Recklessly Breaking a Delicate Branch - Chapter 26

Marr observed her neatly adorned attire, and as she looked up, she found the young girl’s face even more breathtakingly beautiful than before.

Marr was about to lead her out of the tent when Jiang Wanshu stopped her. Jiang Wanshu ran to the table inside, stared at the wooden basket before her, and picked it up in one swift motion.

She had heard from Zhou Yan that these items were prepared for today’s Palden Lhamo Festival and would likely be needed later. She simply took it and stood before Marr.

Soon, the two walked outside. The agate headpiece Jiang Wanshu wore rested upon her forehead, shimmering brilliantly under the grassland sun. Paired with her face—as delicate as a lotus emerging from water—it caused Marr, who was leading the way, to widen her eyes in genuine astonishment.

“Sister-in-law, you truly look stunning in these grassland clothes.”

As she spoke, people nearby began to turn their heads. Without exception, the people of the grasslands fixed their gazes on Jiang Wanshu. Even Marr, who was usually considered the most beautiful girl on the plains, began to look dim and eclipsed standing beside her.

Flustered by the compliment and the weight of the staring eyes, Jiang Wanshu’s face instantly flushed red, and she lowered her head.

Her marriage to Zhou Yan was known to everyone. Though many had attended the wedding feast, those from further away had never seen her face. Seeing a girl suddenly appear by Marr’s side, most would assume Jiang Wanshu was simply a new friend—especially today, during the festival.

Marr cupped the girl’s face, seeing her cheeks puffed up like two round little buns. She spoke cheerfully, “Don’t be shy, sister-in-law. We grassland people don’t have many indirect thoughts. If they think you’re beautiful, they’ll naturally look at you a few more times. You’ll get used to it.”

Marr wasn’t angry that her title as the most beautiful girl had been taken; however, she still felt a slight twinge of discomfort in her heart. She comforted herself: Fortunately, I am not a poisonous scorpion; I have the heart of a Bodhisattva.

Hearing the comforting voice, Jiang Wanshu looked up. The next moment, Marr took her hand. “Sister-in-law, I’ll take you to the Temple of Palden Lhamo. On this festival day, many grassland girls go there to offer incense and pray.”

Jiang Wanshu, not as strong as Marr, allowed herself to be pulled along. Since Marr’s horsemanship wasn’t suited for carrying a passenger, they had to walk. Halfway there, Jiang Wanshu saw Marr panting and stopped. “Sister Marr, should we rest for a bit?”

Marr shook her head, catching her breath for a moment. “No need, we’re almost there.”

She pulled her along again. “If only you knew how to ride, we could have reached the temple much faster.”

After crossing a small hill, Marr finally brought Jiang Wanshu before a towering temple. Seeing Marr’s breathing was still heavy, Jiang Wanshu patted her arm gently. “Should we stand here and rest?”

Marr’s physical strength was surprisingly weak—even more breathless than she was. But Jiang Wanshu had no way of knowing that normally, Marr’s stamina could outlast ten of her. However, ever since the wedding feast where Marr had worn a self-modified outfit with a high waistline, she had been spotted by a certain man hiding in the shadows. He had dragged her into his tent that very night.

She had tried everything to explain herself, but the man, consumed by jealousy, had tormented her in every way possible, forcing her—amidst tears and flushed eyes—to promise never to wear such clothes again.

Yet, they had not seen each other for many days. How could a man with such abundant energy let her go after just one encounter? For three whole days, she had been confined to the tent, worn down by him daily. It was only today, to show respect to his younger brother, that he finally released her. Otherwise, she might have missed this year’s festival entirely.

Such a private matter was something Marr naturally wouldn’t tell Jiang Wanshu. The agates on her dark hair swayed as she spoke. “It’s fine. See? We’ve arrived.”

Marr looked up, her gaze falling upon the majestic statue of Palden Lhamo, thirty meters high with a compassionate expression. Jiang Wanshu looked up with her, finding the sight incredibly grand. Crowds of people surged forward, mostly grassland women carrying baskets of incense and candles.

Curious as to why there were no men around, Jiang Wanshu looked at Marr. “Sister Marr, are only women allowed here?”

Marr smiled. “There is no such rule. On this festival, most men are at the newly built Barkhor Street in the side hall. Once we finish our offerings to the Goddess, I’ll take you there to see.”

Jiang Wanshu nodded, finding the idea quite interesting.

The two approached the solemn statue. Under Marr’s guidance, Jiang Wanshu took the incense and candles from the wooden basket and knelt on a bright red prayer mat.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the grassland, after finishing the interrogation of a prisoner from the Central Plains, Zhou Yan was out for fresh air when he was tapped on the shoulder by Agitai, a young boy who had attended his wedding.

“Brother Cha-er, are you going to Barkhor Street later?”

Zhou Yan turned at the sound. He had always been uninterested in such social mingling between men and women. He shook his head. “I’m not going.”

Unexpectedly, Agitai threw out an olive branch he couldn’t refuse: “But isn’t Sister-in-law there?”

Instantly, Zhou Yan remembered Jiang Wanshu had gone to the temple. He immediately agreed, “Then we shall go.”

In less than half an hour, Zhou Yan and Agitai galloped away on horseback.

However, on Jiang Wanshu’s side, something happened just as Marr brought her to Barkhor Street.

“During the festival, we have a custom where women can ask men for money. On this day, the men are exceptionally generous and won’t refuse.”

Jiang Wanshu listened with half-understanding, her brow slightly raised. In the eyes of a Central Plains man, this act could be seen as the first meeting with a beloved girl. Many happy couples on the grasslands had met this way. Thus, many men who rarely had the chance to meet women were there, waiting for a beautiful encounter.

This led to the following scene.

As Jiang Wanshu followed Marr into Barkhor Street, before she could even link arms with her, a group of men blocked their path. They seemed to know Marr and spoke to her in the grassland tongue, which was unfamiliar to Jiang Wanshu. “Miss Marr, this sister beside you is even prettier than you. Won’t you introduce us?”

Jiang Wanshu was already her sister-in-law, and Marr was protective. Looking at the three men who were known for being overbearing on the grasslands, she stepped forward, shielding Jiang Wanshu.

“She is someone you cannot afford to provoke,” Marr said fluently in her native tongue, but it only drew laughter from the three men.

“Miss Marr belongs to the Third Prince, so of course we wouldn’t dare provoke you. But this girl beside you… she’s a Central Plains woman. She can’t possibly have someone backing her like you do, can she?”

With that, the lead man rubbed his hands together and stepped forward with a loathsome expression.

Even without understanding the language, Jiang Wanshu could see the disgusting attitude of the three men. Sister Marr was her friend, and she wouldn’t allow her to be harmed. She resolutely stepped out from behind Marr, intending to protect her.

“I like a girl who takes initiative.”

Just as the men, with lecherous expressions, reached out to grab her shoulder, a stone flew through the air. It struck the lead man’s shoulder with such force that he cried out in pain.

At that moment, the five people standing there all turned their eyes in the same direction. The midday sun cast a glow on the tall, upright figure of a man. He appeared like a god descending to earth, commanding such reverence that the troublemakers dared not look further.

He had a rugged air about him that matched his imposing stature. He strode forward, pulling Jiang Wanshu directly into his arms while keeping Marr protected behind him.

“She is my Ajia (wife). I will protect her myself. You cannot afford to provoke her either!”

A strong aura of slaughter flashed in his eyes, causing the men to instinctively retreat several steps.

Those words not only terrified the group of men but also made Jiang Wanshu look up, her eyes filled with a shy, uncontrollable tremor. Her heart hammered against her ribs, moved by his words and the unconditional trust of being shielded in his arms.

In the past, though her imperial parents loved her, they always reminded her of her status as a princess. A princess must be polite; often, she had to swallow grievances in public for the sake of royal decorum and deal with them later. Even if she suffered, her parents would not be the first to publicly defend her.

This was the first time she had been held and protected regardless of right or wrong.

Zhou Yan was a famous interrogator on the grasslands. No prisoner who passed through his hands could last more than a day without confessing. It didn’t take much thought to realize his methods were bloody. Because of this reputation, the three men turned pale with fear.

Suddenly, they stumbled back, looking terrified. “Brother Cha-er, we didn’t know this Central Plains girl was your Ajia.” Without Zhou Yan even lifting a finger, they surrendered and scrambled away.

Marr watched the men flee and couldn’t help but laugh. She walked over to Zhou Yan, her smile bright. “When my brother is with us, no one dares to offend us.”

Marr waited for a reply, but she realized his eyes were fixed entirely on Jiang Wanshu. In the cold wind, Marr saw Jiang Wanshu held tightly in Zhou Yan’s embrace. He looked down, his dark eyes filled with doting affection for the girl.

“Are you alright? Were you frightened?” Zhou Yan held her close. However, even though Jiang Wanshu felt her heart fluttering from his heroic rescue, she still deeply disliked his touch. Every time he touched her, she couldn’t help but remember the humiliation of that day.

She gave a small “Hmph,” her thin shoulder bumping against his chest as she struggled out of his arms. She remained silent, looking like a piece of exquisite porcelain cracked in the heat, evoking a sense of pity.

“You little thing, why are you refusing to speak to me again?” Zhou Yan glanced down, his thumb pinching the soft flesh of her cheek.

Jiang Wanshu shook her head stubbornly. Seeing that the danger had passed, Zhou Yan let her be, then turned his attention to Marr. He hadn’t quite heard what she had said earlier. “Sister, are you alright?”

“They know I have the Third Prince protecting me, what could happen?” Marr smiled forcedly, realizing that in the moment of danger, Zhou Yan had put her feelings second.

Zhou Yan was certain Marr wouldn’t be hurt; after all, anyone with eyes knew not to touch the Third Prince’s woman. But Jiang Wanshu was a Central Plains girl with no relatives or friends here. If he wasn’t by her side and people didn’t know she was his Ajia, she would be bullied by such scum in an instant.

Zhou Yan didn’t let her pull away this time; he pulled her back into his arms. He looked down and asked, “Sister, have you finished the offerings to the Goddess?”

“Yes, we were just about to come to Barkhor Street to ask the men for money, to add some festive joy to the day,” Marr said, sounding a bit unhappy.

As she spoke, Jiang Wanshu’s small hand was forcibly opened by Zhou Yan. Under the glow of the setting sun, Jiang Wanshu saw a coin reflecting the golden light placed into her palm.

The man’s fingertips were rough, and the sensation against her tender white skin made her hand flinch. But due to the disparity in strength, her palm was caught by him again.

He lowered his brow, gazing at her with dark eyes as he held her hand firmly. “This is the copper coin I give you of my own will. You must keep it safe.”

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