Chapter 43: Her And The Heir Of Duke Yongwu
Standing on the second floor of the teahouse nearby, she could only see Zhu Yunxiao’s profile.
Even if it was just the profile, even without seeing his face, the moment Zhu Yunxiao walked out of the restaurant, Yang Luo recognized him at a glance.
After all, the newlywed couple had only been separated for less than two months.
However, Zhu Yunxiao’s face, twisted in pain after being hit on the leg with a stick by A Sheng, she had never seen before.
Yang Luo couldn’t help but laugh.
In the previous life, Zhu Yunxiao was a famous elegant young master in the Capital City, from a good family, handsome, good character, accomplished in both civil and military affairs, the most perfect husband in the hearts of women.
Unfortunately, Zhu Yunxiao had been betrothed since he was a little child. Later, although his father-in-law died in battle, leaving only two daughters and the family falling into decline, he did not abandon her.
All the noble ladies in the Capital City could only give up hope.
She, Yang Luo, didn’t even dare to have any thoughts.
Although the first time she saw Zhu Yunxiao, she was stunned by his heavenly beauty.
That was in the temple, when she went out for the rare occasion of offering incense for her mother.
She wanted to talk alone with her mother, so she avoided her aunt and the others, secretly came to the Great Hall, and then saw the young master kneeling before the Buddha statue.
Sunlight shone on the young master, his upright posture, handsome features, with sorrow lingering between his brows, making his whole person appear gentle.
The young master prayed for his wife’s body to recover soon, then devoutly kowtowed, remaining so for a long time.
She was momentarily dazed, until the young master perceived and turned his head, their gazes colliding.
Yang Luo pressed her hand to her heart; at that time, her heartbeat seemed to stop, and she panicked and turned to run away.
Later, at the resting place, she heard that the Heir of Duke Yongwu came to pay respects to her aunt, and Yang Hui excitedly ran out to see, but she didn’t go—she didn’t dare, and also had a little selfish thought.
At that time, it seemed like she thought that if she didn’t go to see, that young master would exist only in her own gaze.
A seventeen-year-old girl with budding spring feelings was truly foolishly laughable.
Yang Luo gave a self-mocking smile. Later on, the devout prayers failed to save Zhu Yunxiao’s wife’s life, and Zhu Yunxiao became a widower.
The hearts of the noble ladies in the Capital City revived once more.
Although at that time Duke Yongwu was at fault for ineffective bandit suppression, Zhu Yunxiao was still everyone’s prime choice for a son-in-law, even as a remarriage to fill the house.
At that time, she still didn’t dare to covet Zhu Yunxiao.
Although she was added to the Yang Family genealogy and called Miss Yang, she knew that the high-ranking families in the Capital City did not regard her as a noble lady, let alone a good match for marriage.
Unexpectedly, Duke Yongwu’s Mansion came to propose marriage to her.
Saying that Zhu Yunxiao had taken a liking to her.
She clearly remembered the matchmaker relaying Zhu Yunxiao’s words, saying she had a “gentle disposition and was a good match.”
She was dizzy and confused, not knowing when Zhu Yunxiao had seen her gentle disposition. Could it be that time at the temple? But at that time, Zhu Yunxiao’s wife hadn’t died yet, so she didn’t dare to ask or mention it.
She did not refuse the marriage arrangement.
How could she refuse? She was so happy she went mad.
Thinking of this, Yang Luo raised her hand and slapped herself, the pain making her face twist a little.
So stupid.
Why didn’t she think about why a pie falling from the sky would hit her?
Was she a devastating beauty or the richest under heaven?
This was clearly a scheme.
At this time, Mo Zheng pushed the door open and came in, seeing Yang Luo hitting herself.
“Is Miss feeling guilty? No need for that,” she said. “Although it was your divination of something that didn’t really happen, you were also frightened during the divination. Retaliating a little, heaven won’t blame you.”
Yang Luo was amused again, looking at this young guard.
He had put on that young master’s clothes again; no one would recognize him as the beggar who had just been holding a bamboo pole on the street.
He was good at pretending to be a beggar, good at hitting people, and able to do so without being discovered.
He was also good at traveling, good at befriending people, good at understanding every place upon arrival.
Yang Luo smiled, looking at this young guard: “Heaven not only doesn’t blame me, it even gave me such great assistance.”
……
…….
Entering the Qingshi Lane, Zhu Yunxiao reined in his horse and looked at the mansion ahead.
The mansion was grand and imposing, but with the mansion gate tightly closed and no one entering or exiting, it appeared somewhat desolate.
Zhu Yunxiao’s gaze fell on the two words “Li Wei” hanging above the gate.
These two words were personally inscribed by His Majesty.
Back then, when Deng Shan was attacking the Capital City fiercely, the prefect of Zhuozhou suddenly declared himself King of Yan and colluded with the Xiongnu, endangering the rear defense.
Jiang Feng led troops to kill into Zhuozhou, personally beheaded the prefect of Zhuozhou, and pursued the Xiongnu troops. He was seriously injured while repelling the Xiongnu. Although he was enfeoffed as the Great General Li Wei, he could no longer lead troops thereafter. Several years after Deng Shan entered the Capital City to claim the throne and establish the country, he ultimately succumbed to the recurrence of old wounds.
The current Great General’s Mansion housed Jiang Feng’s wife and two daughters, as well as Jiang Feng’s cousin’s family.
Accompanying Zhu Yunxiao’s thoughts, the attendant had already gone ahead to call at the door. The door first opened a small crack, and someone inside peered out. Upon seeing Zhu Yunxiao dismounting, they hurriedly opened it wide.
“Oh, the son-in-law is here—” The doorkeeper welcomed him with a fawning smile, then shouted inside, “Quickly go tell the master—”
“Which master?” Zhu Yunxiao interrupted him, his expression cold.
The doorkeeper fearfully averted his gaze: “This little one, this little one misspoke, Second Master…”
Zhu Yunxiao interrupted again: “Go report to Madam, I have come to see Miss Jiang.”
Before the doorkeeper could shrink away to report, a maidservant had already hurriedly run out from inside.
“The Heir is here.” She glared fiercely at the doorkeeper, then said joyfully to Zhu Yunxiao, “Madam knew you should come today and had us waiting early.”
Zhu Yunxiao’s expression softened as he nodded, stepping over the threshold, but his body stiffened slightly when he lifted his leg, his brows furrowing faintly.
The maidservant nervously asked: “What happened to the Heir?” Then she quietly explained, “Heir, please don’t be angry. This is a distant relative from the clan, unfit to be a doorkeeper, knows nothing; Madam has already planned to replace him….”
Managing a household and family requires management skills, not just replacement. Zhu Yunxiao frowned inwardly, but smoothed his brows on the surface and said: “It’s nothing, I just stumbled a bit.” With that, he gestured for the maidservant to lead the way.
Bypassing the front courtyard, they saw the Jiang Family lobby, where at a glance one could see a slender woman sitting and doing embroidery, a young girl holding a book scroll and reading, and under the eaves, an eight- or nine-year-old girl practicing with a short sword.
Before the maidservant could speak, the girl had already seen Zhu Yunxiao and came rushing over joyfully, holding the short sword.
“Brother-in-law—”
This voice made everyone indoors look over. A smile appeared on the woman’s face, while the young girl frowned slightly with a hint of shyness.
“Jiang Meng!” she scolded. “Don’t be rude, what are you shouting.”
Jiang Meng had already run up to Zhu Yunxiao and, upon hearing this, grabbed his sleeve with grievance and shook it: “Heir, Older Sister won’t let me call you brother-in-law.”
Zhu Yunxiao said: “Then don’t call me that in front of her; call me that in private.”
With that, he looked toward the hall.
Jiang Meng standing beside him giggled, and Jiang Rui in the hall also laughed, her brows and eyes full of playful reproach.
Watching this scene, Madam Jiang also showed a pleased smile.
