Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lin Wanrou was built sturdily. “Sturdy” was not usually a word used for a young lady, but Lin Wanrou stood nine chi tall, broad-backed and narrow-waisted, solidly taking after her father, the Grand General.

Madam Lin had suffered badly giving birth to her. She had howled for three days and two nights before delivering a plump ten-jin daughter. Terrified that another child might have the same immense frame, Madam Lin went weak in the knees at the thought and immediately decided that even if her husband took concubines, she would not give birth again.

Fortunately, the couple loved each other dearly. One daughter was one daughter; she was still the treasure in their palms.

The problem was her marriage. It worried Madam Lin so much she could not eat.

Lin Wanrou did not look gentle, but her temperament was. She was quiet, rarely spoke, and stood there like a wooden post.

In her early years, people mocked her strong build and gave her the nickname Mountain Bear behind her back. A crowd of little children, some imperial relatives and some unruly children of court colleagues, gathered around Lin Wanrou, who was half a head taller than all of them, and laughed.

“Mountain Bear, round and fat, kills a pig with one punch flat. Grows up wanted by no man, stays home as a nun if she can.”

General Lin’s fists hardened.

He looked at his daughter. The delicate dress did look awkward on her powerful body.

General Lin could not teach those brats a lesson. Lin Wanrou could.

The next day, Lin Wanrou changed into men’s clothes.

On a tall horse, bright and valiant, she beat the blind little turnips until they were sprawled all over the ground.

Father and daughter stood together like a high wall beside a shorter wall.

It seemed that when a woman was born a little different, gossip always followed. When Lin Wanrou was young, people said she was too strong and would be hard to marry off. After she grew older, they became even more pleased with themselves as Lin Wanrou turned into an old maiden.

“See? I was right. What use is a woman who cannot marry?”

Lin Wanrou, dressed as a man and riding a white horse past the gossiping women, sighed.

“I cannot blame them. Their husbands make the decisions for them, while I intend to make my own.”

People always had to find someone to pour their pain onto, just to hide the desire deepest in their hearts.

Lin Wanrou thought that one day she would go to war.

She would bring back military merit, then marry seven or eight pretty young husbands. Now that would be a happy life.

But for now, she did not dare. Madam Lin was forcing her to meet marriage prospects.

Lin Wanrou returned from the training ground, dismounted, and saw a man about her age in the main hall. He was plainly dressed and speaking with Madam Lin.

When he saw Lin Wanrou, he was startled and gave two awkward laughs.

“Miss Lin truly has an extraordinary appearance.”

Lin Wanrou was a little displeased.

“You flatter me.”

He was some distant cousin of Madam Lin’s family, in the capital to seek connections for an official post.

Madam Lin quietly asked Lin Wanrou, “Well? I think he is quite a fine-looking talent.”

Lin Wanrou looked him over and said tactfully, “He is a whole head shorter than me.”

The man kept sizing her up, saying that if they married, he would bring his old mother and younger siblings to the capital. Since he had not bought a residence, they would have to stay at the General’s Mansion for a while. Also, since he was down on his luck, he could not afford much betrothal money; a token amount would do.

As if marrying Lin Wanrou were some kind of favor.

Madam Lin’s face became a little strained. She thought, It is not as if we are begging to marry into your family.

So she dismissed the young man and sent Lin Wanrou away as well.

Lin Wanrou decided to visit her friend. On the road, she ran into Wei Li.

Wei Li was the one who had given her that nickname.

Both were on horseback, one solemn and proper, the other frivolous and loose.

Wei Li said, “Mountain Bear, where are you going to find pleasure?”

He saw the man leaving the Lin residence and laughed in an especially punchable way.

“Well, that one failed too. Lin Wanrou, you will definitely never marry in this lifetime.”

Lin Wanrou thought about it. Wei Li was always picking fights with her, probably because he was jealous.

So she walked over and compared their heights.

“Wei Li, how are you still shorter than me after drinking so much goat milk?”

Those two short inches trampled Wei Li’s pride into the dirt.

Lin Wanrou ground her foot down on it a little more. “You never beat me at the training ground either.”

Wei Li blushed from his ears down to his neck. “I was going easy on you!”

Lin Wanrou only smiled without answering, then rode away.

At twenty-four, Lin Wanrou could not marry out. At twenty-four, Wei Li could not marry a wife.