Fu Family of the North

"Shall we go see Elder Qin right away?" Jiang Jin broke the awkward silence first.

"Yes, we'll go to the government office right away." Wei Shu waved for a bowl of soup noodles. "Why did you put your hair up?"

“It’s natural to be more formal when meeting elders.” Jiang Jin raised her hand to touch her hair bun. “It’s a pity it’s a bit plain.”

"It already looks beautiful." Wei Shu looked at the light purple glass hairpin tucked into Jiang Jin's hair; although there was only one, it accentuated her ethereal气质 (qi zhi - refined and elegant demeanor).

"Then I'll go up first, call me when you're done eating."

Jiang Jin got up and left without lingering, leaving Wei Shu alone to eat his soup dumplings. There were still quite a few crispy cherries left on the table. Wei Shu looked at the cherries and smiled self-deprecatingly. Everyone said he was heartless, but Jiang Jin was no less so.

After finishing the last sip of soup, Wei Shu got up and went back upstairs, knocking on the door. "We should go."

Jiang Jin opened the door with a polite smile. "Don't worry, although I am skilled in riding and archery, I am also well-versed in etiquette. I won't embarrass you."

Jiang Jin extended her hand, and Wei Shu shook it. The two walked out of the inn with smiles on their faces, as if there was no animosity between them at all.

Zhuxi County wasn't large; they arrived at the county government office in no time. Wei Shu handed the invitation to the yamen runner and then stood at the entrance to wait.

The gate opened wide, and a man dressed in a blue official robe entered. Upon seeing Wei Shu, he quickly ushered him inside.

"Young master, Magistrate Qin is waiting for you in the backyard." Jiang Jin followed behind Wei Shu, her every smile and gesture befitting a noble lady from a prominent family.

"Magistrate Qin." Wei Shu bowed to Jiang Jin in return. Qin Bo waved his hand, glanced at Wei Shu, and then looked away.

"General Wei, your presence is an honor to my humble office." Qin Bo looked at Wei Shu with a cold face. "Do your work, but don't let word get out that I disrespect an official of the imperial court."

Jiang Jin glanced at Wei Shu's expression out of the corner of her eye, then sat down below Qin Bo with him.

"I heard you got married, and it was even bestowed upon you by His Majesty himself. It seems His Majesty still favors you greatly." Qin Bo's gaze fell on Jiang Jin, who had her head slightly lowered, appearing meek and submissive.

"Magistrate Qin, you flatter me. I have no way to repay His Majesty's kindness. I can only be more loyal to the emperor and love the people to live up to His Majesty's trust." Wei Shu quickly declined, not daring to respond.

"Loyalty to the emperor and love for the people—it's truly ironic to hear such words from someone like you." Qin Bo's tone was harsh. The man in the blue robe sitting next to him quickly stood up to smooth things over, afraid that Wei Shu might upset Qin Bo.

"Old Master Qin has always been straightforward, I hope General Wei will understand." The man in the green robe subtly stepped in front of Qin Bo, blocking Wei Shu's view.

"Young Master, there's no need to worry that the General won't be angry. Elder Qin is a senior official in the court, and we naturally respect him," Jiang Jin said with a smile, dispelling the somewhat awkward atmosphere.

"I have long heard that Elder Qin is proficient in the Six Arts, and seeing him today, I can confirm that the rumors are true." Qin Bo looked at the woman who looked up and spoke to him and asked, "You are the woman His Majesty has betrothed to. I remember your father is Jiang Luo, right? How are you so sure that I am proficient in the Six Arts?"

"If Elder Qin knew that you still remember him, he would be extremely honored. The bow and arrows hanging behind you show signs of years of use; they are surely more than just decoration." Jiang Jin chose something familiar as her starting point, showing none of the timidity she had displayed earlier.

"What is Jiang Luo's current position?" Qin Bo asked, waving his fan.

"My father is a fifth-rank Imperial Censor," Jiang Jin replied as usual, though he didn't understand the underlying meaning of Tan Bo's words.

"His Majesty must have spent a long time selecting the people from the Censorate." Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall visibly paused in surprise.

"Elder Qin, it was merely His Majesty's way of granting our union. General Wei disturbed me on the long street, and coincidentally, I was still unmarried, so His Majesty issued an edict to bestow a marriage upon me. It was all just a coincidence." Jiang Jin explained the superficial reason to Qin Bo without changing his expression.

"Yes, I've heard that General Wei and his wife are a harmonious couple. It seems His Majesty has facilitated this happy union." The county constable quickly chimed in, trying to smooth things over, echoing Jiang Jin's sentiments.

"It seems I was wrong. It really is a match made in heaven." Qin Bo glanced at Wei Shu and snorted. "I have official business to attend to, so I won't keep Lord Wei any longer. Please leave."

"This junior takes his leave." Wei Shu hadn't spoken until now. Jiang Jin looked at him strangely, expecting him to linger a bit, but he left the county office quite readily.

"Whose man is the county constable beside Old Master Qin?" Jiang Jin's smile faded slightly as he left the county government office.

“It’s either the Crown Prince or the Third Prince; they’re all eyeing that secret guard.” Wei Shu sighed. “I’m sorry you had to endure the cold shoulder along with me, but if you hadn’t come, I’m afraid the capital would have become suspicious of our relationship.”

"No, Elder Qin's attitude has been very good. Besides, we're husband and wife, so of course we can share this kind of hardship." Jiang Jin's smile didn't reach her eyes; she was just spouting these high-sounding words.

"I have something to do. Can you get back to the inn by yourself?" Wei Shu turned his head away, not wanting to look at the fake smile on Jiang Jin's face anymore.

"I can manage, General, you go ahead with your work." Jiang Jin walked to her right without the slightest hesitation, as if Wei Shu beside her didn't exist.

The road was bustling with activity, and the people seemed to live in peace and contentment. Jiang Jin couldn't help but marvel that even in the capital, it was not always possible to leave doors unlocked at night, yet Zhuxi County could.

"My lady, my lady!" A woman's voice called out from behind Jiang Jin. Jiang Jin turned around and recognized the young woman running towards her.

"Are you the lady from the inn?" Jiang Jin asked, looking at the somewhat familiar face.

"It's me, it's me. I'm sorry to bother you, my wife. I wanted to ask where you bought the ingredients for those crispy cherries. I'd like my husband to go buy them." Upon hearing this, both of them looked at Jiang Jin somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's alright, I'll have my husband write it down and send it to your room when he gets back," Jiang Jin replied with a smile.

"How did you know we were staying at the inn?" the young woman asked Jiang Jin curiously.

"Because the inn's doors weren't opened in the early morning, if guests from outside came in, they wouldn't close the doors again," Jiang Jin explained simply, not elaborating on any other reasons.

"My wife, you are amazing. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zhong Wu and this is my husband, Fu Yuan. We came to Zhuxi County to see the bamboo weaving festival."

"Just call me Jiang Erniang." Jiang Jin didn't mention Wei Shu's name.

"Did you come here to see the bamboo weaving festival, my lady?" Zhong Wu reached out and grasped Jiang Jin's hand. "The bamboo weaving festival is held once every three years and is the grandest festival in Zhuxi County."

"No, it was just a coincidence that I came to Zhuxi County. I think it would be very lucky if I could come across the bamboo weaving festival."

Jiang Jin looked at the girl in front of him; her eyes were clear and devoid of any ulterior motives. He figured her family must have protected her very well.

"Awu, be careful not to frighten this lady." Fu Yuan tugged at Zhong Wu's sleeve.

"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous, my wife." Zhong Wu blushed and quickly let go of her hand, looking at Jiang Jin somewhat flustered.

"It's alright. I really like Madam Zhong's straightforward and lovely nature. However, I need to return to the inn now so I won't disturb you any longer." Jiang Jin curtsied in a gesture of respect befitting a peer.

"We were just about to return to the inn, and we were wondering if we could travel together, madam?" Zhong Wu asked Jiang Jin cautiously.

"Of course," Jiang Jin readily agreed to their request to travel together.

Throughout the journey, Zhong Wu recounted his experiences from the North to Zhuxi. Jiang Jin had been to the North once before, but only briefly. Listening to his stories today proved to be quite enlightening.

"Was the marriage between Lady Zhong and Young Master Fu arranged by their parents and a matchmaker?" Jiang Jin observed that the way Zhong Wu and Fu Yuan interacted didn't seem to be a relationship developed after marriage.

“No, when my grandfather took office in the north, all the branches of our family followed him. Later, I met Fu Yuan during the Flower Festival. My father thought we were a good match, so he arranged the marriage. As for you, Jiang Niangzi, your husband treats you very well. Are you childhood sweethearts too?” Zhong Wu asked Jiang Jin, tilting his head.

“No, my marriage to my husband was arranged by our parents and a matchmaker. We only met once before we got married,” Jiang Jin replied to Zhong Wu with a smile. “I am quite envious of the relationship between you and your husband.”

Zhong Wu was somewhat confused. "Fu Yuan is a blockhead. Although he might give you small gifts sometimes, he would never do something like what your husband did." Zhong Wu gave Fu Yuan a disapproving look.

Fu Yuan followed behind the two, looking at the bamboo carvings on the stall. "Look at him, what's the difference between him and those bamboo carvings?"

"Some gentlemen are smooth-talking and charming, while others are clumsy with words but devoted and reliable. No one can have everything perfect," Jiang Jin comforted Zhong Wu. The two chatted and laughed until they reached the inn.

"Miss Jiang, you're welcome to visit the North anytime. I'll definitely treat you to a welcome feast at the best restaurant in the North!" Zhong Wu stood outside the door, reluctantly holding Jiang Jin's hand.

"Okay, I'll definitely come to bother you in the North when I have time." Zhong Wu was half-coaxed and half-pulled inside by Fu Yuan; otherwise, the two of them would have lingered at the door for a while longer.

Upon entering the room, Jiang Jin immediately summoned Yi Yi, asking, "Who are these two people? How come members of the Fu family from the North are in Zhuxi County?"

"My lady, please be patient. I will send a message to the capital immediately." Yi Yi picked up his pen and wrote a letter, preparing to send it to the capital.

"By the way, do you know where Chang Yi and the others are? It wouldn't be good if they ran into the Wang family's assassins."

Jiang Jin wasn't worried about Chang Yi; she just didn't want His Highness's reputation to be tarnished in the slightest. After all, life is always more difficult for women.

"We've already arrived at Bo City, and should be able to reach Bianzhou soon. However, I don't know if they'll go directly to Jiufang City." Yi Yi also had some understanding of His Majesty's plans.

"Just keep an eye on things, and report to me immediately if anything happens." Jiang Jin rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache, and could only lie down on the couch and close his eyes to rest.