Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 52

Chapter 52

Fang Qin’er was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, clutching her handkerchief, her anxiety palpable to Hui Qiu and Cang Dong who stood nearby.

The two exchanged a glance before Hui Qiu spoke first to comfort her: “Madam, please rest assured. Miss and Young Master are wise and clever; nothing will happen to them. Didn’t General Lu say so as well? Miss and Young Master are safe, and General Chen will escort them back once their business is done.”

Cang Dong added, “That’s right, Madam. If anything had happened, Miss and Young Master would have returned to the mansion long ago. Miss is still busy with the shop right now, which proves everything is fine. Please don’t worry too much, have a seat and enjoy some tea?”

Fang Qin’er raised her hand to her forehead, waving them off with a hint of headache.

If one is not a mother, how could one understand such worries?

“They’re back, they’re back! Miss, Young Master, and Matron have returned!” The Maid guarding the courtyard gate ran in joyfully.

Fang Qin’er instantly perked up and hurried toward the gate.

Matron Du was leading Xiao Wangshu and Xiao Fuguang inside, still chiding Xiao Fuguang as she walked: “Miss has been steady lately, but Young Master has become lively, teasing this old servant all the way.”

Xiao Fuguang replied with a bright smile, “Matron, siblings must maintain a balance-one lively, one calm, and only then do they complement each other.”

“Oh dear! This old servant can’t win an argument with Young Master. Whatever you say makes sense, but you’d better think about how to reason with Madam.”

Having brought them back, Matron Du considered her task complete. She quickly approached Fang Qin’er, bowed, and stepped forward to support her arm.

Fang Qin’er stepped up, and before Xiao Wangshu and Xiao Fuguang could bow, she reached out with her handkerchief and tapped Xiao Fuguang on the forehead.

“You! Still grinning like that!”

Hearing Fang Qiner’s reproach, Xiao Fuguang pressed his lips together, lowered his head, and tried hard to suppress his smile.

After poking Xiao Fuguang, Fang Qin’er turned and tapped Xiao Wangshu’s forehead as well.

“And you, Wangshu! Something happened and you didn’t return to the mansion, even dared to linger outside. You siblings have really grown bolder lately!”

Xiao Wangshu pressed her lips together and lowered her head, mirroring her brother’s reaction.

“We know our mistake,” the siblings admitted in subdued voices, one after the other.

Fang Qin’er took a deep breath and continued, “The Capital has been unsettled lately. You two should stay in the mansion and go nowhere. Especially you, Wangshu-put the shop matters aside for now. Send servants if anything needs doing, do you hear me?”

Soldiers were patrolling the streets in plain clothes to catch spies, which showed how severe the situation was.

As the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, Xiao Wangshu naturally understood that the Chancellor’s Mansion was the safest place for her right now. Otherwise, what would she be doing outside-making herself a target for lurking spies?

“Mother, rest assured. I’ll stay in the mansion for now and only go out when you and Father deem the Capital safe again.”

After all, Ruan Fuxin was overseeing Brocade Gate, so she didn’t need to worry about anything for the time being.

Hearing Xiao Wangshu’s promise, Fang Qin’er felt much more at ease and turned to look at Xiao Fuguang.

Xiao Fuguang quickly assured her, “I will do the same.”

Only then did Fang Qin’er’s expression soften, and she led her two children back into the courtyard.

On the way, Fang Qin’er said to Xiao Wangshu, “The four Guards who went out with you today will be sold off. They failed to protect you; not having them beaten to death is already out of consideration for the bond you shared as master and servant.”

Let them be sold and find an employer with lower expectations; such careless Guards cannot remain by the side of the Chancellor’s Mansion’s young lady.

Xiao Wangshu had already saved them once today, which was enough to fulfill her duty to them.

Upon hearing Fang Qin’er’s decision, Xiao Wangshu simply replied, “They are no longer my people. Mother, you may decide as you see fit.”
Fang Qin’er nodded, then said, “Then I’ll spend some more time selecting over the next few days, picking out better Guards. Wangshu, would you choose a few yourself?”

Xiao Wangshu originally didn’t want any, but seeing that Fang Qin’er was also worried for her safety, she thought it over and nodded.

“Alright, Mother, you can take your time. There’s no rush. Judging by the situation, we should be staying in the residence for a while,” Xiao Wangshu said.

Fang Qin’er sighed as well, and said, “I was supposed to go to the palace in a few days, but that’s been delayed. I’ll have to find another time to enter the palace.”

Xiao Wangshu asked, “To the palace?”

“Your Fifth Sister, Consort Xiao-her belly is visibly growing bigger day by day. She suffers from morning sickness, swelling, a sore back, and heavy legs-none of it is spared. She’s been crying and making a fuss in the palace, insisting on seeing her Concubine Mother.

“The Empress could do nothing about it and feared that her tantrums might affect the child. She had to send word to our residence, asking if Concubine Luo could come to the palace.

“According to palace rules, a concubine of a minister should not be allowed into the palace. But your father is also afraid that Consort Xiao’s actions may harm the imperial heir, so he wants me to take Concubine Luo into the palace.”

Before the Xiao Family’s imperial-blooded grandchild, all palace rules must yield.

After Fang Qin’er’s explanation, Xiao Wangshu nodded slightly.

“So that’s how it is.”

None of this happened in the book. After the last visit to the palace, Mu Chuxue had used the imperial heir in her womb to frame Fang Qin’er, and the Xiao Family’s reputation plummeted to rock bottom.

Officials from the Mu Family faction spread rumors about Fang Qin’er’s actions among the populace, and even Xiao Hong’s best efforts couldn’t suppress them.

Because of public pressure, the officials aligned with the Prime Minister could only watch helplessly as the Emperor stripped Fang Qin’er of her first-rank title and forbade her from entering the palace.

From then on, the Xiao Family’s control over the harem relied solely on Xiao Caiyi’s efforts.

Don’t ask why Xiao Pan’an isn’t involved, because after Xiao Pan’an gave birth to a prince, Xiao Hong-so that the child could be more legitimately established as heir in the future-had the child adopted under Xiao Caiyi’s name.

Originally, Xiao Hong wanted the two sisters to support each other in the harem and raise the prince together.

But as it turned out, Xiao Pan’an grew resentful toward Xiao Hong and Xiao Caiyi, determined to fight for custody of the child. She was thoroughly exploited by Wei Qixuan and Mu Chuxue, and exposed many secrets of the Xiao Family.

If you ask why the once-mighty Prime Minister Xiao Hong and his family were wiped out in the book, besides his legitimate daughter Xiao Wangshu’s mad acts for love, another key reason was Fifth Daughter Xiao Pan’an’s betrayal.

After Xiao Pan’an turned, Xiao Caiyi was even more exhausted dealing with the harem.

Emperor Wei Qixuan gradually shifted power in the harem to Mu Chuxue, and so, the harem fell into chaos and the front court became unstable.

One by one, the hidden threats surfaced, shattering Xiao Hong’s monopoly on power.

Of course, in the end, neither Xiao Wangshu nor Xiao Pan’an had good outcomes.

When the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain unbroken? Once Xiao Hong fell, Xiao Wangshu was naturally worthless and was thoroughly discarded by Mu Yunze, becoming nothing more than a burial offering for the Xiao Family.

Xiao Pan’an lost both love and her child. Not only was the Emperor’s affection a ruse, but even the child carrying Xiao Family blood was put to death by Emperor Wei Qixuan after he took power.

The entire Xiao Family met a tragic and miserable end.

But clearly, everything now is no longer progressing according to the book, and has even strayed far from it.

Since Mu Chuxue’s death, much of the plot in the book has already fallen apart. Everything that’s happened recently did not exist in the book at all.

This alternate world within the novel is quietly changing.

With each small node of the story collapsing, the future plot is being pulled along an unpredictable trajectory.