Chapter 9: The Return Visit

At midnight, Chang Sheng cautiously pushed open the door and called out to Sheng Xingye to wake him.

"Master, it’s time to get up."

There was no response from the person in bed.

Gaining some courage, Chang Sheng raised his voice and called again, "Master, wake up, hurry and wake up."

Sheng Xingye groggily opened his eyes and asked in confusion, "Is it morning? Why is it still so dark?"

"No, it's midnight now."

"Midnight?"

Sheng Xingye suddenly smacked Chang Sheng on the head and snapped, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Who told you to wake me up in the middle of the night?"

"Master, did you forget?"

Chang Sheng said plaintively, "You said you wanted to get up at dawn to accompany the Sixth Madam..."

Before he could finish, Sheng Xingye cut him off with a harsh blow.

"You fool! After following me for so many years, you still can't tell when I’m telling the truth or lying? Get out!"

"But Master..."

"Out, now!"

Under Sheng Xingye’s fierce authority, Chang Sheng had no choice but to retreat miserably.

Just as he stepped out of the room, he saw a sturdy figure stepping through the courtyard gate.

"Master, bad news! That crazy maid with the hammer is here with Madam!"

"What?!"

Sheng Xingye was fully awake now, grinding his teeth in anger. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get rid of that mad woman’s crazy maid!"

Chang Sheng trembled in his legs, about to move, when suddenly there was a loud bang and the door shook.

Then, to the astonishment of master and servant, it crashed to the ground.

…

At dawn, the Sheng State Duke’s residence began loading the return gifts onto the carriage one after another.

It was said that the Duke himself ordered the steward to prepare the return gifts, without even the Duchess’s involvement, showing how much respect the Sheng family gave to the general’s family.

Yun Zhaozhao sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to wave at Sheng Xingye, who was scowling the entire time.

"Husband, come quickly, sit in the carriage with me."

Sheng Xingye continued walking forward with a sour face.

Yun Zhaozhao was not about to indulge him.

With a whip crack, she wrapped it around his waist and pulled him into the carriage.

"Yun Zhaozhao—"

“Thud!”

A heavy sound silenced the servants, who hurried to move faster.

"Yun—"

"Quiet!"

Sheng Xingye’s angry shout was cut off by Yun Zhaozhao.

"Stay obediently in the carriage, I have something to discuss with you."

"Whatever you say, I refuse!"

Sheng Xingye struggled but couldn’t break free at all, his eyes red as he roared.

Seeing how truly furious he was, Yun Zhaozhao realized she had gone too far, withdrew the whip, and cleared her throat.

"Sorry, I acted too quickly without thinking."

Sheng Xingye paused, looking at her with surprise.

"Are you apologizing to me?"

Yun Zhaozhao rolled her eyes. "What else?"

Sheng Xingye snorted coldly. "That’s not how you apologize."

"Shut up! Do you still want your silver notes back or not?"

At the mention of the silver notes, Sheng Xingye’s expression turned fierce, eyes blazing with fire.

"If you behave well at the general’s residence later, I’ll return the silver notes to you."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Here, a hundred taels as a deposit."

Yun Zhaozhao waved the silver notes in her hand.

Sheng Xingye folded his arms and sneered, "You think just a measly hundred taels can boss me around?"

"Don’t want it?"

Yun Zhaozhao pretended to take back the notes, but Sheng Xingye quickly snatched them.

"Who said I don’t want them? I just say it’s too little, not enough!"

"Not enough silver notes? How about adding a fist or two?"

Yun Zhaozhao raised her fist and shook it in front of his eyes.

The wide sleeve brushed over his nose; the young woman’s unique fragrance filled his nostrils.

Suddenly, Sheng Xingye recalled the words from Jin Chui about "repayment in kind," and his whole body felt aflame. He spat out "In your dreams," and hurried off the carriage.

The two families were not far apart; the carriage ride took barely half an hour.

"Sixth Madam, we’ve arrived at the general’s residence."

As soon as Chang Sheng finished speaking, the gate guards rushed inside excitedly shouting, "Madam, Second Miss, Eldest Miss, and Eldest Master are back for the return visit!"

Yun Zhaozhao lifted the curtain and was about to jump down when a large, knobby hand suddenly reached out from the side.

Hey, didn’t expect this guy to be quite considerate.

She took the hand, used it for leverage to leap lightly from the carriage, and quietly whispered to him, "Good job, smile a bit more, and the silver notes double."

Then she withdrew her hand and briskly walked toward the general’s residence gate, paying no attention to Sheng Xingye who still stood there stiffly, his ears burning bright red.

…

Just as Yun Zhaozhao reached the gate, a young girl hurried over.

She greeted her happily, "Chuchu!"

Yun Chuchu’s eyes sparkled with joy upon seeing her but she still respectfully stepped forward and bowed.

"Greetings, Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law. Mother is unwell, so I was specially sent..."

Before she could finish, Yun Zhaozhao tugged her over and ruffled her hair.

"Oh, come on, we’re family now, why so formal? Come, let’s go see Mother and Little One."

Sheng Xingye had just cupped his hands to return the greeting when Yun Zhaozhao pulled Yun Chuchu away.

Yun Chuchu was both helpless and powerless.

"Eldest Sister, didn’t Nurse Xu teach you the rules? Brother-in-law is still right behind us."

"Ignore him. It’s been so long, I missed you so much. Don’t you miss me?"

Yun Zhaozhao pinched her soft little face.

Yun Chuchu was speechless. "Sister, you’ve only been married two days."

Because Sheng Xingye was the son-in-law, Yun Chuchu firmly rejected the idea of Yun Zhaozhao leaving him behind to go straight to the backyard.

The three had just sat down in the front hall when a group of people rushed in.

Leading them was a sour-faced old lady, Madam Lian of the Jing’an Marquis residence.

She was also Yun Zhaozhao’s father Xiang Zhan’s formal stepmother.

The Jing’an Marquis family had long since fallen, and the Marquis was now a mere figurehead with no real power.

Madam Lian was known for her bitterness and jealousy.

When Xiang Zhan was a child, he was smart and taller than his peers, giving the old Marquis hope to revive the family, so he was heavily supported.

But this sparked Madam Lian’s jealousy, causing her to repeatedly scheme against Xiang Zhan, eventually driving him to become a beggar wandering the southwestern border.

During the turmoil of the Ninth Prince’s Rebellion, he was forced to flee to the mountains, where he gained the favor of Yun Zhaozhao’s maternal grandfather, Yun Lei, and later was taken in as a son-in-law.

Yun Lei was originally a somewhat famous escort leader in the region; during the chaos at the end of the previous dynasty, he was forced to become an outlaw in the mountains.

By chance, he became a bandit leader.

After the previous dynasty fell and the Dayin dynasty was established, the founding emperor was worn down by constant wars and unable to effectively govern, clinging stubbornly to power, which eventually triggered the Ninth Prince’s Rebellion.

The rebellion lasted several years, during which barbarian tribes invaded the borderlands.

Yun Lei raised a banner and cooperated with the imperial army to defeat the rebels and was eventually incorporated into the regular army.

Xiang Zhan rose steadily to the rank of general.

Upon returning to the capital, he was recognized by Madam Lian.

Since then, the whole family shamelessly clung to him.

If Xiang Zhan hadn’t always regarded himself as a son-in-law, the Jing’an Marquis family might have already forced their way into the household.