Chapter 14: Mistreatment

Four sleek, well-fed horses marched in parallel, pulling a luxurious carriage with steady strides. Their presence was imposing, radiating an unparalleled majesty that commanded silence and solemnity wherever they passed.

When had the people of Xining City ever witnessed such a spectacle? Everyone was stunned. The timid ones quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the carriage for fear of offending the nobles within.

Watching the carriage approach from a distance, Li Wuya’s face was filled with envy.

*Isn't this just a luxury mobile RV!*

*This is what traveling looks like!*

*This is what living is all about!*

If she could enjoy herself like this whenever she went out, she would be perfectly content.

"Fifth Sister, the carriage is so beautiful!" Li Qilang also exclaimed in wonder.

Li Wuya replied, "Beauty is secondary. The most important thing is that it must be incredibly comfortable inside. The carriage is so large, you could even sleep in it."

Li Qilang’s eyes widened instantly. "Really?" A look of longing crossed his face. "I want to ride a carriage like that too." That way, when they came to visit Father, he could sleep while they were on the road.

Li Wuya patted her brother's shoulder with satisfaction.

As expected of a child she had raised herself—he certainly had big dreams!

To dream big is to dare to act; she had to maintain that spirit!

"Qilang, as long as you dare to dream and work hard for it, nothing is impossible."

Li Qilang’s eyes lit up. "Really? Can we really ride a carriage like that? But... it seems only nobles can ride them."

Li Wuya huffed, "So what if they are nobles? As long as we work hard and strive, we can become nobles too."

Encouraged, a look of excitement surfaced on Li Qilang's face.

Nearby, Mother Li, who had been somewhat dazed by the appearance of the nobles, heard the siblings' conversation. Her expression shifted abruptly, and she whipped her head around to look at them.

Seeing the confidence radiating from the two children—a composure entirely different from her own and everyone else around her who had been cowed by the nobles—a complex expression crossed Mother Li's face. Then, she barked harshly

"Both of you, shut up!"

"Ride a carriage? Who do you think you are to deserve such a thing? Do you even have the status?"

"Wanting to become nobles? Take a good look at yourselves! Since you were born in a military colony, you are nothing but lowly military households. You will spend your whole lives stuck at the border, stuck in Tianling Colony."

"Stop daydreaming all day long. A person's fate is predetermined. You are only fit to make a living at the border for the rest of your lives."

Her severe, cursing reprimand was exceptionally piercing amidst the quiet crowd.

The surrounding people stared at Mother Li in shock.

Jin Yue'e trembled with rage, her voice gritted through her teeth. "Mother, you are their biological grandmother. If they are lowly, then what are you and Father?"

The crowd grew even more confused.

"What kind of grandmother curses her own grandchildren like that?"

Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, Mother Li hurriedly explained, "The children are just ignorant of the world. This old woman is only worried they will offend the nobles."

"People are most dangerous when they lack self-awareness. This old woman is only acting in the best interest of my two grandchildren. Daydreaming is no good; it's better to just go home and farm honestly."

Hearing this, many people nodded in agreement.

"Sister, though you mean well, don't be so harsh in the future. The children are still small; look, you've frightened them."

Mother Li nodded sheepishly and turned her gaze toward Li Wuya and Li Qilang, intending to say something soft to smooth things over.

However, as soon as she turned, she met a pair of calm, emotionless black eyes. She could feel not a shred of warmth from them. In an instant, a chill raced up her spine, forcing her to avert her gaze in fright.

Li Wuya silently withdrew her gaze and hugged the dejected Li Qilang.

Clearly, Li Qilang had been crushed by Mother Li's words.

This made Li Wuya furious. The confidence Li Qilang possessed was what she was most proud of; unlike the other children in the colony, he had not become insecure or sensitive due to the Li family's poverty and chaos.

This "good" grandmother of theirs was truly something—she couldn't stand to see them do well at all!

To humiliate her own grandchildren in public like this... was her father truly a son of the Li family?

Li Wuya once again began to doubt her father's true origins.

"Wuya!"

"Qilang!"

Li Sanlang squeezed Li Wuya's hand and then Li Qilang's, shaking his head at them soothingly. He whispered, "The noble's carriage has arrived."

Only then did Li Wuya see the luxurious carriage come to a halt in front of the Wangmu Temple gates.

As soon as the carriage stopped, the attendants on horseback immediately dismounted. They quickly brought a step stool from the rear, placed it steadily at the carriage door, and then knocked respectfully. "Master, we have arrived at Wangmu Temple."

Upon hearing a soft "Mhm" from inside, the attendant opened the door.

Immediately, the crowd saw a dignified man in his fifties and a wealthy-looking middle-aged man step down from the carriage.

It was evident that the elder man was extremely respectful to the middle-aged man, even bowing slightly as he spoke.

Once they had stood still, half of the attendants hurried into the temple to begin clearing the people out.

Having just stepped into the temple and not even having a chance to see the interior, the Li family was forced to follow the crowd out.

Before long, Wangmu Temple was emptied.

"General Jiang, let us go."

The wealthy middle-aged man took the lead. After a few steps, noticing that Jiang Antai had not followed, he frowned with displeasure and raised his voice slightly. "General Jiang."

Jiang Antai snapped out of his thoughts and hurried forward to apologize. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I saw a young girl in the crowd who looked somewhat familiar, and I couldn't help but look twice."

Seeing that Jiang Antai's attitude was apologetic, Prince Rong did not dwell on it. Walking toward the temple, he said with a smile, "A familiar girl? That is strange. Those people just now were clearly commoners. How could you find any of them familiar, General Jiang?"

Jiang Antai followed closely behind Prince Rong, staying half a step behind. "Perhaps I misidentified her. That girl looked somewhat like my sister from my childhood."

Prince Rong thought for a moment. "If I remember correctly, General Jiang's sister is the wife of Shiguang Yao, the Earl of Wuchang, is she not?"

Jiang Antai nodded with a smile. "Your Highness is correct. Speaking of which, it has been many years since I last saw my sister. I wonder how she is doing in the capital?"

Prince Rong did not respond to this.

Never mind that the House of Wuchang Earl had long since declined; even if it hadn't, a powerless Earl's household was not worth his mental energy.

The only reason he remembered was thanks to the reminder from his aide during the journey to the frontier.

The Emperor had sent him to the Northwest to find a divine physician, but the Northwest was vast—how was he supposed to search?

Coincidentally, the Jiang family had guarded the Northwest for generations. Since there was a use for Jiang Antai, he had asked his aide to look into the Jiang family's connections, which was how he recalled the House of Wuchang Earl.

Seeing that Prince Rong did not even mention the House of Wuchang Earl, Jiang Antai's heart sank.

*It seems the Shi family is having a very difficult time in the capital!*

As Prince Rong and Jiang Antai entered the temple, the gates of Wangmu Temple slammed shut with a loud *thud*.

"That is what power looks like!"

Watching the guards stationed outside the temple, Li Wuya couldn't help but sigh.

Noticing the envy in Li Wuya's eyes and seeing her constantly looking back, Mother Li snorted coldly. "Enough, stop looking. Out of all the children in our family, you are the most restless."

"Is a carriage for nobles something you can even dream of?" She then looked at Jin Yue'e. "Eldest daughter-in-law, you need to control Wuya better. A girl should be content and well-behaved."

"If you spoil her like this and her ambitions grow too wild, will she be willing to marry a military householdman and live a quiet life when she grows up?"

Anger flashed across Jin Yue'e's face. "Mother, once Er'ya and Wuya grow up, my husband and I will not let them marry into military households."

Mother Li burst into laughter at that. "Not marry into military households? Do you intend to marry into heaven? Look at your own worth—do you think any decent family would look at you?"

"Even Cuihua could only marry into a slightly wealthier military colony. Could Er'ya and Wuya's fortune ever surpass their aunt's?"

"Just be content. If they marry into military households, at least they'll be in the same garrison and can help support the Li family."

Li Wuya was so angry she laughed. It wasn't enough that they squeezed her father; now they were even eyeing her and her second sister's marriages.

*These parasites!*

"Grandma, do you really look down on your own grandchildren this much? Other grandmothers hope for the best for their children and grandchildren, but you insist on doing the opposite."

"No, it's more than that. You don't just hope we don't do well; even if we want to improve ourselves, you try your hardest to suppress us. It's as if you'd feel miserable if we actually succeeded."

"Grandma, you truly baffle me!"

"And me, I'm also very confused!"

Li Sanlang suddenly spoke up, his brows furrowed as he glared at Mother Li. "Grandma, I know you don't like us, but why? Even if we don't please you, there's no need to curse Wuya and Qilang like that, is there?"

Li Er'ya added, "You are our biological grandmother. Based on what you just said at the temple, if we didn't know better, we'd think we were your enemies."

Li Qilang added a final blow, "You aren't even our real grandmother!"

Watching the four children of the eldest branch take turns accusing her, Mother Li's lips trembled with rage.

Seeing the situation spiraling, the eldest son, Li Dalang, supported Mother Li and said quickly, "Grandma, aren't you going to buy New Year's goods? Let me accompany you."

Mother Li gave the eldest family a cold look, then finally said to Jin Yue'e, "You've raised such 'good' sons and daughters that they dare to criticize an elder like me. Your family is truly something!"

Jin Yue'e replied calmly, "My children are naturally good; there isn't a single bad one in the whole colony. We are going to the garrison to see my husband, so we won't be accompanying you, Mother."

With that, she led the four children away.

Watching their retreating backs, Mother Li shook with fury. "Fine! Very well! Let's see how long you can act so arrogant!"

Worried that Mother Li might suffer a medical emergency from her rage, Li Dalang quickly comforted her, "Grandma, please don't be angry with Auntie and the others."

Mother Li's expression softened slightly. "Dalang, you are a good boy, but you must never follow Sanlang and the others. Don't be fooled by their arrogance; it's only because your eldest uncle is here."

"Let me tell you, your uncle is not a man of long life. Swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield, especially with the wars intensifying these past two years. He will die on the battlefield sooner or later."

"Let your aunt and her family be arrogant for now. Once your uncle is gone, we'll see how I deal with them."

Looking at the cold, teeth-gritting expression of Mother Li, Li Dalang felt a shiver run through him.

His uncle was her own son; how could she curse him to die on the battlefield?

Even though his uncle didn't always do exactly what Grandfather and Grandmother wanted, Dalang knew in his heart that the reason their family didn't go hungry was all thanks to his uncle.

Even if his uncle's family had faults, Mother Li shouldn't be like this.

At that moment, Li Dalang's heart felt cold and hollow.