Chapter 24: The Dead General Returns 6
Ning Yan was too lazy to waste words with that idiot man and simply closed her eyes, fainting!
"Madam, Madam, what's wrong with you? Someone, quickly!"
Chaos erupted in front of the General Cheng's Residence. Soon, the news that the lame but alive 驃騎將軍 had returned, bringing back a mother and three children, and had even angered the General's Madam into fainting, spread throughout the capital!
{This is too much, General Cheng has really gone too far! For the past three years, the General Cheng's Residence has been supported solely by the General's Madam. She was filial to her mother-in-law and raised the General's posthumous son. Not a single fault could be found with her!
Yet, the General returns and brings back a concubine, even wanting his concubine's son and daughter to be raised by the Madam. Won't they become legitimate children? And will they compete with the Young Master for property?}
{Heh, I heard that when General Cheng proposed marriage at the Zhen Guo Duke's Mansion, he promised a lifetime of monogamy. How long has it been? And now there's a concubine! Is he going to take several more concubines soon?}
{No matter what, the General Cheng's Residence will be interesting to watch from now on!}
It was indeed lively. Ning Yan fainted, but it couldn't stop Cheng Shaowu from reporting back to the palace. After he left, Ning Yan was "rescued" awake by the doctor.
She forced herself to arrange lodging for the mother and three children, doing everything a First Madam should do.
However, when the Old Madam of Rongshouer learned from her servants that her son was crippled and had brought back a pair of twins, the Old Madam was not as happy as she had been in her previous life. After all, she already had a legitimate grandson, and he was incredibly intelligent. She didn't care for the other children at all.
So, when Ning Yan came over, she offered a good deal of comfort. Hmm, after three years, the Old Madam's health had improved significantly; at least, her scolding was very sharp now.
She felt uncomfortable seeing Ning Yan wronged, so that Miss Bai was dealt with by the Old Lady.
When General Cheng returned, he was informed that Madam Bai had been arranged in Apricot Blossom Courtyard, the name of which had been recently changed.
He wasn't completely heartless yet, so he first went to Ning Yan's courtyard, wanting to comfort her.
Ning Yan quickly said, "General, you should go see Miss Bai... Sister. She's new here and must feel uneasy. It's best if the General spends more time with her."
"Yan'er, you are as sensible as ever. Don't worry, this General will not mistreat you."
Then, this scumbag limped away.
After all, what he most wanted to comfort now was his little darling. He didn't know what crazy fit the Emperor was having; his imperial decree to make her a concubine was rejected by the Emperor, so Bai Rong'er could only be a noble concubine.
He didn't know how heartbroken that kind woman, Rong'er, would be.
In Apricot Blossom Courtyard, the main room was still lit. Cheng Shaowu stepped inside. Usually, Rong'er would wait for him to sleep together, but today she had gone to bed early. Cheng Shaowu wasn't angry; he took off his clothes and got into bed.
He didn't notice a peculiar scent of incense in the room. Soon, the two people in the bed were rolling together.
Of course, the person in the bed could not possibly be Bai Rong'er; she was still nursing in the back courtyard!
In the previous life, didn't that man surnamed Cheng say he would remain chaste for Bai Rong'er?
Other men had three wives and four concubines; how could he, a dignified great general, be so wronged?
She was kind and understanding, so she absolutely had to arrange a concubine to serve him!
At the third watch of the night, Bai Rong'er was finally released by the Old Madam. As soon as she entered the room, she noticed something was wrong.
There were many clothes thrown on the floor, and more importantly, there were two heads on the bed!
Bai Rong'er went crazy, pulled off the quilt, and started fighting with the woman on the bed.
News reached the main courtyard, and Ning Yan quickly dressed and took her maidservant to watch the show.
Unexpectedly, by the time Ning Yan arrived, the three protagonists in Apricot Blossom Courtyard were already fighting.
Caught in the act, Cheng Shaowu was initially a bit guilty. After all, his life was saved by Bai Rong'er, and he had promised her that he would never touch another woman again. Yet, on his first night back in the residence, he had broken his vow. He knew he was wrong.
However, a man's guilt only goes so far.
He could talk about it himself, but if someone else brought it up, he would become enraged out of shame.
So when Bai Rong'er pointed her finger at him and accused him of betraying her, Cheng Shaowu became furious, "Bai Rong'er, will you stop being unreasonable already?!"
Ning Yan fanned the flames, "That's right, it's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. Don't even mention he only slept with one concubine; even if he slept with one every day, no one could control it. Miss Bai, don't be so petty!"
Cheng Shaowu: His Madam was still the sensible one.
Rong'er was, after all, from the countryside, and her manners were a bit lacking.
To obey one's husband is the proper way!
"I'm unreasonable? I'm petty?! Fine, fine, fine, then I'll leave, alright? Just consider me blind and having misjudged someone!"
Then Liuxu (the courtesan Ning Yan bought for Cheng Shaowu) began to persuade, "General, quickly go after Madam. Your servant knows you care about her. Your servant only secretly approached the General out of admiration. Having this one night is enough for your servant. From now on, your servant will no longer disturb the General..."
With a shriek, Bai Rong'er started scratching Liuxu. General Cheng tried to stop them, and then he got scratched, which made Liuxu heartbroken, and she also started fighting, "Madam, you can hit your servant, but how can you hit the General? Your servant will not spare anyone who dares to touch the General!"
The First Madam had paid her two thousand taels to act out this scene. If she didn't put in effort, what if the First Madam wasn't satisfied?
Ning Yan watched with delight. Just as the two women were about to cease fighting, a bead appeared at Bai Rong'er's feet. Bai Rong'er lost her balance and fell towards Cheng Shaowu. With a thud, Cheng Shaowu's head hit the ground, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Liuxu pounced on him, shouting "General!" while subtly pushing Bai Rong'er away.
Xiangluan walked over and discreetly picked up the bead, then called for someone to summon the Royal Physician.
In that short amount of time, Bai Rong'er and Liuxu started fighting again. This time, Liuxu didn't hold back and stopped pretending to be weak. With Xiangluan and a few others subtly helping her, Bai Rong'er was soon scratched all over her face.
The wounds were bloody, and Bai Rong'er looked like a female ghost from the beating.
The chaotic battle ended when Royal Physician Wang arrived.
"Drag all of them down for me! Make them kneel in the courtyard and pray for the General's recovery!"
Bai Rong'er: "I am the General's concubine; you have no right to punish me!"
Ning Yan smiled, "Xiangluan, go teach her the rules!"
Xiangluan immediately rolled up her sleeves, "Alright, Madam."
Then she grabbed Bai Rong'er by the back of her collar and dragged her to the courtyard. Soon, slapping sounds echoed.
Royal Physician Wang took Cheng Shaowu's pulse to the rhythm of these slaps.
"Royal Physician Wang, how is he?"
Royal Physician Wang pondered for a moment before saying, "He hit his head quite hard. I'll give the General a few needles to wake him up first."
Silver needles were quickly inserted into Cheng Shaowu's acupuncture points. In a moment, Cheng Shaowu opened his eyes.
However, his speech seemed a bit slow, and when he tried to get up, he couldn't.