Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2286: Chapter 2285: The Last Merfolk to Appear

”Second Brother, what have you been busy with? We returned to the Capital City and you didn’t hurry back? Don’t you care about our parents?” Bai Ruozhu asked with a dissatisfied look.

Unexpectedly, Bai Zepei’s face darkened and he said, ”I was just drinking with some colleagues at Feixian Building, and I came back immediately after hearing the servant’s message.”

Upon hearing the three words ”Feixian Building,” Si Yihuan’s face turned ashen, and Bai Ruozhu immediately understood that Feixian Building was definitely a brothel.

”Ruozhu, how long are you staying this time? I’ve been feeling exhausted recently. Why don’t we go live in the manor in the Suburb of the Capital for a few days?” Si Yihuan suddenly suggested.

Bai Ruozhu understood she was sulking with her Second Brother and also wanted to avoid those beauties sent to their doorstep. As long as she didn’t accept them, the Second Brother wouldn’t be angry, right?

”Ruozhu, you should go to the Palace to meet the Emperor,” Bai Zepei reminded unhappily from the side.

”Second Brother, Achun will enter the Palace this afternoon. After he returns, I’ll see if Ming Yue needs to visit the Palace. Has Concubine Le been brought to the Capital City yet?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”Just entered the Capital not long ago; she seems to have caught a cold.” Bai Zepei didn’t know much about happenings in the Harem either.

Bai Ruozhu nodded and glanced secretly at Si Yihuan. Were these two really going to keep on sulking?

She had never thought her Second Brother would have such an childish side. They say people in love are fools; her Second Brother is the same, right?

”By the way, I just saw that Lao Wan,” Bai Ruozhu said with a mischievous smile.

Bai Zepei’s expression turned even uglier. ”What’s so nice to see? Such people shouldn’t be let in.”

”She said she’s always admired Second Brother and has long decided on you. She’s willing to be either a concubine, a handmaid, or a maidservant.” Bai Ruozhu spoke, sneaking a glance at Si Yihuan, who indeed became nervous. She probably didn’t want to go live in the manor outside the Capital anymore.

”I didn’t expect Second Brother to be so charming. A true scholar’s reputation precedes him.”

Bai Zepei glared fiercely at Bai Ruozhu, signaling her to stop talking nonsense.

Bai Ruozhu pretended not to see, continuing, ”Second Brother didn’t throw her out; is it because you like this kind of ’fragrant sleeve’ mood?”

”Bai Ruozhu!” Bai Zepei was really angry this time. ”Stop talking nonsense, get ready to eat.”

Oh, now he was acting like an elder brother, Bai Ruozhu snickered quietly and said, ”Later, I’ll introduce you to some friends we met along the way.”

Soon, Gao Zhou brought Fo Lanying and the others over for dinner. Bai Ruozhu introduced both parties to each other. Si Yihuan was a bit surprised when she saw Fo Lanying, but once she realized Fo Lanying was with Yuan Licheng, she was relieved.

However, she liked Yizi a bit more, whereas Qiu Zhi could chat with Bai Zepei. Bai Zepei asked some questions about Daoism, and the two chatted very happily.

It wasn’t until after dinner that Jiang Yichun still hadn’t returned. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but be worried, but fortunately, not long after, Jiang Yichun finally returned. He greeted everyone, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then accompanied Bai Ruozhu back to their yard.

Entering the yard, Jiang Yichun sighed, ”It’s been a long time since I’ve returned to this room, and fortunately, nothing has changed.”

Bai Ruozhu rested her head on his shoulder and asked, ”How did things go in the Palace today?”

”The Emperor talked to me about many things. After seeing my secret letter before, he sent people to find many talented individuals and collected a lot of information for me.” Jiang Yichun said as he pulled out a stack of papers from his sleeve, densely packed with small script.

Bai Ruozhu took a look. It contained a lot of information about Merfolk, including where they had appeared before and a recent suspected appearance at North Mountain. Because the Merfolk are so mysterious and powerful, some people had developed covetous intentions. The former chief of the Yueqiu Tribe north of North Mountain had even attempted to capture Merfolk. Ultimately, the former chief died, but no one knew how the Merfolk had killed him, as his death was bizarre, as if he had died in a dream.

”Yueqiu Tribe?” Bai Ruozhu frowned slightly. ”Why does it sound familiar?”

”That’s the Yueqiu Tribe that Du Zhongshu joined as a strategist,” Jiang Yichun replied.

Bai Ruozhu had initially changed her impression of the Emperor slightly, but once Du Zhongshu was mentioned, she was filled with resentment again.

”Didn’t you ask the Emperor about Du Zhongshu?” she asked irritably.

”I did. The Emperor said that shortly after I left, Du Zhongshu represented the Yueqiu Tribe in surrendering. He didn’t trust them at first, but during a stalemate at the siege, the Yueqiu Tribe contributed significantly. The Emperor didn’t want people to think he was ungrateful.” Jiang Yichun answered.

Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips, ”Even if they contributed, appointing him as an official would suffice. Why make him a prince of a different surname? Isn’t that too much?”

The Emperor said it was the Yueqiu Tribe chief’s strong demand; he himself could forego any rewards, but Du Zhongshu must be made a prince. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to account to the Yueqiu Tribe’s people.” Jiang Yichun snorted, ”That Du Zhongshu has a firm hold over the Yueqiu Tribe.”

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t be bothered to talk about Du Zhongshu anymore and after thinking for a moment, she asked, ”Was the Merfolk last seen male or female? Where are they now? Are they with the Yueqiu Tribe?”

”These things the Shadow Guard are currently investigating, they should have news soon.” Jiang Yichun replied.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, having the Shadow Guard investigate would definitely be quicker than doing it themselves; this was for the best.

The two talked for a while, and Bai Ruozhu brought up the quarrel between her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law. Jiang Yichun immediately said seriously, ”If it were me, I’d definitely throw out such a woman. I’d never get mad at you.”

Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes at him, ”You better not speak; you have too many embarrassing stories. Who was the one who brought Jiao Bingqin back? There were rampant rumors outside, not to mention that female Shadow Guard Ling Xue, and those twin cousins of yours.”

Jiang Yichun was utterly disarmed by her jibes and could only raise his hands in surrender, ”My dear, I was wrong, okay? I won’t bring those things up again. Just watch my behavior from now on; those situations will never happen again.”

”As long as you know you were wrong. Now, I don’t want you to hold any official position in the court; without those constraints, you won’t have so many concerns.” Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but sigh, thinking back on the past.

Jiang Yichun hugged her tightly and whispered, ”The Emperor won’t force me either. I’ve told him the truth; my current task is to find a way to survive.”

Her heart suddenly ached intensely, and Bai Ruozhu turned abruptly and kissed him fervently to stop him from talking about his possible demise. She was determined to find a way for him to live a long life.

The kiss grew increasingly passionate, and in their long-unvisited room, the two entangled intensely, inseparably, deeply possessing each other, both wanting to engrave each other into their very bones...