Peacock spreading its tail feathers
"My lord, should we return to the capital? The matter in Bianzhou is almost resolved anyway." Cang Lu regretted that he had insisted on following his lord's path.
"It seems Madam Jiang is very happy." Yun Fan silently followed behind the two. Although they were some distance apart, Jiang Jin's smile was clearly visible to Yun Fan.
"After all, we're here to enjoy the morning market. Jiang Niangzi can't possibly be all sullen; it's just the environment." Cang Lu sighed as he witnessed this jarring scene.
"No, Madam Jiang has never acted so recklessly in the capital. She is gentle, generous, virtuous and kind. Every smile and frown of hers is the gentleness of a noble lady. Later, I found out that she was clever and cunning, but she hid it all under her shell. I only met her by chance. I didn't expect that Wei Shu could make her lower her guard."
Yun Fan smiled with relief, "That's fine too. At least in front of Wei Shu, she's just herself."
"My lord?" Cang Lu didn't understand why her lord would suddenly abandon Lady Jiang.
“I am not a good match for her, and she is not a good match for me. I need a dignified and virtuous wife who can manage the household, but I don’t want to marry an empty shell. Besides, I can’t give her the carefree life she wants. If Madam Jiang is unwilling to marry into the Liu family, why would she be willing to marry me?”
Yun Fan followed behind Jiang Jin, watching them eat noodles, drink tea, and look at sugar paintings. Wei Shu would occasionally make funny remarks, which would annoy Jiang Jin, but Wei Shu would quickly coax her back into a good mood.
"Wei Shu, I want that lamp, go and win it back for me!" Jiang Jin stared intently at the glass lamp, her hand constantly tugging at Wei Shu's sleeve.
"Yes, madam!" Wei Shu swiftly moved forward and quickly defeated the challengers.
"Ah Jin, I brought your glass lamp back!" Wei Shu placed the lamp steadily in Jiang Jin's palm.
"General Wei is quite obedient. He does whatever Madam Jiang says. He doesn't show any of the cold-blooded and ruthless side he has in the court."
Cang Lu looked at the beautiful couple in front of him and wanted to persuade Yun Fan to leave, but before he could speak, he saw Wei Shu glance in their direction, seemingly unintentionally.
"Ah Jin, am I good?" Wei Shu leaned close to Jiang Jin, forcing her gaze away from the glass lamp.
"Impressive, of course impressive! Who can compare to our wise and mighty General Wei?" Jiang Jin, who was admiring the glass lamp, suddenly felt a little guilty after being reminded by Wei Shu.
"Is that all you want to say?" Wei Shu asked, somewhat dissatisfied. "I beat out many people to win this glass lamp for you. Isn't a mere compliment a bit too little?"
"Then what do you want? Do you want my palm to gently brush your face?" Jiang Jin squinted and put her hands behind her back. "You're not trying to blackmail me with the glass lamp, are you?"
"I just want you to give me a proper kiss. Can't you even grant me this small request, Madam?" Wei Shu glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Yun Fan standing behind him.
"Wei Shu, are you crazy? How dare you say such things here? I don't want this lamp anymore, I'm going back!" Jiang Jin, her face flushed, shoved the lamp into Wei Shu's hand.
Just as she was about to leave, he pulled her into his arms. "How can you not cherish what you have? You make me so sad."
"Wei Shu, you!" Jiang Jin dared not struggle, afraid that her actions would draw even more attention.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let me hug you once, consider it my reward for winning the Glass Lamp for you with all my might." Wei Shu stroked Jiang Jin's hair and looked at Yun Fan behind him with a provocative smile.
"You're truly shameless to the extreme!" Seeing that she couldn't resist Wei Shu, Jiang Jin chose a comfortable position and let him hold her as he pleased.
"I worked so hard to win the glass lamp for you, can't I even hug you?" Wei Shu gently patted Jiang Jin's back, his voice just loud enough for Yun Fan behind him to hear clearly.
"Sure, I can still hug you even if you don't win the lantern. Wei Shu, why are you acting so strange today? Are you sick?" Jiang Jin stepped out of Wei Shu's embrace and reached out to touch his forehead.
"No, my temperature is normal. Wei Shu, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu with a worried expression.
"I'm fine, I just wanted to hug you." Wei Shu pinched Jiang Jin's cheek. "Let's go back to the manor."
"But I haven't finished exploring the morning market yet!" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu, puzzled. "There's a really delicious vinegar meatball stall up ahead, let's go try it!"
"Shall we go back to the manor after we finish the vinegar dumplings?" Wei Shu naturally wouldn't refuse, seeing Jiang Jin's expectant look.
"Of course, I'm a person who keeps their word!" Jiang Jin pulled Wei Shu's hand and led them through the crowd to the vinegar meatball stall.
"My lord, shall we go back? I'm afraid you'll suffer internal injuries if we keep watching!" Cang Lu had figured it out; Wei Shu had already discovered their presence and was deliberately showing off their intimacy.
"I'm not that fragile. It's already a great fortune that Lady Jiang and I can live in harmony under this arranged marriage. What more could I ask for?" Yun Fan lowered his eyes and followed. Wei Shu noticed the actions of the person behind him and deliberately tightened his embrace on Jiang Jin.
"I remember there used to be a tofu soup and candied fruit stall here!" Jiang Jin turned around and happened to meet Yun Fan's gaze, which made Wei Shu feel a surge of jealousy.
"Ah Jin, have you found it?" Wei Shu didn't let go of Jiang Jin's waist, but just stared fixedly at Yun Fan.
"Young Master Yun?" Jiang Jin instantly understood the reason for Wei Shu's unusual behavior today upon sensing the strength in Wei Shu's hand.
"Greetings, Madam Jiang. I presume this is General Wei. I never imagined you were the daughter of Imperial Censor Jiang." Yun Fan stepped forward with a smile, bowing and offering his greetings.
Seeing this, Jiang Jin quickly returned the greeting, "The reason I didn't mention I was with you that day was because the matter of Wang Juesong was rather troublesome. My lord was afraid I would get hurt and sent someone to escort me back to the capital. I was worried about him and secretly hid him in the Moon Viewing Pavilion. I didn't expect my lord to have secretly sent people to protect me since I entered the city. I wanted to make a move that day, but I was a step too late, Yun Langjun." Jiang Jin pinched Wei Shu's waist, and Wei Shu, enduring the pain in his waist, nodded slightly.
"I've already punished those people since then, and I will never let Madam fall into danger again." Wei Shu hugged Jiang Jin, smiling brightly like a victorious peacock surveying everything.
"General and Lady Jiang are truly a loving couple. I won't disturb your enjoyment any longer." Yun Fan felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this, and Jiang Jin's explanation only intensified his distress.
"I wonder where Young Master Yun is currently residing. Today, I had someone deliver this gift to your residence to settle this matter. I do not wish for any rumors circulating in the capital to harm my wife." Wei Shu's protectiveness towards Jiang Jin only added to Yun Fan's melancholy.
"I don't know what the general is referring to. I've been busy in Bianzhou and don't quite remember. I have to take my leave now." Yun Fan glanced at Jiang Jin, then hurriedly left with Cang Lu.
"All your unusual behavior today is because of Yun Fan?" Jiang Jin slapped Wei Shu's hand away. "Are you jealous?"
"Is it that obvious?" Wei Shu touched his face. "Does Madam know that I get jealous of Yun Fan?"
"Come on, did you know he was behind us all along, so you deliberately hugged me?" Jiang Jin glared at Wei Shu.
"A little bit, but more than that, I really want to hold you. Besides, Yun Fan's feelings for you are definitely not pure. Otherwise, with the Yun family's wealth, why would he stay at the Moon Viewing Pavilion?"
Wei Shu tentatively took Jiang Jin's hand, and seeing that she did not refuse, he boldly put his arm around her shoulder.
"The vinegar dumplings are ready. Would you like some, Madam?" Jiang Jin sat down on the wooden stool and pushed the bowl in front of Wei Shu. "Was the vinegar in these all provided by General Wei?"
"Madam Wei, you can guess." Wei Shu picked up a soup spoon and brought a small meatball to Jiang Jin's lips.
"The person's already gone, why are you still being so intimate?" Jiang Jin opened her mouth, and a sweet and sour taste filled her mouth, carrying a hint of osmanthus fragrance.
"Whether there are other people around or not, I want to be this intimate with my wife." Wei Shu wiped the soup from Jiang Jin's lips with his finger.
"Wei Shu!" Jiang Jin blushed and looked at Wei Shu with watery eyes. "Stop fooling around!"
"Okay, okay, I'll go buy you tofu soup and candied fruit." Jiang Jin rested her chin on her hand, watching Wei Shu's retreating figure and meeting his gaze as he occasionally turned back.
"Why are you staring at me so intently?" Wei Shu placed the tofu soup on the table, took out a candied fruit, and popped it into Jiang Jin's mouth.
"This was recommended by the stall owner. Why don't you try it and see if you like it?" Jiang Jin's eyes lit up immediately, and she grabbed Wei Shu's finger and nodded.
"It's delicious! Although it's sweet, it's not cloyingly sweet, and it even has a hint of plum flavor!"
"I'm glad you like it." Looking at Jiang Jin's smile, Wei Shu felt that she had become more vibrant, as if he had unconsciously seen many facets of her.
"Let's go, let's go back to the manor!" Jiang Jin finished the last mouthful of tofu soup, grabbed some candied fruit, and took Wei Shu's hand as they walked towards the governor's manor.
"General, there's news from Sangzhou. Would you like to see them?" A short, poorly dressed man followed behind Zhou Cong.
"Sangzhou?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu nervously upon hearing this. "Is it that Sangzhou?"
"Yes, let's talk about it back in the courtyard first." Wei Shu nodded reassuringly and led the group back to the courtyard.
"What's wrong in Sangzhou?" Jiang Jin asked impatiently as soon as she returned to the courtyard.
"The Sun family has always been cautious, but I still had someone keep an eye on one of their sons, and we've made a small discovery." The man handed the letter to Wei Shu, but Jiang Jin snatched it away.
"Iron ore? Tin mines have been discovered in Sangzhou?" Jiang Jin carefully examined every word in the letter, not letting go of even the smallest useful clue.
"Yes, but neither the governor nor the prefect of Sangzhou intends to report it." The man lowered his head, a newfound sense of Jiang Jin's status creeping into his heart.
“Tin is an important material for smelting ironware. In the past, not only would we have to report to His Majesty, but we would also send trusted confidants. Although the Sun family has occupied Sangzhou for many years, hiding a tin mine is no small matter.” Jiang Jin handed the letter to Wei Shu.
"Is this true?" Wei Shu asked, stroking the paper and looking at the man standing with his head down.
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