Chapter 40 Physical exertion is extremely high in the military.
Wang Yuru's eyes widened, and she could hardly believe her ears.
So this little slut was waiting here all along.
Want to take over her housekeeping power? Dream on!
Her voice was still trembling with tears, "Master, you mustn't! Miss has never managed a household before, and she's too soft-hearted and easily manipulated. Those cunning and treacherous servants are not easy to deal with. She might end up being overpowered without even knowing it. Not to mention accounting, reconciliation, and social interactions—none of those things are easy to handle."
Jiang Zhengting snorted heavily, "Zhi'er is so generous in forgiving you, she is indeed a soft-tempered person. If she continues like this, she will not be able to hold her head high in her husband's family in the future. She should be trained properly!"
Ignoring Wang Yuru's tearful face, he ordered in a deep voice, "From today onwards, you shall relinquish your power as housekeeper, and let Zhi'er temporarily take over. If there is anything you don't understand, Zhi'er can ask your grandmother."
He made the decision in just a few words.
Wang Yuru wanted to persuade him again, but seeing Jiang Zhengting's gloomy and displeased face, she swallowed back the words she was about to say.
The most important thing now is to appease the master's anger. As for the stewardship, as long as we win back the master's favor, we won't have to worry about getting it back.
Her tone softened, "Yes, I am already content as long as I can stay by your side, sir. I dare not ask for anything else. If you have any questions, please come to me, and I will do my best to cooperate."
Jiang Zhengting's expression indeed softened.
As long as things are harmonious in the inner quarters and nothing untoward happens, he won't care who suffers.
Jiang Zhi also put on a show of politeness, saying, "Then thank you very much, Aunt Ru."
＊
It was already late when Jiang Zhi returned to Chuntang Garden. She had just finished washing up and was about to lie down when she suddenly heard a very faint sound outside the window, like a pebble hitting the window frame.
Curious, she was about to push open the window to look when a black figure nimbly jumped through the window and landed lightly on the ground.
Jiang Zhi was startled and almost screamed, but she managed to suppress her scream when she saw who it was.
"Young Master Xie?"
Xie Qi must have rushed over in a hurry, still slightly out of breath. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Jiang Zhi standing unharmed in front of him.
"Thank goodness, Miss Jiang, you're alright."
He took the tea that Jiang Zhi handed him and drank it all in one gulp before continuing, "I heard that you had an accident at the flower viewing banquet and were taken away by Lu Yuan. I was afraid that you would suffer in the imperial prison, so I rushed there, but I only heard that you had already returned to the Jiang residence. So I had no choice but to sneak in at night."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I have already handed the earring over to Lord Lu," Jiang Zhi said truthfully, thinking that he was concerned about the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion. "I think it won't be long before the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion is severely weakened."
A smile appeared on her face. "I must thank Your Highness for your help in this matter. I will offer you tea instead of wine to express my gratitude."
She solemnly poured him a cup of tea.
"Miss Jiang, you flatter me," Xie Qi said, feeling a little embarrassed by her gesture, and touched the back of his neck shyly. "It was just a small favor."
Jiang Zhi said, "However, since Young Master Xie is here today, I happen to have something I'd like to ask you to investigate."
"What's up?"
Jiang Zhi frowned, somewhat troubled. "I don't have any evidence in my hands right now. This investigation might just be in vain, wasting Prince Xie's time and energy."
“Miss Jiang, there’s no need to worry,” Xie Qi said immediately. “With the war in the Northern Border suspended, I will be staying in the capital for quite some time. I’ll let my men pass the time when I have nothing to do, so please speak frankly, Miss Jiang, without any reservations.”
In fact, he had been so busy with military training that he hadn't had a moment to spare. He had just returned to the Marquis's residence today when he heard about the incident at the Jiang residence. He rushed over without even having dinner.
But to avoid making her feel guilty, telling a little lie wouldn't hurt.
“The mountains in the northern suburbs of Kyoto are continuous and the peaks are numerous. I suspect—” Jiang Zhi looked at Xie Qi, and Xie Qi understood and leaned closer. Jiang Zhi lowered her voice and continued, “I suspect that the Earl of Zhongqin’s mansion is raising a private army in the mountains outside the northern suburbs.”
Xie Qi's previously nonchalant expression immediately changed, his pupils dilating slightly. "Are you telling the truth?"
Jiang Zhi shook her head. "I don't have any evidence yet, and I won't tell you where this information came from. If Prince Xie is willing to believe it, then send people to investigate in the mountains. If not, then pretend I never mentioned it today. And whether you believe it or not, this matter must not be mentioned to any third party."
"this……"
Her words were so shocking that Xie Qi was momentarily stunned.
Keeping a private army could result in the confiscation of property or even the extermination of an entire clan. How many men in the Loyal and Diligent Earl's Mansion would dare to do such a thing?
What unsettled him even more was that neither he nor the Crown Prince had noticed the slightest clue.
Xie Qi's expression turned very serious. "I understand. I will send people to investigate secretly. However, the mountains in the northern suburbs stretch for thousands of miles. Even if they have really stationed troops there, it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. It may take at least half a year to get evidence."
"Alright, then I will wait here for news from the Crown Prince."
She needs to plan ahead and obtain evidence in order to deal with the upcoming storms.
But as soon as she finished speaking, a strange sound came from inside the room.
Jiang Zhi's gaze couldn't help but fall on Xie Qi's lower abdomen.
Xie Qi's face turned bright red, and he awkwardly touched his nose. "I was in a hurry when I came out and haven't had dinner yet."
Jiang Zhi pursed her lips, wanting to laugh, but stopped herself when she saw Xie Qi's embarrassed and annoyed expression. She got up and walked outside, asking Qing Xing to tell the small kitchen to make some late-night snacks.
A moment later, Qingxing knocked on the door.
To avoid making Xie Qi uncomfortable, Jiang Zhi didn't let Qingxing in, but told her to leave the late-night snack at the door and get it herself.
It was a small bowl of shredded chicken congee and a small dish of jadeite shumai.
Jiang Zhi said helplessly, "I am really sorry, please make do with this, Young Master Xie. It's so late and the kitchen really doesn't have much food left."
"Thank you, it's I who was rude." Xie Qi had no reason to be offended.
He picked up the bowl of porridge and gulped it down in one go. The shumai were even smaller and more delicate, and he swallowed them all in a few bites.
The physical exertion in the army is immense, and this little bit of food was gone before he could even taste it.
I wonder if this young lady Jiang Zhi is full after eating so little every day. No wonder she was so slender in the meditation room last time, with a waist so thin that he could wrap his arm around her with one hand.
His thoughts were racing, but he quickly realized something was wrong and stopped himself.
If I continue to have wild thoughts, I will truly be disrespectful to Miss Jiang.
Seeing that it was getting late and he had no reason to stay any longer, Xie Qi was about to get up and take his leave when Qingxing's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Miss, the young master is outside the door and says he wants to see you."
Jiang Zhi was stunned, and the veins on her forehead throbbed involuntarily.
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