Chapter 155: Even Madam Zhan Was Forced to Strike
"My family is huge and thriving! If each of us spat on you just once, we’d drown you. What a disgrace! Ptooey!" Old Master Gu spat in Old Madam Xiang’s direction—
Old Madam Xiang trembled with rage.
’Zhan Chi hadn’t expected Old Master Gu to be so good at cursing. Indeed, it takes a scoundrel to deal with a scoundrel. Fighting fire with fire!’
Madam Zhan was the epitome of a high-born lady and rarely left her home. She had never witnessed such a scene and was flustered for a moment.
"Old Master Gu, Madam Xiang, please, both of you calm down. Whatever the matter is, let’s sit and discuss it calmly. This behavior is a breach of decorum." Although Madam Zhan was also displeased, with the cursing having escalated to this point, she couldn’t say much more.
"Hmph. What a piece of work. For that little girl to end up with a grandmother like you, she must have suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck. Ptooey." Old Master Gu caught his breath, feeling a great sense of injustice on the little girl’s behalf.
"It’s our Xiang family that’s had eight lifetimes of bad luck for being saddled with that little bastard!" Old Madam Xiang retorted before she had even caught her breath.
Frowning, Madam Zhan went over and guided Old Madam Xiang to a chair. "Madam Xiang, please calm yourself. You’ve lived in the Capital City for decades and are well-versed in etiquette and decorum. To address a child in such a manner..."
"What? Are you trying to lecture me too, Madam Zhan?" Old Madam Xiang snapped, turning to glare at her.
"That’s not what I meant..."
"Then shut your mouth! Rules? What rules? In the Xiang family, *I* am the rules! Little bastard! Little mongrel! Sooner or later, I’ll have her thrown out of the General’s estate!" Old Madam Xiang was seething.
Old Master Gu bristled. ’So this is what the Xiang family is like. With a grandmother like that, how could the little girl possibly live well?’
’He really wanted to take the child away with him.’
Madam Zhan’s expression grew grim.
"You dare say one more insulting word about her?" Zhan Chi could no longer remain seated.
"I’ll say what I please! And not just here. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure the entire Capital City knows what sort of creature that little bastard is."
Zhan Chi lunged forward, raising his hand to strike. If Madam Zhan hadn’t pulled him back in time, that single blow could have taken half of Old Madam Xiang’s life.
"What are you doing? Don’t be violent!" Madam Zhan pulled him aside.
Old Madam Xiang was startled at first, but seeing that he was being held back, she grew brazen. "Oh, you want to hit me? Go on, hit me if you dare! My son is the Great General. If you lay a hand on me, my son will never let you get away with it."
"You..."
"You what? Why are you so angry about me cursing that little bastard? Don’t tell me..." A vile look appeared in Old Madam Xiang’s eyes. "That little bastard really has some skills. It’s only been a few days, and she’s already latched onto the young master of the Zhan family. What a little slut, a little bitch, a little whore..."
SLAP!
A resounding slap struck Old Madam Xiang across the face.
Clutching her face, Old Madam Xiang was stunned by the force of the slap.
"I had intended to show you some respect, but you are utterly shameless. Your mouth is full of nothing but filth. The Xiang family is doomed to fall by your hands," Madam Zhan said, her patience finally snapping.
"You dare hit me? You actually dare to strike me in the Xiang family’s own home?"
"So what if I hit you? Do I need to pick a special time and place? If you’re not convinced, we can go to the palace for an audience with Her Majesty, the Empress. Let’s have her judge the matter," Madam Zhan said with a flick of her sleeve.
"Fine, let her judge! I’m not afraid! What business is it of your Zhan family if I curse that little bastard? The only reason you’d protect her like this is if there’s a dirty secret between you!" Half of Old Madam Xiang’s face was already swelling up.
SLAP!
Madam Zhan, still seething, slapped Old Madam Xiang’s other cheek the moment she turned her head. "I dare you to call my granddaughter a ’little bastard’ one more time!"
Slapped again, Old Madam Xiang staggered and collapsed back into the chair, her face stinging fiercely.
It was the first time Zhan Chi had ever seen his mother strike someone.