Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1317: Chapter 1319: If He Doesn’t Care, Who Will?_1

Perhaps if not for all the events that had occurred today, the two wouldn’t be in such a mood, or maybe if Jiang Yichun hadn’t had so much to drink, he could have explained everything clearly. Unfortunately, both were holding onto some anger, and Bai Ruozhu was even more upset, striding ahead and returning directly to the Inn.

Although Jiang Yichun followed her all the way, not feeling at ease with her walking alone on the street, he was also irritable because of the black panther fur incident and didn’t talk much along the way.

Back at the Inn, Bai Ruozhu wanted to bring Jianqi and the others to meet Chu Hai, but upon reflection, since that guard had already suspected them, going to meet Chu Hai now would only expose his whereabouts.

Having had too much to drink, Jiang Yichun went back to his room and lay down immediately. Chenfeng and Muyu assumed Bai Ruozhu would prepare Hangover Soup for their master, so without asking, they didn’t realize their master had upset his lady, and the two were in the midst of a cold war.

Not long after Jiang Yichun fell asleep, Lian Jia arrived at the Inn with others, saying they needed to question Lady Bai.

Bai Ruozhu set aside her worries and met with Lian Jia alone, asking, ”How should I address you, sir? You seem to be someone from His Majesty’s side, right?”

”I am Lian Jia, a guard of His Majesty,” Lian Jia replied straightforwardly, then glanced behind Bai Ruozhu and asked, ”Isn’t your husband coming with you?”

”He had a few extra drinks with His Majesty and is currently asleep in the room. If you need to ask him anything, I’ll wake him up right now to come over,” Bai Ruozhu answered.

”There’s no need for that. He didn’t leave his seat during the feast so I won’t need to question him,” Lian Jia stated, squinting his eyes, trying to gauge Bai Ruozhu’s reaction to his words.

Bai Ruozhu feigned surprise, ”So, sir, are you inquiring because I left my seat? May I know what has happened?”

”His Majesty has lost a Jade Pendant. Although it’s not an item of immense value compared to a city, how could one casually steal from His Majesty? And Lady Bai happened to be away from her seat for a sizable duration. Could you perhaps explain?” Lian Jia said.

Bai Ruozhu’s face grew stern, ”Are you suspecting me of theft, Guard Lian? You should have heard that today I rendered the divine judgment, igniting the red incense, haven’t you? Would a person graced by the gods go back to steal?”

”Besides, His Majesty has praised me highly, if I truly fancied any Jade Pendant, I would simply ask His Majesty directly for it, why would I need to steal?” Bai Ruozhu continued.

”I’m merely conducting a routine inquiry. If I have offended Lady Bai, please accept my apology. I’m only asking why Lady Bai took so long in the restroom? And during that time, did you encounter anyone or see anything unusual?” Lian Jia remained unmoved by Bai Ruozhu’s interrogation and continued to ask by the book.

”Do I need to explain to Guard Lian how long I take in the restroom? The two palace maids who came looking for me saw where I came out from. Just ask them. As for encountering any strange people or events during that time? Isn’t that your Imperial Palace?” Bai Ruozhu said somewhat angrily.

Lian Jia still had a stern face, ”I heard from the palace maids that you were gone for quite some time; I think there would be enough time for you to visit another place, don’t you think?”

He stared intently at Bai Ruozhu, trying to spot any flaws on her face, but unfortunately, there wasn’t the slightest hint of panic on Bai Ruozhu’s face—only anger.

”Are you questioning my integrity? Does His Majesty also share this opinion?”

Unable to find anything suspicious, Lian Jia retracted his scrutinizing gaze and said, ”His Majesty is still intoxicated and has not awoken. These are merely my personal conjectures.”

Bai Ruozhu sneered, ”You guards really take too much upon yourselves, don’t you? Since His Majesty the King is still drunk and not yet sober, how can you be sure his Jade Pendant is lost? Perhaps he just put it away somewhere else, or maybe he casually gave it to someone in the palace? To suspect people so lightly like Master Lian does, I wonder how many would be wronged.”

Lian Jia was left speechless, unable to find the words to respond. He didn’t know how the King felt about Bai Ruozhu and the others, nor dared to say it was the King who had instructed him to investigate. Yet Bai Ruozhu had caught him out.

”Master Lian should wait until the King wakes up and ask him properly. It’s not good for a subordinate to take such liberties,” Bai Ruozhu finished and, without paying any more attention to Lian Jia, turned and returned to her own room.

Lian Jia didn’t get the answers he was looking for and didn’t dare to take any rash actions, so he could only arrange for people to keep watch near the Inn and return to the palace to wait for the King to sober up.

That evening, Jiang Yichun slept very heavily. Bai Ruozhu was angry with him and didn’t want to share a bed with him anymore, so she simply made do with a couple of chairs in the corner of the room to pass the night.

The next morning, Jiang Yichun woke up groggily, rubbing his head that ached from the hangover, and feeling the empty space beside him on the bed, his head buzzed, and he suddenly remembered the conflict they had the previous night.

He immediately sat up, wondering if Ruozhu had left in a huff.

He knew his wife well—though she was small in stature, she had a big temper, and indeed he had drunk too much the previous night and hadn’t paid attention to his tone, which made it seem like he was doubting her.

Yet thinking of the way Sangta looked at Bai Ruozhu, and the black leopard fur on her person from the day before, made him feel suffocated with unease.

Turning his head, he finally saw Ruozhu, uncomfortable and curled up on the chairs in the corner of the room. His frown relaxed into a helpless, bitter smile; this little woman really knew how to make a scene.

She must have had a bad dream or was just uncomfortable sleeping that way; her brow was slightly furrowed, and her body shrank a little. Jiang Yichun’s heart softened at the sight—to the end, she was his woman, and even if they had fought, there was no reason to let her suffer.

He tiptoed over, picked her up with extremely gentle movements, carefully walked back to the bed, and gently set her down on it.

He lay down next to her, on the outer side of the bed, and then his long fingers worked to smooth the wrinkles between her brows. She seemed disturbed by this, grunting twice irritably, and turned around, presenting the back of her head to him.

Jiang Yichun shook his head with a smile, still so feisty even in her sleep; he didn’t know how she would act angry with him when she woke up—he sure had some coaxing to do.

After lying beside her for a while, he quietly got out of the Room and inquired about the events of the previous night.

”Last night, the King’s guard came to interrogate the Madam on where she had gone during the banquet, claiming that the King had lost his personal Jade Pendant, but in the end, the Madam sent him away,” Chilly Wind reported in a low voice, ”But he has stationed people to watch near the Inn. We may need to be more cautious in the next few days.”

Just thinking about Bai Ruozhu leaving the banquet for a prolonged period, Jiang Yichun’s expression grew cold. He was certain that Bai Ruozhu had come into contact with that black leopard, and wasn’t that leopard Sangta’s?

”Furthermore, Young Master Chu Hai hasn’t returned all night, and it’s unclear where he has gone,” Chilly Wind continued.

”Oh?” Jiang Yichun rubbed his aching forehead again. He really shouldn’t have drunk so much yesterday. ”Did the Madam say anything?”