Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Shen Yanzhi hurried over. “General, what is it?”

I was already incandescent with rage. I slammed the table and shot to my feet.

“One man promised to two women-is this Zhuanzhou’s idea of sincerity? Speak! Is your engagement to Chu Yue real or not?”

Shen Yanzhi gaped at me, but I gave him no chance to defend himself.

“Wonderful! I knew it. She really is your bride-to-be! Your Shen clan has such fine schemes and such nerve, daring to scheme against me!

“I, Jiang Yuxue, have suffered this humiliation today, and I will repay it a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

“Men! Pass down my order. These Zhuanzhou brats have insulted Duzhou. First, cut down every last Zhuanzhou envoy here, then muster the Women’s Barracks. We march on Zhuanzhou and raze it flat!”

“General, General! Please, listen to me!”

Shen Yanzhi said urgently, “This must be a misunderstanding. When have I ever had another engagement?”

“What misunderstanding? Zhuanzhou simply thinks Duzhou has no one left to stand for it, so you came here deliberately to humiliate me!”

Madame Guo said coldly, “Yanzhi, you are losing your composure.

“If General Jiang wants to attack Zhuanzhou, then let her. Duzhou has only just taken ten cities from Jiazhou and has yet to fully digest them. The North is eyeing you like a tiger watching its prey.

“Zhuanzhou is indeed weak in troops and cannot withstand an assault from Duzhou. I only wonder whether the Rong People will take advantage of war between Duzhou and Zhuanzhou to ride south and plunder.”

I let out a cold laugh as well. “Then let them try.”

“Mother! General!” Shen Yanzhi tried to mediate between us. “Why must this go so far? How did it come to this?”

“That is a question for you!”

Madame Guo snapped, “You even dared to hand over an iron mine so lightly? Fine, you’ve only been married a few days and you’ve already lost your head, ready to give away the family fortune. What kind of bewitching potion did that woman Jiang feed you?”

“She did nothing. I did all of this willingly!”

Shen Yanzhi said stubbornly, “The mine was discovered by my people, and I built the merchant caravan with my own hands. I can give it to whomever I want!”

“Don’t forget that your old mother invested money in that caravan too!”

“Then I will sign a loan contract with you, Mother! In any case, I have already given the mine away. It is absolutely impossible for me to go back on my word!”

“You unfilial wretch!”

Madame Guo was so angry that her chest heaved violently.

“You have never lacked for anything at home, yet you were never this generous to your own mother or your uncle! How have you lost your senses like this after knowing Jiang Yuxue for only a few days?”

Shen Yanzhi said seriously, “Mother, there is something you do not know. Ever since I was young, your attention was always on my elder brothers and sisters. You only spared me an extra glance when my studies were excellent.

“But the General is different. She cares for me every day, asks after my well-being, and says I am the finest man in the world. She even roasted naan bread for me with her own hands!

“I had never eaten naan bread made with such sincerity. At that moment, I swore that I would follow the General forever, assist her with all my heart, and help her restore order to the realm.

“A mere iron mine-how could it compare to even one ten-thousandth of what she has given me?”

Madame Guo’s voice began to shake. I was genuinely afraid she might faint on the spot.

“You, you, you!

“At home, you had everything you wanted, and one piece of bread was enough to win you over? Your father hired the best tutors for you. When you were ill, your elder brother made offerings to the ancestors every day to pray for their protection. Whenever your sisters embroidered a new pattern, they sent it to you first.

“And all that cannot compare to a single piece of bread?”

Shen Yanzhi said in a low voice, “Mother, you, Father, and my siblings may love me, but that did not stop you from sending me to Duzhou in exchange for protection, did it?

“Since you were the ones who sent me to Duzhou, what exactly is wrong with me siding with Duzhou?

“Times have changed. Now, the General’s honor is my honor, and the General’s foundation is my foundation. Let alone one mine-even if I gave up everything for the General, what of it?”

“Shen Lang, then what about me?”

Chu Yue said in a sorrowful voice, “Have you forgotten everything you promised me back then?”

“I know nothing of any promise or any engagement.”

Shen Yanzhi said firmly, “I only know that I am now the General’s husband. One man promised to two women-that would be the true betrayal. Just take it as me having wronged you.”

Seeing that the boy was truly impossible to sway, Chu Yue turned to plead with me instead.

“General, you are a rare hero of this world. The Women’s Barracks under your command has won illustrious military merits and stamped out countless bandits. A good woman like you, able to stand tall between heaven and earth, is difficult to find in all the world. I have always respected and admired you deeply.”

Suddenly showered with praise, I, who had been thoroughly enjoying the show, quickly composed my expression.

“Mm. You’re right. And then?”

She choked for a moment. “I know this matter is only a small effort for you. I do not dare hope that you will divorce Shen Lang and return him to me.

“As for status or title, I do not want any of that either.

“I only ask for a place by Yanzhi’s side. If I can see him every day and serve him, I will be satisfied.”