Chapter 44: An Unmarried Couple

Zhu Yunxiao did not stay long. After drinking a bowl of soup prepared in advance by Madam Jiang and watching Jiang Meng practice her swordplay for a while, he rose to take his leave.

Hearing that he had returned from the western suburban military camp without going home first, Madam Jiang did not press him to stay. Instead, she held Jiang Meng back and sent Jiang Rui to see the guest out.

Although they were engaged, they were not yet married; the only time they could be alone together was during this walk to see him off.

Jiang Rui did not decline. Having known each other since youth, she carried herself with grace and poise, showing no awkwardness.

The two walked side by side, with a maid following at a distance behind them.

"The Guoxue Academy isn't as strict with rules. The Chancellor is a very easygoing person, so don't be nervous about your studies," Zhu Yunxiao instructed softly.

Jiang Rui smiled. "I know. I will apply myself to my studies. Everyone knows my temperament—I will be myself, and it will be quite easy."

She paused slightly at this.

Sensing the shift, Zhu Yunxiao asked with concern, "What is it?"

Jiang Rui gave him a smile. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about a certain young lady I encountered during the selection exams. I suspect... it might be difficult to maintain a friendship with her."

Zhu Yunxiao did not pry into matters concerning other women, only saying, "If you can be friends, then be friends. If not, there is no need to care. You do not need to rely on such things."

Jiang Rui's eyes dimmed slightly. For all these years, the respect she received had been based on the prestige of her father's sacrifice in battle.

Zhu Yunxiao did not notice her melancholy. As he stepped over the threshold, his body stiffened again, and a hiss of pain escaped through his teeth.

Why was his leg becoming increasingly painful?

"What's wrong?" Jiang Rui asked hurriedly, noticing his discomfort.

Zhu Yunxiao gave her a bitter smile. "Sigh, my luck is poor today. I bumped my leg."

The cold and aloof young master of a noble family only showed this vulnerable, almost coquettish side to her. Jiang Rui pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes full of tenderness. "Does it hurt?"

Zhu Yunxiao looked at her and smiled back, his expression filled with joy. "Now that A-Rui has asked, the pain is gone."

The maid behind them lowered her head to stare at her toes, fearing her gaze might disturb the tender moment between the young lady and the Heir.

However, someone who knew no boundaries rushed up from behind, their voice loud and boisterous.

"Oh my! Heir, why are you leaving just as you've arrived?"

Hearing the voice, the maid reached out to block them, but a stout, coarse woman pushed her aside with a wave of her hand and charged toward Zhu Yunxiao.

"Second Madam—" the maid stamped her foot in frustration.

Seeing the woman standing before them, dressed flamboyantly in gold and silver ornaments.

"Aunt," Jiang Rui addressed her flatly.

Zhu Yunxiao withdrew his smile. He didn't even offer a formal greeting, merely giving a slight nod.

Jiang Feng had come from an ordinary background. Combined with the chaos of war, his few siblings had been scattered. After he followed Deng Shan with his martial prowess and earned titles through his death in battle, a son of his uncle had come knocking. Using the pretext of caring for the widow and orphans and continuing the Jiang family lineage, he had moved into the Jiang family estate.

Second Aunt Jiang was unbothered by their coldness. She said enthusiastically, "How can you come to our house and not eat? Come, come, your Second Uncle has already prepared everything."

Zhu Yunxiao took a step back. "I have matters to attend to at home. I must go."

The words seemed directed at Second Aunt Jiang, but his gaze remained fixed on Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui smiled at him and said softly, "Go on."

Zhu Yunxiao turned, strode to his horse, mounted it, and galloped away without giving Second Aunt Jiang another glance.

Second Aunt Jiang's face flushed with rage. She gritted her teeth and sneered at Jiang Rui, "Since Big Brother is gone, Heir Zhu certainly acts quite high and mighty."

Jiang Rui looked at her and said calmly, "He is simply not well-acquainted with you, Aunt."

With that, she turned to walk inside.

Second Aunt Jiang followed. "Not well-acquainted? If we also held titles, you'd see how 'acquainted' he is." She curled her lip while sizing up Jiang Rui. "A-Rui, don't blame me for being blunt, but I think this Heir of the Marquis of Yongwu is not an easy person to deal with."

Jiang Rui looked at her. "Mother has a good temper. My sister and I are juniors; we cannot afford to be difficult with people. Having someone as difficult as him around is actually a good thing for us."

Precisely because she and her sister were not sons, the family estate her father had traded his life for was to be handed over to her uncle's family. They were clearly outsiders, yet they acted as masters, flaunting their authority.

Fortunately, Zhu Yunxiao was not so pedantic. If he had treated these two with the same respect as elders, she truly would have been livid.

The maid stepped forward and forcefully pushed Second Aunt Jiang aside.

"Second Madam of the Clan, our Young Lady has matters to attend to." She emphasized the words "of the Clan" before supporting Jiang Rui. "Miss, you are going to the Guoxue Academy tomorrow. Please see if there is anything you need to bring; after all, you will be classmates with the three Princesses."

As the two walked inside, Second Aunt Jiang spat indignantly behind them.

"What is there to be proud of? A girl who will be married off sooner or later. Studying, being a lady-in-waiting—it's all just something the Emperor granted out of respect for the dead. And that Heir of the Marquis of Yongwu! 'Unchanging devotion'? Jiang Feng is dead, but the Emperor isn't dead yet. Let him try to betray his word and insult a widow and her orphans!"

"If he were truly smart, he would use his pity to beg the Emperor for favors, so that my husband and I could secure official positions to bolster the Jiang family name, so they might have a powerful family to back them in the future."

"Ignorant, foolish things!"

"My poor Big Brother... he died so tragically, without even leaving a son. His fine estate is being squandered."

Listening to the undisguised voices behind her, the maid gritted her teeth in hatred. Jiang Rui clenched her hands tight but did not turn back to argue.

What was the use of arguing?

These two held the status of elders; no matter how much they argued or made a scene, they could not be driven away. It would only increase the sense of disgust.

Her mother would weep every night again, blaming herself for not giving birth to a son. Her health was already poor; if she continued to suffer like this, her life might not last long.

She had already lost her father; she could not lose her mother too.

Fortunately, there was Zhu Yunxiao. With Yunxiao there, she was not without support.

"Sister—"

Jiang Meng's voice drifted over.

Jiang Rui snapped out of her thoughts to see Jiang Meng, who had walked back to the courtyard, holding a short sword and watching her.

Though young, the girl was already observant.

"Did Brother-in-law bully you?" she asked with wide eyes, looking fierce as if she were ready to go fight someone immediately.

Jiang Rui smiled. "No, why would he bully me?" She added with a playful scold, "I told you not to call him Brother-in-law. We aren't married yet."

Jiang Meng breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her previous cheerful self. "Brother-in-law likes it when I call him that." She then looked at Jiang Rui. "Sister, did Second Uncle and Second Aunt say something nasty again? Don't be sad. Just endure them. When I grow up—"

Jiang Rui smiled and stroked her hair. "And what will you do when you grow up?"

Jiang Meng straightened her back. "When I grow up, I'll join the army and lead troops just like Father! Then, whoever bullies you, I'll kill them!"

Jiang Rui pinched her arm. "Stop talking nonsense. You're too young for killing and fighting. Go finish your calligraphy."

Jiang Meng wailed, "Mother, save me—!"

The two sisters walked away, laughing and playing.

...

...

By the time Zhu Yunxiao returned to the Marquis of Yongwu's estate, dusk was approaching.

He did not go to see his parents first, returning instead to his own quarters. While changing his clothes, he looked at his lower leg.

There was a faint bruise on it.

Strange. The injury wasn't heavy.

The incident had happened so suddenly that he hadn't been able to react; he hadn't even seen the beggars' faces clearly, only the blurred, thin figures of youths.

The strength shouldn't have been that great.

Why was his leg becoming increasingly painful?

Furthermore, was this incident truly an accident, or was someone targeting him?

But if someone were targeting him, what was the point of just a single blow with a stick?

In that moment, if that beggar had held a blade instead of a stick...

A sudden chill rose in Zhu Yunxiao's heart.

He was already dead.

"Yunxiao."

A voice from outside interrupted his thoughts. He hurriedly straightened his robes and stood up to see his father entering.

The Marquis of Yongwu was a military man, though now that he was older, his physique had become somewhat stout.

"I just finished washing up and was about to see you, Father," Zhu Yunxiao said.

The Marquis frowned. "Why did you linger so long at the Jiang residence? A quick visit would have sufficed."

Zhu Yunxiao replied, "Since she was selected as a lady-in-waiting to the Princess, I felt it was proper to offer my congratulations."

The Marquis muttered, "She's just a lady-in-waiting, not the Princess herself." He looked at Zhu Yunxiao. "Can this marriage not be called off?"

Zhu Yunxiao smiled. "This marriage truly cannot be called off."

The Marquis frowned. "Even a family like the Marquis of Yichun is not enough?"

Zhu Yunxiao offered a cup of tea to his father.

"Even a family like the Marquis of Yichun is not enough." He shook his head. "The benefits of marrying into such a house cannot outweigh the consequences of breaking an engagement."

*I overslept.*

(End of Chapter)