The Villain's Counterattack Chapter 33

Chapter 33 

"Grandfather? What's going on?" Xu Kaixuan glanced at Wei Cai'e, who was slumped on the ground, and did not rush to plead for her.

From the moment the door opened, the expressions of both people in the room had been changing. The killing intent around Xu Gandang had disappeared, and he simply watched Xu Kaixuan quietly. Wei Cai'e's eyes suddenly lit up, as if the most money-loving person had laid eyes on a mountain of gold.

"Wuu wuu, Kaixuan, Kaixuan, quick, persuade the Marquis. Mother really didn't do it on purpose. It's just that last night there was some commotion on your grandmother's side, so I was busy all night. This morning I genuinely forgot by accident that the Song woman was supposed to return home for a visit. Wuu wuu, Kaixuan, how could Mother possibly harm you? You are my only son, my very life. For you—"

"Mother!" Xu Kaixuan's brows furrowed tightly as he let out a low rebuke, cutting off Wei Cai'e's crying. He took a deep breath before turning to cup his hands and bow toward Xu Gandang. "Grandfather, I bear part of the responsibility for today's matter as well. It was my negligence that led to this outcome."

Wei Cai'e was still kneeling on the ground, silenced by Xu Kaixuan's low rebuke. But when she heard these words, the unwillingness in her eyes was plain for anyone to see.

Xu Gandang said nothing, merely watching the mother and son quietly.

Xu Kaixuan cupped his hands again, his brows furrowing even tighter. "Grandfather, two days ago I discovered a rather formidable group of  mountain bandits on the outskirts of the capital. After several days of planning, today we captured all of them, and along the way rescued Censor Wang's youngest son."

"Censor Wang?"

"Yes. At the time, Censor Wang's youngest son, Wang Zi'ang, had been kidnapped by those mountain bandits. They originally planned to extort Censor Wang and then kill the hostage, but it happened that your grandson rescued him." After speaking, Xu Kaixuan stood quietly with his body slightly bowed, not moving.

Xu Gandang stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. "If it's Censor Wang's boy, then this matter... Very well. I'm old too. You can handle what comes next yourself. After all, the Marquis of Jing'an household will be handed to you in the future. Whether it becomes a flower or a pile of shit by then will depend on your own fortune."

Xu Gandang rose and patted Xu Kaixuan on the shoulder. Ignoring the person slumped on the ground, he returned to his Juxian Courtyard.

"Wuu wuu, my son, Mother has finally waited for you to come back!" The moment Xu Gandang stepped out of the hall, Wei Cai'e cried as if she had lost her husband. Outside the door, Xu Gandang's footsteps paused for a brief instant, and inside, the veins on Xu Kaixuan's forehead twitched along with it.

"Mother, I will handle this matter properly. You've had a tiring day today as well. Go back and rest now." Xu Kaixuan helped Wei Cai'e to her feet, frowning as he looked outside. Yang Momo and several maids scrambled in on hands and knees to take over supporting Wei Cai'e.

The group made their way out in a grand procession. When Xu Kaixuan saw that among them were even two second-class maids who had formerly served the Old Madam, his brow twitched and his expression grew even uglier.

Supported by the servants, Wei Cai'e had originally wanted to turn back and say something to Xu Kaixuan, but just so happened to catch that instant when his expression changed.

Wei Cai'e said nothing more and was quietly helped away.

The trip back from the main hall wasn't far. By the time the servants came to tell her that Xu Kaixuan had gone to the rear courtyard bathhouse to freshen up, Wei Cai'e was already sitting in her room.

It was already the sixth month, yet she felt nothing but a chill all around her.

No one understood those two—the grandfather and grandson of the Xu family—better than she did, especially Xu Gandang's ruthlessness. The Old Madam lying paralyzed in bed was the best proof of that. Her son's heart was certainly inclined toward her, but as long as that old bastard lived, her son would be constrained in everything he did.

What Xu Gandang valued most was the glory and face of the Marquis of Jing'an household. That scene just now...

Wei Cai'e raised her hand and bit her thumbnail, her whole body becoming agitated. Xu Gandang did not want her to live anymore. Xu Gandang thought she had brought shame to the Marquis of Jing'an household.

That old bastard wanted her dead!

A strange light flickered in Wei Cai'e's eyes, and she became frenzied. "Someone come."

Yang Momo scrambled in on hands and knees. When she saw Wei Cai'e's agitated, eerie expression, her scalp went numb. And what Wei Cai'e said next made her wish she could flee to the ends of the earth.

Unfortunately, she could not.

In the rear courtyard of the Marquis of Jing'an household, a hot spring pavilion had been specially set aside. Xu Kaixuan soaked inside for a full half-hour before coming out. He had changed out of his armor and into a moon-white scholar's robe.

His handsome features now seemed gentler. As he walked from the rear courtyard to his Linlang Pavilion, Xu Kaixuan thought the whole way. If Madam Song hadn't made that scene today, his success in suppressing the bandits would have been more than enough to make up for the household's neglect of the Song daughter.

It wasn't that it couldn't be covered up now, but it always fell just a little short—not quite perfect.

Stepping into Linlang Pavilion, Xu Kaixuan was startled by the desolation before him. As far as he could see, only one or two unfamiliar servants were moving about. He immediately understood what was going on, and the veins on his forehead twitched uncontrollably again.

He shot a glare at his personal servant with a dark expression, but fortunately the one attending him still had some sense. "This servant will go see what's going on right away."

Xu Kaixuan took a deep breath and then stepped forward again. To be precise, since the wedding he had not really taken a good look at his new wife. On their wedding night they had enjoyed themselves thoroughly, but he had been heavily drunk at the time and had not clearly seen the person beneath him. If not for the sense of release the next day, he might even have doubted whether he had shared a bed with anyone at all.

What a woman in the inner courtyard sought was nothing more than a bit of her husband's pity. Xu Kaixuan raised his chin slightly, his gaze sharp. At most he would give her some favor. Surely, if she had any brains at all, she would not make trouble again.

Having thought this through, Xu Kaixuan's steps became more assured.

His confident stride faltered the moment he stepped through the door of the main room.

Xu Kaixuan looked at the two people inside and froze. The young woman who should have been his wife had a pallid face, her clothes hanging loose on her frame, making her look not just skin and bones but on the verge of death.

That face...

Xu Kaixuan was dazed for a moment, feeling that the face bore some resemblance to the woman he admired. But a thick layer of powder had been applied—a white base with red rouge.

When she saw him enter, she turned in alarm. The movement was so large that one could even see powder flaking off and drifting down.

Xu Kaixuan stopped dead at the doorway.

"Madam has had a hard few days. Your husband has been truly busy with military affairs these past days, which is why you have been neglected. I hope Madam will be understanding."

"N-no, it's, it's fine. No problem." Song Yao feigned a bit of timidity and hurriedly rose from the table. But the moment she stood, her legs gave way and she nearly fell.

Xu Kaixuan called out "careful" from the doorway and made as if to step forward. By the time Zhao Cuihua hurriedly steadied Song Yao, Xu Kaixuan had also moved to the side with a measure of concern.

"Are you all right, Madam? It seems the household physician is not skilled enough to restore your health. I have already sent for a renowned doctor to come to the residence. You must take good care of yourself."

Xu Kaixuan was handsome, and at this moment those affectionate eyes were fixed directly on Song Yao. Zhao Cuihua, merely standing to the side, felt her face flush at that low voice and gentle gaze, and could not help stealing several more glances at Song Yao.

The one being watched raised his head timidly, nervously twisting his handkerchief. "Th-thank you. May I ask if it would be possible to have the main kitchen send two meals a day? Only one meal is sent, and I'm really a bit hungry."

"..." Zhao Cuihua's stirring spring feelings froze instantly, and she even quickly glanced at the handsome Young General Xu. It was absolutely not her imagination—in that instant, the young general seemed to stiffen for a moment.

"N-no, is it not allowed? I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made such an unreasonable request. I just saw that Zhao Momo and the others go hungry every day just so I could eat a little more. Wuu wuu, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Song Yao's small, choked sobs came as tears streamed down his face.

The tears cut two streaks through the powder on his face. Zhao Cuihua clutched her belly... her heart aching as she rushed over to support Song Yao again.

"Wuu wuu, young miss, please don't say that. It's all because we servants are useless. Once we turn over the soil in the rear courtyard, we can plant some vegetables..." Here Zhao Cuihua seemed to realize who the true master of this place was.

The old and the young both looked at Xu Kaixuan with gazes that were fearful, frightened, and yet longing. Zhao Cuihua did not dare say anything more, and Song Yao could only summon the courage and ask in a small voice, "Can we plant vegetables out back? If not, I could sell my dowry..."

"Enough!" Xu Kaixuan's vision went dark and he nearly fainted. When he saw that the old and young pair on the other side were about to roll their eyes and truly faint—even more readily than he was—he hastily corrected himself. "I'm not angry at you. It's just that as Xu Kaixuan's wife, you must never reach the point of growing your own vegetables!"

Looking at the two huddled together, frightened into tears, Xu Kaixuan found it hard to breathe. "From now on, three meals a day will be delivered to the courtyard on time and in full quantity. "Here are one hundred taels in silver notes — take them. If you need anything, just send the servants to buy it. From now on, I will give you my monthly military pay as well. All right, you've had a tiring day. Rest early."

Xu Kaixuan fled in defeat. Inside the room, there was no longer any sign of the bedraggled, weeping figure. Song Yao expressionlessly tossed the hundred taels in silver notes to Zhao Cuihua, as if holding them a moment longer would dirty his hands.

Zhao Cuihua now understood how things really stood. Happily, she tucked the silver notes into her bosom.

In this world, was there anything more reliable than silver?

Song Yao sat back down at the table, the earlier weakness gone, leaving only docility. He propped his chin on both hands and gazed eagerly toward the door.

Zhao Cuihua knew what Song Yao was waiting for. She fingered the silver notes tucked in her bosom, turned the words over in her mouth a couple of times, and still couldn't help but add a reminder.

Song Yao didn't even spare her a glance. He happily propped his chin in his hands and gazed toward the doorway. "I'm a man too, you know."

Zhao Cuihua opened her mouth to speak again, but in the end, she swallowed her words.