Chapter 41 With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?
Late at night, Jiang Yinyue went to bed in a huff, using one arm as a pillow and her back facing outwards.
Her slightly swollen lips were a vibrant red, with a lingering tingling sensation.
A bittersweet feeling lingered in my heart.
Having grown accustomed to Wei Qin's favoritism, she became greedy, wanting to monopolize all of Wei Qin's attention.
The woman fell asleep with a bittersweet feeling in her heart, her soft moans in her dreams coming in fits and starts.
After taking a bath, Wei Qin stood by the bed, wringing his hair while looking at the "cicada pupa" that had taken over the entire canopy bed.
Every time I get angry, I do this: I wrap myself up tightly.
Wei Qin was worried that she would suffocate, so he pulled the blanket down a little for her.
The night was dark and the moon was dim. In the stillness, the man slid to the floor and sat down, his legs slightly apart, stretched out in the halo of light reflected from the window.
Counting the days, after the anniversary of Empress Yide's death, it will soon be the anniversary of the death of the eldest prince, Wei Yihe.
Wei Qin leaned back, resting his head on the edge of the bed, the back of his head sinking into the soft corner of the blanket. He stared at a sliver of cold light in the darkness, raised his hand and clenched it, as if holding an icy dagger.
"Give me back my mother!"
When the dagger pierced Emperor Shunren's abdomen, the wealth and glory that belonged to the eldest prince vanished.
The rolling wheels clattered as they rolled over the rugged path, heading straight for the most desolate palace.
It was no different from being confined to the cold palace.
If it weren't for the fact that he was only four years old, Emperor Shunren might have personally taken the life of his eldest son.
"You are unfilial and inauspicious. I will spare your life because you are young and ignorant."
"If you dare to return to the capital without permission, I will make the entire Cui family pay with their lives."
That year, in order to suppress the Cui family and guard against the Dong family, Emperor Shunren promoted another prominent family, the Jiang family.
The three powers stand in a tripartite balance, checking and balancing each other.
Jiang Song, the head of the Jiang family, was also transferred from the fearsome Northern Garrison to the Ministry of Justice. Not long after, he was promoted to Minister of Justice, a second-rank official.
After taking office, Jiang Song acted swiftly and decisively, weakening the authority of the Northern Garrison Command and merging most of its elite guards into the Ministry of Justice. He even took over cases personally authorized by the emperor, thereby expanding the Ministry of Justice's responsibilities for arrest, interrogation, and execution, and completely sidelining the Embroidered Uniform Guard Command, which was subordinate to the Northern Garrison Command.
Thanks to the growth of the Ministry of Justice, the two judicial offices, the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review, no longer had to suffer at the hands of the arrogant Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander's Office.
Jiang Song became Emperor Shunren's personal sword.
However, the sword was too sharp and sometimes it could injure the user. Emperor Shunren did not want Jiang Song's daughter to marry the Crown Prince.
Swords and daggers...
Wei Qin's hand, which was bathed in moonlight, suddenly clenched tightly.
**
As all the lights went out and the rooster crowed, the yamen runners searching for Yan Zhuyi discovered a person in a secret room.
The woman was unconscious, thin, and disheveled.
"It's her! Report it immediately!"
Early in the morning, the officials in charge of reconciliation at the Salt Transport Office were constantly moving about, extremely busy.
Wei Xichen, who was discussing the salvage of underwater stolen goods with Wei Qin, suddenly paused when Lin Yu reported the news, and an ink dot appeared on the drawing.
After a brief pause, Wei Xichen continued to sketch and discuss countermeasures with Wei Qin and others.
When asked about the difficulties in the salvage and excavation, Wei Qin answered fluently.
The emperor and his minister worked together seamlessly, and the other officials did not notice anything unusual.
Just as evening was falling, Wei Xichen suddenly called out to Wei Qin, who was about to get off duty.
"Minister Wei, please wait."
Wei Qin withdrew from the officials leaving the government office and stood beside Wei Xichen's desk.
As night fell, the two arrived at the inn one after the other.
Wei Xichen walked right past Yan Zhuyi, who was kneeling outside the small room door.
Wei Qin followed closely behind, also without giving it a second glance.
Yan Zhuyi crawled forward on her knees, her knees aching as she crossed the threshold. Despite her frail appearance, she still looked quite charming.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please do justice for me..." She sidled up to Wei Xichen, looking up at the man sitting at the table with his legs crossed. "On the way out of the city with Han Jian, I was kidnapped! Those people threatened me to clear Jiang Yinyue's name because I didn't escape alone three years ago. They were sent by the Jiang family. I beg Your Highness to investigate thoroughly!"
After a moment of silence, Wei Xichen smiled instead of getting angry, "Do you think I would still easily trust you?"
"Manager Xie! The leader is named Xie Jincheng, the manager of a jewelry store. Your Highness will find out soon enough through questioning!"
She had already spoken these words to the prefect. To be on the safe side, Lin Yu sent someone to summon Xie Jincheng. However, the jewelry store clerk told her that their manager had been hiding and forced to leave the city to avoid trouble.
The cause was that Yan Zhuyi had a grudge against the shopkeeper over the matter of the Eastern Pearl, and repeatedly caused trouble for him, even ordering a swordsman to almost break the shopkeeper's leg.
The constables followed the clues and found Han Jian, who confirmed that the matter was indeed true.
Yan Zhuyi shook her head desperately, "No, that's not how it is! It was indeed Manager Xie who kidnapped me, and he even called a masked man 'Young Master'."
Wei Xichen dodged her outstretched hand. "The only person in the Jiang family who can be called the young master is Jiang Taolue, who is far away on the border. Does he have the ability to be in two places at once? Are you trying to slander the Jiang family?"
"I did not lie!"
"You've told enough lies." Wei Xichen's tone was calm and understated, yet it sent a chill down Yan Zhuyi's spine. "Guards, take her away and keep her under strict guard. When we return to the capital, we will officially recognize her as the daughter of the Jiang family, and then send her to the laundry department as a slave."
Yan Zhuyi's eyes were bloodshot with rage. Being enslaved as a government official's wife was tantamount to losing half her life. Being sent to the ruthless laundry department, where people were devoured without spitting out their bones, made her life worse than death.
One of the harshest punishments in the imperial harem was being demoted to the laundry department as a slave.
She collapsed, choking back tears, and pleaded, "For the sake of our past relationship, I beg Your Highness to show leniency."
"I showed you leniency, how have you repaid me?"
Deceiving, deceiving without remorse.
"The Jiang family's daughter has been insulted because of you, and I will make you repay her a thousandfold."
"Your Highness!"
"Take him away."
The guards stepped forward and led the weeping Yan Zhuyi out of the small room.
Standing to the side, Wei Qin glanced at the Crown Prince, who was lost in thought, and also seemed to be pondering something. The Crown Prince had ordered him to accompany him and witness this scene, simply to indirectly let Jiang Yinyue know what had happened through him.
A faint, mocking smile brushed across the young fortune teller's lips.
Sitting at the table, Wei Xichen tapped his forehead with his index finger, carefully considering Yan Zhuyi's words. Although he didn't believe her, he had to find Manager Xie and investigate the whole story.
This is the only lead on the person involved in both the kidnapping and the abduction cases, and he is also an expert in mechanical arts.
As for the young master...
Wei Xichen stepped out of the small room and dispatched several bodyguards to lie in ambush near Xie Family Jewelry Store and the homes of people who frequently associated with Xie Jincheng, keeping a close watch on them.
The obituary for the Crown Princess was withdrawn. As for whether it would reach the palace, Wei Xichen didn't care much. What he cared more about was catching that group of mysterious people.
When they turned back, they saw Wei Qin still standing by the table. The wind blew and his clothes moved, but he did not move.
Wei Xichen shook his head, "Wei Qing is just like an ancient tree."
"Your humble servant is more like a piece of driftwood."
It's probably related to my childhood experiences; I lost my parents as a child and drifted from place to place.
"Come with me."
The two arrived at the water's edge where the salvage operation was about to begin. Wei Qin squatted on the ground, spread out the blueprints, and used the stones he had picked up to weigh down the four corners, carefully analyzing how the carpenter and the craftsman should cooperate in the operation.
As Wei Xichen listened to Wei Qin's reasoned analysis, his hand, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously began to caress the white jade pendant at his waist.
The teachings of Grand Tutor Cui still echoed in his ears: "Your Highness should be benevolent and just."
Although the Cui and Dong families have a grudge against each other, benevolence and fairness are qualities that a crown prince should possess.
However, he was indeed too narrow-minded towards Wei Qin.
"Wei Qing's erudition is evident to all in the court." Wei Xichen sat casually on a rock by the water. "Given your background and experiences, you have traveled to various places and accumulated knowledge. Reading can increase one's knowledge, and over time, one can indeed become erudite. However, there is one thing I am not quite clear about: who taught Wei Qing his martial arts?"
Civil officials skilled in martial arts are usually wealthy and well-off. Wei Qin's talent and martial arts skills far surpass those of others, even surpassing them. Even Tao Qian, the most famous scholar from a humble background, was not accomplished in both literature and martial arts.
"I secretly learned martial arts at a martial arts school when I was young, so I might have some talent."
Stealing knowledge... Wei Xichen chuckled to himself, then happened to catch a glimpse of three figures emerging from the Zhou family's medical clinic not far away.
The frail woman in the light blue dress was being supported by a maid, with a woman in a purple dress following beside her.
Wei Xichen stood frozen in that direction.
Jiang Yinyue, dressed in a purple dress, seemed to sense something. Her gaze swept across the room, but it first landed on Wei Qin.
Wei Qin subconsciously stood up and took a step.
"Wei Qing."
Wei Xichen smiled faintly, saying nothing more, his imposing presence halting Wei Qin's steps.
A subject cannot abandon his ruler.
Jiang Yinyue did not rush towards Wei Qin as usual. She glanced at him indifferently, turned around and returned to her sister-in-law's side, ignoring her sister-in-law's reminder.
Sensing something amiss, Wei Xichen stroked the jade pendant at his waist. Minor quarrels between husband and wife were common, but a subtle feeling stirred within Wei Xichen.
"Let's continue."
Wei Qin stared at Jiang Yinyue's departing figure, then turned around and approached the blueprints.
On the way back, Wei Xichen held the blueprints behind his back. "The position of Salt Commissioner is vacant and urgently needs someone to take over. What do you think, Wei Qing?"
Wei Qin bluntly stated, "This humble subject is not up to the task."
"You are too modest. You will temporarily assume the position. Once I return to the palace, I will entrust the appointment to the Ministry of Personnel."
Having said that, Wei Xichen strode off, no longer walking alongside Wei Qin.
Mild, and not open to criticism.
Wei Qin played an indispensable role in the Yan Hongchang case. Tao Qian would likely have fought tooth and nail for Wei Qin in front of the emperor to win him over. However, to appease Jiang Song, the maternal grandfather might have been more astute and instead recommended Wei Qin to the cabinet instead of Tao Qian.
Wei Xichen gripped the blueprint in his hand tightly. He was the Salt Commissioner on this trip to Yangzhou, and his father would consult him before making a decision regarding Wei Qin's promotion.
Ultimately, he was too narrow-minded towards Wei Qin!
Wei Qin stood on the long street where the post station was located, not moving for a long time. The setting sun shone on his back, brilliant yet fleeting.
The position of salt commissioner was undoubtedly lucrative, and if one did not exercise restraint, it could amplify greedy desires. Many corrupt officials failed to withstand the test.
Yan Hongchang is a case in point; he enjoyed wealth and honor for three years, but his life was in grave danger.
Does the Crown Prince's action indicate that he trusts the man's character?
No.
They were not only testing him, but also trying to kill him.
That way, the crown prince could rightfully reclaim his beloved.
We will take three to five years and proceed gradually.
Grand and imposing.
As the sun set in the west, Wei Qin was walking back home when he suddenly heard a dog barking from his own house as he passed by his neighbor's house. The barking was especially clear in the quiet alley.
Wei Qin walked as usual. When he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him, he did not turn around immediately. When the person was fully revealed in the moonlight, he grabbed a short knife that was attacking his waist with his backhand. As he turned around, he twisted the person's hand holding the knife and skillfully tore off the person's mask with his left hand.
A mocking laugh escaped his thin lips.
"Why has Lord Xu presented me with such a generous gift?"
A grand gift? The assassin, who had failed in his assassination attempt, looked puzzled, then his face contorted in agony, screaming, "Ah!!"
This person is a scoundrel in the Yan Hongchang case who has not yet been traced.
My wife is right. If you remain inactive, those who are guilty will become desperate and act rashly.
They delivered themselves to my door.
Wei Qin gripped his wrist and twisted it repeatedly, ignoring the sweat that poured out of him from the pain. But when he heard another set of footsteps behind him, he suddenly let go, letting the short knife pierce his clothes.
"Wei Qin!"
Jiang Yinyue ran forward and kicked the man in the stomach.
Qi Bao opened her blood-red maw and bit the man's leg.
Unfortunately, the fourteen-year-old dog had only a few teeth left, so it couldn't cause too much damage.
The middle-aged man surnamed Xu fell to the ground, staring in terror at the hunting dog that had pounced on him, "Aaaaah..."
Jiang Yinyue supported Wei Qin, her worry evident in her words.
Wei Qin gripped the hilt of the short knife, his body swaying precariously, leaning against his wife.
"Wei Qin!"
Hearing the commotion, the Wei family rushed out. The eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang, slapped her thigh and nudged her simple-minded son, Wei Xin, "Quickly, go to the clinic and fetch a doctor!"
Madam Gu was terrified and quickly went to help her son.
Wei Bochun, the eldest son of the Wei family, who had just returned to the house, stepped forward to help, but heard Wei Qin say weakly, "I would like to trouble you, Uncle, to go to the post station and inform His Highness the Crown Prince that I am resented by many officials of the Salt Transport Bureau. If I stay in Yangzhou, I may be retaliated against and my life may be in danger. I am therefore unable to serve as the Salt Transport Commissioner."
"What?"
Wei Qin gripped his uncle's wrist tightly, using all his strength, "Do as your nephew says!"
"Okay, okay."
Wei Bochun hurriedly ran off towards the post station.
Wei Qin drew his short knife and threw it at the middle-aged man surnamed Xu, knocking him unconscious with the hilt.
"Yinyue, help your husband back to the room."
Jiang Yinyue disregarded her bitterness; with her life at stake, why was she still holding a grudge? She even wanted to pick Wei Qin up in her arms!
Wei Qin put his arm around her shoulder and straightened up. "You can't carry me. Help me back."
Soon after, a local doctor was dragged and pulled by the simple-minded Wei Xin to the Wei family home.
Thinking it was a life-threatening emergency, the doctor chased everyone out of the east wing, saying, "This is an urgent matter; do not disturb my treatment!"
Unexpectedly, the knife tip only grazed the wounded man's skin, leaving a scratch on his firm abdominal muscles.
"this......"
Wei Qin sat up slowly, his tone low and somber, "Bandage."
While the doctor was using the stove to brew the medicine, the crown prince sent someone to offer his condolences and took away the assassin.
After inquiring about Wei Qin's injuries with the physician, Fu Zhong entered the east wing to convey the Crown Prince's greetings to Wei Qin.
“Wei Yunpan’s injuries are serious and he needs more rest. He must not get angry. I will report the truth to Your Highness.”
"It is thanks to Fu that you are in charge."
After the east wing was quiet again, Wei Qin looked at Jiang Yinyue sitting by the bed and comforted her, "It's alright."
"Let me see the wound."
"It's bandaged up."
Jiang Yinyue felt something was off. If it were a serious injury, the knife should have gone in white and come out red. But in her panic, she vaguely noticed that there was no blood on the tip of the short knife, but when she gave it to Fu Zhongcai, there was dried blood on the tip.
Concern can cloud judgment. Now that she had calmed down, she wanted to confirm her guess. Her small hands kept tugging at Wei Qin's clothes, pushing them upwards with all her might.
The left side of his firm, uneven abdomen was bleeding from the bandage.
shocking.
She looked at the wound, then at Wei Qin, and in the ensuing exchange of glances, she carefully extended her slender white index finger and gently poked it.
I poked it again.
A large hand covered her small hand and pulled her to poke it hard.
"don't want!"
"It doesn't hurt."
“You…” Jiang Yinyue confirmed her guess. Thinking of the phrase “unable to serve as salt transport commissioner,” she realized that this was Wei Qin’s roundabout strategy to deal with Wei Xichen.
But I still feel lingering fear.
What if the assassin was a master of martial arts, or had many accomplices?
"It's too dangerous, we won't be salt transporters."
Wei Qin stuffed a soft pillow behind him and leaned against the bed railing, once again becoming the taciturn person in Jiang Yinyue's eyes.
Jiang Yinyue nudged his arm. "Say something."
"With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Little Wei isn't a blockhead! [doge][let me see][pat on the head]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
