Ran Min slapped his right hand and burst out laughing.
He laughed until tears almost came out before he would stop.
He tilted his head, not minding the stray hair falling over his face.
Ran Min smiled at Chen Rong saying: “Missy, you’ve quite the gall.” He paused before adding: “And quite the ruthless heart!”
Chen Rong did not answer him. She merely kept her head bowed and her lips pressed together as her tears trickled down.
Ran Min laughed when he saw her appearance: “Hah, you’re ruthlessly scheming against other people yet you’re putting on this grievous look. I’m seeing you in a new light, young miss.”
Chen Rong still wouldn’t raise her head although her face was growing paler and paler.
Ran Min lifted his wine and threw his head back for a swig. When he next placed the cup down, he said, “It’s a deal.”
Only now did Chen Rong look up at him. There were accusation and grievance in her eyes, as if she was miffed that he had called her ruthless.
She lowered her head again to accord Ran Min ceremony before walking back to her seat and slowly sitting down.
Ran Min laced his palms together as he shouted, “One of you come in here.”
“Aye.”
An advisor came in.
Ran Min turned his gaze to Chen Rong and ordered: “Tell him where that route is.”
“Aye.”
Chen Rong rose, dropped to another curtsy, and described the route in detail while the advisor laid out his paper.
Although the route was from her previous life’s memory, she had thought long and hard about it on the way here and tried to remember it as best as she could, repeating it over and over in her mind. Her description was thus very articulate and clear.
In just moments, the advisor put away the silk parchment and said to Ran Min: “I have it down.”
Ran Min nodded and then waved his hand to dismiss him.
Footsteps were heard outside at this time.
“General, it’s time,” a soldier called in.
Chen Rong at once curtsied and dismissed herself.
After she was gone, an advisor walked in and, looking at Ran Min, smilingly said, “You should have seized the opportunity to be more affectionate to the young lady, general.”
Ran Min stood up to let the soldiers help him put his armor on. His face was cold at this time, reticent before saying: “She’s very normal around me this time.” His words made those in the tent break out in laughter. Ran Min did not join them; he thoughtfully turned to look in the direction Chen Rong had gone and said, “Her temperament is just like mine.”
His advisor laughed: “Like yours, general? I find that difficult to believe.” The nobility of this era was a mild breed, and it was funny to hear a fiercesome Ran Min say a noblewoman was his parallel.
Nurse Ping was waiting for Chen Rong when she stepped out. She had been at Chen Rong’s side, but when Chen Rong and Ran Min began talking, Ran Min had waved his hand to dismiss her. Because Chen Rong didn’t want to reveal the scheme against her elders, she did not stop her from leaving.
She stepped up to greet her mistress and, after taking a careful look at her, couldn’t stop herself from asking: “Miss, how are things?” Her eyes were filled with hope.
Chen Rong smiled at her. “Very good.”
Overjoyed, Nurse Ping lowered her voice: “Then, did he mention anything about marriage?”
Marriage?
Chen Rong shook her head and distractedly looked at the tents ahead. Moments ago, she had thought Ran Min would be disappointed with how selfish and cruel she was, and would not be interested in her anymore – even then, she didn’t care, she must exact her revenge!
Unexpectedly, Ran Min had agreed and even laughed at her request. She had tried and tried to put her best foot forward in the past yet she had always been cast aside. Why was she receiving his appreciation now that she was showing her true self and no longer needing it?
Chen Rong couldn’t find an answer to this question, or did she want to. She strode to the front as she shook her head.
Nurse Ping followed behind. In a few steps, she again asked, “Miss, did the general say anything else? Such as your uncle’s matter? Also, did you let him know that the clan no longer objects to your marrying him?”
Chen Rong didn’t bother turning her head when she lightly said, “Do you think someone like Ran Min would care about what the clan thinks?”
The nurse was thus silenced.
Chen Rong had gotten to her tent. She bent down and went in.
This translation belongs to hamster428.wordpress.com
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
At noon on one day, Nurse Ping hurried after Chen Rong when she saw her step out. “Miss.” She glanced at the tent and whispered, “What did General Ran say?”
Just now, Ran Min had called Chen Rong to his tent again and told her nurse to leave.
Yet again, Chen Rong shook her head and softly replied, “He did not speak to me.”
“Ah? But why not?”
Chen Rong blankly smiled. “He’s too busy.”
Nurse Ping could see this, too. “Then what di