Suspect
"We had just left Yuezhou when His Highness sent a letter instructing you to enter Bianzhou. The next step was to bestow a marriage upon His Highness and bring him and Chang Yi to Bianzhou." Jiang Jin looked at the densely packed words on the paper, a sense of fear creeping into her heart.
"Furthermore, His Majesty specifically instructed us not to conceal our identities when we came to Beizhou, and later even sent us the antidote for Luoluo Incense. Wei Shu, how much do you think His Majesty actually knows?" Jiang Jin always felt that although Emperor Wende resided in the imperial court, nothing escaped his notice.
"His Majesty not only knew about it but was also able to prepare the antidote in advance. Is it possible that His Majesty also knew about Governor Qu's death? That is why the Imperial Guards we brought were 30% more than those sent to Yuezhou."
Wei Shu grasped Jiang Jin's hand. Although His Majesty holds a high position, he is not without cunning. His current cautious and deliberate approach is quite frightening.
"It's alright. In any case, His Majesty is on our side. There's no use worrying about the rest. Since we're already in this situation, we might as well go with the flow." Wei Shu saw that Jiang Jin's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat from fright and wiped it with his sleeve.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to escape unscathed. You know, His Majesty has calculated everything perfectly. He might have already decided your fate somewhere. When the time comes, we’ll automatically be caught in the trap, like a spider hunting its prey. Wei Shu, I don’t want to see you become a sacrifice in the court.”
Jiang Jin was more worried about Wei Shu, after all, he was the person closest to Emperor Wende. If Emperor Wende wanted to scheme against Ren Shenxian, even if he came, he wouldn't be able to turn the tide.
"Ah Jin, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. We have plenty of time to experience many things together. I won't leave you alone." Wei Shu admitted he had selfish motives, but he didn't believe His Majesty would arrange a death for him.
"I believe you, so Wei Shu, please don't let me down. If you die, I won't be a widow for you. There are so many men in the world, I won't hang myself on your tree." Jiang Jin reached out and pinched Wei Shu's face, but Wei Shu, unlike his usual self, said seriously, "Okay."
"What?" Jiang Jin paused, looking at Wei Shu in disbelief. His reply made her wonder if he had been stunned by what had just happened.
"Actually, back in Yuezhou, I wanted to keep you confined in the house, to have you face me every day, to make you only have me in your heart. Unfortunately, Princess Zhaoyang protected you, so I couldn't do it. Later, I realized that you truly love me and care about me, so as long as you're by my side, that's enough." Wei Shu smiled and touched Jiang Jin's cheek.
“I don’t know how to love someone, so I can only imitate the way you love someone. I can tell from your attitude towards Ziyuan Niangzi that you also hope to receive this kind of love. If Jiang Jin really meets with misfortune one day, you just need to follow your heart. I just hope you are happy.”
Looking into Jiang Jin's bright eyes, Wei Shu felt a sense of relief that he hadn't extinguished the hope within them. His Majesty had been kind to him, but hadn't taught him what love was. However, looking at Jiang Jin, he suddenly understood how to love someone.
“Wei Shu, you don’t look like you at all now.” Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu with some emotion. “I know you have no choice in the matter. You and I are the same kind of people, so I can empathize with you. Wei Shu, how about we go back to your hometown after this is over?”
"Go back to my hometown?" Wei Shu was taken aback when he saw the tears welling up in Jiang Jin's eyes. He gently wiped away the tears from her face with his fingers.
"Yes, I also want to see you go fishing in the river. Let's stay away from the court and stop playing chess."
For a fleeting moment, Jiang Jin seemed to see Wei Shu lying pale in the coffin again. If this was the fate of someone at the center of power, she would rather be an ordinary citizen and save her life.
"Okay." Wei Shu looked at the jade hairpin in Jiang Jin's hair and thought of the wooden hairpin she wore when they first met. "I put that wooden hairpin in the betrothal gifts. It seems that the Jiang family sent it back with the dowry."
"The wooden hairpin, the one you told me to wear to see you on the street?" Jiang Jin chuckled as she recalled how she had resolutely returned the hairpin to Wei Shu. She couldn't have imagined back then that she and Wei Shu could be so in sync.
“I carved that wooden hairpin myself. Although it’s a bit rough, it’s the first hairpin I’ve ever carved.” Wei Shu pulled Jiang Jin to sit on his lap. “Because it had to be unique, something that was both inexpensive and unique.”
"A general of the Imperial Guards would say it's free?" Jiang Jin felt Wei Shu's warm breath lingering near her ear.
“Of course, money is the foundation of one’s life.” Wei Shu pulled the jade hairpin from Jiang Jin’s hair, causing her dark hair to fall loose. Jiang Jin turned her head and looked at the wooden hairpin that had suddenly appeared in Wei Shu’s hand.
"You took it out of my dowry?" Jiang Jin looked at the wooden hairpin in Wei Shu's hand, which seemed to have gained a touch of shrewdness.
"But it's not quite the same as before. Back then, that wooden hairpin was so rough that I had to grind it down before I could insert it into my hair." Jiang Jin held the hairpin in her hand, rubbing it. It wasn't prickly at all; in fact, it felt warm and smooth.
“It’s newly made. How could I touch your dowry without your permission?” Wei Shu met Jiang Jin’s somewhat surprised gaze. “Doesn’t it look like it?”
"It's hard to reconcile the image of General Wei wielding swords and spears with the image of Wei Shu meticulously carving in his room." Jiang Jin deftly tied up her long hair with a wooden hairpin. "I will take good care of him and will absolutely not let General Wei down!"
"When did Ah Jin learn to say such endearing things?" Wei Shu picked up Jiang Jin and placed her on the couch. "You've been worried about Lady Ziyuan, but now that everything's alright, you can rest easy."
"How did you know?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu as he pressed her onto the bed and tenderly covered her with a blanket. "I'm not stupid. I can tell whether you're really asleep or not."
"Remember to call me if anything happens!" Jiang Jin held Wei Shu's hand, watching his face gradually blur as she fell into a deep sleep. Wei Shu reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead.
"You look much thinner. Ah Jin, you've had a tough time these past few days." Wei Shu lowered the bed curtains, glanced at Jiang Jin on the bed, and then left the room.
"General." Zhou Cong, who was guarding outside the door, immediately went to greet Wei Shu as soon as he came out.
"How is Zhou Liao recovering?" Wei Shu looked at the courtyard of the governor's mansion and sneered, "Gao Yunge's reach is too long, so let's cut off a few more."
“He’s much better now. Zhou Liao has been wanting to come back, so I asked him to rest for a few more days.” Zhou Cong handed the letter from the capital to Wei Shu. “Our people found out that the medicinal herbs in Gaoyun Pavilion were all obtained from foreign countries. Many of them are banned drugs in Da Yan, and some were bought from the black market in the capital.”
"How is the person in prison?" Wei Shu took out the letter and looked at it carefully. Zhou Cong hesitated for a moment. "He didn't say. Our people blocked several waves of people who wanted to silence him, but that person remained unmoved."
"It's alright, as long as we don't die, we can always pry something out." Wei Shu waved his hand dismissively. "Does His Majesty have any other instructions?"
"Not yet. The capital is currently busy with the Third Prince's marriage and has put these matters aside." Zhou Cong glanced at the room and said in a low voice, "I have found out that Princess Zhaoyang seems to be secretly cultivating people, but I don't know exactly how many."
"Understood. As long as they don't block our way, these are minor matters. Have the gifts for the Third Prince been arranged?" Wei Shu rubbed his temples. Dealing with powerful families can sometimes be a troublesome affair.
"General, rest assured, just like in previous years, there will be absolutely no favoritism." Wei Shu nodded. Zhou Cong looked at the familiar figure in the distance and sighed, "This young master Zheng has an extraordinary temperament; he doesn't seem to come from an ordinary family."
"You noticed it too?" Wei Shu put down the letter without glancing at Song Zhimin. "The people around A Jin are no ordinary people. There's no need to be surprised in the future."
"General Wei." Sensing Zhou Cong's gaze, Song Zhimin turned and bowed to Wei Shu in the distance, offering his greeting. Wei Shu nodded slightly in return.
"Why did the general come over here?" Zhou Cong felt a pang of inferiority as he looked at Song Zhimin, who was wearing a mask.
"General Wei, this is the pulse change of Lady Ziyuan. Please give it to Lady Jiang." Song Zhimin took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Wei Shu.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Zheng." Wei Shu took the paper and glanced at the handwriting. The strokes were sharp and powerful, clearly indicating that he had received instruction from a renowned teacher since childhood.
"Young Master Zheng's calligraphy is truly excellent. May I ask which master he studied under?" Wei Shu asked with a smile, looking directly into Song Zhimin's unwavering gaze.
"I only studied calligraphy for a few days when I was young, and the fact that I can write like this by copying from a calligraphy model suggests that I have a natural talent for it." Song Zhimin tried his best to conceal this, but Wei Shu's doubts remained.
"Aren't you afraid of disturbing Ajin by being here!" Ziyuan could tell from the way Wei Shu was clutching the paper that he was starting to doubt Song Zhimin's identity.
"Go ask them outside." Zi Yuan sat down directly opposite Wei Shu. "What right does General Wei have to interrogate our people?"
"Lady Ziyuan, those words are rather unpleasant to hear. The antidote you were given was obtained by my general through a special request; otherwise, you would still be teetering on the brink of death!" Zhou Cong said indignantly, hearing Ziyuan's unfriendly tone.
"These are two different things. I will always remember General Wei's kindness, and I will do my utmost to help him if he ever needs my assistance. However, this does not mean that General Wei can interrogate my people without cause." Zi Yuan glared at Zhou Cong, her wariness towards Wei Shu growing even stronger.
"This young master Zhou is too impatient. Your general hasn't even said anything yet, and you're already jumping out to refute him. Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're the Grand General of the Imperial Guard." Zi Yuan looked at Wei Shu without backing down. She knew that if she showed any fear, Wei Shu would become even more suspicious, and might even implicate Jiang Jin in cleaning up the mess for her and Song Zhimin.
"You jest, Lady Ziyuan. I was merely asking out of curiosity about where Young Master Zheng's teacher came from. Why is that being interrogated? Could it be that you two have something to hide?" Wei Shu folded the paper and placed it on the table.
"For Ajin's sake, I won't delve into your secrets. However, Lady Ziyuan needs to do us a favor." Wei Shu looked at Song Zhimin with a meaningful glint in his eyes.
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