Chapter 160: Guilt
Fenghua Pavilion.
Zhong Lanhua pushed and hit Xiao Yanci while cursing under her breath. He let her hit him several times, enduring it at first, but later, seeing she had no intention of stopping, he lost patience and forcefully pushed her away.
Zhong Lanhua fell to the ground and looked at Xiao Yanci in astonishment, her eyes full of anger.
“Fine, the old lady provided for your food, clothing, and studies, and you dare to hit the old lady? I see you’re just an ungrateful person. I shouldn’t have let you study back then; I should have made you a lowly slave for life.”
Jiang Yihui chimed in from the side: “Right, his household registration should be changed back, making him a slave again. Mom, you don’t know how arrogant he was at the academy; he didn’t take me, his master, seriously at all.”
Xiao Yanci looked at the ugly faces of this mother and son, disgust flashing in his eyes.
In his previous life, they hadn’t treated him like this. Back then, Jiang Yihuan had followed him without name or status, and he felt especially guilty toward the Jiang family. He secretly arranged an errand for Jiang Yihui and used silver to help Zhong Lanhua open a shop. Jiang Yihui was an incompetent person; even with a leisurely position arranged for him, he still managed to mess everything up. For Jiang Yihuan’s sake, he helped him sort it out time and again. Zhong Lanhua’s business also did poorly, always losing money. He subsidized silver into it time and again. At that time, everyone in the Jiang family, from top to bottom, was attentive and thoughtful toward him. How could they be as hideous and ugly as now?
Perhaps this was their true face.
In his previous life, he already had an official position, so of course they fawned over him. Now that he was just a poor scholar with nothing, they were so sharp-tongued and harsh.
If not for Jiang Yihuan, he would have turned and left by now. If they wanted to change his household registration back to slave status, that would depend on whether the headmaster and teachers agreed.
“Mm…” Jiang Yihuan let out a low murmur.
Hearing Jiang Yihuan’s voice, Zhong Lanhua ignored troubling Xiao Yanci and hurried over: “Huan’er, my daughter, you’ve finally woken up.”
If anything happened to her, no one would control those fish, and all the cheap benefits they usually got would be gone.
Over these years, almost everything she and her son ate and used had been sent by those fish, without spending much money. Jiang Yihuan was very valuable; nothing could happen to her.
Jiang Yihuan looked at Xiao Yanci behind Zhong Lanhua and suddenly covered her face in terror, crying as she said: “Don’t come over, don’t look at me. I’m so ugly right now…”
Seeing her like this, Xiao Yanci felt heartbroken: “You’re not ugly. Huan’er, don’t be afraid.”
“Those are just deceiving words. You definitely think I’m ugly and don’t want to see me again.” Jiang Yihuan hid under the quilt, crying as she said, “I got such a serious illness and grew pus-filled blisters like those people. Now that I’m better, marks remain on my face. I’ve become so ugly, so ugly. Go out, I don’t want you to see me like this. Go out…”
“How did you get sick? Where have you been these days? I thought you had gone down the mountain long ago.”
“That day I went to wash your clothes and fainted on the road. When I woke up, I was sick and locked in a room. I was dazed and knew nothing. When I regained some awareness, I only saw the little monk who brought medicine and food. I heard the others had gone to the neighboring city to help the patients there. The little monk said I was the only patient left and couldn’t contact others, so he brought food and medicine at set times and left. I was alone there waiting to die, thinking I wouldn’t survive. I missed you so much, Xiao Gege… I’m definitely very ugly now. Don’t look at me, please, boo hoo…”
“Xiao Ci, did you hear? My daughter got sick because she was washing clothes for you. If you dare despise her, I’ll never let you off.” Zhong Lanhua glared at Xiao Yanci and said.
There were indeed a few marks on Jiang Yihuan’s face, but not many. They looked a bit deep now, but would fade after some time. They had seen so many patients already and knew what the situation was.
Jiang Yihuan covered herself and cried so sadly.
Jiang Yihui grew annoyed listening and cursed “Serves you right” before going out.
He had finally come out of the academy and didn’t want to waste time here listening to Jiang Yihuan wail; he needed to hurry and find his little affair.
Jiang Yihuan was doing it on purpose.
She knew the scars on her face weren’t many and could be covered with cosmetics, not affecting her appearance at all. But she insisted on crying, crying to make Xiao Yanci feel guilty, crying to make him forget all previous displeasure, crying to make him feel pity, so from then on, she was the only one in his heart.
She couldn’t really become ugly. Once truly ugly, she would absolutely not get a man’s true heart’s love, only his disgust. A man’s love for a woman was based on her being pitiable; once that woman really became an ugly monster, which man would pity such a woman?
Hearing that Jiang Yihuan got sick from washing his clothes, Xiao Yanci stayed by the bed coaxing her: “Huan’er, I’m not that kind of person. Don’t you believe me? My feelings for you absolutely won’t be affected by these things.”
“Then will you marry me?” Jiang Yihuan poked out her small head, revealing a pair of aggrieved eyes.
Xiao Yanci didn’t answer immediately but hesitated.
He should have agreed outright.
In his previous life, he had so wanted to marry Jiang Yihuan, making her his rightful wife and giving their child status. But in that instant just now, he hesitated and even thought of Su Yaoguang.
He recalled every night Su Yaoguang waited at the courtyard entrance, every moment she did needlework for him, every time she learned to make various exquisite pastries for him.
“You won’t?” A strange glint flashed in Jiang Yihuan’s eyes.
She had deliberately brought up the wedding to test Xiao Yanci’s attitude. Now it seemed this Xiao Yanci had really been swayed by Wen Shi.
It made sense; she hadn’t been by his side lately, so that bitch Wen Shi must have used every means to seduce him. Men, how could they resist a woman’s seduction, especially from a vixen like Wen Shi with some charm.
“No, I was thinking you’re not calm right now. We’ll talk when you’re calm. If you still want to then, I will definitely marry you.”
“I’m still here, and you’re already talking about marriage. Have you considered whether I’d agree?” Zhong Lanhua said impatiently.
“Mom, just let me and Xiao Gege be together!” Jiang Yihuan grabbed Zhong Lanhua’s hand and begged through tears. “I really love him. Without him, I don’t want to live.”
Zhong Lanhua sneered: “Fine, then go die! What a disgrace, seeking life and death for a man. Are you even my daughter? Mr. Xiao, if you want to marry my daughter, at least pass the juren exam first.”
“Don’t worry. If I can’t even pass juren, I wouldn’t dare let Huan’er suffer with me.” Xiao Yanci said, “Not only will I pass juren, I’ll become the top scholar, making Huan’er the top scholar’s wife.
