Chapter 30: Oh No, The General's Lower Regions Are Burnt

"Hmm?" In the cradle, little Ruo Xi paused with her tiny arm stretched out in mid-air.

Xiao Yuan in the eastern part of the city?

Isn't that where that scoundrel father keeps his mistress?

These days, Dong Ju would come back from midnight stalking, stomping her feet in anger and cursing all the time.

"Did my mighty and domineering uncle do this? How cool is that!" Baby Ruo Xi got excited, kicking her little legs: "I wonder if that scoundrel father is alright. If this gets exposed too early, will he go on a rampage against Mother and the royal family? After all, they must have been plotting for a long time to overthrow Great Wei!"

A cold aura emanated around Xiao Yin.

However, he still gently patted his niece with a calm expression, his eyes becoming more resolute.

The full moon banquet ended just like that.

Everyone in Imperial City knew that the real purpose of the full moon banquet was not the celebration itself but the return of the Princess Royal to the royal family.

Six years.

The Princess Royal finally stepped into the palace.

All the officials returning home felt that perhaps the royal family of Great Wei might undergo many changes due to the Princess Royal's return.

The farce in the imperial garden was clearly aimed at the Shangguan family, and the royal family was very displeased with how the Shangguan family had treated the Princess Royal.

What made the common people talk even more was that during the lively full moon banquet at noon, the little county princess received mountains of gifts, while at the same time, the imperial consort Shangguan Jinghong appeared in the eastern part of the city, injured.

As for where he was injured, no one knew.

Some residents near Xiao Yuan said they saw a fire burst out from the courtyard, after which General Shangguan's guards quickly covered the injured person's head with a robe and took him away.

Judging by the figure of the injured person fleeing, it looked very similar to the imperial consort. Moreover, when fleeing, he dropped a shoe, which someone picked up and followed, leading them to the general's mansion.

Xiaoyue returned to the general's mansion that evening.

Xiao Ruilin was left in the palace, and Xiaoyue, fearing he might be uncomfortable, asked Hongmei to stay in Fu Shou Palace to accompany and take care of him.

Nanny Jin and Dong Ju accompanied Xiaoyue back to the general's mansion.

"I'll send Baiyu to follow you!" the emperor told his sister: "From now on, Baiyu will be your personal guard."

Xiaoyue did not refuse.

Baiyu had grown up with her and her brother since childhood. They had rescued him from a ditch in the wild and healed him, making him loyal and devoted.

Most importantly, Baiyu was highly intelligent and had become an unparalleled martial artist in just over a decade.

Because she needed to breastfeed, baby Ruo Xi was taken away by her mother, Xiaoyao. Although her uncle tried various excuses and even suggested finding eight wet nurses to feed the baby, it was not possible.

"Your Majesty, the general's mansion is only half an hour from the palace. If you miss Xi'er, I can bring her here," Xiaoyao said helplessly.

Her brother had always been kind to her, doting on her endlessly.

But never before had she seen such indulgence, as if he could not bear to be apart from Xi'er for a moment.

Xiaoyao needed to take her daughter back because her daughter was also curious about what happened to her scoundrel father in the eastern part of the city.

The empress dowager was also reluctant to let go, but only released little Xiao Xi'er's hand after Xiaoyao promised to come back the next day and visit daily.

"Ah, my grandmother is truly wonderful. When I grow up, I will definitely take good care of her health and make sure she lives a long life!"

Baby Ruo Xi, having been an orphan in her previous life and wandering alone after her master's death, had experienced loneliness and danger. This made her feel disconnected from the concept of survival.

Now, in this world, she had a loving mother, a powerful uncle, and such a caring grandmother. How could she not be moved?

So, her thoughts were genuinely heartfelt.

This made the empress dowager even more fond of baby Ruo Xi.

She bestowed many precious gifts upon baby Ruo Xi, only reluctantly letting go after she played with them.

The Princess Royal returned to the general's mansion.

Upon entering, she saw a chaotic scene.

Throughout the general's mansion, there were no lamps lit, but shadows darted about hurriedly.

"Hurry up, hurry up! Rat oil works best; they use it in the countryside!"

"Soak it in cold water, or it will blister and be even more painful!"

"Oh, my child, waaah..."

There were soft cries, loud wails, and sobbing.

This sobbing came from Lady Hu.

Her entire head was wrapped in white cloth, revealing only her eyes and mouth.

Her nose was gashed open by the bird's claws, her face scratched, and even her lips were torn by the bird's sharp talons.

The imperial physicians discussed this incident for a long time.

They stated that in their decades of medical practice, they had never seen anything like it.

A single bird could hit so accurately, injure someone so severely, and then fly away.

"It must be that little demon. Ever since she was born, our Shangguan family hasn’t had a moment’s peace!" Lady Hu lay on the bed, her screams echoing from the intense pain, despite the imperial physicians’ warnings to keep calm and refrain from speaking.

But how could she help it!

"Lady Hu, who do you think raised that bird? How could it target you?" Lai Fu wrung out a handkerchief and handed it to Lady Hu to wipe her hands, as he spoke.

"Hmph, whoever it is, I’ll remember this, Xiaoyao. And that little demon—she’s surely a harbinger of disaster!" After Lady Hu finished speaking, blood seeped from her nose again. Amidst Lai Fu’s exclamations, she finally closed her mouth.

However, a servant barging into the courtyard made Lady Hu forget her pain once more.

"Lady Hu, something terrible has happened. The general, he... he..." The servant pointed outside, hesitating, clearly agitated.

"What happened to the general? Tell me quickly!" Lady Hu, having just quieted down, turned to look at the servant and asked.

"The general, his lower half is burned, and... and the physician says he can’t treat him, he’s leaving!" The servant said, clearly distressed.

"I can’t let him go, support me, I need to go there!" Tears streamed down Lady Hu’s face. She wanted to blame someone but couldn’t figure out whom to blame, only crying, "Did I do something wrong for heaven to punish our Shangguan family like this? I’ve been a vegetarian and prayed all my life, always kind-hearted, yet why this calamity?"

"Lady Hu, please stop crying, go see the general first. If something happens..." Lai Fu sighed softly.

Shangguan Jinghong was not taken to Mozhu Garden; recently, Nanny Jin had replaced the staff there, so they dared not take him there.

Thus, Shangguan Jinghong was taken to an empty side residence instead.