The Young Lady of the General’s House

The next day Shen Jin couldn’t get up, her washing was helped by Chu Xiuming, even meal was taken on the bed. Zhao-momo had tidied up the bed.

“Furen really doesn’t need the General here?” Zhao-momo gave Shen Jin the red date millet porridge she made. She didn’t expect that on the first morning after the wedding the General was kicked out by the bride. When she remembered the General’s helpless face, Zhao-momo couldn’t help feeling it funny.

T/N – Furen 夫人 = Madam

Shen Jin’s face turned scarlet and her eyes became watery. Her plump red lips were a bit swollen, and her eyes still had traces of tears. Last night was shameful and awkward, Chu Xiuming took advantage of her drunkeness to say so many embarassing things to her.

Zhao-momo saw her looking like that, she laughed without words. Helping Shen Jin with the breakfast, she said, “The General specially ordered the kitchen to make marinated ham and Furen’s favourite fried quail.”

Shen Jin’s eyes lit up, without thinking she tried to sit up but immediately fell back down on the soft cushion as her waist was still sore. Not just waist, the unmentionable part was also sore, and her legs were weak.

Zhao-momo eyes was full of smile, she had already been calculating when she would be able to hold the little Young Master. However there was no need to hurry, better wait for Shen Jin to be a bit older so it would be more stable.

Shen Jin had finished eating when Chu Xiuming entered the room, she was laughing non-stop on something Zhao-momo said. With the large cushions on her back, she looked terribly small. Seeing Chu Xiuming, her face and neck all reddened, looking so cute and pitiful.

Zhao-momo smiled, she sensibly withdrew. Chu Xiuming sat on the edge of the bed, he took Shen Jin’s hands, “Don’t want to see me?”

Shen Jin turned her head towards the inner part of the bed, she noticed the bed frame was exquisitely made of yellow rosewood.

Chu Xiuming laughed, “My good girl, it’s natural between husband and wife, no need to be shy.”

“No talking.” Shen Jin reached out to cover Chu Xiuming’s mouth. She remembered the little book Mother showed her before she married, it had already been very embarrassing, but …. not even this many sets, simply too shameful, you know.

Chu Xiuming kissed her palm, “Let me give you a massage.”

Shen Jin nodded and lied down on the bed. She was wearing a pink sleepwear with mimosa patterns, Chen-cefei made it looser because it was for sleeping. With all the things that happened when she just arrived, she had had no chance to wear it until now after Zhao-momo dug it out, it fit her quite well.

Chen-cefei thought of everything she could as her loving mother heart bled for not being able to accompany Shen Jin to border town. She didn’t forget to send gifts for Chu Xiuming as well, not for him as the Count Yongning, but to please him so her daughter would be treated well.

Chen-cefei never expected her naïve and silly daughter would be so blessed, she had unexpectedly caught Chu Xiuming’s eyes and was spoiled by him so much that her guts grew bolder and bolder. Even Rui-wangfei would never dared to kick Rui-wang out of the room.

Shen Jin felt very comfortable getting massaged by Chu Xiuming, she grunted a little and complained, “Don’t think I was too drunk, I remember you hit me yesterday.”

“Oh?” Chu Xiuming’s fine fingers were slowly massaging Shen Jin’s waist, “Hit you?”

Shen Jin was about to speak when he continued.

“So what, then? If you don’t listen to me I will hit you again.”

” ….. ” Shen Jin was speechless, she turned with a face full of accusation. Chu Xiuming had changed into a different person again, this one was a rascal.

Chu Xiuming raised his eyebrow, his face stern, “Hear that?”

Shen Jin’s lips moved, she said with grievance, “Aren’t you being unreasonable…. “

She was complaining but her soft voice sounded like a pout.

Chu Xiuming laughed and rubbed her hair, she hadn’t get out of bed so her hair was only loosely tied at the back.

Seeing him smiling, her confidence returned, “Don’t be like that.”

“Alright.” Chu Xiuming didn’t tease her anymore, “Feeling better?

Shen Jin carefully turned her body, feeling much more comfortable, she nodded, “I’ll call Zhao-momo to help me freshen up.”

Chu Xiuming responded. Shen Jin didn’t know he was using inner energy when massaging her. Inner energy could save life but now it was used for a sore waist, anyone knew would call it a waste.

Zhao-momo soon entered with An Ping behind her. When sitting in front of the dressing table, Shen Jin just discovered it was a mercury mirror almost as tall as herself. It reflected a crystal-clear image of her appearance.

This kind of mirror Shen Jin had only ever seen once among Shen Qi’s dowry, and that one was not this large!

Shen Jin wondered at her own reflection, Chu Xiuming had been sitting on a side watching his little wife dressing up.

Shen Jin’s skin was very good that no face powder needed, her cheeks were slightly pink, her lips were naturally red. Her big almond eyes looked innocent but as she had just been introduced to passion, they revealed some measures of coquettish charms, it was indescribably attractive.

Zhao-momo and An Ping had been with Shen Jin for some time, they knew very well how to dress her up. A simple but unique butterfly dangling hairpin on her hair, and a smooth pink pearl pendant between her brows.

Chu Xiuming wasn’t impatient at all, his eyes were full of smile.

Sometimes he thought if only his father and his eldest brother were still alive, he would have chosen a different kind of life, unlike now where he was nothing like himself. There were times Chu Xiuming himself had forgotten how he used to be. He still remembered eldest brother said he was lazy and unpredictable.

“Done.” Shen Jin chose a bracelet and put it on her wrist, she got up and walked towards Chu Xiuming, “Where are you taking me to?”

Chu Xiuming’s eyes flickered before returning to normal, he stood up and took her hand, “Taking you to the family storehouse.”

“Oh oh.” Shen Jin responded, she furtively peeked at Chu Xiuming. The split-second gloominess just now had gone as if she was mistaken. Since Chu Xiuming didn’t say it, Shen Jin would pretend she didn’t see.

Chu Xiuming spoke, “Chu family had been guarding the border for many years, there are a lot of things in there.”

Shen Jin nodded, the pearl pendant between her brows swayed with her movement, “The mercury mirror was from there too?”

“My mother’s dowry.” Chu Xiuming explained.

Shen Jin froze just as she was about to nod, pulling Chu Xiuming’s hand she said, “Then better put it back.”

Chu Xiuming wanted to rub her head but Shen Jin’s hair was already pulled up in a bun. He warmly said, “Mother said it’s for her daughter-in-law.”

Shen Jin just ‘oh’ as she was a bit speechless. She looked around and noticed this courtyard was completely similar to what she drew, and even better.

Chu Xiuming slowed his pace as well, “Do you like it?”

“Like.” Shen Jin was so happy that she couldn’t speak. No wonder the craftsmen was very busy here, so Chu Xiuming had planned it long ago.

Chu Xiuming didn’t speak, he led Shen Jin towards the storehouse, “Remember the location, in the future when you need anything, just take it from here. Later I will ask Zhao-momo to give you the storage records.”

“Alright.” Shen Jin responded.

After opening the big door, Chu Xiuming placed a set of keys on Shen Jin’s hand, his big hands covered hers, he said, “It’s all yours.”

Shen Jin’s lips moved, her heart was full of warmth, the dimples on her face appeared.

“How about your stash of secret money?” She asked with entitled attitude as if it had been nothing.

“Heh.” Chu Xiuming was amused. Shen Jin probably didn’t realise the hint of unease in her eyes. She was like a probing kitten, trying to bluster but also afraid of rejection,

“I’ll give it to you when we are back. And the mansion’s account books as well.”

“Don’t want to manage.” Shen Jin had gotten the response she wanted to hear, her whole person brightened up. She followed Chu Xiuming entered the storage.

“Then don’t.” Chu Xiuming said unconcernedly, “Leave it with Steward Wang and others.”

Shen Jin was happy to hear it. Seeing Zhao-momo and the others didn’t go inside with them, she reached out and draped herself on Chu Xiuming’s back, letting her body dragged behind him. Chu Xiuming put his arms on the back to hold Shen Jin’s waist so she wouldn’t be too tired.

“But it’s important to know.”

“Okay.” Shen Jin obediently responded.

Only when they reached the inner door that Shen Jin slid down from Chu Xiuming’s back. Chu Xiuming showed her the keys, after the door was opened, he said, “Here is my paternal great-grandmother’s dowry.”

Inside were all large size furnishing items, even a pair of half-person tall enamel carved vase. After looking around Chu Xiuming took her to another storage rooms, then last was his mother’s storage room.

Putting down the carved incensed burner in her hand, Shen Jin found everything she saw were either large-size items, or things with palace seal just like this burner. If the dowries of Chu family womenfolk were all kept here, then there should be some smaller items and jewelleries as well.

Chu Xiuming spoke, “There are also some fabrics, this time cleaning up we can put them in the storage room in the mansion.”

“Oh.” Shen Jin didn’t doubt Chu Xiuming. If he said that’s all of the dowries, then that’s all of the dowries. Or maybe he meant that’s all of what was left of the dowries, but then where had the other items gone to?

Somehow Shen Jin remembered the 500,000 liangs from Rui-wangfei. An absurd speculation appeared in her mind. Could it be that Chu Xiuming was short of fund and the other items were already sold for money? What’s left here were items that weren’t easy or couldn’t be sold.

But what did Chu Xiuming need so much money for?

Chu Xiuming watched Shen Jin stole glances at him, her face was full of doubt, he suddenly remembered a saying his father told him. ‘Never ever underestimate women. They believe your lies when they are willing to be lied to. When they aren’t willing, that’s when you know how smart they really are’.

“It’s not time to let you know yet, stop probing.” Chu Xiuming grabbed Shen Jin’s hand again.

The doubt on her face disappeared, she casted an innocent look at Chu Xiuming.

Chu Xiuming gently pinched her nose, “Stupid girl.”

“I tell you, I am smart.” Shen Jin wrinkled her nose and retorted, “Don’t call me stupid.”

Chu Xiuming led her outside, “No five-spices chicken for you at lunch.”

Shen Jin pursed her lips, her face was full of accusation towards Chu Xiuming. But he kept on walking forward without a glance to herself, she took a few deep breaths, her chest puffed in and out.

When they were about to exit the storage house she aggrievedly said, “Compared to Fujun, I am just a little bit stupid.” The part ‘a little bit’ was distinctly emphasised.

Chu Xiuming could no longer hold his loud laughter. Shen Jin angrily stomped her feet but could do nothing about it.

.

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T/N – Chu Xiuming mentioned 人伦, to Shen Jin, it’s the rules of human relations between superiors and subordinates, parents and children, husbands and wives, siblings, friends, and so on. I didn’t put it in, just FYI.