Chapter 15: She Came for Vengeance

She sat in the chair, her posture casual to the point of irreverence, yet no one dared to stop her.

“Why did you do this?” Ji Huaili was furious, and her current demeanor only fueled his anger further.

Ji Tianxin looked at him, her rosy lips parting slightly, her tone cool and indifferent. “They hit me, so naturally I hit back. Is there a problem with that?”

Ji Huaili frowned. Her words seemed to make sense, and even if he wanted to refute them, he found himself at a loss for argument.

There was little room for debate on this matter, so he pressed further, “You claim to be my daughter—what proof do you have?”

To be precise, what he truly wanted to ask was: what evidence could she present to prove she was the daughter of himself and Li Xiaodie?

Li Xiaodie had once been Ji Huaili’s favored concubine. Though she was born in a brothel, she had won his affection and care.

He had genuine feelings for her, tinged with a hint of pity. But seven years ago, while he was away inspecting the border on official orders, Li Xiaodie died in childbirth—a tragedy that claimed both mother and unborn child.

By the time he returned, his wife had already arranged for her burial.

He had never involved himself in household matters, nor meddled in the affairs of the inner chambers. He grieved for a time, but once the dead were buried, he asked no more.

Seven years had slipped by, long enough for her memory to fade, when suddenly someone appeared, claiming to be the daughter he had with Li Xiaodie.

He was suspicious, yet deep down, a faint thread of belief took hold.

But the feeling this child gave him—unnerved him, made him uncomfortable in ways he could not explain. A vague sense of resistance welled up within him, unbidden.

Hearing Ji Huaili’s words, Madam Chen immediately seized the opportunity. “Indeed, everyone in the general’s residence knows that Li Xiaodie and her unborn child died seven years ago. That child didn’t even make it into the world! Are you claiming to be the baby who died in her womb?”

Though Madam Chen’s voice rang with conviction, her heart thudded with unease. She glanced at Madam Zhang beside her, only to find the woman staring at the floor, not daring to look up.

Useless wretch! she cursed inwardly. How had things been handled back then?

She gripped her silk handkerchief tightly. Even if this wretched girl truly was Li Xiaodie’s daughter, so what? No one knew what had really happened.

All the principals were dead—what could a newborn possibly remember?

This thought gave her renewed confidence.

“Evidence?” Ji Tianxin rose slowly to her feet.

Yet even standing, her slight figure barely came up to the height of the chair, but in that moment, every eye in the great hall was fixed upon her.

Sikou Yan listened as the servant reported, and for the first time, a glimmer of light sparked in his normally placid eyes.

Since Sikou Yan had given his orders, every detail of the general’s household had been relayed to him in real time.

It was as if he were present himself, as though every gesture and expression of that girl unfolded right before his eyes.

“Are you certain of what you’re saying?” He paused, his hand stilling from where he had been idly rocking on his couch.

“Every word is true, sir. That girl is something else—she’s almost torn the general’s house down. This isn’t a simple family reunion; it looks more like a quest for vengeance!” Lin Si couldn’t help but laugh.

Who would have thought that the little girl they’d encountered on the road was actually heading to the general’s residence, seeking her kin?

No wonder the maidservant who blocked their way had looked so ferocious.

“I’d wager that by now, the whole of Jin’an City knows there’s a daughter at the general’s gate claiming her bloodline. I wonder how General Ji will handle it.” Lin Si’s tone held a note of amusement.

Sikou Yan smiled faintly. “Perhaps… she truly has come for vengeance.”