Chapter 1095: Chapter 1086: Climbing Over the Wall

Actually, they really shouldn’t have beaten up Zhao Xu at this time.

He was, after all, their elder brother-in-law.

Miss Zhao was getting married; as her elder brother, Zhao Xu’s presence carried weight, and it would be inappropriate for him to offer toasts with a bruised and swollen face.

But the guard of Prince Beimo was in a hurry to return and report back, so they could only adapt to circumstances.

What’s a few drinks compared to Beimo sending troops to help?

Worst case, he could wear a mask like them; everyone coming to drink wedding wine was an acquaintance anyway.

Ever since they caught Dong Chenglang and learned from Xie Jingchen that Dong Chenglang’s body was with his uncle while his heart was with the Zhao Family—that he was their good brother’s good brother, and now even Zhao Xu’s brother‑in‑law—

This made him one of their own good brothers.

And that aura in his every move was just so similar to theirs.

Birds of a feather flock together.

They regretted meeting him so late.

Compared to Zhao Xu, Dong Chenglang was more like them.

After all, Zhao Xu still had to work hard at "warping" himself, leading people into the ditch, before he could emanate that unreliable vibe, and even then only occasionally.

Dong Chenglang was different; just like them, he practically had "unreliable" engraved on his forehead and carried it around everywhere.

The fact that he secretly rejoiced when Zhao Xu got beaten up, even though he was the brother‑in‑law, already said it all.

They didn’t go far, just stayed at the pavilion outside the study and had the Maids bring over a few pots of wine to drink and chat.

Now this was what you call a good life.

Since they were brothers, they didn’t need to stand on ceremony; Dong Chenglang asked Prince NanAn and the others whether Xie Jingchen had asked them to bring anything for him...

He had been thinking about that telescope Xie Jingchen promised him for a long time, and it still hadn’t been delivered.

Prince NanAn patted him on the shoulder. "Don’t worry, Brother Jingchen never goes back on his word."

"The telescope you wanted has been delivered; it’s in the chest, should be on its way to your little sister‑in‑law right now."

Dong Chenglang was a little impatient to see it, but since it had been carried over to Miss Zhao, he could only suppress his eagerness.

Though they lived under the same roof, he still had to observe the rule of no meeting before the wedding.

They would see each other tomorrow anyway. If he really couldn’t help it, he could just ask a Maid to fetch it later.

Everyone was laughing and talking, conversation flowing easily.

Inside the boudoir, Miss Zhao sat there doing needlework, her cheeks flushed like a ripe fruit, her whole body wrapped in a gentle glow.

From the moment the Zhao Family started arranging the wedding hall, she hadn’t dared go out.

She was thin‑skinned by nature; everyone who saw her congratulated her on finding her ideal husband, her ears were about to grow calluses from hearing it. How could she be willing to go out and be teased?

Needlework was just right for passing the time.

Outside, a Maid stepped in and said, "Miss, someone has sent you wedding gifts."

Miss Zhao looked up at the Maid, her eyes full of surprise. "Sent me wedding gifts?"

The little Maid nodded like a pecking chick. "The things have already been carried to the courtyard gate."

The little Maid was delighted.

What young lady from a good family gets married without three or five close friends sending add‑on dowries?

Their Miss had made plenty of noble lady friends in the Capital City; before Prime Minister Zhao left the Capital, who knows how many nice things he had sent out as wedding gifts for others.

Now it was their Miss’s turn to marry, and not to mention wedding gifts, there were barely even a few people to chat with.

That big chest—who knew what was inside? The Maid’s curiosity scratched at her heart like a cat.

As she was thinking this, the big chest was already carried in.

Miss Zhao walked out, the Maid waved her hand, and the servant withdrew.

The little Maid looked at Miss Zhao. "Allow this servant to open it and have a look."

Miss Zhao gave a slight nod.

The little Maid impatiently opened the chest.

Inside the big chest were all kinds of small boxes; the little Maid casually picked one up and handed it to Miss Zhao.

Inside the small box were two strings of pearl bracelets.

"So pretty!"

Miss Zhao was also reluctant to put them down.

And that was just one of them.

The other boxes held Rouge and powder, as well as soap... all things girls loved.

The little Maid had served by Miss Zhao’s side for quite some time and knew a bit about Rouge and powder. The faint fragrance alone showed these were good things.

The Zhao Family was far from the Capital City; the Rouge and powder they had brought from the Capital City had long been used up, and what they could buy now were things they used to look down on.

Even what they used before couldn’t compare to these gifts.

The little Maid sniffed the Rouge and looked at Miss Zhao. "I don’t know who those masked people are, that they would send Miss so many wedding gifts."

"And every single one is a good item."

Miss Zhao was puzzled too. Her gaze swept around and landed on the bottom of a brocade box that hadn’t been put away properly. She picked it up, took a look, and immediately understood who had sent these things.

The bottom of the brocade box bore the characters for tribute.

These were wedding gifts from her Cousin Xie and Cousin‑in‑law.

Cousin Xie had helped the Zhao Family a great deal, but she herself had been disappointing—falling into the water and catching cold—and to this day still didn’t know what Cousin Xie looked like.

Yet they still sent her so many things; Miss Zhao felt undeserving.

There was a lot of stuff, but all ready‑made. Su Jin was in the army and pregnant; she hadn’t even gone out shopping, much less personally mixed Rouge and powder.

These were all things the Emperor had sent someone to deliver, fearing she would suffer at the border.

Batch after batch—they piled up in the tent and took up too much space.

Xie Jingchen only had one cousin, Zhao Xu; naturally, Miss Zhao was his cousin as well. When Miss Zhou Qi and the others got married, Su Jin had sent them Rouge and powder mixed by her own hand and specially made hair ornaments; she wanted to treat them all equally. But the circumstances didn’t allow it, so she picked out a generous set from what the Emperor had bestowed on her and asked Prince NanAn and the others to bring it to Miss Zhao.

They were all things girls liked; Miss Zhao couldn’t stop playing with them, except... the telescope.

The little Maid had stared at it for a long time, knocking and peering at it, with no idea what it was.

"Miss, look at this," the little Maid handed the telescope to Miss Zhao.

Miss Zhao didn’t understand either. She held the clear end up and looked through it, and the little Maid shrank into a tiny ball.

Miss Zhao burst out laughing. "This thing is fun."

"Let this servant have a look," the little Maid hurriedly said.

Taking it from Miss Zhao, the little Maid looked through it and jumped in fright. "Why does this thing make Miss look so big?"

Big?

Wasn’t it supposed to make things smaller?

Miss Zhao and the little Maid studied it for a long time, then took the telescope and went to find Prime Minister Zhao.

Such a novel thing—she couldn’t wait to share it with her parents.

Mm.

And with that "sharing," she directly shared away the telescope that Dong Chenglang had had such a hard time getting.

When Miss Zhao went to find Prime Minister Zhao, General Shi happened to be in the study.

Tomorrow was the joyous day when Dong Chenglang would marry Miss Zhao; General Shi feared the court would send troops to attack the city, so they had to be prepared—not just on the city walls, but also at the Zhao residence.

They were in the middle of discussing this when Miss Zhao came in with the telescope. Prime Minister Zhao couldn’t praise it enough.

General Shi had seen a telescope before, and only then did he realize that his was broken.

Prime Minister Zhao saw that General Shi liked it and also knew that the telescope would only be used to its full potential on the battlefield, so he asked his daughter to sacrifice her treasure and give the telescope to General Shi.

Miss Zhao was a bit reluctant, but she still nodded in agreement.

In her hands, the thing really was being wasted.

General Shi was not about to shortchange Miss Zhao either. After returning from Prime Minister Zhao’s study, he sent someone to deliver a chest of Brocade and jewelry to her.

When the chest was being carried to Miss Zhao, Dong Chenglang happened to be passing by with Prince NanAn and the others.

The servant saluted Dong Chenglang, and upon seeing this, Dong Chenglang casually asked, "Why did my uncle have you carry a chest over to the Zhao Family?"

The servant smiled. "Miss Zhao gave the Great General a good item. The Great General was happy and had Madam prepare this especially."

"What good item?" Dong Chenglang asked curiously.

"They said it was some sort of ’far‑mirror’?" The servant couldn’t remember the name for a moment.

"I heard that it makes things far away look like they’re right in front of your eyes."

Dong Chenglang’s eyes suddenly flew wide open.

"That telescope is mine, ahhh!"

"How did my telescope end up being given to my uncle?!"

Before he’d even finished, Dong Chenglang bolted toward General Shi’s Mansion.

After a few steps, he came back again.

There was only one wall between General Shi’s Mansion and the Zhao residence.

Climbing over the wall was faster than going through the main gate.