Chapter 27: The Vow
He had once asked Jiang Chenghan to teach him how to cook these dishes, hoping to make them for Jiang Chenghan someday. But after just one attempt, he accidentally cut his finger, and Jiang Chenghan forbade him from entering the kitchen again.
Fortunately, he had watched Jiang Chenghan cook these dishes many times and still remembered the steps and ingredients, so he decided to try making them himself. This time, although he didn’t cut his finger like in his past life, he still accidentally scalded the back of his hand with splashing hot oil while stir-frying.
But now, Jiang Chenghan couldn’t stop him. After applying some ointment, he continued cooking. It didn’t take too long—after a few tries, he managed to recreate the exact taste from his memory. By the time Jiang Chenghan arrived today, he had already mastered those dishes.
Though he knew these dishes were nothing compared to what Jiang Chenghan had once made for him, he only hoped Jiang Chenghan would understand that he had no reluctance or resentment toward their marriage or Jiang Chenghan himself. He truly wished to become Jiang Chenghan’s spouse, to live together in harmony.
Jiang Chenghan was not oblivious to Yan Jingshu’s sincerity. Even during their earlier meeting at Louwailou, he had sensed that Yan Jingshu’s attitude toward him was not as cold or displeased as he had imagined. At the time, he had felt somewhat relieved, thinking that although they lacked a foundation of affection, they could nurture it after marriage.
But today, those dishes on the dining table made Jiang Chenghan realize that this marriage—and Yan Jingshu himself—might not be as simple as he had thought.
As he stepped out of the Duke of Anguo’s residence, Jiang Chenghan turned back for a final glance. The next time he returned would be on his wedding day, when he would officially take Yan Jingshu as his spouse. Thinking of the dishes at noon and his unexpected encounter with Yan Jingshu at Louwailou days earlier, he felt, for the first time, a genuine sense of anticipation for this marriage.
At this moment, Yan Jingshu remained unaware of Jiang Chenghan’s feelings. Several days later, the wedding day finally arrived.
The auspicious time for fetching the bride was set for 3:15 PM, but Jiang Chenghan had risen before dawn to bathe, groom himself, and carefully arrange his hair. This was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, so he couldn’t afford to be as casual as usual. After meticulous preparations that took nearly half a shichen (an hour), he was finally ready.
[申時一刻 (shēn shí yī kè): 申時 (shēn shí) = 3-5 PM; 一刻 (yī kè) = 15 minutes]
At the same time, in the Duke of Anguo’s residence, Yan Jingshu had also risen early. After bathing, he was surrounded by maids and elderly servants—some combing his hair, others applying powder, and even some painting his nails.
Though Yan Jingshu was willing to marry Jiang Chenghan, that didn’t mean he saw himself as a woman. And from what he knew, Jiang Chenghan didn’t care for heavily made-up appearances. So, he shooed away all the maids and servants except the one combing his hair.
As he prepared, relatives and close friends from his clan and social circle came to send him off in waves. Amidst the conversations, another half a day passed.
After a light lunch, with no time for a nap, Yan Jingshu was helped into his wedding robes and phoenix crown by his maids. The robes were exquisite and luxurious but also intricate and heavy, making the dressing process quite laborious. Fortunately, it was already mid-autumn, and the chilly weather meant he didn’t have to worry about overheating.
The well-wishers had all left, leaving only Yan Jingshu, the Dowager Lady Yan, and two maids who would accompany him after marriage. Amidst the earlier bustle, he hadn’t noticed, but now that it was quiet, he realized his heart was pounding uncontrollably with nervousness. His palms grew slightly damp, and he found himself glancing out the window repeatedly.
The Dowager Lady noticed his restlessness and couldn’t help but chuckle, her sadness at sending off her grandson easing slightly. Yet she teased deliberately, "Truly, a grown child is no longer one’s own. Though his body remains here, his heart has already flown away."
Already flushed from the crimson wedding robes, Yan Jingshu’s face reddened even further, as if rouged, his eyes betraying a hint of embarrassment. "Grandmother, you’re teasing me again."
The Dowager Lady snorted but didn’t press further. She couldn’t bear to torment her beloved grandson.
Yet, as she looked at Yan Jingshu in his wedding attire, soon to be married off, a pang of melancholy rose in her heart. Despite having repeated it many times, she couldn’t help but say again, "You have a gentle nature. Though the Jiang family has no elders or siblings to contend with, it still won’t be like home. If you ever quarrel with Jiang Chenghan, don’t argue stubbornly. Just send word to me or your father, and we’ll stand up for you."
"I understand, Grandmother. Don’t worry." Though she had reminded him countless times, Yan Jingshu nodded earnestly. He knew his grandmother, unlike him, had never interacted with Jiang Chenghan and couldn’t fully trust him yet.
Seeing his sincerity, the Dowager Lady relaxed slightly. Though parting was hard, children had to leave home eventually. And since this was Yan Jingshu’s own wish—one he had fought to fulfill—she was happy for him.
Before long, the crackling of firecrackers and the lively sounds of celebratory music drifted in from outside. The Dowager Lady and Yan Jingshu looked out, and soon a maid arrived to announce that the groom’s procession had arrived.
The Dowager Lady hurriedly stood, instructing the maids to adjust Yan Jingshu’s wedding robes and fetch the red veil and ceremonial items.
Outside the Duke’s residence, Jiang Chenghan arrived with his comrades and fellow soldiers to fetch his bride. Since Yan Jingshu had only one elder brother, who had passed away years ago, the Duke had selected a few distant cousins from the Yan clan to assist.
Traditionally, they were supposed to challenge Jiang Chenghan at the gate, making it clear that marrying into the Yan family wasn’t easy and that he must treat his spouse well. But Jiang Chenghan and his entourage—tall, burly, or battle-hardened—looked anything but easy to intimidate. The cousins hesitated, their courage waning.
In the end, they proposed only the simplest couplets, so basic that Jiang Chenghan—who had graduated from university in his past life—solved them effortlessly without needing the scholarly advisor that Kou Shijun had assigned him. With that, he smoothly entered the Duke’s residence.
Word of Jiang Chenghan’s performance at the gate quickly reached Yan Jingshu, the Dowager Lady, and the Duke. While Yan Jingshu wasn’t surprised, the other two were astonished—they hadn’t expected Jiang Chenghan to possess literary talent.
The Duke grew even fonder of Jiang Chenghan. When the latter arrived in the main hall to offer tea, the Duke drained his cup in one gulp and affectionately called him "son-in-law" repeatedly, as if he had completely forgotten his initial reluctance upon hearing of the imperial marriage decree.
The Yan clan elders present, seeing the Duke’s approval, also showered Jiang Chenghan with praise—calling him "a man equally versed in the brush and the sword," "of extraordinary bearing," and "boundlessly promising," each compliment more elaborate than the last.
To be fair, Jiang Chenghan deserved the acclaim. Tall, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built, his features were sharp and handsome, his profile as if carved by an axe, exuding an intense masculine aura like a towering mountain—majestic and imposing.
Though his usual stern expression carried an intimidating air, today, clad in crimson wedding robes with a golden crown, his brows relaxed and lips curved in a smile, he resembled a bright sun rising over a mountain peak, casting a warm glow that softened his rugged edges, making him appear even more dashing and noble.
The maids in the hall couldn’t help but sneak glances, their cheeks flushing. Who would have thought the new son-in-law would be so handsome? Though his background was humble, the Duke’s obvious approval suggested other merits. Some even felt a twinge of envy toward the two maids chosen as Yan Jingshu’s attendants.
Before long, the Dowager Lady and Yan Jingshu—now fully dressed in his wedding finery—were escorted into the main hall by the wedding matron and maids. The Dowager Lady took her seat beside the Duke, while Yan Jingshu was led to Jiang Chenghan’s side.
With the red veil covering his face, Jiang Chenghan couldn’t see Yan Jingshu’s expression. Together, they knelt and bowed to the Dowager Lady and the Duke in a final farewell.
Seeing the child he had raised for over a decade about to leave home, the Duke’s eyes reddened, his voice choked with emotion. "Good… good—"
"Alright, rise now," the Dowager Lady said, though her own heart ached with sorrow.
Jiang Chenghan stood, gently helping Yan Jingshu up as well.
The Dowager Lady nodded approvingly before offering her final advice: "From now on, you must love each other, support one another, respect each other, and live in harmony. Only then will your father and I be at ease."
"…I’ll remember, Grandmother," Yan Jingshu’s muffled, trembling voice came from beneath the veil.
Sensing Yan Jingshu’s slight tremble, Jiang Chenghan kept a steadying hand on him and solemnly addressed the Dowager Lady and the Duke: "Grandmother, Father, rest assured. I will cherish Jingshu, honor him, and never betray him. I swear this vow today: from this day until my last, Yan Jingshu alone shall be my spouse. No other shall ever take his place!"
Silence fell over the hall. Everyone—except Yan Jingshu—was stunned, including the Dowager Lady and the Duke.
For men who married women, taking concubines was commonplace, let alone for those marrying a shuang'er like Yan Jingshu, whose fertility was uncertain. By making such a vow, Jiang Chenghan was effectively vowing to forsake heirs—an unthinkable act in their eyes.
Had Yan Jingshu been a woman, they would have rejoiced. But as a shuang'er, if fate denied him children and Jiang Chenghan kept his vow, their lineage would end with them.
Exchanging glances, the Dowager Lady and the Duke didn’t know whether to be pleased or concerned.
After a brief silence, whispers spread through the hall. Outsiders, unaware of Jiang Chenghan’s character, assumed he was merely flattering the Duke with empty promises.
But Jiang Chenghan meant every word. To him, marriage meant loyalty and devotion. He cared little for heirs—if Yan Jingshu couldn’t conceive but still desired children, they could adopt. Blood ties mattered not to him.
Ignoring the murmurs, Jiang Chenghan helped Yan Jingshu bow one last time to the Dowager Lady and the Duke.
Only then did the two snap out of their daze, hastily instructing the maids to assist the couple.
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