Tin mine
"It's absolutely true, I'm willing to stake my life on it!" The man knelt on the ground, looking at Wei Shu with unwavering eyes.
"Tin ore..." Wei Shu drew circles on the stone table with his long fingers, but his eyes unconsciously fell on Jiang Jin.
"It's entirely possible that the Sun family has seized control of the tin mine, but we certainly couldn't have known about it so easily. So what leaked the information, and how did you find out?" Jiang Jin understood Wei Shu's concerns the moment she saw his gaze.
"I'll have someone keep an eye on the Sun family's son first. With such a large tin mine, the Sun family couldn't possibly leave without someone going to check it out. This time, it's the Sun family's third son—Sun Chehuai—who's going." Jiang Jin was taken aback, then her face darkened.
"Sun Chehuai, is that the Sun Chehuai who is on good terms with the governor of Sangzhou? Rumor has it that although he is gentle and kind, he is ruthless and has cleaned up a lot of messes for his younger brother?"
"Could it be that Sun Cherun's bad reputation has already reached the capital, and even the Madam has heard of it?" The man nodded unconsciously when he saw Jiang Jin's gloomy gaze.
"That's right, I've heard so much about his reputation for bullying men and women." Jiang Jin couldn't help but growl, "I'll send someone to Sangzhou to tell them to investigate this matter and make sure they find the Sun family!"
"Ah Jin, don't be impulsive!" Wei Shu stopped Jiang Jin and held her shoulder. "If this is true, going there rashly may cost you your life. If it's false, then it's a huge trap waiting for us to fall into."
"I understand what you mean. I won't act on my own. I'll be right back, wait for me!" Jiang Jin broke free from Wei Shu's grasp and ran towards Lou Xuan's courtyard.
"General, should I go and stop the lady?" Zhou Cong asked, looking at Wei Shu's outstretched hand.
"No need, she'll figure it out herself." Wei Shu focused his attention on the letter, while Jiang Jin ran all the way to Lou Xuan's courtyard.
"Madam Wei?" Chang Yi was standing hesitantly in front of the house, holding a food box. Seeing Jiang Jin was like seeing a savior.
"Her Highness is resting; let's not disturb her." Jiang Jin glanced at the dimly lit room inside and composed herself.
"Thank you for informing me, Commandant Chang. Although I shouldn't disturb Your Highness's rest, I do have an urgent matter to attend to."
Jiang Jin carefully pushed open the door. In the sunlight, Chang Yi saw Xueya sitting by the tatami mat, but unfortunately, he couldn't see her expression clearly. Jiang Jin then closed the door again.
"Madam Jiang, what brings you here?" Jiang Jin led Xueya into the greenhouse.
"Why is my wife's forehead covered in sweat?" Xueya took a handkerchief and wiped Jiang Jin's sweat.
“Xueya…” Jiang Jin gasped for breath. “Wei Shuna received news that a tin mine has appeared in Sangzhou, but the Sun family has kept it a secret and has not reported it to this day!”
"Tin ore!" Xueya exclaimed, then covered her mouth. "Is the news true?"
"I just don't know if it's true or not. Wei Shu is afraid this is a setup to prevent me from making any rash moves." Jiang Jin gradually calmed down as well.
"The Sun family has been in Sangzhou for a hundred years. In that time, countless prefects and governors have come and gone. Even in the current dynasty alone, there have been no fewer than three different officials. Yet, no matter how upright and honest a person is, they all become the Sun family's lackeys." Jiang Jin always felt that something strange was amiss in Sangzhou.
“I don’t know about the previous two governors, but the current governor of Sangzhou is the most incorruptible person. If there really were tin mines, why would he risk his life to cover it up for the Sun family?” Xueya was also flustered, but she could only try her best to comfort Jiang Jin.
"Your Highness has not slept for several days. Once Your Highness wakes up, this matter will surely be resolved."
“I’m worried about my elder sister. Sangzhou and Pingzhou, where my brother-in-law and I are both under the jurisdiction of the governor. They will go to Sangzhou to report on their duties at the end of the year, and my elder sister, as a female relative, will also have to go. However, she was turned down the first year because she was newly married and it was not advisable to travel far. This year, she can’t avoid it no matter what.” Jiang Jin felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of Sun Cherun.
“My mother and my aunt look alike, about 80% alike, but my older sister looks most like our mother. I can’t let anything happen to her!” Jiang Jin instinctively grasped Xueya’s hand.
"Don't worry, Madam Jiang. Even though the Sun family holds absolute power in Sangzhou, they wouldn't dare to set their sights on the wives of officials." Although Xueya spoke with great confidence, both she and Jiang Jin knew in their hearts that the Sun family wouldn't take a poor county magistrate's wife seriously.
"I will ask Wei Shu to send someone to protect my elder sister." Jiang Jin, unwilling to expose Lou Xuan's people, could only place her hopes on Wei Shu.
"My lady..." Xueya sighed deeply, her heart filled with emotion.
"Actually, we can send Yi San to Sangzhou. That way, even if there are any trouble, he can protect your sister with his abilities." Xueya hesitated but still leaned towards her own people.
“No, I can say that the two people exposed are from Yuezhou and are there to protect me, but if Your Highness sends someone to Sangzhou, it would be disastrous if the Sun family found out. Besides, it is normal for the princess to have four or five secret guards. If there is more than that, Wei Shu will inevitably become suspicious.”
Jiang Jin would not allow any factors detrimental to Lou Xuan. She had already spared Wei Shu as an exception; the rest should be nipped in the bud.
“I will go to Wei Shu to ask for a legitimate reason, so that His Majesty can also know what the Sun family has done.” Jiang Jin looked at Xue Ya and said after he had completely calmed down, “Your Highness, send someone to call me after you wake up.”
"Okay, don't worry too much. There's still a lot of time until the end of the year." Xueya opened the door and only felt relieved after making sure she hadn't woken Lou Xuan.
"My lady, please return first. I will send someone to fetch you when His Highness wakes up." Xueya returned to the bedside and nodded to Jiang Jin.
"Thank you." Jiang Jin gave a slight bow and carefully opened the door, just in time to see Chang Yi peering inside.
"Commander Chang hasn't left yet?" Jiang Jin glanced at the tightly closed door behind him and gave a helpless smile.
"Since Lady Xueya kicked me out, is Commandant Chang also going to be turned away?" Jiang Jin immediately sensed that Chang Yi was as cunning as Wei Shu, but relying on Lady Wei's status, she still mocked him.
"Lady Wei is too kind. I'll sit at the stone table and wait for Your Highness to wake up. This stewed mutton soup shouldn't go to waste." Jiang Jin always felt a sense of rivalry for favor in the inner court when she looked at Chang Yi.
"Commander Chang, you certainly have a unique idea. Aren't you worried about His Highness getting a sore throat from drinking mutton soup on a hot summer noon?" Jiang Jin laughed and then left the courtyard. She had been thinking about Sangzhou the whole way, and before she knew it, she was back in the courtyard.
Wei Shu was drinking tea under the crabapple tree when he heard Jiang Jin's hurried footsteps and looked up. "You saw her?"
"His Highness is resting. I've given Xueya a brief explanation of the situation." Jiang Jin sat down, preoccupied with her own thoughts.
"Wei Shu, can I ask you for a favor?" Jiang Jin grasped Wei Shu's hand as he poured tea.
"Could you send someone to Sui'an County in Pingzhou to protect Jiang Qing, the wife of the county magistrate? She's my elder sister, and I'm afraid Sun Cherun will harm her when the time comes for the annual review!" Jiang Jin's heart tightened at the thought of her elder sister, and she gripped Wei Shu's hand even tighter.
"Okay, I'll arrange for someone to go to Sui'an County as soon as possible. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to your sister." Wei Shu hugged Jiang Jin, and crabapple petals fell into their hair.
"I only have this one older sister, Wei Shu. I'm really afraid I can't protect her." Jiang Jin hugged Wei Shu tightly, hoping to draw a little bit of security from him.
"Don't worry, I will protect everything you want to protect." Wei Shu understood Jiang Jin's feelings and could only gently pat her back. "Don't be afraid."
"Wei Shu, when do you think we can eradicate these powerful families?" Jiang Jin wiped away tears from her cheeks with her fingers, but her eyes were still brimming with tears.
"Your Majesty is wise and powerful; he will surely restore peace and prosperity to the Great Yan during your reign." Jiang Jin nodded upon hearing this and stopped talking about it. She had already lost her composure many times regarding the Sangzhou matter, and it wouldn't be good if others seized upon her weakness.
"This is the last time I'll lose my temper because of Sangzhou. Next time, I'll definitely hold back without leaving a trace." Jiang Jin stood up, looked into Wei Shu's eyes, and asked earnestly, "Wei Shu, if the tin mine is real, would you be willing to go to Sangzhou with me?"
"I'll go wherever you want to go." Wei Shu took a candied fruit from the paper package and put it into Jiang Jin's mouth.
"You can have something sweet. I'll wait with you for Princess Zhaoyang." Wei Shu knew that Jiang Jin relied on Lou Xuan much more than he did, so only Lou Xuan could truly comfort Jiang Jin at this moment.
"Thank you, Wei Shu, I really like it." Jiang Jin chewed the candied fruit in her mouth, but her thoughts kept drifting far away.
"Yun Fan likes you." Wei Shu didn't know how to distract Jiang Jin, so she could only tell her the news she had just received.
"Who?" Jiang Jin was stunned for a moment before realizing what she had heard.
"Yun Fan likes you. The main reason he lives at the Moon Viewing Pavilion is to protect you." Wei Shu told Jiang Jin everything he had found out without hesitation.
“But I have no connection with Yun Langjun. Except for festival banquets, I always wear a veil. Although the customs of the Great Yan Dynasty are better than those of the previous dynasty, my mother values rules and regulations, so I have never disobeyed her.”
"That's all the information I have. As for why he likes you, perhaps it's because you're naturally likable. But we can't read his mind, so we can't fathom his thoughts." Wei Shu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Jiang Jin's mind was no longer on the matter of Sangzhou.
"But why did you investigate these things?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shulian and reached out to tug at his cheek. "Are you jealous?"
"I sensed that Cang Lu, who was by his side, had some inexplicable hostility towards me. In order to prevent any accidents from happening, I secretly sent someone to investigate. I didn't expect to find out something different."
Wei Shucai wouldn't tell Jiang Jin that the moment he saw Yun Fan looking at her, he felt a surge of jealousy and couldn't help but order a thorough investigation of Yun Fan.
"Yun Fan saved my life after all, don't let jealousy cloud your judgment." Jiang Jin was afraid that Wei Shu would lose control of his jealousy and harm others, including himself.
"Why should I argue with a loser? You are now my rightful wife, a woman bestowed upon me by His Majesty. No one can take you away from me."
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