Chapter 72 [72] “Yun Wu, do you have a conscience?…

【72】/First release

Yun Ran was embraced in his warm embrace, her cheeks were already a little hot, and now seeing him so close, lowering his head and speaking to her in a gentle voice, with his beautifully shaped thin lips so close that it seemed as if he could kiss her at any time, her mind went blank and her heart beat in a turmoil.

"Can't I go shopping?"

She avoided his gaze evasively. "This Suzaku Gate isn't yours, so you're the only one allowed to come, not me."

Sima Jing chuckled, "This Suzaku Gate is indeed owned by my family."

After a pause, he pinched her chin with two fingers and looked at her with his usual cold black eyes: "I really just came out for shopping, not..."

Yun Ran swallowed his saliva: "No what?"

Sima Jing's eyes curved slightly.

He lowered his head even lower, and his thin lips brushed the tip of her ear faintly: "I miss Ranran too."

Yun Ran: “?”

When she realized what was happening, her ears instantly turned red as if blood was dripping from her. She raised her hand and pushed him away: "Who missed you? How could you be so shameless and self-indulgent?"

Sima Jing: "Really not thinking about it?"

Yun Ran: "Really!"

Sima Jing: "A liar will not grow tall."

Yun Ran: “…”

hateful.

The snake is struck at its most vulnerable part, she really wants to grow taller!

"I don't miss you." Yun Ran still said this, but silently added in her heart, Laojun is wise, worrying does not count as missing you, so she was not lying.

However, that rosy little face is worth more than ten thousand truths.

Sima Jing stopped teasing her and said, "Alright, that was just my wishful thinking. I misunderstood her."

When Yun Ran heard this, he no longer felt the pleasure of winning the argument.

And she had no intention of forgiving this man for his awful behavior last night—

Let's put one thing first and talk about business before settling accounts.

Yun Ran struggled to sit up from his arms, raising her hand to straighten her slightly disheveled clothes. "What is it about His Majesty that summoned you to the palace so early in the morning? Why are you out so late?"

When Sima Jing mentioned the things in the palace, the smile in his eyes faded a little.

"Today, the court opens, and someone recommends me to serve as an official."

"ah?!"

Yun Ran opened his dark eyes slightly, full of curiosity: "Who is it?"

Sima Jing: “…”

This is a deviation from the focus.

"Duke Su."

"So it was him."

Yun Ran suddenly realized, "Last year, he and the Jiangxia County Prince's Mansion were the only Sima relatives who sent me invitations for the winter appreciation party. Unfortunately, I was ill at the time and couldn't attend. But his family is really kind. Since you returned to the court, they have sent gifts every holiday. They are really good relatives."

Sima Jing: "A good relative?"

"Yes, they've been giving you gifts every season for seven years straight, and you're so stingy you won't even take them back. If it were me, I'd have stopped associating with you, a Pixiu who never gives."

Mentioning Sima Jing's past misdeeds, Yun Ran couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Reciprocity is the most basic principle of dealing with people. If you don't understand this, you've wasted your time studying."

Ever since the two of them became husband and wife, his princess has become more and more bold.

Sima Jing raised his hand and pinched the soft flesh around her waist as if to punish her: "They wanted to send it themselves, I never forced them."

"Yes, yes, it's because they are so kind and polite that they are willing to acknowledge you as a relative."

Yun Ran had been in charge of the household affairs for half a year, and he was also familiar with the background of Duke Su.

He was the late emperor's cousin, having grown up with him. It was said that the late emperor had saved his life when he was young, and the two brothers grew closer ever since. Later, when the late emperor passed away, Duke Suguo fainted from tears and remained ill for several days.

After Emperor Wenxuan ascended the throne, he also respected this uncle very much. Now this old uncle is also a very important figure in the Sima family.

"But why did Duke Su suddenly ask you to serve as an official in the court?" Yun Ran was puzzled.

Sima Jing fell silent, thinking of an old story.

At that time, he had just returned to the court, and Emperor Wenxuan held a welcoming banquet for him, inviting princes, nobles, civil and military officials, and it was a grand and lively event.

He did not like these occasions and found an opportunity to leave, but he did not expect that Duke Su would come to find him.

Many years passed, and Sima Jing still couldn't recognize the white-haired old Uncle Wang.

Duke Su looked him up and down, tears streaming down his face, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

"When the late emperor was alive, he always thought of you. Now that you are finally back, the late emperor can finally rest in peace."

He spoke emotionally and stepped forward to pat Sima Jing on the shoulder.

Sima Jing instinctively avoided it, frowning in vigilance.

Duke Suguo felt even more distressed upon seeing this. He shook his head and sighed, then said, "Before your father passed away, he was most reluctant to let you go. Now that he is gone, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, please come and tell your uncle. He will certainly do his best to help you."

From that day on, Sima Jing never had a private conversation with Duke Su again.

He didn't care about this uncle Wang.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, he still missed him.

"Maybe they don't want to see me being too idle."

Sima Jing said casually: "Most elderly people are like this."

Yun Ran: “…”

Not only the elderly, but even she, a young woman, saw him staying in the house all day, either reading or hugging her to sleep, and she also wanted to persuade him: "Why don't you find something to do?"

Even if he was like her fourth brother, who spent his days thinking about eating, drinking and having fun, he was still a wealthy playboy.

But he had no interest in eating or drinking, nor did he have any idea about having fun——

Being obsessed with women is a new hobby I have developed.

But he can't just focus on this one hobby!

The most urgent thing is to find him something healthy and positive to do.

Duke Su's advice was like a dream come true. Yun Ran couldn't hide his anticipation and asked, "What do you think, Your Highness? Are you willing to serve as an official in the court? Or has His Majesty already assigned you an official position?"

Sima Jing saw her eyes sparkling and said, "Do you want me to serve as an official in the court?"

Yun Ran nodded: "Yeah!"

Sima Jing: "Why?"

Yun Ran naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to reveal his true thoughts. He just blinked and said, "I've seen my father and elder brother look very handsome in their official robes. Your Highness is so handsome. If he wears official robes, he will definitely be more handsome and dashing than them."

No matter how many holes there are, flattery will never wear out.

Even though he knew that this lackey was flattering him again, Sima Jing still raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

"I accepted."

After he finished speaking, Yun Ran's eyes lit up even more: "Really? What kind of official position is that?"

Sima Jing: "The official position has not yet been determined. We still have to wait for the higher-ups to consider it."

Yun Ran: "It's okay, as long as I have a job."

Sima Jing: "If I really take on this official position, I'll have to get up early every day to attend court and won't be able to return home until the evening. Besides, apart from weekends and holidays, I won't be able to stay in the mansion on other days..."

Yun Ran: "Yeah."

Now that we have talked about the advantages, what about the disadvantages?

Sima Jing: “…”

The other women all regretted having asked their husbands to seek titles, but she, on the other hand, looked as if she couldn't wait for him to leave the house.

It's really infuriating.

"You are so happy when I am not in the house?"

Sima Jing narrowed his eyes, tightened his grip on her waist, and leaned forward, "Yun Wu, do you have a conscience?"

Yun Ran's waist softened from being pinched by him, and she groaned, "Let go now. You pinched me for so long last night, and I got two deep marks this morning, and I still haven't come to terms with you yet!"

Sima Jing also recalled that his two palms had been pinching her waist for the second half of the night and never seemed to move away, so he relaxed his strength immediately.

"Still hurts? Let me see."

He bent down to lift the hem of her thin coat, but his hand was slapped away. Yun Ran held onto her coat tightly, her face flushed as she glared at him, "Why are you lifting it up? We're still in the car."

How could he become more shameless in just a few days?

Sima Jing said, "No one will see us."

"That won't work either."

Yun Ran resolutely refused to show him, only raising her eyebrows and angrily accusing him, "If you really cared about me, you shouldn't have been so reckless last night. Every time I told you I couldn't take it anymore and asked you to stop, you never listened to me and insisted on having your own way. And how come you're even more stubborn than Fudou'er? Fudou'er doesn't bite anyone, but you love to bite me, and you always bite me all over..."

She even suspected that Sima Jing had some strange hobbies.

"Anyway, I don't care. Starting today, you move back to Shenliu Hall."

Yun Ran said firmly, "If you keep doing this, I won't be able to wear my spring clothes. Especially here, there are red marks everywhere. You...you are really a dog!"

She glanced down at her chest, feeling sorry for those tiny little things that had endured so much.

Although he knew it was wrong, Sima Jing's throat suddenly tightened when he heard the princess's detailed accusation and thought of the alluring beauty.

He stared at the bright red lips that opened and closed for a long while with dark eyes, then he exhaled deeply: "I was wrong last night. If you're angry, I'll make you bite it all back when we get back."

"As for separate rooms, that's absolutely impossible."

He stared at the delicate, fair face before him: "Now that we are husband and wife, we will sleep together in life and sleep together in death. We will never be separated again in eternity."

Yun Ran was originally making a confident argument, but was suddenly stared at by his dark eyes. His deep gaze was like a pair of invisible hands firmly grasping her soul, and his powerful words made her heart tremble.

We sleep together in life and study together in death.

For eternity, never to be separated...?

Would it be too long?

And don’t you get bored of being with the same person for so long?

Yun Ran wanted to ask, but didn't dare to.

For some reason, she felt that if she asked this question, Sima Jing might strangle her to death and then lie in the coffin with her -

It was also at this moment that Yun Ran clearly realized that Sima Jing's "like" for her was really different from her "like" for him.

"Yun Ran?"

The man's low voice brought her back to her senses. She saw his brows knitted slightly, but he said helplessly, "I won't touch you tonight, okay?"

Yun Ran: "...You shouldn't touch me tonight. You already did what you did today last night."

Sima Jing: "Then don't touch it tomorrow."

Yun Ran: "Not enough."

Sima Jing: “?”

"This time you will abstain from sex for seven days."

Yun Ran thought for a moment and said, "From now on, you are not allowed to touch me every day. I can't even get up early now if you keep doing this every night."

Sima Jing was also dissatisfied with once a day.

The frequency was too little to satisfy me, and I had to deliberately prolong the time each time just to spend more time with her.

"Thirty times a month, then."

He said, "You decide the date. Every other day, every two days is fine. The frequency depends on the situation. How do you think?"

Yun Ran frowned: "Why does it have to be thirty times?"

Sima Jing remained calm: "The book says to store in spring, summer, autumn and winter. You are a Taoist collector, so you can't talk nonsense."

Yun Ran choked, and Sima Jing glared at her: "Do you still want to betray your master and ancestors?"

Yun Ran immediately became embarrassed and bit her lip, "Thirty times is thirty times, but you can't deliberately prolong it every time. It's been going on for so long."

Sima Jing: “…”

She actually discovered it.

Yun Ran also understood the man's meaning from his silence, and she secretly complained in her heart, but she was not a fool.

Before, when it was once a day, it wasn't noticeable. But last night, he did it twice in a row. He was silent and just kept bumping into her. He no longer kissed her or gave her oral sex every once in a while like before. The duration of each time was obviously much longer.

"Your Highness, will you agree? If not, I will return to the Marquis' Mansion today."

There was silence in the car for a while, and then Sima Jing said, "Okay."

Just abstinence for seven days.

Besides, her period should come in two days.

Now that they had left the house, Yun Ran was not in a hurry to return home. He took the opportunity to take Sima Jing to Yujing Tower, one of the four famous towers in Chang'an City, to feast on a meal.

"Before I got married, my fourth brother compiled a list of must-eat restaurants in Chang'an City for me. I decided to try them all one by one."

Thinking that Sima Jing would be an official and wouldn't be able to eat with her in the future, Yun Ran said hurriedly, "But don't worry, I can pack it up for you. If there's anything particularly delicious, we can go and eat it again after you have your day off."

Sima Jing laughed at his wife's virtue and said, "Good."

After eating and drinking, the two of them strolled around the East Market.

Yun Ran even glanced at the Jishidiang shop from a distance. Sure enough, it was packed with people and there was a long queue. She was deeply moved by the sight, but she did not dare to stay any longer, for fear that she would be recognized and grabbed by Ci Fu.

It was not until evening that the two returned to Prince Jing's Mansion.

Sima Jing was going back to Shenliu Hall to get a book. Yun Ran didn't think much about it and went straight back to Zhanlu Hall. She happily opened her arms to her little yellow dog, "Fudouer, sister is back!"

The little yellow dog came up with its tail wagging and tongue hanging out: "Woof!"

One person and one dog, loving each other.

In Shenliu Hall, dusk spreads over the carved wooden windows, and the setting sun's rays gradually dim.

Sima Jing's gaze fell on the bamboo forest swaying in the wind outside the window, his expression solemn.

"Come in."

He suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but with unquestionable penetrating power.

The shadows under the eaves moved slightly, and soon, a dark figure landed on the ground like a ghost, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head deeply: "Master."

Sima Jing glanced down at him, then turned and sat down on the pearwood chair. "How's the investigation going on with the matter I asked you to do?"

Secret Guard: "There is indeed someone behind the scenes fanning the flames of the princess's reputation for good deeds."

Sima Jing was not surprised, and his slender fingertips tapped the table casually.

After a while, he said calmly, "How many did you catch?"

"We have so far apprehended six people who spread the rumors. Four of them were beggars and scoundrels from the streets of Chang'an, and the other two were storytellers in teahouses."

The secret guard spoke steadily, each word clearly. "These six people confessed that someone sent them silver on the night of the first day of the lunar year and ordered them to publicize the princess's good deeds in busy places like teahouses and taverns. They also made up nursery rhymes and jingles like 'living Bodhisattva' and 'living sage' to spread the word as quickly as possible."

Sima Jing frowned slightly, and the rhythm of his knuckles tapping became slightly faster. "Have you caught the person who delivered the silver?"

"According to the six people, this person is extremely secretive. When he gave the silver, he was wearing a black mask and a medium build, and his face was never revealed."

The secret guard paused and added, "But a beggar leader said that the man spoke with a genuine Chang'an accent, and his speech was not like that of an ordinary person in the market."

Sima Jing was silent for a moment, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the shadows of bamboo swaying in the wind in the courtyard. "Using my princess as a raft is not a pity."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and looked at the secret guards, saying in a deep voice, "From those six, pick the three with the most gossips and the most widespread rumors. Cut off their tongues so that they can no longer deceive the public with their lies."

"Let go of the remaining three first."

The secret guard was surprised: "Release?"

"Leave it as bait to see what other tricks the person behind this will come up with."

Sima Jing said, "Keep a close eye on them. If there's any movement, report it immediately."

Upon hearing this, the secret guard immediately responded, "As ordered."

After saying that, he disappeared into the night in a flash.

Sima Jing sat back down at his desk. Just then, a gust of evening wind blew in from the window. Under the flickering candlelight, his eyes were gloomy.

He knew that this was just the beginning. Since the person behind the scenes dared to stir up trouble in Chang'an, he would not give up easily.

Next, just wait for the prey to take the bait.

He wanted to see who was brave enough to play tricks under Sima Ji's nose.

**

That night, Sima Jing slept in the same bed and did not touch Yun Ran again as promised.

Yun Ran also breathed a sigh of relief. He could finally sleep in his clothes tonight.

If she didn't do that, she would have time to chat with Sima Jing, so she leaned lazily in the man's warm arms and guessed with him what kind of official position Emperor Wenxuan would give him.

"Your Highness is a prince after all, so your rank shouldn't be lower than fifth rank. I heard that murder, arson, rape, looting, and human trafficking are all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. Is it possible for Your Highness to work in the Ministry of Justice?"

Yun Ran thought of Sima Jing, dressed in his official robes, sitting high in the yamen, banging the gavel and asking with a deadpan expression, "If you are a criminal in this court, you will be treated leniently if you confess, but severely if you resist. Why don't you come forward quickly?"

Just thinking about it made him excited. "Your Highness is absolutely perfect for being a prison officer. Those criminals would be terrified to death seeing your stern face. Oh, and you can bring Cui Bao'er with you. If anyone dares to talk back, just say, 'If you dare to talk back again, I'll feed you to the snakes.' I guarantee they'll confess!"

Sima Jing: “…”

He raised his hand and gently patted his princess's imaginative head. "Why bother bringing Cui Bao'er? Why not just take you? If anyone dares to talk back, I'll tell them to curse you for eternity. Maybe they'll come faster."

After those words were spoken, silence fell inside the bed curtains.

Sima Jing didn't wait for the person in his arms to hit him, and was slightly surprised. Could it be that he teased her too much and made her angry?

Just as he was about to speak, he heard the person in his arms eagerly ask, "Can I really go?"

Sima Jing: “?”

Yun Ran: "If possible, I'll be the one to pretend to be a ghost and scare people."

Sima Jing was speechless for a moment.

After a long while, he took the person into his arms and patted him on the back: "Let's talk about it when I really become a prison officer."

Perhaps what you think about during the day you dream about at night. That night, Yun Ran dreamed that she had a magic skill that allowed her to grow bigger or smaller at will.

When Sima Jing went to work in the government office, she would become small, hide in his sleeves, and work with him to interrogate prisoners, satisfying her desire to be a hero who punishes evil and eliminates evil.

Three days passed in a flash, and Yun Ran's menstrual period came, and the imperial edict of appointment also arrived -

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Salt is a national treasure, vital to the people's livelihood and the nation's prosperity. In recent years, the Lianghuai Salt Road has suffered repeated deficits, illicit salt trafficking has caused trouble, and the administration of officials has become increasingly lax, which worries me greatly. I have now found that Prince Jing, Sima Jing, possesses a dignified demeanor, a sharp mind, and the ability to improve official administration, while also possessing a compassionate heart for the people. Therefore, I hereby promote you to the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, concurrently serving as Imperial Inspector of the Lianghuai Salt Administration. You must leave Beijing within five days and proceed to Jiangnan to oversee the salt administration."

You should rectify the salt administration, strictly investigate smuggling, verify salt taxes, and eliminate long-standing malpractices, ensuring that salt profits flow back to the national treasury and benefit the people. If you encounter corrupt officials along the way, execute them first and report to the emperor later. I hope you will pacify the salt roads soon and return victoriously. This is my order!

As soon as the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict left, Yun Ran immediately took the bright yellow imperial edict and read it word by word.

"The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Imperial Censor of the Lianghuai Salt Inspection... will leave the capital on the fifth day and head for Jiangnan?"

When she read this, her eyebrows and tone of voice rose: "I will leave in five days and go to Jiangnan!"

"Your Highness is going to Jiangnan, so won't he be in Yangzhou? Yes, he's been called the Imperial Inspector of Salt in Lianghuai, so why wouldn't he be in Yangzhou?"

Yun Ran was surprised and delighted for a moment, but soon calmed down and looked at Sima Jing: "Your Highness, can I bring my family with me on this mission?"

If not, she would not be able to go to Yangzhou, and would have to be separated from Sima Jing for a long time——

It would take at least three months to travel from Chang'an to Yangzhou and back, including the errands.

She didn't think anything of it before, but ever since she married Sima Jing, they have been together every day and have never been apart for so long. Yun Ran suddenly felt an indescribable emptiness in her heart.

Even though she could chant sutras and burn incense every day, play with the dog and play the piano, go back to the Marquis' Mansion to play, and attend various spring banquets... her life would be full of flavor and not boring, but...

Without Sima Jing, I always feel something is wrong.

"Your Highness, is it okay?" Yun Ran looked at Sima Jing.

Sima Jing saw the anticipation in her cautious eyes, and knew that she really wanted to go back to Shuiyue Temple to visit her master and senior sisters.

However, when officials went on such inspection tours, they usually brought concubines or maids with them. It was never heard of that the wife of a main wife of a mansion would go along with them.

Moreover, putting aside the etiquette and laws, the salt inspection involves huge profits and there are bound to be risks along the way.

He didn't want to put her in danger.

Given the current situation, it is safest to stay in Chang'an City and be protected by the Marquis' Mansion.

"Salt inspection is not for sightseeing. Even if we arrive in Yangzhou, I'm afraid I won't have the time to accompany you back to Shuiyue Temple."

Sima Jing lowered his eyes and looked at her. "For at most half a year, you can stay in Chang'an peacefully. If you find living in the Prince's Mansion lonely, you can move back to the Marquis' Mansion and enjoy the happiness of family life with your father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Yun Ran heard the refusal in his words and lowered her brows: "I don't need you to accompany me. It's not like I can't get back to the temple by myself. I know the roads in Yangzhou City very well..."

Sima Jing still refused to give in.

Seeing his cold and ruthless look, Yun Ran suddenly felt that his "reluctance" was really wrong -

He didn't feel reluctant at all, so why should she be reluctant?

Perhaps he was hoping to find a few confidantes and beauties on his way south? It was all like that in the storybooks: the amorous young man met the stunning courtesan, fell in love at first sight, swore an oath of eternal love at second, and after the third, they met under the moonlight and made love, losing all sense of the world.

Yes, if I followed him, I would only hinder his good deeds.

Thinking of this, Yun Ran, who was on the first day of Guishui, clenched his fists with uncontrollable emotion. With red eyes, he glared at the "heartless man" in front of him and said, "If you don't want to go, then don't go. I don't care."

He turned around and asked someone to harness the carriage and return to the marquis's mansion.

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The author has something to say: Sima Jiu: ???

Don't mess with girls on the first day of their period [glasses]

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Sorry for the long wait, this chapter also drops a small red envelope, good night everyone!