Chapter 08 – Shyness

Madam Yang gave up her place to her mother-in-law and let the mother and daughter talk on the Kang while she sat on the brocade stool.

Like Madam Yang, Madam Wen also scrutinized Wen Hui, feeling heartache, “So thin and bony…” Then, changing her tone to console herself, “But I heard the scholar families in the south prefer slender girls.”

Madam Yang supported her. “Exactly, I’ve heard that people from the south often mock us northern women for being too rough.”

Madam Wen, being the biological mother, naturally wanted her child to be healthy, even if it meant being a bit chubby. Hearing Madam Yang’s words, she felt relieved and sighed, “Yes, that’s true.”

She then inquired about Wen Hui’s illness on the journey, and Wen Hui answered all her questions.

Madam Yang was a sensible person. After listening to a few words, she got up and said, “I’ll go check on the kitchen.” She left the mother and daughter alone. Although the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was good, it could never compare to that of a biological mother and daughter.

After Madam Yang left, Madam Wen sent Jin Zhen and Yin Xian out. She sat closer to help Wen Hui dry her hair and asked, “Did you see Master Huo’s fourth son?”

Wen Hui nodded, “Yes, I saw and talked to him.”

“Sigh …” Madam Wen’s eyes reddened and tears fell, “Lian Yi is a good child.”

Since Wen Hui was betrothed to Wen Hui, Lian Yi of the Huo family had been especially attentive. Even at a young age, he knew how to write letters and send gifts to Wen Hui, showing care for his little fiancée like an adult. Not to mention how considerate he was.

So much so that when Wen Hui was punished for being naughty, she angrily retorted, “If you hit me again, I’ll run to Lintao!”

It made people angry and amused.

Their families had a deep bond. Back then, they were friends who had gone through life and death. Although they were far away later, the friendship had never been cut off. The men were sworn brothers and had long planned to become in-laws. Initially, they wanted a Wen family son to marry a Huo family daughter, but the girl passed away early. Later, when Wen Hui was born, she took her place, and it was decided that a Huo family son would marry a Wen family daughter.

The women of both families had once been neighbors and shared hardships with their husbands. They had helped each other during childbirth. Their relationship was anything but ordinary. Marrying their daughter to the Huo family meant she would be treated as their own, so wonderful.

Who could have foreseen disaster striking? A good family was gone just like that. The Wen family’s savings were exhausted, and they could only save Lian Yi.

Madam Wen wiped her tears and looked at Wen Hui again. Seeing Wen Hui’s calm despite some sadness, Madam Wen’s worries eased. She asked, “Tell me, what did you and Lianyi talk about?”

Wen Hui said, “He didn’t admit who he was, but I guessed it. I told him … I didn’t say much, but he told me a lot.”

She recounted Huo Jue’s words to Madam Wen and asked, “Did you sell my dowry?”

Madam Wen sighed and didn’t say anything. She took a wooden comb to untangle Wen Hui’s hair.

Wen Hui smiled, “Mother, it doesn’t matter.”

Madam Wen sighed again, “I just feel sorry for you.”

Wen Hui said, “Why? We saved my fiancé, didn’t we?”

“Don’t mention it again. He has nothing to do with you anymore.” Madam Wen said, “Since he told you everything, you should know that our Wen family didn’t let the Huo family down. Your father told me that when he mentioned breaking off the engagement, Lianyi agreed immediately without hesitation.”

As she spoke, she looked at Wen Hui’s expression.

She feared Wen Hui might develop feelings for Huo Jue or stubbornly cling to the idea of being a faithful widow, as romanticized in books.

However, Wen Hui said, “I understand. I originally thought people mustn’t go back on their words and abandon someone when they are down. I couldn’t get over it, so I decided to see him and we cleared things up. I think he’s a very good person. He didn’t have any resentment and even told me things I didn’t know. I told him I had discussed another marriage and would return to get married. he advised me to be filial to my in-laws and respect my husband. Mother, Brother Lian Yi is a very good person.”

Madam Wen, tearful, said. “If he wasn’t good, why would we have betrothed you to him back then? I personally saw what a good child he was. Your Aunt Huo is such a bright person. How could the son she raised not be good?”

As Madam Wen cried, Wen Hui turned to comfort her instead, “Although Brother Lian Yi is no longer registered, he’s living quite well. The clothes he wears are very bright. Father only wears such quality on New Year or other special occasions. He also rode a fine horse. And the people around him seemed to respect him. He seemed very influential…”

The slaves of the nobility often lived better than wealthy commoners. Given Huo Jue’s looks and intelligence, he shouldn’t have a bad life no matter where he ended up. Madam Wen could imagine that.

But so what? He was a man who had lost his ability as a man. The Huo family’s lineage ended with him.

Back then, Yue Ya’er’s father brought Ah Bai back and sighed to her, “If he were healthy, we would never have broken off the engagement.”

Madam Wen agreed. Based on their deep friendship with the Huo family, as long as Huo Lianyi was healthy, they wouldn’t have abandoned the engagement, no matter his circumstances.

But, but …

He was now like this, and there was no point in Wen Hui marrying him. The engagement broke off in the end.

Madam Wen wiped her tears and observed Wen Hui closely. When Wen Hui talked about her former fiancé, her eyes were bright and clear.

While other girls her age were starting to think about love. Only her silly daughter, spent all day playing with guns and sticks, practicing martial arts. When it came to “loyalty”, she knew a little about it. But when it came to “love”, she was not enlightened at all.

Madam Wen was both sad and relieved.

She wiped away her tears and changed the topic, “Madam Lu and Young Master Lu should have landed by now. They will arrive in a day or two.”

Wen Hui responded with a simple “Oh.”

This silly daughter showed no shyness or excitement at the mention of her future mother-in-law and husband at all. Even before, when everyone mentioned “your Brother Huo” or “your Brother Lianyi”, she didn’t feel shy. She only smiled and got used to it. When would she truly grow up?

Madam Wen was worried.

She dried Wen Hui’s hair and told her, “For the next few days, you are not allowed to leave the house. Stay inside and take good care of yourself. Use the fragrant lotion I got you, and apply it to your face and hands. No playing with weapons, and focus on your needlework. Keep your mind settled.”

Wen Hui wilted again.

Madam Wen’s heart softened, “It’s just for a few days. Behave yourself.

The Lu family is a scholarly family. You met Lord Lu before. He has such a good temperament. We can’t imitate his style of speech. Madam Lu and Lord Lu are both from Yuhang. I’ve heard that Madam Lu’s family had a court elder in their lineage. Even now, Madam Lu’s maternal family has a cousin and an uncle who are all scholars. They are a truly distinguished scholar family… If you told me in the past that our family could become in-laws with such a family, I wouldn’t believe it even if you beat me to death.”

The term “scholar” carried significant weight in the minds of common people, especially those with members who had excelled in the imperial examinations.

Wen Hui’s father, Wen Wei, was born a peasant. He worked hard for half his life and was now a sixth-rank Baihu Officer and his career was likely to stop there. In contrast, Lord Lu, Lu Zheng, was a deputy magistrate in Jiangzhou. Although he was also a sixth-rank official, he came from a scholarly family in Yuhang and ranked second in the imperial examinations. He was also about ten years younger than Wen Wei, with a much brighter future. Not to mention that civil officials were always noble and martial officials were lowly. Civil officials were always considered superior to military ones, even if they held the same rank.

This was not just about individual official career prospects but also the centuries-old heritage of the Lu family, a genuine scholarly household.

So, whether it was background, status, or career potential, this marriage was a significant step up for the Wen family.

If it hadn’t been for Mr. Lu being kidnapped by bandits on his way to his post and almost losing his life, only to be rescued by Wen Wei on a visit to a friend, the Wen family would never have had the chance to marry into a good family.

Madam Wen took a deep breath and continued, “But scholarly families have strict rules. You’ve always been raised freely by me, a naughty child. I’m worried that Mrs. Lu might find faults in you.

So I’m telling you to behave, calm down, and prepare yourself properly. Once you meet Madam Lu and confirm the engagement, I’ll let you go and play as much as you want.”

Wen Hui was speechless, “Am I that mischievous? It’s not like I’m ignorant.”

Madam Wen glared at her, “Not ignorant? Not ignorant, you? You are a young girl yet you went to Changsha alone!”

Wen Hui was at a loss for words, “That’s different.”

Madam Wen had already sent someone to report to Wen Baihu, who was patrolling with his men. He rushed back on horseback with his second son, Wen Song, and eldest son, Wen Shan as soon as he heard the news.

Upon seeing her, they were just like everyone else, shocked by Wen Hui’s appearance. Wen Shan even shouted, “My goodness, how did you become so skinny, like a monkey!”

Before Wen Hui could react, Madam Wen hit her silly son, “Watch your mouth!”

Wen Baihu only rubbed his hands together, “It’s good that you are back, it’s good that you are back.”

Madam Yang prepared the meal, and the family of seven sat together to eat.

Madam Wen also watched Madam Yang grow up. She personally requested Madam Yang to be her eldest daughter-in-law and she was very satisfied. Madam Wen was not a harsh mother-in-law who would unnecessarily trouble her daughter-in-law. When Madam Yang married into the family, she only set the rules on the first day. On the second day, Madam Wen invited Yang Shi to join them at the table, not needing to serve.

The Wen family’s dining atmosphere was always warm and pleasant.

Wen Hui had been away for a few months. Now she was back, Wen Baihu did not even scold her but kept telling Wen Hui to eat more. Wen Bai and Wen Song were the same.

Only Wen Shan protested, “Father, Yue Ya’er dared to run away from home this time. Aren’t you going to beat her?”

Wen Baihu replied, “Your mother must have beat her.”

Wen Shan then looked at his mother, who was feeling a bit guilty, and said sternly, “What are you looking at? I’ve already given her a good beating!”

Wen Bai looked up at the beam. Madam Yang turned away to hide her face. Wen Song glanced around and understood.

Wen Shan looked at Wen Hui’s relaxed and carefree expression after returning home, doubting she had been “beaten harshly”. He remembered when he was in trouble and his mother beat him so badly that he couldn’t get out of bed for three days.

But since Madam Wen had said so, Wen Shan dared not challenge her authority, though he remained skeptical.

Wen Hui glared at him and shook her fist in the air. Wen Shan glared back and cried in his heart, “It’s unfair,” Why was he severely punished for being naughty, but Wen Hui got off lightly every time?

Wen Song pushed his head down, “Eat your food!”

At the table, Wen Wei inquired about Huo Jue. Wen Hui repeated what she had told Madam Wen.

When Wen Baihu heard Huo Jue say “Wen family didn’t owe him anything”, he waved it off without comment, only rubbing his eyes. After rubbing them a few times, he still shed tears, “I tried my best.”

Wen Hui said, “Father, Brother Lianyi knows.”

Wen Baihu wiped his tears and raised his cup, instructing his second son, “Pour a cup for your sister.”

Madam Wen, who often drank and could hold her liquor well, no worse than a man’s, objected, “Why do you let her drink?!”

Wen Baihu said, “Just one cup. Ah Song, hurry up.”

Wen Song quickly poured a cup of wine for Wen Hui.

Wen Hui could only drink secretly usually and was surprised to be able to drink openly today. She held the cup with astonishment.

“You silly girl, you’re just like me,” Wen Baihu said, “Now that you’ve seen him and talked to him, do you feel at ease?”

Wen Hui nodded, “Yes.”

“That’s good. Then drink this cup,” Wen Baihu said, “After drinking this cup, from now on, no one in this house is to mention the name Huo. In the future, Yue Ya’er will be betrothed to the Lu family of Yuhang. The past is the past. “

“Yes, yes, yes. It’s all in the past.” Madam Wen quickly raised her cup.

Wen Bai and his wife, Wen Song, and Wen Shan raised their cups.

Wen Hui exhaled, her eyes bright and clear, “Father, don’t worry. I understand. From now on, I have nothing to do with Brother Lianyi. I will obey my parents’ wishes and the matchmaker’s arrangements. I’ll marry whoever my parents betroth me to.”

Her expression was calm and serene… no longer showing the stubborn resistance she had when she first learned of the broken engagement and the new proposal. The whole family felt relieved.

“Come, come, come, let’s have a toast.”

“Just this once, okay? You are not allowed to drink again!”

“Mother, she always drinks it secretly! Beat her up!”

“Mother, I drank Third Brother’s hidden wine! It was buried under the old tree in his courtyard! If you don’t believe me, go dig it up. There are several jars left! You said you’d whip him if he hid wine again!”

“Ah Shan, did you hide the wine you stole from me?”

“No, Father! I stole Second Brother’s wine!”

“I was wondering why my wine was missing! So it was you!”

The whole family laughed, raised their cups, and downed the cup.

From then on, the Wen family never mentioned the name ‘Huo’ again.

Wen Hui stayed in the house obediently for two days. On the third day, it began to snow lightly, and Madam Lu and the Lu family son arrived, stepping through the snow.

The young master had sparkling eyes and eyebrows like distant mountains. He wore a moon-white crane cloak and a raven-black cape. His sleeves fluttered, like an immortal as he stepped into the Wen family’s gate.

Wen Hui was a half-grown child who didn’t know what love or shyness was.

But when Young Master Lu’s icy cold eyes looked over, Wen Hui was stunned as a strange feeling arose in her heart.

—It was like being hit by something, causing her heart to race uncontrollably, and her cheeks were burning hot.

At thirteen or fourteen, love began to blossom.

In this swirling, misty, first snowfall, Lu Rui walked into Wen Hui’s heart.

From then on, Yue Ya’er knew what it was to be shy.