Incense

"Come in." A member of the Imperial Guard climbed in through the window.

"A letter from the general in the capital says that the Chen family has safely entered the capital, and they have not yet reported the matter to His Majesty."

"Has the Jiang family made any unusual moves?"

"No, Imperial Censor Jiang is still attending court as usual, and Imperial Censor Xiao has also returned to the capital. Everything is normal."

"Are you sure the Jiang family has no dealings with those two?" Wei Shu looked at the person who came to report with some suspicion.

"General, that's what our spies in the capital say: the Jiang family is indeed loyal to His Majesty," the soldier replied respectfully.

"I sent you to thoroughly investigate Jiang Jin's past. Did you find anything unusual?" Wei Shu had a feeling that the person sleeping on the couch wasn't as simple as she appeared.

According to the servants of the Jiang family, Madam Jiang is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Apart from her childhood habit of visiting the estate, she has no other unusual traits.

"Which estate?" Wei Shu paused, his hand tapping on the table.

“A village located in the northern suburbs of the capital, below the Temple of the Goddess.”

"Okay, you can go now." Wei Shu waved his hand, dissipating much of the strange fragrance in the air. He lifted the curtain and looked at Jiang Jin's sleeping face.

"Jiang Jin, you absolutely mustn't let me catch you doing anything wrong, or I won't let you off the hook."

Wei Shu's fingers hovered in front of Jiang Jin's neck, but he ultimately withdrew them, lowered the curtains, returned to the bedside, and lay down on the floor, listening to Jiang Jin's soft breathing before closing his eyes.

The next morning, a soft knock came at the door. Wei Shu immediately opened his eyes and carefully opened the door.

"General!" Zhou Cong glanced behind him carefully before entering the room with Zhou Liao.

"Is no one watching us?" Wei Shu asked the two.

"General, rest assured, we took a long detour to get here, there's absolutely no one following us," Zhou Cong said to Wei Shu in a low voice, glancing at the bed.

"General, should we avoid the lady?"

"I've lit incense; she won't wake up for now. Accompany her for a stroll around the city today." Wei Shu glanced again at Jiang Jin, who remained oblivious on the bed.

"You should go back to your rooms first."

"Yes!" The two carefully left the room. Wei Shu took out a porcelain bottle and placed it under Jiang Jin's nose. After a while, Jiang Jin coughed a few times and turned over.

"The rooster has crowed and you're still sleeping. Anyone who didn't know better would think you came to Yuezhou just for sightseeing." Wei Shu woke Jiang Jin through the curtain.

"It's only a quarter past dawn!" Jiang Jin sighed deeply. "Zhou Cong and the others have entered the city?"

"Yes, I came while you were asleep. After you get up and wash up, you can walk around the city with Zhou Cong. Remember not to reveal your identity."

Wei Shu looked at Jiang Jin with a serious expression, "And don't act impulsively. We'll talk about everything when I get back."

"Okay." Jiang Jin got up, tidied her hair, and opened the door to find quite a few people already having breakfast outside.

"Waiter, a bowl of soup noodles, please." Jiang Jin had barely sat down when the waiter immediately approached. "Madam, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"No." Jiang Jin took off her veil, but there were no other eyes watching her, so she felt relieved. When Wei Shu came downstairs, he saw Jiang Jin eating soup dumplings alone, occasionally glancing at the passing travelers.

"You seem to have it easy." Wei Shu waved his hand. "Waiter, bring me a bowl of soup noodles just like my wife's."

"Okay!"

"Why can't I relax? This is something for my husband to worry about. I'm just a woman, I shouldn't interfere, lest I ruin his plans." Jiang Jin poked at the soup noodles in her bowl with her chopsticks.

"I've already handed over the items, and I have no idea what to do next," Wei Shu explained, unusually friendly.

"Why bother explaining to me? I don't care. Alright, I'm going to the temple to pray for a child now. I won't disturb you while you're enjoying your breakfast."

Jiang Jin put down her chopsticks and called out to the waiter, "This bowl is on my husband's tab."

He put on his veil and stepped out of the shop. "Madam," Zhou Cong said, walking out from the crowd and standing beside Jiang Jin.

"The governor's wife will be distributing porridge at the city gate today," Zhou Cong said in a low voice.

"Then let's go take a look." Jiang Jin walked ahead, observing the surrounding shops. Her eyes lit up when she saw Yuezhou Clothing Store, but she quickly composed herself.

When the two arrived at the city gate, a long queue had already formed, with many people standing quietly in line waiting for the porridge to be distributed.

"Madam, shall we join the queue?" Zhou Cong looked at the long line and couldn't make up his mind.

"Do you think my clothes are the kind that would make me suitable for receiving porridge?" Jiang Jin asked with a smile as she walked around to the porridge stall, observing the governor's wife through the soldiers.

Suddenly, a wonderful fragrance wafted into Jiang Jin's nostrils. She was about to go and smell it when a soldier blocked her way.

"What's going on?" The governor's wife had also noticed what was happening and shook her head slightly at the soldiers.

"If you'd like some porridge, you can wait your turn. Don't worry, there's enough porridge for today." The governor's wife smiled slightly, her hands still busy ladling out the porridge.

Jiang Jin wasn't in a hurry; she simply sat at the stall drinking tea. "Madam, shouldn't we change our clothes and sneak in?"

“Look at the way those people are. Even if we manage to blend in, they’ll see through us. It would be counterproductive and alert them. We might as well stay here and see if there’s anything wrong.”

Jiang Jin sat on the stool waiting for the porridge distribution to end, and in her spare time, she would chat with the vendor at the stall.

"This lady seems to have a very kind heart; she even personally hands out the porridge." Jiang Jin sipped her tea.

"Our governor's wife is famously kind-hearted. Not only does she distribute porridge three times a month, but she also provides charcoal to poor families during the winter. The governor is also a good official; he does anything that benefits the people, like repairing roads and bridges." The waiter spoke at length about the governor's good deeds.

"My husband and I are both from out of town, and we were charged less at the inn. Was this also ordered by the governor?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin's eyes changed, and she gently caught the teacup with her fingertips.

"Of course, the governor said that it is not easy for outsiders to come to Yuezhou. We will help them as much as we can. The shops will receive government funding every month so that they will not suffer losses."

The waiter became very grateful when talking about the prefect, exclaiming, "If only all the officials in the world were as good as the prefect!"

"Madam, it seems the soup kitchen over there has been closed down!" Jiang Jin patted her dress and stepped forward to stop the governor's wife from getting into her sedan chair.

"Madam, please wait!" Jiang Jin bowed slightly. "I have a question, and I hope you can answer it for me."

“I see you’ve been sitting there for quite a while, so you must be in some trouble. Tell me about it, and I’ll do my best to answer any questions I can.”

Although the governor's wife was surrounded by people, Jiang Jin was certain that the familiar scent was emanating from her.

"Madam is kind enough to distribute porridge here. I would like to ask if I would also like to do this good deed, what are my requirements?" Jiang Jin's voice was gentle and soothing.

"If you are so inclined, you can report to the authorities. After their inspection, you may distribute porridge here." The lady smiled slightly as she was helped into the carriage.

After the large group of people had left, Jiang Jin turned her gaze back to them. "Let's go, let's go check out the clothing store."

"Has Madam noticed something?" Zhou Cong looked at Jiang Jin with some confusion.

"You'll find out when you get to the clothing store." Jiang Jin entered Yuezhou Clothing Store and was taken aback when the shopkeeper saw the ring on her hand.

"What would you two like to see?" The shopkeeper waved for the waiter to leave.

"I just saw the governor's wife distributing porridge. I wonder if you have any fabric like the one you're wearing?" Jiang Jin glanced around at the fabrics on the ready-made clothes.

"Yes, yes, this way please." The shopkeeper led the two to the cloth that cost four hundred coins a bolt. "This is the fabric for the clothes that our governor's wife wears."

"Four hundred coins?" Zhou Cong was somewhat surprised. "Yes, our lady has always been frugal and never uses luxurious materials. These are all clothes worn by ordinary people."

"Then make me a dress made of the same material as the one Madam is wearing." Jiang Jin took out a string of cash and placed it on the table. "If it's not enough, I'll make up the difference after I get the finished garment."

"That's enough, madam. Please come with me, I'll take your measurements and have a dress made." The shopkeeper led Jiang Jin into the inner room.

"Your subordinate greets Your Highness!" The shopkeeper bowed to Jiang Jin.

"Is there anything unusual in Yuezhou? Is the governor of Yuezhou truly as diligent and benevolent as the rumors suggest?"

"There's nothing unusual. The governor is indeed very frugal and treats the people very well." The shopkeeper took out a long ruler and carefully measured Jiang Jin's dimensions.

"What about the Prefect of Yuezhou?" Jiang Jin quickly suspected another person involved in the matter.

"Sima is also very good. He always puts the governor first. The officials of Yuezhou can truly be considered honest and incorruptible."

Has anything happened in the capital?

"His Highness has used a scheme to bring Lady Zhai to the capital. Lady, please be careful in everything you do. This is a letter from His Highness to you." The shopkeeper took a letter from a box and handed it to Jiang Jin.

"Alright, by the way, seal this handkerchief and send it back to the capital. Remember to send it as fast as possible, otherwise the scent will dissipate and it will be difficult to trace!"

Jiang Jin handed the handkerchief she carried with her to the shopkeeper. "I suspect Wei Shu drugged me. After sending this back to the capital, I will temporarily cut off contact with the capital. Wei Shu suspects that I might come to investigate the clothing store. Also, I need a list of major events that have happened in Yuezhou in the past three years, the more detailed the better, whether good or bad."

"Yes, madam." The shopkeeper carefully took the handkerchief, and only after taking Jiang Jin's measurements did he lift the curtain.

"Madam, is there anything else we need to buy?" Zhou Cong's hands were full of silks and jewelry. Jiang Jin wandered through the spice shop, completely puzzled.

"I've bought almost everything the governor's wife needs today, but the only thing I can't find in the city is the incense he's wearing. It looks familiar, but I just can't find it anywhere in the city." Jiang Jin left the shop dejectedly.

"Madam, it's getting late. If you can't find it today, you should head back," Zhou Cong advised Jiang Jin.

"That's all we can do." Jiang Jin and Zhou Cong saw Zhou Liao looking around at the door as soon as they returned to the hotel.

"Take this, there's too much stuff!" Zhou Cong handed the things in his hands to Zhou Liao.

"The young master is already waiting for you upstairs." Zhou Liao glanced at Jiang Jin.

"I know." Jiang Jin had just stepped into the room when she saw Wei Shu drinking tea and flipping through a book. "You've been gone for so long, have you made any good discoveries?"

"Of course." Jiang Jin gestured to Zhou Cong with her eyes to put the things on the table.

"Why did you buy so much stuff?" Wei Shu glanced at Jiang Jin and then carefully examined the items on the table. "But they're all ordinary things, what's their use?"

“These items were worn by the governor’s wife. The fabric is no different from what ordinary people wear. The hairpin is just gilded silver, and the earrings are just old artifacts. According to the people, the governor and his wife are indeed very honest and upright.” Jiang Jin picked up the items and explained them to Wei Shu one by one.

"Anyone can put on an act. If you can conclude that the governor is corrupt based on just this much, isn't that a bit too hasty?" Wei Shu casually glanced at the items on the table before staring at Jiang Jin and asking.

"Perhaps it's a bit arbitrary, but isn't the rest of the investigation General Wei's job?" Jiang Jin clapped his hands. "I wish the General a speedy discovery of the truth."