My Daughter Is The Family Head Chapter 19

Hua Ming Zi met the burning black eyes of Ying Yan Long and suddenly she became aware of her disheveled appearance.  She lowered her head slightly and reached her hand up to smooth her hair.  But when she thought more about this, she realized that he had even seen her while she was injured, so why should she feel shy now?!

Moreover, does she not always think that looks are only skin-deep?  Putting down her hand, she lifted her head and looked at Ying Yan Long.  With a weak voice but firm tone, she said.  "Ying Dangjia, thank you for the care you had extended these few days.  I will never forget your great grace.  Please tell me my health condition so that I can make the necessary preparations."

Ying Yan Long glanced briefly at Doctor Qu.

"I will write out the prescription in the small hall."  Doctor Qu said before he made a move to leave.

"Doctor........"  Hua Ming Zi called out to the doctor then she bit her lower lip and unconsciously she raised her hand to smooth down her hair. 

Although life and death are important matters, there is another matter that is equally important.

"Doctor, can she take a bath?"  Ying Yan Long asked.

She looked at Ying Yan Long with amazement and widened her eyes slightly. 

How did he know what she was thinking?

"No, her wounds are not completely healed."  Doctor Qu shook his head and smiled at Ying Yan Long.

"The Ying Family has a powder called 'White b.u.t.terfly' which is produced from harvested white flowers and mixed with more than ten types of mild herbs.  It is specially prepared for the palace concubines who had given birth but unable to take their baths.  Not only will the powder helps to clean the body, but it also softens the skin.  I have given it to your maid earlier and now you only need approval from Doctor Qu."  Ying Yan Long said.

"The White b.u.t.terfly Powder does not conflict with the medicine I prescribed."  Doctor Qu lifted his eyebrows at Ying Yan Long.  "I did not expect that in this lifetime, this old man would be able to see Ying Dangjia cherish a woman so much.  I think a happy event will happen in the Ying Mansion soon."

"Yes, that's right."  Ying Xue Wen interrupted and his smile was so wide that his eyes had turned into slits.

When Hua Ming Zi thought of her impending marriage with Ying Xue Wen, she suddenly felt unable to breathe and involuntarily, she looked at Ying Yan Long.

From beginning to end, Ying Yan Lon did not take his eyes off Hua Ming Zi's face.  At this point, he gave her a nod to rea.s.sure her and then he turned to Cui Yu. 

"Send Doctor Qu out.  Then prepare some food according to the doctor's prescription and serve up."

"Yes."  Cui Yu nodded and picking up the doctor's medical box, she led the doctor out of the chamber.

"Elder Brother, you can speak now."  Ying Xue Wen said.

"You also have to leave."  Ying Yan Long said.

"Why must I leave as well?"  Ying Xue Wen protested.

Ying Yan Long frowned.  He tightened his thin lips and his expression became stern.

Ying Xue Wen pursed his lips then he turned around and left with reluctance.

When Hua Ming Zi saw this, she sucked in a breath. 

Are her injuries very serious?

"How many days do I still have?"  She asked calmly but she could not prevent her lips from quivering.

"It's not that serious.  You think too much."  Ying Yan Long sat down on the edge of the couch and looked steadily at her.

"If it is not that serious, why did you request everyone to withdraw?"  She wrinkled her eyebrows and swallowed hard before she said.  "You can tell me, I am able to take it."

"Take good care to maintain your health and don't work too hard.  A few years should not be any problem."   Seeing that her eyebrows were still knotted with an expression of disbelief on her face, he leaned forward slightly and said.  "The whole Ying Family is protecting you, so you should have confidence in me."

Her ears became slightly warm and could not help but want to shrink back.  Unfortunately, she did not possess the strength to move and could only keep her eyes shut.

She pretended the proximity between both of them was not inappropriate.

"Just this?  I still have a few years to live......not a few months?"  From the doctor's expression and his solemn retreat, she did not think this matter was so simple.

"There is one more thing......."  Separated by the silk quilt, Ying Yan Long's hand covered hers.  She jumped in shock and met his black eyes.

"In future, you will not be able to give birth........."  He tried hard to put on his calmest voice.

The heat from his hand penetrated through the silk quilt to the back of her hand but she could only feel a chill in her whole body.  She looked intently at him and for a long while she could not speak.

Unable to give birth.......  She shuddered and through the silk quilt, she felt his grip tightened even more.

"People.......are really funny.......  Initially, I thought my life would end and when I woke up I felt joy.........   Unexpectedly.........I........did not think the bloodline of the Hua Family would break in my hands."   A sour feeling lingered in her nose and her chest seemed to block up.

"What is most important is......you are still alive."  He gripped her hand even tighter.

Hua Ming Zi looked down at their clasped hands separated by the silk quilt and recalled the times when she turned and twisted in pain.  That pair of big hands which had always held hers........

It should be Ying Yan Long's.

What is his intention in treating her this way? 

She slowly pulled back her hand and looked up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry.  It was impolite of me."  Ying Yan Long frowned and immediately stood up.

Before Hua Ming Zi could stop herself, she grabbed hold of his hand.

Turning around to face her, he flipped his hand to grasp hers firmly.

The two people looked at each other and after a while, she withdrew her hand.  Then he went back to sit on the edge of the couch and held her hand once again.

"You.......this period of time will not be easy for you.  The inability to give birth is not considered a problem.  You can adopt a few descendants from the other Hua families and educate them properly.  Do you doubt the children who are trained by you, will not turn out to be good?  If you are good and the children are good, then it is the blessing of the Hua Family foundation.  Isn't this what your Father sincerely wished for?" 

"Um......"  Her eye rims began to heat up and with her head bowed she tried hard to blink away her tears. 

He caressed her hair and said softly.  "Everything will be fine.  You are still alive.  Nothing more unfortunate than this will happen."

"Don't worry.  I have gotten over this and I have always been able to get over anything.  After my health is better, I will........."  She took a deep breath and did not want to mention the name, Luo Ji Cai.  "Someone will get his retribution."

"First of all, you must get better.  Other matters can be discussed later."  He pulled his lips taut and while still holding her hand, he gave her hand a tight squeeze. 

"No.  If I don't make an appearance quickly, perhaps there will be other victims soon."

"He will not dare."  It was because he had sent people to watch over Luo Ji Cai and he had planned to bring Luo Ji Cai down with one strike after all the evidence had been gathered.

"I don't have faith in him."  Hua Ming Zi struggled to sit up but the terrible pain made her suck in her breath.  Curling up her body in pain, she could not help but tremble.

"Who gave you permission to get up?!  Just lie down!"  He ordered in a deep voice and pressed her shoulders down to prevent her from moving again.

"d.a.m.n!   Will the wounds open up again?  I have to call the doctor........."

He made a move to get up.

"Wait!  What I need now is not the doctor."  A cold sweat broke out on her forehead but she still wanted to sit up.

"Lie down and don't move."  He ordered.

"I want to sit up."  She looked at him firmly.

"No.  And also, this is not the time to worry about anything else."  With gentle movements, his hands firmly pressed her back on to the couch.

She felt so angry that she wanted to push him away but before she could do it, she was already panting breathlessly.

"Be obedient."  He sat down on the edge of the couch and held her hand firmly in his grip.

She did not want to look at him, so she turned her eyes away and said coldly.  "I will not be obedient.  As long as I'm alive, I will not let him do as he pleases........."

"Do you really think that when you make an appearance, he will admit?"

"No woman will take the risk of losing her innocence to accuse a man."  She said as she glared at him.

"What if he says the both of you share mutual affections, one is willing and the other is agreeable?"

"If both of us share mutual affections, I would have long been married to him!"  The feeling of anger rose in Hua Ming Zi's chest and her cheeks turned red.

"What if he said.......it was because you can't be his First Wife, so you feel very angry and you are getting back at him?"

He had checked on several cases that Luo Ji Cai had committed.  The women who came forward to accuse Luo Ji Cai were all refuted by his lawyer.  Among those women, two of them committed suicide by jumping into a well and one drowned by jumping into a river.

"The whole capital city knows about the situation between him and me.  I am not afraid!"  Seeing that he was desperately stopping her from accusing Luo Ji Cai, she could not hold back her anger and glare at him.  "I don't need to trouble Ying Dangjia with this matter.  I will personally look for a lawyer.  And also I have to trouble Ying Dangjia to let go of my hand......this is not appropriate behavior."

"I don't want to let go."  Ying Yan Long said indifferently as he ma.s.saged her icy-cold fingertips.

"You........" 

Is he trying to get fresh with her now?

She glared at him again but her heart had calmed down a little.

"Listen well."  He clasped her hand and said in a serious tone.  "You can look for a lawyer but Luo Ji Cai controls Yamen.  You have to take note of this important point."

"Then are we going to let him continue with such lawless behavior?"  Hua Ming Zi recalled the painful memories and involuntarily, her body shrank and began to tremble.

"Trust me.  As long as I am here, I will not let him commit such outrageous crimes anymore."  He leaned over and with the most gentle and softest movements, he gathered her into his arms, firmly locking her in an embrace.

Hua Ming Zi recalled the situation when she was beaten up and stabbed with a knife in her chest and abdomen.  She could not help but groan aloud and her body trembled even more intensely.

"Everything is fine, I am here."  His hand caressed her face and he whispered.  "It's alright.  You are now safe in Ying Mansion.  No one can touch a strand of your hair."

Hua Ming Zi knew that his behavior was inappropriate but she was trembling so much that she could not push him away.  She could only lean on his chest to listen to his steady heartbeat until she no longer trembled.

Then when she remembered she had not taken her bath for many days, she whispered.  "Let me go."

He continued to hug her without hesitation and said to her.

"Your injuries are not completely healed, so you should not feel agitated.  The most important matter is for you to get well.  Don't worry about other matters.  Do you hear me?"

"Why should I listen to you?"  Hua Ming Zi wrinkled her eyebrows.  She felt he was overbearing, so she narrowed her eyes and glared at him fiercely.  "Luo Ji Cai that b.a.s.t.a.r.d nearly killed me.  He also made me unable to bear children, thus I am unable to fulfill my Father's wish to leave a son for the Hua Family.  Why should I let Luo Ji Cai go?........  Why do you want to stop me?........"

Nearing the end, she was already out of breath.

Ying Yan Long frowned and said.  "What do you want to do now since you are in this situation?  What can you do?  I want you to be safe and worry-free.  One - this is for your protection.  I don't want you to be like jade and stone burning together*.  Two - it is because you and the Ying Family are now related, so the Ying Family will protect you."

(Jade and stone burning together mean the good and the bad, both will be destroyed at the same time. This will happen if HMZ and LJC fight each other.)

"Even though Ying Xue Wen had saved me, it doesn't mean I will marry him."

"Who said you are to marry him?"  He said through clenched teeth.

"You said that I am related to Ying Family but now you refused to allow me to marry Ying Xue Wen.  What do you actually want me to.........."  Hua Ming Zi took a deep breath and remembered that she was still nestled in his arms and instantly her face turned red.  Turning her eyes away, she said.  "In any case, I am not a member of your Ying Family."

"You will be......." 

She can only be his.  How many years she is able to live, he will keep her for so many years.

Before she even had time to think too much, her chin was lifted and he stared at her with his burning gaze.

Although she had experienced a lot of big and small battles in the business arena, this matter between men and women is her first experience.  In a flurry of confusion and anxiety, she really did not know how to react, so she just simply shut her eyes.

When he saw her eyelashes continuously fluttering, for a moment, he was emotionally stirred and he could not help but lean forward.  But the smell of medicine lingering on her body reminded him of her current health condition, so he could only withdraw reluctantly. 

Then once again he repeated his words.  "You can only be a member of the Ying Family.  You are mine."

When Hua Ming Zi heard the words, her ears turned even redder and she looked up at him.  Pretending to ridicule him, she said.  "So it seems that Ying Dangjia likes to slap his own mouth*.  Did you not once say........

~ Marrying a wife, marrying virtue,

~ Not seeking strong ability to rule the family,

~ As long as there is an understanding to stay home and obey the Father

~ Once married into the Family, obey the Husband

...........that principle?"

(To slap one's own mouth means to say something that contradicts oneself.)

"I am wrong, you are the wife I want."  Holding up her chin, he smiled and looked into her eyes.

"But.......I can't bear children." 

What is he thinking?

"Let Xue Wen find another woman to take up the responsibility of producing descendants for the Ying Family.  Wait until your health gets better, we will immediately arrange for our marriage.  Before that, you are not allowed to think about anything else."

When Hua Ming Zi heard his commanding tone, her face sank.

"I will handle my own matters.  I......" 

Don't even think of controlling me........

She stared at him and wanted to argue.  Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness. .h.i.t her which forced her to close her eyes.

"Quick, lie down and rest."  Ying Yan Long hurriedly put her down on the couch, then placed a pillow behind her head and pulled the quilt over her body.

She could feel the smooth actions he made as if he had done this countless times but she did not know if he really wanted to be good to her.  Why did he not fight alongside her and think of a way to deal with Luo Ji Cai?

"You are not allowed to move around rashly again!  Give a thought to the many people who used all their effort to fight and save your life.  It is only you who does not value it."  Seeing that she was still moving around on the couch, he tightened his face and said.

She had never been reprimanded like this before.  She felt so angry that her eyes were rolling and she could not help but retort.

"Of course, I will lie still.  Otherwise, if anything happens to me and the news spread out that the Ying Family is unable to save me even though they had made every effort then it will not be good for your reputation!"

Ying Yan Long had never been answered back in such a way before, so he tightened his lips and wanted to reprimand her.

However, as soon as he saw her desperately trying to bear with the pain, no words could come out from him.  After pressing his lips together for a long time, he finally took a deep breath and swallowed down all the unpleasant words he was about to say.  Then in a faint voice, he said.  "It is good that you realize that I and the Ying Family had used all our efforts."

The kindness and grace of the Ying Family that was given to her flashed through her mind and she clenched her fists.  She did not know whether she was suffering from the pain of her injuries or the pain of feeling at a loss that was in her heart.

Yes!  The Ying Family had really spent a lot of effort in saving her and she should be grateful but she thought he would fight against Luo Ji Cai together with her.  But she forgot that he is a businessman, so why would he be bothered to fight against the high-powered forces because of a mere matter between a man and a woman........

"Does it still hurt?"  He asked softly and his black eyes watched her.

"It's alright."  She closed her eyes and calmed her emotions before she said again.  "Thanks to Ying Dangjia.  I will try to get well quickly so that I can return to Hua Mansion as soon as possible.  I should rest now.  Please take your leave." 

Ying Yan Long stood beside the couch and looked at her for a while.  He wanted to tell her about his plan on how he was going to handle Luo Ji Cai but in the end, he decided not to say anything lest her mood fluctuated again.  So he called for Cui Yu before he turned around and left with big strides.

When Hua Ming Zi heard his footsteps departing, she opened her eyes.

Cui Yu who was standing at the side holding a bowl of porridge immediately came forward and said. 

"Dangjia, once you have taken this porridge, you should rest.  These few days, you had depended solely on the magical medicinal pills but a human is not G.o.d.  You still have to eat.  The more you eat, the faster you will recover."

Hua Ming Zi nodded and let Cui Yu fed her half a bowl of porridge.

"The Mansion and the shops........"  Hua Ming Zi asked.

"Don't worry about that.  The Mansion and the shops are all fine."  Cui Yu immediately shook her head to stop her from asking more.

"Really?"  Hua Ming Zi frowned.  She did not feel a.s.sured because, for so many years, all the matters concerning the Hua Ji Restaurants depended solely on her daily management.

"You don't have to worry.  Ying Dangjia had sent guards to protect our restaurants.   You should also know that the Ying Family has a lot of valuable medicines, so the martial arts skills of the Ying Family's guards are particularly high.  When they stand guard in front of our restaurants, it is practically a wall of copper and iron*.  Would there be any problem?"

(A wall of copper and iron is a wall of impenetrable defense.)

Now she owes Ying Yan Long another favor. 

Hua Ming Zi bit her lip and a mix of feelings welled up in her heart.

Ying Yan Long is really a man who can shelter her from the wind and rain.  Just like a child, she felt that even if the sky is to collapse, her Father would be able to hold up the sky for her.  However, in the end, her Father could not support her for the rest of her life, so now, how can she hand over herself to Ying Yan Long without any worries?

Ying Yan Long is not the same as Ying Xue Wen.  He is used to commanding people and expects obedience from others.  And she is also a person who is used to being obeyed by others, so how can the two of them avoid having constant arguments and fights?

"Where do you feel unwell?"  When Cui Yu saw her Dangjia's abnormal expression, she immediately leaned forward with worry.

"It's nothing."

"Then you should rest."

Hua Ming Zi nodded.  Initially, she had wanted to ask whether the people outside knew about her staying in Ying Mansion but because her injuries were not healed and in addition, she had tussled with Ying Yan Long earlier, she was overwhelmed with exhaustion.  As the thoughts flashed through her mind, she felt groggy and eventually fell asleep.