Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 46

Before long, Xia Yun returned.

Even the privy in the General’s Mansion was drafty!

After squatting there for a while, he was chilled from the waist down. He did not want to remain in this place a moment longer.

Then he looked up and saw Xia Heng, and his anger flared.

“You unfilial daughter! How dare you make your father wait so long?”

Cang Chuli frowned slightly.

“Father! Why are you here? Did Little Brother Lang deliver my message? Have you brought the money to redeem me today?”

Hearing that, Cang Chuli relaxed. He propped up his chin, ready to enjoy the show.

Xia Heng launched into a grand performance, channeling the frail and mournful Lin Daiyu.

According to the memories the system had given her, there was no chance this cheap father would pay to redeem her.

What decent man would drug his own daughter?

At the mention of money, Xia Yun guiltily glanced at Cang Chuli.

“You rebellious girl! What nonsense are you spouting? Once you entered the General’s Mansion, you became its person in life and its ghost in death!

“I haven’t even scolded you yet. How did you speak to Lang’er at the banquet in the Xiao Mansion? He is your younger brother.”

“Oh? Lord Xia didn’t come to redeem his daughter?” Cang Chuli asked mildly.

“General, you misunderstand. How could it be called redeeming her?” Xia Yun said with an awkward laugh. “Serving the general is her good fortune.”

Cang Chuli glanced at Xia Heng. Her expression plainly said, *See? I told you so.*

“Then why are you here?”

“General, you may not know this, but… this is my daughter’s first time away from home. Her mother and I were afraid she might offend you, so I came to give her some advice.

“Would it be convenient for me to speak with my daughter alone?”

Xia Yun smiled ingratiatingly and watched Cang Chuli with care.

“Oh? Your honored wife asked you to advise her today?” Cang Chuli asked with a faint, unreadable smile.

Xia Yun hurriedly agreed.

“Women simply worry too much. I couldn’t refuse her.”

Xia Heng nearly vomited in his face.

How could he say something like that with a straight face?

“Since it is your wife’s request, it would be discourteous of me to refuse.”

Cang Chuli rose and walked slowly to Xia Yun.

“However, since Lord Xia did not come to redeem her, I find what you said just now very reasonable.”

Xia Yun was confused. He could not remember which of his words the general had approved of.

Cang Chuli did not make him wonder for long.

“‘A person of the General’s Mansion in life, and a ghost of the General’s Mansion in death.’ Very well said.”

He gave Xia Yun one final look and slowly left the reception hall.

Only then did Xia Yun realize he had been warned. Anger lodged in his chest.

The moment Cang Chuli was gone, he raised a hand to slap Xia Heng.

She was his daughter. He could beat her if he wished! What could Cang Chuli do about it?

Xia Heng had already expected the move.

This man had beaten her plenty of times before.

“Why did Father come to see me? I still have to attend the general later. It wouldn’t look good if my face were injured.”

Xia Yun’s eyes widened when she dared dodge him. Her words only made him angrier.

“Good, good! Lang’er said you’d grown bold, but I didn’t believe him. It appears you truly have grown up!”

Xia Yun ground his teeth.

“What? You think Cang Chuli can protect you now? Useless thing! You can’t accomplish anything!

“Never mind failing to administer the drug. I worked so hard to send you here as a concubine, and you’ve somehow ended up a maid!

“Lately you haven’t even sent reports!”

He pointed at Xia Heng and flung his sleeve behind him.

“It seems Father still doesn’t know. The person passing information to you has been caught,” Xia Heng said calmly.

“What?”

Xia Yun was horrified.

Recently, they had received no information from the General’s Mansion, and their own messages had gone unanswered.

Xia Jinguang had ordered him to investigate. He had not expected their man to have been caught.

“He exposed himself, so they arrested him.”

Cold sweat broke out across Xia Yun’s body. Did Cang Chuli know their entire plan?

“But the man has gone mad, so Father needn’t worry too much about him.”

That’s right, don’t worry about him. Worry about me. I’m the one who exposed him.

Xia Heng did not know what had happened after Liu Hao entered the mansion dungeon, but he had suddenly gone insane. Every day he behaved like a fool and shouted,

“I’m the great general! Yi! Ha! I’m the great general!”

No one knew whether he was truly mad. Deputy General Zhang had tortured him, yet still failed to make him say anything useful.

“Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

Xia Heng’s dramatic pause had nearly frightened Xia Yun to death. Now he finally exhaled and relaxed.

“Father, did you know I was poisoned?”

Xia Heng stared into his eyes.

In the original body’s memories, she had never knowingly swallowed poison. Someone must have drugged her without her knowledge.

Xia Heng guessed Xia Yun knew.

Sure enough, the man’s eyes began darting about.

“You were poisoned? That can’t be right. If you were poisoned, how have you stayed alive all this time?”

His last words sounded almost like a cautious test.

Xia Heng suddenly smiled without answering.

“Exactly. I’ve been in the General’s Mansion all this time, yet I’m still alive and well.”

Xia Yun did not dare ask further. Even a cornered rabbit would bite.

“Since you’ve managed to stay here, stop doing unnecessary things! Look at you. What are you wearing?”

He pointed disdainfully at her maid’s uniform.

“Winning the general’s heart must come first! Cang Chuli has refused countless women who wanted to enter this mansion. Can’t you show some ambition?”

Xia Heng thought that if they had not delivered her while Cang Chuli was absent, she would have been one of the women he refused.

Seeing no reaction from her, Xia Yun changed to a gentler approach.

“Heng’er, you have been beautiful since childhood. A girl must learn to use her advantages, don’t you agree?

“Look no further than your mother! She entered my household only after becoming pregnant with you.

“You and the general are both young. If you gain his favor and bear his eldest son by a concubine, won’t this entire mansion fall under your control?”

Xia Heng dug her nails into her palm to keep from cursing him.

He made it sound as though her mother had clung to him.

In truth, Xia Yun had coveted her mother’s property, deceived her with honeyed words, and ignored her refusals until she became pregnant before marriage.

Her mother had been forced to marry him hastily.

Xia Heng drew a deep breath.

“Father, since you mentioned Mother, when will you send over the dowry she left me?”

Xia Yun stiffened.

“I have the dowry list Mother left me!”

She did not, but the system did!

“You’re a concubine! What dowry do you need?” Xia Yun snapped.

“Father!” Xia Heng drew out the word. “You want me to please the general, but look!”

She lifted her skirt and turned in a circle.

“Every maid in the General’s Mansion wears this! How could the general notice me at a glance?

“Would someone as noble as the general take interest in an ordinary-looking maid?

“Clothes, jewelry, cosmetics—which of those doesn’t cost money?

“Besides, you saw it yourself today. The General’s Mansion looks strong on the outside but is hollow within.

“If I offered my dowry now…

“Father! Imagine it. If you were the general, what would you think?”

Xia Yun had wanted to silence her nonsense, but could not resist imagining himself in Cang Chuli’s place.

When Lady Hao married him, her wealth had indeed rescued the Xia family from an urgent crisis. She had also been beautiful, and for a time, they had treated one another with respect.

He studied his daughter’s face. Seen that way, perhaps she truly had a chance.

“More than a dozen of us were sent here. Now only a few remain.

“You know Lord Zhao, don’t you? He was beheaded two days ago.

“If I had a bargaining chip like that now, I think I would have a very good chance!

“The daughter of another family seems to have gone home to ask for money already.”

Seeing Xia Yun waver, Xia Heng added fuel to the fire.

Sorry, Qiulin. Pretend you asked for money first!

When it came to selling dreams, Xia Heng was a professional.

“I’ll go back and discuss it with your uncle,” Xia Yun said hesitantly.

He knew the plan would work, but cutting away his own wealth still hurt.

Lady Hao had kept tight control of the assets all these years, especially the dowry. Only after her recent death had he gained control.

Her own dowry, together with what she had saved for her daughter, amounted to an impressive fortune.

It was enough for him to enjoy the rest of his life.

“If Mother knew it was for my happiness, she would agree. Otherwise, I can go home and ask her myself?” Xia Heng deliberately suggested.

“Why would you come back? You belong to the General’s Mansion now, so stay here!” Xia Yun said hurriedly.

If she discovered Lady Hao’s death now, she would be even harder to control.

“By the way, have you noticed where Cang Chuli keeps his command seal?”

“Father, you know I’m only a little maid. I’m too busy boiling water and making tea every day. How could I see such things?”

“Enough. You wasteful girl, pay closer attention!

“And isn’t Lang’er’s Purple-Gold Crown with you? Give it to me at once. Your mother gave it to him.”

He could truly invent anything on the spot.

“The general has it. Ask him for it.”

Xia Heng lied just as freely. Cang Chuli had never taken her Purple-Gold Crown. It was still in her room.

But Xia Yun would never dare ask Cang Chuli for it.

Sure enough, he glared at her without another word.

He left the reception hall, found Mo Bai, and asked him to inform Cang Chuli. Without even offering a proper farewell, he departed in his carriage.