Yuezhou

Jiang Jin put on a thin cloak and stepped out of the room. The Wei residence was much larger than the Jiang residence. She memorized all the gates of the Wei residence along the way, and before she knew it, she had arrived at a heavily guarded courtyard.

"Madam, no one is allowed to set foot in the study, it's a restricted area." A soldier in armor reached out to stop her.

"Is the general inside?" Jiang Jin asked, pulling his cloak tighter and wiping the light sweat from his brow.

The two men guarding the door exchanged a glance and respectfully replied, "The general is not here."

"I understand." As Jiang Jin turned around, she saw a dark shadow under the study light.

"With your general away, there's a thief in that study!" Jiang Jin said loudly on purpose. Wei Shu, who was in the room, had no choice but to speak up to stop him.

"Let her in." Only after Wei Shu's voice reached the three men did the two Imperial Guards soldiers breathe a sigh of relief.

"Did you need something?" Wei Shu asked Jiang Jin without looking up from the mountain of official documents on his desk.

"I'm here to thank the chicken soup." Jiang Jin stood gracefully under the lamplight, truly embodying the pleasure of admiring a beautiful woman under the lamplight.

"It's just a custom. The day after the wedding, the woman has to drink a bowl of chicken soup. Didn't you know?" Wei Shu rarely looked up at Jiang Jin. "Are you cold?"

"If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. So, if you're using the excuse of feeling cold to have an extra blanket when you go out, you can't just wear thin clothes."

Jiang Jin's forehead was already beaded with sweat. She took off her cloak and placed it on the wooden chair; her clothes were also slightly damp with sweat.

"You..." Wei Shu was taken aback, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu with some confusion. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, have you eaten? If not, let's eat together?" Wei Shu put down his official documents and walked up to Jiang Jin.

"We have some fish and shrimp sent from Yuezhou today, would you like some?" Wei Shu handed Jiang Jin a cup of tea.

"Is Yuezhou rich in fish and shrimp?" Jiang Jin paused as she took the teacup. "How come I remember it not being near rivers or the sea?"

"I heard it was presented by the Prefect of Yuezhou, and His Majesty bestowed several portions upon me," Wei Shu said casually, taking a sip of tea.

"I might be going to Yuezhou in a few days, so you can stay here," Wei Shu said loudly. "Have someone prepare dinner!"

"Yes!" the Imperial Guards outside the door responded.

"What if I said I wanted to go to Yuezhou with the General?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu seriously. Wei Shu looked at Jiang Jin with a half-smile.

“Even if I and the Imperial Guards travel at our fastest pace, it will still take us half a month to arrive. If you add in the heat of summer, we might not even reach Yuezhou.” Jiang Jin tilted his head and looked at Wei Shu upon hearing this.

"General, don't underestimate me. In terms of horsemanship, I might be no worse than you!" Jiang Jin raised his head, a hint of arrogance on his face.

“My father never disciplined me, so although I learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting from elementary school, I never neglected horseback riding and archery. If the general thinks I am weak and frail, then he is underestimating me.”

"This journey is dangerous; you could easily lose your life. Even so, are you still willing to come with me?"

The candlelight shone on Jiang Jin's face, and Wei Shu suddenly felt that he couldn't see through her.

"General, your words are quite strange. If you die, what other way out do I have? Although I can remarry, who would marry Wei Shu's wife?" Jiang Jin spoke her mind without reservation.

"Alright, if you surpass Zhou Cong in horsemanship tomorrow, I'll take you with me to Yuezhou." Wei Shu suddenly found life interesting; having a wife who insisted on going to Yuezhou with him despite the dangers wasn't bad at all.

"Then it's a deal. General, rest assured, I'm definitely going to Yuezhou!" Jiang Jin's face held a different kind of vitality that Wei Shu had never seen before, and for a moment, he was somewhat captivated.

“There is no need for a marriage between us. As long as Imperial Censor Jiang remains loyal to His Majesty, your position as Lady Wei will be unshakeable.”

Wei Shu didn't want to see Jiang Jin deliberately provoking him anymore; continuing like this would do neither of them any good.

"General, you're overthinking it. I just think that's how it should be between husband and wife. Besides, you have a good appearance, General. If you don't like it, I'll be more restrained in the future."

"You!" Wei Shu suddenly felt a surge of anger and didn't know how to refute Jiang Jin.

"General, dinner has been brought." The Imperial Guard stood respectfully at the door.

"Come in!" The Imperial Guard placed the dinner on the table without looking to either side. "General, someone requests an audience."

"Zhou Cong, I'm having dinner with Madam and I won't see anyone else." Wei Shu suppressed his anger, picked up a piece of fish, and placed it in Jiang Jin's bowl.

"Thank you, husband." Jiang Jin understood the importance of knowing when to stop, and obediently ate the fish, her brows furrowing slightly. "What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"

"No, it's just that the fish is too fresh." Jiang Jin realized her words sounded a bit odd after she finished speaking.

"Husband, you can try some." Jiang Jin pushed the plate towards Wei Shu.

Wei Shu picked up a piece with suspicion and put it in his mouth. "It's a bit too fresh." Wei Shu put down his chopsticks and asked Zhou Cong, "Who is requesting an audience?"

"The visitor claimed to be a servant of the Prefect of Yuezhou," Zhou Cong said hesitantly after glancing at Jiang Jin, revealing the visitor's identity.

"If I remember correctly, the fish and shrimp on this table should be the ones that this Sima presented to His Majesty."

A hint of seriousness flashed across Jiang Jin's eyes. "Husband, will it cause trouble if we meet him in private?"

Wei Shu, of course, understood the meaning behind Jiang Jin's words, but gave her a reassuring look, "Since His Majesty has sent me to Yuezhou, it is only natural that I meet with people related to Yuezhou."

"Then my husband, please return soon. I will be waiting for you in the room." Jiang Jin bowed slightly, turned, and left the study.

"General, are we really going to take the Lady with us to Yuezhou?" Zhou Cong looked at Wei Shu with some confusion.

"Isn't it normal for us newlyweds to be so inseparable? Besides, the capital is full of undercurrents, and I can't leave her alone in the Wei residence. If she dies, where am I going to find such an interesting person?"

"Yuezhou? Sima? Fish and shrimp?" Jiang Jin murmured as she returned to her room. Although she didn't know who was behind this, she was certain that it was definitely related to someone in the court. Unable to figure it out, Jiang Jin simply started practicing calligraphy, while Abei ground ink for her. "Wife, are you really not taking Abei with you to Yuezhou?"

"This journey is fraught with danger. Taking you along will require me to take care of you, and besides, you will also need to monitor the situation in the capital for me."

Jiang Jin picked up the Xuan paper, looked at the powerful and vigorous characters on it, and threw it into the brazier.

"My lady, there are already people in the capital who have chosen someone. Let Abei accompany you." Abei stopped grinding ink and looked at Jiang Jin pleadingly.

"No matter what rumors you hear in the capital, do not contact His Highness unless he sends someone to contact you," Jiang Jin carefully instructed Abei, leaning back on the couch.

"Abei understands." Knowing that Jiang Jin's mind was made up, Abei stopped pleading. "It's getting late, you should go down now."

"My lady, won't you let someone keep watch over you tonight?" Abei looked at Jiang Jin with some concern.

“Wei Shu won’t eat me. He’s probably hoping we’ll act like we’re in love, so why would he hurt me? Take the brazier down with you.”

"Yes." Ah Bei obediently withdrew and closed the door behind him.

Jiang Jin breathed a sigh of relief and took off her outer garment. The stuffy atmosphere finally dissipated a bit. She tossed her shoes aside, letting her fair feet dangle in the air.

"Why aren't they back yet? I'm so sleepy! They used to let me freeze, now they're making me heat up. And they said there's no need for conjugal relations. Wei Shu, one day I'll make you cry and beg me!" Jiang Jin said, resting her chin on her hand and glancing at the door.

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), footsteps finally sounded outside. Jiang Jin hurriedly put on her shoes, straightened her clothes, and got up. The door creaked open, and Wei Shu saw Jiang Jin staring intently at him as soon as he opened the door.

"Still not asleep?" Wei Shu took off his outer robe and draped it over the rack, then loosened his belt and placed it on the table. "Is there something you need?"

"My lord, what are you saying? Can't I wait for you to return if I have nothing to do?" Jiang Jin sat quietly on the couch, watching Wei Shu undress.

"Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; you're not still clinging to my good looks, are you?" Thinking this, Wei Shu turned away from Jiang Jin, refusing to look at her again.

"My lord, I don't have a penchant for flattery." Jiang Jin placed the sash on the rack and reached out to grab Wei Shu's arm.

"Then, my lord, could you tell me why the fish from Yuezhou is so fresh?" Jiang Jin was still wearing her red nightgown, but without any makeup, she resembled a peony budding into full bloom.

"The more you know about court affairs, the faster you'll die. It seems you really want to go to the underworld." Wei Shu pulled Jiang Jin's arm away and warned him, then turned to look at the two quilts on the bed, looking troubled.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Jin sat down on the couch without the slightest annoyance, looking at Wei Shu with a puzzled expression.

"You've covered the whole place with blankets, where am I supposed to sleep?" Wei Shu frowned, her tone unfriendly. "You're not deliberately getting back at me, are you?"

"I'm not that petty, I'm not going to just crawl in like that!" Jiang Jin was afraid Wei Shu wouldn't know, so she specially demonstrated for him. She walked to the pillow, turned her back to Wei Shu, and crawled in.

"See, isn't this easy?"

"You mean you want me to crawl into the covers like an insect?" Wei Shu laughed in exasperation as he looked at Jiang Jin taking up most of the bed.

"Then why doesn't the general share a blanket with me?" Jiang Jin cautiously peeked out.

"No need!" Wei Shu spat out the two words through gritted teeth.

"Then General, please rest early. I won't wait for you any longer." Jiang Jin wrapped herself in the quilt and leaned against the wall to sleep, leaving Wei Shu alone on the edge of the small bed, with half of the quilt even lying on the floor.

"My lady, it's almost noon!" Ah Bei's voice rang in Jiang Jin's ears.

"There's no need for ancestral worship today, so I'll sleep a little longer?" Jiang Jin said, trying to drift off to sleep again, but was startled awake by a single sentence.

"Madam, have you forgotten what happened today?" Wei Shu, dressed in official robes, walked in. The midday sun was a bit dazzling, but fortunately, Wei Shu's figure blocked most of it.

"Horse racing!" Jiang Jin was startled, and the blanket fell off her. "Abei, quickly help me change my clothes!"

Seeing Jiang Jin's hurried and energetic demeanor, Wei Shu really suspected that this was the daughter of the Imperial Censor. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Jiang Jin had finished getting ready and bowed to Wei Shu.

"I've kept you waiting, my lord."

"Let's go!" Wei Shu walked ahead, looking at Jiang Jin behind him wearing a hood. "If you can't win, don't force yourself. If you fall off your horse, I can't save you."

"Rest assured, my lord, I will do my best!" The two got into the carriage and headed towards the horse farm in the suburbs.