Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“I don’t involve myself in household affairs. The Women’s Barracks alone gives me enough to worry about all day.”

I waved a hand. “I delegated authority long ago and entrusted the affairs of the residence to Yanzhi. If you have something to discuss, go talk it over with him yourself, all right?”

“But Yanzhi is mindful of the general’s dignity now. He would never agree.”

Chu Yue looked as if she were about to weep. “We grew up together. I know what I saw. In his heart, he clearly has feelings for me.

“If the general is willing to grant us this kindness, Ah Yue of the Chu Clan will remember your grace even in the next life, even if I must knot grass and carry rings to repay you!”

The moment she said that, everyone in the hall, including Shen Yanzhi, turned to look at me, waiting for my reaction.

I scratched my cheek. “You’re saying Shen Yanzhi has you in his heart. That he actually admires you?”

Chu Yue bit her lip and gave a quiet “Mm.”

“Then has he ever spent money on you?” I asked next.

“Hm?” Chu Yue froze for a second. “Spent money? Naturally, yes.”

“How much has he spent on you? Add it all up from childhood until now.”

“Hairpins, bracelets, pendants, fruits, pastries… roughly one thousand taels.”

“Only one thousand taels?”

I shook my head in regret. “Forget it, then. Shen Yanzhi’s feelings for you are nothing special. Most likely he only looked after you a little because you seemed pitiful and adorable. How is that any kind of romantic affection?”

Hearing me say that, Chu Yue immediately grew anxious.

“Yanzhi once took me to catch grasshoppers, wove flower crowns for me, gathered daylilies for me… Love is such a moving thing. How can it be measured by money?”

“How can it not?”

My expression turned solemn. “Come, let me do the math for you.

“How long does it take Shen Yanzhi to catch a grasshopper for you or weave a flower crown?”

Chu Yue was stunned.

“Even if that boy is utterly useless and needs three whole shichen to catch one grasshopper,

“that is still only three shichen! Besides, how do you know he took you grasshopper-catching out of admiration for you, and not because he simply liked catching grasshoppers and dragged you along while he was at it?

“Catching grasshoppers is fun. It isn’t tiring. Even little children can do it. Earning money, however, taxes the mind and body.

“Street vendors have to think of ways to attract customers and guard against dirty tricks from other merchants. After working themselves ragged for an entire month, they might only net a few taels of silver.

“Tell me, compared with those few taels of silver, which costs more effort and devotion: catching grasshoppers and weaving flower crowns, or earning that money?”

Chu Yue’s expression turned ugly. She bit her lip and said nothing.

I clapped my hands. “Of course the few taels of silver matter more! Right?

“Yanzhi rushes about all day and works from dawn until late into the night, all to earn money, doesn’t he? That means silver is what best represents his labor and effort!

“He can give me one hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder without blinking, and even hand me an iron mine. How many years of hard work would it take him to obtain those things?

“But after so many years of knowing you since childhood, he has only spent one thousand taels on you. His eight merchant caravans can earn that back in a few days. It barely hurts him.

“You say he admires you. How is anyone supposed to believe that?”

After listening to my very reasonable argument, everyone present was dumbstruck and, for a moment, had no idea how to refute me.

“Now you understand, don’t you? Miss Ah Yue, let me tell you this: in the future, when you consider whether a man has feelings for you, just see whether he’s willing to give you half of whatever he spends all day striving for.

“If he’s a merchant, ask him for money and shops. If he’s an official, ask him for power.”

Someone muttered, “Then if the Son of Heaven loves someone, doesn’t that mean he has to give her the throne?”

I clapped my hands once. “Exactly! That is precisely the logic! But what you just said was disrespectful to the imperial family. Whoever dares say it again will lose their head!”

Chu Yue opened her mouth several times, but nothing came out. I patted her hand with pity.

“In the future, open your eyes a little wider and learn to tell whether the other party is truly sincere. Don’t be fooled again by a few worthless scraps.

“Also, ‘The northern hall is dim; there one may plant daylilies.’ Daylilies have always been picked and given to one’s mother, my silly girl.”

At my final line, which carried an undercurrent of mockery, Chu Yue abruptly raised her head. Her pale face flushed crimson at once, as though she had suffered a tremendous insult.

“After all that talk,” she said through gritted teeth, “you’re only relying on your own martial prowess to steal another woman’s husband!”

“If you insist on putting it that way, you’re not wrong.” I smiled. “I am indeed extraordinarily valiant. Thank you for the compliment, young lady.”

Chu Yue said hatefully, “Jiang Yuxue, don’t get too pleased with yourself. In a few days, I’ll defeat you with my own hands. I will crush you in the place where you are most proud and make you taste this humiliation too!”

I laughed loudly. “Miss Ah Yue has ambition. But if you want to challenge me, you’ll first have to defeat the soldiers in my Women’s Barracks.”

“Then we shall see!”

She gave a heavy snort and left for the guest rooms arm in arm with Madame Guo.

At first, I did not take the girl’s harsh words to heart.

But to my surprise, half a month later, Qingfan came to report to me:

“General, Miss Chu Yue is holding challenge matches in the Women’s Barracks! Sheng Yin, You Wei, and the others have all lost to her. Chu Yue is now clamoring to challenge the deputy generals!”

I was stunned. “Huh?”