Chapter 380 Mother-in-law
Huo Ran was deeply moved. He hugged Jiang Mi tightly. She was his only one, the most important person to him, and his salvation.
"No matter what happened between us in the past, we will live a good life together from now on. No matter what happens, we will never leave each other. Jiang Mi, it is my luck to have you."
Huo Ran's face was sincere, and he smiled very happily. Over the years, only when he was with Jiang Mi could he smile so sincerely.
Seeing how close the two of them were, Mo Hua and Si Qin were very happy. As long as their young lady was doing well, they were happy for her. The only one who was unhappy was Liu Zijun.
"You like Huo Ran, huh?" After kicking Yang Liuer out, Jiang Zhihai whipped Liu Zijun mercilessly. "You're already married to me, yet you're still thinking about other men. I think you're tired of living, huh?"
At first, Liu Zijun used her family background to threaten Jiang Zhihai, but she found that the Jiang family was not afraid at all. She didn't know why this family was so terrifying, not even afraid of the prime minister.
Madam Jiang came over and took a look, then stopped her son: "Alright, don't let him be beaten to death. It wasn't easy to marry a wife like this. I think it was that maid who instigated it. Just send her away. She's going back to her parents' home tomorrow. If the Liu family sees her then, it will be difficult to resolve."
Jiang Zhihai snorted coldly: "Go back to your maternal home. Once you enter the Jiang family, you are a member of the Jiang family in life and in death. You will never leave the Jiang family in this lifetime. From now on, you will stay here and you are not allowed to go anywhere without my permission."
Liu Zijun was shocked to hear this. She thought she could go back to her parents' home tomorrow to complain, but she didn't expect the Jiang family to dare to detain her and prevent her from going back.
"Jiang Zhihai, do you think my entire Liu family is dead? You dare not let me go home? Don't you think my father and mother will come looking for me? How dare you!"
Jiang Zhihai snorted coldly: "Afraid? I don't even know how to spell the word 'fear'. If you dare to say another word, your life will be ruined. If you still want to be successful in front of others after you're in my hands, you have to listen to everything I say. If you dare to say another word, your whole family will die. Don't think that just because you're some kind of prime minister, you're so powerful. Now that you're in my hands, if you don't obey, you can just wait to die."
"Go and tell the Liu family that the young mistress is not feeling well and cannot go back to her parents' home tomorrow. She will make it up to them in a few days."
Hearing her son say this, Madame Chiang had no objection. She looked at Liu Zijun as if she were looking at an animal, and did not take her seriously at all.
"Alright, that's enough. I need to go play cards. Don't make the house a mess, it'll ruin everyone's mood. If she's disobedient, just get a different one. You can bring whichever one you like home. Starve her a few times and she'll behave."
Jiang Zhihai spat at Liu Zijun before leaving in a huff. After everyone left, Liu Zijun was locked in her room. She pounded on the door, but no one answered. She didn't know where Wan'er had been taken. Alone in the room, she began to regret her actions.
If he had known it would turn out this way, he wouldn't have framed Jiang Mi. He shouldn't have listened to Yang Liuer yesterday and ruined Jiang Mi's marriage. He never expected that in the end, all the retribution would fall on his own head.
Jiang Mi happily finished decorating her new home, which would soon be her and Huo Ran's little home. Naturally, she wanted to put more effort into it.
Huo Ran stayed at home with her for several days before reluctantly going to court.
After tidying up her home, Jiang Mi prepared to go back to her parents' home for a visit, but unexpectedly, Madam Huo suddenly showed up at the door, bringing many things with her.
"Greetings, Mother-in-law." After all, Madam Huo is Huo Ran's stepmother, so one should at least give her some face; after all, they haven't really fallen out.
Mrs. Huo warmly took Jiang Mi's hand, and the two walked into the house.
“Good child, I know you have always been sensible. It is Huo Ran’s blessing to marry you, and it is also a blessing for our Huo family.”
Jiang Mi smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, you're too kind. Is there something you need today?"
Madam Huo paused, then lowered her head sadly and said, "Actually, it's nothing, it's just... as you know, you're a member of the Huo family now. When we talk to our own family, there are some things you should know."
Jiang Mi had a feeling that this Mrs. Huo was not so simple, so she had to be on her guard.
"It's like this, I'm not Huo Ran's biological mother, that's common knowledge. You don't know how hard it is to be a stepmother. Huo Ran is a child with his own ideas, even his father can't control him, let alone me, his stepmother. Over the years, I've treated him better than my own son, but Huo Ran is like a stone, I can't warm his heart no matter what I do. He's been all alone all these years, luckily I met you."
Jiang Mi smiled and continued listening to her.
“I know he’s suffering inside. He lost his mother when he was young, and his father didn’t care about him enough. So all these years I’ve been trying to make it up to him. But unfortunately I’m not his biological mother, and there’s always something between us. I’m genuinely happy for him that he’s found someone he likes. I thought the house would finally be more lively, but I never expected Huo Ran to move out with you. This… this makes me feel so sad.”
So that's what it was about. Jiang Mi understood and comforted her, saying, "Mother-in-law, don't be sad. It's nothing. We're more comfortable living outside. Besides, we're all in the capital, so close that we can see each other whenever we want. It's very convenient."
Madam Huo smiled and said, "That's true, but we are family after all. What would it look like if a family didn't live together? Outsiders would think that I, as your stepmother, couldn't tolerate you. Heaven knows how much I love you as my daughter-in-law. It's such a pity that we can't live together. It's truly a shame."
Jiang Mi didn't feel regretful at all. Just from what Madam Huo said, she felt that Madam Huo was not a simple person.
“I know about my mother-in-law’s intentions and I will tell Huo Ran. You know Huo Ran’s temper; I can’t control him. He’s the head of the family, and everyone has to listen to him. I have no say in anything.”
Jiang Mi simply pushed everything onto Huo Ran, letting him handle whatever problems he had to deal with himself; she wasn't going to be the wicked daughter-in-law.
Seeing that Jiang Mi had completely distanced herself from everything, Madam Huo was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected this woman to be so beautiful, not just a pretty face. Of course, if she didn't have some cunning, she wouldn't have been able to win Huo Ran's heart so completely.
“You are an honest and upright person, you can’t do this. If Huo Ran dares to bully you, just tell me. Although I can’t control him, I can tell the Marquis and let him discipline him. After all, he is his biological father. Blood is thicker than water, and he still has some respect for his father.”
Jiang Mi understood what Madam Huo meant. She was saying that the Marquis was Huo Ran's biological father, and Jiang Mi and Huo Ran couldn't ignore the Huo family. If Huo Ran did well in the future, they would have to help the Huo family. Huo Ran's glory was also the Huo family's glory.
However, Jiang Mi pretended to understand only the surface meaning of what she said, and smiled with a blank expression: "Yes, blood is thicker than water. Huo Ran must respect his father and mother-in-law. He just doesn't like to express it. He has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. His mother-in-law has known Huo Ran for so long, so she should understand him."
Seeing that Jiang Mi wouldn't take the bait, Madam Huo had no choice but to give up for the time being. It was almost noon, and Huo Ran would be back soon. He definitely wouldn't want to see Madam Huo when he returned, so Jiang Mi pretended to politely ask Madam Huo to stay.
"Would you like to stay for lunch, Mother-in-law?"
Originally, she thought Madam Huo wouldn't agree, and Madam Huo didn't actually want to eat at the same table as Huo Ran, but for some reason she wanted to see how much Jiang Mi meant to Huo Ran, so she agreed.
"Oh dear, then I shall accept your offer. Your father is unwell and cannot have lunch with me, and your younger brother has gone to school. I am all alone at home, which is rather lonely and quiet. Since you have said so, I will shamelessly freeload a meal here."
Jiang Mi didn't say anything, but had someone prepare an extra meal.
Madam Huo looked around and exclaimed, "Your little home is decorated quite nicely. This house was bestowed upon Huo Ran by the Emperor and has been left unattended for quite some time. I didn't expect Huo Ran to have decorated it so well in secret. It seems that you care about it very much."
As they were talking, Huo Ran returned from court. He was all smiles when he saw Jiang Mi and reached out to hug her, but Jiang Mi pushed him away.
"Your mother-in-law is here, don't make a scene."
Huo Ran then realized that Madam Huo was also there, and the smile on his face immediately disappeared.
Madam Huo was stunned. She had never seen Huo Ran like this before, his eyes filled with sweetness and joy. It seemed that Huo Ran really liked Jiang Mi. No wonder he went to great lengths, even offending the Liu family, to marry Jiang Mi. It seemed that Jiang Mi was not only good-looking, but also had other abilities to keep their young master by her side.
Seeing how loving you two are makes me happy too.
As Mrs. Huo spoke, she even started wiping away tears. Jiang Mi and Huo Ran exchanged a glance, both seeing speechlessness and helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Why are you here?" Huo Ran asked bluntly.
Mrs. Huo was a little embarrassed: "Didn't you move out right after your marriage? I was worried that you two wouldn't have a good life together at such a young age, so I came to check on you."
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