Youthful Glory

Shuzhen was the town closest to the capital in Hezhou. Though small in size, it bustled with merchants and travelers, exuding a lively atmosphere.

When Jiang Xu and Ming Tan arrived at night, the main street was still brightly lit with various stalls lining the sides—vendors selling wonton soup, scalded noodles, and flatbreads. Passersby sat on low stools by the stalls, eating heartily with evident relish.

Jiang Xu had stayed here before and led Ming Tan directly to the town’s best inn.

"Honored guests, will you be dining or staying the night?" A waiter with a cleaning cloth draped over his shoulder eagerly ushered them inside.

Jiang Xu stepped over the threshold. "Staying."

"Right this way, then," the waiter hurriedly guided them toward the counter. "Innkeeper, these two guests wish to stay!"

"One superior room, one night."

Before the innkeeper could speak, Jiang Xu handed over a silver ingot.

"Ah, excellent! Our kitchen serves food and wine until the hour of Hai. If you'd like anything, just let the waiter know, and we'll have it sent to your room." The innkeeper, noting their refined appearance and dignified bearing, knew they were patrons who could afford to spend, and his manner grew even more enthusiastic.

Jiang Xu gave a slight nod and followed the waiter upstairs with Ming Tan.

Though this inn was considered the best in town, it paled in comparison to the capital’s establishments. Even the superior room was far from meeting Ming Tan’s standards.

This alone wouldn’t have been an issue, but Ming Tan had never stayed outside before. Even when visiting Lingmiao Temple, she had all the furnishings in the guest quarters replaced with her own belongings.

At first, she thought she could adapt. But after dinner and washing up, lying on the bed, she found herself unable to sleep.

Her body seemed to reject the unfamiliar bedding, leaving her tense and uncomfortable all over.

Moreover, after riding hard all day, the jolting motion of the horse had left the inside of her thighs chafed and burning from the saddle. She wasn’t sure if the skin was broken or if the bruising was simply unsightly, but the pain mixed with an irritating itch had made her too embarrassed to bathe properly earlier—she had only wiped herself down with warm water.

"Trouble sleeping?" Jiang Xu asked.

Ming Tan had intended to tell the truth, but remembering that her husband had specially ridden through the night to bring her here, she swallowed her complaints. "Just a bit unused to the bed. I’ll fall asleep soon. Husband, you should rest too."

Seeing her obediently close her eyes, Jiang Xu asked no further.

Ming Tan maintained steady, even breaths, enduring the discomfort through the night. By the early hours, she could barely hold on. In her drowsy state, she faintly sensed the person beside her rise for a while—

Meanwhile, Shu Jingran watched in astonishment as Jiang Xu abandoned his companions without a word, riding off into the night with his wife. It was truly an eye-opener.

What exactly was going on with Jiang Qizhi? Every time he mentioned his consort, he seemed dismissive and indifferent. Yet every encounter Shu Jingran witnessed was utterly baffling.

The guards had gone to gather firewood and kindling, and Yun Yi had disappeared for quite some time. Just as Shu Jingran snapped out of his thoughts and asked his attendant where Miss Yun was, she returned with several fish skewered on a branch.

"Miss Yun, what is this?" he asked hesitantly.

Yun Yi looked at him frankly. "Grilling fish."

Shu Jingran was momentarily stunned. He had meant to say that his carriage carried dry rations and pastries—there was no need for such rough fare. But Yun Yi had already plopped down cross-legged by the fire, placing the cleaned river fish over the flames and turning them steadily to roast.After standing awkwardly for a while, he finally found a clean spot and sat down opposite Yun Yi.

"I heard that Miss Yun is now the Lord's concubine?" he carefully broached the subject.

Yun Yi kept her eyes on the grilled fish as she nodded.

"What does Miss Yun usually do in the residence?"

Yun Yi looked up at him. "Protect Her Highness."

"..."

Of course he knew it was to protect Her Highness—he had subtly inquired about this from Jiang Xu before, though he hadn't dared to ask too much.

So he wasn't clear whether Yun Yi was merely performing guard duties under the title of concubine, or if she had to fulfill both roles.

Yun Yi focused on flipping the fish and added, "But the residence is heavily guarded. When Her Highness doesn't go out, there's no need for me. I usually practice martial arts or occasionally go on missions."

"Then... does your Lord and Her Highness treat you well?"

Yun Yi nodded naturally. "Her Highness treats me very well. Whenever she makes something delicious, she always sets aside a portion for my courtyard. She even increased my monthly allowance so I can buy food outside. Hmm... she also often sends me clothes and jewelry, though I'm not used to wearing those clothes—they don't look even a fraction as good on me as they do on Your Highness..."

Listening to her go on and on about Her Highness without mentioning the Lord at all, Shu Jingran seemed to understand something. He followed her lead and discreetly asked a few more questions to confirm his thoughts.

Yun Yi was straightforward, answering whatever was asked. But halfway through, she suddenly stopped and gave Shu Jingran a strange look. "Second Young Master Shu, why are you asking me so much about Her Highness?"

"...?"

When had he been asking about Her Highness? Wasn't it her who kept steering every topic back to Her Highness?

Yun Yi had already constructed a complete logic in her mind and suddenly spoke earnestly, "Second Young Master Shu, I heard you're good friends with the Master and a well-read scholar. Then you should know the saying: 'Don't covet a friend's wife.'

"Though I don't know why Her Highness asked me to save you back then or why she praised you as the most handsome man in the capital, the Lord and Her Highness are deeply in love. It's best if you don't entertain any improper thoughts. You know the Master's temper—if you keep this up, you'll not only harm yourself but also Her Highness."

"No, no, Shu has no such improper thoughts. Miss Yun, you misunderstand—"

"If it's a misunderstanding, then that's for the best."

Yun Yi stood up. The fish was already grilled, and she had planned to share one with Shu Jingran. But now, she felt this man, hiding behind his friendship with the Lord while secretly coveting Her Highness, didn't deserve any fish. So as she spoke, she took the fish back.

Shu Jingran stood up to explain, but for the first time, he felt the absurd frustration of having a mouth yet not knowing where to begin.

Early the next morning, the group who had camped at the stone pavilion set off. Jiang Xu and Ming Tan, having finished breakfast, also prepared to continue their journey.

Before their night ride, Jiang Xu had instructed Yun Yi to meet them directly in Pengcheng, Hezhou.

Pengcheng was the heart of Hezhou, its most prosperous city. Due to its proximity to the capital, many wealthy families who didn't hold official positions in the capital had settled there.

Ming Tan, wearing a newly purchased veil hat, sat on horseback. Having barely slept the night before, she was in low spirits and leaned weakly against Jiang Xu's chest.On the road, she absentmindedly recalled something—Ming Chu had married into the Hezhou region, hadn’t she? The Xuanwei General’s residence seemed to be located in Pengcheng, Hezhou.

After Ming Chu’s marriage, Ming Tan had not seen her again. She had only heard from Madam Pei that her husband often wrote to their father and had even been promoted in the Hezhou military camp this year. As for Ming Chu, there had been little news.

By the time they arrived in Pengcheng in the evening, Shu Jingran and his party had taken a shortcut and arrived half an hour earlier.

Pengcheng had a restaurant under the Lord’s estate. Upon arriving, Ming Tan struggled to dismount.

Her thighs had already been chafed raw the day before, and after riding for most of the day again, though not as swiftly as yesterday, she felt as though her legs no longer belonged to her.

She barely maintained a dignified and composed demeanor as she followed Jiang Xu inside. However, to Shu Jingran and Yun Yi, who were dining by the second-floor window, the sight took on a different meaning.

“What’s wrong with your Consort? She seems to be walking a bit strangely.”

Yun Yi replied expressionlessly, “Second Young Master Shu might not understand—this is a sign of the Lord and Consort’s affection.”

Truthfully, she hadn’t understood it either at first. But after Aunt Fang’s earnest teachings and the suggestive gossip among the servants, she had come to grasp quite a bit.

Shu Jingran was momentarily speechless. He had wanted to ask how she knew so much, but then realized the more alarming fact was that he himself had suddenly understood the implication.

Recently, he had been transferred to the Ministry of Works and had no choice but to attend a few social gatherings with his colleagues.

Unlike the refined scholars he had associated with before, most of his colleagues in the Ministry of Works were older and saw no need to maintain a virtuous image in front of him. Their conversations were often crude and unrestrained, and without realizing it, he had been forced to gain some insight into matters between men and women.

The two of them stared at each other.

Yun Yi was the type who would never feel awkward unless others did. After a moment of silent confrontation, it was Shu Jingran who yielded uncomfortably, setting down his chopsticks and making an excuse to leave.

After dinner, Jiang Xu went to Shu Jingran’s room to discuss matters. Seizing the opportunity, Ming Tan bathed, applied medicine, and had the bedding and soft quilts brought from the carriage laid out before collapsing into a deep sleep.

In Shu Jingran’s room—

“Any leads on Zhou Baoping’s case?” Shu Jingran asked as he poured wine.

“Last night, Zhuiying sent word—the Su family is also searching for what Zhou Baoping left behind.”

“The Su family too… Then it must be evidence of the Maritime Trade Bureau’s secret deductions.” Shu Jingran pondered for a moment before glancing at Jiang Xu. “I thought you insisted on traveling overnight to Shuzhen for your Consort’s sake. Turns out it was to meet Zhuiying.”

He knew this trip was not particularly low-key, nor had they rushed relentlessly, because it was all a facade.

Days earlier, Jiang Xu had already dispatched the Jinyun Guard to Lingzhou to investigate Zhou Baoping’s sudden death in secret.

As for their own party, staying inconspicuous was impossible—they had been shadowed since departure.

Suddenly recalling something, Shu Jingran deduced with sudden realization, “So you deliberately… with your Consort to make the spies think you were impatient and lustful, hence the overnight journey to Shuzhen?”

“What?” Jiang Xu abruptly looked up.

“But you’ve been too rough on your Consort—she can barely walk.” Feeling it was rather improper, Shu Jingran awkwardly and tactfully reminded him, “In my opinion, it’s best not to use your Consort as a cover in the future. If word spreads, it could harm her reputation.”

Barely able to walk.

Jiang Xu paused briefly.Shu Jingran awkwardly offered a few more words of admonishment.

Jiang Xu seemed to vaguely grasp something and impatiently tapped his mute acupoint. Rising to his feet, he cast him a glance and uttered coldly, "Utter nonsense."