The Young Lady of the General’s House

Not sure if it was because Momo’s successful teaching, or because Shen Zi had grown up, or because after Shen Qi married out she was now the one who got noticed the most, but Shen Zi’s relationship with Shen Jin had become better. But more possible was, since Rui Wangfei had treated Shen Jin even better, so Xu Cefei had told Shen Zi not to bully Shen Jin anymore.

Especially these days as something big happened in the Capital, the sisters had one more topic to talk about.
Shen Zi, holding a fan, saw the teacher hadn’t arrived yet, said in lowered voice, “Have you heard? Count Yongning won the battle, and is returning to the Capital.”

“Oh my god.” Shen Rong exclaimed in shock, covered her mouth, so scared that her face lost colour.

Even Shen Jing who was older also shivered, “So scary, I heard Count Yongning not only likes to eat raw meat, but also drinks enemy blood everyday.”

“Disgusting.” Shen Rong hurriedly said, “Fourth Sister don’t talk anymore, too scary, what is he doing back here.”
Shen Zi got the news from Xu Cefei, “His Majesty summoned him back, going to grant him a marriage, rewarding him for this time’s victory.”

“Marriage?” Shen Jing’s eyes went round, “Which girl doesn’t want to live anymore, wants to marry him, how many fiancees he has damned to death.”

Even Shen Jin now felt hard to swallow, Count Yongning’s reputation was really horrifying, she was going to ask a question but the teacher arrived. The girls hurriedly sat down and stopped talking.

Chen Cefei had countless times thought about Shen Jin’s marriage matter, but never expected it to be this early. Her face pale as she stared at Rui Wang, Rui Wangfei, and Xu Cefei – who was beaming at her misery, “Wangye…. Who did you say Jin-niang to marry?”

Rui Wang was a bit awkward too, even though these recent years he didn’t fancy Xu-shi as much as before, but compared to Chen-shi he still preferred Xu-shi, so he had caved in when faced with Xu-shi’s tears and Second Girl’s pitiful look.

Rui Wangfei was gloomy inside, even if her motive was not pure, but still these few years she had Shen Jin on her side. Since Shen Qi married away, Shen Jin often accompanied her, made her things like handkerchiefs, perfume pouches, hairbands, shoes and so on. Shen Jin also took care of her when she was sick, she grew to have feelings towards Shen Jin. She even had a bedroom in front courtyard prepared for Shen Jin’s afternoon nap. However just when she was unwell with early-winter cold, Xu-shi used this opportunity to persuade Rui Wang into making such decision…..

“Ke ke… ” Rui Wangfei covered her mouth with handkerchief as she started a coughing fit. Rui Wang saw her looking so frail, he did feel guilty and awkward in his heart. Last night he returned late after receiving Emperor’s instruction, so he went straight to Xu-shi’s place. Xu-shi’s three girls and one son were there, looking at the well-behaved girls, he told them about the marriage matter arranged by the Emperor. When Xu-shi realised the matter fully, she started to make a fuss, her three girls and one son also started to cry non stop, in the moment of weakness Rui Wang then conceded.

“Chen-meimei, since Wangye has decided, you should not make things difficult for Wangye.” Xu-shi leisurely said, “Better hurry up prepare Third Girl’s dowry now.”

Chen Cefei angrily looked at Xu Cefei, how could there be such a ruthless person. Just when she was about to open her mouth, Rui Wangfei stopped her, “Chen-shi, bring me a cup of water.”

“Wangfei … “Chen Cefei looked at Rui Wangfei with pleading eyes.

Rui Wangfei said “Go.” She understood Rui Wang, even if he was feeling guilty that moment, but if Chen-shi and Xu-shi started to argue, he would lose patience.

Chen Cefei poured water with bowed head, she served Rui Wangfei to drink it. Rui Wangfei then said, “Wangye, does Second Girl have a prospect yet? Why does it go directly to Third Girl?”

Rui Wang coughed a few times but didn’t answer yet, Xu-shi chipped in, “Wangye does it for Third Sister’s good, General Chu is young but already a hero, Chu family because of the merits is even more…. “

Rui Wangfei interrupted her, “Xu-shi, should we invite a Momo to teach you what a Cefei is?”

Xu-shi’s face changed, but when she remembered this marriage did not fall on her daughter, she became happy again.

Chen-shi really felt like strangling Xu-shi, Chu family was ennobled for battle achievements and Chu Xiuming had inherited Count title from tender age, however he was wife-cursed. He had three fiancees already and all of them died of sickness or unnatural deaths.

The last one died not long after the exchange of tokens, the girl went out to offer incense and had a carriage accident, her corpse was not even whole.

Not only Chu Xiuming’s, many other Chu family daughter-in-laws also died early, it was said to be the karma because Chu family killed too many people.

This time after a big victory Chu Xiuming was returning to the Capital to present war prisoners, the Emperor wanted to use him so he had to be rewarded, but Chu Xiuming was still too young so a promotion in ranks was not very suitable.

However the Emperor had no daughter of suitable age, so this task fell to his birth brother Rui Wang who had many daughters. The Emperor asked Rui Wang to go home and decide which daughter he would let marry, the Emperor would then issue a decree for it.

On both age and ranking, the Second Girl birthed by Xu-shi was the most suitable one, Rui Wang originally also picked her. But he had accidently let it slip and was overwhelmed by Xu-shi’s and daughter’s plus the son’s tears, so he became biased…..

“Xu-shi, if you think Chu family is good, why don’t you let your daughter marry there,” Chen-shi could no longer hold her tears, “Jin-niang is not even fourteen yet.”

Rui Wang frowned, thinking Chen-shi was really unpleasant, these words meant she resented him, did she not?

Rui Wangfei felt Xu-shi’s meddling into mansion daughters’ marriage matter was very disgusting, “Chen-shi, I know you have only one daughter, you love her so much.” Rui Wang had submitted the memorial, it was impossible to change anything, the only thing that could still be done was using Rui Wang’s guilt to obtain bigger dowry for Third Girl. “Alright, both of you go back first, I will talk to Wangye.”

Xu-shi left satisfied, Chen-shi’s face was ashen, at the entrance of the courtyard Xu-shi laughed, “Congratulations Chen-meimei, General Chu is young and talented, and also Third Girl will become a Countess soon.”

Chen-shi looked at Xu-shi with full hatred, “Gods are watching, Xu-shi, don’t be too proud.”

Xu-shi was not angry, she humphed, “Not proud. It’s still not sure if she could get married safely.”

Very lucky that Rui Wang had blurted it out, otherwise her own daughter would have to marry that God of Massacre, Xu-shi was still trembling in fear at that thought.

At her own courtyard, Shen Zi had been waiting at the door, hurriedly asked, “Mother, how is it?”

Looking at her lovely-as-flower daughter, Xu-shi smugly said, “Don’t worry.”

Shen Zi breathed a sigh of relief, hugging Xu-shi’s arms she said, “Scared me to death, Daughter heard that Count Yongning looks horrible, and he is an evil monster who kills without blinking.”

Shen Jing also breathed in relief, “Yes, Daughter also heard his third fiancee’s death was not an accident, she was killed because he was not satisfied with her looks.”

“Yes, yes, “Shen Rong also said, “Heard he kills people everytime he is angry.”

“As long as it is not me then it is fine.” Shen Zi laughed, “I don’t know if Third Sister could make it to the wedding day.”

In contrast to the joyful laughters in Xu Cefei’s courtyard, in Chen Cefei’s courtyard the feeling was like the sky was going to collapse. She held her daughter crying broken-heartedly, she had put up with things for so long for daughter’s sake, but today even this little hope had gone, Xu-shi was really too much.

“Mother.” Shen Jin still didn’t know what had happened, this morning after paying respect to Rui Wangfei she went to the class directly, when she was back Chen Cefei had followed Cui Xi to main courtyard. Mother returned crying like this, Shen Jin was really confused.

“My poor daughter.” Chen Cefei cried her heart out, even the staid Li Mama by her side was crying non stop.

“Mother, what actually happened?” Shen Jin was desperately anxious, repeatedly asking.

“Your cruel father wants you to marry that Cursed Star (1) , all of them want us to die.” Chen Cefei had heard about Chu Xiuming, he was pictured like Zhong Kui (2), so moody and murderous that even enemies were terrified of him.

(1 – Not sure how to fully translate 天煞 孤 星 in stylish English. It means a bearer of ill-luck who brings tragedy to everyone around, so they are destined to always be alone.

(2 – Zhong Kui is the Demon Queller who maintains order among ghosts. When he was alive, he should have been the top-scorer in imperial exam but his achievements was robbed away because he was disfigured and ugly. He killed himself by ramming his head on the palace gates until his head was broken. After death, Yama the Hell King saw his potentials, saw him intelligent and smart, so he was given the task to discipline demons.)”

The worst thing was, Chu Xiuming had been guarding the frontier since young, he wouldn’t had had time for education. Such horrible person … thinking of her daughter, Chen Cefei was utterly miserable.

“Cursed Star?” Shen Jin still didn’t understand what Chen Cefei’s meant, “Mother, me marrying someone? Second Sister is not engaged yet, it can’t be my turn.”

“Those black-hearted people, and your father is too biased, they want us to die, I have only you my precious.” Chen Cefei knew it was impossible, but was still hoping Rui Wangfei could stop Rui Wang.

“Mother… ” Shen Jin asked, “Actually what is going on?”

In the end Li Mama calmed down first, Chen Cefei was crying so much that she couldn’t speak, Li Mama brought some water to feed Chen Cefei, then Li Mama slowly told Shen Jin what happened.

“Count Yongning?” Even a boudoir girl like Shen Jin had heard of his reputation. In the Capital even a toddler would stop crying when Count Yongning name was mentioned. It was said he had been at battlefield since small, had killed countless people, and as he grew up in the frontier his temper was so violent, he killed to relieve anger, he didn’t have servants because noone dared to serve him.

The first girl engaged to him from Li family was said to be so depressed that she died not long after seeing his portrait, rumour said he was very frightening.

At this point Shen Jin’s face didn’t look good either, “Has Father already decided?”

“Wangye said the memorial has been submitted.” Li Mama lowered her head as she couldn’t bear looking at Shen Jin’s expression.

Shen Jin instantly felt her whole body went limp and her sight turned dark. “Why me…. ” Her pink tender lips lost colour.

Chen Cefei saw her daughter looking like that, she instead stopped crying, “Jin-niang don’t be afraid, if they dare to force you, Mother will crack head at mansion’s gate.”

Shen Jin looked at her mother, her tears flowing, “Mother, Daughter is afraid.” In the end although she was a sensible girl, she was not even fourteen years old yet.

Chen Cefei held Shen Jin, mother-daughter despondently cried together.

“Wangye, since you have let Jin Girl marry, while there is no decree yet let’s settle the marriage of Second Girl.” Rui Wangfei softly said, “Otherwise, what would people say about our family?”

Rui Wang just realised this matter, he sighed, “This is my mistake.”

“Xu-shi has Hao Boy, Wangye cares about him.” Rui Wangfei continued. “But poor Chen-shi has only that one girl. Has Wangye ever met Count Yongning?”

“Met once when he was a boy more than ten years ago, he then went with the old Count Yongning to the frontier”. Rui Wang thought of those rumours about Count Yongning, “Some rumours are groundless.”

“Wangye, Jin Girl is wronged in this matter. How about Jin Girl’s dowry?” Rui Wangfei said, “It was 30,000 taels for each of the four girls, but now… Not just about Count Yongning, this is an important matter for the Emperor as well. We only give out a concubine daughter, and the dowry is just 30,000 taels, wouldn’t that be too little?”