Married to the Emperor's Fiercest General, Who Is Terrified of Me novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Shelf That Stops a Cavalry Charge

"That's an imperial carriage," Wenxuan said.

The general looked at the split rail in his hand, then at Wenxuan.

"I'll pay for it."

"With what, your last three hundred men?" said Wenxuan.

"With my salary."

"That's a whole year's salary of a lieutenant."

"I have eleven years of salary," said the general, with the air of a man confessing a crime. "I never spend it."

Wenxuan covered his mouth with his sleeve and looked out of the window until the shaking stopped.

At the Ge manor he stood in the front hall and turned in a slow circle.

It was a good house, with wide courtyards and old pines.

It was also the saddest house he had ever seen.

There was no furniture in the east wing at all.

The study had a desk with one leg shorter than the rest, propped on a folded boot.

The only decoration in the whole place was a rusty spear on the wall of the main hall.

"Dai," said Wenxuan.

"Young Master?"

"Is there any money in this house?" said Wenxuan.

"Eleven years' worth, Young Master. In a chest. Nobody's touched it."

"Open it," said Wenxuan. "I want a carpenter, a bookseller, a painter of screens, and a cook who knows what a vegetable is. By evening."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The old man ran, looking ten years younger.

The general stood in the middle of the hall, uncertain where to put his hands.

"I'm not very good at houses," he said.

"I noticed."

"I can build a bridge," said the general.

"Then you can build a bookshelf."

Wenxuan pointed.

"Here. Along that wall, from floor to beam. Mine are coming from my old lodging, six hundred volumes. Do you have tools?"

"Yes," said the general.

"Then build."

The general looked at the wall.

Then he rolled up his sleeves, and for the next two hours Wenxuan sat on a crate in the corner and ate dried plums and watched the Marshal of the North build a bookshelf.

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