Chapter 112: Fighting for Rights
Hua Liulang was extremely fond of storage magic tools. Eager to defeat He Dalang, he mustered infinite courage and perseverance. Even with weak combat experience, he became more courageous with every setback.
Watching He Dalang being pushed back step by step by Hua Liulang, Hua Changxi’s mood finally cleared up. However, the expressions of Third Master He, Hua Tai, and Hua Zhong turned somewhat grim.
All three of them could see that Hua Liulang was being pushed out by Hua Changxi to humiliate the Marquis’s Mansion.
Third Master He’s face was solemn. If his eldest grandson were injured by his concubine’s maternal family, he would surely be blamed by the first branch. He, who already had little say in the Marquis’s Mansion, would likely have an even harder time.
Thinking of this, Third Master He quickly looked at Hua Tai, signaling him to step forward and stop Hua Liulang.
Hua Tai’s face showed bitterness. As a mere mortal, how could he control the fight between cultivators?
Hua Liulang clearly listened to Hua Jiuniang, and he had no way to control Hua Jiuniang.
This girl had a rebellious nature. The first time they met, she showed little respect for him, an elder. Without Hua Bin to keep her in check, his words would be useless.
Seeing that he couldn’t rely on Hua Tai, Third Master He felt annoyed and turned his gaze to Hua Zhong.
Hua Zhong also made no move. He had come this time to side with Hua Bin’s family, to let Hua Bin’s family and other clan members know that the Earl’s Mansion was their backing. If anything happened to a Hua family daughter, the Earl’s Mansion would definitely come forward to support them.
He just hadn’t expected Hua Jiuniang to be so resolute, directly restricting the freedom of Third Master He and those around him, and now she was openly inciting Hua Liulang to fight He Dalang with all his might.
Did she not consider that doing so would offend the Marquis’s Mansion?
Hua Zhong glanced at Hua Changxi, who had been smiling all along, and his heart skipped a beat. This Ninth Young Woman was clearly displaying an attitude of not fearing offending the Marquis’s Mansion.
Who gave her the confidence?
Hua Zhong’s gaze shifted to Hua Liulang, who was engaged in a fierce battle. The number of cultivators in Hua Bin’s lineage was different from what the Earl’s Mansion had recorded, which was another unexpected development.
Besides Hua Liulang, were there any other cultivators in Hua Bin’s lineage?
Considering Hua Shiniang’s identity, Hua Zhong suspected that Hua Minghe’s entire family were cultivators. Hua Shiniang, as a direct disciple of the Taisu Palace Sect Leader, had the ability to achieve this.
Was it because her entire family were cultivators that Hua Jiuniang had the confidence?
If that were the case, then she was too naive.
Seeing that Hua Zhong also did not intervene, Third Master He was extremely angry and could only confront Hua Changxi himself: “Ninth Young Woman, are you sure you want to make things this awkward?”
Hua Changxi shifted her gaze from the fight between Hua Liulang and He Dalang to Third Master He and said with a smile, “Third Master, it’s just a spar. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”
Third Master He took a deep breath: “Fifth Young Woman and the child will continue to live in the Marquis’s Mansion. Sparring between relatives should also have its limits. Otherwise, Fifth Young Woman will also feel uneasy.”
Hua Changxi’s smile faded: “Third Master, my Fifth Sister had a difficult labor, from yesterday until today. The first thing you say about her is not to inquire about her safety, but to use her to threaten her family.”
“You are truly heartless and utterly indifferent. You can treat the life of the woman who bore you a child as worthless, showing no concern.”
“We’ve been here for quite some time, yet you haven’t offered any explanation to any of us about the reason for my Fifth Sister’s difficult labor.”
“I can tell you look down on our family from the bottom of your heart, thinking we are easily dealt with, right? Just find a few vague excuses and we’ll be fooled?”
“I’m telling you, this matter concerning my Fifth Sister is not over.”
Saying this, Hua Changxi looked at Hua Tai and Hua Zhong: “Whether you bring out the Earl’s Mansion or Grandpa Hua Tai, it won’t work. My Fifth Sister has her own maternal family.”
Third Master He’s chest heaved unevenly as Hua Changxi spoke. Just as he was about to retort, he saw a group of people rapidly approaching the courtyard.
Hua Liulang and He Dalang were both Qi Sea Realm cultivators. The commotion from their fight was significant enough to alert the people of the Marquis’s Mansion.
Leading the group was Second Master He of Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, followed by the male members of the Marquis’s Mansion and the young men of the He family who possessed spiritual meridians.
“What impudent rogue dares to run rampant in the Marquis’s Mansion?”
“San Lang, go and capture that rogue who is entangled with your eldest brother.”
Second Master He could already see that He Dalang was struggling to cope, so he quickly ordered He Sanlang, the most formidable junior of the He family, to assist.
He Sanlang hesitated for a moment before charging out. The battle instantly became two against one.
He Sanlang’s cultivation talent was even higher than He Dalang’s; he was already a peak Qi Sea Realm cultivator. With his joining, Hua Liulang could only defend passively and was soon beaten to the point where he had no power to fight back by the two brothers.
According to He Sanlang’s original intention, the fight should have ended once Hua Liulang was suppressed. Who would have thought that He Dalang would not be willing.
He had been pushed back step by step by Hua Liulang earlier and had lost so much face. Of course, he wanted to regain it. Seeing Hua Liulang being restrained by He Sanlang, he attacked Hua Liulang with all his might.
Seeing that He Dalang was about to deliver a fatal blow to Hua Liulang, Hua Zhong immediately shouted at Second Master He: “Second Master, it’s just a spar between relatives. It should end when it reaches a point.”
Second Master He had already learned what had happened in the third branch before he arrived. Although he was annoyed that the Hua family had come to the Marquis’s Mansion to cause trouble, he didn’t intend to go too far.
However, he did not immediately tell He Dalang and He Sanlang to stop. He wanted to teach the Hua family a lesson, to let them know that the Marquis’s Mansion was not a place where any cat or dog could run wild.
Seeing that Second Master He did not stop him, He Dalang’s attacks on Hua Liulang became even more ferocious.
He Sanlang had no choice but to assist from the side.
Hua Changxi watched this scene coldly, making no move to help Hua Liulang.
Having embarked on the path of cultivation, cultivators would sooner or later encounter life-and-death crises. What her Sixth Brother lacked was experience. Letting him experience some life-and-death crises in advance was not a bad thing.
Third Master He, Hua Tai, and Hua Zhong were all watching Hua Changxi. Seeing that she made no move, they all felt uneasy.
Especially Hua Zhong, who was seeing Hua Changxi for the first time, worried that she had been bluffing earlier and actually had no strength. Now that she had played too far, she could only watch Hua Liulang get beaten.
Hua Liulang was being attacked by He Dalang and He Sanlang. Being passively beaten was secondary; the key was that his spiritual energy was being depleted too quickly.
Seeing that his spiritual energy was almost depleted, he simply threw out the Four Directions Banner given to him by Hua Changxi, trapping He Dalang and He Sanlang within the Four Directions Formation. He took the opportunity to take out a bottle of top-grade First Rank Fire Returning Pills and consume them.
Seeing Hua Liulang consume ten pills at once, instantly recovering two to three tenths of his spiritual energy, those present who had some understanding of pills changed their expressions.
Only Hua Changxi frowned.
She needed to quickly improve her Alchemist rank. If she could refine Second Rank Elixirs, her Sixth Brother wouldn’t need to consume ten Fire Returning Pills at once to recover his spiritual energy.
Apart from the trip to Five Finger Mountain, she hadn’t gone out for much experience, which caused her to overlook the demand for pills among cultivators.
He Dalang and He Sanlang were trapped in the Four Directions Formation. Hua Liulang had intended to catch his breath, but unexpectedly, the Four Directions Formation Flags began to shake.
“Roar~”
A golden tiger emerged from He Sanlang’s body, letting out a deafening roar. Simultaneously, the spiritual energy-transformed tiger spiritual shadow lunged towards Hua Liulang.
The descending fierce tiger’s spiritual energy fluctuations directly blew down the Four Directions Formation Flags, and its gaping maw bit towards the stunned Hua Liulang.
It was foreseeable that if Hua Liulang were bitten, he would suffer severe injuries.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden appearance of the tiger phantom, forgetting to react.
Just as the gaping tiger maw completely enveloped Hua Liulang and was about to close, a giant hand condensed from fire spiritual energy grabbed the tiger’s neck. With a ‘crack’, the tiger’s spiritual shadow was crushed into pieces.
“Ah~”
The tiger phantom dissipated, and He Sanlang let out a scream. With a ‘bang’, he knelt on both knees, then clutched his chest in pain and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
“San Lang!”
Seeing He Sanlang injured, Second Master He was both shocked and furious. He glared at Hua Changxi, who had suddenly emerged from the courtyard and was standing behind Hua Liulang: “You have great audacity to injure my Marquis’s Mansion’s young men! Guards, seize her!”
The He family disciples standing behind Second Master He were clearly intimidated by Hua Changxi’s earlier move, but they could not disobey Second Master He’s orders, so they could only brace themselves and surround Hua Changxi.
With twenty to thirty people rushing forward at once, Hua Changxi couldn’t be bothered to deal with them one by one. She gathered spiritual energy in her hand, preparing to deal with everyone at once, when she suddenly felt danger approaching from above.
Looking up, she saw a golden fierce tiger, larger and more imposing than the one He Sanlang had condensed earlier, quietly appearing in mid-air, its gaping maw biting towards her.
Hua Changxi instinctively wanted to throw out a Fire Lotus to burn the tiger clean, but considering that the tiger was likely the He family’s bloodline totem, and out of concern for Hua Wuniang and her child, she retracted her spiritual energy and only condensed a giant hand, swatting at the fierce tiger.
The fierce tiger and the giant hand collided. The giant hand swayed but showed no signs of dissipating, while the tiger’s spiritual shadow became somewhat unstable.
The fierce tiger stopped in mid-air, glanced at Hua Changxi through the giant hand, and then, as silently and soundlessly as it had appeared, it dissipated.
Second Master He and Third Master He’s expressions had already changed when they saw the larger fierce tiger. Now that the fierce tiger had retreated on its own, the shock in their eyes was almost impossible to conceal.
Hua Zhong also roughly guessed who the larger fierce tiger was, and his heart was also shocked beyond measure.
Hua Changxi had repelled Marquis Wu Yi!
What was her cultivation level?
With the fierce tiger gone, Second Master He could no longer shout for Hua Changxi to be captured. The scene became eerily quiet.
“Ninth Young Woman!”
Not long after, Hua Minghe’s anxious voice broke the silence.
Hua Silang arrived with Hua Minghe and Old Master Hua.
Seeing Old Master Hua, Hua Tai had never before felt such an urgent desire to see him: “Brother Bin, you’re finally here.”
Hua Minghe had not witnessed the exchange between Hua Changxi and the fierce tiger just now, but the lingering killing aura in the air was not unfamiliar to him, who had dealt with bandits for many years.
A fierce battle had just taken place here.
Seeing Hua Changxi and Hua Liulang surrounded by He family disciples, standing alone and outnumbered, Hua Minghe’s expression tightened, and he quickly walked over.
Old Master Hua’s heart tightened upon seeing Second Master He and the others present. Supported by Hua Silang, he walked to the courtyard gate and looked at the red spiritual energy shield at the gate, feeling puzzled: “What is this?”
Hua Tai glanced at Hua Changxi: “Your Ninth Young Woman made it.”
Old Master Hua was silent for a moment, then turned to Hua Changxi: “Ninth Young Woman, why did you create this?”
Hua Changxi walked towards the courtyard with Hua Minghe and Hua Liulang: “You’ll have to ask Third Master He. My Fifth Sister was almost killed. I certainly can’t let the culprit escape.”
Third Master He’s brow furrowed: “No one harmed your Fifth Sister. She fell by herself, which led to her difficult labor.”
Hua Changxi didn’t argue with him, only saying: “Third Master He, do you dare to make a Heart Demon Oath? You are a cultivator. As long as you dare to make a Heart Demon Oath, saying that my Fifth Sister’s difficult labor was not man-made, otherwise your cultivation will not advance in the future, and as long as you dare, I will believe you and immediately remove the spiritual energy shield.”
Third Master He knew the implications of a Heart Demon Oath for cultivators, so he naturally would not make one.
Seeing his silence, Hua Changxi let out a scoff and looked at Fourth Uncle Hua and Old Master Hua: “Grandfather, Fourth Uncle, someone administered a drug that caused severe bleeding to my Fifth Sister while she was in labor. If I hadn’t arrived in time, my Fifth Sister would have likely died.”
“Moreover, when I arrived, I happened to hear Third Master He say ‘save the child, not the mother.’ In his eyes, my Fifth Sister’s life was worthless.”
Old Master Hua’s brow furrowed upon hearing this. He was both angry at Third Master He’s heartlessness towards his fifth granddaughter and annoyed at his ninth granddaughter’s refusal to back down. If the matter escalated too much, no one would benefit.
Fourth Uncle Hua looked pained and asked tremblingly: “Where is Fifth Young Woman? How is Fifth Young Woman?”
Hua Changxi, recalling how Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt had treated Hua Wuniang’s decision to become a concubine in the Marquis’s Mansion, was somewhat impatient: “She’s barely hanging on by a thread.”
Hua Minghe glared at her upon hearing this: “Speak properly. Can’t you see your Fourth Uncle is already extremely anxious?” He then glanced at the spiritual energy shield, “Remove the spiritual energy shield. Let’s go in and see Fifth Young Woman and the child first.”
Hua Changxi said nothing and waved her hand, causing the spiritual energy shield to dissipate.
After the Hua family members entered the courtyard, Second Master He dismissed the He family disciples. He hesitated for a moment before also following them into the courtyard.
In the past, he would not have paid attention to the maternal family of his half-brother’s concubine. However, the strength displayed by Hua Changxi had changed his mind.
The Hua family now had the capital to earn his respect.
After entering the courtyard, Old Master Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua first inquired about the condition of Hua Wuniang, who was still unconscious, then looked at the newborn child, and finally followed Third Master He into the main hall of the upper room to sit down.
During this time, Third Madam He had wanted to leave the courtyard, but she was stopped by Hua Liulang, who was guarding the courtyard gate. Enraged, she directly rushed into the main hall.
“You Hua family members are simply going too far! As the main wife, I stayed in the concubine’s courtyard to look after her labor, which was already the utmost kindness. Now that your maternal family has arrived, you won’t let me leave. What is the reason for this?”
Old Master Hua, not understanding the situation, looked at Old Madam Hua.
Old Madam Hua glanced at Hua Changxi and said nothing.
Zhong Shi did want to mediate, but Hua Tai and Hua Zhong stopped her with their eyes simultaneously.
Both of them knew very well that after Hua Changxi had made such a scene, if the He family did not give a satisfactory explanation, this matter would likely not end well.
Hua Changxi looked at Third Madam He: “Third Madam, why are you in such a hurry? The person in charge of our family has arrived, and we are about to discuss my Fifth Sister’s matter. How can you not be present?”
Third Madam He saw that Third Master He remained silent and did not help her, so she became very angry. Just as she was about to say something, she heard someone announce from outside the courtyard: “The Marchioness has arrived~”
The next moment, a dignified and elegant lady, who looked no older than forty, entered the courtyard surrounded by a group of maids.
The person who arrived was none other than Dou Shi, the legitimate wife of Marquis Wu Yi!
Third Master He and Second Master He had not expected the Marchioness to come in person, so they both stood up to greet her.
Hua Tai and his wife, as well as Hua Zhong, had also not expected the Marchioness to appear, and they quickly stood up.
Seeing everyone stand up, Old Master Hua and his group also stood up.
“Greetings, Mother.”
“Greetings, Marchioness.”
“Greetings, Marchioness.”
Dou Shi entered the main hall with a faint smile. Her gaze first fell on Hua Changxi. There was no other reason; she was the only young woman in the room who had not bowed to her, but was instead observing her with curiosity.
“Everyone, please be seated.”
Dou Shi walked to the main seat and sat down. Then, she withdrew the smile from her face and looked at Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua with an apologetic expression: “I have heard about Concubine Hua’s difficult labor. It is my and the Marquis’s failure to properly discipline Third Master, causing your family’s daughter to suffer.”
With the Marchioness personally apologizing to them, Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua were somewhat at a loss and did not know how to respond.
Dou Shi then looked at the other members of the Hua family, her gaze lingering on Hua Changxi: “Concubine Hua suffered greatly during this childbirth and has added a male heir to the Marquis’s Mansion. The Marquis’s Mansion should indeed offer a reward.”
Saying this, she looked at Third Master He.
“San Lang, your father and I have decided to promote Concubine Hua from a common concubine to a noble concubine. Her monthly allowance will be increased to ten taels, and she will be given a separate courtyard as her residence. The maids and servants attending her will also be increased accordingly.”
Third Master He quickly replied: “Everything will be as Mother commands.”
Dou Shi looked at Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua: “Are you satisfied with this arrangement?”
Old Master Hua knew that Fifth Young Woman was out of danger and the child had been born. He wanted to smooth things over and was about to say he was satisfied when he heard Hua Changxi’s scoff.
Dou Shi looked at Hua Changxi, her smile kind and her attitude amiable: “This young lady is Concubine Hua’s sister, isn’t she? Do you have any objections?”
Hua Changxi looked at her: “Marchioness, did you come all this way just to say these things to send us away?”
Dou Shi’s eyes flickered, and she asked with a smile, “Then what do you want to say?”
Hua Changxi: “We will not question how my Fifth Sister fell yesterday for now. But when my Fifth Sister was giving birth, someone administered a drug that caused severe bleeding. You must give us an explanation for this matter.”
Dou Shi’s face showed surprise, and she looked at Third Master He and Third Madam He angrily: “Is this true?”
Third Madam He immediately denied it: “Mother, there is no such thing. As soon as this Concubine Hua’s sister arrived, she felt that we were trying to harm Concubine Hua. I truly feel wronged.”
“What kind of family is our Marquis’s Mansion? A prominent family…”
Hua Changxi was too lazy to listen to Third Madam He’s sophistry: “Enough, stop crying injustice.” She looked at the Marchioness, “This young lady is not talented, but I have studied medical skills for a few years. Someone wanted to kill the mother to save the child, causing my Fifth Sister to die in childbirth. This is a certainty, and no one is wrongly accusing you.”
Dou Shi had witnessed Hua Changxi’s toughness: “Young Lady Hua speaks so confidently, do you have any evidence?”
Hua Changxi glanced at Hua Liulang outside the door. Hua Liulang immediately carried in a middle-aged wet nurse who was in a coma: “This wet nurse has traces of medicine on her hands. Marchioness, you can have someone knowledgeable in medicine inspect it to see if it is a drug that causes severe bleeding.”
Dou Shi glanced at Third Madam He, cursing her as an idiot in her heart. She took a deep breath: “The Marquis’s Mansion will deal with this wet nurse.”
“Hmph!”
Hua Changxi scoffed again, her gaze towards the Marchioness changing from solemnity to disdain: “It seems that besides Third Master He, everyone else in the Marquis’s Mansion also treats our family as fools.”
“What grudge does this wet nurse have with my Fifth Sister? Why would she want to kill my Fifth Sister? What benefit would she gain if my Fifth Sister died?”
“At best, she is just an executioner following orders. By pushing a pawn out to take the blame, are you trying to let the real culprit who harmed my Fifth Sister escape justice?”
Dou Shi looked deeply at Hua Changxi and suddenly smiled at Old Master Hua, asking: “In the Hua family, is this young lady in charge now?”
Before Old Master Hua could say anything, Hua Changxi replied indifferently: “Marchioness, you personally came forward not to resolve the matter, but to use your power to force us to yield?”
The smile on Dou Shi’s face vanished, and she revealed anger, losing her composure for the first time and showing her true emotions in front of the Hua family.
The atmosphere in the room became tense.
Second Master He, seeing his mother being contradicted by a young girl over his half-brother’s affairs, glared angrily at Third Master He. Just as he was about to speak up to help, Dou Shi spoke first.
“This matter… the Marquis’s Mansion will give you an explanation and will severely punish the true culprit behind it.”
Upon hearing this, Third Madam He’s face showed fear, and she looked at the Marchioness in terror.
Third Master He was also looking at the Marchioness, trying to discern if her words were true.
Dou Shi ignored the couple and looked at Hua Changxi: “Do you have any other objections?”
Hua Changxi: “We want to take my Fifth Sister and the child back.”
“Impossible!”
Third Master He angrily objected.
Dou Shi also said very forcefully: “Concubine Hua was properly elevated to a concubine in the Marquis’s Mansion, and the child is also the bloodline of the Marquis’s Mansion. It is absolutely impossible for them to be taken away. There is no room for negotiation on this matter.”
Old Madam Hua, who had not spoken, suddenly stood up and walked to Hua Changxi’s side, pulling her and whispering: “Your Fifth Sister is not like you. She is an honest child. If she is divorced, how will she live?”
Fourth Uncle Hua also joined in: “Ninth Young Woman, Fourth Uncle knows you are doing this for your Fifth Sister’s good, but your Fifth Sister is already a person of the Marquis’s Mansion. The child has been born, and the Marquis’s Mansion is her home.”
Hua Changxi looked at the two of them with some helplessness. Thinking of Hua Wuniang’s personality, she could not make the decision for Hua Wuniang whether to leave the Marquis’s Mansion. She could only try to secure more rights for her. After a moment of silence, she looked at the Marchioness: “My Fifth Sister will raise the child herself.”
A kind smile reappeared on Dou Shi’s face: “The Marquis’s Mansion is not as unreasonable as you imagine. We also cannot bear to see a child separated from their birth mother. Rest assured, the child born to Concubine Hua will be raised by her side.”
Upon hearing this, Third Madam He’s face turned even paler.
She could tolerate Concubine Hua’s pregnancy because she wanted to take the child to raise after she gave birth. Now, the Marchioness had directly promised the Hua family that the child would be raised by Concubine Hua, which was a direct slap in the face to her as the main wife.
Hua Changxi thought for a moment and then said: “On the first and fifteenth of every month, my Fifth Sister will bring the child home for a short stay.”
Dou Shi agreed quite readily: “Yes, as long as Concubine Hua is willing, even if it’s not the first or fifteenth, she can return to her maternal home for a short stay.”
The other members of the Hua family were very happy and satisfied with this.
Just then, Hua Qiniang entered and walked to Hua Changxi’s side: “Ninth Young Woman, Fifth Sister has woken up. She wants to see you.”
Hua Changxi glanced at the people in the room, turned, and left to see Hua Wuniang.
Seeing her leave, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Even Dou Shi’s expression relaxed somewhat.
