Chapter 11: The Art of Getting Along as Newlyweds
Page 1 of 3
Inside the room, Lin Wanqing and Lu Jinxiao were both so awkward that neither knew what to do.
Though they were already husband and wife, neither of them knew how to face the other.
It was Lin Wanqing who broke the silence first. “General, thank you for helping with my mother’s dowry.”
“No need,” Lu Jinxiao replied stiffly.
After that, he fell silent again.
Lin Wanqing considered herself a fairly good judge of character, yet she could not see through Lu Jinxiao at all.
When he had rebuked Lady Qin at the Lin residence that day, he had not seemed like a man of few words.
Could it be that he simply had nothing to say to her?
Lin Wanqing could not be bothered to wonder why. She merely turned to retrieve the gift she had prepared for him.
The moment Lu Jinxiao saw her turn away, he was filled with regret.
Why had he spoken to her like that just now? He was usually quite articulate, so why did his tongue seem to lock itself the moment he saw her?
She would not be angry, would she?
It was already bad enough that he had to leave for the battlefield on their wedding day, causing her distress. And now he had treated her so coldly on top of that!
How could he be so foolish?
Should he try to comfort her?
But he had never comforted a young lady before!
The more anxious Lu Jinxiao became, the more solemn his expression grew.
When Lin Wanqing emerged carrying a bundle, she saw the look on his face and could not help pausing.
Why did he look angry now?
Still, she did not ask. They were not familiar with each other, and too many questions would seem ill-mannered. Pretending not to notice his solemn expression, she smiled and said, “General, I had this golden-thread soft armor made for you. It is somewhat cumbersome, but it should offer you some protection when worn. Blades and arrows are heedless on the battlefield. I hope it will keep you safe, even if only in some small measure.”
As she spoke, she opened the bundle and took out the armor.
The entire suit was a deep gold, made from countless tiny golden rings linked together with exquisite precision.
What an extraordinarily valuable gift.
Lu Jinxiao gazed at her deeply, warmth stirring in his chest.
He had been fighting on the battlefield since he was sixteen or seventeen, yet no one had ever thought to have protective armor made for him. Only Lin Wanqing had kept him in her thoughts before she had even entered his household.
He did not actually need such a thing, but being cherished by someone felt rather pleasant.
Since his wife cared so much about him, he ought to show her that he cared as well.
Page 2 of 3
After some thought, he removed his personal seal and placed it on the table. “Keep this. You may withdraw as much silver as you like from my private accounts.”
He had no way to prepare a proper gift at such short notice, so he would give her silver instead.
Most of the money in her possession came from the dowry her mother had left her. The Lin family was miserly to the extreme. Though she was marrying into a prestigious household, the dowry they had given her amounted to less than ten thousand taels—still less than the cost of this suit of armor.
His wife had little money of her own. How could he let her spend her dowry? That was the foundation of her security.
So he was placing his private fortune in her hands. She could spend it however she pleased.
He thought his arrangement was very considerate.
Lin Wanqing, however, assumed that he simply did not want to owe her anything. She had prepared such a valuable gift for him, and he had immediately handed over his personal seal in return. It was clearly an exchange of gifts, leaving neither of them indebted to the other.
That was fine with her.
Thus, Lin Wanqing accepted the seal without hesitation.
She had no intention of using his money, but by accepting his goodwill, they were even.
When Lu Jinxiao saw her take it, he was even more delighted. His wife did not regard him as an outsider.
At that thought, the tension around his brows eased considerably.
Seeing this, Lin Wanqing thought to herself that she had indeed guessed correctly. This man disliked owing favors. As it happened, she felt the same way.
She had not expected them to resemble each other in temperament. If that was the case, and if he had no other intentions in the future, perhaps they could become a respectful, well-matched couple after all.
With that in mind, Lin Wanqing said, “Your journey will surely be fraught with danger, General. Please be extremely careful on the battlefield and take good care of yourself.”
Those words sounded especially pleasing to Lu Jinxiao. His wife was worried about him.
He ought to say something to put her mind at ease.
“Do not worry. If I fail to return from the battlefield, you may marry someone else.”
He supported a widow’s right to remarry. His elder sister-in-law had only been able to marry again because he had given her his support. There was no reason that when a man died, a woman should have to remain faithful to him for the rest of her life. He had never seen a woman die and a man spend the rest of his life mourning her.
They were all human beings. Why should a man be allowed to marry again while a woman was forbidden to do the same?
Yet those words sounded entirely different to Lin Wanqing.
Was he blaming her for saying too much?
As expected, this man was moody and impossible to communicate with.
Forget it. She would say no more. The more she said, the more mistakes she would make.
When Lu Jinxiao saw that she had fallen silent, he grew anxious again.
It was over. Those words had surely hurt her feelings.
Why was he so hopeless with words?
He was just about to make amends when a voice came from outside the door.
“General, everything is ready. We should be leaving.”
Page 3 of 3
Lu Jinxiao had no choice but to rise and say, “Break down the door.”
The sound of someone smashing the lock rang out, and the door opened after only a few blows.
His attendant, Changqing, stood respectfully outside, not daring to let his eyes wander.
Lu Jinxiao strode out on his long legs, while Lin Wanqing picked up the golden-thread armor and followed behind him.
Soon, they reached the main gate.
Changming stood there holding the reins of a spirited steed. Several carriages loaded with supplies waited behind him.
The guests had not yet dispersed, and everyone followed them outside to see Lu Jinxiao off.
Lu Jinxiao cupped his fists toward the assembled guests. “Everyone, I must take my leave first. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.”
The guests responded with a chorus of polite farewells.
Lady Lu, Lu Jinhong, and the three children hurried over. Seeing that he had already mounted his horse, Lady Lu immediately burst into tears.
“My son, be careful on the road. You must return safely. Your mother will wait here for your triumphant return.”
Lu Jinhong’s voice was thick with tears. “Brother, take good care of yourself.”
The three children were already sobbing uncontrollably. They were truly afraid whenever an elder of the household went to war, because there was every chance he might never return.
Lu Jinxiao glanced at them and instructed, “Behave yourselves at home. No mischief or troublemaking.”
The three nodded obediently, looking every bit the picture of good behavior.
At last, Lu Jinxiao’s gaze fell upon Lin Wanqing.
He truly felt he owed her an apology. He was abandoning her for the battlefield on their very first night as husband and wife. If he had known this would happen, he would have postponed the wedding and married her only after returning safely.
With him overseeing matters at home, the burden of managing the household would have been much lighter for her.
After a moment’s thought, he said to Lady Lu, “Mother, after I leave, all household affairs are to be entrusted to Wanqing. You and Jinhong are not to interfere carelessly.”
Lady Lu’s tears stopped at once.
Lu Jinhong found it difficult to accept as well. She had just opened her mouth to object when Lu Jinxiao silenced her with one grave look.
Lin Wanqing knew that Lu Jinxiao was protecting her. As a newcomer to the household, his words meant that everyone in the General’s residence would have to think twice before making things difficult for her.
So she gave him a faint smile and held out the bundle containing the armor.
“General, take care. I will certainly safeguard the residence in your absence.”
Lu Jinxiao reached out and accepted the bundle. Seated on horseback, he looked down at her. He felt there were many things he wanted to say, yet he did not know where to begin.
The more unable he was to speak, the worse he felt. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, “I leave the household in your hands. Take care.”
With that, Lu Jinxiao tugged on the reins and rode away.