35 One Step In (1/2)

”Hongyue, are you alright?” The general asked, his voice filled with concern.

Hongyue peered up at him through her lashes, her lips quivering.

”F-fourth Madam..” She stuttered, her voice shaking.

”...is dead. That woman deserved death.” He finished her thoughts. The general stared at Hongyue carefully.

”Are you crying for her?” He questioned, slowly.

But how could Hongyue say yes, he was at the peak of his paranoia. She wouldn't doubt it if he killed her if he heard an answer he didn't like.

”No, I'm crying for you. Who can father rely on now?”

Hearing her answer, he was pleased; the general fell right into her trap, ”Silly girl, of course, you.”

”Really?” Hongyue pressed on, uncertainly.

”Yes.”

The general glanced at her still bleeding wound before he yelled at the servants.

”Do you lot not see Eldest Miss bleeding? Is this how you treat a daughter of mine?”

The servants immediately ran forward to serve Hongyue. While their hearts were reluctant due to the quick development in treatment and favor, they still needed to keep their head. One of the male servants unintentionally touched his hand too harshly on her injury, and Hongyue cried out in pain. Hongyue twisted herself out of their tending hands and ran to the general.

”Father! He hurt me. It's painful! Kill him!” She pleaded.

Everyone stopped in place.

Everything that transpired was already so unexpected; it was like an illusion.

The fourth madam died within an hour. The general personally killed her himself. Now Hongyue suddenly gained the favor of the general by saving him twice, she asked for the death of a servant. Would the general favor her to that extent?

To be so arrogant in such a small amount of time was fitting for trash like her. All the servant shook in silent laughter waiting for the general's reaction.

The general was startled himself. He hadn't considered Hongyue wouldn't take human lives seriously. While he trusted her, he wouldn't indulge in her to that extent.

Seeing the general not making a move, Hongyue started to cry.

”Father, why are you not protecting me?! He hurt me. Why did he hurt me? Did I do something wrong?” She cried bitterly.

Her question seemed to awaken his fear.

Yes, what wrong did she do to get hurt by a mere servant? Is it because she saved him? Or because she protected him and ruined the fourth madam's plan and they want to target her now?

General Wei's eye gleamed. How bold! How dare they!

He lunged for his sword and swiftly drove it into the chest of the servant who Hongyue claimed to hurt her. The servant's body fell back with a loud thump, and his death stated the amount of favor the general had towards Hongyue. Every servant present tried to hold back their horror.

Everyone there was mostly servants that overlooked Hongyue's courtyard.

It was because the general didn't care about the eldest miss; they dared to bully her behind his back. They had deemed the treatment wouldn't change that much, but the freshly mangled body on the ground reminded them of reality. The great general was willing to kill a mere servant just because the young miss said so without question.

This eldest miss must be not provoked at all times.

Meanwhile, unknown to the servants, the general's mind was crumbling apart from another reason.