Lady, escort the emperor! 50
Chapter 50: Song Jia Ren’s Dark History
Seeing Li Nuo’s lack of interest, Song Yu could only shake his head regretfully, saying, “That’s a shame.”
Zhou Yu outwardly expressed regret, but inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he had prepared himself, the thought of the courtesan, Yuanyang, being with another man still caused him discomfort.
Li Nuo, however, was curious. He asked, “What kind of woman could captivate you both so completely?”
Song Yu and Zhou Yu, both from prominent families in Chang’an, had countless beauties vying for their attention, including noble ladies and daughters of prestigious families. The fact that they would fight over a courtesan, engaging in a public brawl, indicated that this Yuanyang must possess something extraordinary.
Song Yu sighed, “Brother-in-law, you don’t know. Yuanyang, although from a brothel, is unsullied by the world; she remains virtuous. She’s proficient in calligraphy, painting, music, and chess, and has even thoroughly studied military texts, possessing profound insights into military strategy. She’s a truly rare woman…”
Zhou Yu echoed, “Yes, in Chang’an, many women surpass Yuanyang in beauty and figure, and many possess greater artistic talent. But in terms of understanding military strategy, among courtesans, none can match her…”
Li Nuo understood. Their fascination with Yuanyang wasn’t due to her beauty or talent, but primarily her knowledge of military strategy.
For a courtesan, this was indeed rare.
Both Song Yu and Zhou Yu came from military families, having studied military strategy since childhood. Encountering someone with shared interests and a virtuous character amidst the many flamboyant and vulgar women of the brothel was, understandably, captivating.
If there were a virtuous courtesan who was also well-versed in law, Li Nuo would also take a second look.
Song Yu was slightly displeased with Zhou Yu’s words and added, “What do you mean ‘among courtesans’? Even outside brothels, there are few women in Chang’an with such an understanding of military strategy. Take Jia Ren, for example. While she’s beautiful, she doesn’t know calligraphy, painting, music, or chess. She can barely read, let alone study military strategy. She only knows how to fight…”
Oops, how did the conversation turn to his wife?
He needed to defend his wife in front of others. Li Nuo glanced at him and said, “I think Jia Ren is quite good.”
Song Yu patted Li Nuo on the shoulder, speaking with a hint of pity, “Only you, brother-in-law, would think so. Ask any young elite in Chang’an; how many would be willing to marry Jia Ren? Zhou Yu, would you?”
Although he was Jia Ren’s brother, his brother-in-law had been so kind to him; he couldn’t lie.
Zhou Yu shook his head repeatedly.
Song Yu then glanced at Zhou Tao and asked, “Zhou Tao, what about you?”
Zhou Tao shook his head even faster.
Among the younger generation of military families, Song Jia Ren was infamous. Almost everyone had been beaten by her as children; they had all grown up under her shadow. Who would be so bold as to marry her?
Were they suicidal?
Once Song Yu started talking, he couldn’t stop, telling Li Nuo about Song Jia Ren’s childhood.
Li Nuo heard about her childhood for the first time: her refusal to study, her truancy, her avoidance of homework, her constant brawls with children from military families, her ability to single-handedly defeat a group of them, emerging unscathed, and how she was chased to the Song family by dozens of enraged parents…
Li Nuo listened to these anecdotes with great interest.
He secretly marveled, “Truly my wife! Compared to her, the mischievous Song Ning’er is a mere angel…”
“Are you finished?”
As Song Yu was recounting Song Jia Ren’s “achievements,” a cold voice suddenly came from behind.
Hearing this voice, the Zhou brothers’ faces turned pale. They lowered their heads, their bodies trembling uncontrollably; Li Nuo even felt the table shaking.
Song Yu’s expression froze, then he tremblingly picked up his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and fell onto the table, mumbling, “This wine is strong. I’ll sleep for a bit…”
Long after Song Jia Ren left, Song Yu finally got up from the table.
He brushed off the food stuck to his face and looked back. Seeing that she was truly gone, he patted his chest in relief.
Li Nuo glanced at him and asked, “Is my wife really that frightening?”
Song Yu shook his head, “That’s because you didn’t know Jia Ren when you were young. Even though I’m her brother, I was beaten up countless times as a child…”
Zhou Yu nodded in agreement, “More than frightening, she’s terrifying! Who among us hasn’t been beaten by her as a child? Pei Jun tugged at her braid, and she kicked him three zhang away, breaking two of his ribs. He was bedridden for a month. Du Yong said she didn’t have a mother, and she broke his leg. He still limps now…”
Listening to his wife’s “achievements,” Li Nuo felt a pain in his chest.
Song Yu waved his hand, picking up his wine cup again, “Forget it, let’s not talk about Jia Ren. Brother-in-law, I offer you a toast, to apologize for my earlier rudeness. I’ll drink this one down, you can do as you please…”
Li Nuo also picked up his wine cup. If he didn’t reciprocate, he’d seem impolite.
Unexpectedly, after finishing one cup, Song Yu poured another, “This one is to thank you for helping me out today…”
“After this cup, we’re family!”
“This one…who cares, let’s drink to our hearts’ content tonight, until we’re drunk!”
Initially, it was Song Yu offering toasts, but later the Zhou brothers joined in. Li Nuo’s alcohol tolerance was average. After a few cups, he felt dizzy. He didn’t know when he left the table, nor how he ended up in his wife’s bed.
When he opened his eyes again, the sky was full of stars, and the room was silent except for the occasional chirping of crickets.
Even before fully waking, Li Nuo knew he was in his wife’s bed because the bedding was filled with her scent. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to sleep with someone who smelled so good.
Of course, that was only a fantasy.
He looked at the night sky outside. It was late, past curfew. He would likely be staying at the Song residence again tonight.
Li Nuo sat up from the bed. A figure sitting at the table rose, poured a cup of tea, and silently handed it to him.
Li Nuo was thirsty after waking up. He took the cup and drank it down in one go, then returned the cup, saying, “Thank you.”
Song Jia Ren said nothing, placed the cup back on the table, and returned to lie down on the neatly made bed.
Li Nuo’s heart stirred slightly. Was she waiting for him to wake up?
Being alone for so long, Li Nuo felt, for the first time, that having a wife was quite fortunate.
Even something as simple as her pouring him a cup of tea when he woke up was something he’d never experienced before.
He wasn’t sleepy after waking up, so he leaned against the headboard to read. After a few pages, Li Nuo said, “Actually, you don’t need to take what Song Yu said to heart. Everyone is unique. Not all women need to be proficient in calligraphy, painting, music, and chess…”
Li Nuo had been reading widely recently. Da Xia’s expectations of women were similar to those of ancient China—roughly the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, being a good wife and mother. Needlework and cooking were basic requirements; literacy was a bonus, and if, in addition to literacy, there were accomplishments in calligraphy, painting, music, and chess, that would be the epitome of excellence—a role model for all women, and the ideal partner for most men.
By such standards, his wife didn’t meet any.
But what most people believed wasn’t necessarily correct.
Song Yu was outspoken, and Li Nuo didn’t want Song Jia Ren to overthink his words.
After a brief silence, Song Jia Ren calmly replied, “I haven’t taken it to heart.”
“That’s good.”
Li Nuo didn’t speak again, and quietly continued reading.
After another silence, Song Jia Ren suddenly asked, “Do all men like women like that?”
“Like what?”
“Those who can play the qin, play chess, write poetry, and paint…”
Li Nuo said as he read, “Not all. Different people have different preferences. Take women’s figures as an example. Some like thin ones, some like plump ones, some like tall and proud ones, some like petite and delicate ones. It depends on individual preferences. Song Yu and the others like gentle women, but I think it’s better to know some martial arts…”
It wasn’t that Li Nuo disliked gentle women. Such girls often evoked a man’s protective instincts.
But Li Nuo didn’t want just protection; he wanted genuine security.
In this world, martial arts flourished, with a hundred schools of thought vying for dominance—True Energy, Righteous Qi, the power of the Dao…everyone and everything could showcase their abilities. Before formally entering the Legalist school, he was just an ordinary person, the one who needed protection the most.
Song Jia Ren didn’t speak again. Li Nuo read for a while longer, until sleepiness once more overcame him.
When sleeping alone, he worried about maids stabbing him in the middle of the night, but with his wife beside him, he felt completely safe. Closing his book, he quickly fell asleep in the fragrant bed.
On the floor beside the bed, Song Jia Ren lay with her hands behind her head, gazing at the ceiling, her expression as calm as ever.
At one point, as if a ripple disturbed the still surface of a lake, a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth. In the darkness, it was as if a flower had quietly bloomed—unseen by the sleeping Li Nuo…
(End of Chapter)
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