Moonlight over the River - Chapter 3

Chapter 5

I had not been lying down for long when, through my drowsiness, I heard a commotion outside.

Chuntao went out to take a look and returned shortly after.

She drew back the bed curtains and called softly, “Princess, a carriage has arrived outside the mansion gates.”

Still heavy with sleep, I murmured, “A guest?”

Chuntao helped me sit up and shook her head. “It doesn’t look like it.”

When I went out to see for myself, I found several guards standing beside the carriage, swords strapped at their waists.

At the sight of me, they all dropped to their knees and saluted. The man at their head said, “Reporting to Your Highness, this humble one has come on the general’s orders to deliver Miss Jiang.”

“Miss Jiang?”

“The Miss Jiang who returned with the general from the Western Border.”

No wonder I had not reacted at first.

Xie Dao’an had only just returned to the capital, and the General’s Mansion had already sent over a young woman?

And I, the general’s wife, did not even know who she was.

If word got out, wouldn’t people laugh themselves senseless?

That said, a guest was still a guest. The General’s Mansion had no reason to shut its doors in anyone’s face.

“Then please invite Miss Jiang into the inner hall.”

The guard in charge answered again, “Your Highness, Miss Jiang is unaccustomed to riding in carriages, and the journey has exhausted her. She has already fallen unconscious.”

With that, he raised a hand. Two men behind him immediately stepped forward and reached out to lift the curtain, about to carry the young woman down.

My heart gave a jolt, and I quickly stopped them.

These lads were brave enough on the battlefield, but once off it, they were utterly clueless about the ways of the world.

I instructed, “Chuntao, call two nimble matrons over.

“Dongmei, go fetch the money pouch.”

Then I turned back to the guards and said, “Thank you all for making this trip. Take some silver and go have a drink.”

The matrons carried the young woman down from the carriage. Her plain clothes were not as white as her face; it looked as though she had suffered quite a bit along the way.

I sighed inwardly and settled her in Xianyue Studio.

I had a physician prescribe medicine and assigned a few maids to attend to her.

Beyond that, everything would have to wait until Xie Dao’an returned and made a decision.

Chapter 6

“Princess… are you all right?”

My hand paused in the middle of scattering fish feed.

The fish in Thousand Carp Pond had all eaten until their bellies were round.

Xie Dao’an had said he would not be gone long, but two full hours had passed, and he still had not returned.

That Miss Jiang had not woken up either.

At Chuntao’s question, the anger I had forced down flared up all over again.

I cursed at the fish in the pond, “Liar! And he put on such a convincing act! Going on about how terribly he missed me-who knew he had already been keeping some beautiful young woman in the Western Border!

“Ridiculous! If that is the case, what right does he have to say he missed me?! What use is a man who cannot keep himself clean and proper? I might as well divorce him!”

Furious, I shot to my feet, tossed the fish feed back into its dish, and swept out a commanding hand.

“Chuntao! Bring me paper!”

Chuntao turned pale with fright. “Princess-”

“Brush and ink! This princess is going to write a divorce letter!”