Chapter 4

The lady’s newly adopted daughter had broken the general’s adopted son’s leg on arrival. Even the general heard about it.

He came to look, then went back saying,

“Impossible. Absolutely impossible! That little girl looks so hard done by. How could she hit anyone? Bighead must’ve fallen over himself!”

Bighead: Pear blossoms drift down past my window…

Then the general went off to war again. Before leaving, he hurriedly told me,

“While I’m away, keep my wife company. And your brother Cangfeng too.”

That very day, I met my mother’s only son, Ye Cangfeng.

His features were pale and finely drawn, so understated they became striking, like an ink painting slowly unrolling.

His manner was cool, his expression weary.

At first sight, I realized this brother I’d acquired didn’t like me.

But he didn’t abuse me like my girl cousin, or fight me for food like my boy cousin.

He only lowered his eyes and said quietly,

“You and Mother are so close, Sister. Anyone who didn’t know would think you were her real daughter.”

I missed the meaning entirely. I was happily gnawing a pastry.

“Yes, yes, absolutely!”

My mother’s expression had already changed.

Her eyes filled with tears. Covering her face, she said in anguish, “I know. You still blame me for not being close enough to you…”

Ye Cangfeng’s face was ice. “I wouldn’t dare.”

While mother and son sank into misery,

I started rolling up my sleeves.

So! You’re the little bastard making my mother cry!

My mother was still wiping her tears when I launched myself like a tiger charging downhill, hooked an arm around Ye Cangfeng’s neck, and began pounding him.

Everyone stared blankly.

By the time they reacted, the elegant, distinguished young master Ye looked as if a gale had torn through him. His hair hung loose and his clothes were ripped.

When I let him go, he still looked stunned, staring at me in disbelief.

He truly was a sight to stir anyone’s pity.

“Apologize to Mother,” I ordered coldly.

“Mother, I’m sorry,” he said by reflex.

My mother had never seen her son in such a sorry state. In her alarm, she even forgot to stop crying.

My heart tightened.

Why was Mother still crying?

I shot out a hand, gripped Ye Cangfeng by the neck, and slapped him twice more.

At the sight of his swollen, reddened face, my mother’s tears poured down like a waterfall.

“My poor boy!”

Hm? Still crying?

My gaze sharpened at once. I put down my pastry.

Now I was going to get serious!

But Ye Cangfeng suddenly realized that the more Mother cried, the more he hurt.

He lunged forward and clung to her legs. “Mother, please stop crying!”

At last, she called off her powers.

Finally, he collapsed weakly into her arms and asked in a thread of a voice, “Mother, where on earth did you find this mons—”

She clapped a hand over his mouth. “Don’t you say that about her!”

I sat nearby chewing away as my mother, glowing with happiness, hugged her son. “Oh my, the last time I held you like this, you were three…”

“Wait, Mother,” Ye Cangfeng said in horror. “I think I’ve lost all feeling in my legs…”

She paid him no attention. “You were such a tiny little thing. So adorable!”

“Mother, have I gone deaf? Why can’t I hear you comforting me…?”