A Royal Arrangement: The General's Daughter (Short Novel)

Chapter 6

Wu Family

The day Yuren had long awaited had finally come.

While the servants busily packed and made ready for the long journey, Yuren took a walk upon the grassland. She had been in the palace for three days and had not taken a closer look at the grassland, so she decided to explore it before they set forth to their estate.

After that day, Yuren neither saw nor heard from her husband for a full day, and she harbored no complaints. Although she found little amusement in reading books, drinking tea, and feigning interest in palace gossip with the other noble ladies and concubines, she assumed that her life in the fourth prince's palace would be far more tolerable than this routine.

"Mistress, the wind is cold, and the grassland must be muddy. I pray you, remain in the pavilion," Yu called to Yuren, who was treading carelessly upon the grass. With every step she took, insects scattered from the blades of grass.

"I am well; I do not fall ill easily!" Yuren replied.

Although the spring made the wind blow colder, the warmth of the sun made it less chill than the forest she oft visited beside their household. Yuren also observed birds flying in formation across the sky, as well as some rabbits and rats fleeing when their lairs were disturbed by her presence.

"Yu, is there a chance I might hunt some rabbits or ducks for our supper?" Yuren inquired, casting her gaze upon the taller grasses farther from the estate. In this area, the grasses were much greener but also much taller, nearly reaching her shoulders.

"Mistress, I beg you; the estate has sufficient meat for a month’s suppers. Do not venture into the tall grasses!"

Occasionally, something stirred in the grass beside her. Her brow furrowed with curiosity as her delicate, silk-clad arms parted the tall grasses to see what it was. She could not fully clear them, so she bent her body.

One moment she was reaching for something, and the next, she felt her feet lift from the ground. A strong, warm arm wrapped around her waist and bore her out of the grasses.

"Is the mistress fond of snakes that she would swim in their den?" Her husband’s cold, manly voice echoed in her ear.

He carried her as if she were nothing, with one arm, as though she were a sack of wool. Yuren was startled, but she managed to free herself from his grasp as soon as they reached the estate’s yard.

"I apologize; I was merely curious," she said, stepping away from her husband and gazing at him with a calm expression.

Yuren resolved that since he showed no emotions towards her, she would do the same.

"Change your attire. We shall visit the Major General's Estate before returning home," he commanded and walked away without so much as a glance at her. Yu hurried to her side, worried.

"Mistress, your garments are now muddy," Yu said. Yuren merely shrugged and went inside.

She changed into a dark green robe before entering the carriage. The prince followed shortly after, holding a piece of parchment and reading it as the carriage began to move.

Yuren pursed her lips and diverted her thoughts by gazing out of the window. The busy, crowded streets of the capital filled her sight; all the people seemed to be in a hurry, walking, eating, and conversing.

She could not help but ponder what her life would be like outside this place where she had been raised. True, she had traveled to villages, but they were still near the capital, and all their customs were the same.