The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 2

02: “How Dare You Bully Him? I’ll Kill You!”

“General…” The servant, unable to withstand the fierce, predatory gaze of Qi Ren, involuntarily took a step back, dropping the stick he was holding.

Qi Ren noticed the bl00d on Fu Yu’an’s hand, his eyes darkening for a moment before quickly returning to normal.

“It’s you again! Last time, you broke my bird’s egg! How dare you bully my person now!” Qi Ren stood with his hands on his hips, gnashing his teeth as he scolded.

Fu Yu’an finally realized what was off.

Earlier, the servant had mentioned a mute and a fool. If the mute was himself, then the fool must be…

No wonder he didn’t come to fetch his bride, and his demeanor was so childlike—he had actually lost his mind!

Although Qi Ren was mentally impaired, he was still the master of the household. The servants, intimidated by his authority, didn’t dare to act out, but they gritted their teeth and insisted that Fu Yu’an had fallen on his own.

Fu Yu’an, being mute, couldn’t defend himself. Xiao Zhu tearfully tried to explain, but the scene quickly descended into chaos.

With a roar, Qi Ren suddenly drew a sword from behind him and pointed it inches from the throat of the wicked servant, his eyes fierce: “My mother said this is my wife, and I must protect him! How dare you bully him? I’ll kill you!”

Everyone was shocked. Though he was now mentally impaired, his actions were still as unreasonable as ever, erratic and unpredictable, making it unclear what he might do next.

He was, after all, a seasoned cavalry general who had fought on the battlefield for over a decade, known as the “Mad Wolf.” With his sword now pointed at someone’s throat, the servant was so terrified that he immediately fell to his knees.

A faint smell of urine filled the air—the servant had been so frightened that he wet himself.

Fu Yu’an watched this farce with mixed emotions. The servant, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was now groveling at his feet, pitiful and pathetic.

“General, please spare me! I have an elderly mother and young children to care for… I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!” The servant wept uncontrollably, but Qi Ren’s expression remained grim.

After a long pause, Qi Ren finally withdrew his sword, pulling Fu Yu’an behind him with one hand while twirling the sword with the other. He pursed his lips and thrust the sword downward.

“Ah—”

The servant let out a pig-like scream, writhing on the ground in agony.

A bloody hand rolled down the steps, leaving a trail of bl00d.

Fu Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat. He tugged at Qi Ren’s sleeve, shaking his head.

Reluctantly, Qi Ren threw the sword aside and scooped Fu Yu’an into his arms: “Alright, alright! Since my wife says to spare you, you can all scram now!”

The servants quickly kowtowed in gratitude, trembling as they tried to help the one who had lost his fingers.

“Let him crawl away himself.” Qi Ren added.

At this, no one dared to intervene further, and they all fled with their tails between their legs, leaving the injured servant wailing on the ground.

Fu Yu’an clung tightly to Qi Ren’s chest, still shaken.

Even in his impaired state, Qi Ren was so brutal. What had he gone through these past few years…

“Don’t be afraid!” Qi Ren looked down at him with a smile, his demeanor completely different from the fierce god he had been moments before. “You’re so light! When we get home, I’ll give you some peach blossom cakes! I had some yesterday, they’re so sweet!”

Fu Yu’an glanced at him uncertainly, then at the shattered bracelet on the ground, hesitating. But in the end, he nodded and forced a smile.

Qi Ren chuckled, adjusting his hold on Fu Yu’an, and strode confidently through the main gate.

“Hold on tight, I’m going to make us fly!” Qi Ren grinned at him, his dark eyes unfathomable. Without waiting for a response, he used his lightness skill to leap onto the roof.

Fu Yu’an: “?!”

For many years afterward, whenever Fu Yu’an saw the gates of the general’s residence, he couldn’t forget this moment.

The wind whistled in his ears, and before him was a warm, reliable chest. In his seventeen years of life, this was the first time he had felt what it was like to be protected and cared for. His heart swelled, as if a missing piece had finally been filled.

Qi Ren glanced down at Fu Yu’an, who was tightly closing his eyes in fear, and a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips. There was no trace of his earlier foolishness in his eyes.

Poor thing, you’ve come to this devouring general’s residence. Let’s see how long you can last!

After what felt like an eternity, Qi Ren finally set Fu Yu’an down, carefully supporting his arm.

Fu Yu’an held onto Qi Ren’s broad hand with one hand, while the other still clutched the fragments of the bracelet. His heart pounded wildly.

Qi Ren stopped and reached out: “Give it to me! I’ll keep it safe for you. Your hand is injured, and it hurts me to see you like this!”

Fu Yu’an met his concerned gaze, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.

This was the last memento his mother had left him. He couldn’t entrust it to this madman.

“Fine, fine, if you don’t want to, that’s okay! Come on, let’s go perform the wedding ceremony! Hurry!” Qi Ren sighed in disappointment but quickly regained his cheerful demeanor, pulling Fu Yu’an by the hand toward the wedding hall.

The wedding hall was sparsely decorated, with red everywhere. A long carpet lay on the floor, and a brazier glowed softly in the center.

Only Qi Ren’s birth mother sat in the main seat, with a few scattered guests around. Fu Yu’an didn’t recognize any familiar faces.

The wedding matron rushed forward, waving her handkerchief and exclaiming, “Oh my, you’re finally here! Let’s hurry with the ceremony, we mustn’t miss the auspicious hour!”

Qi Ren never let go of Fu Yu’an’s hand. Fu Yu’an tried to pull away a couple of times but gave up, allowing himself to be led across the brazier.

The second wife sat on the main seat, smiling warmly at them. The years had left some marks on her face, but the fine lines at the corners of her eyes only added to her kindness.

Fu Yu’an glanced at Qi Ren, thinking that his features must resemble those of the late General Qi more closely.

Fierce and intimidating.

The wedding matron called for them to bow to heaven and earth, but Fu Yu’an still felt a sense of unreality.

Qi Ren continued to hold his hand. When it came time to bow to the elders, the second wife removed a small jade pendant from her neck—a delicate, translucent Buddha figure—and placed it around Fu Yu’an’s neck.

“Your Highness… I don’t have much to give you. Although it’s said that men should wear Guanyin and women should wear Buddha, this is all I have… Ah! Take it for now, and I’ll have a new one made for you later!”

Fu Yu’an’s nose tingled with emotion, reminded of the bracelet his mother had given him before her death. His heart felt heavy and pained.

He accepted the pendant, wanting to explain in sign language, but with one hand still holding the fragments, it was awkward. He raised his hand but then lowered it, unsure of what to do.

Qi Ren spoke up: “Mother, what are you saying? My wife would never disdain this! Look, he’s so moved he’s about to cry!”

Fu Yu’an’s face flushed, and he nodded emphatically, carefully placing the pendant around his neck. He looked up at her and smiled.

The second wife gently touched his hair, her eyes glistening with tears. She seemed to want to say more but ultimately just smiled and said, “Good child.”

“Ah, what’s with the tears on such a joyous day!” the wedding matron said with a laugh. “Come, come! Bow to each other!”

Qi Ren stood up first and bowed. Fu Yu’an pursed his lips into a smile and bent his waist in return.

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. The wedding matron called out, “Now, to the bridal chamber—”

“Wait!”

A voice filled with anger suddenly rang out from the entrance. When the crowd saw who it was, they all inwardly groaned.

Wasn’t this woman supposed to be managing the accounts at the shop outside? Why had she suddenly returned?!