Chapter 243: Protected

Zhao Lang saw Jinzhi approach, coldly saying, "You... what are you trying to do?"

Jinzhi blinked, finding Zhao Lang even more nervous than she was, yet she thought this person interesting.

She pulled out a small notebook from her sleeve and sat beside Zhao Lang.

Zhao Lang frowned, wondering what trick she was up to.

Jinzhi took out a pen and wrote a sentence in the small notebook.

"General Zhao, earlier I was rash; throwing things at you was my fault."

Zhao Lang looked at the neat, clean handwriting on the notebook and froze.

Although the woman before him could not speak, from these lines he sensed a hint of gentleness.

His heart quietly changed; he was not an unreasonable man, truly having been badly tricked by the Rui Wang Fu this time.

He lost face and dignity, and his life had almost been taken.

Consequently he felt no fondness for this woman, never expecting her to be so patient, explaining things point by point.

"My marriage to General Zhao is certainly not what my older brother and sister-in-law intended to restrain him."

"General Zhao, you may not know this from the frontier, but the emperor is not truly kind to my older brother and sister-in-law; there may be suspicion of sowing discord between our families."

"General Zhao is quick-witted and thoughtful; think it over and it's not hard to guess."

"General Zhao is a great hero who fights for the country; I, a lowly woman, am certainly not worthy of a general—just hear what my older brother and sister-in-law say."

"I will certainly not cause trouble for the general; in a month I will feign illness, go to the mountain hermitage to pray to the Buddha, wait a while, and then request to leave the manor!"

Seeing this, Zhao Lang suddenly furrowed his brows, snatched the pen from Jinzhi's hand, crossed out the last two sentences, and coldly stared at her: "I, Zhao, would never stoop to such a despicable act!"

"You are the young lady of my Zhao family; just settle into being the young lady. Don't ruin your reputation to please others—don't do that again, old man!"

Zhao Lang didn't know why he was still angry, nor whether it was because Jinzhi's words made him feel embarrassed; before, he had been overthinking.

Or perhaps it was Jinzhi's last sentence, requesting to leave the manor, that hurt the young General Zhao's fragile heart, making him now look somewhat embarrassed and angry.

Jinzhi saw he was angry, not knowing how much of her words he had heard, but she dared not write anything else, quickly rising to make a bow to him.

Zhao Lang pointed to the bed: "You sleep first; I... will look at the military manual for a while!"

Jinzhi quickly nodded, returned to the bedside, and lay down still clothed.

Then she thought of something, carefully moved to the inner side of the bed, leaving a large space for Zhao Lang.

Zhao Lang's heart was in turmoil; sleeping now would feel like losing face.

Yet looking at that slender figure, small and thin, curled up inside, he found it indescribably pitiable.

Perhaps she was exhausted from the day, for Jinzhi actually fell asleep in this situation.

Zhao Lang, however, felt his mind unsettled, slowly rose and stood at the bedside.

The wedding candles flickered, a soft warm glow enveloping Jinzhi.

She seemed to be having a nightmare, her throat emitting a terrified wail, suppressed yet making listeners feel even more terrified.

Zhao Lang hastily bent, raised his hand to her forehead; perhaps being such a killing god, even the evil spirits of hell would fear his murderous aura.

Jinzhi whimpered like a kitten a few times; because her voice was ruined, it sounded more like desperate sobs, then gradually calmed.

Zhao Lang's brows furrowed into the shape of the character for river; he lifted his hand, pulled the blanket Jinzhi had kicked aside, and gently covered her with it.

He then sighed, lay down outside still clothed, like a deity guarding her side.

Yet he couldn't sleep, recalling what Jinzhi had just written, the incident in Wuzhou, and the rumors in Shang Jing.

Could it be that the Third Prince's raft-making last time truly intended to kill Xiao Yin? He merely happened to be an innocent passerby, unluckily drawn in.

Could it be that behind all this the emperor is scheming?

Zhao Lang's eyes gradually narrowed.

Although his origins were humble, in Shang Jing not just anyone could make him unhappy.

The woman beside him actually let out a faint snore; Zhao Lang turned his face, gave a soft chuckle, how she slept like a pig, yet unconsciously lifted his hand to tuck the corner of Jinzhi's blanket.

Early the next morning, Jinzhi woke with a start.

Fortunately the outside light had not yet fully brightened, or she would have thought she overslept, delaying the tea offering to her parents-in-law.

Zhao Lang had already risen; the maidservants outside brought in a washbasin to help them wash and change.

Jinzhi looked at the tall man standing by the window, his build sturdy, features handsome, heroic aura evident.

Even his movements while changing carried a hint of steadiness, only his eyelids were slightly bluish, showing he hadn't slept well all night.

Jinzhi dared not stare longer; this person's temperament was not good.

Having dressed, Granny Cheng came in with others, smiling and offering congratulations; Jinzhi quickly ordered rewards for the servants.

Granny Cheng eagerly went to collect the wedding handkerchief from the bed, her face instantly freezing.

The white cloth spread on the bed—what it had been before, what it was now.

At this moment all three expressions stiffened; Jinzhi and Zhao Lang recalled that after the wedding night they were to examine this.

The two had forgotten this the previous night; Jinzhi panicked, not knowing what to do, fearing that if word got out her reputation would suffer.

Unexpectedly Zhao Lang strode to the handkerchief, pulled out the iron tongs holding the red candle, and viciously stabbed them into his own arm.

"Young General!" Granny Cheng exclaimed.

Zhao Lang didn't care at all; blood dripped onto the handkerchief, he then rolled up his sleeve and gave Granny Cheng a indifferent glance.

"Take it out! Besides... anyone who wants to wag their tongue, this general doesn't mind sending those gossiping women on a one-way trip."

Granny Cheng hurriedly lowered her head, picked up the handkerchief and left, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

And this hasn't even been dealt with, yet it's already "protected upon"?

Jinzhi quickly went to Zhao Lang, carefully rolled up his sleeve, and bound his arm wound with plain gauze.

Zhao Lang felt awkward; such a tiny wound, is it really necessary?

Yet he let her clumsily bandage his wound.

Afterwards, the young couple came to the front courtyard, where Old Master Zhao and Madam Zhao were already seated in the places of honor.

Zhao Lang brought Jinzhi to kneel and offer tea, and Madam Zhao, smiling, handed her a red envelope and a pair of jade bracelets that were obviously valuable at a glance.

Jinzhi's heart stirred; even just the stack of silver notes inside the red envelope was thick, the amount not small, and she felt a little ashamed accepting it.

The young couple kept Old Master Zhao and Madam Zhao company during the meal, and Madam Zhao, smiling at Jinzhi, said, "You should be nurturing your body now; this morning was special, so from now on you don't need to come early to pay your respects—sleep a little longer if you can, and there's no need to come."

Jinzhi hurriedly shook her head, "How could I possibly neglect the ritual of morning and evening respects? What would that make me?"

Madam Zhao laughed, "Just listen to me: come keep me company for lunch every day; if you want to eat at night, come by, otherwise make whatever you like in your little kitchen—don't stand on ceremony."

"Don't come in the morning; rest well, and only with enough sleep will your body be healthy."

Jinzhi was about to gesture again, but Zhao Lang, annoyed, glanced at his mother and coldly laughed, "Mother, just admit you never get up early—you're pampered by Father into sleeping until late morning, so don't pretend in front of your daughter-in-law."

"What's with skipping the morning and evening respects? It's just that you can't get up and don't want the hassle, right?"

"You little brat!" Madam Zhao, exposed, blushed.

Old Master Zhao's face sank: "How dare you speak to your mother like that?"

Jinzhi suddenly understood, couldn't help but purse her lips and laugh; her mother-in-law was really rather adorable.