Chapter 254: then translation of chapter title

Jinzhi and Madame Zhao got into the carriage, and Zhao Lang personally drove it back to the General's residence.

Perhaps she was frightened and then fell into the water.

Both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law caught a chill, and for a while the entire Zhao household was in an uproar.

Gu Jiu Ling personally came to the Zhao household, took the pulse of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and prescribed medicine; after the Zhao family tossed and turned for seven or eight days, they finally eased.

During this period, Jinzhi confided to Gu Jiu Ling, using a little notebook, about the grudges between herself and Su Wanrou.

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes reddened with anger; she never imagined human wickedness could be magnified to such an extent, could become this bad.

She had someone deliver Jinzhi's written words to the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court as another piece of ironclad evidence for judging Su Wanrou.

Zhao Lang happened to see what Jinzhi had written, and he spent silver to beg a clerk of the Supreme Court to copy another set of Jinzhi's testimony.

At that time these documents were placed in his study, and he spent nearly an afternoon reading them word by word.

The contents Jinzhi wrote made Zhao Lang feel as if his chest were blocked, as if it were on fire, with a slight pain.

After this incident, Madame Zhao's spirits were not good either; Old Master Zhao took her out of the residence to a manor in the suburbs to recuperate.

After about half a month, the entire General's residence was now placed under the management of Zhao Lang and Jinzhi, this young couple.

Jinzhi never expected that upon just marrying in she would become the Zhao family's head matriarch; her mother-in-law simply waved her hand and left the General's residence, and all the servants up and down, including the matrons in charge of each courtyard, now had to report to Jinzhi.

Ordinary mothers-in-law are unwilling to relinquish household authority, but in the Zhao family it turned out the opposite.

Jinzhi originally wanted to learn household management from her mother-in-law, but instead the mother-in-law directly handed over full authority of the stewardship, piling the keys and tallies of the Zhao residence's storehouses onto Jinzhi's desk, whereupon Jinzhi became busy.

Fortunately, while she was at the Prince Rui's residence, because she knew a few characters, she also helped Princess Consort Rui manage part of the accounts.

The scale of Prince Rui's residence was much larger than the General's residence, and the people involved were varied and numerous.

Especially at year's end, the people from the various manors came to pay respects to the prince and princess consort, bringing along that year's income and accounts from the manors.

Jinzhi smoothly sorted these out clearly; at this time the Zhao household's establishment was simple, and there were only one or two manors in the suburbs.

Tonight Jinzhi still has some finishing work to do, mainly because this time Zhao Lang came to Jing Cheng to establish his residence, and various noble houses and the Crown Prince bestowed many gifts.

These items must be entered into the accounts and stored in the storehouse; he is an earnest person who, no matter what he does, does not want to cut corners.

However, Zhao Lang was resting and sleeping in the study, while Jinzhi was resting in the heated chamber; although his mother was very dissatisfied with his behavior, she also couldn't very well force her son into the bridal chamber—what would that be?

Thus the couple slept one in the bridal chamber and one in the study, and they were perfectly fine.

Jinzhi lowered her head, writing something.

A maid brought in food and drink; Jinzhi ate a few bites, then had it cleared away.

She intended to stay up tonight to finish writing these, and after organizing the accounts she would have someone send them to the manor for her parents-in-law to see; after all, she couldn't keep everything under her sole control—this was the Zhao family's property.

At that moment silver-frost charcoal burned in the room, giving off wispy heat.

The winter begonias in the corner of the room were in full bloom, setting off her half-intact face, making her look ever more lovely and exquisite.

Jinzhi's small regular script with flowerpin motifs was written exceptionally well.

Footsteps came from outside the heated chamber, and outside there was a succession of bowing salutations, which were then abruptly halted.

Jinzhi was so focused on the accounts before her that she didn't notice who had entered, assuming it was the maid attending him.

He had already been writing for half an hour this time, his throat a little dry and hoarse; after recovering from this chill infection, his voice had remained not very clear.

She instinctively picked up the teacup on the table and gestured toward the maid's direction without lifting her head, still staring at the accounts; immediately a distinctively jointed hand reached over and took the teacup from Jinzhi's hand.

"Would you like it warm or hot?" a man's steady voice said.

Jinzhi jumped up with a swish; in her flustered state, the account book in her hands was brought to the floor.

She looked incredulously at Zhao Lang standing before her, and was truly startled.

Zhao Lang raised his eyebrows slightly; today he wore a dark robe embroidered with silver patterns, looking like a leisurely rich young master, with no trace of a general's stern fierceness.

Zhao Lang never expected that upon entering he would frighten his wife into this state, and he felt a moment of embarrassment.

He lifted his hand and gently rubbed his cheek, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smile: "Am I really that frightening? Or is it that you've done something behind my back?"

After Zhao Lang said that, he himself wanted to slap himself; he was merely joking with that maid, but he didn't expect that after saying it Jinzhi would look at him nervously and at a loss.

Jinzhi never expected Zhao Lang to come see her this late at night.

Previously they kept to themselves, like well water not interfering with river water; but ever since they left the Grand Princess's residence, Zhao Lang has been pulling her to talk more and more often.

Now that he suddenly came, Jinzhi still thought she must have done something wrong.

These days Jinzhi has been diligent and responsible toward the Zhao household, clearing away all its tedious affairs, so she can still train well at the Southern Battalion; how did it become that he's done something wrong?

Jinzhi's eyes corner showed a hint of tears.

Zhao Lang panicked at once, stepped forward, raised his hand and wiped the tear from her eye corner.

Jinzhi became even more flustered, not knowing what to do, she grabbed Zhao Lang's arm; his brows knit together and his face gradually turned solemn.

He stared intently at Jinzhi and said, "It's my fault for frightening you; you know I'm someone who speaks without restraint."

Jinzhi's eyes widened at once; this was the first time Zhao Lang had lowered his head before her, and she was momentarily at a loss.

In the army Zhao Lang is a rough fellow who has never dealt with women; this time his heart held a ball of fire, burning hot, yet he didn't know where to begin, and even their feelings were somewhat awkward.

He turned around and plopped down onto Jinzhi's bed.

Jinzhi's mind went blank, unable to tell what he meant; she hurried to the door to let a maid come in to attend him, but Zhao Lang shouted to stop her.

"What are you doing? Come back!"

Jinzhi hastily pulled out her little notebook, scribbled a few strokes, and handed it to Zhao Lang.

On it was written: "General, please wait here; I will have the maid come in to attend you."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Lang looked at Jinzhi's little notebook, his face instantly darkened, he snatched it away, tore off that page, rolled it into a ball and tossed it aside.

Then he grabbed Jinzhi's arm, pulled and tugged, pressing her whole body beneath him.

She practically panicked at once, wanting to struggle, but Zhao Lang held her down firmly.

The man's handsome brows and eyes were near at hand, his gaze carrying a hint of fervor; even his exhaled breath grew a little heavy.

Zhao Lang drew a breath, stared steadily at Jinzhi, and said, "Don't move; tonight we will consummate the marriage."