Chapter 1.2: Greetings, Ninth Uncle Chapter 1.2 \nLast year at twelfth month, Cheng Yujin followed her mother to stay in a hotspring villa. Ning Wangâs territory was in south, even after married to the capital for so many years, Qingfu Junzhu was still not used to the winter here. An imperial clanâs daughter was naturally wealthy, and one of the estate owned by Qingfu Junzhu had a special hot spring. Qingfu Junzhu went out for a trip, it would look bad if she didnât invite her sisters in law, and the young misses naturally followed their mothers.\n
Cheng Yujin, as the eldest di daughter of Qingfu Junzhu was of course tagging along. Unexpectedly, after they arrived at Xishan, the capital city and surrounding area continued to snow heavily for three days and three nights, closing the mountain road and trapping the family on the estate.
Qingfu Junzhu had already sent their family servant down the mountain to report, so they only had to stay in the estate, waiting for the marquis manor to send workers to clean the road and pick them up. Qingfu Junzhu still leisurely enjoyed the hot spring, but Cheng Yujin found that her second sister was missing.
Her second sister Cheng Yumo was the only daughter of the second branch. She was the apple in the eyes of the second branch master and his wife Ruan-shi. And now their beloved daughter was missing during her stay at the main branchâs vacation estate. Worried about Cheng Yumoâs reputation, Cheng Yujing didnât dare to let the matter spread out, so she secretly sent some older female servants to guard the road, and let Lian Qiao to inquire about Cheng Yunmoâs whereabout.
Unexpectedly, after one night, Cheng Yumo still did not come back. Cheng Yujin knew that the matter was serious. She didnât dare to make her own decision, and thus went to Qingfu Junzhu early that morning to report the incident. Qingfu Junzhu also taken aback. She wasnât close with the second branch, but if their di daughter was missing on her estateâs premise, then she would be the one who get blamed. Yesterday Cheng Yujin has searched the whole estate, so Qingfu Junzhu had no choice but to send search team to the mountain area.
When Cheng Yujin interrogated Cheng Yunmo personal servant girls, they told her that last night, the snowfall suddenly ignited their missâ poetic inspiration, so she went out to admire the snow and was missing since then. Greatly displeasured, Cheng Yujin immediately took several servants and personally went to search for Cheng Yunmo on the path mentioned by the servant girls.
How big is the back mountain, plus it was snowing, making it impossible to identify the directions. The snow also hinder they steps, at this speed, it would be impossible to scour the whole mountain, so they had to disperse and search separately. Cheng Yujin took Du Ruo, and after a while they found a mountain cave.\n
There was a cave, and the entrance also has some cover, so someone must be took shelter here! Cheng Yujin hurried over, but instead of Cheng Yumo, she found an unsconcious man.
In fact, according to Cheng Yujinâs temperament, she wouldnât take notice to an outsider male of unknown origin. What relation did his life and dead has with her? But thanks to Cheng Yujinâs sharp eyes, she saw a private seal on the manâs body.
Huo Changyuan, northwest guard army.
Huo Changyuan? The famous general currently in favor in the court, the youngest marquis of Daqi dynasty, that Jingyong Marquis Huo Changyuan?
Very good. Cheng Yujin decided to save him.
Cheng Yujin ordered Du Ruo to lay Huo Changyuanâs body flat. An adult male was heavy, Du Ruo alone couldnât do it, so Cheng Yujin also squatted down and helped. When she was holding Huo Changyuanâs arm, the man woke up in daze. He felt peopleâs presence beside him, and tried his best to open his eyelids. In the half-dark cave, he saw a beautiful and delicate woman leaning on him. She was vibrant and warm, an alluring girl.\nâItâs you?â
Cheng Yujin didnât understand. Obviously she was the only one in his line of sight, why did he asked, âitâs youâ? Did he mistaken herself as a ghost?
Of course, Cheng Yujin, the perfect standard for all noble girls in capital, wouldnât say that aloud. She nodded slightly and smiled gently: âMarquis, please at ease. I am the eldest granddaughter of Marquis Yichun. My motherâs estate isnât far away. After a moment, Iâll call someone to lift you back.â
Huo Changyuan seemed to feel relieved. After taking a deep look at her, he closed his eyes and fainted.
After a while, the people she call finally arrived. The servant boy who brought a stretcher said, âReporting eldest young miss, second miss has been found and the Junzhu call you back.â
Cheng Yumo has been found? Perfect, she didnât have any intention to get frozen outside, pretending to be a loving sister.\n\nAsking Cheng Yujin? Of course she happily agreed. In fact, this was her real purpose of saving Huo Changyuan.
At the end of the 21st year of Jianwu, Yichun marquis manor was filled with great joy. A marquis manor with empty title took the most promising youth at the court as their in law. Moreover, the young Marquis career was on the rise. It was suffice to say that the whole family fell into great jubilation. Old Madam Cheng endlessly told others that the years they spent raising Cheng Yujin wasnât for nothing.
Cheng Yujin made the most important investment in her life. No surprise, glory and wealth for the rest of her life was now guaranteed. Cheng Yujin was satisfied and stopped going out. She spent her times at home, preparing her dowry.
At that time, the family was too noisy about Cheng Yujin, that she didnât notice Cheng Yumoâs unhappiness after returning from estate, dragging her illness for a long time. She also didnât notice Huo familyâs attitude for this engagement was too eager. After all, marriage wasnât the only way to repay a life-saving grace.
Unfortunately, she didnât notice.
(1) [surname]-shi : shi literally means surname or clan. When a woman married, they didnât change their surname. Instead they would be called [oneâs surname]-shi in the family, and [husbandâs surname] [oneâs surname]-shi outside. Huo Xue-shi means that she was the wife of master Huo, and was herself a daughter of Xue clan.