Chapter 24: The General and the Eldest Young Master Just Entered the Mansion

Madam Wei had anticipated this, so when she heard Wei Jianlang say this, she was not surprised and even showed a “just as expected” expression.

“Weren’t you supposed to keep this from your father?” Although Madam Wei had guessed, she still felt deceived by her eldest son. “How could you go back on your word! Aren’t you always the one who values promises? You promised me not to tell your father!”

“Mother,” Wei Jianlang, seeing that Madam Wei still held such an attitude and didn’t seem remorseful at all, said, “what I promised you was not to tell Father about you inviting a Taoist priest to exorcise ghosts. But now, the situation is clearly not that simple anymore. You’ve allowed the servants to mistreat Shilang, and you knew about Jianming and Ruyan whipping Shilang but remained silent, even covering for them. This is no longer just about calling a priest to exorcise ghosts.”

“Jianlang!” Madam Wei grasped his arm, “You cannot tell your father!”

“I’ve already promised you, I’ll change. I will keep a close watch on Jianming and Ruyan to prevent them from doing anything bad to Shen Shilang.” Madam Wei said nervously, “You can’t tell your father; otherwise… otherwise, he will beat your younger siblings to death!”

Inside the room at night, many candles were lit.

Under the flickering candlelight, Madam Wei’s face seemed unfamiliar to Wei Jianlang for a moment.

“Are you not afraid that Shilang will be beaten to death by Jianming and Ruyan?” Wei Jianlang countered.

Madam Wei shook her head, saying, “Hasn’t he survived? Jianming and Ruyan still have some restraint.”

“Mother!” Wei Jianlang seemed to not recognize her, “How can you say such a thing!”

“Shilang is also someone else’s beloved and cherished child! You let your children bully someone else’s child; how can you be this kind of person!” Wei Jianlang said in disappointment, “He was lucky to survive. This does not justify Jianming and Ruyan’s actions!”

“He was beaten, and you didn’t find a doctor for him; he endured it himself. When Father returned, he didn’t reveal a word.” Wei Jianlang said softly, trembling, “He didn’t want there to be discord in the Wei family, but that doesn’t give you the right to bully him!”

“If he didn’t want there to be discord in our family, he shouldn’t have come!” Madam Wei stopped pretending and shouted harshly.

“Smash!”

Wei Jianlang forcefully smashed the teacup to the ground, startling Madam Wei, who trembled and screamed.

“His coming is a blessing for our family!” It was the Shen family’s trust that allowed them to send their orphan to the Wei family!

Yet now, the orphan was suffering in the Wei mansion!

Madam Wei couldn’t believe that her eldest son, whom she had always been proud of, would say such things.

She slowly shook her head unconsciously, tears in her eyes, “Do you know who he is?”

Wei Jianlang furrowed his brow; how could he not know?

But hearing his mother say this, it seemed she knew as well?

“You know?” Wei Jianlang asked in confusion.

If she knew, how could she treat him this way?

Madam Wei said, “Your father brought him back but would never reveal who that mistress was. You treat an unknown child of a mistress so well, as if he were a brother!”

“For your father’s image, I have never revealed a word in front of your siblings. But you want me to treat him well; that is impossible!” Madam Wei said firmly.

“He is not Father’s mistress’s child.” Wei Jianlang could hardly believe what he was hearing, “Mother, you are insulting Father and Shilang!”

“You know nothing.” Madam Wei replied, “After all, you were still young when your father brought him back.”

“Mother, you are the one who knows nothing!” Wei Jianlang retorted angrily.

Wei Zhaoxian only told Wei Jianlang about Shen Shilang’s identity.

Because Wei Jianlang and Shen Shilang were of the same age.

And if Shen Shilang sought revenge in the future, Wei Zhaoxian hoped Wei Jianlang could assist him.

Having raised Wei Jianlang by his side, he invested all his effort in him, unlike Wei Jianming, who was a worthless playboy.

Once he confirmed Wei Jianlang’s potential, Wei Zhaoxian revealed Shen Shilang’s true identity to him.

“Is this why you condone Jianming and Ruyan, as well as the servants to treat Shilang so harshly?” Wei Jianlang shook his head, “Mother, I can assure you that aside from you, Father has no one by his side! He has never taken a concubine, nor has he kept a mistress, nor has he ever had any affairs!”

Madam Wei pressed her lips together, clearly not believing him.

Wei Jianlang turned to leave.

Madam Wei held onto his arm tightly, “No, you cannot tell your father!”

“If I don’t speak up, I’ll be allowing Father to be wronged!” Wei Jianlang shook his head in disappointment, reaching a state of calmness, “Father has lived an honorable life, yet you all have ruined it.”

How could they face the Shen family!

Wei Jianlang, who had hurried back to the Wei mansion, now rode off quickly.

That night, aside from Shen Shilang, no one could rest well.

The beaten servants worried about what punishment awaited them.

Wei Jianming and Wei Ruyan knelt in the ancestral hall, intending to slack off, but were strictly monitored by Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng was not their servant, and they did not dare to order him around.

Just as they were about to relax, they heard Zhou Cheng’s voice from the doorway, “The young general has rushed back to the army and reported this matter to the general. If you don’t want the general to see you slacking off upon his return, you better kneel properly.”

Hearing Zhou Cheng’s words, both of them turned pale.

“Second brother… what should we do?” Wei Ruyan cried out in fear.

Wei Jianming also didn’t know what to do, his heart racing as he nervously waited.

But neither dared to slack off even a bit.

As dawn broke, the sound of urgent hooves and the shouts of drivers echoed on the bluestone road outside the Wei mansion.

“Whoa!” Wei Zhaoxian reined in his horse first, his voice filled with tightly suppressed anger.

Wei Jianlang followed closely, dismounting, and they handed their horses to the waiting servants.

“Madam, the general and the eldest young master have just entered the mansion,” Jinxiu hurriedly entered the room in the dim light of dawn.

After Wei Jianlang left, Madam Wei had remembered to check on Mama Liu.

When she discovered Mama Liu kneeling on the small path, she had already knelt for half the night and could hardly hold on, unable to walk.

She was helped back to her room to rest.

Thus, the one serving Madam Wei now was Jinxiu.

At this moment, the Wei mansion was in its quietest state.

Yet due to Wei Zhaoxian’s return, the place was filled with a deadly tension.

Everyone, though awake, shrank into their corners, not daring to breathe.

Jinxiu’s voice was unconsciously lowered.

Madam Wei trembled, her legs weak, unable to walk, and was supported by Jinxiu to the door.