Sweet Market

As soon as the two returned to the courtyard, Zhou Cong came over with a secret letter from the capital.

"General, this is a secret letter written by His Majesty himself." Jiang Jin tactfully left, after all, her relationship with Wei Shu wasn't close enough for her to glean information about the Emperor's words.

Jiang Jin returned to her room, removed the pearl hairpin, and carefully placed it in a box, hiding it deep inside her bundle.

"If you like it, why don't you keep it with you? Why keep it in a box?" Wei Shu asked with some doubt as soon as he entered, noticing Jiang Jin's actions.

"Of course, it's because they value it that we need to protect it so well. Has His Majesty made a decision regarding the Wang family?" Jiang Jin was eager to resolve the matter in Bianzhou and return to the capital.

"Yes and no, but we'll know the outcome by the day after tomorrow at the latest. We should be able to return to the capital soon." Wei Shu tidied Jiang Jin's loose hair.

"Will our relationship change after we return to the capital?" Although Jiang Jin didn't understand why Wei Shu asked this, she still shook her head sincerely.

"As long as you don't interfere in my affairs with His Highness, our relationship will remain unchanged."

"What if I interfere one day?" Jiang Jin knew that Wei Shu had already backed down and didn't want to push him too far.

"We'll talk about it when we need to get involved. Why are we worrying about things that haven't happened yet?" Jiang Jin stood up and walked to Wei Shu.

"You're not going to interfere now, are you? Or did His Majesty's secret letter instruct you to monitor Princess Zhaoyang?"

"Don't overthink it, I was just asking casually." Seeing that Wei Shu's expression remained unchanged, Jiang Jin felt somewhat relieved. As long as the secret letter wasn't about His Highness, she wasn't interested in caring about anyone else.

"Zhou Cong said that the young lady named Li Niang is already under his care, and you can see her whenever you want." Wei Shu changed the subject; he didn't want their relationship to always be entangled with Princess Zhaoyang.

"Have you found out Li Niang's identity in the manor?" Jiang Jin tacitly refrained from digging any deeper and picked up on the question Wei Shu had thrown out.

“An illegitimate daughter, a slave.” Jiang Jin raised an eyebrow. “That Wang family lady wasn’t lying about this. It seems she wants to use Li Niang’s identity to seek refuge with us and then return to the capital with us.”

"That's why she's so eager to get rid of this real Li Niang." Wei Shu shook his head dismissively.

"It's one thing to live a life of luxury in the mansion, but when disaster strikes, they shamelessly try to take over someone else's identity and even kill someone to cover it up. It's disgusting."

"This governor's mansion is truly a den of snakes and rats. Are all powerful families like this? That's disgusting." Jiang Jin shuddered at the thought of those hypocritical scions of noble families.

“Powerful families are human too, and all humans have a selfish side. It’s just that they have more power to cover up their selfishness,” Wei Shu comforted Jiang Jin.

"We've been in Jiufang City for so long and haven't really explored it properly yet, have we? How about we go out and experience the local customs of Bianzhou?" Wei Shu deliberately brought up a topic that Jiang Jin was interested in in order to divert her attention.

"Come on, there's a shop that sells really fragrant white jasmine, even more fragrant than the ones sold in the capital, but it costs 300 coins." Jiang Jin suddenly thought of the white jasmine and couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

“It’s only 300 coins. If you like, I can book the entire shop for you.” Wei Shu reached out and took Jiang Jin’s hand. “The white jasmine from the Buddhist Kingdom is pure and flawless, just like your pure heart.”

"Wei Shu, stop saying such mushy things. I don't even know how pure my heart is," Jiang Jin said with a playful laugh as she left the governor's mansion with Wei Shu.

“The morning market in Jiufang City is somewhat similar to that in the capital, but there are still some differences.” Jiang Jin pointed to the eye-catching sign over there. “That’s the shop. Let’s go take a look.”

"Okay." Wei Shu was pulled to the front of the shop by Jiang Jin. As soon as they entered, they smelled the fresh jasmine scent, which was indeed several times better than that sold in the capital.

"White jasmine, 300 coins?" Jiang Jin picked up a white jasmine plant and walked straight to the shopkeeper.

"Madam has a truly discerning eye. She picked out our latest white jasmine at a glance. The price of 300 cash is fair and square. Please feel free to place it on the table."

The shopkeeper smiled and wrapped up the white jasmine. Wei Shu then took out a string of copper coins and placed them on the table. "One string of coins, and please get me two more fresh jasmine plants. Keep the change."

"What are you going to do with so many?" Jiang Jin tugged at Wei Shu's sleeve but he held her hand down. "You don't sleep well at night, so putting a few more in your room can help calm your mind and soothe your nerves."

"My lord is truly considerate!" The shopkeeper hurriedly handed the remaining two jasmine flowers to Jiang Jin.

"Let me take it." Wei Shu took the jasmine flowers and said to Jiang Jin, "I saw a clay figurine stall when I came in, shall we go and take a look?"

"Let's go!" Jiang Jin saw the exquisite clay figurines as soon as she stepped outside. "Stadium owner, how many copper coins would it cost to make clay figurines of the two of us?"

"Madam, this can only achieve a resemblance; to make it exactly the same is quite difficult." The stall owner looked up at the two people in front of him, who resembled celestial beings, and for the first time, he began to doubt his own abilities.

"It's fine, even a resemblance is acceptable," Wei Shu agreed, contrary to his usual behavior.

"I thought you'd just walk away, but I didn't expect you to be able to accept such a lifelike resemblance." Jiang Jin pulled Wei Shu down to sit on the wooden stool, watching the stall owner look at him with the materials in hand.

"My clay figurine is definitely better looking than yours," Jiang Jin said confidently.

"Why?" Many answers flashed through Wei Shu's mind.

"Because I'm prettier than you, my clay figurine must be prettier than yours." Jiang Jin stuck out her tongue at Wei Shu. "Or do you genuinely think you're prettier than me?"

“In my heart, you are of course the most beautiful. However, the more beautiful a clay figurine is, the less lifelike it becomes. So even if your clay figurine is uglier than mine, it only shows that the stall owner's skills are lacking.” Wei Shu raised his hand and pinched Jiang Jin's cheek.

"Your cheeks feel really nice to pinch, no wonder she likes to pinch you." Seeing Jiang Jin narrow her eyes, Wei Shu wisely let go of her hand.

"Did you suddenly unlock some kind of Ren and Du meridian? Why are you so eloquent all of a sudden?" Jiang Jin slapped Wei Shu's hand away.

“No one dislikes hearing kind words. Besides, the court can't always be filled with righteous advice. You should understand the principle that excessive rigidity leads to breakage, right?” Wei Shu whispered in Jiang Jin's ear.

"I never expected that the fearsome General Wei would utter such words as 'the strong are easily broken.' He truly makes me look at him in a new light!" Jiang Jin said, as if she were seeing Wei Shu for the first time.

"Haven't you always claimed to be impartial and incorruptible? Would you actually say something nice to His Majesty?"

“Being impartial and incorruptible is because His Majesty needs it, but whether one can stay by His Majesty's side forever is not solely determined by ability.” Wei Shu sighed softly. “His Majesty's heart is as deep as the sea, so we must be extremely careful.”

"But you've never seemed to show any desire to curry favor with the Emperor," Jiang Jin asked, turning to look into Wei Shu's eyes.

“Because His Majesty hates people who flatter him the most,” Wei Shu sighed. “That’s why I’ve always thought Princess Zhaoyang would be just like His Majesty.”

"Since you know His Majesty's temperament, you should also know what the ultimate fate will be for those who are used as His Majesty's pawns?" Although Jiang Jin didn't understand His Majesty, she knew how emperors treated their discarded pawns.

"If I hadn't become His Majesty's blade, I would have died long ago. And to be fair, His Majesty has treated me very well. Although it's not as accommodating as Princess Zhaoyang's treatment of you, it still surpasses the indulgence of an ordinary monarch towards his subjects." Wei Shu was still very grateful to His Majesty, so he would never betray him in this lifetime.

"If His Majesty were to order your death one day, would you die too?" Jiang Jin frowned, looking at Wei Shu and waiting for his answer.

"Would you be sad if I died as ordered?" Wei Shu posed the question to Jiang Jin.

"I would praise you for your loyalty and righteousness." Jiang Jin saw that his clay figure was finished, and hurriedly picked it up and showed it off to Wei Shu.

"Look, this clay figure of mine looks like it belongs only in heaven!" Jiang Jin's little clay figure stood gently in her palm, while Jiang Jin held the clay figure and looked at Wei Shu slyly.

"That means the original is beautiful, and this clay figure is sculpted to resemble the original, which is why it's so beautiful." Wei Shu reached out and carefully poked the clay figure's cheek with his finger. "It's just as easy to sculpt as you."

"Wei Shu, could you please stop with your sweet talk? It's giving me goosebumps." Jiang Jin carefully held the clay figure in her arms.

"Jiang Jin, shouldn't people reciprocate?" Jiang Jin rolled her eyes, unsure of Wei Shu's intentions.

"If your next request is difficult for me to grant, then I don't think we should reciprocate."

"Why don't you praise me too?" Wei Shu looked at Jiang Jin expectantly, but Jiang Jin silently turned her head away.

"Don't try to escape!" Wei Shu reached out and turned Jiang Jin to face him, forcing her to look him directly in the eye.

"Lord Wei, you are so brave and handsome, you're practically a celestial being! Even your clay figurine would be incredibly dashing!" Jiang Jin finished speaking quickly and looked at Wei Shu nervously, "Are you satisfied now?"

"Just a little bit. You still need to practice praising people, so I'll reluctantly let you practice in front of me every day."

"Wei Shu, your skin is thicker than a city wall! Who said you were cold and heartless? They should see how shameless you are now!" Jiang Jin pinched Wei Shu's shoulder hard, but couldn't move him.

"Madam, you should pinch my waist; it feels good there." Wei Shu's warm breath brushed against Jiang Jin's earlobe, and her face instantly turned red.

"You really...!" Jiang Jin said angrily, turning Wei Shu's face away with her hand. "This is the morning market, what are you talking about!"

"I spoke softly, no one will hear me, but seeing Madam's shy expression makes the trip worthwhile." Wei Shu took his clay figure and Jiang Jin's and placed them in the box, then took out a gold bean. "Well done!"

"Thank you, my dear husband and wife! May you have a long and happy marriage!" The stall owner's blessing traveled through the crowd to Yun Fan's ears as he returned from his field trip.