The General Returned With Another Woman

“Miss! Miss! The general returned victorious!”

Cherry ran into my courtyard with her skirt lifted, breathless.

“The whole front yard is celebrating. Firecrackers everywhere. Only…”

My fingers stilled on the zither.

“Only what?”

Cherry’s eyes flickered.

“The general also brought…”

“Cherry,” I said, plucking another note as if careless, “say it directly. When you hesitate like this, I feel strange.”

She lowered her head.

“Miss, General Gu brought a woman back.”

The string snapped beneath my fingers.

A thin line of blood appeared on my fingertip.

“Leave.”

“Miss, your hand— I’ll call a physician!”

Cherry rushed out.

I remained alone in the room.

“Yes,” I whispered to myself. “He is a general. Besides, we never formally signed a marriage contract. Whoever he brings home has nothing to do with me.”

My father was the richest merchant in Jiang City.

When he was young, he had dared to gamble, dared to travel, dared to trade where others feared bandits and war.

Now, the wealth of House Su could be counted in chests, ships, and streets of shops.

Years ago, when the Gu family defended the border, my father quietly sent carts of grain, horses, medicine, and silver.

Because of this, before Old General Gu died, he made a promise to my father.

If the Gu descendants became successful, one would marry a child of House Su.

My father had not helped them for marriage.

But Old General Gu was too sincere.

So Father accepted.

That promise became something both families silently acknowledged.

As the children of the two families reached marriage age, however, the Gu family never formally proposed.

Father grew anxious.

The Gu family merely brought me into their residence and made no further arrangements.

I was not anxious.

I knew my family was of merchant origin.

In others’ eyes, marrying into a general’s household was me climbing high.

Besides, Father had only one daughter and loved me deeply.

Since childhood, I had learned accounts, shops, shipments, and contracts.

The Gu family looked down on my birth.

I did not care.

But this time, Gu Yuzhi had brought a woman home.

Outside, footsteps sounded.

Cherry returned not only with a physician, but with my father.

I glanced at Cherry, silently telling her to cooperate with my acting.

“Father, why are you here?”

Father looked at me like I was stupid and knocked my head.

“Ow! Father, lighter!”

“You little girl. Still planning to lie to me with Cherry?”

I glared at Cherry.

With my lips, I said:

You betrayed me again.

“Father,” I said, “how would I dare lie? I just had not had time to tell you.”

Snow began drifting outside.

Cold wind slipped through the door and wrapped around me.

I sneezed.

Father immediately shoved a hand warmer into my arms and ordered Cherry to bring my cloak.

“Nannan,” Father said, wiping his eyes, “why didn’t you tell me about such a big matter? If you suffer, Father’s heart hurts.”

Mother had died early.

Father raised me alone.

But to earn money, he traveled often when I was young.

He always felt he owed Mother and me.

“It’s fine, Father,” I said. “I don’t have to marry into the Gu family.”

Father lifted his head.

“Nannan, you don’t understand.”

“Our family has endless money, but no one to protect us.”

“In peaceful times, wealth is a blessing.”

“But in chaos, possessing wealth without power is a crime.”

“I am old. If I die, I can go accompany your mother.”

“But you are young. I hope you find someone who can protect you.”

His words made my mind turn.

He was right.

Money was useful.

But in war, money might become the most useless thing.

Or the most dangerous.

That night, I sat by the window from daylight until midnight.

Outside, snow melted silently.

Inside, my mind became clear.

“Cherry! Cherry!”

I woke her from her drowsiness and began issuing orders.

“Buy the land in Northwood. Quickly.”

Cherry was half-asleep and clearly confused.

But she had followed me since childhood.

She asked no questions, changed clothes, and hurried off.

And I began dealing with the Gu family.