The Young Master Becomes a Wife Chapter 35 Part 1

Chapter 35: The War

With his greatest worry resolved, Yan Jingshu felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. However, the matter was far from over. Now that the Dowager Lady Yan knew the truth, it was no longer possible to keep it from the Duke of Anguo.  

Yan Jingshu immediately intended to confess everything to the Duke, but the Dowager Lady stopped him. "This matter is of great importance. It’s better if I speak to him. As for your mother, we can’t ignore her either—this time, we must settle everything. I already have a plan, so you need not intervene. When you return today, don’t dwell on it. Just focus on packing and preparing for your journey north in a few days. That is what matters most now."  

"Grandmother…" The Dowager Lady had made up her mind, and Yan Jingshu dared not disobey. However, he suddenly remembered something else and added, "Then this grandson will return today and sort out the dowry to send back tomorrow."  

Having been married for only three days, most of his dowry remained untouched—except for the over twenty thousand taels given to Xi Muyuan, though it was unlikely the man had spent it all yet. Now that he knew he was not of the Yan bloodline, he could no longer rightfully keep these things.  

Yet the Dowager Lady frowned, displeased. "What? Do you mean to disown your grandmother and father, to no longer consider yourself a member of the Yan family?"  

Yan Jingshu hurriedly replied, "Of course not. In my heart, you will always be my grandmother, and Father will always be my father. But I am not of Yan blood—these things were never truly mine to begin with..."  

"Enough," the Dowager Lady cut him off. "If you still acknowledge me as your grandmother and your father, then you remain a descendant of the Yan family. Say no more of this."  

Yan Jingshu wanted to say more, but a maid arrived to announce that the Duke of Anguo and Jiang Chenghan had arrived. The Dowager Lady quickly instructed the maid to bring them in, then shot Yan Jingshu a warning glance to keep him from speaking out of turn.  

Rarely did the Dowager Lady appear so stern. Yan Jingshu dared not defy her and obediently sat down, remaining silent. Soon, the Duke and Jiang Chenghan entered. Jiang Chenghan was holding a small box—a pair of wenwan walnuts gifted by the Duke.  

[Wenwan walnuts (文玩核桃) are intricately carved or naturally prized walnuts used as collectible art and meditation aids in Chinese culture, valued for their craftsmanship, aesthetic appeal, and role in hand exercise and mental focus.]

The Dowager Lady smiled. "How generous of you. It’s rare to see you willing to part with your treasures."  

The Duke chuckled. "You jest, Mother. I could see that Chenghan genuinely appreciated them. Besides, he’s no outsider—there’s nothing I wouldn’t share with him."  

The Dowager Lady nodded, then said, "Speaking of which, I, too, have prepared something. An Momo—"  

An Momo acknowledged the summons and retreated to the inner chamber, soon returning with a flat redwood box.  

The Dowager Lady opened the box, and a flash of silver light dazzled those present. Before anyone could wonder, she explained, "This is a silver-thread soft armor. You may have heard of it—impenetrable to blades and arrows, resistant to fire and water. It was once worn by your father and grandfather. Chenghan, the battlefield is merciless. Wearing this will offer you some protection."  

Jiang Chenghan quickly stood, hesitant to accept such a gift. "Dowager Lady, this is far too precious. This junior..."  

He had seen such armor before—General Kou possessed one, also a family heirloom, and the only one of its kind. With the craftsmanship lost to time, such treasures were now nearly impossible to find.  

But the Dowager Lady’s decisions were unshakable. She motioned for An Momo to press the box into Jiang Chenghan’s hands. "Your father has no use for it, and leaving it stored away would be a waste. It is better given to you, where it can serve its purpose."  

"Then this junior thanks Grandmother." Seeing her resolve, Jiang Chenghan knew further refusal would be ungrateful. He accepted the box with solemn gratitude.  

After some more conversation, the sky darkened. Before Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu could take their leave, the Dowager Lady dismissed them first.  

Once they had gone, An Momo did not return to the Dowager Lady’s courtyard. Instead, she boarded a carriage and, as instructed by the Dowager Lady, went to the Xie residence to summon Yan Jingshu’s maternal grandparents—Xie’s parents—to discuss how to deal with Xie Shi.  

Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu remained unaware of this.  

In the carriage, noticing Yan Jingshu’s unusual silence, Jiang Chenghan grew concerned. "What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet all along. Did something happen?"  

Though the Dowager Lady had advised against revealing his true origins to Jiang Chenghan, Yan Jingshu did not wish to keep anything from him. After a long pause, he recounted everything—his visit to Xie Shi, his conversation with the Dowager Lady, and even how Yan Jingyu had orchestrated the scheme during the Dowager Lady’s birthday banquet, with Xie Shi’s complicity.  

"...I’ve always known Mother disliked me. Later, when Yan Jingyu harmed me, she knew the truth yet still aided him, even plotting to drive me out of the duke's household. I could never understand why she was so cruel—until now. It turns out I'm never her child to begin with..."  

Seeing the bitter, self-mocking smile in Yan Jingshu’s eyes, Jiang Chenghan set aside his shock at these revelations. His heart ached for the person before him. He pulled Yan Jingshu into his arms, wanting to comfort him but unsure what to say.  

Putting himself in Yan Jingshu’s place, even he would struggle to accept that the parents he had known for decades were not his blood relatives. How much harder must it be for Yan Jingshu?  

As for Xie Shi, Jiang Chenghan didn’t know what to say about her. It was tragic to lose one’s child and be forced to raise another’s, but to harbor such hatred for the adopted child, treating the child as an enemy, only to be outmaneuvered in the end—it was hard to muster sympathy.  

Yan Jingshu clung to Jiang Chenghan’s waist, burying his face in his chest without moving. Though he understood Yan Jingshu’s turmoil, Jiang Chenghan feared he would suffocate his emotions. Gently pulling him back, he saw Yan Jingshu’s reddened eyes and nose—clear signs he had been crying. Jiang Chenghan could only sigh inwardly.

Jiang Chenghan gently wiped away Yan Jingshu’s tears and comforted him in a soft voice, “...I know you’re sad, but fortunately, the Dowager Lady already knew about this and won’t be affected by it anymore. That’s a small blessing in this misfortune. Besides, didn’t the Dowager Lady say she would handle this matter? So don’t overthink it. No matter the outcome, I’ll be here, always by your side. We’ll face it together, alright?”