On the third day, Jiang Xinrui naturally did not appear, and Zhang Kangnian, as Yan Xiao had said, did not live to see the fourth day.

Although this was the ending everyone had predicted, some people were still somewhat disappointed.

Most of the people Zhao Qian was focusing on were still clear-headed. Only a few stubborn individuals were making indignant remarks in private, such as mocking a woman from the inner quarters for being too cruel and arrogant.

These people would be separated and assigned to various tasks, and naturally, they would never return.

Even if some people in the military camp had doubts, they didn't dare to say anything. They pretended they knew nothing and made Yan Xiao, the general's wife, seem like someone who was not to be trifled with.

And that's the effect that Yanxiao wants. It's not advisable for someone in a position to lower themselves to please others and gain their approval. She can't do that kind of humble and subservient thing.

What she needed to do was to instill fear in those who had opinions or prejudices against her, so that they would not dare to underestimate her and would thus obey her.

As for what happened in Jiangbei City, it was naturally impossible to keep it from Shen Muzhi, and no one would try to hide it from him.

After Wei Wuxiu finished cleaning up the mess outside the city, he entered the city lord's mansion and saw Shen Muzhi carrying an exquisite wooden box, picking through a pile of gold and silver jewelry with a serious expression as if he were working on an important strategic plan.

Wei Wuxiu's expression went blank for a moment, and it took him a long time to find his voice:

"Old Shen, what are you doing?"

Shen Muzhi had already noticed his arrival, and upon hearing this, he didn't even look up before saying:

"Are your two eyes just for show? Can't you see I'm picking out jewelry?"

Wei Wuxiu's face darkened upon hearing this, and he said irritably:

"Is that what I meant? I meant, why are you picking this thing? When did you become interested in this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he received a look from Shen Muzhi that said he was an idiot.

He calmly placed a large gold bracelet inlaid with rubies into the box, then, with a serious expression, said:

“I have a family. It’s one thing when I’m broke, but now that I’ve worked so hard to earn some money, I naturally want to pick out some good things to bring back to my wife so she can be happy.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuxiu's expression clearly showed a hint of existential doubt.

He glanced at the large box Shen Muzhi was carrying, then at Shen Muzhi's serious expression, and seriously suspected that this person had been switched.

In the past, when someone acquired spoils of war, they would immediately have them counted and recorded, and then deposit them into the military treasury as strategic funds.

He lived in the military camp and rarely needed money. Even when he did need it, he would take a little from the military treasury and never put it in his own pocket first.

He used to wonder how this person could be so detached from worldly desires, and why he was working so hard. But now he was like a devoted husband, picking and choosing among a pile of jewelry, specifically picking out the thick, large, and brightly colored pieces.

Just as he was questioning the meaning of life, Shen Muzhi had already walked up to him and was looking at him with an extremely serious expression:

"There's something I want to tell you."

Seeing Shen Muzhi's expression, Wei Wuxiu assumed something had happened and immediately snapped out of his reverie and adopted a serious attitude.

"you say."

Then Shen Muzhi said seriously:

"Qingyang City has been stabilized, and all that's left is to wrap things up. I'm at ease leaving you here, so I'm entrusting it to you. I've been away from Jiangbei for so long, and there are many things waiting for me to go back and handle, so I won't stay any longer and will head back now."

"What, what did you say?"

Wei Wuxiu wondered if there was something wrong with his ears. It seemed that this person meant to leave him here to work while he was going to return to Jiangbei first, right?

Does he look like a complete scoundrel? What could possibly happen in Jiangbei? His wife is having a great time in Jiangbei, why would he need to go back?

He's clearly in a hurry to go back to his wife to show off his treasure, leaving this ungrateful son behind to do the work!

He said that when this person attacked Qingyang City a few days ago, he was in such a hurry that he was wiped out in just three days.

He had no patience for persuasion; if anyone disagreed, he would just kill them all, which terrified him.

He originally thought that Shen Muzhi was just taking out his anger on the people of Qingyang City because he was unhappy with what his wife had done behind his back after receiving the news from Jiangbei.

It turned out that I had completely misunderstood. He didn't seem to have any dissatisfaction at all. Rather than dissatisfaction, he seemed more like he was feeling guilty and eager to go home to show off to his wife and appease her anger.

Didn't this guy say he wasn't interested in matters between men and women? With his current attitude, who the hell would believe he isn't interested?

Thinking of this, Wei Wuxiu couldn't help but tease:

"Hey Lao Shen, you haven't fallen for someone, have you? Wasn't your wife your childhood sweetheart? What, after being separated for a few years, you suddenly see her charm?"

Shen Muzhi was momentarily stunned by these words, then replied nonchalantly:

"What do you mean by being tempted or not? As a husband, I haven't been able to give my wife a good life, which is my dereliction of duty. Now that I have the opportunity, I naturally want to make up for it."

She likes these yellow and white things, and I happen to have some now, so isn't it only right that I bring them back for her?"

After hearing this, Wei Wuxiu carefully examined Shen Muzhi's expression and couldn't tell whether the man was serious or just being stubborn.

Just as he was about to speak, Shen Muzhi interrupted him:

"Alright, I've arranged everything from now on. You just keep an eye on things here. I'm heading back to Jiangbei now."

After he finished speaking, he picked up the box and walked out. Wei Wuxiu was about to call him back when he turned back.

Wei Wuxiu's eyes lit up when he saw this, thinking that this person had a change of heart and realized that it was not very kind of him to abandon him like this.

Just as I was feeling a little relieved, I saw Shen Muzhi point to the jade carvings that were packed separately in two large boxes, and say with a serious expression:

"These two items are for my wife. They don't need to be put into storage. When you finish taking care of this and return to Jiangbei, please bring them back for me. Tell someone to be careful not to bump or damage them."

Without giving Wei Wuxiu a chance to reply, he strode away with the box full of gold and silver jewelry in his arms.

Wei Wuxiu glanced at the two jade carvings, then at the direction Shen Muzhi had left in. If he didn't have to maintain his image, he would have cursed.

And Shen Muzhi still says he's not moved? If he's so eager just because of that so-called marital relationship, he'd cut off his head and let Shen Muzhi kick it around like a ball.

He usually acts all high and mighty, but when he's with his ugly wife, he becomes completely abnormal.

I used to think this person didn't understand romance and poetry, but now I realize it's not that they don't understand it, it's just that their tastes are different from the average person.