“Show filial respect?” Cheng Yao let out a mocking laugh. Her voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone nearby who had been pricking up their ears to listen. “When the dry rations were being divided earlier, Second Aunt, you never thought of ‘showing filial respect’ to me, your nephew’s wife, by giving me an extra bite. Now that the family has split up and I’ve managed to get some food through my own efforts, how has it suddenly become something I’m ‘supposed’ to provide? Who in this group isn’t finding their own way to catch fish? What, are the people from the second and third branches so precious that they can’t lift a finger?”
Several women roasting fish nearby couldn’t help joining in.
“Exactly! Madam Cheng is absolutely right!”
“You’ve already split from the family, so stop putting on airs!”
“If Madam Cheng hadn’t taught us how, we wouldn’t even have a fish tail to eat!”
Old Madam Zhan’s face darkened.
Along the way, her mind had drifted in and out of consciousness, but she had known most of what Cheng Yao had done.
For instance, Cheng Yao had forcefully demanded that the family split up, offered suggestions to the guards, and boiled ginger soup to save the sick.
Since none of it had affected her own interests, she had been too lazy to interfere.
But now she was awake, weak and ravenous, and the wife of her second son had asked for food—yet Cheng Yao still refused to give them any!
What a heartless girl!
Everyone around them was even taking that little wretch’s side. Where did that leave her dignity?
Thinking of this, Old Madam Zhan pointed at Cheng Yao with a trembling finger and wailed to Zhan Haoting, who was sitting not far away, “Haoting! Look! Just look at your good-for-nothing wife! I’ve only just recovered from a serious illness, and she won’t give me so much as a single bite of food. Is she trying to starve this old woman to death? How could I have ended up with such an unfilial granddaughter-in-law? My life is so miserable…”
She was trying to use family affection and filial duty to manipulate Zhan Haoting into forcing Cheng Yao to yield.
Zhan Haoting was leaning against a stone, his face still pale, but his eyes clear and lucid.
He looked at Old Madam Zhan, who was crying and carrying on, and replied in a calm, emotionless voice, “Grandmother, the first branch has already separated from the second and third branches. From now on, we are responsible for our own food, clothing, housing, and transportation. I am seriously injured, and the entire family is relying on my wife to support us. We truly have no ability to provide for you. I’m ashamed.”
Old Madam Zhan was so choked by his words that she nearly lost her breath.
Second Master Zhan handed her a small fish roasted black around the edges. “Mother, eat this. We only caught it because Haoting’s wife taught everyone how. Otherwise, we’d be going hungry tonight.”
Zhan Jinmo added, “That’s right, Grandmother. Big Sister-in-law will help whenever she can. But she has to put Big Brother first. Things aren’t easy for her either.”
Feng Xianxian, standing nearby, curled her lip disdainfully but did not dare to argue.
Had Cheng Yao’s influence really become this great? Even her own family members were taking her side!
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law watched as Cheng Yao slowly ladled out a bowl of fish soup. She blew on it to cool it, gave it to Zhan Haoting first, and then called Madam Zhan and Zhan Haochen and his sister over to eat.
The warm, harmonious scene stood in stark contrast to the cold misery on their side.
What stifled them even more was that several families who had caught a good number of fish, grateful that Cheng Yao had taught them how to fish and generously shared her “fragrant balm,” voluntarily picked out their biggest, fattest fish and brought them to her.
“Sister-in-law, thank you for teaching us how to catch fish. Take this one and make some soup for Big Brother to help him recover!”
“Hao Ting’s wife, this fish belongs to you.”
Cheng Yao tried to refuse, but she couldn’t turn them down and had no choice but to accept the fish. She felt somewhat moved.
People’s hearts were made of flesh, after all. When you offered kindness, you would always receive at least a little in return.
Old Madam Zhan watched helplessly, her heart filled with jealousy and regret.
She had always been the respected elder of the family, the one everyone fawned over and showed filial devotion to. Yet now, no one even spared her a glance. She had heard countless words of thanks laced with flattery and sycophancy, but at this moment, no one offered her so much as a single word!
And it was all because of Cheng Yao!
Still, once Zhan Haoting rose to power again, filial duty would require him to worship her like an empress dowager.
Just you wait, you little wretch. When that time comes, I’ll have plenty of ways to torment you!
…
Night had fully fallen.
More than a dozen bonfires blazed along the riverbank, while mugwort was burned to drive away the chill and mosquitoes.
The group gradually grew quiet. The faint charred fragrance of roasted fish still lingered in the air, accompanied only by the crackling of the fires and the soft murmur of flowing water.
Cheng Yao and Zhan Haoting settled down beside a sheltered rock wall.
She glanced around. Most people had already fallen asleep, so she lowered her voice and said to him, “Shall we go to ‘that place’ to wash up? Your wounds need tending too.”
Zhan Haochen had helped Zhan Haoting wipe himself down, but no matter how carefully he cleaned him, it could not compare to a proper bath.
Zhan Haoting’s gaze fell on her still-pale face. After a long silence, he said, “Taking me in there will drain your energy too, won’t it?”
Cheng Yao’s heart trembled. She hadn’t expected him to notice so much.
Her mental energy truly had not recovered. Even bringing him inside was somewhat difficult for her.
“I’m just a little tired. It’s nothing.”
Zhan Haoting raised his hand and gently brushed his fingertip across the dampness at her temple, whether it was water or cold sweat. The gesture carried a tenderness wholly at odds with his hard, stern nature.
“Then get some proper rest.” He paused before adding, “We’ll go when you’ve recovered.”
He simply didn’t want her to exhaust herself any further.
Warmth spread through Cheng Yao’s heart, but it was accompanied by a growing unease. He was so perceptive, his powers of observation so extraordinary. Could he already suspect something about the earth-shaking crime she had committed in the capital…?
After hesitating for a moment, she leaned toward his ear and whispered, “I heard the national treasury was emptied. It was incredibly satisfying. In your opinion, what kind of person do you think did it?”
Zhan Haoting turned his head to look at her. The flickering firelight shifted in his deep eyes, making his emotions impossible to read.
He was silent for a moment. Just as Cheng Yao’s heart began to rise into her throat, the corner of his lips suddenly lifted into a faint smile. There was a hint of teasing in his composed expression.
“Could it be that my wife thinks your husband possesses such otherworldly abilities?”
Cheng Yao froze. Then she realized he was teasing her. Both annoyed and flustered, she lightly punched him in the arm.
“I’m being serious!”
Zhan Haoting caught her little fist and enclosed it in his warm palm. The teasing gradually faded from his face, replaced by a solemnity so steady and reassuring that it made her feel completely safe.
He gazed into her eyes and said each word distinctly.
“Cheng Yao, listen carefully. From the moment you married into the Zhan family, you became my woman. No matter what you did in the past, what you are doing now, or what you intend to do in the future—even if you were to punch a hole through the sky…”
He leaned slightly closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. His voice was low and filled with quiet strength.
“Don’t be afraid. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.”
The words struck Cheng Yao’s heart like the firmest of vows.
All her probing, anxiety, and unease seemed to find a home in that instant.
Her nose stung, and her eyes grew hot. She quickly lowered her head and rested it against his shoulder, murmuring a soft “Mm.”
As she gazed into the deep darkness of night, the tension and exhaustion she had carried for days surged over her like a tide. Combined with the toll on her mental energy, it lulled her into a deep sleep against his shoulder.
Feeling her breathing settle into a steady rhythm, Zhan Haoting carefully adjusted his position so she could rest more comfortably.
The tenderness faded from his face, leaving behind his usual coldness and inscrutable depth.
