GTB Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Painter Comes to the Door

Chapter 42: The Painter Comes to the Door

Jiang Jiuche wasn’t sure if his younger sister knew about Song Fuge’s identity or not, and he didn’t plan to beat around the bush, directly telling her about Song Fuge’s status as the leader of the Shadow Gate.

However, as soon as he started speaking, he could see from Jiang Jiuchu’s shocked expression that she didn’t know, so he gave a detailed explanation of the Shadow Gate.

Jiang Jiuchu was utterly astonished by what her older brother was saying.

So, Brother Fu was rescued by such a Jianghu organization back then?

She couldn’t imagine how Brother Fu had survived in a sect that was only about killing and missions.

Seeing that his younger sister remained silent for a long time, Jiang Jiuche spoke again, “Chu’er, do you understand the hidden stakes involved? Neither you personally nor the entire Jiang family are suitable for marriage.”

Jiang Jiuchu could roughly grasp her brother’s meaning, “But now, it’s called Hidden Trace Tower. It’s changed its appearance and is no longer the Shadow Gate of the past, but a righteous sect that provides rescue and assistance.”

Jiang Jiuche knew that his sister would say something like this, “Is that so? Even if he has truly changed, it’s only been recently. Besides, do you think something that has existed can be completely erased just by suddenly becoming good or changing its name?”

He sighed slightly, not wanting to say too much, “Think about it carefully! If I tell you too much now, you won’t be able to fully understand it for a while.”

Jiang Jiuchu watched Jiang Jiuche get up and leave, then turned to Jiang Yuan and Madam Ye and asked, “Father, Mother, did you refuse?”

Upon hearing this, the couple concealed the trace of compromise in their hearts, and silently looked at Jiang Jiuchu, afraid of letting her discover that they had already envisioned the worst-case scenario and the final compromise.

As soon as Jiang Jiuchu saw that the two of them didn’t speak, she knew that they both disagreed, and immediately turned to Madam Ye, her face filled with anxiety.

“Mother, you said that my marriage would be according to my own wishes. I want to marry Brother Fu now. Mother, you can’t stop me.”

Madam Ye didn’t deny that she had said these words. She looked at Jiang Jiuchu with a comforting expression, “Mother did say that, but that’s only under the circumstances that you can be happy and the other person is a good match!”

“Marriage is a lifelong matter, the destiny of a woman’s remaining years. Mother can’t just marry you off to a wandering, rootless, and dangerous man.”

“Brother Fu is not wandering and rootless. He just doesn’t have any relatives. If he doesn’t have any relatives, I’ll save the morning and evening greetings!”

Madam Ye choked. She deeply understood not having to give morning and evening greetings to her in-laws, and it was indeed much easier than others.

Seeing that Madam Ye was speechless, Jiang Jiuchu continued, “Moreover, Brother Fu can take me to travel the mountains and rivers, without having to manage household affairs like other women. I can do whatever I want. How can I not be happy? Also, he has wealth and martial arts skills. He can protect me. He’s the one who saved me.”

These words not only choked Madam Ye, but also choked Jiang Yuan, who was planning to help his wife and daughter. He pursed his lips, and finally picked up the tea on the side and took a sip, not looking at his daughter.

Seeing that the situation was about the same, Jiang Jiuchu rolled her eyes, then stood up, looked at Madam Ye with red eyes and said aggrievedly, “Mother, you don’t keep your word.”

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving the couple looking at each other in dismay.

“Chu’er…”

Madam Ye looked at her daughter leaving with red eyes, feeling a little unbearable in her heart. She wanted to reach out to pull her back, but when she thought that this marriage was completely beyond her expectations, she slowly retracted her hand.

She looked at Jiang Yuan and asked worriedly, “Husband, Chu’er won’t really be so stubborn, will she!”

Madam Ye couldn’t believe that it had only been a few days, and it had already reached the point where she wouldn’t marry anyone else?

Jiang Yuan looked at his wife’s worried appearance, thinking that although she was the first to express her rejection, she would probably be the first to relent in the end.

He hummed and laughed at Madam Ye, “She’s just sure that you’ll feel sorry for her, and she’s playing a game with you! Whoever can hold on wins.”

Jiang Yuan was right. Jiang Jiuchu was deliberately acting for them to see. Although he understood the situation, a trace of confidence still remained in his heart.

This confidence stemmed from Jiang Yuan and his wife’s consistent pampering of her. She felt that as long as she put on a show of not thinking about tea or food, her parents would definitely agree within ten days.

As for her older brother, in a one-to-two situation, he could be completely ignored. Anyway, she was still young and had plenty of time to slowly wear down her parents.

After returning to her room, she was a little worried about Song Fuge being rejected by her parents, so she wrote a letter and asked Lu Luo to send it to Mo Feng Pavilion.

In front of Mo Feng Pavilion, Song Fuge was just about to get into the carriage when he saw Lu Luo coming to deliver the letter. He was surprised to take the letter, completely not expecting that the little girl would send him a letter.

In the carriage, he looked at the unfolded letter in his hand, his eyebrows filled with tenderness.

The letter was written in a delicate and freehand style, exquisite and a bit unrestrained. He felt that her handwriting was like her, able to attract him just by looking at it.

However, what attracted him even more was the meaning of the words, ‘Brother Fu, let’s overcome my parents together.’

Song Fuge chuckled, unconsciously thinking, could this be a case of a girl being drawn to outsiders? He had experienced it today, and the feeling was quite good.

At that time, although the two were rejected for marriage, they could both laugh, only because there was not a trace of discouragement in their hearts, believing that as long as they were devoted to each other, the obstacle in front of them would not be able to stop them.

However, how can a barrier that can be easily crossed be called a barrier?

Three days later, a court painter carrying a painting box stepped into the Jiang family’s gate.

In the back garden of the Jiang residence, Madam Ye was accompanying Shí Qingya, enjoying the scenery and listening to music in the garden.

Because the old imperial physician told them that the fetus could sense the outside world, listening to light and pleasant music could make the fetus feel happy.

If it were in the past, Jiang Jiuchu would definitely come over to chat and listen to music together, but now, in order to appear depressed, she could only pretend to be sentimental and had not left Crabapple Courtyard for three days.

“Mother, why don’t I go and persuade Chu’er!” After learning about the situation, Shí Qingya didn’t agree with it in her heart.

“Okay! Maybe Chu’er will listen to your words a little bit. As for me, alas…”

Madam Ye was a little helpless. She couldn’t bear to see her daughter looking pitiful. Knowing this, she refrained from going to her daughter’s courtyard.

“Okay, then I’ll go now.”

Just as Shí Qingya got up, she saw a little maid running from the front, panting.

“Madam, Princess,” the little maid saluted and reported, “The Empress Dowager has sent a painter over, saying that she wants to paint a portrait of Miss.”

The little maid’s words made the two of them stunned.

“What, the Empress Dowager wants to paint a portrait of Chu’er?”

Madam Ye exclaimed in surprise, with a look of disbelief, and asked Shí Qingya, “Ya’er, do you know what this…”

“Mother, I just found out too. Let’s go over and take a look first.” Although Shí Qingya thought of the Empress Dowager’s selection of consorts for Shí Yan last time, if she remembered correctly, the Empress Dowager’s shortlisted portraits were all from noble daughters of families above the third rank.

Moreover, when selecting from them, she also focused on looking at families above the second rank, and even though the Jiang family had her relationship, no matter what, they were still only a fourth rank family!

She was puzzled in her heart and couldn’t figure out what the Empress Dowager meant? But if it wasn’t to help Seventh Brother choose a consort, then why would she send a painter over to paint a portrait of Chu’er? Could it be that she was idle and went to choose consorts for other princes again?