TFSRITA Chapter 175

“Look at this! The skin is broken here too!”

The elderly lady’s eyelid twitched at the words. Her face darkened as she stormed toward the courtyard gate.

“What are you doing out here?”

Yan Qing and Ji Jiaxun, who had just scrambled to their feet, froze at the sight of the furious old lady. Looking at her confusedly, they replied in unison, “Practicing martial arts?”

The old lady trembled as she rushed over, grabbing her eldest grandson, who looked like a refined, delicate young man. Her heart ached as she exclaimed, “You call this martial arts practice? Look at these injuries! Did you hurt yourself here too?”

She pointed directly to a dusty spot on Ji Jiaxun’s backside.

In reality, Ji Jiaxun was covered in dust from head to toe—it was just a matter of which spot looked worse.

Ever since Ji Jiaxun learned a few moves, Yan Qing had been dragging him into martial arts practice. Her real sparring partners, however, were the other four. Ji Jiaxun joined in only because her harsher methods couldn’t be used on the others. Compared to Ji Yi and Ji Er, Yan Qing was less skilled but had no qualms about bullying Ji Jiaxun.

Not that Ji Jiaxun ever felt bullied. On the contrary, he eagerly looked forward to practicing with Yan Qing every time, despite ending up bruised and battered. He would grin happily, often finding excuses to act spoiled or ask for rewards. Yan Qing, indulgent as ever, went along with it, and the two got along harmoniously.

But this time…

Seeing how distressed the old lady was, Ji Jiaxun simply laughed it off. “It’s fine; it doesn’t hurt.”

“Don’t lie! You were just crying out in pain!” the old lady retorted firmly.

Liu Tong chimed in, nodding in agreement. “Cousin must be in pain. Grandmother, look at him—he’s lost weight!”

At this, the old lady squinted her clouded eyes and took a closer look. Her heart ached even more. She cried out, “Oh, my poor grandson! You’ve gotten thinner and darker! Is she bullying you? I should’ve come back sooner! What were your father and mother thinking, marrying you to such a wife? They didn’t even—”

“Grandmother!” Ji Jiaxun cut her off in a low, stern voice.

The old lady paused, visibly aggrieved, but she didn’t dare argue with her grandson. Instead, she shifted her cold, accusing gaze toward Yan Qing. “And you! What’s your problem? Bullying my child like this! As a woman, you should be supporting your husband and teaching your children, not roughhousing with men. Who permitted you to behave this way?”

Yan Qing brushed the dust off her hands and stood silently, refusing to say a word.

She knew speaking up against an elder, especially with Liu Tong watching eagerly, would ruin her reputation instantly. Yet cowering and listening obediently wasn’t her style either. So, she remained silent.

As the old lady continued her scolding, Ji Jiaxun’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Finally, when her words became too much, he grabbed Yan Qing’s hand and walked off. “Wife, help me pick out some clothes. I need a bath later.”

Once he had ushered Yan Qing back inside, Ji Jiaxun turned to face the old lady, who was left speechless and fuming. Casting a cold glance at Liu Tong, who had been pretending to look demure, he said firmly, “Grandmother, she is my wife. Everything she does is as it should be. Outsiders have no right to interfere.”

The old lady’s face turned pale with anger. “Are you calling me an outsider?”

Ji Jiaxun smiled faintly. “Between a husband and wife, there’s only the husband and wife. You’re my grandmother, which makes you an outsider to our marriage, doesn’t it?”

The old lady froze, stunned, as though seeing her grandson for the first time.

To her, Ji Jiaxun had always been a naive, sweet boy who would act cute and please others. He had always gone along with whatever she said.

But now, standing tall, with his features sharper and more resolute, Ji Jiaxun seemed entirely different. His once soft and warm gaze had grown steely, carrying an unmistakable weight. At that moment, it became impossible to treat him as a child any longer.

The old lady’s lips trembled as she stood awkwardly, suddenly aware of how much she depended on the generosity of her son and daughter-in-law. Her earlier confidence waned, memories of past conflicts with her daughter-in-law resurfacing.

Ji Jiaxun showed no sympathy, his steady gaze pressing her to relent.

Finally, the old lady let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. Her voice was hoarse as she said, “I’m old. I won’t meddle anymore.”

“Grandmother’s health is still good,” Ji Jiaxun replied smoothly, offering no comment on her second statement.

If this had been the past, Ji Jiaxun would have pouted and reassured her that she could always meddle. But now, he felt no need for such gestures. It was as though he had truly grown up, ready to stand tall as the head of his household and one day earn a noble title for Yan Qing himself.

Even if she were to become the wife of a marquis, her rank would only reflect her husband’s achievements. For her to receive an imperial title of her own, it would have to be something he secured for her.

The old lady left, leaning on her maid for support. The commanding presence she once carried was gone, replaced by a sense of despondency.

Liu Tong, however, remained behind.

Biting her lip, she looked at Ji Jiaxun with teary eyes and called out softly, “Cousin…”

Ji Jiaxun nodded coolly, his tone devoid of warmth. “You’re not getting any younger. Have you set your sights on a young gentleman yet?”

A tear fell from Liu Tong’s eyes as she looked at him pitifully. “Cousin, I don’t want anything. All I want is to stay by your side. Truly…”

Ji Jiaxun frowned, a trace of disgust flashing in his eyes. He suppressed it and said calmly, “I want to hear about your engagement within a month. If not, I’ll arrange it myself. And if it comes to that, you won’t have a say in who you marry. While Grandmother still has the energy, let her help you find a suitable match.”

Liu Tong’s face turned ashen. She looked at him in disbelief and shouted angrily, “Cousin! You know I love—”