Chapter 239

Inside the Qian Ting of the General's Manor west of the city, the atmosphere was simply oppressed to the extreme.

Master Zhao and Madam Zhao sat in the seats of honor; Master Zhao's face was tense and ashen, while Madam Zhao gazed anxiously at her own ill‑fated son, moving her lips as she didn't know what to say.

Zhao Lang sat there with a grim face, clutching tightly in his hand the imperial edict just delivered by the Directorate of Rites; because he gripped it so hard, his knuckles turned slightly white.

A few of the Zhao family's personal guards stood to the side, their faces also grim.

Zhao Lang's close aide, also his distant paternal cousin Zhao Ming, huffed angrily: "What does this mean?"

"Are the women of Prince Rui's Manor really so worthless? Are they trying to bring disaster upon our Zhao family by throwing themselves at us?"

"Before they sent a woman with a snake‑scorpion heart, and now they send a mute who can't speak and has a disfigured face—this is clearly them looking down on our Zhao family as easy prey!"

Master Zhao coughed angrily, then sighed: "Enough, enough. Our family's resources are meager; we cannot contend with Prince Rui's Manor, and besides this is an imperial edict of marriage. Lang, you must not provoke the dignity of the imperial clan. This matter likely means the imperial house is putting some pressure on our Zhao family."

Madam Zhao also coughed, collected herself, and said: "I don't know the character of that Miss Jinzhi from Prince Rui's Manor; if she is of good character, we will treat her well, after all she has no say in her own marriage."

"Whether it's Prince Rui who is harming us or suppressing us, as a mother I think we should first see what kind of lady she is."

"Madam, we brothers saw that woman on the street before!" Zhao Ming sneered coldly, "She's incredibly fierce! She's ugly to boot, frightening enough without saying, and she's a mute."

"Being a mute would be tolerable enough, but she dared to smash a sweet cake on my cousin's head! That fierce look—she's absolutely a shrew!"

"Ah?" Madam Zhao's face changed instantly, though her eyes held a hint of gossip: "Is there really anyone in this world who dares to hit my son?"

"Madam, that woman is truly vicious; my cousin was dazed by the blow…"

"Shut up! If you don't speak, no one will take you for a mute!" Zhao Lang slammed the imperial edict hard on the table; Zhao Ming beside him hastily closed his mouth, cautiously looking at the general's handsome yet ashen face, daring not to say another word.

Zhao Lang rose to his feet, gritted his teeth and coldly laughed: "Marry her? Why wouldn't I?"

"Marrying her will let me have fun with her! Just watch, young master, I'll play you to death!"

Zhao Lang strode out toward the Zheng Ting; Master Zhao sighed, "What on earth has come of this?"

Beside her, Madam Zhao, upon hearing that her son had been struck on the head by that fierce woman, also felt her heart in turmoil, and she waved a hand at the maid nearby.

Granny Cheng hurried over cautiously: "Madam?"

Madam Zhao placed a few banknotes in Granny Cheng's hand and whispered: "See if you can make contact with the maidservants and aunties of Prince Rui's Manor, inquire about Miss Jinzhi's temperament; if she is too overbearing, we too must be on our guard."

"If we bring home a domineering, shrewish termagant with a nasty disposition, how will our Lang ever manage to live?"

"Our family's status is low, the whole household gets bullied… Do you think she won't even beat me, her mother‑in‑law?"

"Granny Cheng, I'm feeling so anxious I can't bear it; perhaps I should return to the countryside for a few days, just in case I offend her…"

Granny Cheng laughed through tears: "Madam, where would you hide?"

"When the young lady enters the door, you'd go out? That makes no sense; besides, she's from Prince Rui's Manor—don't we still have to reason with her?"

Madam Zhao, feeling guilty, said: "Then why not pick a few sturdier maidservants to stay by my side? If this daughter‑in‑law bullies me, they can help shield me."

Granny Cheng was momentarily speechless; among the aristocratic families of Shang Jing, every mother‑in‑law wants to set rules for the new bride—how could our lady be so timid?

The young lady hasn't even crossed the threshold, yet she's so timid she wants to run away?

"Oh dear! Just put your mind at ease completely!"

"I've heard this young lady is also a pitiful girl; an impostor stole her identity, and she was innocently tormented for six years!"

"Maybe she's just a soft persimmon; don't be afraid! Besides, we still have our family's general—there's no way we'd let her really strike you, the mother‑in‑law, on the head; what would that be?"

"All right, all right!" Madam Zhao's round face looked kind, yet still retained a hint of the playful charm of her youth.

In her youth she was a lively person, spoiled by Master Zhao all her life, and she bore a son who brought her pride.

It was this very occasion of her son's wedding that stirred up a whole mess of troubles; because of her son's injury, she didn't know how long she had cried.

Upon hearing once more that they were to marry into Prince Rui's Manor, she felt a bit uneasy.

After hearing Granny Cheng's words, she still couldn't set her mind at ease: "Once that woman enters, you all should keep out of her way—don't let her strike you as well! We'll all stay clear; and if she turns out to be truly arrogant and domineering, I'll take the old man back to the countryside."

"All right, all right, back to the countryside, back to the countryside!" Granny Cheng gave a wry smile.

At the same time, a low speaking voice came from the warm pavilion of the Tanhchun Garden in Prince Rui's Manor—Gu Jiu Ling's low voice.

She half‑reclined on Jinzhi's bed; Jinzhi personally peeled the kumquats, placing each piece of flesh on a porcelain dish and bringing it to Gu Jiu Ling.

She even carefully helped her remove the fine threads from the fruit flesh; in looking after Gu Jiu Ling, she devoted herself with almost twelve‑fold sincerity.

At this moment Jinzhi also received the news of the imperial marriage decree; although her heart was filled with anxiety, her face showed no trace of reluctance.

She knew this was the emperor's command; her elder brother and sister‑in‑law had already done so much for her, and even if she were unwilling to marry Zhao Lang, she could not show the slightest hesitation, lest she cause all those people to defy the edict and suffer misfortune.

She had always regarded herself as an ominous person, unwilling to drag anyone down, and now she chose to comply.

As long as she could avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion of Prince Rui's Manor, and as long as she could still do something for the manor, she would be willing even to die.

She had long since entrusted her worthless life to Prince Rui's Manor; for the sake of her present benefactor, death would be no loss.

Gu Jiu Ling ate a kumquat, calmed herself, and said in a low voice: "Don't be afraid; I have placed people beside you to help you."

"Remember, once you marry over you will be the Zhao family's young lady; if any eyesore dares to bully you, strike back hard for me!"

"Set firm rules for those who look down on others and act high‑handedly!"

"As for the Zhao family elders, avoid them if you can; avoid Zhao Lang too if you can—he dislikes our Prince Rui's Manor, so he likely won't lay a hand on you! If that's the case, we'll first put on an act over there, muddle through a few months, and your sister‑in‑law will think of a way to get you out."

Jinzhi nodded gently.

Gu Jiu Ling sighed, looking at the obedient, demure maiden before her, and painfully grasped her slender hand: "Jinzhi, I swear I will never let you suffer any harm again."

"Such a fine young lady as you—if Heaven still had eyes, it could not keep bringing disaster upon you!"

"Jinzhi, you will have blessings! I believe you will surely have blessings! Heaven ought not to treat you this way! Truly! It ought not to treat you this way!"

Jinzhi's eyes reddened; she gave a gentle smile, slowly rose, and leaned into Gu Jiu Ling's embrace, holding her tightly.

At this moment she was helpless; a single imperial decree could once again stir up wind and waves in her days, but now she was no longer afraid.

She had a home, she had kin, she had so many beloved people, she had those she wished to protect.

She would never be afraid again, even if the road ahead were a raging storm!