The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 312: Too Much Bullying

Chapter 312: Too Much Bullying

Xie Beihan choked up, staring at Fan Yunxi’s profile with rising anger. "You..."

But as the words reached his lips, he restrained his temper because he felt guilty.

It was because of his imminent death that his father had arranged this marriage, and he knew he hadn’t treated her well.

He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and said, "It’s my fault. I didn’t expect you to dislike those banquets so much. I saw you bored at home every day, so I asked Miss Lu to arrange more banquets for you, hoping you’d meet more people and perhaps enjoy outings like tea parties in the future."

Fan Yunxi’s heart stirred slightly, unsure of her feelings.

Softening her tone, she replied, "Lord Hou, you don’t need to worry about me, nor do you need to get into trouble on my behalf."

Xie Beihan frowned slightly, his mouth turning downwards. Finally, he sighed, "Then do as you wish."

Back at Marquis Zhenbei’s residence, Fan Yunxi paid her respects to him and returned to her own courtyard without saying much.

Xie Beihan truly intended to henceforth ignore everything about Fan Yunxi. After dinner, he picked up an ancient text to see if he could find a way to dispel the antique’s gloomy aura, but no matter how he read it, he couldn’t absorb the densely packed characters and intricate runes.

He sighed silently, then rummaged through the cabinet and found the medicinal ointment Empress Xie had sent earlier for treating bruises.

The night was calm.

With his mind in turmoil, he walked to the outside of Fan Yunxi’s courtyard.

Summoning a maid to call for someone, Auntie Chen soon came out.

Empress Xie had kept Auntie Chen in the capital so that Fan Yunxi could learn more about the customs there.

"My Lord," Auntie Chen greeted with a bow.

"It’s likely Madam has some injuries. This is a medicinal ointment my aunt gave me earlier; please use it on her," Xie Beihan said.

"But Madam doesn’t have any external injuries, not even a bruise," Auntie Chen replied, puzzled.

Xie Beihan, now even more confused, asked, "No injuries? Are you sure you looked carefully?"

"I personally attended to her; how could I not see clearly?" Auntie Chen replied.

Xie Beihan stood under the moonlight, his brows furrowing even tighter.

Auntie Chen continued, "My Lord, could something have happened today? Madam ate only a few mouthfuls for dinner, washed herself briefly, and didn’t even take a bath."

Xie Beihan, being partly of royal blood, immediately discerned the clues. "Then Yu Chunhua must have done something!"

"My Lord, could it be..."

Xie Beihan had never felt such fury before. His face turned ominously dark, exuding a terrifying presence that sent chills down one’s spine.

In a cold voice, he said, "Madam likely has tiny needle marks on her body?"

Auntie Chen lowered her head in thought and suddenly raised it. "It seems so!"

Xie Beihan ground his teeth in frustration.

He hated the cunning of Yu Chunhua and her companions, and he hated his own helplessness!

If he were in a higher position, wielding power, how could Yu Chunhua and the others dare to be so reckless?

In the end, it was because he held only a title without any other achievements.

Nevertheless, he wasn’t entirely devoid of strategy and cunning; he simply couldn’t be bothered with others.

Today, they bullied Fan Yunxi like this, and he wouldn’t hold back.

"Go to the palace," Xie Beihan said in a low voice, giving Auntie Chen several instructions.

Auntie Chen wasn’t surprised, feeling a sense of joy that the young Marquis was finally stepping up. She remarked, "If Madam finds out, she’ll be very happy."

Xie Beihan’s eyes dimmed slightly. "No need to tell her. She probably fears implicating her family, which is why she didn’t want to mention this."

After all, she didn’t trust him.

And rightfully so, given his past recklessness and unreliable appearance.

The next day.

General Yu returned to court as scheduled.

He reported to the Emperor in the palace and naturally received praise, along with many rewards.

General Yu accepted the rewards graciously, but as he left the palace, there was no joy on his face.

Outside the General’s residence, Mrs. Yu and her children were waiting.

Seeing General Yu dismount, everyone was overjoyed.

Especially Yu Chunhua, who, upon hearing the praises of the people around her father’s bravery, raised her chin in pride.

As long as her father won a few more battles, she could become a county princess. Perhaps in the future, she could even succeed Ye Siheng’s position.

Thinking so contentedly, Yu Chunhua hurried forward when General Yu dismounted. "Daughter congratulates Father, congratulates Father!"

General Yu’s face was dark as he fixedly looked at her. "Come inside."

Yu Chunhua immediately sensed something was wrong and felt her heart sink.

She found it difficult to move her feet.

In the front courtyard of the residence, General Yu stopped and turned to look at her. When she finally walked in, he slapped her across the face.

The slap was crisp and loud.

Accustomed to handling spears and swords, General Yu’s strength was formidable, and it made Yu Chunhua’s mouth bleed and her face swell red. She fell to the ground.

Mrs. Yu was shocked and rushed over to shield her daughter, checking her injuries. "Husband, what are you doing?!"

The three sons of the Yu family were also puzzled.

After all, she was their only younger sister.

General Yu waved his hand, ordered the guards to close the gates, and dismissed the bystanders.

Only then did he vent his anger. "What did I do? Why don’t you ask her what she did!"

Mrs. Yu, knowing her husband’s temperament, realized he wouldn’t punish their children without reason and calmed down.

She asked calmly, "Chunhua, what exactly did you do to anger your father so much?"

Yu Chunhua covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes. "What did I do? Father, where did you hear all these nonsense and decide to hit your daughter without even asking?"

General Yu stood with his hands behind his back. "Alright, then tell me, what good deed have you done?"

"You can speak freely; if your father is unreasonable, I won’t spare him," Mrs. Yu said.

Her three brothers were also urging her to explain.

Yu Chunhua pursed her lips and said aggrievedly, "I just said that the Ninth Princess knows her place, dresses plainly, and because of that, the Ninth Prince asked Father to punish me? Isn’t this too much bullying?"

She had thought Ye Siheng was afraid of the Yu family, but she hadn’t expected such a counterattack waiting for her.

In her heart, she regretted her momentary outspokenness, which had caused this trouble. But she still felt indignant. Her father had earned military merit on the battlefield. Why should he fear Ye Siheng over such a trivial matter?