The General Only Fears the Maiden’s Escape 《將軍只怕姑娘逃》：Chapter Four (Part 1)

Winding her way back to the main door of the Cui Manor (崔府), and seeing those vermillion doors that she had seen growing up, Cui Miao He’s heart actually skipped a beat.

This was the house she had lived in for over ten years!

Home should have been the most steadfast place, but today, was it no longer so?

“Young Mistress (大小姐), you’re finally home!” The moment the gatekeeper, Uncle De (德叔) saw the Young Mistress, he scrambled forward, unable to keep calm.

Uncle De was an old servant in the household, and because he had no home to return to, so Father specially allowed him to be the gatekeeper, and just look after the door.

All the old servants watched her grow up, and it didn’t need to be said that they loved her dearly.

“Uncle De, what’s happened to you?” asked Cui Miao He at once, concerned. It was rare to see the steady Uncle De so flustered.

“Young Mistress, nothing has happened to me, it’s you that must be careful!”

After hearing that, knowing that Uncle De intentionally waited here to report that to her, she stopped and faced Uncle De, asking, “What has happened inside?”

“This morning, the Madam came home in a rage, and has shut herself in the house for hours, even her lunch did not get in.”

“Oh.” Without much care, she let out a breath. If their places were exchanged, and her scheming was made a fool of, she would be so angry that she wouldn’t want to eat for days!

“Young Mistress, you should take this seriously.” Seeing the Young Mistress’ attitude, Uncle De couldn’t help but become worried. He had been part of the Young Mistress’ mother’s dowery as a house servant, and so of course he treated the Young Mistress better, and felt deeper concern for her.

Uncle De had always been carefree, and rarely had worry etched all over his face. Upon seeing that, Cui Miao He was about to reassure him, but who knew that he would come forward first.

“Young Mistress, you must take this seriously. Even though the Madam was so angry she didn’t eat lunch, she wasn’t being idle either!”

“What else did she do?” She wasn’t naive as to think that Stepmother would let go so easily, and so she wasn’t the least bit surprised when Uncle De said that.

“All the elders of the Cui Family has been called to the Ancestral Hall by the Madam, and all the maids and kitchen hands have been thrown out. No one knows what they’re discussing inside.”

It was because no one knew what was being discussed that they would be worried. Cui Miao He felt her heart seize for a second.

She hadn’t thought that Stepmother would show this hand.

This was bad, in an large clan like the Cui Family, the decision of the elders went above all else. If Stepmother was able to make the elders make a decision that would be harmful to her, then she may be forced to suffer in silence.

“Damn it!” Thinking of all the pros and cons, Cui Miao He couldn’t help but curse out loud.

She actually despised the strength of Stepmother’s retaliation, after all, the one who had used despicable tactics was her. She shouldn’t even have the time to to cover it up, it was unexpected that she would do this.

Why?

Cui Miao He pondered quietly. Going by Stepmother’s inclinations, it was unlikely that she would go so far as to do something foolish, but she had done it, so there must be a reason.

“Miss… Miss…”

Seeing the Young Mistress standing still and staring into space, Uncle De became worried and called her a few times, as the Second Young Mistress (二小姐) approached.

Snapping back, Cui Miao He saw her younger sister in her face, and felt disgusted.

Had the pair of mother and daughter arranged this? Not willing to give her a second of quiet?

Sliding off the amiable face that she had when facing Uncle De, her expression became cold.

Towards this younger sister with a different mother, Cui Miao He once loved her, but because of Stepmother’s interference, and her younger sister’s constant bothering, even with a high level of tolerance, it was hard for her to continue loving her like her own younger sister, and it had continued until it reached the level of today.

“Uncle De, I’ll be going inside first. I’ll just trouble you to take note of all the things that happen inside the household.” Cui Miao He didn’t want to clash with her younger sister while so tired, and after saying that to Uncle De, tried to leave.

But Cui Yun Xiu was determined, and blocked her way, not letting her leave.

After being caught in a deadlock for some time, she finally raised her head, and coldly looked at Cui Yun Xiu. “Meimei, is there something the matter?”

“Nothing much, I just came to find jiejie to talk of private matters. Why do you try to distance yourself?”

There were no private matters to be discussed between the two of them, and Cui Miao He didn’t want to waste her energy, and said indifferently, “I’m tired, and want to go inside to rest.”

“Of course jiejie is tired. After mixing with others for an entire night before returning, how could you not be tired?”

The words were threatening, but did not disturb Cui Miao He’s mood, and her expression stayed calm at her younger sister’s words, taking the chance to brush past her.

She hated being ignored the most, because it felt like she was being looked down upon, and that sort of resentment followed her everywhere.

Reaching out her hand, she suddenly grabbed Cui Miao He’s arm, the rough movement making Cui Miao He scrunch up her eyebrows.

“What do you really want?” Cui Miao He asked coldly after glaring, and brushing away the hand on her arm.

“Do you think you can be this high and mighty forever?”

Cui Yun Xiu didn’t understand, when both of them were young mistresses of the Cui Family, why the one that Father and the servant really cared about was Cui Miao He.

She really couldn’t accept it!

She had sworn to herself, that she would make Cui Miao He yield to her.

“If you’ve just come to pick a fight with me, then I really am tired, and I’m going to my room to rest.” Even seeing the fury in her younger sister’s eyes, Cui Miao He spoke cooly.

“You…” At her uncaring attitude, Cui Yun Xiu was spitting with anger, glaring at her retreating figure, she said hatefully through clenched teeth, “How long do you think your identity of Young Mistress can last you. You’ve already ruined your reputation by staying in a brothel last night, and Mother is discussing with the elders, and trying to marry you off as fast as possible.”

But this news was not able to shock Cui Miao He the slightest, because she had already thought of what to do.

She had long anticipated that Stepmother would be unyielding, and she could not naively believe that the war against the mother and daughter would ease up today.

But she would not give in so easily. If there was something that she didn’t want to do in this world, even if they burnt jade and stone, they would not be able to force her.

At being ignored again, she lashed out with anger, and once all the logic escaped Cui Yun Xiu’s head, all that was left was anger.

She knew that this was not something to make known, because once Mother had arranged everything, she could smugly watch Cui Miao He cry as she entered the marriage sedan.

But, she was unable to bear it! Really!

She couldn’t wait that long, she wanted to take apart Cui Miao He’s mask of calm.

“If you don’t think a great general, Chai Zhe Xia is worthy, then you must think that Landlord Wu is worthy.”

Landlord Wu? Who is that?

After hearing that, Cui Miao He couldn’t help but pause, trying to remember, but she had no impression of him.

Seeing that, Cui Yun Xiu quickly came forward, pleased, and said, “Do you know what Mother is discussing with the elders?”

Cui Miao He responded with silence. She didn’t want to care what the pair were were planning. If they really fought, she wouldn’t necessarily lose to them.

“You don’t know how much effort Mother had put in for you, a daughter with a ruined reputation. That Landlord Wu isn’t one of the richest men in the city, but can be considered somebody in the business world, only… he’s already over fifty years old, and isn’t short of wives and concubines at home. For someone like you with a ruined reputation, marrying there wouldn’t be considered bad. Let me think, how many concubines does he have?”

As a pleased Cui Yun Xiu spoke, she made a show of counting them on her fingers.

“It doesn’t matter how many concubines he has, it has nothing to do with me. If you want to marry, then I can speak on your behalf to Father.” Cui Miao He finally turned her head, glaring at her coldly as she spoke.

She didn’t think that Stepmother wanted to kick her out so badly. The plan this morning had just failed, and now in the afternoon, she had already thought of a replacement.

She… really was horrible! “Do you think that this won’t happen just because you don’t want it to?” Her mother had a gifted tongue, and it would not be hard to convince the elders while Father was away, but Cui Miao He acted as if she had been talking about someone else’s matter, someone else’s life.

There was only one thing that made her curious. Stepmother had always hated her, but had never showed it so openly, so there must be an ulterior motive.

“Why are the two of you so eager to kick me out of the house?” She asked while she was off-guard.

When Cui Yun Xiu was asked that, a flash of panic went through her eyes, but then she said calmly, “Mother is doing what is best for you. You have a ruined reputation now, and you may not be able to find a good person, so she put in the effort to find a good family for you, so you will never be short of food or clothes.”

In a situation like this, Cui Miao He knew that there was something wrong with the words, and seeing Cui Yun Xiu’s lack of confidence, she knew that she was right. She said calmly, “Please tell your mother that I will not marry Landlord Wu, even if the power of the clan won’t work, so tell her to give up as soon as possible. Otherwise, if I can’t escape, I think that Landlord Wu would not like to take a dead concubine home.”

After coldly throwing down those words, Cui Miao He turned to leave. She’d rather die than marry that Landlord Wu who had a bad reputation. If she had to marry, she’d rather marry Chai Zhe Xia. Suddenly, his silhouette floated into her mind.

Facing Stepmother’s unending tricks, she was tired of them. Maybe she should seriously consider Chai Zhe Xia’s offer, he wasn’t really that bad of a man…

Thinking of that, her heart suddenly stirred, and felt something, but there wasn’t enough time for her to grasp onto what she truly felt.

He said that Ying Liu Pavilion was his, and that if one wanted news, that sort of social place was the best.

In other words, if she wanted news, that was the best place.

Therefore, when she wanted to figure out Stepmother’s secrets, the first person she thought of was Chai Zhe Xia.

If he was be one step ahead in Stepmother’s plot, then surely he must know why she was so eager to kick her out.

Looking up at the vermillion front doors of the General’s Manor, there was hesitation in Cui Miao He’s heart, and she paced back and forth several times, but in the end, was unable to make the decision to go in.

Originally, when something like this happened, she would go find her sisters, but whether it was Yuan Yu jiejie, or Jun Yin jiejie, the sudden disasters in the family had left it in a pitiful state, so how could she bother them in a time when they are so busy?

But… apart from them, she had no other friends. In this crucial time, Chai Zhe Xia was the only person that she could think of.

Should she go in? She rejected him that day, so would an arrogant man like him forgive her?

The anxious Cui Miao He walked backwards and forwards, until a trench almost formed where she walked, but she was still unable to make a decision.

“If his proposal from last time was real, then when I go inside, wouldn’t I be jumping out of one hole and into another?”

Cui Miao He mumbled under her breath to herself, but when she was about to turn and leave, another thought came to her.

“But he’s the only person I can go to, his official position is high, and so his family is important, there aren’t many people in the city who would dare to offend him. He really is the best person to help me.”

Having thought of that, she spun on her heel, turning back to face the front door.

After having gone backwards and forwards for the length of time it took an incense stick to burn out, she still couldn’t grasp onto a plan, and didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly, someone ruthlessly struck the back of her head with such force that she saw stars, and wasn’t able to tell apart the ground from the sky.

In these muddled moments, Cui Miao He thought that she was being grabbed by someone, being pulled away while dizzy.

Because she didn’t know who had plotted against her, she immediately became frantic, and started struggling inside her head.

Don’t be mislead by her appearance of being calm and collected, in fact, being plotted against by someone for no reason, she had long become a person who frightens easily.

Not only did she no longer trust the maids in the courtyard, but no longer even dared to touch the food prepared by the cook.

She was very clear that she was lucky last time, that she had met Chai Zhe Xia who long knew of the plot.

Then how about this time? Who would dare to grab someone in the middle of the street?

Could Stepmother’s be behind it again?

The footsteps in front of her stopped, and Cui Miao He whose head was still in disarray, couldn’t deal with it, and bumped into the person.

That person’s back felt as if there was a piece of iron stuck to it, and the bump made her cry out again, it hurt so much. Cui Miao He used one hand to rub her sore forehead, and at the same time, quickly opened her mouth to curse, “Which hothead not only dares to grab someone from the street, but caused me to hurt my forehead. Don’t you know that my father is an important official, and can lock you up in prison at any time.”

She was panting with rage and threatening, she very rarely used her father’s position as an official to pressure people, but she had been unfathomably grabbed by someone, and knocked around until she was befuddled, this time, her temper would come to light.

“I actually do want to see whether or not your father can touch me.” Chai Zhe Xia saw that she was so angry that she had gone red, and with a bright smile on his face without a hint of sympathy.

Notes:

I had a little time to spare these past 2 days before I fly off (again) for a long weekend in Hong Kong and Macau, so I did a little translating!

I’m thinking of translating/summarising 娘子不像话：妖孽殿下来敲门 for my next project. Yes, no, any suggestions/recommendations?

Also, does anyone know any good novels set in China between 1900-1949?