The General Only Fears the Maiden’s Escape 《將軍只怕姑娘逃》：Chapter Three (Part 2)

“That’s right, it’s all thanks to My Lord, but you don’t need to be so grateful, I saw that he had a lot of fun with this.”

After those words sounded, a women who was charming from head to toe walked in confidently.

Cui Miao He’s mind was quick, and quickly realised that this maiden was the master of the house, the famous courtesan, Miss Ruo Ban. 

“The disturbance yesterday may have disturbed Miss Ruo Ban, I’m apologising to you now.”

Saying this, Cui Miao He sincerely paid her respects, and the Miss Ruo Ban, who always treated other cooly, liked her.

Maidens who were brought up to the Confucian code of ethics usually scorned prostitutes, but Cui Miao He’s eyes sincere without the slightest amount of distain.

“So this is the maiden that General Chai went to great troubles to protect. The General really does have good judgement.”

Living in this place, she had seen every sort of person, and she felt familiar at first sight with Cui Miao He, and in a rare gesture, she took a few steps forwards took Cui Miao He’s hands, pulling her towards a table to sit. The two women began to talk, and chatted for an hour, and their talk was all interesting things about Chai She XIa.

Whenever something interesting came up, the two maidens would laugh brightly. At the side, Chai She Xia didn’t try to hurry them up, but whether intentionally or not, his gaze were concentrated on Cui Miao He’s face…

With the remnants of a smile, Cui Miao he followed Chai She Xia out of Ying Liu Pavilion. When she stepped out, she paused and called out to him, and raised her clasped hands.

“Thank you for today, if not for you, then Stepmother’s plan may have succeeded.” Thinking of her own circumstance, a layer of cold sweat covered her back.

Her behaviour once more exceeded all expectations, and let Chai She Xia have a whole new level of respect for her. Even if others did not know, but but he knew clearly in his heart, that in all honestly, just that act from last night had already ruined her innocence.

But not only did she not bother him about it, but defended him, and now thanked him with sincerity.

The Chai She Xia who never saw women in a good light couldn’t help but pay a lot of attention to her.

“You don’t mind the consequences of what happened today?”

Even if they weren’t caught in the act today, but it still damage her reputation. And what’s more, which daughter of a rich family would be involved with a famous courtesan?

Hearing him speak of that, Cui Miao He’s smiling eyes darkened for a moment, but immediate cheered up again, and said, “It’s even better if my reputation is harmed, I don’t want her trying to sell me for a second time. Once I have no reputation, let’s see where she tries to find me a buyer.”

“You… really think this way?”

Was she naive? Although this had thwarted Liang Yu Xia’s evil plans, but it had also thwarted her future.

“Thinking this way… is pretty good.” That tone was quite grudging, she didn’t just seem naive in appearance, but she really was!

If even the servant closest to her could betray her, then it was likely that the entire Cui Manor had long been under the control of her Stepmother.

Ruining her reputation could stop her from plotting again her for a while, but it still could not be considered a good thing.

Seeing soft concern appear on Chai She Xia’s face, her heart felt heavy, but this was her own problem, how could she involve others.

That he could save her from danger, that was already an enormous virtue.

If she had believed even a thread of those rumours before, now she disbelieved them without exception.

This sort of man definitely could not have done things like that, those rumours must have been falsehoods which had been exaggerated as they spread!

“General Chai, looking at the time, I should go.”

Even though she clearly knew that once she went home, Stepmother would not let her off easy, but it was still her home. In the past, she would still have her two jiejie, Ji Jun Yin and Che Yuan Yu to lean on, but unfortunately, Uncle Che had angered the Emperor lately, and their house had been searched and possessions confiscated. The Ji Family had more or less been implicated, how could she go and add to their troubles? She could only hate that she hadn’t been born a boy, otherwise she could travel all over the world as she pleased.

“You’re not afraid that once you go home, Madam Cui will make trouble for you?”

“Don’t worry, General. Don’t judge me on my light age, I’m not someone who is easy to deal with.”

Chai She Xia couldn’t help but smile at her words of self-praise. If she wasn’t hard to deal with, would she have really been carried here and almost have had a serious mistake happen?

But merely seeing the crafty smile on her face, and remembering the courage she had displayed just then, he knew clearly in his heart that her courage could not be compared to other maidens.

Seeing her unhesitant and determined footsteps, Chai She Xia said, “I’ll take you back, so Madam Cui doesn’t make things difficult for you.”

“There’s no need.” Faced with his warmheartedness, Cui Miao He was a little at a loss. The times she had seen him before, she didn’t feel like he was such a warmhearted person. What had happened?

“It’s no trouble, just a walk for me.” Chai Shi Xia disregarded her refusal, and grabbed her arm, and she had no choice but to walk next to him.

“General Chai, this isn’t proper.”

There were many people street who gossiped. They had just escaped that pit, but immediately walked into another.

“You didn’t care about your reputation just then, isn’t it ridiculous that you care about this?” Seeing her embarrassment at the impropriety, Chai She Xia couldn’t help but laugh.

“I acted like I didn’t care earlier so you wouldn’t get dragged into it. Now that I have a choice, why would I willingly jump into a pit?”

Cui Miao He was not happy at being teased, and her cheeks became tinted with red, giving her the look of a charming little girl.

“Little girl, you’re actually pretty sincere.” Under her stare, Chai She Xia wisely let go of her hand, but his eyes could not leave her pretty face.

To be surrounded by politics, he had seen many people who only pretended to be polite. Cui Miao He’s behaviour was really a breath of fresh air for him. Furthermore, she wasn’t like the typical delicate daughter of an official’s family, and it really made him take notice of her.

Walking down the street, Chai She Xia couldn’t help but open his mouth and ask, “Little girl, let’s negotiate a deal.”

“What deal?” Thinking that she didn’t really have any deals to make with him, like a child she had already been distracted by the row of brightly coloured snack stalls on the side of the street.

“I’ll send someone to your house to discuss to bride price. How’s that?”

In a moment, a dumbstruck expression replaced the originally pleasant and dainty manner. Cui Miao He’s mouth fell open, unable to believe what she had heard. “You… What did you say?!”

“My meaning is, after what happened today, the important families in the city will not accept you as a wife, so why don’t you marry me?”

“You’re insane!” She stared at him, but could only spit out those words.

He had escaped with his life with much difficulty, and now he was willingly wanting to go die. In her opinion, Chai She Xia the great general wasn’t as amazing as other’s said if he could say something as stupid as that.

“I need to wife to put to an end my mother’s crazy methods of forcing me to get married. You’re not happy living in the Cui Manor, so why don’t you come to the General’s Manor and live a comfortable life. This way… don’t we both get what we want?”

Originally, Ju Su Sheng had suggested that he trick her, but unfortunately he had always been a bold person, and dishonourable methods did not agree with his character, so he decided to get straight to the point and ask her. After all, this girl was worth that sort of treatment.

That was not good, not good at all!

“Don’t joke like that!” Cui Miao He reprimanded with a roll of her eyes.

Although after associating with him these two times she did not despise him as much as before anymore, but it was one thing to not despise, and another to marry.

He was a grand and important general, and she was an insignificant girl with a predatory stepmother lurking in the shadows. He had no need to lower himself, and she didn’t want Stepmother to get what she wanted.

“I’m not joking!” He turned his eyes to stare earnestly at her. From the two times that they had met, he knew this this woman was a good woman. Although she looked innocent and naive, when it mattered, she was still able to act.

“You must have drunk too much last night, and still be drunk now, to say something so foolish. I don’t need you to see me back, you should hurry back home and rest!”

His gaze sent shivered down her spine, and her instincts told her to slip away, but her movements weren’t as agile as Chai She Xia, who practised martial arts. Before she had gone two steps, he had grabbed her collar.

“I said that I’ll see you back home, and so I will. As for my proposal, I won’t force you for the time being, and give you some time to think about it.” He hadn’t become angry because of her rejection, and hadn’t even asked the reason behind it. He was in no hurry, and it wouldn’t hurt to wait a little longer.

“I…”

Cui Miao He opened her mouth to tell him that she didn’t even need to think about his proposal, but his clear eyes swept over her. She didn’t know what happened inside her, but she was unable to voice it out.

“I’ll take you home now.” Afraid that she’d slip away again, although the hand holding onto her collar loosened, he didn’t really let go.

“You’re an important general, and must be very very busy. I can take care of a small matter like going home by myself.”

She originally thought that there was no harm in having him see her home, but his words just then had shocked her, and now she was eager to but distance between them in case it stirred up trouble.

“I’m not busy!” A smile slowly came onto his determined but as Chai She Xia spoke lightly, but there was a heartwarming care in his eyes.

Cui Miao He thought to herself, Stepmother had almost made a huge mistake today, she would probably lay low for a while, so she smiled politely to decline. “You really don’t have to trouble yourself, General. If you really aren’t busy with military affairs, then find yourself a wife to ease Lady Chai’s mind.”

At those words, the veins on Chai She Xia’s forehead quivered. Of course he understood that she was evading him, but how could he give up so easily?

“But your stepmother…” After thinking carefully, he was still not reassured. Even if he knew clearly that it was none of his business, he still wanted to protect her.

“It’s nothing. After this, I’ll be more careful.  Actually, after my mother died when I was young and Stepmother entered the household, she treated me well. She only started to plot against me these last few years because my younger sister Yun Xiu has grown up in these last few years, and Stepmother fears that I would affect her changes at a good marriage, and that I would seek the family wealth as I’m older.”

As the saying went, it was every man for himself. Stepmother originally couldn’t be criticized too harshly, but she never in a thousand years should have used a method as lowly as drugging her to deal with her.

She was heartless, so why should she speak up for her?

She had originally said that so he would not be too concerned for her, but as she said it, her mood became worse.

“If that’s the case, then you should accept my help even more and use my power. That way when she does anything in the future, she will have to keep my reputation in mind.” In any case, he was still a general, and Liang Yu Xia wouldn’t provoke him rashly.

“General, you shouldn’t have been dragged into this mess in the first place. I appreciate your kindness, but you should go back home quickly!”

Although her thoughts on Chai She Xia had changed, the moment she thought about Stepmother’s predatory gaze, she didn’t want her to get any information which could be used against her, so still declined in the end.

Besides, they could both now be considered people with bad reputations. If they associated too closely, people would talk.

Repeated rumours become fact, and after escaping today, she didn’t want to be strung up by rumours, and have no choice but to become his wife.

“You… are seriously going to stay well away from me?”

He had never understood how to care about people, especially women. She had managed to reach his bursting point. He was never someone with a good temper, and after being thoroughly declined by her, he couldn’t hold down the displeasure inside any longer, and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Take care of yourself, General Chai.” Cui Miao He seemed to ignore his anger, and turned to bid him farewell before walking off. Looking at her gradually disappearing figure, Chai She Xia had never liked to mind other people’s business, and the first time he did so, it was not welcomed at all. Whatever, there were so many maidens, and even if he had to find one to get Mother to get off his case, it didn’t have to her!

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Thoughts:

CSX’s puppy love is adorable. He’s like an extremely angry puppy ;-;

So, update after about a month. I hadn’t planned for the update to take so long, but shit happens and I have a load of online commitments.

I usually update my progress in the sidebar as I translate. Each chapter is roughly 2000-2500 words, so you can see for yourself how much I’ve translated so there’s no need to leave comments asking if I don’t update in a while.