Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1442: Chapter 1443: I’m Not Worthy of Her_1

It took Bai Ruozhu a good while before she could catch her breath, and she said with some anxiety, ”Achun, stop messing around, now is not the time...”

Before she could finish her words, he silenced her with a kiss, pushing the rest of her protest back down her throat until all that was left were soft whimpers.

His kisses slowly pulled away her consciousness, and as he felt her gradually relax, he released one of her hands and began to undo her clothes. However, her hand immediately pushed back against him, expressing her displeasure.

”Achun, I’m really not in the mood right now...” Again her words were cut off as he, less gently this time, tore her thin shirt with a ripping sound.

His kisses rained down wildly as he pinned her beneath him, allowing no protest or distraction before frantically taking from her over and over until she was too weary to keep her eyes open and fell into a deep sleep...

The sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten, and he wore a sly smile that added a devilishly charming air to his handsome face.

”This method still works best, making you sleep soundly,” he said before turning toward her shoulder, where the skin was whiter than snow, her black hair messily scattered on it, weaving a primitive temptation with the contrast of black and white.

But beneath that contrast, there was a tiny pink scar, looking like a mischievous bug nestled under her enticing collarbone.

He carefully brushed away her hair and gently touched the wound, a wound that was perilously close to her heart. Just a little closer, and his sword would have ended her life.

With a pained look in his eyes, he bent down to kiss her scar, knowing he would spend a lifetime trying to soothe it, to make it up to her.

Noticing the hour was getting late, he got up and dressed in his officer’s robe – it was time to attend the morning court.

”Today, do not disturb the lady. Let her sleep until she wakes naturally. Prepare some bird’s nest porridge for her, and make sure she eats it all when she does wake,” Jiang Yichun instructed Nanny Zhang.

”Yes,” Nanny Zhang replied, suppressing a giggle. She had heard the commotion from the room earlier. Perhaps the master and lady would soon have another child?

At the morning court session, Jiang Yichun reported on the situation in the epidemic area, including the discovery of the county official Ma Jun exploiting the locals and the widespread collusion near the border of the Western Regions.

In the court, many ministers insisted that such matters should not be tolerated. The emperor immediately appointed an imperial envoy to inspect the situation. Aside from dealing with Ma Jun and others who had already been handled, the goal was to root out the malaise in the Southwest.

Afterwards, the emperor commended Jiang Yichun, saying, ”Elder Jiang, you have worked hard on this assignment and have done exceedingly well. I hereby promote you to the rank of Upper Third Rank General. How does that sound?”

Below, there was an uproar; probably there had never been such a young Upper Third Rank General until now.

This time, everyone looked toward Elder Jiang Ge, as he was always keen to find fault with his grandson and would surely argue that he was too young or his merits insufficient.

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Elder Jiang Ge sat quietly, head bowed, saying nothing!

Jiang Yichun glanced at Elder Jiang Ge, then turned to the emperor, noticing a smug look in the latter’s eyes.

”Your Majesty, historically, the rank of Upper Third Rank General in our dynasty has been earned through military merits. Although Elder Jiang’s achievements are not negligible, they are not military merits,” said Ma Tongfang, the General of the Southern Defense, who had been called back to the Capital City.

”General Ma is mistaken,” Xue Wenhui, well aware of the emperor’s intent, smartly stepped forward to speak. ”Elder Jiang has foiled the spies’ evil plans this time, and has saved the people of the Southwest and Northwest from the scourge of plague. How is this contribution any different from military merits?”

The Ministry of Rites’ Vice Minister Bai Guanghe also stood up and said, ”When the enemy country openly wages war against us, naturally the army is there to resist, and the soldiers can accumulate military merits. But now that the enemy country is using such treacherous tactics to attack Danliang, and Mr. Jiang braves life and danger to enter the most plague-stricken areas to deal with the enemy and treat the people, his merit is no less than that of military merits.”

Ma Tongfang, being a military man, was not obstinate or self-righteous either. Hearing everyone speak like this, he no longer spoke out.

The Emperor immediately issued a Holy Edict to promote Jiang Yichun to a Third-Rank General among other generals and the Deputy Commander of Jinyiwei. Jiang Yichun received the decree with thanks and garnered quite a few congratulations from his colleagues.

After leaving the morning court, the Emperor summoned Jiang Yichun and asked, ”How is Ms. Bai’s learning coming along?”

Jiang Yichun, thinking of Bai Ruozhu’s nearly crazed state in the wee hours and those bloodshot eyes that looked as possessed by demons, couldn’t help but darken his expression.

”She is almost maddened, practicing without eating or sleeping,” he said coldly.

The Emperor sighed, patted his shoulder, and said, ”Go back and watch over her.” His voice paused before he added, ”I used to think that Ms. Bai was not worthy of you, but now it seems I was the one who was short-sighted.”

”It’s only that I’m unworthy of her,” Jiang Yichun replied.

The Emperor was taken aback; he knew Jiang Yichun was not one to speak pleasantries. Seeing his serious expression, he realized just how important Bai Ruozhu was in his heart.

Thinking of the two of them harmonizing like a zither and lute, advancing and retreating together, the Emperor felt a tinge of jealousy. Born extraordinary, he was never meant to truly like anything, and even if he did, he had to keep it hidden, not letting anyone know.

...

Jiang Yichun returned to the Bai Residence and found Bai Ruozhu still deep in sleep. He checked her pulse; her body was alright, just severely fatigued, in need of proper rest and relaxation.

Relieved, he took Dengdeng to the main house to pay respects to the elders.

Soon, the palace sent over the rewards. Bai Zepei informed the family about Jiang Yichun’s promotion. Bai Yihong was particularly pleased, incessantly praising the young and promising Jiang Yichun. He even said that a wine feast should be held at noon to celebrate.

While they were discussing, a servant came to report that Lin Xufei and others had come to visit, to congratulate Jiang Yichun on his promotion.

Jiang Yichun personally welcomed these friends in. They clamored for a feast, and it was then that Leng Bin noticed Bai Ruozhu’s absence and quickly asked, ”Where is your wife? She also made great contributions in managing the plague, why not call her to join in the celebrations?”

”She has received the Imperial Decree to prepare medicines, and with the pressing deadline, she is shut in the yard concocting medications. When she’s less busy in a few days, we’ll make up for it and invite everyone over,” Jiang Yichun found an excuse to say.

”Ruozhu truly is an extraordinary woman unlike any other. We all admire her, and it’s no wonder, Brother Jiang, you once burst into anger for such a beauty,” Lin Xufei said with a big laugh, while everyone knew he was referring to the incident during the Eight Academy Competition where Jiang Yichun had brought two hundred soldiers to surround the testing ground, forcing those people to apologize to Bai Ruozhu.

Everyone laughed. Jiang Yichun too had a smile on his face, ”How can I let others bully my wife?”

The laughter grew even louder. Speaking such words with such a serious expression made the others feel admiring. Would they not blush and feel somewhat embarrassed in his shoes?

Lin Ping’er helped them set up the wine feast. A group of friends chatted and drank merrily, and soon the conversation turned to Bai Zepei’s marriage prospects.

”Zepei, what do you think of my daughter Wanhua?” Leng Bin, after having had a few extra drinks, asked outright.