Song Jiaren's Dark History

Seeing that Li Nuo wasn't interested, Song Yu could only shake his head regretfully. "What a pity."

Zhou Yu looked regretful on the surface, but inwardly he felt relieved. Though he'd already prepared himself, the thought of Miss Yuanyang one day basking in another man's embrace still pained him.

At that moment, Li Nuo grew curious instead. "What kind of woman could leave you two so utterly smitten?"

Song Yu and Zhou Yu came from prominent families in Chang'an, at least among the upper-middle ranks. With a single word from them, countless beauties would throw themselves at their feet, including daughters from distinguished households and noble families. Yet with backgrounds like theirs, they were still fighting tooth and nail over a courtesan, even coming to blows in public. Miss Yuanyang had to have something extraordinary about her.

Song Yu sighed. "Brother-in-law, you don't understand. Though Miss Yuanyang came from a brothel, she emerged from the mire unstained and has always kept herself pure. She's not only accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but has also read military books cover to cover and has profound insights into the art of war. She's a rare wonder of a woman..."

Zhou Yu chimed in. "That's right. In Chang'an, plenty of women are more beautiful and better built than Miss Yuanyang, and many surpass her in the arts as well. But when it comes to insight into military strategy, no courtesan can match her..."

Li Nuo understood. The two weren't infatuated with Miss Yuanyang because she had a good figure or a pretty face, nor because she was talented. It was mainly because she understood military strategy.

For a courtesan, that was indeed rare.

Song Yu and Zhou Yu both came from military families and had studied military strategy since childhood. Among all the gaudily dressed, vulgar women in a brothel, they'd suddenly met someone who shared their interests and kept herself pure. It was no surprise they'd been drawn to her.

If there were a courtesan who kept herself pure and was also well-versed in the law, Li Nuo would certainly take a second look, too.

Song Yu seemed dissatisfied with Zhou Yu's comment and added, "What do you mean, among courtesans? Even outside the brothels, there are only a handful of women in all of Chang'an with such insight into military strategy. Take Jiaren, for example. She may be pretty, but she can't play music, play chess, write, or paint. She can't even recognize all the characters, let alone read military books. All she knows is how to fight..."

Hey, hey, hey. How had the conversation ended up being about his wife?

In front of outsiders, he still had to stand up for his wife. Li Nuo glanced at him and said, "I think Jiaren's great."

Song Yu patted Li Nuo on the shoulder and said with some pity, "That's only because you're her brother-in-law. Ask the young talents of Chang'an how many of them would be willing to marry Jiaren. Zhou Yu, would you?"

Zhou Yu shook his head again and again.

Song Yu glanced at Zhou Tao and asked, "What about you, Zhou Tao?"

Zhou Tao shook his head even faster.

Among the younger generation of the military families, Song Jiaren was notorious. Almost everyone had been beaten black and blue by her when they were children. They'd all grown up in her shadow. Who had the guts to marry her?

Did they have a death wish?

Once Song Yu got started, he rambled on to Li Nuo about Song Jiaren.

It was the first time Li Nuo had heard stories about her childhood. For instance, she'd refused to study properly, skipped class, never did her homework, and spent all day fighting the children of military families. She'd taken on a whole group by herself and beaten them all to the ground without a scratch, prompting the elders of more than a dozen families to storm the Song household and demand an explanation...

Li Nuo listened to these tales of her dark past with great interest.

He couldn't help thinking, As expected of my wife. Compared with her, mischievous Song Ninger was practically a model child...

"Are you done?"

Just as Song Yu was enthusiastically recounting Song Jiaren's exploits to Li Nuo, a chilly voice suddenly came from behind them.

At the sound of that voice, the Zhou brothers turned deathly pale. They kept their heads bowed, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Li Nuo even felt the table shaking.

Song Yu's expression froze. The next moment, he tremblingly picked up his wine cup and drained it. Then he slumped onto the dining table and mumbled, "This wine's so strong. I'll sleep for a while..."

Only after Song Jiaren had been gone for quite some time did Song Yu finally lift his head from the table.

He plucked a stray vegetable leaf off his face and looked over his shoulder. Seeing that she really was gone, he patted his chest, still shaken.

Li Nuo shot him a glance. "Is my wife really that scary?"

Song Yu shook his head. "You just didn't know Jiaren when you were little. I may be her older brother, but I got beaten up by her plenty of times, too..."

Zhou Yu nodded emphatically. "Scary? She was terrifying. Which of us wasn't beaten by her as a kid? Pei Jun once tugged her braid, and she kicked him three zhang away. He broke two ribs and spent a month in bed. Du Yong said she didn't have a mother, so she broke one of his legs. He still limps a little when he walks..."

Listening to his wife's exploits, Li Nuo felt his chest begin to ache again.

Song Yu waved his hand and picked up his wine cup again. "Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about Jiaren anymore. Brother-in-law, let me toast you to apologize for offending you before. I'll drain this cup; drink as much as you like..."

Li Nuo had no choice but to pick up his cup, too. Since the other man had put it that way, refusing to drink would seem disrespectful.

But after finishing one cup, Song Yu poured himself another. "This one's to thank you for getting me out of a jam today..."

"After this cup, we'll be one family!"

"And this one... Ah, who cares? Let's drink our fill today. Nobody leaves until we're all drunk!"

At first, Song Yu was the one offering toasts. Then the Zhou brothers joined in, too. Li Nuo wasn't much of a drinker, and after a few cups, he was already feeling woozy. He didn't know when he'd left the table, much less how he'd ended up on his wife's bed.

When he opened his eyes again, the window was dotted with stars. The room was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of an insect.

Even before he opened his eyes, Li Nuo knew he was on his wife's bed because the covers were filled with her fragrance. He didn't dare imagine what it would feel like to sleep while holding such a fragrant wife.

Of course, that sort of thing existed only in his imagination.

He looked out at the night. It was already late, and the curfew must have begun. It seemed he'd have to spend another night at Song Manor.

Li Nuo sat up in bed. A figure seated by the table rose as well, poured a cup of tea, and silently brought it over to him.

Now that he'd sobered up, Li Nuo was parched. He took the cup and gulped it down, then handed it back to her. "Thank you."

Song Jiaren said nothing. She returned the cup to the table, then came back and lay down on the bedding laid out beside the bed.

Li Nuo's heart stirred faintly. Had she been waiting for him to wake up?

He'd been used to living alone. This was the first time he'd thought that having a wife could be pretty wonderful.

Even if all she did was pour him a cup of tea to quench his thirst when he woke up drunk, it was an experience Li Nuo had never had before.

He'd just woken up and wasn't sleepy yet, so he leaned against the headboard and read. After turning a few pages, he suddenly said, "You don't have to take what Song Yu said to heart. Everyone is born unique. Not every woman has to know music, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."

Li Nuo had been reading widely lately. The expectations for women in Great Xia were similar to those in ancient China: roughly, the three obediences and four virtues. Managing the household, raising children, needlework, embroidery, and cooking were basic expectations. Literacy was a bonus; and if a woman could also master music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she became a model of excellence, an example to all women and the ideal partner for most men.

By those standards, his wife didn't measure up in a single area.

But just because most people believed something didn't make it right.

Song Yu had spoken without thinking, and Li Nuo didn't want her to dwell on what she'd heard.

After a brief silence, Song Jiaren said calmly, "I didn't take it to heart."

"That's good."

Li Nuo didn't say anything else and quietly continued reading.

After another silence, Song Jiaren suddenly asked, "Do men all like women like that?"

"Like what?"

"Women who can play music, play chess, write poetry, and paint..."

Li Nuo kept reading as he answered, "Not necessarily. People have different tastes, just like turnips and cabbages. Some people like thin women, some like plump ones; some like tall, striking women, while others prefer petite, delicate ones. It all depends on personal preference. Song Yu and the others like women who are gentle and weak. I think it's better to know a little martial arts..."

It wasn't that Li Nuo disliked gentle, delicate women. Women like that could certainly awaken a man's desire to protect them.

But Li Nuo didn't want to feel protective. He wanted real protection.

Martial arts flourished in this world, and the hundred schools contended. True Qi, Righteous Qi, the power of the laws... Anyone, human or ghost, could put on a show. Before he officially entered the Legalist school, he was just an ordinary man—the one who needed protection most.

Song Jiaren said nothing more. Li Nuo read for a while longer, then sleepiness crept over him again.

When he slept alone, he always worried that a maid might burst in during the night and stab him. But with his wife by his side, his Sense of security was overflowing. He closed the book and set it aside, then quickly drifted off amid the fragrant covers.

On the floor beside the bed, Song Jiaren lay with her hands behind her head, gazing at the ceiling. Her expression was as calm as ever.

At one moment, like a ripple appearing on the surface of a still lake, the corners of her mouth curved faintly. In the darkness, it was as if a flower had quietly bloomed. Sadly, the sleeping Li Nuo didn't see it...