After Transmigrating, I Was Kidnapped By A Scheming Beauty Into The Bridal Chamber - Chapter 9

Jiang Chenyu’s fair skin seemed naturally flushed with a rosy blush, her long lashes making makeup unnecessary. She rose and drew back the bed curtains, letting the morning light stream in. Dressed in a translucent silk nightgown, she stepped barefoot onto the polished wooden floor of the canopy bed. The warm, golden-hued wood made her delicate, jade-like feet appear almost transparent; even her toes were rounded and rosy. As she passed through the beaded curtain, sunlight caught her willow-thin waist, its graceful curve clearly visible to anyone behind her.

Shen Hetang had actually woken up before Jiang Chenyu, but when she saw Chenyu stirring, she quickly closed her eyes again. She then slowly opened them, her gaze falling upon this vision of beauty. I wonder which lucky man will end up with her, she thought. I’d better mentally congratulate him now: “Buddy, you’re one lucky guy!”

Soon after, Jiang Chenyu changed behind a folding screen into a pale yellow round-collared robe and a white embroidered horse-face skirt. Chuntao then brought in a basin of warm water, scented with flower petals, to help her wash up.

Next came the complicated process of combing her hair, a task that was both painful and pleasurable. Fortunately, Shen Hetang didn’t have to endure this ordeal herself, nor did she need anyone else to do it for her. She had never allowed anyone to see her with her hair undone, and she handled combing and dressing with practiced ease, all thanks to the original owner’s strong muscle memory.

Sometimes she was terrified. If the original owner’s soul still resided within her body, that would mean two souls sharing one body, a truly horrifying thought. Though she felt guilty for occupying someone else’s body, it wasn’t something she could control. All she could do was apologize and take things one step at a time.

“Husband, you’re awake?” Jiang Chenyu returned to the bedroom with Chuntao and breakfast, only to find Shen Hetang already fully dressed and ready.

“Why did you fetch breakfast yourself?” After the family split, the servants had been divided as well. Though few in number, they were more than sufficient to serve the two masters.

“Of course I’m going to order breakfast. Husband looks too thin and needs to eat more. Try this fish congee that’s been simmering for hours.” The bright, radiant girl spoke, the tassels on her hair ornaments swaying gently with each word, accentuating her lively innocence. If she hadn’t seen Jiang Chenyu effortlessly dispatch their enemies, she would have mistaken her for a naive simpleton.

“What? Am I too bony for you?” Shen Hetang teased, unable to resist teasing the girl’s bright, innocent face.

As expected, the little girl’s ears flushed crimson at Shen Hetang’s dignified yet teasing tone. She stammered, “I… I don’t think you’re too thin! You’re the one who keeps your distance when we sleep.”

“What’s the point of keeping my distance? You always end up rolling over to my side anyway,” Shen Hetang quipped, her face utterly expressionless.

Jiang Chenyu quickly glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby. Honestly, how can he say such suggestive things with that face? And with absolutely no expression! I can’t tell if he’s annoyed or… something else. It’s so frustrating!

“Hmph… Fine, I’m ignoring you. Eat by yourself then.”

“No, no, no! I was wrong, I was wrong, Wife! I was wrong! Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Having gotten so used to acting lately, she didn’t even notice the word “Wife” slipping out. It came out naturally.

Jiang Chenyu thought that good-looking people really did have an advantage. Even when she was angry with him, she couldn’t stay mad.

“Um, staying home all the time isn’t really working for me,” Shen Hetang said, her eyes earnest. “I was thinking of finding a job outside. What do you think?”

“If you really want to go, then go,” Jiang Chenyu replied. “If you can’t find anything suitable, come back and help me manage the accounts at the shops.” In addition to the ready-made clothing shop she’d inherited, she also owned a rice shop, a teahouse, and two hundred acres of farmland. She knew men couldn’t be cooped up at home forever, and even though she didn’t want to let him go, she had to.

“Thank you,” Shen Hetang said automatically. In that moment, Jiang Chenyu seemed to glow in her eyes. If she were truly a man, she would have leaned in and kissed her twice. No one had ever given her such support before. Her life had always been about pushing forward, relying solely on herself.

“Should I ask Great-Uncle to inquire around for you?” Jiang Chenyu offered. After this small kindness, the tension between the relatives had eased considerably.

“Don’t bother them,” she said. “I want to look around myself.” She didn’t want Chenyu to reconnect with those people.

“Alright then.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Two weeks later, as she wandered down the same street again, Shen Hetang’s mood was completely different. Before, she had felt like a luckless beggar; now, she felt like a leisurely tourist.

She didn’t know what twist of fate had landed her in this unfamiliar era, but her greatest strength was her ability to adapt to any situation. She slowly savored the rich, ancient atmosphere, calming her mind and reminding herself that this wasn’t a dream—she was truly here.

After looking around and asking at two places, she was turned down by both. The first was a restaurant owner who needed someone who could use an abacus. The second was a schoolteacher who required knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics. She… well… she was turned down again. Finding work here was proving much harder than she’d imagined.

As she walked, she noticed the entrance to the Yamen. This is perfect! she thought, her eyes lighting up as she peered inside. It’s exactly my field! But government jobs weren’t easy to come by; she’d have to wait for the right opportunity.

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