Chapter 4

Song's father's face alternated between pale and green for quite a while. Behind him, General Lu seemed to be advising my father about something. Upon hearing my words, he paused, fixed his gaze on Song's father, and said: "At ten years old, she is not a child anymore; in a few years, she will reach the age of maturity. It is understandable for Brother Song to strengthen his discipline. I shall take my leave now."

My heart skipped a beat; could it be that something has truly happened to Lu Haikong? At that moment, I couldn't care less about how Father Song would punish me, and I rushed over, asking, "Father, General, what has happened to Lu Haikong?"

Such a leisurely life continued until Lu Haikong turned ten, and that was the year I turned fifteen. I, Song Yunxiang, the young lady of the minister's residence, had reached the age of coming of age.

I raised my eyebrows and lightly tapped his forehead, saying, "Do not say anything that would embarrass me."

I patted my mouth, which was covered in mooncake crumbs, and just as I stood up, I suddenly heard Father Song shout: "Where are you going!"

In fact, compared to losing land, sea, and air, my original intention should have been even more terrifying. However, after losing land, sea, and air, I found myself plunged into a deep sense of fear

Chukong must have laughed so hard that he lost his hair upon hearing this

I called out the name of Lu Haikong all along the way, never having anticipated so eagerly his safe and sound appearance before me. Unfortunately, after searching for an entire day, there was still no result

Old Song was so angry that he trembled: "I would like to drag you off and sell you!"

I curled my lips in disdain, thinking that you don't mind because you are too young. I wonder how much you will despise me once you regain your memories. As I was musing, Lu Haikong suddenly wrapped his arms around my neck, smiling as he nuzzled against me: "When I grow up, Yunxiang won't be punished anymore, and nothing will incur punishment. I will protect you."

I twitched my lips and hastily came up with a reason to deflect: "Wasn't I just trying to buy you some candied hawthorn..."

A joke! The little brat I went to great lengths to get rid of actually wants to protect me

General Lu looked at me with a sense of helplessness and sighed: "I was captured by some...bad people, but fortunately, the secret guards from the residence arrived in time. That kid only knocked out a few teeth and sustained some minor injuries. However, Yun Xiang's act of taking Hai Kong out of the General's residence today was indeed inappropriate"

Go back to the room, I am full

I did not wait for Father Song to respond and interjected, "Has there been no major incident in land, sea, and air? What minor issues have arisen?"

As I passed by the ancestral hall on my way back, I suddenly recalled the day when Lu Haikong was in my arms, his eyes shining with hope as he looked at me. He said that my drool had soaked his sleeve. Hmph, that rascal, who would drool that much

Since that day, the people in the general's residence unanimously felt that the young master played less, got up earlier, treated his studies with much more seriousness than before, and was more enthusiastic about martial arts. I pondered whether this little fellow had discovered my "ill intentions" towards him and thus began to guard against me... or... could it be that he has truly made up his mind to protect me?

Every day I listen to him recount the things he has done, and I regret it deeply. If this continues...! ... How am I supposed to compete with you, you little bastard!

Old Song remained unmoved: "It is precisely because I have been too indulgent with you on ordinary days that you have become the way you are now. Today, even if you cry blood, you must endure this beating!"

Otherwise... I might as well go help him collect a body, after all, we have been outsmarting and battling each other for so many years, haven't we...

If that is truly the case, I feel that even if Chukong were to descend into hell, even at the risk of his soul scattering, he should still make himself disappear from the Three Realms. One should not be too extreme in life

Nevertheless, for a long time to come, the person I would see every morning upon waking would undoubtedly be the little rascal, who would be drenched in sweat. He would be leaning by my bedside, eagerly telling me how long he had been awake that morning, how long he had practiced martial arts, and how many poems he had memorized

He came up to me, wrapped his arms around my neck, and his snot made my neck sticky and covered. He cried as if he were the one about to be beaten.

I know that there is no escaping the beating today, just as I wiped my tears and was about to stand up, I suddenly heard the door of the general's residence being pushed open with a bang. A small figure stood at the entrance of the general's residence, without even wearing an outer garment, with red eyes. There were several rounds of bandages wrapped around his forehead, which must be from the injuries he sustained today

Do not cry. I gently stroked his head, and a realization struck me; it turns out that drinking the Meng Po soup and crossing the Naihe Bridge carries such significance. Regardless of whether he was a human or a deity in his past life, and regardless of the love and hatred that existed between us, everything is overturned and starts anew after reincarnation. I do not recognize you, and you do not recognize me; for mortals, fate cannot transcend a single lifetime

After ten years, he finally reincarnated early, avoiding the entanglement of our seven lifetimes of love

I expressed my disdain towards him, saying: "What kind of ability do you have? Don't try to deceive girls with those flowery words like a dandy."

Thinking of the rattan whip offered at the ancestral hall, a dull pain began to throb in my buttocks. Without the protection of celestial magic, being beaten is particularly distressing. I curled my lips in a grimace, and tears began to gather in my eyes: "Father, your daughter was wrong."

I turned back to my room, thinking that with such a large fire next door, Old Man Song did not even dare to take a glance outside. If it were not for the will of those in power, who would dare to act against the General's residence of the Heavenly Dynasty

That night, Lu Haikong accompanied me in the ancestral hall, and we both fell into a deep sleep. I leaned against the incense table while he slept on my lap. When I woke up the next day, Lu Haikong was blinking at me from my embrace. He stretched out his damp palm and said, "Yunxiang, look, you drooled a lot while you were sleeping, and I helped you wipe it, so my sleeve is completely soaked."

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright moon hung full in the sky, when a strange scent suddenly wafted through the air above the residence. I turned my head and was startled to see a thick smoke rising from the direction of the general's mansion. Before long, a blaze shot up into the sky, dazzlingly seizing the colors of the bright moon.

The feeling of dread arises from my imagination of various pessimistic realities. If he were to die in land, sea, or air, it would be one thing, but if he were to be kidnapped by some criminal elements, sold into hard labor, made into a servant, or even... sold to a brothel... the images that flash through my mind leave me somewhat shattered

Lu Haikong held me and cried for quite a while, and then Song Dad could no longer bear it: "Enough, enough! I will not hit you anymore. Tonight, you will kneel at the ancestral hall and reflect properly!"

I suddenly realized that I had just said something troublesome. As I was about to make amends, Father Song grabbed my hand and pulled me, causing me to stumble. He said sternly, "Come here!"

This time, land, sea, and air are likely to be inescapable calamities

Yunxiang ... ... Wuwah, wuwu ... ... "With one hand wiping his tears and the other pulling my hair, he said, 'You don't want me anymore, you don't want me anymore, no matter how I chase, I can't catch up! '"

Before General Lu could speak, he was interrupted by my father, who was so enraged that his mustache was askew: "What’s the matter! You little brat still have the audacity to ask what’s wrong! I have spoiled you too much on ordinary days, allowing you to be so unruly and unaware of your limits. Today, I will definitely give you a proper lesson!" Father grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the Xiang residence across the street. Before we even entered, he shouted, "Old Zhao! Bring out the family rules!"

Lu Haikong saw me sitting on the ground, holding onto Song Dad's leg with a face full of desolation. He was quite shocked for a moment, after all, in front of this little fellow, I had always been a tall and imposing presence

I curled my lip, yet I could no longer take a step forward.

Father! My tears and snot are flowing down together, reminiscent of the miserable state I was in during my infancy. I kneel down and hold onto his thigh, crying out in desperation, "Daughter truly knows her mistakes! I will never take Lu Haikong out of the mansion without permission again! From now on, I will obediently listen to your words! I will diligently stay at home every day to read and practice embroidery!"

He nodded honestly and then sat up: "I do not dislike Yunxiang."

"Brother Song," General Lu interjected, "Yunxiang is still young; it is natural for him not to understand. Besides, my son has not caused any major trouble either, so let us consider this matter settled."

I was somewhat dazed, allowing his tears to soak my shoulder and some even to seep into my collar, sliding down against my skin, some cool and others slightly warm. I could not comprehend why, at this moment, knowing he had stained my clothes, I felt no anger whatsoever.

I blinked my eyes and recalled the serious expression of Father Song in recent days and the mysterious disappearance of Lu Haikong, and suddenly it dawned on me, ah, so it turns out something has happened in the court

As the sky gradually darkened, the four main gates of the capital in the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest began to close. If someone had abducted Lu Haikong, they would likely have already hidden outside the city. With my abilities, it would be impossible to find them. I thought to myself that Lu Haikong, after all, is the son of a great general, and the general should be able to exercise some privileges to search for his son. With this in mind, I immediately hurried back home

Old Song furrowed his brows and instructed the guard beside him: "Keep an eye on the young lady. She is not allowed to go anywhere tonight"

It was in the scorching July of that year when Father Song suddenly told me with a serious expression that I was not to meet privately with Lu Haikong anymore. I thought it was just Father Song's antiquated Confucian ideas acting up, so I waved my hand dismissively and ignored him. However, in the following month, I truly did not see Lu Haikong again.

I released my grip on Song Dad's thigh and knelt properly on the ground, still pondering why he had come out. I then saw Lu Haikong pouting, tears and snot streaming down his face. I was puzzled, as the wet nurse and maids rushing behind him hurriedly tried to comfort him, but Lu Haikong stubbornly pushed them away, staggering towards me while wiping his tears.

This is the first time Song Dad has said he would use family discipline on me. While I am afraid of being beaten, I persistently ask: "Has Lu Haikong really been captured and sold? Has he been sold in such a short time? How was he sold... how much was he sold for?"

Two large red lanterns at the entrance of the General's residence have been lit. The guard standing at the door is standing upright. Just as I was about to rush over, I saw Father Song walking out of the General's residence with an apologetic expression, accompanied by the Grand General. Father Song shook his head and said, "It is all my fault for not properly educating that wicked girl, allowing her to boldly cause today's trouble. Brother Lu, once I find that girl, I will definitely bring her here to apologize."

The land, sea, and air remained silent, merely holding onto my neck. In the tranquility of the sunlight, there was a moment that made me want to embrace him and kiss him passionately.

Hearing that land, sea, and air were all fine, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief, not caring about what the general said afterward. I turned to Father Song and said, "Father, look, it's all right; his virtue is still intact, and he is still alive"

The cries of Lu, Hai, and Kong momentarily paused, and their bright eyes widened as they stared for a while, then tears began to roll out in large drops: "Wuwu, it's all my fault, it's all because I wanted to eat candied hawthorn, now Yunxiang has to be punished... It's Hai and Kong's fault for letting Yunxiang be bullied, it's Hai and Kong's fault for not being able to protect Yunxiang, Hai and Kong are foolish, and have caused trouble for Yunxiang again."

Hmph. Lord Song sneered, "This trick was already used last month." He straightened his face and said solemnly, "Do not cry on this street again, lest we become the laughingstock of the Xiang family." The tone in which he spoke indicated that he was genuinely angry