Chapter 273 - 269: Madman and Madwoman 33

Chapter 273: Chapter 269: Madman and Madwoman 33

Wu Chufeng wasn’t the sort of person who sought out pleasure; he had always taken his official position very seriously.

Jian Country hadn’t been established for long, but even without attending the various ladies’ banquets, Ji Xiaosong had a good idea of how hard the court officials worked.

"Did something happen at court?"

Ji Xiaosong couldn’t help but ask. Knowing Wu Chufeng’s temperament, he wouldn’t suddenly suggest leaving for a hot spring unless something was truly wrong.

"Yes, and no."

Wu Chufeng pulled Ji Xiaosong tighter into his embrace and continued, "Although the Emperor is in the prime of his life, fighting to establish the country alongside my father and the others ultimately took a toll on his body. A Crown Prince still hasn’t been named, and the several princes are growing restless, already showing signs of trying to win over the major factions."

"So, are you trying to get away and lie low, or are you planning to use this as a chance to get close to one of the princes?"

"Lie low, and take you to the hot springs while we’re at it. Lately, the Eldest Prince has been in close contact with Minister Liu of the Ministry of War. I might get dragged into it."

"So you don’t want to get involved in any of these conflicts?"

"Of course. I have you. There’s no need to risk everything."

Wu Chufeng’s mind was very clear. The Wu Family had achieved its current standing by following the Emperor in his campaign to unite the realm.

If he were to choose a side, there would be no telling how long he might live.

*

But their hot spring plan was not meant to be. That very evening, Wu Chufeng was summoned to the Imperial Palace by the Emperor.

Before he left, he gripped Ji Xiaosong’s hand and said earnestly, "My lady, until I return, don’t let anyone in the family go anywhere. I will also explain things clearly to Father and have him bring back the guards we’ve been keeping in the suburbs."

From his solemn expression, Ji Xiaosong had an idea of what was happening.

Either a prince was planning a rebellion, or the Emperor was about to spring a trap.

"Don’t worry. I’ll watch over the household."

Ji Xiaosong gave Wu Chufeng a light hug and, while doing so, placed layer after layer of Barriers on him to prevent any accidental injuries.

After Wu Chufeng’s hurried departure, a tense atmosphere instantly descended upon the Wu Mansion.

Although Wu Daniu had long since retired from his official post, his years of military service had made him as steady as a mountain in a crisis.

He quickly summoned the mansion’s steward and guards. "From this moment on, the mansion gates are to be sealed. No one is to enter or leave without my express command. All guards will go on high alert immediately, split into three shifts, and patrol in rotation. Keep a close watch on the front and back gates, the perimeter walls, and all key pavilions."

The steward nodded emphatically and turned to hurry away and relay the orders.

Wu Daniu then looked to Ji Xiaosong. "Daughter-in-law, don’t panic. As long as I’m here, I will protect everyone in this mansion. Since Chu Feng left instructions, he must have sensed how grave the situation at court is. The Wu Family has weathered many storms; we’re not some soft persimmon that anyone can just squeeze."

He had his personal attendant fetch his customary broadsword, then gathered all the women of the household in the main hall.

Wang Cuihua rushed into the main hall, her face etched with anxiety.

The moment she entered, she went straight to Wu Daniu and said breathlessly, "My lord, Wenhao is still at the academy! Things are so tense outside; we have to send someone to bring him back right away. We can’t let him be out there all alone and frightened!"

Wu Daniu frowned. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "You’re right. Wenhao is still young; he can’t be out there by himself. I’ll send men to bring him back at once."

He turned to one of his trusted guards and ordered, "Take two men, ride to the academy immediately, and bring Wenhao home. Remember, be cautious on the road. Don’t draw any attention."

The guard accepted the order and departed. Wang Cuihua finally breathed a small sigh of relief, but the worry on her face did not fade.

Wang Cuihua stood in the center of the main hall, her face pale. Her hands nervously twisted a handkerchief as her panicked eyes darted around the room.

Her voice trembled, like a dry leaf about to be blown away by the wind. "My lord, what... what are we going to do? It’s so tense out there. Is our family... Is something going to happen?"

She grew more frantic as she spoke, her voice rising as if to pour out all the terror in her heart:

"When you lost your official post overnight, our family nearly fell apart! If something else happens now, what are we supposed to do? Wenhao is still so young, and I... I can’t go back to living that kind of miserable life!"

Wu Daniu frowned and said in a low, stern voice, "Cuihua, calm down. It hasn’t come to that. Our family isn’t one that people can just push around."

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Wang Cuihua’s voice suddenly turned shrill, like that of a cornered animal. "My lord, look outside! The guards are all on high alert as if facing a great enemy, and we even have to bring Wenhao home! How can this be a small matter? If something really happens to our family, what will happen to Wenhao? What will happen to me?"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened and tears began to stream down her face, her voice choked with sobs:

"My lord, what if... what if we cut ties with Chu Feng and his wife! They’re not my children, after all. Why should we risk our own family’s lives for them? If you can’t bring yourself to do it, then I’ll take Wenhao and leave. We’ll find a place where no one knows us and live a quiet, peaceful life. That has to be better than living in fear here!"

Hearing this, Wu Daniu’s expression darkened. "Nonsense!" he snapped. "Chu Feng is my son, and Xiaosong is my daughter-in-law! We are a family! How could you even say such a thing?"

Wang Cuihua flinched at his tone but quickly jutted out her chin, her expression a mixture of stubbornness and grievance:

"A family? My lord, don’t you forget! When you lost your post, we were almost forced to move to the suburbs! Now that we finally have a stable life, do you really want to go through all that again? Because I don’t! I refuse to go back to that miserable life!"

She grew more and more agitated, her voice tinged with hysteria:

"If you can’t bear to part with them, then I’m taking Wenhao and leaving! I still have some gold and silver valuables, enough for mother and son to get by! If you try and stop me, I’ll... I’ll..."

She couldn’t finish her sentence. Tears blurred her vision, and as if all her strength had been drained away, she collapsed into a chair and began to weep softly.

Wu Daniu watched her, his brow deeply furrowed, feeling both helpless and furious.

He knew Wang Cuihua was unsophisticated, timid, and conflict-averse. She always panicked at the first sign of real trouble.

’But he’d never imagined she would say something like that.’

Ji Xiaosong stood to one side, saying nothing. She had long guessed that someone in the family would make a scene.

"Auntie, there’s no need for this. Chu Feng has only gone to the Imperial Palace. There isn’t even a whisper of trouble outside yet, and you’re already this frightened."

Wang Cuihua looked up, her tear-filled eyes glaring at Ji Xiaosong with a hint of resentment. "If nothing was wrong, why would my lord put the entire mansion on lockdown? It must mean things are tense outside. Who knows what might happen? All of you keep saying it’s fine, but if something does happen, what becomes of our family? What becomes of Wenhao?"

As she spoke, she suddenly shot to her feet, clenching her jaw as if she’d made a firm decision:

"No! I can’t just sit here and wait to die!"

With that, she turned and made to rush out, as if she truly intended to pack her things and leave at once.

Seeing this, Wu Daniu grabbed her by the wrist. "Cuihua!" he snapped. "Calm down! The situation outside is uncertain. Isn’t it even more dangerous for you to take Wenhao and leave?"

Wang Cuihua struggled for a moment, but when she couldn’t break free, she finally broke down, crying hysterically:

"Then tell me what to do! If something really happens to our family, what will happen to Wenhao? What will happen to me? I don’t want to go back to that miserable life! I don’t!"

Her sobs, filled with endless panic and despair, echoed through the main hall.

Watching her, Wu Daniu’s heart ached with a mixture of helplessness and pity. He could only grip her hand tightly and comfort her in a low voice, "Cuihua, don’t be afraid. I’m here. Nothing will happen to our family. Please, just trust me, all right?"

Wang Cuihua’s sobs slowly subsided, but the terror in her eyes remained.