The General Seized Her by Force - Chapter 18

She was not being a bully to the weak and fearful of the strong; she was simply trying not to return kindness with ingratitude.

If Li Chu did not harbor those kinds of romantic intentions toward her, she would naturally treat her with full respect. She would not be thinking of keeping her distance or trying to make her abandon such plans.

Wen Shu lowered her long eyelashes, trying to tilt her head down without fearing the pain.

Li Chu stared at her suspiciously. Realizing something, she changed her grip from pinching to cradling, forcefully tilting her face up to look at her closely.

Wen Shu had thin eyelids and was prone to crying. Perhaps because she had pinched her too hard, the corners of her eyes were tinged with pink. She looked as if she were so wronged and uncomfortable that she could shed tears at any moment. Her lips were bitten tight, and her lowered gaze was fixed to the side; she absolutely refused to meet Li Chu’s eyes.

Perhaps because she was accustomed to marching and fighting wars, Li Chu possessed a vicious, destructive spirit in her bones. The more stubborn and unyielding the person in front of her was, the more she wanted to suppress her, holding her tightly in her palm so she could not struggle free.

Yet, what she held in her rough palms at this moment was Wen Shu’s soft, smooth face—skin that might be bruised if she used too much force.

She was someone she wanted to bully, but also someone she was afraid to see cry.

Li Chu stared straight at Wen Shu.

Wen Shu was terrified. She gripped the fabric on her lap tightly, her heart jumping to her throat, fearful that Li Chu might start fumbling with her inside the carriage.

Just before a thin layer of cold sweat could seep out on Wen Shu’s back, Li Chu slowly let her go and leaned back leisurely.

Wen Shu hurriedly adjusted her sitting position, attempting to turn her back to her.

However, the carriage was not large. Li Chu saw through her intention, and with a casual stretch of her long legs, she pressed the soles of her feet against the base of the carriage, effectively pinning Wen Shu’s legs in place so she could barely move.

Wen Shu took a deep breath, looked up, and gave Li Chu a quick glare. Before their eyes could meet, she hurriedly lowered her head again, stammering in a low voice, “General Li, I truly have no intentions of marriage.”

She tried to persuade Li Chu, “My family is small, the household is simple, and there are few heirs. Looking at my body, it’s clear my health is poor…”

The Li family should need people to carry on the family line. Someone as thin and frail as her naturally would not meet the Li family’s requirements.

Li Chu gazed at Wen Shu deeply, crossed her arms, and said slowly, “I look very healthy. Would the Hanlin scholar like to try it out first, and then consider marriage after being satisfied?”

Wen Shu: “…”

How could she say such shameless, coarse things!

Wen Shu pursed her lips and puffed her cheeks, looking at Li Chu.

Li Chu laughed. She drew her long legs back, her knees gently brushing against Wen Shu’s knees. “I won’t tease you anymore.”

If she kept messing around, the “little sheep” Wen would start butting her.

Wen Shu dodged the contact of her knees, her legs almost curling up into her arms.

Li Chu wasn’t angry. “How about this: You said the Yang family wouldn’t be so lacking in class, so why don’t we make a bet? If you can come out of the Yang residence smoothly today, I will agree to whatever you say. If you can’t, then whatever I say, you are not allowed to refuse. How about it?”

There was no better way for the moment.

Wen Shu was vigilant and guarded. “Does the General keep her word?”

Li Chu extended her right pinky finger toward her, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “If I lie, I’m a puppy.”

She smiled too beautifully, causing Wen Shu to mutter to herself. Half-believing and half-doubting, she reached out her hand, only to be hooked instantly by Li Chu, who gripped it tightly and shook it twice to seal the agreement.

When she pulled her hand back, Wen Shu flushed, silently pulling her sleeve down to cover her hot, tingling fingers.

To a scholar like her, the strength of a martial general like Li Chu was truly a bit much.

The carriage arrived at the back gate of the Yang residence.

For an estate like the Yangs, there were three back gates alone. Only the one with the highest threshold and the largest entrance was meant for the masters of the house.

Wen Shu lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage, only to see Li Chu’s attendant appearing out of nowhere, standing under the carriage with a smile, waiting for her.

Guan Lü lifted the two gift boxes she had prepared and handed them to Wen Shu. “My master’s instructions. She said it isn’t proper for you to visit to apologize empty-handed.”

Wen Shu turned her head to look toward the carriage window, her heart moved.

Although she acted boorishly and had great strength, she was still very mindful of etiquette and human sentiment.

Just a moment ago, Wen Shu had been worrying in the carriage, wondering where she could go to buy gifts for the Yang residence after stepping out.

Li Chu lifted the curtain and looked down at her. “Go on.”

Wen Shu reached out to take them and, with Doubai, stood at the back gate of the Yang residence. While Doubai went forward to knock, she looked left and right at the stone lions at the gate.

They were baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, looking fierce and imposing.

Wen Shu did not dare to look for long and quickly averted her gaze, standing there in a disciplined, proper manner.

After Wen Shu stepped out of the carriage, Li Chu remained in a posture of holding up the curtain and leaning against the window, watching her back.

Today, Wen Shu was wearing a lake-blue scholar’s round-collared robe. The light, cool tones of blue and green set off her fresh and quiet temperament, very fitting for her calm and gentle nature. The silver-white, slender silk belt cinched her waist, emphasizing her slim figure while making her look tall and fragile.

Standing quietly before the tightly closed vermilion doors, in her clean robe with blue hair ribbons fluttering in the wind, she was truly as elegant as bamboo and jade.

…It was completely different from the timid, stubborn, and cowardly look she wore inside the carriage.

Li Chu’s lips curled into a smile. What a hypocritical little lamb.

Regardless of what the Yang family’s motives were for proposing marriage to the Wen family, at least their taste was good.

Wen Shu did not know what Li Chu was thinking of her; she only sensed that the Yang family seemed to be deliberately cold toward her.

The door was knocked three times before a response finally came from inside. A servant asked in a lazy, neglectful tone from behind the door, “Who is it?”

Wen Shu bowed formally. “Student Wen Shu, here to visit Master Yang.”

She had not yet taken up her post at the Hanlin Academy, so identifying herself as a student seemed more humble and respectful.

By lowering her own status, she indicated her willingness to apologize, giving the Yang family full face. This way, from the perspective of outsiders, it wouldn’t be the Wen family rejecting the marriage proposal, but rather the Wen family acknowledging their own lowliness and daring not to climb high.

The servant left her with two words: “Wait there.”

Wen Shu waited anxiously for a while longer before the door opened again.

The person who came out to welcome her this time was the Yang family steward. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he bowed to her. “Oh, so it is the renowned Wen Tan-hua, the Hanlin scholar! I am sorry for the delay in greeting you; I hope you won’t mind.”

Wen Shu carried a faint smile on her face. She did not respond to the jab and only returned the bow with a nod.

The steward gestured toward the inside. “Let’s go. My master has already left for his official duties, but the Mistress is willing to see you.”

As Wen Shu stepped onto the threshold, she felt as if her legs weighed a thousand pounds. She felt uneasy, and every step she took felt unstable.

She desperately suppressed the urge to look back at the carriage, clenched her fists, and followed the steward into the Yang residence.