Filled with love, Nan Xuzong stepped forward and said, "Wu Shang."
"You're back?" Ji Wushang immediately stood up from the stool, then raised the long robe in his hand and stepped forward. "Cong, come, see if it fits!"
"It will definitely fit perfectly." Nan Xuzong smiled, his face beaming with joy.
"That's not necessarily true. Look at you, you've been so busy lately, you've really been enjoying yourself!" Ji Wushang said with a hint of helplessness.
"I think it's my wife who's lost weight," Nan Xuzong said, standing there obediently. Ji Wushang stepped forward and draped the robe over his shoulders to compare. "I'm fine, I'm trying to eat more," Nan Xuzong said with a smile. "By the way, how's the court?"
"As you guessed, with the Crown Prince deposed, Huangfu Ting is now in charge of the affairs of Prince Lin and the Crown Prince. Huangfu Ting must be overjoyed. He has finally been given an important position, and the streets and alleys are filled with praise for his merits. It's a wonderful thing!"
"Heh, let him be happy for a while! Otherwise, he won't even have time to cry later!" Ji Wushang sneered.
“I’m worried he won’t know how to restrain himself.”
"That's exactly what we need! He wants the position of Crown Prince, so we should put it in front of him, but just when he tries to accept it, we should throw it to the ground. That would be much more fun!" Ji Wushang sneered.
"That's good." Nan Xuzong nodded. "Stop making robes for me all the time. Why don't you make yourself a decent outfit?"
"I... I'm perfectly fine with these things," Ji Wushang said. "Don't you like them?"
“I really like it, but I’m worried you’ll overwork yourself,” Nan Xuzong said. “If you can listen to me, then you should rest well and not overwork yourself.”
"I will." Ji Wushang folded his robe back up and put it in his arms. He walked to the table and sat down on the stool. "Cong, are you free this afternoon?"
"What? You tell me, you don't have to give in to me." Nan Xuzong stepped forward and embraced her. "My wife is important."
"Then, I want to go back to the General's Mansion. I want to see my grandmother, mother, and sister-in-law. I wonder how they are doing now."
"Come on, let me take you for a walk. It's been a while since I've taken you out, you must be feeling a bit bored." Nan Xuzong was very considerate.
Immediately, someone was sent to inform the people at the General's Mansion that Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong would be visiting them at the General's Mansion that afternoon.
After having lunch, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong boarded the carriage together and walked down the street.
But to their surprise, not long after leaving the mansion, they saw someone rushing out from the street, crying, "Big brother, sister-in-law, save me, save me!"
The guards and maids traveling with them were extremely surprised, but without orders from Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, they naturally continued driving the carriage.
Ji Wushang recognized the voice as Nan Zaiqing's. What had happened? Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes, showing no intention of paying any attention.
Ji Wushang slightly opened the carriage curtain and looked at the disheveled woman who was trying to chase the carriage. Her face was so dirty that it was impossible to tell who she was. She was dressed in coarse and tattered clothes. It was hard to imagine that she was once a noble lady from a royal family!
"Move the carriage slowly so I can hear what's going on, but don't let anyone get close, understand?" Ji Wushang ordered Leng.
"Yes," everyone immediately replied.
Ji Wushang smirked. In her past life, Nan Zaiqing had married into a good family, while she herself had met a tragic end! Everything was different in this life! She wanted to see if Nan Zaiqing's fate would follow her plan, leading her step by step to death!
Nan Zaiqing recognized the carriage from the Prince Zong's residence as belonging to Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang. He stumbled and fell as he tried to crash into it, screaming, "Help me! Help me!"
"Save you? You wretched woman, you married me and you still don't know how to manage a household, do you? I'll beat you to death, beat you to death!" Just then, a fat pig-headed man with a pig-slaughtering knife and a face full of fat, caught up from behind. He held the knife in one hand and grabbed Nan Zaiqing's hair with the other, dragging her to the ground. Nan Zaiqing had no choice but to kneel down.
The man immediately slapped her several times, saying, "You stinking woman, you're still complaining about everything after marrying me! Don't you even look at your own face? You're already an ugly hag, and you still want to climb up to some big shot?" He then slapped her several more times, until her face was swollen and her head was ringing.
Nan fell to the ground, blood still in her mouth, glaring at the butcher in front of her with resentment. "I hate you! Damn it, if my father knew I was being bullied, he would definitely kill you!"
"Hmph, you're my wife now, where else do you think you're going! Come with me, I'm going to play with you, and when I'm tired of you, I'll sell you to a brothel for some money for drinks!" The butcher grabbed Nan Zaiqing by the hair and dragged her backward.
Those around could only watch and could not intervene. In the patriarchal Zhou Dynasty, family affairs were the business of others, and outsiders were absolutely not allowed to interfere; otherwise, they would be guilty. Naturally, they retreated and dared not step forward.
Nan Zaiqing immediately cried out, "Big brother, sister-in-law, save me, save me! It's me, Zaiqing! Zai...ah!" Several more slaps landed on her. "I'll teach you to call for help! I'll teach you to call for help!" The butcher knew a bit about this woman's family background, so he didn't dare to linger. Seeing that she was still desperately trying to cry for help, he hardened his heart and immediately chopped Nan Zaiqing's neck with a chop!
Nan Zaiqing immediately fainted and fell to the ground.
The butcher snorted coldly and glared angrily at the people around him, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen someone disciplining a lowly wife before?"
People around them might point and whisper, but they would quickly move away.
Upon seeing this, the butcher immediately hoisted Nan Zaiqing onto his shoulder and walked out of the city with a cold snort.
On the carriage.
Ji Wushang smiled, finally finding some peace and quiet. He looked at Nan Zaiqing, who was perched on the butcher's shoulder, with disdain in his eyes.
Nan Zaiqing's ending was actually nothing special. Compared to her older sisters, it was already considered good, wasn't it?
Ji Wushang lowered the curtain. "Go to General Ji's residence immediately."
☆、282 Wu Shang, wait for me, remember to wait for me! (Amazing!)
The servants outside who were driving the carriage responded and hurried off to General Ji's residence.
Just as Ji Wushang was about to check Nan Xuzong's expression, Nan Xuzong's large hand had already wrapped around Ji Wushang's waist, pulling her into his embrace. "Is that enough? If not, would you like some more?"
Ji Wushang was taken aback, then immediately understood. She adjusted her angle and looked at his face from below his chin. "Alright, let it be! Actually, this matter is perfect, and I can finally put my mind at ease."
"That's good. I often worry that you're living too hard, because you're carrying just as much burden as I am." Nan Xuzong's large hand stroked her dark hair gently. "In this world, I dare say that I'm the one who understands you the most, but I'm also the one who understands your heart the least."
“You understand me very well, and you understand my heart. On the contrary, I feel that I don’t understand you very well. I can’t see your heart. It’s like there’s something missing that I can’t explain.” Ji Wushang placed his hand on his chest, then pressed his head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“My heart has always been beating for you.” He said, his thin lips moving slightly. “You say you can’t understand my heart because you’ve always lived in my heart.”
Ji Wushang smiled as he listened. Sometimes, the things he said could really spoil him rotten.
She leaned forward and kissed his thin lips. "Thank you."
Nan Xuzong remained silent, simply holding her in his arms.
Upon arriving at General Ji's residence, the two met with Madam Qin and Mo Qiqi, and then went to the Jingyuan Villa to pay their respects to the matriarch of the family.
Everything is fine in the General's Mansion; there's nothing to worry about. Madam Qin and Mo Qiqi are taking care of each other, and they've also arranged for better maids and the manor doctor to help look after the Old Madam.
After chatting for a few cups of tea in the general's mansion, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong took their leave and returned home.
As they passed by the September Pavilion, Ji Wushang stopped, feeling a pang of emotion. Nan Xuzong smiled and embraced her, saying, "Why don't we go upstairs and have some snacks to rest? We can return to the manor later."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded, touched, a smile playing on his lips. He truly was the one who understood him best!
Upon entering the restaurant, one finds that the September Pavilion is already bustling with people eating and drinking, enjoying themselves immensely. Some are shouting loudly, others are whispering quietly—all sorts of people are there. This ground floor is truly a place of tranquility.
Ji Wushang smiled and was led upstairs by Nan Xuzong. Unexpectedly, he heard a number of ordinary people talking at the bottom of the stairs.
"It was rumored this morning that the Crown Prince had cursed the Emperor with a plot to rebel, and was subsequently deposed and forced to flee. The Second Prince was tasked with capturing the Crown Prince! And just now, the Second Prince swiftly brought the fleeing Crown Prince to justice! It turns out that Prince Lin was also killed by the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince was framed!"
"Oh? Really? Your Highness is truly remarkable, handling things so quickly. It's a blessing for us common people!"
"Isn't that right? I heard that it was the Second Prince who led the men in time last night that was able to severely injure the Crown Prince! The deposed Crown Prince is probably already suffering the extreme punishment of being torn apart by five horses on the training ground!"
"That's what they deserve! I really don't understand how someone could be like that!"
"Judging from the current situation, I think the position of Crown Prince should belong to the Second Prince in the future!"
"That's not necessarily true. It could be the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince!"
"I also support the Fourth Prince! I've heard that the Fourth Prince is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and is also kind and gentle. I feel that the position of Crown Prince should belong to him!"
"You don't know, the Fourth Prince's heart is not in court, but longs to return home on a crane!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang stopped listening and personally led Nan Xuzong upstairs by the hand. Looking at him, Nan Xuzong showed absolutely no change in expression, as if the people discussing him hadn't even mentioned his brother, nor himself.
Ji Wushang looked at him without saying anything, knowing that he probably didn't care much about what others said. In fact, the most important thing in life is the path you walk yourself, isn't it?
Having figured it out, Ji Wushang pulled him to sit down and casually ordered a waiter to bring out a few snacks.
“The Second Prince has already begun to win the hearts of the people,” Ji Wushang said. “Such remarks will inevitably reach Father Emperor’s ears.”
Nan Xuzong poured her a glass of wine, and then poured one for himself. "It's alright. These seemingly wonderful things are full of praise, but if they reach the emperor's ears, it may not be a good thing."
“That’s true. It’s enough to anesthetize the Second Prince.” Ji Wushang raised his wine cup and chuckled at Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong also picked up his wine glass and gently touched it to Ji Wushang's glass before drinking it.
"The Second Prince dragged the Crown Prince out so quickly, he must have felt quite pleased with himself. But in the end, it was all a dream. Hehe, how wonderful." Nan Xuzong chuckled, looking at the wine cup in his hand.
"Let him do more good deeds these few days; perhaps his sins will be lessened when he goes to hell," Ji Wushang said.
"Don't worry, in three days, everything will change again." Nan Xuzong placed a piece of meat near her lips. "Eat more."
Ji Wushang gently shook his head, "I haven't had much of an appetite lately, and I don't want to eat meat anymore, it's too greasy."
"I should take you to eat something light. Please wait a moment." Nan Xuzong immediately stood up and walked out, so fast that Ji Wushang couldn't stop him.
She had just stood up when Nan Xuzong walked back in. "Let me take a look at you." He came over and felt her pulse. Ji Wushang smiled slightly.
"It's alright, something light is fine." Nan Xuzong smiled. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, and why did you order so many dishes?"
“I don’t want to eat, but you still have to.” Ji Wushang smiled and pulled him to the table. Although he himself couldn’t eat the dishes, he still put a lot of food on his plate.
Love only needs to be ordinary and simple, with each other thinking about the other; it's really that simple.
With tenderness in his heart and a gentle gaze, Nan Xuzong pulled her onto his lap, saying, "With you, I have no regrets in this life."
“Me too.” Ji Wushang smiled.
At this moment, the waiter gently knocked on the door. Ji Wushang immediately got up, while Nan Xuzong smiled and said, "No need to be too nervous."
"We're outside, so be careful," Ji Wushang said, then went to open the door.
"Take all of these away and replace them with some lighter food," Nan Xuzong waved his hand.
"Yes." The waiter immediately responded, placed the congee that had just been served on the table, and quickly cleared away the other food.
Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Leave the braised pork, and also this lion's head meatball." He should at least eat some; why should he eat such bland food with me?
"Yes." The prince dotes on his imperial concubine to the heavens, so listening to her is definitely the right thing to do.
Nan Xuzong smiled and did not stop him.
After finishing her meal, Nan Xuzong was about to rest when she heard footsteps outside. She gently patted Ji Wushang's shoulder and said, "Wushang, I'll be right back. It'll only take me about three cups of tea."
"Okay, I'll wait for you." Ji Wushang smiled. "I'm a little sleepy too, so I'll take a rest."
"Okay, I'll have someone watch over you." Nan Xuzong nodded, picked up Ji Wushang, and carried her into the inner room. He placed her on the bed, smiled, and covered her with the blanket. "Get some rest."
"yes."
Nan Xuzong lowered the gauze curtain, walked out, and waved his hand to order all the shadows around him to come down and await orders. "Guard the Imperial Concubine. If even a hair on her head is harmed, they will all come to me with their heads."
"Yes," the shadows immediately replied.
Nan Xuzong waved his hand, and the shadowy figures immediately disappeared to carefully protect him.