Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Night Star immediately loosened the cloth binding her ankle. Although she could stand up now, she still couldn't move; one hand was firmly tied to the bedpost, and no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn't budge.
"Don't waste your energy. This chain is made of Dark Iron, a gift from the Emperor. You won't be able to break it just by pulling like that."
She didn't know what Dark Iron was, but after a few attempts to pull, she gave up. The chain was indeed not something she could easily break.
House arrest! She never expected that the man who had been gentle as water just a day ago would confine her here! It was dark and dreary!
"You just need to take good care of her. Also, occasionally take her outside to get some sunlight. Whatever she says goes, understood?"
He instructed again in a deep voice, repeating what he had already said during the day, as if he couldn't let go of her.
"Young Master, Old Madam requests your presence." As soon as he finished speaking, a servant came to report from outside the door.
Turning around, his deep gaze fixed on her as he said, "Stop struggling! Understood?"
It wasn't a question but an order. However, Mo Xier seemed not to hear him and calmly turned away, unwilling to look at him any longer.
Night Star didn't linger either and followed the servant away.
That night, the quiet ancestral hall felt somewhat eerie. The bright lights inside contrasted sharply with the darkness outside. As before, the sound of Old Madam reciting the Sutra filled the hall.
Along with it came the unmistakable heavy scent of incense and candles.
Still kneeling respectfully outside the hall, he adhered to the rules set by Old Madam; he could not enter the ancestral hall. This was his first time paying respects to Old Madam since that night in the palace.
"I wonder what Mother wishes to see me for at this hour?"
The Old Madam, who was reciting the Buddha's name, did not stop immediately but slowly finished her chant.
At this moment, Night Star had been kneeling outside the ancestral hall for nearly half an hour, yet his back remained straight, showing no signs of fatigue.
For him, such kneeling had long become commonplace. When he was young and unable to enter the ancestral hall, he often knelt outside, secretly watching the Old Madam inside.
At that time, he still held a glimmer of hope towards the Old Madam, wishing they could interact like an ordinary mother and son. However, this hope lingered for over a decade without ever being realized.
"Get up," the Old Madam finally said as she turned around.
The man stood up straight; kneeling for so long seemed to have no effect on him at all.
"Thank you, Mother. May I ask why you summoned me at this time?"
"I heard that you had an unpleasant encounter with that Demoness?" The Old Madam's expression was flat, revealing no other emotions.
Night Star's expression mirrored the Old Madam's coldness, but his heart sank. Wasn't it a bit too quick for the Old Madam to hear about matters in his courtyard?
"In response to Mother, there is no unpleasantness; it's just a minor disagreement. There is no need for you to worry about my affairs with her."
"Hmph..." The Old Madam let out a cold snort, her previously calm demeanor finally darkening as she showed displeasure. "I have already told you that the Demoness cannot be kept! Now that you are having disagreements, doesn’t that prove what I said before?"
"Mother..." He had not finished speaking before being interrupted by the Old Madam, who gave him no chance to respond.
"This is the General's residence! It is not some other place! As long as that Demoness is in this house for even a day, I have the right to manage her!" The Old Madam spoke fiercely, showing no hint of leniency.
He lowered his gaze slightly, furrowing his brows tightly as he said in a deep voice, "If Mother came today to discuss this matter with me, then there is no need for it. I have already stated before that I will never yield regarding her!"
Old Madam's expression grew increasingly unpleasant; she truly could not understand what was so attractive about the Demoness. That head of White Hair alone was a significant issue!
"You may not want to drive her away, but I can allow her to stay here as well, provided you agree to one condition." His face instantly darkened, and the unease in his heart was finally confirmed. He knew that today would not be simple.
Receiving no answer, Old Madam remained unhurried, calmly adjusting her clothing. She revealed a faint smile and said, "You don't need to rush your response; I will give you time to consider. But as for the Demoness, she may not have that much time left."
Old Madam slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand. As their gazes met, there was a sense of triumph in Old Madam's eyes.
In his eyes, aside from the usual indifference, there was also a hint of shock. He thought to himself that Old Madam had come prepared this time. If he did not agree today, who knew what might happen in the future?
The face of Mo Xier flashed through his mind; he still could not let go of her. The influence of Old Madam within the household was not something he could shake off at this moment.
"No need to consider; whatever Mother says goes."
A satisfied smile finally appeared on Old Madam's face as she said, "The condition is quite simple. You have reached an appropriate age, and I am naturally considering your future. In a few days, Liu Family's Young Lady will be coming; I hope you won't disappoint me."
With that, Old Madam's meaning was clear: she wanted him to settle down soon. However, he had no thoughts of that kind at all. In the past, he could find excuses to evade such matters, but now it was impossible.
"But as Mother commands." Night Star lowered his head, feeling reluctant inside while maintaining a calm facade.
"Well, it is already late; you should return now." After saying this, Rong Mama stepped forward and assisted her out of the ancestral hall.
Only after her figure disappeared from his sight did he slowly raise his gaze, his expression growing even more indifferent. Yet his thoughts were more numerous than usual.
"Madam, is this what you meant by a trial?" Rong Mama, supporting her arm, appeared quite puzzled; she did not understand Old Madam's intentions at all.
"Naturally."
"Forgive this old servant for being foolish, but I really cannot see where you are trying to go with this, Old Madam."
With a slight turn of her eyes, the Old Madam's gaze sparkled as she smiled and said, "Can't you understand? Although he and that Demoness have had their conflicts, his words still reveal how protective he is of her! If it were not so, when I brought it up today, he should have ignored me, yet he still allowed me to proceed without interference."
She then paused, turned to look at Rong Mama, and continued calmly, "And when I proposed the exchange conditions, he hesitated only for a moment before agreeing. Doesn't that indicate the position that Demoness holds in his heart?"
"Then why does the Madam still want to introduce the young lady to the young master? Isn't that a waste of effort?" Rong Mama asked, still confused.
The Old Madam's lips slowly curled into a mysterious smile as she replied, "You think I'm introducing someone to the young master? You're mistaken! I'm merely finding a woman to deal with that Demoness! A woman's jealousy can be deadly!"
Jiang Yu was very clever; she understood that once a man was involved, conflicts between women would only escalate. The previous Ru Er was the best proof of this.
She didn't want her hands stained with blood, so she was willing to stand aside and watch others deal with that Demoness! The Old Madam did not believe that the Demoness could escape once and then manage to do so again!
If she could evade once more, there would surely be more chances afterward! Jiang Yu did not believe anyone could be so lucky as to dodge one time after another!
Only then did Rong Mama understand the Old Madam's intentions. A look of realization crossed her face as she smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "The Madam is indeed strategic; I can't believe you thought of this method. But may I ask which young lady you plan to introduce?"
The Old Madam's smile grew wider but also colder. "You'll find out in three days."
As night deepened, the vast General's residence fell into an even deeper silence, and one could almost smell the scent of conspiracy in the air. Meanwhile, Mo Xier lay on her bed, unable to sleep throughout the night, staring wide-eyed until dawn.
After just one night, her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying, and her complexion had become unusually haggard, making one feel a pang of sympathy.
It wasn't that she didn't want to sleep; rather, during this night, the floodgates of memories from this body seemed to have opened. Memories from her childhood flooded back like a tide, showcasing her life in her mind.
Scenes played out like a movie but were impossible to ignore; the piercing sensations felt as if they were lived experiences.
Other people's lives, like a knife carving, were painfully embedded in her heart, unable to be pulled out or pushed in, making her feel utterly tormented.
Xinrong had kept vigil by her bedside all night, gripping her wrist tightly, fearing she might struggle again during the night.
As dawn broke, Xinrong could no longer hold on and fell into a drowsy sleep. When she woke up again, she was met with the sight of a woman’s bloodshot eyes.
Startled, she nearly recoiled. Just waking from a dream, she pressed one hand against her chest while covering her mouth with the other, forcing herself to swallow back a scream.
"Miss... what happened to your eyes? Are you feeling unwell?"
Xinrong was still young, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, and had never served anyone closely before. Seeing her in such a state naturally frightened her greatly, causing her to stutter.
"I'm fine. Please help me wash up," the woman replied. Her voice was hoarse from a sleepless night, carrying an inexplicable magnetism compared to usual.
With a mocking smile, she raised her wrist and said, "I look like a prisoner locked up here; I can't do anything at all. Your young master is truly impressive!"
As if she had said something amusing, her laughter grew louder, echoing through the closed door for everyone outside to hear.
Night Star, who had just reached the courtyard entrance, heard this manic laughter and frowned slightly. He had never heard her laugh like that before. Upon entering the room, he saw her crimson eyes and furrowed his brow even tighter.
Noticing Xinrong beside him, he asked in a deep voice, "What happened to her eyes? Wasn't she supposed to be well taken care of? How did it end up like this?"
Xinrong was already timid; being questioned so harshly by a man left her even more frightened, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.
Comment 0 Comment Count