CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: TWO BECOMING ONE

Cui Zhi was first startled, then overjoyed, repeatedly kowtowing: "Thank you, Commandery Princess."

The other four followed suit, kowtowing in gratitude.

The days of hard labor were truly unbearable. Now with a three-year deadline, there’s hope.

Jiang Shaohua then went to the kitchen. The dozen or so women there had each gained a bit of weight and looked rosy. It’s apparent the kitchen is indeed the most nourishing place.

There’s more heartening news.

A thirty-year-old plump cook, blushing, stepped forward: "I have a matter to report to the Commandery Princess."

This plump cook was also a trusted aide of Prince Nanyang. He had been large and slow since childhood, not suitable for martial arts, and at ten, he apprenticed to a chef, learning excellent culinary skills. At sixteen, he joined the Personal Guard Camp as a cook, gradually growing even larger over the years.

Jiang Shaohua looked over with a smile: "What is it?"

The other cooks were all secretly amused, and there was laughter among the women too, nudging each other playfully, pushing out a woman about twenty-four or twenty-five. The woman was slender with delicate features.

Jiang Shaohua had an excellent memory; with a glance, she remembered the woman’s name: "Aren’t you called Fangniang?"

Fangniang shyly responded, mustering her courage to step forward and stand beside the plump cook.

It’s so obvious; there’s no need to ask, is there?

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes were filled with amusement; she didn’t press the matter, quietly waiting for the two to speak.

The plump cook’s chubby face flushed even redder, nervously saying, "I like Fangniang and wish to marry her. I seek the Commandery Princess’s blessing."

The plump cook had previously married, but unfortunately, his wife had a difficult childbirth and both were lost. He’d been a widower for seven or eight years and never expected this year to find love again.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t ask, "Have you thought it through? Fangniang is a woman from a bandit’s nest" or any such nonsense. The plump cook was already a thirty-year-old man; since he came asking for this blessing, he must have thought it all through.

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, looking at Fangniang with a gentle voice: "Fangniang, do you truly wish to marry him?"

Or do you just want a place to belong? Are you rushing to marry because someone is willing?

These last two sentences were left unspoken by Jiang Shaohua. Everyone present could understand, especially the women who had also suffered in the bandit’s nest. They instinctively held their breath, all eyes on Fangniang.

Fangniang was the first among them to move on from the past. If she could marry again and live a stable life, it would mean they too might have such a future.

Fangniang steadied herself, calmly replying, "To the Commandery Princess, when I first came to the military camp kitchen, I thought I would just work hard, earn my keep, and live like this all my life."

"Later, I followed Brother Bao to learn cooking, spending days and nights together, developing feelings. As a woman who had fallen into a bandit’s hands, I had no right to marry again. I refused Brother Bao twice."

"This is the third time he has asked. He said he doesn’t mind my past and will treat me well if he marries me. Suddenly, I was moved."

"I’m still young, with many decades ahead. If Brother Bao and I like each other, why can’t we become husband and wife? As long as he doesn’t mind the gossip, neither do I."

The plump cook immediately straightened his back and loudly said, "I don’t mind. Fangniang, the past was not your fault. I’ll only cherish you more. Once you marry me, I’ll treat you well."

Tears glistened in Fangniang’s eyes as she choked out a response.

There’s always true love in this world.

Warmth flooded Jiang Shaohua’s heart: "Alright, since Bao Er sincerely wishes to marry, and Fangniang is willing, I, the Commandery Princess, approve this marriage."

"Yin Zhu, fetch fifty taels of silver to prepare a dowry for Fangniang."

Yin Zhu, who always carried a purse, immediately complied, handing a purse containing two large silver ingots into the teary-eyed Fangniang’s hands: "Don’t refuse, the Commandery Princess gave it, just accept it. Quickly kneel and thank her."

Indeed, their lives were given by the Commandery Princess. They’ll never be able to repay this in their lifetime.

Crying, Fangniang knelt and kowtowed three times.

The usually simple-minded plump cook, at the prospect of marriage, suddenly became savvy, kneeling alongside Fangniang to express gratitude.

...

Back at the camp, Jiang Shaohua cheerfully said to the approaching Chen Jinyu, "Sister Jinyu, seeing such a happy event makes my heart glad."

Chen Jinyu returned the smile knowingly, "Who would have thought, the first to marry wasn’t Miss Kong, but Fangniang."

"Wait, when the Commandery Princess asked all the women to work in the military camp, was this the underlying intention?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "Yes. With a mansion as large as the Prince’s, settling them isn’t difficult. However, these women have had hard lives, and if they can marry again to live a stable life, wouldn’t that be even better? So I had them all come to the military camp."

The Personal Guard Camp is all men, and many haven’t yet married. If any of them happen to fall for each other, it could lead to a happy union.

Tao Da was just unlucky; Kong Qingwan is a proud and self-reliant woman who didn’t want to marry. There’s nothing to be done about that.

Bao Er and Fangniang are a good match.

Chen Jinyu gave a thumbs up to the Commandery Princess.

The two friends exchanged smiles.

The Personal Guard Camp isn’t small but not overly large either. Within half a day, news spread that Jiang Shaohua had awarded fifty taels of silver to Fangniang for her dowry.

Among the trusted aides, a few gossiped, "Bao Er is willing to marry a woman from a bandit’s nest."

Others said, "Bao Er is as fat as a pig, just laughs foolishly, and can’t do anything but cook. Fangniang looks like a flower. If she hadn’t fallen into the bandit’s hands, how could it have been Bao Er’s turn?"

"Bao Er’s been a widower for seven or eight years, and now that he’s finally getting a bride, it’s a happy occasion. As for everything else, Bao Er doesn’t mind, so it’s not for us to gossip about."

"Shh! Be quiet! Tao Da is coming!"

The aides quickly changed the subject.

Tao Da apparently heard about Bao Er wanting to marry Fangniang and was deeply dejected, trudging along without his usual vigor, like an abandoned bear.

Anyone with a bit of heart wouldn’t joke about Tao Da’s situation.

One personal soldier coughed and said to Tao Da, "There’s a celebration tomorrow in the camp, pigs and sheep will be slaughtered. Tomorrow there’ll be good food, make sure to eat your fill."

Tao Da nodded gloomily, said nothing, and walked off with his head hanging low.

He left behind murmurs of pity and sympathy.

"Truly unfortunate. Even though his mother agreed, Miss Kong just wouldn’t marry."

"Miss Kong is just too stubborn. Although Tao Da is a bit simple, he has great skills, is already a captain, and is favored by the Commandery Princess. He surely has a bright future. Why wouldn’t she marry him?"

"Ugh, relationships between men and women are complicated. Let’s all be a bit more considerate in our words!"