Jiangnan Gaiden - Capítulo 34
Shi Wujie looked relieved. He nodded and walked out, then suddenly turned back at the door, as if remembering something. "Would you like to dine at Juxianlou tonight?"
Huan'er smiled and said:
"Of course! Tell those two maids outside to come in and help me wash up. Please have Wuji come pick me up tonight, I might get lost."
Д绣芙蓉 updated July 8, 2003
Having a rival in love is like having thorns in your back; you can't afford not to take precautions.
Having washed away the dust of her journey and now dressed in her finest attire, even Huan'er herself was stunned for a while. Few women could rival her beauty; Xiao Qing paled in comparison. Once inside the room, Shi Wuji didn't want to leave, not wanting his wife's extraordinary beauty to be shared with his subordinates. When he alighted from the carriage at dusk, he noticed that many adoring gazes were fixed solely on Huan'er. As for Wuxia, the others, having seen her so often, hadn't paid her much attention.
Huan'er considerately helped him change his clothes, though she complained a little.
"This room is so hard, not soft at all. It makes me feel out of place, like I have nowhere to stand."
"From now on, you are the mistress of the house. You can change things in the room as you please, and all the servants in Aolong Castle are at your beck and call." Shi Wuji gently kissed her neck. She hooked her arms around his neck, nestled in his embrace, and asked sweetly:
"Have I served you well, sir?"
"Perfect in every way. Skillful hands, beautiful appearance." The last words ended between their locked lips.
Light footsteps stopped at the door, about to retreat into the flower hall; Shi Wuji had already noticed, ending the kiss with some displeasure. How could these servants be so inconsiderate! His expression softened slightly upon seeing Xiaoqing. "What is it? Why didn't you announce your arrival at the door first?" His displeased tone revealed his reproach.
Xiaoqing lowered her head and said softly in fear:
"I'm sorry... I've never done this before... so I thought it was still the same today... I forgot that it was only because of the young mistress that I was so presumptuous. Xiaoqing will remember this in the future. Steward Leng invites the young master and young mistress to dine."
"Let's go down. We'll go right away." Shi Wuji waved his hand.
Xiaoqing quietly slipped out. Huan'er gently stroked her husband's cheek.
"You haven't been this fierce in a long time! Although you weren't harsh or targeting me, I'm still scared! I don't like you when you have a stern face."
"No! I will never be mean to you, not even when I'm angry." He promised, pulling her out of the room. Huan'er's irrepressible sweet smile captivated Shi Wuji, who couldn't resist stealing a kiss. The dimly lit corridor was filled only with Huan'er's laughter and occasional pauses…
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The following days were extremely dramatic. The day after Leng Gang returned to the fortress, he told Leng Ziyang about his affair with Wu Xia, enraging Leng Ziyang, who beat him severely and brought him before the three Shi brothers to confess his sins. The three Shi brothers were naturally furious. They forced Leng Gang to marry Wu Xia immediately, without actually harming him. After all, they had facilitated the marriage, making them accomplices, and they were happy to see it happen. They just hadn't expected Leng Gang to act so quickly; this behavior was completely out of character for him. Therefore, Shi Wuji didn't rule out Huan'er as the biggest accomplice. Because the three brothers didn't punish Leng Gang, Leng Ziyang took him to the ancestral tablets of the Shi and Leng families in the incense courtyard to repent, declaring that he must kneel until the wedding day. Seeing her beloved beaten and bruised, Wu Xia, disregarding all propriety, embraced Leng Gang and knelt with him before the tablets, telling Leng Ziyang and her brothers that she had deliberately seduced Leng Gang, not that he had violated her or damaged her reputation. From a young age, Wuxia was the most beloved child of Leng Ziyang, who treated her like his own. How could he bear to see her delicate and precious body suffer even the slightest torment? Therefore, he forbade her to kneel and reduced Leng Gang's sentence to only three days. During these three days, Wuxia stayed by his side, and no one could persuade her to leave.
The wedding was set for two weeks later. Aolong Fort planned an unprecedentedly grand wedding banquet, spending half a month preparing. Goods from both the north and south were transported by fast horses, and hundreds of servants were busy day and night. The fort was decorated with lanterns and streamers, creating a festive atmosphere. This extravagant display showcased the Shi family's strength; for the first time, the usually mysterious and frugal Aolong Fort publicly invited prominent figures and merchants from the six northern provinces to be guests. It wasn't just about marrying Wuxia; more importantly, Shi Wuji wanted to formally introduce Huan'er to everyone, as compensation for her meager wedding.
Those with connections or business dealings with Aolong Fort all gathered there that day. The four main buildings hosted the distinguished guests, while five hundred tables were set up outside the fort for the accompanying entourage, passersby, and villagers from nearby villages—a total of approximately ten thousand people. Huan'er, the mistress of the house, was incredibly busy. She had to help her husband meet various merchants and clients, and also delegate tasks to the servants. Since she was completely unfamiliar with ancient etiquette, she even asked Uncle Leng to find several elderly women to consult. Unexpectedly, there was still a mountain of things to do; she was truly terrified…
Finally, all the excitement and festivities had subsided. The next day, after the servants cleaned up the mess and all the guests had left, Huan'er felt herself collapsing! She didn't know what was wrong; she'd been feeling dizzy and unwell for days, but because she was busy, she hadn't paid much attention, thinking she was just overworked. But today, it was even worse! Not only was she dizzy and nauseous, but she couldn't even get out of bed… Her mother's words flashed through her mind like lightning: Mommy had said that every body and soul must have compatible magnetic fields to function effectively. Some soul-borrowers, because their magnetic fields didn't align, would either have a pale face or a stiff body after returning to life. Even if there was some compatibility, there would be malfunctions in certain organs. Therefore, Mommy didn't dare to find just any body for her to borrow. And this body of Su Huan'er's, after nearly two months of possession, had never caused any problems; it had adapted perfectly. After all, this was her body from her previous life, but surely there would be some slight differences? Otherwise, why was she suddenly so weak today? Would she feel better in a few days? Mommy didn't say how to adjust it.
After finishing Wuxia's wedding preparations, Shi Wuji and the other stewards spent all their time working at Fengyun Tower, completely absorbed in their tasks. She had already experienced it firsthand; when Shi Wuji was on official business, he was utterly ruthless, not even caring about family or friends, and wouldn't leave for three days and three nights. During official business hours, no unauthorized personnel were allowed to cross the line at Fengyun Tower, not even Huan'er. Today, he left before dawn, and after her persistent pleading and coaxing, he kissed her for a while before finally leaving, but she couldn't stop him. Normally, she wouldn't care too much; managing a major undertaking couldn't be as carefree as chatting idly every day, unless one wanted to squander money. But today she wasn't feeling well. Although she hadn't told him directly, why was he so oblivious to her feelings? When people are unwell, they tend to overthink things, which should be acceptable.
"Young Madam, lunch is ready. You couldn't eat noodles this morning, so the kitchen specially prepared some authentic southern-style pastries. The eldest young master also instructed us to make a bowl of chicken soup to nourish you..." An unfamiliar maid brought in the food.