver to Zhong Lanhua to start a shop. Jiang Yihui was inept, even when given a cushy position, he managed to mess things up. Xiao Yanci repeatedly helped him for Jiang Yihuan’s sake. Zhong Lanhua’s business also did poorly, always losing money. Xiao Yanci kept supplementing it. At that time, the Jiang Family treated him diligently, unlike their current sinister, ugly demeanor.
Perhaps, this was their true face.
In the past life, he had an official position; naturally, they flattered him. Now he was just a poor scholar, and they were so nasty and mean.
If it weren’t for Jiang Yihuan, he would have left long ago. They wanted to revert his household registration to slave status, but it depended on whether the Mountain Master and teachers agreed.
"Hmm..." Jiang Yihuan let out a low moan.
Hearing Jiang Yihuan, Zhong Lanhua forgot about causing trouble for Xiao Yanci and ran over: "Huan’er, my daughter, you’re finally awake."
If anything happens to her, there’s no one to control those fish, all those benefits she’s been getting would vanish.
All these years, the mother and daughter lived almost entirely off those fish, spending little money. Jiang Yihuan was valuable; nothing must happen to her.
Jiang Yihuan looked at Xiao Yanci behind Zhong Lanhua and suddenly covered her face in fear, crying, "Don’t come near, don’t look at me, I’m so ugly now..."
Seeing her like this, Xiao Yanci felt heartbroken: "You’re not ugly. Huan’er, don’t be afraid."
"Those words are lies. You must think I’m ugly and don’t want to see me anymore." Jiang Yihuan hid under the covers, crying, "I was seriously ill, broke out in sores just like the others. Though my illness is healed, scars remain on my face, I’ve become so ugly, so ugly. Go away, I don’t want you to see me like this, go away..."
"How did you fall ill? Where have you been these days? I thought you’d already left the mountain."
"That day I went to wash clothes for you, and fainted on the road. When I woke up, I was sick and confined to a room. I was dizzy, unaware of anything; when I became conscious, all I saw was the little monk who brought me medicine and food. I heard others had gone to a nearby city to aid sick people. The monk said I became the only patient there and couldn’t contact others; he left after delivering food and medicine at set times. Alone, I waited for death, believing I wouldn’t survive. I missed you so much, Brother Xiao... I must look so ugly now, don’t look at me, please..."
"Xiao Ci, did you hear? My daughter fell ill washing clothes for you. You better not despise her, or you’ll have to deal with me." Zhong Lanhua glared at Xiao Yanci.
Jiang Yihuan did indeed have a few marks on her face, but not many. They appeared deep now but would fade in time. They’ve seen many patients and understood the situation.
Jiang Yihuan covered herself, crying sorrowfully.
Jiang Yihui felt irritated, muttered ’serves you right,’ and left.
He had barely left the academy and didn’t want to waste time listening to Jiang Yihuan’s wailing; he needed to find his Little Hongxing.
Jiang Yihuan was doing it on purpose.
She knew well that the scars on her face weren’t many, and could be covered with rouge, not affecting her appearance at all. But she wanted to cry, make Xiao Yanci feel guilty, forget previous unhappiness, make him feel pity, and have her as the only one in his heart.
She mustn’t truly become ugly. Once truly ugly, she would never gain a man’s true love, only his rejection. A man’s love for a woman is based on the premise that she elicits sympathy. Once she becomes a hideous beast, which man would cherish such a woman?
Upon hearing that Jiang Yihuan fell ill washing clothes for him, Xiao Yanci comforted her at the bedside: "Huan’er, I’m not such a person; don’t you trust me? My feelings for you will not be affected by such matters."
"Then will you marry me?" Jiang Yihuan poked her little head out, revealing her aggrieved eyes.
Xiao Yanci didn’t answer immediately but hesitated.
He should have agreed immediately.
In the past life, he wanted so much to marry Jiang Yihuan, make her his legitimate wife, give their child a status. But he hesitated, even thought of Su Yaoguang.
He remembered Su Yaoguang waiting at the courtyard gate every night, remembered her moments of sewing for him, remembered Su Yaoguang learning to make various exquisite pastries for him.
"You’re unwilling?" Jiang Yihuan’s eyes flashed with different colors.
She intentionally mentioned marriage to test Xiao Yanci’s attitude. It seemed Xiao Yanci indeed wavered for Wen Family.
Yes, while she wasn’t by his side, that wench from the Wen Family must have seduced him using every trick. What man could resist a woman’s seduction, especially from the seductive, slightly attractive Wen Family fox?
"No, I was thinking you’re a bit unsettled now, let’s discuss after you calm down. If you still wish then, I’d definitely marry you."
"Here I am, and you’re discussing marriage already; have you considered if I agree?" Zhong Lanhua said impatiently.
"Mom, please allow me and Brother Xiao!" Jiang Yihuan pleaded, holding Zhong Lanhua’s hand, "I truly love him; without him, I don’t want to live."
Zhong Lanhua sneered: "Fine, then go die! So pathetic, seeking death for a man—is that my daughter? Xiao, if you want to marry my daughter, you must at least pass the scholar exam."
"Rest assured, if I can’t even pass the scholar exam, I wouldn’t dare have Huan’er suffer with me." Xiao Yanci said, "I won’t just pass the scholar exam, I’ll become Champion Scholar, let Huan’er become Champion Scholar’s wife."
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