Chapter 54: True Colors Revealed (Part 1)
Not being able to ride and shoot is one thing, but not having the necessary attire is another. As a noblewoman in the capital, with a husband from a military family, Yanru may not know how to ride a horse or shoot an arrow, but without an eye-catching outfit, making a stunning appearance at the horse racing track would be like seeing the sun in the middle of the night, which is completely out of place. Yanru devoted herself to studying, even spending half an hour choosing the shoulder straps. Unfortunately, the weather had turned a bit colder today, and wearing that douzhupi coat alone was not enough to keep her warm, and adding another layer would make her look bloated. Standing in front of the mirror, Yanru hesitated for a long time before giving up on warmth and just wearing the coat, shivering and enduring the harsh north wind.
When everything was ready, Yanru opened the secret compartment of her dressing box. Inside lay the pair of rings she had discovered on her wedding night. Xue Jia had never mentioned them to her, but Yanru firmly believed they belonged to her. The entire Dai Garden was hers, and so was Xue Jia. So how could the things Xue Jia had left in Dai Garden not also be hers? Yanru took the smaller of the rings and threaded them through her finger. She held her hand high up against the light, admiring her delicate hand as if it were an antique jade. The rings sat loosely on her finger, looking unattractive.
Yanru firmly believed that this jade ring was made of rare material and had the intertwined branches pattern that symbolized the love between husband and wife, and it was definitely tailor-made for her.
A sudden pain in her abdomen and the urge to urinate came over her. Yanru got up and slipped to the bathroom. Feeling refreshed, she returned to her bedroom and stood at the doorway, only to hear Xue Jia directing Shanjuan to search through boxes and cabinets for something. Shanjuan was terrified and swore to Xue Jia, "I really haven't touched it. It's always been there... I grew up with you, young master. Doesn't you know whether your hands and feet are clean or not?"
Xue Jia Ya Zi: "Then tell me where it went? You've always been the one to clean this thing... You're the only one who knew I bought that thing back then."
Shanjuan finished flipping the table and leaned over to the cabinet: "There were two of them placed together, how come one got away?"
Yanru walked in and asked, "Master, what did you lose? Shanjuan! You are always so clumsy and make your master angry. One day I will tie you up and sell you off."
"Ah...it's nothing, just a little thing." Xue Jia hesitated, his eyes darting around like a fly into the room, finally landing on Yanru's hand. His features twisted into a ball, and he said viciously, "How did it get into your hand?"
Yanru was confused: "Ah?"
Xue Jia grabbed Yanru's wrist and pulled it forcefully between their eyes. "Is it fun? You're so happy wearing my things." He was so strong that Yanru's fingers were stiff with pain, almost convulsing. She forced a charming smile and said, "You found it in my dressing box. Wasn't it given to me by my husband?"
Xue Jia lost his usual politeness towards Yanru. He shook his hand, and the ring dangled on her finger, almost falling out: "It's so loose, is it yours? You can't shoot an arrow at all, and you want someone to make a ring for you? Also, when did it become your dowry? That was the dowry made by our Xue family." He was like a gloomy wild dog, glaring at Yanru with squinted eyes. Regardless of whether it hurt or not, he directly took off the ring and stuffed it into Shanjuan's hand. He pushed Yanru away and walked away, leaving Yanru full of grievances. She was inexplicably scolded, so she had to attack Shanjuan. She put her hand on her shoulder and pushed Shanjuan to the ground: "You blind son of a bitch, you blind thing! Don't tell me, don't tell me! Don't tell me!"
Shanjuan was afraid that Yanru would go crazy and beat her up, so she didn't even try to explain herself. She quickly got up from the ground and ran away with her head in her hands.
Yanru was fed up with the fact that this slut couldn't even fart for a long time. She was so angry that she had no place to vent her anger. She stamped her feet and cursed, "Son of a bitch, all of you stupid sons of a bitch!"
The brief incident ended, and the couple, each preoccupied with their own concerns, set off for their rendezvous at the racecourse west of the city. Xue Jia, unbothered by the pain in his neck, twisted his head until it faced the window, then threw his head back and rushed towards Yanru, making her uncomfortable with his expression, unable to read his moods and afraid to speak. Yanru silently and gently grasped Xue Jia's hand, trying to please him, but Xue Jia didn't appreciate it. He impatiently shook her off and moved his hips towards her.
Damn it, you’re so narrow-minded! Yanru was also angry, twisted her head, and went to face the window angrily.
After a bumpy ride of about an hour, they finally arrived at their destination. As soon as they got off the car, Xue Jia immediately put on a smiling face, hugged Yanru warmly, and greeted everyone with great affection. Yanru understood tacitly, and forgot about the discord for the time being, hugged him in her arms, and acted like a charming wife. They went in stickyly, and the owner of the stable led them to the high platform for horse viewing to have tea and rest, and sat with the other guests, chatting and laughing superficially. Yanru made a mistake, as no one at the scene paid attention to her clothes and appearance. All eyes were fixed on a goose yellow figure on the shooting range in the distance, and they all praised: "That woman's shooting skills are excellent. Eight out of ten shots hit the bull's eye. She is really as good as men. Who is this girl? She is so amazing."
"That's not a girl anymore. She's the new bride of Doctor Cao from the Ministry of War. She married the youngest son of that family after the festival. No one has forgotten her. All I remember is her surname is Dong, Madam Dong."
"Oh, the lord of the Ministry of War has welcomed a daughter-in-law who is so skilled in archery? I heard that Doctor Cao's youngest son is quite skilled in riding, and the bride is so clever, they are truly a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven!"
Yanru looked over to see the woman in pale yellow winning first place. Amidst the applause and cheers, a man in yellow helped her take down her enormous bow and feathered arrows, then carefully wiped the sweat from her cheeks with a handkerchief. Everyone around her was praising the couple, no one paying any attention to the Xue couple. Yanru felt uneasy, mentally searching through all of Ji Mingxiu's paintings and forcing the conversation around herself: "Speaking of archery, it reminds me that my mentor, Ji Mingxiu, the foremost painter of our dynasty, also painted a picture about archery." Her words were so abrupt that the people around her, confused by her meaning, looked at each other in silence. Only kindhearted people offered a few words: "Oh, really? Wow."
Yanru, bored, sipped her tea with a pout. Suddenly, she realized Xue Jia wasn't around. He'd abandoned her at some point, disappearing into the bustling crowd of male guests. She called Shanjuan to go with her. The polo field had a peach orchard, twice as large as the Xue Mansion's horse ranch. They entered the orchard and wandered around, scrambling eastwards without even looking west. Not only had she lost Xue Jia, but Shanjuan too.
Fury welled up in her heart, and after a bad day, Yanru was nearly fainting from frustration. She swore that if she caught Shanjuan, she would give her a beating, throw her into the woodshed and starve her for three days, so that she would remember her duties as a servant. While she was fuming, Yanru noticed a faint movement nearby, a familiar accent. Alone and a woman, she couldn't show herself, so she hid under a large rock nearby, waiting for an opportunity to slip away.
Yanru fell silent, huddled quietly behind a large rock. She heard a man and a woman approaching and stopping nearby. The woman, with a hint of impatience beneath her gentle demeanor, said, "What's past is past. Men and women are different. You and I both have families now, so it's not appropriate for us to meet like this again. If you have anything to say, please say it quickly. My husband is waiting for me."
The man seemed shy and embarrassed. "Jin Gui, we parted in a hurry back then. I bought this then, but didn't have time to give it to you. I heard you were here today, so I brought it to you specially. Take a look, do you like it?"
Yanru's eyelids twitched. Although the man's tone was so tender and unfamiliar, his voice was like a hand holding his heart, filled with his inner thoughts. It was so familiar that it was even a bit annoying to hear. Filled with questions, Yanru couldn't help but quietly peek out, her heart chilled.
That man was clearly her husband, the one who slept beside her day and night, the one she couldn't find anywhere! Was the woman across from her the yellow-dressed Lady Dong who had just won the applause of the audience with her archery skills?!
The chill in her heart moved to her scalp. She stood there silently, her chest pounding.
Xue Jia and Madam Dong were facing each other. Xue Jia held a brocade box in his hand like a treasure. He opened it towards Madam Dong and carefully took out a ring. "Hey, I bought it a while ago. The style is a bit old, but the jade is good. Would you like to try it on?"
Madam Dong, her hands tucked in her pockets, was extremely alert. "Again, men and women should be careful. You and I both already have families. Besides, you were in the wrong in the beginning. Are you blaming me for being so hypocritical now?"
Xue Jia hurriedly denied it and took two steps forward uncontrollably: "No, no, I just wanted to give it to you today. When I bought it, I thought I would give it to you when we enter the bridal chamber, but unfortunately..."
"I don't want it!" Madam Dong screamed, as if struck by a spark, trembling and stepping back repeatedly. "I don't want it, I don't need your ring! What bridal chamber! What pity! There's no pity! Who are you? Look at your face! I could fill ten baskets with the regrets of my life, but the one I regret least is breaking off the engagement with your family! If you really care about the years of friendship between our two neighbors, then just ignore me when you see me in the future! No, as if you and I never knew each other, my husband is a good man! He's never been with other women! He's nothing like you!" After shouting, Madam Dong turned around and fled, leaving Xue Jia behind. She clutched the brocade box in her hand, her misshapen, bean-like head drooping in a desolate arc. He was distraught, resentful and sad, and for a moment he looked pleasing to the eye, no longer as ugly as he had been when he was showing his fangs and claws.
The scenes of this morning flashed before her eyes. Yanru felt as if she were soaked in vinegar, her breath acrid and bitter, a bitter taste that fell on her face like a deeply humiliating slap. In broad daylight, she was dazed and for no apparent reason, she saw the moon from the night she and Liu Xiang parted. It looked like a round teardrop from Chang'e, filling the sky.
Remembering that this place was not her home, she forced herself to remain calm, chose a way out, and walked with her legs weak. After a few steps, she heard two women huddled together, hiding in the bushes and chattering:
"Back in the day, the Xue and Dong residences were right next to each other. You were Miss Dong's personal maid, and I served my young master. When we had free time, we often went shopping together. If you think about it, it's been two or three years since we last saw each other."
"How could I have ever thought of separating? I was young and didn't know that the moon doesn't always remain full, the clouds disperse easily, and that even if a long tent is set up a thousand miles away, there is always a party that will end. I thought that since our eldest son from the Xue family was engaged to your daughter, we could still eat, live, and work together in the future."
"My daughter is a very strong-willed person. She couldn't stand the character of your son-in-law. Later, she had to inquire with this son-in-law for a long time before agreeing."
"What can we do? He's a promiscuous bastard. You don't even need to ask. Which of the top girls in our hometown hasn't spent the night with him? Not to mention Miss Dong, I find it outrageous. We can only say it's not fate. In the entire Xue family, who wouldn't like your daughter? She's beautiful, sensible, and can manage the accounts and the shop. She even taught us to read."
"By the way, where's your wife? I heard she was in a big academy, and she was a famous painter or something? A goddess? A fairy or something? Anyway, how did she treat you?"
"Stop talking. With her around, there's no one more cunning and mean-spirited in the world. She wants gold when she has silver, and jade when she has gold. She talks all the time. I don't like to pay attention to her. I just do my job well. After all, no one is as good as your girl - I'm still wearing the little red string you gave me. Speaking of which, although our man is a playboy, he still cares about your girl. Now his new room in the Xue Mansion is all based on your girl's preferences. The paintings, vases, and shelves are all in the styles she liked. It's almost the same as your girl's bedroom when she was a child. Tsk, everyone has changed, and I don't know who you are being so pretentious to. Oh, I suddenly remembered that you don't know. On the second day after the wedding, the bride overslept and didn't get up. The mistress and the master were bored in the room. No one was watching him, so he said he was going out to have breakfast with so-and-so. In fact, I could see that he was going to visit a brothel! The next day, he went to sleep with a woman outside..."
"Shanjuan!" The anger in her chest surged up, and Yanru was ignited. The sparks in her heart flew out. She forgot that she was on someone else's territory. She didn't care about etiquette and rushed forward to grab Shanjuan's hair, pressed her to the ground, took off a hairpin from her hair, and stabbed Shanjuan in the face: "I told you to be arrogant! I told you to be arrogant! You are a stupid idiot who messes up everything! In the past, when you were working at home and couldn't even fart for a long time, I reluctantly regarded you as a down-to-earth idiot. Now, you are here to gossip about your master with others. Your cheap mouth is so leaky, saying all kinds of dirty and smelly things. It can catch up with a sieve! I told you to be arrogant!"
Shanjuan covered her face tightly with her hands, tears seeping out from between her fingers, stained with blood. The girl next to her was anxious, crying and grabbing Yanru's hand: "Stop! Are you going to stab her blind before you stop?"
Yanru pushed her over and said, "Something is going on in the donkey's mouth from the cowshed? What's it got to do with you?"
Shanjuan told the Dong family's maid to run away, crying and begging Yanru to let her go. Yanru withdrew her hand, grabbed Shanjuan's hair, and spat in her face: "Blacksmith's material, beaten goods! Tell me, what is your Xue family's Hao Dalang hiding from me! What is his relationship with that Dong family member? Tell me!"
Shanjuan's face was scratched with two tiny cuts, and blood oozed out, mixing with her tears. She sobbed and spoke incoherently, "Nothing else. The young master was engaged in a marriage in his hometown, Zhuwu County, but it was not made public at the time, and only two families knew about it. The in-laws were the Dong family next door. The young master and the Dong girl grew up together."
"Ah~ They're childhood sweethearts~" Yanru's mouth twitched, "Then why did they regret the engagement? What happened to my bridal chamber?"
Shanjuan cried, "Young Master used to behave badly. He loved to go to brothels to listen to music, and he also loved to visit brothels and have sex with several girls, spending a lot of money there. Miss Dong tolerated it for a long time and made a fuss several times, but Young Master still wouldn't change. Later, the Dong family broke off the engagement - don't be afraid, my lady! Young Master has never gotten anyone pregnant! He has never taken any concubines, no, really! The bridal chamber, the bridal chamber, they bought all those things long ago, all good things, and since my lady and I were so eager to get married, I gave it to you directly."
Yanru tugged at her hair again: "Also! What happened on the second day of my wedding? Tell me clearly!"
"That's right, that's right... You got up late that day, and the young master got angry." Shanjuan gasped. She didn't dare to say anything and cried. Yanru pushed forward, and Shanjuan fell to the ground, sliding a few inches away. She lay on the ground wiping her nose and tears. Yanru ignored her, put the hairpin on her head, and turned around in anger, rushing around to catch people. It was rare that she ran a few steps, and saw an ugly and unsightly figure rarely seen in the world near the big rock where she had just hidden - Xue Jia didn't leave, but stood there lonely and sad. Yanru didn't care about anything, she ran up to him, spat in Xue Jia's face, and cursed Xue Jia for having no conscience, hiding the secret of the engagement, deceiving her how loyal he was to her, and insulting her with the wedding room that he had previously reserved for someone else. While cursing, she asked the most painful question: "On the second day after the marriage, the second day, you went to visit a whore?"
Xue Jia was surprised and puzzled: "How did you know?"
"Oh? That's true!" Yanru cried and cursed, her words running back and forth, unable to hide the malice in her heart, and she made the most cruel remarks, "I only slept two hours late, and you're going out to sleep with a whore. You black-hearted, rotten-crotch bastard, you're so quick. If you have money to spend on whoring, you'd better buy some deer penis to replenish your body!"
"Fuck you!" Xue Jia flew into a rage, cursing with equal viciousness: "You Yanru, you said my crotch was rotten, but what about you? Do you think you're some good person? Do you think I know nothing? You're being affectionate with Ji Mingxiu, some kind of goddess of painting, and you think I don't know about all the dirty, smelly, rotten things you did in the past?"
[Random Thoughts]: This story has entered its second half, and I'm striving to finish it by the end of the month! When I was writing, I sometimes used songs as background music, and then slowly expressed my emotions. If you like it, I'd be happy to edit it and share it with everyone!
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