Her guards

Chapter 44 Unmarried Couples

Zhu Yunxiao did not linger. He drank a bowl of soup that Madam Jiang had prepared in advance, watched Jiang Meng practice her swordplay for a while, and then got up to take his leave.

Hearing that he had returned from the western suburban barracks and had not yet gone home, Madam Jiang did not linger. She pulled Jiang Meng aside and asked Jiang Rui to see the guest off.

Although they are engaged, they are not married yet, and the only time they can be alone together is during the farewell procession.

Jiang Rui did not refuse. The young man was a close friend and companion, and she was poised and generous, without any awkwardness.

The two walked side by side, with their maids following at a distance.

"The Academy of Chinese Learning doesn't have many rules, and the Chancellor is a very easy person to talk to. Don't be nervous when you go to study," Zhu Yunxiao gently advised.

Jiang Rui smiled and said, "I know. I will study hard. Everyone knows my personality. I am what I am, and I am very easygoing."

She paused slightly at this point.

Zhu Yunxiao, noticing something amiss, asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Rui smiled at him: "It's nothing. I was just thinking about a young lady I met during this selection process. I guess we shouldn't get along."

Zhu Yunxiao didn't ask any more questions about the other women, only saying, "If you can associate with them, then associate with them; if not, then don't worry about it. You don't need to rely on these things."

Jiang Rui's eyes dimmed slightly. The respect she had received over the years was due to the honor bestowed upon her by her father's death in battle.

Zhu Yunxiao paid no more attention to her sadness, lifted his foot to step over the threshold, his body stiffened again, and he hissed through his teeth.

Why is my leg hurting more and more?
"What's wrong?" Jiang Rui asked hurriedly, noticing his discomfort.

Zhu Yunxiao gave her a wry smile: "Sigh, bad luck today, I bumped my leg."

The aloof young master from a prestigious family only revealed his coquettish side in front of her. Jiang Rui smiled, her eyes full of tenderness: "Does it hurt?"

Zhu Yunxiao smiled at her, his eyes beaming with joy: "As soon as Arui asked, the pain stopped."

The maid behind her quickly looked down at her toes, afraid that her gaze would disturb the tender moment between her mistress and the young master.

But some people, oblivious to the danger, rushed up from behind, making a loud noise.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, why are you leaving so soon after arriving?"

Upon hearing this voice, the maid hurriedly reached out to stop her, but the burly woman pushed her aside and went towards Zhu Yunxiao.

"Second Madam—" the maid stomped her foot angrily.

He saw a woman dressed in gold and silver standing in front of him.

"Auntie," Jiang Rui addressed her casually.

Zhu Yunxiao stopped smiling, and without even addressing him, simply nodded slightly.

Jiang Feng came from an ordinary background, and with the war, his few brothers and sisters were scattered. After he died in battle and was rewarded for his bravery, he followed Deng Shan. Then, an uncle's son came to his door and moved into the Jiang family mansion under the pretext of taking care of the orphans and widows and continuing the Jiang family line.

Aunt Jiang didn't mind their coldness and said warmly, "How can you come to my house and not eat? Come on in, your second uncle has already prepared it."

Zhu Yunxiao took a step back: "I have something to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving now."

The words seemed to be addressed to Aunt Jiang, but her gaze was fixed only on Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui smiled at him and said softly, "Go ahead."

Zhu Yunxiao turned around, strode to the horse, mounted it, and galloped away without looking at Aunt Jiang again.

Aunt Jiang's face flushed with anger, and she sneered at Jiang Rui through gritted teeth: "With my elder brother gone, Prince Zhu is truly high and mighty."

Jiang Rui looked at her and said calmly, "He's just not familiar with you, Auntie."

After saying that, he turned and went inside.

Aunt Jiang Er chimed in, "Not familiar with us? If we were also granted titles, you'd see if we were familiar with him or not." As she spoke, she curled her lip and sized up Jiang Rui, "Rui, don't blame your aunt for being blunt, but I don't think this Marquis Yongwu's heir is easy to deal with."

Jiang Rui looked at Aunt Jiang and said, "My mother has a good temper. My sister and I are the younger generation, and we can't bring ourselves to offend some difficult people. Having someone like him around is a good thing for us."

Just because she and her sister weren't sons, the family business their father had risked his life for was to be handed over to their uncle's family. Despite being outsiders, they acted like the masters, swaggering around.

Fortunately, Zhu Yunxiao wasn't so old-fashioned. If he had treated these two people with the same respect as his elders, she would have been furious.

The maid stepped forward and forcefully pushed aside Aunt Jiang.

“Second Madam Tang, our young lady has other matters to attend to.” She emphasized the words “Second Madam Tang” and then helped Jiang Rui forward. “Young lady, you will be going to the National Academy tomorrow. Please see if there is anything you need to bring, since you will be classmates with the three princesses.”

Watching the two go inside, Aunt Jiang spat in annoyance.

"What's there to be so smug about? She's just a girl who'll be married off sooner or later. All that studying and being a study companion is just the Emperor giving her out of respect for the dead. And this Marquis of Yongwu, what about his unwavering affection? Jiang Feng is dead, but the Emperor isn't. Let him try to betray his promise and bully the orphan and widow!"

"If you're really smart, you should quickly plead with His Majesty for favors, so that your second uncle and aunt can also get official positions, support the Jiang family, and have your maternal family backing you up in the future."

"You ungrateful fool!" "My poor elder brother, he died such a pitiful death, leaving no son behind, and all his good family property was ruined."

Hearing the undisguised voices behind her, the maid gritted her teeth in hatred, while Jiang Rui clenched her hands and did not turn around to argue.

What's the point of arguing?

These two people, occupying the position of elders, can't be driven away no matter how much they argue or make a fuss; it only adds to the disgust.

The mother would weep every night, blaming herself for not giving birth to a son. Her health was already poor, and she feared that if she continued to suffer like this, she would not live much longer.

She already has no father, and she can't lose her mother too.

Fortunately, there's Zhu Yunxiao. With Yunxiao around, she's not all alone.

"elder sister--"

Jiang Meng's voice came through.

Jiang Rui came to her senses and saw that she had already walked back to the courtyard, where Jiang Meng was holding a short sword and looking at her.

Despite his young age, he is adept at reading people's expressions and demeanor.

"Did your brother-in-law bully you?" she asked, glaring at him with a fierce look on her face, as if she was about to hit him.

Jiang Rui laughed: "No, how could he bully me?" Then she scolded playfully, "I told you not to call him brother-in-law, we're not married yet."

Jiang Meng breathed a sigh of relief, her cheerful demeanor returning: "My brother-in-law likes me to call him brother-in-law." She then looked at Jiang Rui, "Sister, did Uncle and Aunt say something unpleasant again? Don't be sad, just bear with them until I grow up—"

Jiang Rui smiled and gently touched her hair: "How have you grown up?"

Jiang Meng straightened her back: "When I grow up, I'll join the army and lead troops like Dad. If anyone bullies you, I'll kill them!"

Jiang Rui grabbed her arm: "Stop talking nonsense. You're so young and you're already fighting and killing. Go and finish writing your words."

Jiang Meng cried out, "Mommy, save me—"

The two sisters left laughing and joking.

.......
.......
When Zhu Yunxiao returned to the Yongwu Earl's residence, it was already close to dusk.

He didn't go to see his parents but went back to his place first. While changing his clothes, he looked at his calves.

There was a faint bruise on my leg.

Strange, the injury isn't serious.

The incident happened suddenly, catching him off guard. He didn't even get a clear look at the beggars, only a blurry image of the boy's thin figure.

They probably don't have much strength.

Why is my leg hurting more and more?
Also, was this an accident, or was someone targeting him?

But what's the point of just hitting him once if he's coming at you?
In that situation, if the beggar had been holding a sword instead of a stick...

Zhu Yunxiao suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

He is now dead.

"Yunxiao."

A sound came from outside, interrupting Zhu Yunxiao's reverie. He quickly straightened his robes, stood up, and saw his father walk in.

The Marquis of Yongwu was originally a military commander, but now he is old and somewhat overweight.

"I just finished washing up and was about to go see my father," Zhu Yunxiao said.

The Earl of Yongwu frowned: "Why did you linger at the Jiang family's place for so long? You could have just taken a look."

Zhu Yunxiao said, "After all, she has been selected as a princess's study companion, so we should congratulate her properly."

The Earl of Yongwu muttered, "She's just been chosen as a companion to the princess, not actually a princess." Then, looking at Zhu Yunxiao, he asked, "Can't this marriage just not happen?"

Zhu Yunxiao smiled and said, "This marriage really can't be turned down."

The Earl of Yongwu frowned: "Even a family like the Marquis of Yichun's is not acceptable?"

Zhu Yunxiao offered a cup of tea to his father.

“Even a family like the Marquis of Yichun’s is no good.” He shook his head. “The benefits of marrying into such a family cannot outweigh the harm of breaking off the relationship.”

I overslept.

(End of this chapter)