Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Emperor Decrees a Marriage, A Glorious Honor
One of the burly, dark-faced men cursed with a laugh.
"Liu San, who do you think you are, ordering the proprietress around? If the General finds out, he’ll have you running laps around the camp."
Liu San glared. "I’m here to drum up business for Yu Niang. This was the General’s idea, so why would he get mad at me?"
Ji Qingwu observed them closely.
The men were all dressed for military life, wearing black, cross-collared robes over narrow trousers, with leg bindings and straight-topped boots.
Though they weren’t wearing leather armor, their sturdy builds immediately marked them as soldiers.
’Which general are they talking about?’
It seemed this general and the proprietress were uncommonly close.
Yu Niang wasn’t angered by their teasing. She simply smiled and said, "It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you gentlemen. I can’t thank you enough for patronizing my business."
Liu San said with a conspiratorial wink, "General Wei Chi has been busy with military affairs and frequent drills lately. We had to find a spare moment to come over."
’General Wei Chi? The only general in the army with that surname is...’
Ji Qingwu arched an eyebrow.
She studied Yu Niang. The woman’s features were lovely and her skin was delicate. Her smile was full of allure—she was a coquettish beauty, the kind men adored.
Tossing a string of coins on the table, Ji Qingwu got up and left.
After returning home and mulling it over, she decided to write a letter to the Eldest Princess to warn her.
’After all, the Eldest Princess had just asked me for ways to get pregnant quickly today. If she were to find out about this after she was already with child... she would be utterly heartbroken.’
*
After several busy days and sleepless nights, Wei Chi Lianping finally found a moment to return to the Princess Mansion.
He had just stepped through the door when he saw Princess Hua Chang sitting at her vanity. With eyebrows as fine as kingfisher plumes and skin as white as snow, she looked as ethereal as ever.
The exhaustion instantly melted away from his body.
However, Princess Hua Chang was clutching a sheet of paper, looking as though she had been frozen in place.
He walked up to her, but she didn’t even raise her head, let alone glance at him.
Wondering what she was so intently focused on, Wei Chi Lianping reached out to lift her chin.
His hand was slapped away with a sharp, merciless SMACK.
Princess Hua Chang shot him a sidelong glare.
That single glance froze Wei Chi Lianping where he stood.
It had been a long time since she had looked at him with such revulsion.
So long, in fact, that he had almost forgotten that the highborn Zhao Tianhua had always looked down on a crude brute like him.
Princess Hua Chang’s voice was icy. "Don’t touch me with your filthy hands."
Wei Chi Lianping sneered, jabbing back, "Is there any part of you I haven’t touched? A little late to be calling me filthy now, isn’t it?"
"Stay away from me."
With great self-restraint, Princess Hua Chang took a deep breath, not wanting to speak to him.
Wei Chi Lianping subconsciously grabbed the front of his military tunic and lowered his head to sniff it.
He hadn’t noticed any odor after days in the barracks surrounded by men, but now, inside the fragrant rooms of the Princess Mansion, he could smell the stale sweat on himself.
"Right, right. The Princess values cleanliness. I’ll go wash up right away."
Wei Chi Lianping thought Princess Hua Chang was unhappy about this. He unfastened his dark red outer robe and was about to go to the washroom to bathe.
"You are not to go," the Eldest Princess said coldly.
"Then I won’t wash?"
Wei Chi Lianping stepped back, a smile on his face as he asked her.
Princess Hua Chang raised her eyes, staring at him. "From now on, you are forbidden from entering my room."
Wei Chi Lianping’s thick brows shot up. "This is my wife’s room. Why can’t I come in?" he asked in disbelief.
Princess Hua Chang’s hand tightened, crumpling the letter. She stated flatly, "Because I don’t want you here. I don’t want to share a room with you."
Wei Chi Lianping clenched his fists. What husband could endure being spoken to like this by his wife?
Their marriage had been born of necessity.
Back then, she was the eldest daughter of the Marquis Yong’an Mansion, while he was a mere Captain of the Cavalry. It was he who had married above his station.
’But with my current military achievements, am I still not worthy of her?!’
’Even a block of ice should have melted after being held for six years.’
Wei Chi Lianping’s chest heaved with rage, his face livid. He looked ready to explode at any moment.
Seeing his expression, Princess Hua Chang felt a pang of regret. ’I shouldn’t have sent all the maids away. I should have kept a few for support.’
But how could a few slender women stop an enraged Great General?
With her other hand, Princess Hua Chang gently picked up the golden hairpin from her vanity.
It was unclear what went through Wei Chi Lianping’s mind, but after a moment, he calmed down.
He left with a single sentence: "Fine. I’ll use the outer washroom."
Then, he lifted the curtain and went out.
Seeing his tall figure leave, Princess Hua Chang’s hand relaxed. The letter was now damp with a bit of sweat.
She folded the letter and placed it back in her makeup box.
In the adjacent washroom, Wei Chi Lianping sat with his legs wide apart, scrubbing himself down. One of his strengths was his ability to reason with himself.
He was now a Secondary First Rank general, while the Eldest Princess was a First Rank.
’In terms of rank, I’m still a step below her. I really am not worthy of her. Her attitude is understandable, I suppose.’
’Once I become a Super First Rank General Governor, we’ll see how I reassert my authority as a husband.’
’Besides, I’ve been carrying this glittering block of ice in my heart for so many years, what’s a little longer?’
’I’m a warm-blooded man, I’m not afraid of the cold. I’ll just keep trying to warm her up!’
*
「A few days later.」
「Ji Mansion, Wutong Garden.」
Mrs. Qiao had previously ordered many medicinal herbs to be brought over. Some of the faster-growing plants had already gone to seed, and Lan Zhi was helping Ji Qingwu dry them in the sun.
Chunhua entered the courtyard with light steps. "Fifth Missy, your mother requests your presence in the front courtyard."
Ji Qingwu set down her shallow basket. As Lan Zhi brought over a basin of fresh water, she washed her hands and asked.
"Mother knows I’m drying herbs. Is it something urgent?"
Chunhua replied, "Your older brother has returned from the morning court session. It seems he has some news."
’News from the court? What could that have to do with me?’
Puzzled, Ji Qingwu dried her hands and went to Anju Garden. Ji Changlin was sitting in the room, speaking with Mrs. Qiao.
"Brother."
Ji Qingwu hadn’t seen her eldest brother in a while. He had recently been on a diplomatic mission to Nanchu, returned late last night, and went to the morning court to report.
Ji Changlin tossed something over. She quickly reached out her hands to catch it. It was heavy in her grasp.
Mrs. Qiao asked, "What is that?"
Ji Changlin’s lips curved up. "A little something new I brought back for my little sister to cheer her up."
Even though he wasn’t home, he had heard about what happened with Li Chengxun. Just a moment ago, he had been blaming their maternal grandmother and Mrs. Qiao for their poor judgment of character.
Mrs. Qiao said, "You went to Nanchu on state business, yet you still had time to search for trinkets for Xiao Wu."
Ji Qingwu opened the floral cloth pouch. Inside were glazed balls of various hues, translucent and brilliant, sparkling beautifully in the light.
"Thank you, Brother."
Seeing her turning them over in her hands, unable to put them down, the smile on Ji Changlin’s lips deepened.
Mrs. Qiao then said, "Changlin, tell Xiao Wu the news from court."
Ji Changlin’s smile vanished. He said gravely, "The palace examination was held during the morning court session today. Li Chengxun was personally named the top scholar."
Ji Qingwu was not surprised.
Her maternal grandfather and youngest maternal uncle had both said Li Chengxun was incredibly learned and had the makings of a top scholar. Clearly, they hadn’t misjudged him.
Watching his sister’s expression, Ji Changlin frowned and continued, "His Majesty also issued a decree, arranging a marriage between Princess Qingyun and the new top scholar."
To be granted a marriage by the Emperor was a tremendous honor.
A man from a humble background, by marrying a princess, would become a member of the Imperial Family.
The glazed ball in Ji Qingwu’s hand fell to the floor, rolling away with a soft clatter until it reached the doorway.
Ji Changlin said, "Tomorrow, after the top three scholars of the first rank thank the Emperor in court, they will parade through the streets. Afterward, the palace will hold the Lu Ming Banquet to feast the officials, and the female relatives of each family must also attend."
Mrs. Qiao said worriedly.
"Xiao Wu, why don’t you claim to be ill tomorrow and skip it?"
