Thank you Raizin for the coffee treat! 
A chapter will be released early for each coffee treated as a thank you gift. Thank you everyone for the support and comments!
After Mo Yi left, Bai Ren picked up the tree branch that Mo Yi had discarded earlier, which he used for sword practice. He held it in his hand and began to perform sword moves with sharp precision.
If Mo Yi were still around, he would surely be surprised to see Bai Ren, whom he thought of as a delicate girl, displaying such fierce and powerful sword techniques. However, after a while, Bai Ren grew bored and stopped his practice. He casually left while humming a tune.
Meanwhile, Mo Yi returned to his residence and began to regret his hasty departure. He worried that Bai Ren might think he was impolite for leaving so abruptly.
He was impressed by Bai Ren’s skill with the flute and wondered about her graceful dancing, longing for a chance to see her again. However, the thought that she was meant to be given to his foster father pained him deeply.
Mo Yi realized that he had developed feelings for Bai Ren, which he found difficult to suppress.
Despite his age and social status, where most people already had families, he had always been alone. Even though there were attempts to arrange marriages for him, he always refused, unwilling to settle for someone he didn’t truly care for. However, now that he had fallen for Bai Ren, he couldn’t shake off his feelings.
Images of Bai Ren’s face kept appearing in his mind, making it impossible for him to focus on anything else, even his meals
“I wonder what Bai Ren is eating…” he murmured to himself.
“What did you say, Master?” A servant passing by overheard Mo Yi’s words and thought he had given an order, so they stopped and asked.
Realizing he had spoken aloud, Mo Yi quickly replied, “It’s nothing!” and then hurriedly resumed eating.
But if one were to observe closely, they would notice that the young general’s ears were inexplicably bright red.
After finishing his meal, Mo Yi sat in the courtyard feeling bored. Despite being assigned a new official position after today’s court session, he had just returned from the border and was granted a month of rest. This rare leisure made Mo Yi somewhat uncomfortable.
Unable to sit still, he decided to visit his foster mother and keep her company. Shortly after being adopted by her, Mo Yi’s foster mother took him out and trained him in martial arts. Later, he was sent to the battlefield, with few opportunities to come back home. Even when he did, he couldn’t stay for long before having to leave again.
Thinking of this, Mo Yi sent someone to buy his foster mother’s favorite snacks and then headed towards her courtyard. However, as he approached the courtyard gate, he heard a commotion not far away.
It wasn’t exactly a commotion, as there was only one woman speaking, but her sharp voice immediately identified her as Madam Cen.
Furrowing his brow, Mo Yi stepped forward and saw Madam Cen, who always appeared gentle in front of Huang Fuxiao, now looking smug. The door to Mo Yi’s foster mother’s courtyard was half-closed, but he could tell there was someone inside, as he could see the edge of a black dress, indicating that his foster mother was indeed there.
Madam Cen, with an air of authority, addressed Mo Yi’s foster mother through the partially closed door, saying, “Sister, I must say, your temperament is just not suitable. The Lord hasn’t stepped into your courtyard for ages.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Oh, my apologies, ever since I arrived, he hasn’t visited at all. I kindly sent someone to deliver gifts to you, but why are you unwilling to open the door? It truly saddens me.
Ktlr Vehtbe fwygblvfgs kjr rqfmljiis ybeuta obg wf ys Ljb’fg, yea P atbeuta bo sbe, joafg jii, sbe tjnf cb mtlivgfc bo sbeg bkc. Yt vfjg, P wlrrqbxf jujlc. Ca ifjra sbe jvbqafv Tl’fg. Vlrafg, vbc’a yijwf wf, P pera vbc’a xcbk tbk ab xffq ws wbeat rtea.”
“Ktlr Vehtbe fwygblvfgs, rlcmf Vlrafg vbfrc’a ilxf la, P’ii pera ajxf la yjmx. Yglulcjiis, P kjcafv ab mtja klat sbe j yla wbgf, yea P tjnf ab ub yjmx ab wjxf rbeq obg atf Obgv. Tbe rff, tf ibnfr atf rbeq P wjxf atf wbra!”
Madam Cen continued to talk to herself, not feeling awkward even though there was no response from inside. She simply thought she had thoroughly upset the other person and felt even more pleased with herself.
She giggled and left, satisfied.
It was obvious that this woman’s gift-giving was just a show of arrogance.
Mo Yi felt uncomfortable witnessing this and took a few quick steps towards Madam Mo’s courtyard. Just as he was about to speak, the half-opened door swung wide open in front of him.
To his surprise, instead of finding his foster mother upset, she was holding a bag of snacks, munching on them and looking outside.
“Mother, what’s this…” Mo Yi looked at Madam Mo in confusion.
Madam Mo waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. It gets boring sitting around all day. I was just listening to some monkey performances. What’s up, did the monkeys leave already?”
Taking a step outside the courtyard, she confirmed that Madam Cen had indeed left.
Then, she pulled Mo Yi into the house.
Noticing the package in Mo Yi’s hand, she happily took it and exclaimed, “These are snacks from the Fulan Store! My son is so filial, knowing what his mother likes!”
Madam Mo’s face was bright and cheerful as she immediately opened the package and took out a piece of milk cake, munching on it happily.
Seeing this, Mo Yi thought his foster mother was just pretending to be fine so as not to worry him.
After hearing Madam Cen’s words earlier, he found them grating, let alone his foster mother having to endure them.
“Mother, why don’t I go talk to the Lord and ask him to come visit you…”
“No, absolutely not!”
Before Mo Yi could finish his sentence, Madam Mo hurriedly interrupted, patting her chest and swallowing the cake in her mouth. After taking a sip of tea, she turned to her son with a helpless expression.
“I hope you’re not under the impression, Yi’er, that I can’t live without a man.”
“As for children, if I want to have one, I’ll have one, and if I don’t, I won’t. Besides, Yi’er, you’re so sensible that having you is enough for me.”
Madam Mo said, sitting confidently in a nearby chair, gesturing for Mo Yi to join her.
Taking a silver hairpin from her head, Madam Mo casually threw it, and the hairpin sank deep into the door frame.
Turning to Mo Yi, Madam Mo asked, “Do you remember who taught you your martial arts?”
Mo Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and finally a smile appeared on his face as he replied, “I remember, it was you, Mother.”
“Yes.”
Madam Mo took a sip of honey tea and continued, squinting her eyes, “We are mother and son, but also teacher and disciple.
I grew up in the military camp and followed my father to the battlefield at the age of twelve. Though I am a woman, I have the blood of a soldier.
It’s a pity that our dynasty does not allow the existence of female generals. Otherwise, at your age, I would have achieved even more military feats!”
“I believe it! Mother, I’ve heard many uncles in the army mention your bravery back then. You’re no less than any man.”
Mo Yi spoke sincerely, as his foster mother was the person he admired most.
“That’s natural.”
Madam Mo accepted the praise without reservation, then sighed softly.
“I will never return to the battlefield, but I refuse to engage in the intrigues of the inner court. It’s boring.
In my youth, the lord and I did have genuine affection. He promised I was the only one and that he would marry me. At that time, he was just one of many princes, and the ducal mansion was prosperous.
But later, he changed. He grasped for power desperately, even needing other women to solidify his position, eventually becoming the regent.
He is now prospering, even the emperor has to consider his opinions, but he has wronged me genuinely.
Since he’s heartless, I won’t hold onto him.
The reason I stay is that my family’s position was in decline, and I want to do something for my beloved older brother. Huang Fuxiao’s power still has some usefulness.”
“I never cared about material possessions. If I can’t return to the battlefield, I can be content anywhere, as long as I want to. Do you understand, Yi’er?”
Mo Yi listened to Madam Mo’s words, looking at her round cheeks and the luxurious furnishings in the room.
All the items in the room were top-notch, including Madam Mo’s courtyard, which was in the best location in the mansion.
He had heard that Madam Cen had once mentioned to the lord about wanting to move to Madam Mo’s courtyard, but she was directly refused. Later, when she tried to reprimand Madam Mo, the lord was unusually angry when he found out.
Since then, everyone knew that even though the lord never visited Madam Mo’s courtyard, no one dared to touch it.
Thinking about this, Mo Yi nodded somewhat understandingly.
As they were talking, there was a knock on the door, and surprisingly, it was the steward of the mansion.
He held a palm-sized white jade ruyi scepter and walked in with a smile, saying to Madam Mo, “Madam, the lord thought you might like this newly acquired ruyi scepter, so he asked me to bring it to you.”
Madam Mo was immediately delighted and accepted it happily, saying, “This ruyi scepter is exquisitely made, with warm jade in hand. I really like it. Please thank the lord for me.
I love jade artifacts the most. Tell him that if there are any more treasures like this in the future, remember to send them to me. By the way, just now, Madam Cen passed by and said her soup turned out exceptionally well.
She even said she’s going to stew it for the lord tonight. When the lord drinks it tonight, have him taste it first. If it’s delicious, give me two bowls. If it’s not, he can drink it himself.”
“Yes, madam. I will inform the lord as soon as I return. I’ll take my leave now.”
The steward seemed accustomed to Madam Mo’s requests. After speaking, he left with a smile.
After he left, Madam Mo continued to play with the jade ruyi scepter, noticing Mo Yi’s surprised expression. She chuckled and said, “What are you staring at?”
“General Guo had a good saying, ‘Don’t let bastards take advantage of you!’ Here, take it. If there’s a girl you like, giving her gifts will earn you some favor.”
With that, Madam Mo tossed the ruyi scepter to Mo Yi.
Mo Yi hurriedly caught it, his face turning red at his foster mother’s words.
Apart from Bai Ren, there was no other girl he liked…
That night, after taking a sip of the soup, the lord said, “Steward, send this pot of soup to Madam Mo.”
Madam Cen: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Oh, I like Madam Mo
I hope Madame Cen can be face-slapped soon!
Thank you so very much for the update!!~
Madam Mo is so cool!
Thank you for the update.
Lord not a total bastard? 🤔
Thank you