The General's Wife
The next day, the General's Mansion received the imperial edict in an orderly manner. However, Chu Xiuming looked pale and smelled of medicine and a little blood, as if he was seriously injured and had not recovered yet. Chu Xiuyuan did not come out at all. According to Shen Jin, Chu Xiuyuan was more seriously injured and could not get up at all. The doctor said that moving now would be dangerous to his life.
The two messengers were dissatisfied, but they could not force Chu Xiuyuan to stand up and risk his life.
Shen Jin had been supporting the "seriously injured" Chu Xiuming. After receiving the imperial edict, Chu Xiuming was helped inside to rest, while Shen Jin watched the rewards being moved into the general's mansion one by one.
They were all gold, silver, and jewelry, and they were also rewarded with fertile fields and villas. Even Shen Jin had several sets of imperial jewelry and a lot of fabrics, but nothing was useful. The fertile fields and villas were all in the capital, and Shen Jin had no shortage of jewelry and fabrics. Gold, silver, and jewelry were only for looks but not for eating, and the food and medicinal materials they needed were not even mentioned.
Shen Jin watched as things were put into the warehouse, and suddenly asked, "Where are the food supplies?"
The envoy knew Shen Jin's identity, and he had seen how powerful Shen Jin was yesterday. Today, he was much more respectful and said, "The emperor has ordered the Ministry of Revenue to prepare these things, such as food and supplies, and they will be shipped to the border city in the near future."
Even if Shen Jin was ignorant, he knew that it was hard to say what would happen in the near future, so he looked at the messenger, "Then what?"
The messenger looked confused. What next?
"When is the recent time?" Shen Jin asked.
The messenger said, "I don't know."
Shen Jin nodded, and the messenger just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Shen Jin say innocently, "Then write a letter and ask."
What to ask? Is it to ask the emperor or the minister of the Ministry of Revenue? No matter who Shen Jin meant to ask, they were not someone they could afford to offend!
Shen Jin seemed to be unaware that he was embarrassing the envoy. "By the way, please help me deliver a few letters to my father, mother, and my two married sisters. Anyway, your memorials have to be sent back to the capital."
The messenger understood that Shen Jin meant for them to ask the emperor.
"And I remember that memorials will be faster than ordinary letters." Shen Jin looked at the messenger with an ugly face and frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Are you unwilling to help me?"
In fact, Shen Jin's frown was not scary at all, but rather cute. After all, her eyes were round and she looked childish. However, the two envoys did not feel that at all. They bowed their heads and said respectfully, "The emperor has ordered me to return to the capital as soon as I finish my business."
"Writing a letter doesn't take up too much time." Shen Jin said, "Come here, prepare some writing materials for the two adults."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the servants in the mansion had already closed the door of the general's mansion, and then moved the table to get the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and even spread the paper out very considerately, "Please come in, my two lords."
Shen Jin said, "The two adults are busy, so I will go in and write a letter to my father and the others." After saying that, she turned around and left. Because she had to receive an imperial decree, she wore the formal dress of a lady of an earl today, and could not walk fast at all. Even so, the two messengers did not dare to step forward to stop her.
"Madam, please wait a moment. Why don't we write it after we return to the post station?" the messenger raised his voice.
Shen Jin did not answer, but looked at Zhao Mama. Zhao Mama did not even raise her head, but just said, "Madam has gotten up early in the morning and has not had her meal yet. This old servant has asked someone to prepare red date millet porridge."
Recently, many well-informed businessmen have started to transport goods here, and Chu Xiuming has arranged people to purchase from the surrounding areas. The food in the general's mansion is much better than before. At least Shen Jin doesn't have to watch them eat horse meat every day.
"Okay." Shen Jin decisively put the two messengers behind him.
An Ping did not follow Shen Jin, but stayed to look at the two messengers, smiling and respectfully asking, "Do you two messengers need me to notify the kitchen to prepare lunch?"
The implication is that you want to leave before you finish writing? How is that possible?
When Shen Jin returned, she found Chu Xiuming sitting in her yard. Her eyes widened as she looked at Chu Xiuming and asked, "Why are you here?"
Chu Xiuming raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. Instead, Nanny Zhao smiled and said, "I'll go and urge the kitchen to serve the food." After that, she left. Because the border town needed to be rebuilt and many places needed manpower, there were not many people even in Shen Jin's courtyard. When Nanny Zhao left, Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin were the only ones left in the courtyard.
This was the first time Shen Jin was alone with Chu Xiuming, and she felt a little nervous. Seeing Chu Xiuming looking at her, although he didn't say anything, Shen Jin could understand what Chu Xiuming meant.
The reason why Shen Jin was able to stay by Princess Rui's side in the Prince Rui's Mansion and won her favor was because she was very good at reading people's expressions. Before Princess Rui even opened her mouth, she could get what Princess Rui wanted or needed. She even remembered Princess Rui's favorite tea temperature and favorite food flavors very clearly.
He would make mistakes at the beginning, but later he became more proficient, so Shen Jin had no difficulty communicating with someone like Chu Xiuming.
Chu Xiuming actually had a feeling a long time ago, but because his brother was present, he did not show it. Today he was sure of it, and he also had some guesses about Shen Jin's situation in Prince Rui's Mansion. Such insight and carefulness are not innate, but the result of years of training.
As the concubine of Prince Rui, Shen Jin was able to develop such skills, which shows what kind of life she had in Prince Rui's mansion. Moreover, Chu Xiuming had heard from Butler Wang and others about Shen Jin's performance after coming to Border Town. He had some guesses in his mind, but it was not easy to ask directly. He could only wait and observe slowly in the future.
"Please sit down." Chu Xiuming was actually not difficult to get along with, and he was certainly not the murderous person as rumored. It was not known whether it was Shen Jin's illusion, but she always felt that Chu Xiuming's brows were not only cold but also slightly melancholy, and this temperament made him even more attractive.
"Yeah." Shen Jin responded and then sat next to Chu Xiuming.
Chu Xiuming seemed not to notice Shen Jin's cautiousness. He smiled and asked, "Did those two messengers embarrass you just now?"
Shen Jin was dazzled by Chu Xiuming's smile and said, "No, but I asked them to write back to ask when the food and grass can be delivered, and to help me send a few letters to my father and others." As if asking Chu Xiuming's opinion, "Do you think I did the right thing?"
In fact, someone had already told Chu Xiuming about Shen Jin's incident in the front yard. Upon hearing this, he said, "You've done it all. What if I say it's not right?"
Shen Jin's face turned pale and he moved his lips, "What should I do then..."
"I was just kidding." Chu Xiuming saw Shen Jin's expression and softened his voice, "Don't worry, you did a great job."
Shen Jin puffed up his cheeks and wanted to glare at Chu Xiuming but didn't dare. In the end, he lowered his head and said nothing.
Chu Xiuming chuckled and reached out to hold Shen Jin's hand. His five fingers were slender and much larger than Shen Jin's hand. He could cover Shen Jin's hand completely at once. Shen Jin panicked and tried to pull his hand out, but found that he couldn't pull it out at all. Chu Xiuming gently pinched it and said, "Don't be angry."
"No." Shen Jin's face flushed. Although she raised her head, she didn't dare to look at Chu Xiuming's face.
"So what are you going to write to your father-in-law?" Chu Xiuming asked.
Shen Jin then said, "I want something. Mother said that if I need anything, I can write home and they will send it to me." There was a little pride in her words, "I want some tonics and spices. I also need to tell them that I am not used to the food here and ask them to send some dried vegetables, dried fruits, candied fruits, and bacon... I actually prefer the ham that my eldest brother-in-law gave to my mother last year. It is a little sweet and fragrant. It tastes good whether it is roasted or stewed. I wonder if my eldest sister will send me some if I write to her this time."
Chu Xiuming listened to Shen Jin mumbling non-stop, without any impatience, but rather with a bit of interest.
"I think my brother will definitely like that kind of ham." Shen Jin was afraid that Chu Xiuming would think she was greedy, so she pulled Chu Xiuyuan out, "There are also palm-sized dried shrimps. Although they are a bit salty, they are delicious when cooked. My husband, you will definitely like them..."
Chu Xiuming looked at Shen Jin with a gentle look. When she stopped, he reached out and pinched Shen Jin's face. It really felt good. If she was fatter, it would be better. "Grow up quickly."
"Ah?" Shen Jin's hand was finally freed from Chu Xiuming's. He covered his face and looked at Chu Xiuming with confusion.
Chu Xiuming didn't say anything else, but looked at Nanny Zhao who was standing outside with a food box and her maid, "Help Madam go in to change her clothes." Although the lady's formal dress was gorgeous, it was not convenient for eating.
Nanny Zhao handed the food box in her hand to the maid beside her, then came in and said, "Yes." Then she helped Shen Jin walk into the house.
When the maids saw Chu Xiuming nodded, they came in and started to set the table.
After this exchange, Shen Jin felt that Chu Xiuming was very gentle and kind to her. Thinking of Chu Xiuming holding her hand, her face turned red and she bit her lip, with a bit of shyness in her eyes. Zhao Ma saw all this and smiled more. She said, "Today the general specially ordered the kitchen to steam the steamed cake. I went to check and found that there were not only dates but also some walnut kernels in it."
"Really?" Shen Jin's eyes lit up, and she forgot about being shy. Instead, she looked at Aunt Zhao with anticipation.
The corner of Zhao Ma's eye twitched. Shouldn't the point be that the general had specifically given the order?
"Yes." Madam Zhao quickly helped Shen Jin remove the excessive hair accessories on her head and said, "The general specially asked someone to buy walnut kernels. Didn't Madam say she wanted to eat walnut kernels yesterday?"
"Are there raisins in it?" Shen Jin asked.
Madam Zhao paused for a moment while holding the clothes, and said, "Yes, the general knew that Madam liked to eat it, so he specifically instructed the kitchen to put raisins in it."
"Great." Shen Jin smiled, took the clothes and started to change, urging, "Then hurry up, Madam, steamed cake tastes better when it's hot. I ate it a few times in the capital, but mother didn't like it. And I have to accompany mother for breakfast, so I haven't eaten it many times."
This time, not only the corners of Zhao's eyes but also the corners of her mouth twitched. She felt that the general still had a long way to go before his wife grew up. She sighed quietly and glanced at Shen Jin's back. It was really worrying. When would she be able to hold the young master in her arms? There was always a feeling that it would be a long time in the future.
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