Princess An Kang might have been gentle, but she had some backbone.
She was Princess Yongchang, General Guo’s only daughter. She, she absolutely couldn’t let her parents be shamed because of her!
"Princess, do you really not want to speak to the Empress Dowager—"
Bai Zhi truly felt an unbearable sense of frustration. She had a young maid bring hot water, soaked a cotton cloth in it, and then gently applied it to An Kang’s knees.
While carefully applying the hot compress, she whispered a few words.
"No need, grandmother is getting on in years and her health hasn’t been very good lately."
An Kang refused without a second thought, for her grandmother, who doted on her, deserved her filial piety.
As a junior, if she could not help her elders with anything, she was already undutiful enough.
How could she possibly have the audacity to let her grandmother worry about her family’s embarrassing situations?
"...Oh, by the way, the young master will be back in the capital in a few days—"
Bai Zhi fell into silence for a moment but then suddenly remembered this matter and hurriedly spoke.
However, before she could finish her words, An Kang interrupted, "Don’t tell Erlang either!"
That Erlang would come to visit her during his scarce spare moments from official duties satisfied her greatly.
How could she bear to distract her brother?
Although she had not lived with her two brothers, she knew well that men of the Guo family had fiery tempers and could not tolerate any slight.
If Erlang found out about her treatment in the He Family, he would definitely cause trouble for He Xi.
An Kang did not care whether He Xi would get beaten or whatever might happen, but she was afraid that Erlang might get into trouble.
The Guo Family commanded a hundred thousand troops, and there had long been those in the court denouncing Prince Consort Guo for harboring military might for his own purpose.
If not for the Saint’s trust, which had quelled the accusations, Prince Consort Guo might have had to turn over the Guo Family Army to prove his innocence.
Even with Guo Dalang and Guo Erlang, the brothers, there were Imperial Censors denouncing them for being arrogant, abusing their family’s standing, and the Saint’s favor to act recklessly at the border.
An Kang truly did not want to trouble her brothers, nor did she wish for the Guo family to endure criticism because of her.
They were but petty tricks; she could endure them and they would soon pass.
Why create a big fuss about it?
Bai Zhi pursed her lips, feeling quite indignant inside, yet dared not say anything more.
On the other hand, An Kang, reminded by Bai Zhi, shifted her attention to her brother, who would soon return to the capital.
"Counting the days, Erlang should be back in about three to five more days."
Seeing her brother brought great joy to An Kang.
The last time she saw her father and brothers was five years ago when she got married, and her uncle had specially granted Prince Consort Guo and his sons permission to return to the capital.
Having her dear father and brothers to escort her on her wedding day filled An Kang with satisfaction.
Regrettably, after the wedding, when she returned home for the first time after three days and had a rare family meal with her father and brothers, they had to rush back to the border.
And just like that, they had been separated for five years.
Though every month brought letters and every festivity saw carts of gifts from her father and brothers,
An Kang couldn’t help missing them.
Now, Erlang was finally returning to the capital. Since receiving the letter, An Kang had been counting on her fingers, calculating the days until Erlang’s arrival.
"If all goes well, it should be within these few days!"
Seeing her mistress in high spirits, Bai Zhi couldn’t bear to spoil the mood and so followed An Kang’s lead in the conversation.
He Xi returned to the main house and hadn’t even stepped into the bedroom when he overheard his wife and the maid’s conversation.
He Xi’s heart skipped a beat. His mother’s information was very accurate; Guo Erlang was indeed returning to the capital.
Yet his wife had concealed such an important matter, clearly harboring her own agenda.
Could it be that she really intended to complain to her family and catch him, her husband, unawares?
He Xi’s heart thumped wildly; he bit his lower lip hard to calm himself.
He smoothed his face with his hands, then lifted his head again, his fair and handsome face now filled with a gentle, charming smile.
He Xi strode quickly to the bed and immediately noticed the bruises on his wife’s pale knees.
He hastily showed a pained expression, disregarding all propriety, lifted his robe, and knelt on one knee beside An Kang’s feet.
An Kang & Bai Zhi:...
The mistress and servant were dumbfounded!
Blinking, they looked at each other and then back at He Xi.
An Kang: What’s gotten into my husband?
Bai Zhi: Could the young man be aiming to "borrow" the Princess’s dowry again?
He Xi seemed oblivious to the peculiar gazes of the mistress and the maid, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at the bruised knees, his eyes reddening, he spoke with a thick nasal voice, "My wife, you’ve suffered!"
"It’s all my fault for being so careless and not noticing the hardships you’ve endured!"
"...Mom is getting on in years; she didn’t mean it intentionally. There must be some misunderstanding."
"Yes! It must be a misunderstanding! It’s the troublesome slaves around Mom who are stirring up trouble, that’s why—"
At the same time, in Rongshou Hall, He Tiantian had just finished drinking a bowl of ginseng black chicken soup when she heard a prompt sound in the depths of her sea of consciousness:
"Ding! Granny Su’s hatred value +1!"
He Tiantian:...This is quite a surprise.
Sitting in the house, hatred value falling from the sky?