The Lady General’s Absolute Indulgence - Chapter 11

The Shen household had been brimming with joy these past few days. As the New Year approached, news arrived from the Fang family that Fang Yanshu had passed the imperial exams with high honors and would be visiting shortly to discuss marriage.

Even Magistrate Xu, who usually felt out of reach, had invited Shen Wanjin to several banquets, speaking of the Shen family’s future son-in-law with great respect.

Huaian hired a carriage to take Wan Ning back to the Shen residence. The steward led them to the front hall and departed.

Shen Qingqing supported Lady Yang as they walked out slowly. From a distance, Lady Yang began, “Wan Ning, you are already a married woman. You shouldn’t just run back whenever you please; we won’t be able to explain this to your husband’s family.”

In the front hall, Huaian was leaning down, gently wiping the corner of Wan Ning’s mouth, her posture elegant and upright. Hearing the voice, Huaian looked up and nodded to Lady Yang and Shen Qingqing. Her face was handsome and clear, her gaze polite yet distant; her overall aura was so captivating that one instinctively felt like yielding to her.

Shen Qingqing was stunned into silence upon seeing Huaian’s face. Wasn’t it said… wasn’t it said that Shen Wan Ning was sold to a man with a face full of stubble? Wasn’t that man supposed to be crude and unbearable? Why… why is it like this? This person exuded an overwhelming nobility—even the elders of the Fang family or Brother Yanshu might not possess such poise. Something is wrong! Something must be wrong!

Shen Qingqing felt a surge of bitterness and gripped Lady Yang’s arm with resentment. “Mother! How can this be!”

After a brief moment of shock, Lady Yang quickly regained her composure. She looked Huaian and Wan Ning up and down, noting that Wan Ning had grown even more beautiful. Her fair face had a faint rosy glow, and her tender eyes were filled with warmth—she had clearly been cared for meticulously. Lady Yang asked Wan Ning unwillingly, “I say, Wan Ning! Are you… someone’s concubine now?”

Wan Ning knit her brows slightly in confusion, not understanding why Lady Yang would ask such a thing. She shook her head gently. “I do not know why Stepmother asks this, but I am no such thing.”

Huaian lightly took Wan Ning’s hand, then produced an exquisite carved Phoebe zhennan wood box and handed it to Lady Yang. She spoke with polite detachment: “These are some gifts Wan Ning prepared for Stepmother and Father. I hope Stepmother likes them. As it is late, we shall head to the back courtyard to rest and won’t keep you further.”

Having finished, Huaian nodded to Lady Yang and gently guided Wan Ning toward the back courtyard. She had no desire to speak another word to the people who had sold Wan Ning.

Lady Yang opened the box, and her eyes widened. Inside was a gold hairpin, a pair of pendants, and several pieces of gold and silver jewelry—all clearly of great value. She tapped the gold hairpin against the candlelight and let out a chuckle. “I didn’t expect the man Wan Ning married to have such means.”

Shen Qingqing watched the figures of Huaian and Wan Ning walking away together. Turning back to see Lady Yang’s greedy expression, she stomped her foot in rage. “Mother! Stop looking at those! They might be fake! Why is it different from what you said? Shen Wan Ning is a vixen! She used that face of hers to snare such a man—there must be a conspiracy!”

“Besides, Brother Yanshu is coming tomorrow. If he sees that vixen and refuses to marry me, what will I do!”

Lady Yang pondered for a moment before patting her daughter’s hand soothingly. “Qingqing, don’t worry. We have already settled things with the Fang family; they only recognize you as their daughter-in-law. We told them Wan Ning eloped with someone. No matter what she says now, Fang Yanshu and Shen Wan Ning are impossible. She is a married woman; what are you afraid of? Besides, her husband looks like someone who is not to be trifled with.”

With a soft creak, Wan Ning pushed open the door to the back courtyard. Faint coughing came from Yun-niang’s room, and a weak candlelight flickered through the window. The entire courtyard felt quiet and lonely.

Mist gathered in Wan Ning’s eyes. How worried her mother must have been all this time! Would her mother resent her for marrying without a word?

Huaian gently placed an arm around Wan Ning’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “A-Ning, go see your mother. She won’t blame you.”

Inside, Yun-niang was embroidering winter clothes, hoping to find someone to deliver them to her Wan Ning. Suddenly, she seemed to hear Wan Ning’s voice, cautious and soft: “Mother, I’ve come back to see you.”

Yun-niang thought she was hearing things. She looked around blankly and saw Wan Ning standing timidly at the door. Rubbing her eyes, she muttered, “Have I missed A-Ning so much that I’m hallucinating?”

Wan Ning could no longer hold back. She lunged into Yun-niang’s arms, her tears falling like broken pearls. “Mother, I missed you so much. I was so scared then… I was afraid you would die if you didn’t see a doctor, so… so when they told me to marry, I did.”

Yun-niang gently stroked Wan Ning’s long hair. “Mother knows. You must have been forced. They all said you eloped, but my good A-Ning would never do such a thing.”

Yun-niang struck her own chest in grief. “It was Mother who dragged you down! It was Mother who ruined your good marriage prospects!”

Wan Ning quickly caught Yun-niang’s hands and said urgently, “Mother, no, that’s not it. The person I married… she is truly wonderful. I brought her to see you.”

Huaian walked slowly to Yun-niang’s side. Her exceptionally handsome face and upright stature told Yun-niang immediately that this person was no ordinary man.

Yun-niang stared at Huaian in shock for a moment, then pointed at her. “You mean… he is your husband?”

Wan Ning nodded shyly. “Mother, my heart belongs to her.”

“Would Lady Yang be so kind as to marry you to such a person?” Yun-niang wondered.

Huaian lightly held Wan Ning’s waist and helped her stand, then spoke seriously to Yun-niang: “Mother, I have come back today for two reasons. One is to visit you. The other is because A-Ning and I have not yet had a formal ceremony. I have brought gifts specifically to propose marriage to you in person. I wish to take A-Ning as my wife, and I hope for your blessing.”

Wan Ning looked at Huaian in a daze, her eyes reddening as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. Huaian hadn’t mentioned this before they arrived. So, all those expensive items she bought were for… In truth, Huaian didn’t have to do any of this, but she… she refused to let Wan Ning suffer even the slightest slight, even if it was a formality.

Huaian reached out to wipe the tears from her face, saying dotingly, “Little crybaby. Don’t let Mother laugh at us; she’ll think I’m bullying you.”

Yun-niang wiped her eyes with relief. “This is good, this is very good. I always thought my A-Ning suffered so much with me, I wondered when someone would cherish her the way I do. Now I can rest easy. As long as you are living well, Mother is happy.”

Huaian spoke up cautiously after a moment’s thought, “Mother, if you are unhappy here, I can take you with us to live together.”

Huaian had never been close to her own mother, but Yun-niang, though she lacked power, cherished Wan Ning as a precious jewel. Huaian wanted to bring Yun-niang to Wan Ning’s side to give her peace of mind.

Yun-niang’s hair had already turned gray at the temples, and her face was pale. She looked around her small room and said softly, “No. I’ve lived here my whole life; I’m used to it and don’t want to move anymore. You and A-Ning just remember to come see me in the future.”