Chapter 44: The Unwed Couple
Zhu Yunxiao did not stay long. He drank a bowl of soup that Madam Jiang had prepared in advance, watched Jiang Meng practice swordplay for a while, then rose to take his leave.
Hearing that he had returned from the western suburbs barracks without going home, Madam Jiang did not press him to stay. She held Jiang Meng back and had Jiang Rui see him off.
Although they were fiancée and fiancé, they were not yet married, so the only time they could be alone together was on this short walk to send him off.
Jiang Rui did not refuse. The youth knew and accompanied each other naturally and generously, without any coyness.
The two walked side by side, with the maidservant following at a distance behind.
“The National Academy has few rules. The Libationer is very approachable. Don’t be nervous when you go there to read,” Zhu Yunxiao instructed softly.
Jiang Rui smiled: “I know. I will study diligently. Everyone knows my temperament—I’ll be myself, nice and relaxed.”
At this point, she paused slightly.
Zhu Yunxiao keenly perceived it and asked with concern: “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Rui smiled at him: “Nothing. I just thought of a young lady I encountered during this selection exam. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to get along with her.”
Zhu Yunxiao did not ask further about matters involving other women. He only said: “Associate with her if you can, and if not, no need to mind it. You don’t need to rely on such things.”
Jiang Rui’s gaze dimmed slightly. These years, the respect she received was due to the posthumous honors from her father’s death in battle.
Zhu Yunxiao did not notice her gloom. He lifted his foot to step over the threshold, his body stiffening again as a hiss escaped through his teeth.
Why was this leg hurting more and more?
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Rui asked hurriedly, perceiving his discomfort.
Zhu Yunxiao gave her a wry smile: “Alas, bad luck today. I bumped my leg.”
The aloof young master from a noble family only showed a spoiled demeanor in front of her. Jiang Rui pursed her lips in a smile, her eyes full of tenderness: “Does it hurt?”
Zhu Yunxiao looked at her and smiled too, his brows joyful: “It doesn’t hurt now that A Rui asked.”
The maidservant behind hurriedly lowered her head to look at her own toes, fearing her gaze would disturb the young lady and the heir’s tender affection.
But someone lacking propriety rushed over from behind, their voice loud.
“Oh dear, Young Lord, how can you leave right after arriving?”
Hearing this voice, the maidservant hurriedly reached out to stop her, but the burly woman pushed her aside with a raise of her hand and charged toward Zhu Yunxiao.
“Second Madam—” The maidservant stomped her foot in annoyance.
Seeing the gaudily dressed woman in gold and silver standing before them.
“Aunt.” Jiang Rui addressed her flatly.
Zhu Yunxiao put away his smile, did not even greet her, and only nodded slightly.
Jiang Feng had ordinary origins, and with the wars, his already few brothers and sisters scattered. Relying on his bravery, he followed Deng Shan and died in battle to earn rewards. Then, an uncle’s son came to the door, using the excuse of caring for the orphaned widow and continuing the Jiang Family line to move into the Jiang Family mansion.
Second Aunt Jiang did not mind their coldness and said enthusiastically: “How can you visit and not eat? Come, come, your second uncle has already prepared it.”
Zhu Yunxiao stepped back: “I have matters at home. I’ll take my leave first.”
His words seemed directed at Second Aunt Jiang, but his gaze only looked at Jiang Rui.
Jiang Rui smiled softly at him: “Go ahead.”
Zhu Yunxiao turned and strode to his horse, mounted, and galloped away, without glancing at Second Aunt Jiang again.
Second Aunt Jiang’s face flushed red with anger. She gritted her teeth and sneered coldly at Jiang Rui: “With big brother gone, Young Lord Zhu is really so high and mighty.”
Jiang Rui looked at her and said flatly: “He’s just not familiar with you aunts.”
With that, she turned and went inside.
Second Aunt Jiang followed: “Not familiar with us? If we also had an enfeoffment as noble, see if he’d be familiar then.” At this point, she pursed her lips and sized up Jiang Rui. “A Rui, don’t blame aunt for speaking bluntly. I see this Heir of Duke Yongwu is not easy to deal with.”
Jiang Rui looked at Second Aunt Jiang: “Mother has a good temper. My younger sister and I are juniors. We can’t bring ourselves to deal with some difficult people. Having this difficult person around is good for us.”
Just because she and her younger sister were not sons, the family business her father traded his life for was to be handed over to the paternal uncle’s family. Outsiders acting like masters, swaggering about.
Fortunately, Zhu Yunxiao was not so pedantic. If he also treated these two with respect as elders, she would truly be furious.
The maidservant stepped forward and forcefully pushed Second Aunt Jiang aside.
“Paternal Second Madam, our young lady has matters to attend to.” She emphasized “paternal second” and, supporting Jiang Rui, went forward. “Young lady, you’re going to the National Academy to read tomorrow. See if there’s anything to bring. After all, you’ll be classmates with three princesses.”
Watching the two go inside, Second Aunt Jiang spat angrily from behind.
“What’s there to be smug about? A girl who’s bound to marry out sooner or later. What reading, what companion reader—it’s all just the emperor giving face to a dead man. And this Heir of Duke Yongwu, what unchanging devotion? Jiang Feng is dead, but the emperor isn’t. Let’s see him dare to break the betrothal and bully the orphaned widow!”
“If she were really smart, she’d quickly use her pitiable state to beg His Majesty for grace, let second uncle and second aunt get an official post too, prop up the Jiang Family’s household, so there’d be her natal family to back her up in the future.”
“Ungrateful fool!”
“My poor big brother, died so pitifully, didn’t even leave a son. The good family business is being ruined.”
Hearing the undisguised voice from behind, the maidservant gritted her teeth in hatred. Jiang Rui clenched her hand tightly but did not turn back to argue.
Arguing would be pointless.
These two held the status of elders. No matter how much arguing or making a fuss, they couldn’t be driven away—only adding disgust.
Mother would weep night after night, blaming herself for not bearing a son. Her health was already poor; enduring this would likely shorten her life.
She had already lost her father and could not lose her mother too.
Fortunately, there was still Zhu Yunxiao. With Yunxiao there, she was not without support.
“Older sister—”
Jiang Meng’s voice came.
Jiang Rui came back to her senses and saw they had returned to the hall courtyard. Jiang Meng held a short sword and looked at her.
Though young, she knew how to read faces.
“Did brother-in-law bully you?” she asked with glaring eyes, her face fierce, as if ready to go beat someone right then.
Jiang Rui laughed: “No, how could he bully me.” She then chided playfully, “I told you not to call him brother-in-law yet. We’re not married.”
Jiang Meng breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her earlier cheerfulness: “Brother-in-law likes me calling him that.” She looked at Jiang Rui again. “Older sister, was it second uncle and second aunt saying nasty things again? Don’t be upset. Just endure them. Wait until I grow up—”
Jiang Rui smilingly touched her hair bun: “What then when you grow up?”
Jiang Meng straightened her back: “When I grow up, I’ll join the army, lead troops like father. Then, whoever bullies you, I’ll kill them!”
Jiang Rui grabbed her arm: “Don’t talk nonsense. At your young age, all this talk of fighting and killing. Go finish writing your characters.”
Jiang Meng cried out “ow ow”: “Mother, save me—”
The sisters laughed and frolicked away.
…….
…….
By the time Zhu Yunxiao returned to Duke Yongwu’s Mansion, dusk was near.
He did not go see his parents first but returned to his own residence. While changing clothes, he looked at his calf.
There was a faint bruise on his leg.
Strange, the injury wasn’t serious.
The incident happened suddenly; he was caught off guard and didn’t even see the beggars’ faces clearly, only a vague, thin youthful figure.
The strength shouldn’t have been great either.
Why was this leg hurting more and more?
And was this incident an accident, or targeted at him?
But if targeted at him, what was the point of just one stick?
At the scene then, if that beggar had held not a stick, but a knife and sword…
Zhu Yunxiao suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
He would now be dead.
“Yunxiao.”
A voice came from outside, interrupting Zhu Yunxiao’s reverie. He hurriedly straightened his robe, stood up, and saw his father walk in.
Duke Yongwu had risen from leading troops, but now at his age, his figure was somewhat rotund.
“I just finished freshening up and was about to go see father,” Zhu Yunxiao said.
Duke Yongwu frowned: “Why linger so long at the Jiang Family? A glance would suffice.”
Zhu Yunxiao said: “After all, she was selected as princess companion reader. It was proper to congratulate her properly.”
Duke Yongwu muttered: “Selected as princess companion reader, that’s all—not a princess.” At this, he looked at Zhu Yunxiao. “This marriage arrangement can’t be canceled?”
Zhu Yunxiao smiled: “This marriage arrangement truly cannot be canceled.”
Duke Yongwu frowned: “Not even a household like Marquis Yichun’s?”
Zhu Yunxiao offered his father a cup of tea.
“Not even a household like Marquis Yichun’s.” He shook his head. “The benefits of marrying into it do not outweigh the drawbacks of breaking the betrothal.”
Overslept.
