Chapter 2: Husband

Xie Lingxi had just dismounted from his horse when he was suddenly bumped into by a young girl dressed in white.

Her soft fragrance filled his arms.

“Husband, I’m scared!” Jiang Rong’s soft voice sounded aggrieved, as if she were extremely frightened, clutching him tightly.

Xie Lingxi’s entire body stiffened. Since the Empress Dowager granted their marriage, this young woman Jiang Rong had even sent him a letter of intimidation.

The letter contained only one sentence: If you dare to marry me, I dare to become a widow. Either you die, or I die.

He knew very well how much she hated him. He also understood how proud she was.

Even if she ran off to join mountain bandits, he wouldn’t find it strange.

But… she called him husband?

Xie Lingxi was deeply surprised, stunned by her calling him husband, almost losing his composure.

He shook himself free from his thoughts, suppressed the flurry of emotions, and cast a glance at Shen Wenyuan, who was covered in blood, lying on the ground.

With Jiang Rong’s skillful leg work, these mere mountain bandits were nothing.

She’s afraid? No—these bandits are the ones who should be afraid.

However, Xie Lingxi did not expose her. He only slightly tilted his head and instructed the guards behind him, “Kill them.”

“Yes!”

The guards from the Northern Wang Residence were elite soldiers and fierce warriors. They charged into the mountain bandits like slicing vegetables, quickly slaughtering them.

Only Shen Wenyuan, gravely wounded, lay on the ground, hurriedly shouting, “My father is the Grand Tutor! Don’t come any closer!”

“Jiang Rong, you run off with him in secret; how did it come to this?” Xie Lingxi raised an eyebrow, a look that was neither smiling nor angry.

Jiang Rong immediately lifted her small face buried in his embrace, her eyes red and swollen. “Husband, how can you slander my innocence? I didn’t run away with him!”

“Miss Jiang, your arranged marriage sister-in-law has already been chosen. You still want to argue?” The leader of the guards, Jing Zhe, said.

That’s right, she also has a substitute sister-in-law, Jiang Wan.

Jiang Rong’s parents died early. She was raised by her second uncle’s wife, whom she regarded as her own parents, and she shared a deep bond with her sister-in-law Jiang Wan.

After the Empress Dowager’s marriage decree was issued, her second aunt and Jiang Wan found her.

“Rong’er, we all know you and Wen Yuan are in love. That wastrel their son broke off their relationship and ruined your and his lives. Auntie really can’t bear to see this. After discussion with Wan Wan, we decided to let her marry you as a bridal substitute. You and Wen Yuan should run away together!” her second aunt persuaded.

Jiang Rong was overwhelmed with emotion. “But that wastrel isn’t a good person. Wanan marrying him would ruin her entire life. I can’t let her suffer for me!”

“Second Sister don’t worry. I have a way with wastrels. If I marry into the family, I’ll definitely be a good eldest daughter-in-law. But if you marry him, you’ll only be bullied. This is the best of both worlds. Sister, run away with Brother-in-law quickly!” Jiang Wan comforted her.

That year, Jiang Rong ran away in secret, believing she had her dearest sister and her beloved sweetheart. She thought she was the happiest person in the world.

But in the end, she was nothing but a pawn. She was used by them her whole life, and ultimately, they even used her to cause Xie Lingxi’s death.

She would not let any of these people go!

“Husband, I don’t know anything. After I went to bed last night, I woke up here. My husband, with his divine bearing, Shen Wenyuan can’t compare to you. How could I possibly run away with him?” Jiang Rong resolutely denied, pushing away completely.

Xie Lingxi’s gaze shifted downward, glancing at the half-dead Shen Wenyuan.

Who was really struggling desperately? Hmm?

“So, you mean to say that today’s arranged marriage has nothing to do with you?” Xie Lingxi looked at her.

Jiang Rong nodded obediently. “Of course! Such a good husband, how could I bear to give him to others? It’s only because you, Husband, are so handsome, wise, and noble—your charm made my sister momentarily confused, leading her to do something so wrong…”

Everyone from Jing Zhe to the other guards couldn’t bear to listen anymore.

Who didn’t know that the heir of the Northern Wang Residence was the city’s number one playboy? He had never done a good deed. How could Miss Jiang Rong speak so sincerely about him?

Xie Lingxi’s eyebrows raised sharply, his ink-colored pupils fixed on Jiang Rong, as if he were looking at a stranger.

In his intelligence network, Jiang Rong was not like this.

Is it that his subordinates are all fools, or that this young woman is hiding her true nature deeply?

But those scrutinizing eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a nonchalant expression, unreadable to anyone.

“Please, heir, have mercy and don’t hold the Jiang family accountable. Let me send her back first. Can we just go through with the wedding?” After saying this, the girl gently tugged at his sleeve and shook it.

A bit of coquettishness.

Husband, shall we go back and get married?