Chapter 248: Unhinged Man and Woman 8

As Wu Wanqing spoke, tears streamed down her face, her voice thick with accusation:

“Father, do you have any idea? All those years, Mother and I couldn’t even afford a full meal. In the winter, we didn’t have a single warm piece of clothing. To raise me, she worked day and night until she finally collapsed from exhaustion. Before she died, she held my hand and told me I had to find you, to have you take good care of me. But now, you treat me like this… all for a country girl? How can you face my mother? How can you face me?”

Hearing Wu Wanqing bring up the past, Wu Daniu’s expression instantly grew complicated.

He fell silent for a moment, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. His voice was laced with exhaustion:

“Wanqing, I know I wronged you and your mother back then. All these years, I’ve been trying my best to make it up to you. But you can’t use your past suffering as an excuse to let Mumu run wild!”

A venomous glint flashed in Wu Wanqing’s eyes at his words, but she quickly regained her composure.

She lowered her head, her voice filled with grievance. “Father, I know you care for me, but Mumu is my daughter. I can’t just stand by and watch her be wronged. That Ji Xiaosong is clearly here to cause trouble. How could you side with her and treat Mumu this way?”

“Then what would you have me do?”

Wu Daniu was getting annoyed by the relentless stubbornness of his daughter and granddaughter.

Hearing Wu Daniu’s retort, a ruthless glint flashed in Wu Wanqing’s eyes.

She raised her head, her voice turning resolute. “Father, since you refuse to stand up for Mumu, don’t blame me for being ruthless. That Ji Xiaosong is just a country girl. No one will care if she dies. Once she’s dead, no one will ever be able to gossip about Mumu and Li Zhixiao again!”

Hearing this, Wu Daniu’s face fell, his voice shaking with fury:

“Wanqing, have you lost your mind? You want to kill her to silence her? Do you have any regard for the law?”

He, Wu Daniu, had killed many men on the battlefield, but he had clawed his way up from a poor village boy to his current position. He had to be cautious.

He had always placed great importance on the education of the younger generation.

He never imagined his own children would be one more trouble than the next!

Wu Wanqing sneered, her tone laced with sarcasm. “The law? Father, don’t forget, you’re a First-Grade General. Who in this Capital City would dare speak of the law to you? As long as you give the word, Ji Xiaosong’s death would be a trivial matter.”

Wu Daniu trembled with anger. He slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming with authority:

“Insolence! I, Wu Daniu, have lived my life with integrity! How could I stoop to such a vile act? Wanqing, you have disappointed me immensely!”

Wu Chufeng stood to the side, watching it all with cold eyes, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

He suddenly spoke up. “Father, don’t be angry. Eldest Sister is just worried about Mumu and isn’t thinking straight. However, Wu Wanqing, your idea is rather… interesting. Killing Ji Xiaosong would indeed solve everything. But don’t forget, she just caused a scene at the entrance to the General Mansion. Everyone outside knows she came to our residence. If she suddenly dies, what do you think people will say?”

Wu Wanqing’s expression flickered at his words, but she quickly regained her composure.

She looked at Wu Chufeng coldly, her voice dripping with disdain. “Wu Chufeng, stop with the sarcastic remarks! Ji Xiaosong is just a country girl. No one will care if she dies. Even if people outside find out, so what? Who would dare to oppose our General Mansion?”

Wu Chufeng shrugged, his tone light. “You’re right. The General Mansion is immensely powerful. No one would dare oppose us. But don’t forget, Ji Xiaosong came here with Li Zhixiao’s contract. We don’t know if anyone else knows about it. If she dies, who knows whose hands that contract might fall into. What if someone takes that contract and files a petition with His Majesty? What do you think Your Majesty would do?”

At this, Wu Wanqing’s face turned ashen.

She bit her lip, a flash of panic in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself.

She said coldly, “Wu Chufeng, stop being an alarmist! That contract is just a fake. Who would believe it?”

Wu Chufeng smiled, a hint of mockery in his voice. “You’re right. The contract is indeed a fake. But the people outside don’t know that. What if someone takes it to petition His Majesty, and Your Majesty sends investigators? Do you think our General Mansion can withstand that kind of scrutiny?”

Wu Wanqing was choked by Wu Chufeng’s words, her expression turning ugly.

She bit her lip, a flicker of resentment in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself again.

She said in a low voice, “Wu Chufeng, stop making things worse! Father, don’t listen to his nonsense!”

Just as Wu Wanqing and Wu Chufeng were bickering, Ji Xiaosong let out a soft cough. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was enough to draw everyone’s attention to her.

She lifted her head, her eyes holding a look of grievance and helplessness, and said softly, “General, have you all forgotten that I, the ‘country girl,’ am still here?”

The moment she finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Wu Daniu, Wu Wanqing, and Wu Chufeng all froze for a second, then realized their argument had completely ignored Ji Xiaosong’s presence.

A trace of embarrassment crossed Wu Daniu’s face, and he quickly said, “Miss Ji, my apologies. We were rude.”

Ji Xiaosong gave a faint smile, her tone calm but tinged with a chill:

“There’s no need to apologize, General. I am just a country girl, truly not worthy of your concern. However, I have seen things very clearly today. Li Zhixiao has been beaten half to death, which can be considered a price for his past actions. Although I’m not fully satisfied, I am unwilling to pursue the matter further.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Wu Wanqing and Wu Chufeng, then continued, “However, there is one thing I must bring up. When Li Zhixiao married into my family, my father sponsored him with one hundred taels of silver for the imperial examinations. Now that he has broken his faith and ruined my family, I demand that one hundred taels of silver be returned tenfold.”

Hearing this, Wu Wanqing’s face changed, and her voice became shrill:

“Tenfold? Are you insane? One thousand taels of silver? You, a mere country girl, think you’re worthy?”

Ji Xiaosong raised her head and looked directly at Wu Wanqing, her voice laced with coldness:

“That one hundred taels of silver was my father’s blood and sweat. Li Zhixiao broke his faith and ruined my family. This one thousand taels of silver is merely the interest. If Mrs. Wu finds this unreasonable, I don’t mind going to the government to seek justice.”

Choked by Ji Xiaosong’s words, Wu Wanqing said coldly, “Ji Xiaosong, don’t push your luck! One thousand taels of silver, on what grounds?”

At this point, Wu Daniu’s face darkened, and he spoke with stern authority:

“Wanqing, be quiet! Miss Ji’s request is perfectly reasonable. Stop making a scene!”

Ji Xiaosong, having seen enough of the drama, cut straight to the point. “This one thousand taels. Is Li Zhixiao paying, or are you?”