Chapter 108 - 19: The Princess Who Refuses to Be Cannon Fodder (Part 19)

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Jiang Lai softened.

"I don’t mean that, I just... just don’t want him to bully you, to look down on you."

"Are you afraid I can’t handle the disdain from your family, is that it?"

Jiang Lai nodded, then quickly shook his head.

"Husband, you are wonderful, but not everyone can see your goodness. They are blind, don’t let it bother you."

Jiang Lai’s anxious explanation made Murong Dun’s heart soften.

"I know, I just hope there can be one more person to take care of you, to love you. I don’t want our marriage to ruin your relationship with your father. If you can reconcile with your father, I would be very gratified."

"Really? Would that make you happy?"

Murong Dun nodded, suppressing the guilt in his heart.

"Yes, it would."

"Alright then, I’ll go prepare some gifts, and we’ll return to the Prince Mansion tomorrow!"

Seeing Jiang Lai’s delighted expression, Murong Dun couldn’t help but be affected, and the long-standing distress and agitation in his chest eased a little.

That night, everything was prepared, and before leaving, Jiang Lai even sent a letter to the Prince Mansion, which ended up in the hands of his biological mother, Qin Feng. This was in line with Jiang Lai’s personality, just as stubborn as Jiang Xiong even to the end.

Early the next morning, the servants carefully loaded the chests of items onto the carriage. Jiang Lai, in high spirits, had been smiling continuously since he got up, his bright smile infectious, even bringing a bit more life to Murong Dun’s face.

The Prince Mansion wasn’t far from the General Mansion. Xiao Lian walked alongside the carriage, and as Luoyang was about to join in, Jiang Lai suddenly stuck his head out and called out.

"I forgot something, Xiao Hua, can you help me fetch it? It’s in the room."

Luoyang saw that the procession was ready to depart and was reluctant, when Murong Dun said.

"She’s not familiar, let Xiao Lian go, it will save time."

"It’s alright, it’s right inside the door, she can catch up with us once she finds it."

Luoyang searched inside the house for a long time and still couldn’t find the red shawl that Jiang Lai said could be seen at a glance. When she finally found it at the door and went out, the carriage was already gone. It was only after asking the young servant at the door that she knew the carriage had left some time ago.

Luoyang’s anger flared. She clenched the shawl in her hand for a long time before calming down. Then she gave the servant a piece of silver to fetch a horse from the stable for her, mounted it, and set off to catch up with the procession ahead.

At the General Mansion gate, Qin Feng had been waiting outside for some time. When she saw the carriage arriving, she ran over to greet it. When her daughter got off the carriage, she warmly took her hand, unable to contain her joy as she carefully looked her daughter up and down.

"Come, come, let your mother see if you’ve lost weight. It’s been so long since you’ve come back to see me!"

Jiang Lai placated Qin Feng, seizing the opportunity to interrupt and introduce Murong Dun, who was nearby.

"Mother, I came back with the Prince."

Upon seeing Murong Dun, Qin Feng’s gaze quickly swept over his bad leg, and her smile became a bit strained. Out of respect for Jiang Lai, she still forced a smile at him.

"Come in and sit. When your father heard you were coming back, he was ecstatic and waited out front all morning. He just went in to sit down. Today, you and your father can drink together, and let Murong... join in as well, no need to stand on ceremony."

Murong Dun, sensitive as always, noticed Qin Feng’s strange look. However, he had mentally prepared himself before coming and was ready for the worst, so he didn’t have much of an emotional reaction. After a cold smile inside, he still maintained a gentle smile on his face.

"Mother, I’m late to pay my respects, I hope you won’t mind."

Qin Feng forced a stiff smile.

"It’s good you’re back, come on in, Ling has been home lately and mentioned wanting to visit you at the Prince Mansion."

Jiang Lai pushed Murong Dun into the main hall, where Jiang Xiong sat at the head, his posture tall and straight, with a fierce look on his face. Only when he looked at Jiang Lai did his gaze soften a bit.

"Father."

Jiang Lai called out, and Murong Dun followed with a greeting.

Jiang Xiong nodded, as if he didn’t notice Murong Dun’s bad leg, and waved a big hand, his voice loud.

"Let’s eat first, serve the dishes!"

At the table, Murong Dun reminded Jiang Lai to propose a toast. Reluctantly, Jiang Lai stood up, holding his cup, and with Murong Dun, they toasted Jiang Xiong.

Jiang Xiong originally intended to hold back, but after a strong kick from Qin Feng, he stood up and drank the first cup of wine proposed by his son-in-law.

After the meal, Qin Feng insisted that Jiang Lai stay at the General Mansion for a few days.

"The room has long been ready. You and your husband can stay for a few days."

Jiang Lai’s previous bedroom remained untouched, with not a single arrangement or decoration moved, showing the meticulous care in cleaning evident at a glance.

Murong Dun had a few more drinks at noon, and after returning in the afternoon, he lay straight down in Jiang Lai’s bed to rest.

The room before him was entirely decorated in a style pleasing to a young girl, with pink curtains and a delicately swinging bed, all made of the finest materials that were hard to find, in stark contrast to the furnishings in the Prince Mansion. It showcased the love Jiang Xiong had for Jiang Lai.

Looking at the opulent surroundings, Murong Dun couldn’t help but feel a bit inferior.

This was Jiang Lai’s living condition before. Since marrying him, she couldn’t even have half of what she had before.

Yet Jiang Lai always wore a smiling face, always radiant and joyful, as if she didn’t care about this huge disparity at all.

"Jiang Lai, have you ever regretted marrying me?"

"Never. You, husband, are so wonderful. I feel secretly delighted every day."

"And now? Do you still think I’m good?"

"I think you’re even better. Husband, you seem closer to me than before. I must not be doing enough, but I will keep trying!"

"You... really are a silly girl."

Silly girl that Jiang Lai smiled with contentment.

"You drank quite a bit at noon, rest first."

"And you?"

"I’m not sleepy. I’ll keep you company."

Murong Dun looked at her, hesitated for a few seconds, and then slightly shifted his body inward, making some space.

"You should rest too. Since I got injured, you’ve not had a good night’s sleep."

Jiang Lai was slightly surprised and a bit touched. When she finally lay down beside him, her smile carried a hint of shyness.

Seeing this, Murong Dun was slightly moved, feeling that the Jiang Lai before him was more charming than ever.

"Jiang Lai..."

"You’ve never called me ’Lady’."

"Lady, I’ve troubled you these past days."

Saying this, Murong Dun’s body moved closer, his upper body that had been propped up gradually leaned over, almost intertwining with Jiang Lai’s breath.

"Lady... your eyes, they’re so beautiful."

Jiang Lai smiled, her hand behind her back subtly raised, ready to gently chop him with love at any moment.