The General Seized Her by Force - Chapter 8

The Wen household had been truly busy these past two days.

Ever since the imperial examination results were posted yesterday, the number of people sending cards, delivering gifts, and coming to pay visits had been countless. They included both acquaintances and strangers, as well as low-ranking and high-ranking officials; all of them flocked to the house at once.

One moment, Madam Wen had just managed to memorize a person’s name and status, and the next, that person would claim that the two families were very close, saying that they simply hadn’t interacted much recently, but now that Wen Shuming had placed in the first tier (Jinshi), they should visit each other more often in the future.

Madam Wen had previously only been the wife of a county magistrate and had never experienced such a scene, but she knew that saying more led to more mistakes. Facing the wives of other officials, she simply offered a consistent smile, appearing completely soft-tempered.

The Old Madam, however, relied on her seniority to strike a stern and dignified pose. While she did not block the social calls, she categorically forbade anyone from speaking of matchmaking or marriage.

In the eyes of others, Wen Shu was a refined and scholarly young man, but in reality, Wen Shu was a girl through and through.

Currently, these people who came for temporary benefit and wanted to marry into her family—how could they dare to gamble their entire clan’s lives on the conscience and character of these people?

Moreover, their family had few officials and few members, and they had always acted with extreme caution in the capital, lest one wrong move cost them their lives.

This glory was merely for these few days; once the trend passed, their family would return to tranquility.

Among the powerful and noble families in the capital, the Wen family was but a drop in the ocean, too low in status and status to be worth mentioning.

While the Old Madam softly instructed Wen Shu not to be arrogant while abroad, she also strictly warned her son, telling him not to be blinded by fleeting vanity into thinking he could climb to the heavens, lest he fall and crash later.

Master Wen had never had such “lofty ambitions” in his life, and only after he repeatedly guaranteed that he would not attract trouble or show off, was he allowed by his mother to go to work.

With him away, the only people managing the house were the Old Madam and Madam Wen.

In the capital, there was no shortage of cunning people. In just a few words, others could tell that Madam Wen had a gentle nature that was easy to manipulate, and that the stern-faced Old Madam was merely putting on a brave front.

The Wen family was like a candied hawthorn; even the hardened sugar coating on the outside was crisp and sweet when bitten into.

For such a family, one didn’t even need to put in much effort; a slightly firmer attitude would leave them with no room to resist.

The matchmaker said with a chuckle, “Old Madam, don’t blame me for speaking harshly, but if it weren’t for Wen Shu placing as the Tanhua (third place), given the status of your Wen family, if you wanted to marry into our young lady’s family, even if you stood on stilts and held a bamboo pole, you wouldn’t even reach our threshold.”

While speaking, she looked around the Wen family’s main hall and courtyard.

A residence with two courtyards and over a dozen servants—this was the entirety of the Wen family. It might be considered affluent among the ninth rank, but among the fifth rank, it wasn’t even worth a glance.

Furthermore, the matchmaker added, “Our Yang family has a powerful figure above us who is as vast as the heavens. After the two families are joined by marriage, out of consideration for the alliance, he will naturally promote Master Wen. At that time, never mind the seventh rank, even the sixth rank would be something to look forward to.”

The daughter of a fifth-rank official was already a status the Wen family couldn’t hope to match, and when combined with the powerful figures behind the Yang family, it was something the Wen family didn’t even dare to imagine.

The better the conditions the matchmaker offered, the worse Madam Wen’s complexion became. It was impossible to agree, and impossible not to.

Whether it was the Yang family or the powerful figures behind them, they were not people they could afford to offend.

But to let the cross-dressing Wen Shu marry the second daughter of the Yang family was even more impossible.

The matchmakers who came yesterday were all turned away, and she had assumed there would be no exceptions today. Who would have thought that the Minister of the Ministry of War, Lord Yang, would actually send a matchmaker to propose marriage for his second daughter.

Moreover, this matchmaker did not give the Wen family even half a face. Although she didn’t say anything explicitly nasty, from her expressions to her actions, she revealed from the inside out that she looked down on the Wen family.

If she looked down on them, why propose marriage?

The other party’s attitude was aggressive and contemptuous, leaving the Wen daughter-in-law and mother-in-law feeling as if they had swallowed a live fly—it was disgusting, stuck in their throats, and they could neither spit it out nor swallow it.

The Old Madam closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her daughter-in-law was the orphaned daughter of an old friend, who had come to her side at a young age. She had been doted on like a daughter and had never suffered any grievances or hardship, which was why she had developed such an inexperienced temperament.

Furthermore, even if Madam Wen were slick and sharp, she would be helpless against the Yang family’s matchmaker.

Their family currently had the helplessness of a scholar meeting a bandit.

They prioritized dignity, sophistication, and the subtlety of leaving words half-spoken, while the other party spoke “coarsely,” could not understand polite refusals, and almost explicitly stated they would use force.

The daughter-in-law didn’t dare to speak, so it was up to the old lady to face the Yang family.

The Old Madam had just prepared to stand up when she saw a maidservant run in in a panic, forgetting even to offer a formal greeting.

Low-class, small-minded people.

The Yang family matchmaker sneered, pressing her red handkerchief against her nose, her eyes rolling almost to the heavens.

The Old Madam said gently, “No rush, no rush. Catch your breath, speak slowly, what has happened?”

The maid was only thirteen. After swallowing, she panted and said, “Old Madam, Madam, the benefactor has come to the house.”

Benefactor?

The maid gestured as she spoke, “The person who shot the arrow and saved us, she has come to the house today! She is on her way into the courtyard!”

Madam Wen realized instantly and whispered to her mother-in-law, “It’s Little Chu.”

Their family had few servants. Last time, when they went to sweep the graves, Wen Shu was afraid of complications on the road, and since the Old Madam was elderly and needed many people to attend to her, they had brought all the servants from the manor. When they encountered the bandits yesterday, the maid was among them.

The Old Madam’s face lit up with joy. She immediately apologized to the Yang family matchmaker and, leaning on her daughter-in-law’s hand, walked quickly out of the main hall.

The Yang family matchmaker was confused, waving her handkerchief and shouting, “You, what is the meaning of this? I was sent by the Yang family! With this attitude, are you not afraid of offending the Yang family?!”

What Yang family, what Willow family—none of them were as important as Li Chu.

Li Chu had originally felt that coming in directly might be inappropriate. Although she was a military officer, there were still etiquette and rules to follow when visiting someone’s home.

She thought this in her heart, but her steps did not stop.

When she saw the Old Madam walking quickly toward her with a kind smile in the courtyard, Li Chu threw those thoughts to the back of her mind and stepped up to greet her.

Forget etiquette and rules; one never stood on such formalities with one’s own people.

The Old Madam and Madam Wen were about to offer formal greetings to Li Chu, but before they could even bend their knees, their hands were grasped, and they were warmly greeted, “Old Madam, Auntie, I saw a carriage at the door. I hope I’m not disturbing your entertaining of guests by coming over now.”

Madam Wen’s eyes were gentle, “No disturbance, no disturbance at all. You are never a disturbance whenever you come.”

Li Chu blinked and took note of these words.

The Old Madam held her hand and told her the truth, “The Yang family, the Minister of the Ministry of War, sent a matchmaker to propose marriage to Shu’er. You can see the courtyard; they have even sent gifts and the birth dates.”

She spoke euphemistically.

Proposing marriage—they hadn’t even “talked” properly yet, and they had already brought gifts and birth dates. This was “forcing” marriage.

Li Chu smiled, thinking she hadn’t heard clearly, “The Minister of the Ministry of War?”

Guan Lu, who was behind her, followed up, her eyes wide and her tone exaggerated, “The General hasn’t heard of them? That is a dignified fifth-rank official, such a big official.”

The Yang family matchmaker, who had just stepped out of the house, “…”

Madam Wen thought Li Chu truly didn’t know and whispered an explanation to her, “I heard from her implication that there is an even bigger official behind the Yang family.”

Li Chu looked at Madam Wen, understood Wen Shu’s awkwardness instantly, and leaned in, “Don’t worry, Auntie. I am certainly a higher official than they are.”

Madam Wen thought about it and realized that was true!

Besides, in the capital under the Emperor’s feet, how could the Yang family force a marriage on Shu’er?

Her back straightened once more.

The Yang family matchmaker saw the Wen mother and daughter-in-law surrounding a woman in red martial attire. Seeing that the woman was dressed simply and didn’t have any valuable items on her head or body, save for the luster of the leather belt on her waist and wrists, plus what the maid had just said about a “benefactor,” she thought she was likely just a hunter who knew how to draw a bow.

The Yang family matchmaker put her hands on her hips, walked down, and asked with her eyes narrowed, “Who are you?”

Li Chu lifted her eyes, “I am Li Chu.”

The matchmaker’s foot slipped, and she nearly tumbled down the steps.

Not everyone in the capital might know the Minister of the Ministry of War’s Yang family, but there was no one in this dynasty who did not know the surname Li.

Li Chu’s tone was casual, “Get out.”

Li Chu added, “And take those trinkets of the Yang family with you.”

The matchmaker’s back bent very low, the opposite of the way she had looked down her nose earlier. But she still couldn’t leave; the Yang side had told her that no matter what, she had to finalize this marriage.

The matchmaker steeled herself and said submissively, “General Li, this is a matter between the Yang family and the Wen family. I was merely entrusted by others and am in a difficult position.”

She looked at the Old Madam and the Madam, the implication being that the Wen family hadn’t expressed their stance yet.

The Old Madam held Li Chu’s hand and said in a deep voice, “General Li’s meaning is our Wen family’s meaning.”

Since the moment she refused the marriage, they had already offended the Yang family to the death.

Hearing this, Li Chu instantly straightened her posture. She moved from behind the two women and walked halfway around to stand beside the Old Madam, arm-in-arm.

The Yang family matchmaker, “…”

As she was slinking away, having people carry the boxes out, Li Chu glanced at her sideways, “Bring a word to Lord Yang: regarding the refusal of marriage, I will take Wen Shu to apologize in person another day.”

Guan Lu coldly urged, “Get out faster.”

The Yang family matchmaker’s tears and sweat flowed together. After agreeing, she left quickly.

No sooner had the boxes from the Yang family been cleared from the courtyard than someone else arrived carrying boxes.

Madam Wen looked terrified, “T-this time, who is it?”

Li Chu hurriedly raised her hands, “Don’t be afraid, Auntie, it’s me this time.”