Chapter 76: False
Time is like flowing water, and five years have passed quietly in the gentle web carefully woven by Cui Junji.
After Cui Junji came to power, he separated the several courtyards of the Cui Mansion. He and Wen Youqing lived in the main courtyard, and the rest of the unimportant people stayed in their own courtyards.
This alone was a topic of conversation for many people outside. They privately said that the Prime Minister was bewitched by his new concubine and was capable of doing such a shady thing.
Of course, he didn't dare say this in front of the two of them. It was because one time a minor official met them while shopping at a night market and accidentally said, "Take good care of your wife." The next day, he was demoted to the Sima Bureau, where he had to face a group of beasts every day without saying a word.
Of course, that sentence was drowned out by Cui Junji's loud cough and was not heard by Wen Youqing.
Wen Youqing's body, thanks to meticulous care, had become even more voluptuous and graceful than before. She became increasingly adept at her role as "Mrs. Cui," managing the household and socializing with the wives of officials, keeping every aspect of the mansion in good working order.
Cui Junji was very satisfied with this situation, but he was also increasingly worried that Wen Youqing would recall the past. Cui Junji buried all his paranoia and darkness deep inside, only showing warmth and affection in front of her.
He was so successful in the court that his colleagues held him in awe. To say they held him in awe was a nice word, but in reality, it was 70% fear and 30% respect. After all, it was rare for someone to pull down their grandfather from a high position and replace him.
Others were prepared to make fun of this young man, but when the northern border rebelled, no one in the court responded. Cui Junji dispatched Wang Rong, whom he had painstakingly protected, to quell the rebellion. Furthermore, he controlled the salt and cloth trade via the trade routes, and when the northern border was defeated, they sought a peace settlement.
Because the conditions were not agreed upon, Cui Junji burned the cloth and other supplies that were supposed to be traded in front of the Khan. That winter, the people in the northern border were frozen to death, and all the ethnic groups in the northern border were trained like dogs.
It sounds simple now, but at that time, Cui Junji faced the oppression of the thirteen Khans of his maternal ancestors in the northern border, who burned everything. Only eight words were left in the history books: "burning silk and breaking alliance, sharpening soldiers to defend the border."
No one knew that this man who had killed the Xiongnu Khan in the past and was now facing thirteen foreign tribes was not afraid that new and old grudges would make him desperate and lead to his direct encirclement and suppression in the northern border.
"So, you were really not afraid at that time?" Wen Youqing was lying in the rocking chair, listening to Cui Junji telling the story, full of curiosity.
"I was afraid. I had been away for 62 days. I was thinking about how you were doing at home every day and whether there was anything going wrong..." Cui Junji said seriously while fanning Wen Youqing with a palm-leaf fan.
"Stop it," Wen Youqing couldn't stand it anymore and covered Cui Junji's mouth, but she was also used to Cui Junji's occasional corny remarks. "The story is so simple, but you are quite good at sensationalism."
I'm not being sentimental. The Li family was in a big fuss at the time because Cui Junji's practice of favoring his concubine and killing his wife had to have an explanation.
Cui Junji compensated Li Wenqin for all the damages he could in terms of money and official position, and Li Wenqin lived a life of luxury in the mansion, exactly the same as when he went to the northern border.
But the Li family refused to give up this time. Cui Junji also understood that since the incident had come to light, a secret known to the nobles, officials, and even the common people, some concessions would have to be made.
But after repeated negotiations, Cui Junji failed to reach an agreement at the last moment before leaving the capital. When he left, he even left most of his secret guards and personal attendants with Wen Youqing, fearing that the Li family would harm her.
He was truly worried. It wasn't easy for Wen Youqing to look at him. Initially, she was wary, but gradually developed a sense of dependence and trust, even occasionally revealing the affection a wife would show to her husband. He couldn't let anything happen to Wen Youqing.
So he was really scared.
Afraid that she wouldn't lie on the table waiting for him to come home late at night, afraid that she wouldn't appear beside him in various postures in the morning, afraid that someone would say something to her, afraid that she would remember everything and kill their child and him again...
Youqing didn't know about this inner drama. She loosened her hand and stuffed the grape into Cui Junji's mouth. "Okay, if you don't want to talk too much, then don't say it. The mosquitoes are about to start. I have to go back to the house."
Cui Junji naturally held her waist and followed, "I'm sticking close to my wife, feeding mosquitoes to her." Cui Junji now also used the name that Shen Zijie had blurted out at that time.
In fact, there was a maid in the house who was specifically swatting mosquitoes, so not a single mosquito could fly in.
"Should I feed the mosquitoes or should you?" Wen Youqing said indignantly.
Using this name, Wen Youqing looked at him with more openness and trust. Cui Junji was like a shady thief, cherishing his stolen goods as if they were treasures while at the same time being jealous of the person who had owned them before.
"Don't worry about that for now," Wen Youqing took out the notebook as soon as she entered the room and blocked Cui Junji's restless hands. "These are the officials who came to pay their respects during the Qianqiu Festival. You should know what gifts they gave, what they rejected, and what they accepted. And there's also the palace selection. I've made a list. You should at least take a look at it."
"I don't want to see it. I'll leave it to you. I don't need to ask about it." Cui Junji has already given full authority to Wen Youqing to do some things. Even officials from the Ministry of Industry have seen the think tank behind this powerful official.
Wen Youqing was annoyed by the ladies who had given him gifts today. He slapped them and said seriously, "Sit up straight and listen carefully!"
Cui Junji lazily moved away from her, propped up his head, and stared at her chattering mouth. Her lips were so beautiful, like lotus petals covered with dew.
Wen Youqing didn't care whether he listened or not. She had already reported it, and if there was a problem, it would be their fault. But that look was too clingy. She suddenly stopped, looked directly into Cui Junji's eyes, and said, "Why are you so clingy?"
"Does my wife mean I'm candy?"
"...That's about right." Wen Youqing doesn't like sweet food; it makes her feel sick.
After talking about the accounts receivable and payable, Wen Youqing took out a second notebook when Cui Junji continued to stick to him.
"Then there's the matter of the Northern Frontier trade. The black market has been rampant recently, and goods from the official roads aren't selling well, so I took the initiative and sent Luo Ling and her group of brothers to the black market. Now most of the people in the black market are our own. No matter how much trouble the barbarians make, or how hungry and cold they are, we still have to think about it." In the notebook was Wen Youqing's careful account of the types of goods, the price comparison of the goods, the time of sale, and a line graph she "created", all recorded clearly.
Cui Junji was no longer surprised by Wen Youqing's ability, but he still felt amazed occasionally. He hooked her belt, twisting it around his finger, "My dear, you are so thoughtful. I really want to give you a position as a female official and take you with me to court."
"Stop, you're not tiring me out, are you?" Wen Youqing saw a mistake, made some minor changes, and then wanted to take out the third notebook.
Cui Junji couldn't bear it anymore. He pulled gently and Wen Youqing's coat fell to the ground. Before Wen Youqing could hit him, he put his arms around her waist and hung her by his side.
Wen Youqing couldn't even touch the ground, so she could only grab Cui Junji's collar and said, "I haven't finished yet..."
Cui Junji returned and retrieved the third notebook. He curled his lips and flipped through it in front of Wen Youqing. "You do your thing, I do mine. There's no conflict."
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