"Uh-huh. So what are you going to do? My uncle also said that group of people is really fierce."

"Don’t worry, my dad is fierce too."

The yellow weasel nodded in agreement. "He is fierce. I heard from my grandma that your dad beat my second uncle to death when he was a kid."

"..."

"But don’t you worry, their feud doesn’t affect us. You’re still my good friend," the yellow weasel said very seriously.

"...Tomorrow, I’ll prepare some food for you. You can give it to your grandma as a sign of respect and ask her not to hold a grudge against my dad anymore."

The yellow weasel lowered its head, considering. "My grandma isn’t easy to please."

"...What are your grandma’s hobbies?"

"My grandma loves watching dances, but her legs aren’t what they used to be, so she hasn’t come out to watch in many years. If you could..."

"I can’t," Ye Qianning refused flatly.

’How creepy...’

’If she hired a troupe of dancers to perform for an old yellow weasel, it would scare a bunch of people to death. She’d probably end up with a reputation as a weasel spirit herself.’

"Alright then. I’ll go back and see if my grandma needs anything else." The yellow weasel didn’t want to force the issue.

"You should say some good things about my dad. It’s better to resolve grievances than to let them fester. That way, your lives in the manor will be easier, right?" After all, getting on a weasel’s bad side was never a good thing.

"Got it, got it. I’ll be going then. Don’t forget to prepare the chickens for my uncle tomorrow. Just leave them in the usual spot."

Ye Qianning nodded. ’Twenty chickens. It was quite a distance from here to the Prime Minister’s estate. Its uncle must be pretty capable to be able to carry them all back.’

The yellow weasel left. Ye Qianning was still squatting when she heard her father’s door open. She turned to look.

Xiang Minghou, with an outer robe draped over his shoulders, leaned against the doorframe as he stepped out. His injuries were severe. He walked very slowly, one hand braced against the wall and the other clutching his abdomen.

Ye Qianning concealed her presence, slipped past Luo Wen and the others hidden in the shadows, and quietly followed him.

The walk from Yuehua Small Building to the woodshed should have only taken a few minutes, but it took Xiang Minghou nearly half an hour. By the time he reached the woodshed, he was gasping for breath, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"General." The servant boy on guard was very surprised to see Xiang Minghou.

"You may all leave for now."

"General, your health..."

"It’s fine. Go on, and don’t stay close," Xiang Minghou said.

"Yes, sir."

The servant boy withdrew.

Xiang Minghou leaned against the door, silent for a moment, as if mustering a great deal of courage before pushing it open.

Inside the woodshed, Old Madam Xiang sat beside Xiang Mingli, her hair disheveled. Xiang Mingli was unconscious, and it was impossible to tell if he was dead or alive. Seeing this, Xiang Minghou’s heart still sank.

Old Madam Xiang’s eyes fluttered open drowsily. She looked up, and a flicker of joy crossed her face when she saw who it was. "Eldest! You’re my eldest! Come, come to Mother."

Xiang Minghou was visibly taken aback.

"Eldest, did you make your father angry too? Did he lock you in the woodshed as well?" the old madam said as she staggered to her feet.

Xiang Minghou didn’t speak, just watched her.

"Eldest, what’s wrong? Did your father hit you, too? Here, let Mother have a look," Old Madam Xiang said as she walked toward him.

Xiang Minghou still didn’t move, allowing Old Madam Xiang to embrace him.

"There, there. A hug from Mother will make it all better." Old Madam Xiang wrapped her arms around him, murmuring, "You’ve grown up. Just a few days and you’re already bigger. Mother doesn’t ask for anything, only that you and your brother will be well."

A sharp sting pricked Xiang Minghou’s nose. He started to raise a hand but ultimately let it fall. His lips trembled. "Twenty-one years ago, on the night Father died, someone pushed me into the well..."

Old Madam Xiang, still holding him, clearly stiffened.