9 Valuable HairPin

"Where have you last seen the general?" That became the most popular question in the general's mansion since yesterday afternoon.

Who knew that today, the general, cousin of the emperor and a survivor of the last winter battle would be found in the living room of the Cai clan patriarch. A look of disgust could not be erased from his wrinkled eyes. A person like her, moreover, a woman is asking for his grandson's hand for marriage? Shouldn't it be the other way around? He sighed. Is this what happens if their parents died too early? A sense of relief made him look at Cai Jin who kneeled beside his fiancee.

Truth to be told, the emperor has sent them the imperial edict regarding Cai Jin's betrothal and the details behind it. Even the wedding has been discussed. But, of all noble ladies, it was the tyrant? Has their clan have fallen so far from the power that they had to suffer by accepting this walking calamity?

"You are two peas in a pod, match made in heaven and the red strings of fate have indeed brought you two together," he started. 'A philanderer and a tyrannical slut, rumors are scary.' Nevertheless, his years of service as an official has not come to waste that he could maintain a deep-looking gaze at the younger generations. 'If these two were wed, will they be happy?' he wondered.

Thankfully, the previous Wei Xia Ri was dead. The new one immediately smiled and showered him with praises. "Patriarch, you are a living buddha! Without you, I would have never been able to meet Cai Jin. With your blessings, we will be worry-free. My years of solitude truly served as a hidden chance, a chance to meet such a delicate playbo- unique specie-," she cleared her throat, "Excuse me, a wonderful man. With all my heart, I will be by his side no matter what. I will keep him and ask for no refund, I will make him happy."

The stream of words continuously flowed out of her mouth. Even Wei Xia Ri asked herself if her words truly came from the heart or were it because of her infatuation over the wild lamb beside her? Surprisingly, Wei Xia Ri felt a tug on her long sleeve and saw a bashful Cai Jin.

"I am sorry. Was it too much?"

The woman surely was different as if she never lived a life like the women in the empire. Her words shocked him. It was embarrassing especially in front of the patriarch. "Too much!" He whisper-shouted. "Patriarch Cai, we ask for your blessing."

It was shocking for Cai Jin? The elderly felt frozen! After a stiff nod, he hurriedly had them leave the room.

But meeting the parents were the same. His father, a man who served the general quickly gave away his son earning a snicker from Cai Jin as soon as they exited his study. But lastly, today's final destination was his mother.

As they were making their way to a small courtyard, far away from the main residence, Wei Xia Ri noticed the man walk slower and slower until as if he was dragging a pair of logs. She halts on her steps and sighed. "Tell me, there is something you want to say right?"

"Something wrong?" he pretended despite his wan expression.

If Wei Xia Ri takes in her observations, his mother was an old concubine long forgotten but trapped by her husband. She was not favored and was not taken care of.

When they made it to the front porch, a shriek escaped his lips. A plate came flying as soon as they opened the door! Thankfully, Wei Xia Ri took the body of a general trained in martial arts. Just a plate flying was no threat that she dodged it and easily caught it before the flying object hit Cai Jin right on the face. His beautiful eyes squeezed shut and he instinctively raised his arms in defense.

Just as Wei Xia Ri began to wonder, another plate came flying but she caught it once more and put it on top of the other. Unfortunately, another one came and then another. It seemed like the more she caught, the more flew. But to make her handsome fiance suffer? Not with her around!

"Gaah!!! How dare you catch the plates Xiao Jin!" A woman's voice erupted.

"Mother it was not me, but my fiance is not at fault either!" He quickly kneels before the unopened door. Wei Xia Ri knitted her brows together but when a woman as beautiful as an actress came striding out of the small house appeared, the general copied the man. She put the plates aside and bowed. Most of Cai Jin's features were definitely copied from her.

"Mother, my name is Wei Xia Ri. I am pleased to meet you." 'Crap, it seems like this goddess is the actual boss!'

"Mother, my fiancee." He introduced.

"I am aware. The imperial edict has informed me yesterday." When looking at Cai Jin, she spoke so sternly that even the isekai'd girl who has had so many encounters in the modern world felt shocked when she switched to a polite tone once she faced her daughter-in-law to-be. "General Wei, I would like to show you my gratitude for liking my son. Please come in."

"Yes, mother." One thing that never changes throughout the centuries was a mother-in-law. Even Wei Xia Ri lost her dominance when facing such a boss. She rigidly gets up while pulling on Cai Jin. "Let's go in together," she pleaded while looking at him with doe-like eyes. She knew that men liked women who acted cutely. If this works, her future will be wonderful.

Cai Jin, however, was paralyzed in fear as if he had done something wrong and broke all the rules his mother had set for him. Just as she guessed. . .

"My son, a womanizer has finally been tied down. General Wei, who knew it would take such lengths! You are a blessing in my life. I have always warned this man that if he continues his ways, one day, a man will come and make him a cut sleeve!"

'Is this why she fell out of favor?' "Concubine Gu, you are way beyond your time! In a few hundred years, that will probably be okay."

"Sigh! Did my son offend anyone? How did you two end up together? Spare me the details of the engagement."

The new couple looked at each other. Cai Jin shook his head. "Mother it was--"

"Love at first sight. The moment I saw him, I thought that such a unique man is way too difficult to find that I felt attracted to him so much that I wanted to marry him!" It should be okay to be honest with a woman as bold as her? Wei Xia Ri thought.

"Oh my! My son, useless as he is, is still worth so much more like any other people. Please take care of him."

"I will bring him happiness." Wei Xia Ri as she found his eyes staring deeply at her.

The woman could get along with his mother. Even his father found it difficult to match with this unique mother of his. The general despite the rumors seemed different. So different. Just as he thought of her name, it quickly brought back her intimate actions towards him from her electrifying to touch up to her paralyzing gaze. Even if she was only trying her luck with him and teasing him, he could not help but find it quite attractive.

...

After having dinner with Cai Manor residents where the long-forgotten Concubine Gu was even invited, Cai Jin escorted the lady out. The experience was amazing that he could not help but smile. Having the infamous general over left many unperturbed except for the new future mother-in-law. The questions which were often used to bombard his mental shield every day disappeared. Even malicious gestures were held back. Was meeting this woman really the greatest occurrence in his whole life?

"Thanks to you, I had a joyful dinner," he could not help but say. After all, despite the rumors, it seems like his everyday life seemed to change the more time he spent with her as cliche as that sounds.

The general shrugged her shoulders. "Same, I share the same thoughts!" Given the luck of having her future mother-in-law taking her side, it did not take long for Wei Xia Ri to feel comfortable. The mother and son sat on either side of hers like protective walls and kept her included in the family.

Meanwhile, words about the infamous pair walking towards the front gate spread like wildfire within the residence. Cai Jin, the last male in the residence to be considered as a gentleman was walking his fiancee to the carriage. The couple looked so adorable that the servants had to rub their eyes to make sure they weren't dreaming. The young master was really taken down and beat to such a state!

"Young master," came a brave servant. He was holding a basket given by Cai Jin's mother. "Concubine Gu has sent me to bring you these as her gift."

Wei Xia Ri tilted her head towards her shoulder as if she could peek under the light cloth hovering over the gift. "Many thanks," she grinned. However, her eyes were quick to find Cai Jin's as if to ask if the servant was trustworthy. When he nodded, she quickly pulled out a premium jade hairpin wrapped in thin gold. If she knew it was crafted by the best artisans in the empire, Wei Xia Ri would have asked for a set instead. "Please pass this to mother and inform her that I am sorry to be able to only return her gratitude with a used hairpin. Tell her I'll get her something better next time!"

Cai Jin looked at the hairpin with widened eyes. 'Something so valuable,' but the general acted so nonchalant and gave it without a second thought. 'To be so generous with mother, is she really a tyrant?'