The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0646 Your Character Determines Your Fate

Yurong sat on the wedding bed, her gaze fixed on the pair of red candles adorned with auspicious dragon motifs placed on the wedding table. The candles were burning brightly, their flames flickering gently.

Luye had a bad feeling in her heart. It was already so late—why hadnʼt Guye come yet? ”Miss, you should lie down and rest for a while. Iʼll wake you up when Guye arrives.”

Yurong smiled faintly as she responded, ”No, I will wait for my husband.”

Luye cautiously asked, ”How about I send Lucao to ask around?” He shouldnʼt have been drinking until this late. Didnʼt he know it was his and her mistressʼs wedding night?!

Yurong shook her head. ”No, if others find out, theyʼll laugh at me.” If the groom came back late and she sent people out looking for him in a state of anxiety, the whole household would mock her.

The night grew even deeper, and no one knew when the moon had set. Luye went out and returned with her head lowered. She told Yurong, ”Miss, Guye has gotten drunk and is currently resting in the study.”

Yurong suddenly looked up and asked, ”Are those servants all dead? Even if Guye is drunk, shouldnʼt he be brought to the bridal room? Why send him to the study?” Having managed her familyʼs household in Jinyu Alley, Yurong had developed a talent for managing affairs — as well as a temper.

Luye bowed her head so low that it nearly touched the ground. ”This servant doesnʼt know either.” Luye and Lucao had been selected by Yurong herself from a recruitment agency after the family split up. Yurong had a fiery temper, and the two maids had suffered their fair share of it.

Yurong looked at the bright red bedding, embroidered with pictures of ʼhundreds of sons and thousands of grandsonsʼ, her eyes clouded with darkness. She was sure todayʼs events were the work of that old witch, intended to humiliate her.

Luye was clever; otherwise, she wouldnʼt have lasted so long by Yurongʼs side. She knew that Guye had deliberately chosen to sleep in the study; it was not the servantsʼ fault. Anxiety gnawed at her. People always said that Second Master Jiang was deeply devoted to her mistress, and she believed it, but today, she doubted that.

On her wedding night, the groom slept in the study—how could the bride, Yurong, possibly sleep? No matter how much Luye tried to persuade her, she couldnʼt sleep. She just leaned against the bedʼs headboard, her eyes fixed on the wedding candles, watching them until dawn.

Luye noticed that Yurongʼs face had turned pale. If word got out that she had been left alone in the bridal chamber on her wedding night, how would her mistress bear the shame? Especially since she had always been proud and strong-willed.

Suddenly, a mama outside called loudly, ”Er Nainai, itʼs dawn. Time to serve tea to the Master and Madam.” Everyone knew what had happened the day before; they were just pretending to be deaf and blind.

Yurong said coldly, ”Bring water.” What other tricks did that old witch have up her sleeve?

After finishing morning grooming, Jiang Hongjin walked in and said to Yurong, ”If youʼre ready, come with me to greet Dad and Mom.”

Yurong was fuming inside, but her anger faded when she finally saw Jiang Hongjin. Seeing his bamboo-green robe, she pursed her lips and gently advised, ”Husband, this outfit is too plain for such a joyous day. Go and change into something more fitting.” On such a festive day, his dull outfit looked awful. She herself was dressed in bright red embroidered with pomegranates—what a mismatched couple they made!

Jiang Hongjin didnʼt take Yurongʼs words to heart. He simply said blandly, ”Letʼs go.” No extra words, extremely concise.

That calm and indifferent demeanour poured cold water over Yurongʼs heart. Last night, she had kept telling herself it was the old witchʼs doing, but now she was starting to doubt her own assumption. Yurong looked straight at Jiang Hongjin and asked, ”What happened last night?”

Jiang Hongjin replied flatly, ”I got drunk. The servant took me to sleep in the study. Letʼs go, or weʼll be late.” After speaking, he ignored Yurongʼs expression and turned to leave.

Yurong was trembling all over. She wasnʼt a fool—how could someone as cold as Jiang Hongjin possibly be deeply in love with her?

Luye gently nudged Yurong and whispered, ”Miss, you mustnʼt delay. You need to serve tea to the Master and Madam first. Everything else can wait until after the tea ceremony.”

Yurong bit her lower lip, holding back her anger as she followed behind Jiang Hongjin.

News of what had happened the previous night spread throughout the Jiang household. Facing all those probing gazes, Yurong wished she could gouge out every pair of eyes.

When the time came to kneel and offer the tea, Jiang Wenrui, now Vice Minister Jiang, said pointedly, ”You must think things through in the future. Donʼt act so recklessly again.” He had known about Jiang Hongjinʼs actions since early that morning, believing that his son had been spoiled by his motherʼs upbringing.

When it was Madam Jiangʼs turn, she took the tea and sipped it, gently saying, ”May you soon bear fruit and branch out.” Her peers already had children ready to start school, yet she didnʼt even have a grandchild on the way. The Jiang family had strict ancestral rules: unless a man remained childless past the age of thirty, he was not permitted to have an heir born of a concubine. If a man violated these codes and had a firstborn child with a concubine, that child would not enter the Jiang family genealogy — in other words, the clan would not acknowledge the child.

Yurong answered in a voice as soft as a mosquitoʼs: ”Yes.”

After finishing the tea ceremony, the young couple returned. However, Jiang Hongjin didnʼt even enter the courtyard; he went straight back to the study, leaving Yurong standing woodenly at the gate.

That night, Jiang Hongjin still didnʼt return.

Luye suggested, ”Miss, shall I go with Lucao to find out if thereʼs some seductive vixen in the study whoʼs bewitched Guye?”

Yurong nodded. ”Go.” In just one night, all her illusions had been shattered. Nevertheless, even if she were to die, she wanted to know the truth.

Almost half a day later, Luye returned and told Yurong, ”Miss, I found out that there are no maids in the study—only the Second Masterʼs page assists him with writing and ink.” She paused, then added, ”The two tongfang have been married off by Madam.” This was the Jiang familyʼs rule: the maids who served in the bedroom before marriage had to be sent away to avoid affecting the relationship between the newlyweds.

Yurong might have a sharp temper, but she wasnʼt stupid. Her instincts told her the problem lay with the maids sent away. She laughed bitterly. ”So much for thinking he loved me—turns out I was just his shield to block arrows.”

Luye comforted her: ”Madam, those two shameless girls have already been married off—they canʼt come back to the Jiang household. What we need to focus on now is getting the Second Master to change his mind.” Yesterday, they could still use his drunkenness as an excuse, but if the Second Master didnʼt enter the room again today, Er Nainai might not be able to gain a foothold in the Jiang household.

Yurong bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled. ”I want to see whether he truly wonʼt come to the bridal chamber tonight.”

Yurong stayed in her courtyard that day and didnʼt go anywhere. Unusually, Madam Jiang didnʼt send any old servant women or maids over, either.

By nightfall, Yurong waited until midnight, but Jiang Hongjin never showed up. At that point, she gave up waiting. After bathing, she lay down to sleep. Before closing her eyes, she instructed, ”Wake me as soon as itʼs light tomorrow.”

With a startled heart and trembled gall, Luye replied, ”Yes, Miss.” Her mistress was not someone who would silently endure grievances. If she had endured something so humiliating without saying a word, it surely meant a bigger storm was brewing. Although worried, Lǜye had no intention of trying to persuade her. The Jiang family, particularly Jiang Hongjin, had gone too far — it had been two days since the wedding, yet he still hadnʼt entered the bridal room. If he didnʼt like her mistress, why hadnʼt he broken off the engagement sooner?

The next day, Jiang Hongjin accompanied Yurong to visit her natal home. Yurong remained silent, causing a scene in the Jiang family wouldnʼt benefit her.

Back at the Han Third Branch residence, Yurong greeted Han Jingyan, then returned to her old courtyard and asked Luye to summon Jiancheng.

After giving the order, Yurong sat on the bed in a daze, not even noticing when Luo Shi entered the room. Seeing Yurongʼs ashen face, Luo Shi asked, ”Fifth Miss, whatʼs wrong?” Shouldnʼt newlyweds be sweet and bashful? Why did the Fifth Miss give off such a fierce air?

Yurong found this matter humiliating and didnʼt want it to blow up into a public scandal just yet. She said, ”Saozi, Iʼm tired and want to rest.” She had always just maintained surface-level politeness towards this shu sao.

Jiancheng had originally been in the back courtyard, keeping Jiang Hongjin company. He was also pursuing the Imperial Examination path, but despite being diligent, his literary talent was limited. So far, he had only achieved the rank of xiucai.

Han Jingyan was displeased with Yurongʼs lack of decorum but didnʼt interfere. Instead, he simply told Jiang Hongjin, ”I have spoiled the Fifth Girl too much. I hope my good son-in-law can be more tolerant.”

Remaining as calm and aloof as ever, Jiang Hongjin replied, ”Please donʼt worry, Father-in-law. Iʼm not so petty.”

When Jiancheng saw Yurong, he asked, ”Jie, what do you need me for?” Since moving to Jinyu Alley, Yurong had been managing the household and had always cared deeply for her two full-blooded brothers—their sibling bond was very close.

In front of her younger brother, Yurong no longer cared about losing face. She told him everything about how Jiang Hongjin had refused to consummate the marriage. After suffering such a huge humiliation, naturally, her maternal family should demand justice.

At first, Jiancheng didnʼt believe her as he asked, ”Jie, are you saying Jiefu doesnʼt want to consummate the marriage? How is that possible?” Jiancheng was seventeen this year and already engaged to the eldest di daughter of the Minister of Protocol; their wedding was set for the ninth month.

Yurong couldnʼt hold back her tears. ”Didi, how could I lie to you about something like this? What I donʼt understand is, if he didnʼt want to marry me, why didnʼt he just break off the engagement?”

Jiancheng suddenly stood up, his face cold. ”Jie, donʼt worry. Iʼll go get justice for you right now.”

After waiting for a while, Luye came rushing over. ”Miss, bad news! Second Master has beaten up Guye. His face is all bruised and swollen. Shall I take you to see him, Miss?”

Yurong replied, ”Iʼm not going.” Not only did she refuse to break up the fight, but she also refused to return to the Jiang household with Jiang Hongjin. Even when Han Jingyan ordered her to return, she would not comply.

Han Jingyan said, ”Since youʼve married into the Jiang family, you are theirs in life and death. You canʼt stay in the Han family forever.”

Yurong knew her fatherʼs temperament well—he cared only for himself, with no regard for his wife or children. She countered, ”Dad, if the Jiang family doesnʼt give me a satisfactory explanation and you still force me to go back, Iʼll hang myself from the beam.”

Jiancheng said, ”Dad, we canʼt send Yurong to her death.” In other words, he supported Yurongʼs decision.

As for Han Jiangcheng, Han Jiangyan still took his eldest di sonʼs words into consideration. Ultimately, Jiang Hongjin returned to the Jiang family alone.