The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter 162: It feels so nice to rely on someone's reputation

"Why is that Young Lord Ji so close with our junzhu, ah? She's a pregnant woman."

(T/N: This was first mentioned in chapter 63, but since this word doesn't come up often, I'm repeating the explanation again. Junzhu is one rank lower than princess. The title of junzhu is usually given to a daughter of a first-rank prince. The title can also be bestowed by the emperor's decree.)

"Alas, Sir Nie has already died. It's only to be expected that some toad is going to be lusting after our junzhu. He's just a destitute, insignificant fellow. Of course, he's going to like our junzhu, who has everything except a husband."

"He's just living off a woman..."

Ji Man pursed her lips and strode over there. Grinning, she smacked the door that the two servants were leaning against.

Trembling, the two terrified servants got up. They looked at her getup from top to bottom in bewilderment.

"Is my older brother inside?" Still smiling, Ji Man stuck her lips towards Errong's room.

The slightly older servant finally recognized who she was. Cowering, she said, "... Yes."

Ji Man nodded and raised her foot to continue into the courtyard. Behind her, the two older female servants questionably looked at each other in unison. She didn't hear their words, right?

Even half a master still counted as a master. If this Miss Ji held a grudge against them and Young Lord Ji succeeded in marrying the junzhu, wouldn't they be doomed?

With an uncomfortable heart, Ji Man entered Errong's room and saw that Ji Zhu and Errong were sitting together. The atmosphere seemed a stiff as if they had recently quarreled.

Errong was pouting. Seeing her friend coming inside, she gained renewed confidence. Tugging her over, she said, "Sang... Man-er, help me persuade your older brother. He wants to join the army."

As a fiefdom, Jing Province naturally had its own army. Nie Qingyun had originally been a scholarly official, but he had some knowledge of fighting. If he wanted to lay down the brush and take up the sword, he possessed the skills to do so. Although it would be arduous, the army was the best place if you wanted to climb up the ranks.

Turning her head to look at her older brother, she saw that his expression looked very earnest and without the slightest intention of changing his mind. As soon as he joined the army, he wouldn't be able to keep Errong company anymore. Right now, Errong was pregnant, and it was inevitable that she would feel unhappiness towards his decision.

After hesitating for a while, Ji Man held Errong's hand as she said, "It's good that older brother has aspirations of his own."

Discontent, Errong asked, "Why can't he just wait for a little bit longer? My pregnancy is already at this point..."

Ji Zhu felt as if he was being put into a difficult position too. He absolutely didn't want to live by mooching off from a woman. It was exactly because Errong was pregnant that he wanted to quickly establish himself with a career, so that he could marry her again. This way, other people wouldn't gossip about her behind her back. Moreover, he had a great vengeance to payback.

Ji Man sighed and said in a neutral tone, "There are times when a woman really needs her man by her side. If those times clash with his aspirations, there's no point in fighting to the death against something that can't even be considered a romantic rival. Even if you feel bad, his career related stuff wouldn't feel bad. If you want to be a good woman, why don't you try a different method? Support him more. Know when to advance and retreat with him."