Ch 109: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

The atmosphere in the room was so oppressive it felt suffocating. Ji Zhifei glanced at Qin Zhao, then at Gu Changzhou, who stood by the table. His sluggish and blank mind gradually comprehended the situation at hand.

He had provoked someone he absolutely should not have.

This Mr. Qin was clearly not the impoverished scholar he had assumed. On the contrary, his status was so high that even Gu Changzhou, a figure of influence in Jiangling’s textile industry, could only stand at his side in deference.

Who on earth was this man?!

It took Ji Zhifei a while to find his voice, which was hoarse and trembling. “You… Who are you?”

Qin Zhao closed the book in front of him, his gaze sweeping briefly over its plain and elegant cover. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Does it matter?”

It did matter, but for Ji Zhifei, it wasn’t the most critical issue at the moment.

What was clear, beyond any doubt, was that Gu Changzhou was under Qin Zhao’s command. And it was equally evident that Ji Zhifei had kicked a steel plate this time.

His mind raced as he forced himself to calm down.

The Ji family’s standing in Jiangling Prefecture was not on par with the Gu family’s, but it wasn’t something easily shaken either. Besides, this incident was merely over a small shop. Surely Gu Changzhou wouldn’t risk tearing his relationship with the Ji family apart over something so trivial.

He had been too naive earlier, but now that things had escalated to this point, what harm was there in admitting his fault and bowing his head?

Assessing the situation and acting accordingly—this was the most important lesson Ji Zhifei had learned over the years.

Quickly weighing the pros and cons, he closed his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, his expression was much calmer. “Mr. Qin, it was my ignorance and shortsightedness. I humbly ask for your forgiveness and hope you won’t hold this against me.”

He bent at the waist and performed a proper bow to Qin Zhao.

Above him, the other man’s voice rang out, “Alright.”

Ji Zhifei’s heart leaped with relief. He eagerly looked up, only to hear Qin Zhao continue, “Then you can go to the magistrate’s office now and confess that you hired an assassin.”

What kind of joke was this?!

“Mr. Qin, surely you’re joking with me?” Ji Zhifei forced a stiff smile. “Hiring an assassin? How could I admit to something I’ve never done?”

Qin Zhao simply sipped his tea, offering no response.

Ji Zhifei turned to Gu Changzhou, who stood beside him, and pleaded desperately, “Uncle Gu, please, say something on my behalf! How could I possibly have hired an assassin? It’s absolutely impossible!”

Gu Changzhou hesitated, his lips moving as though he wanted to speak, but in the end, he only let out a heavy sigh and averted his gaze.

“It’s fine,” Qin Zhao finally spoke, his tone calm. “If Young Master Ji doesn’t want to go, then don’t. I can offer you a second option.”

Qin Zhao’s voice remained steady. “At dawn tomorrow, all of the Ji family’s assets in the prefecture will be taken over. And every member of the Ji family—I hope they disappear from Jiangling completely, never to set foot here again.”

“You—!”

Ji Zhifei’s face drastically changed.

This wasn’t an opportunity; it was clearly a threat.

If he went to the magistrate’s office and confessed to hiring an assassin, there was only one outcome for Ji Zhifei: imprisonment, and potentially execution according to the law. But if he refused, the price would be the complete ruin of the Ji family.

This man… Was this man truly capable of going to such lengths?

All for a mere shop!

Even the faint, forced smile Ji Zhifei had been maintaining vanished. He took a deep breath, his voice low and heavy: “It seems Mr. Qin is convinced that I was behind this? Do you… have any evidence?”

There couldn’t possibly be evidence.

The people Ji Zhifei had hired were meticulous. Hitmen from the black market, accustomed to such dirty dealings, carried countless lives on their hands. They wouldn’t be caught so easily.

Besides, if the authorities had found any evidence, with the magistrate’s temperament, they would’ve already sent people to arrest him at the Ji residence.

How could it be this calm and quiet?

With this thought, Ji Zhifei felt a bit more at ease and continued, “You’re using the Ji family to threaten me into confessing. Aren’t you afraid I’ll go to the authorities and accuse you of deliberate slander?”

“Ji Zhifei!” Gu Changzhou’s voice dropped as he scolded him, “If you still value your life, you’ll do as Mr. Qin says!”

“He’s the one leaving me no way to live!” Ji Zhifei felt the blood rush to his head and shouted, “It’s just a small shop! Uncle Gu, hasn’t my father’s years of loyal service to you meant more than a shop?!”

“Fool!”

Gu Changzhou kicked Ji Zhifei in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Let me tell you, if not for your father’s sake, from the moment you provoked Madam Qin, you would’ve been dead already!”

Ji Zhifei froze, stunned.

“Changzhou, calm down,” Qin Zhao set down his teacup and looked down at Ji Zhifei, who was sitting on the ground in shock. “You’re right. I don’t have any evidence.”

“Precisely because of that, I’m willing to give you a choice.”

“Your Ji family has thirty people in total. If you don’t want all of them to die miserable deaths, I suggest you follow my instructions.”

“You… You…” Ji Zhifei’s face turned pale, his lips trembling. “Is there no law anymore?!”

Qin Zhao asked coldly, “When you schemed to seize a shop and hired someone to kill an innocent person, did you ever consider the law?”

Ji Zhifei didn’t answer.

He had always thought that everything he did was just for a small shop. It had never crossed his mind that in doing so, he had taken a life and destroyed a family.

In this world, how could human life become so cheap and insignificant? How did things come to this?

Ji Zhifei’s vision blurred, his head buzzing with a ringing noise. He saw a figure approach and help him up.

“Zhifei, listen to Uncle Gu,” Gu Changzhou said. “Go to the authorities and confess your actions. Only by doing so can the Ji family remain safe.”

Ji Zhifei stared blankly at Gu Changzhou.

He tried to discern any hint of intimidation or coercion in the man’s face, but there was none. Gu Changzhou’s expression held only pity and helplessness.

In this room, he was no longer the one holding the Ji family’s fate, nor did he have the authority to decide whether to forgive him.

Ji Zhifei trembled uncontrollably. His gaze slowly shifted to the man behind the desk. In a daze, he found himself repeating the question he had asked earlier: “You… Who exactly are you?”

“Does it matter?”

The man looked at him, his expression as calm and steady as ever. From the moment Ji Zhifei entered the room until now, that slightly pale and frail face had shown hardly any fluctuation in emotion. Yet, with that same calm demeanor, he had offered two choices that completely destroyed Ji Zhifei’s world.

At this point, the answer to that question no longer mattered.

Ji Zhifei felt all the strength drain from his body. Clinging to Gu Changzhou, he barely managed to stay upright. His voice shook as he said, “Tomorrow morning, I will go to the authorities and confess.”

Gu Changzhou let out a sigh of relief.

Qin Zhao nodded. “Good. You may leave.”

Ji Zhifei hesitated for a moment. “Just… just like that?”

“Yes, just like that,” Qin Zhao replied. “But remember, do not tell anyone about what happened tonight. And I mean anyone.”

Gu Changzhou escorted Ji Zhifei out of the room and watched his unsteady figure disappear into the distance. Shaking his head with a sigh, he closed the door and returned to the inner room. Qin Zhao finished the last sip of tea and asked, “Are you satisfied now?”

Gu Changzhou gave him a deep bow. “Thank you, Mr. Qin.”

Gu Changzhou and Ji Zhifei’s father had been friends for many years, having worked together as superior and subordinate for a long time. There was some sentiment involved. Qin Zhao, out of respect for that sentiment, agreed to spare the Ji family.

Otherwise, based on Ji Zhifei’s actions in recent times, his fate would have been a hundred times worse.

Having Ji Zhifei confess to the authorities and clear the name of the shop owner was the most appropriate solution.

“But…” Gu Changzhou hesitated. “Are you really going to let Ji Zhifei go like this? What if he tells someone about tonight?”

“Have someone keep an eye on him,” Qin Zhao said indifferently. “If he dares to utter a single word, cut out his tongue. If he tries to escape, take one of his legs. I trust you to handle this matter.”

Gu Changzhou: “…Understood.”

Qin Zhao approached him and added, “Also, regarding the grievances between my husband and Ji Zhifei, I don’t want to hear any rumors spreading in the prefecture. You know what to do.”

Gu Changzhou nodded. “Rest assured, Mr. Qin. I’ve already made the necessary arrangements.”

“Good.” Qin Zhao handed him the book he had been flipping through earlier and smiled slightly. “This book is quite well-written. Consider it a gift.”

With that, he turned and stepped out the door.

Gu Changzhou stood alone at the doorway of the study. The cold wind from outside hit him, and only then did he realize that his back was drenched in sweat. Wiping his forehead, he looked down at the book in his hands.

—”Dream Notes, Volume II.”

Gu Changzhou: “…”

Qin Zhao wrapped his long cloak tightly around himself as he exited the Gu residence.

The night wind was slightly chilly. He rubbed his frozen, numb fingers and immediately spotted the carriage waiting at the entrance.

Inside the carriage, a candle lantern cast a warm, soft glow on the curtain, projecting a faint silhouette that remained perfectly still. Clearly, someone was asleep. The servant guarding the carriage noticed Qin Zhao coming out and hurried over. “Mr. Qin—”

“Shh.” Qin Zhao raised a finger to his lips, motioning for silence.

The servant nodded, then whispered with admiration, “Mr. Qin treats the madam so well.”

Qin Zhao lowered his gaze, hiding the subtle warmth in his expression, and replied, “Let’s go.”

The servant helped him into the carriage.

Inside, the warmth from a brazier filled the space. Jing Li was curled up in a corner, sleeping soundly, his small figure tightly wrapped in himself.

Even Qin Zhao’s breathing softened instinctively.

Given Qin Zhao’s nature, there could have been a safer and more definitive way to resolve today’s matter.

Ji Zhifei had crossed a line he never should have, and even paying with his life would have been justified.

Yet, Qin Zhao hadn’t chosen that path.

Not out of mercy, nor because of Gu Changzhou’s pleas.

He acted this way because he believed it was the resolution his kind-hearted little husband would have wanted most.

His husband was so tenderhearted that even for a stranger with no connection to him, he could shed a few tears of guilt.

If he truly resorted to violence to solve violence, Jing Li probably wouldn’t be happy.

Qin Zhao lowered his gaze, looking at the boy’s delicate, sleeping face, and suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

He was starting to worry again—how would his little husband react if he ever learned the truth about his identity?

If he found out who Qin Zhao had been, would he be afraid?

Would he feel disgusted?

What should he do…

The once composed and confident former regent now found himself treading on thin ice when faced with this innocent and kind-hearted boy.

“Mm…” The carriage began to move slowly, and Jing Li stirred, his head swaying as he woke up groggily. Rubbing his eyes, still too sleepy to fully open them, he mumbled, “Are we home?”

Qin Zhao leaned down and placed a light kiss on his slightly parted lips. “Almost. If you’re tired, keep sleeping.”

“I’m not tired; I’ll wake up right away.” Jing Li, with his eyes still closed, snuggled into Qin Zhao’s arms. His hands fumbled around until they found Qin Zhao’s cold fingers, which he cupped to warm. “So cold. When we get back, make sure Ah Qi brews you some ginger tea.”

“Alright.”

The boy was warm all over from the brazier in the carriage, like a small furnace—soft, warm, and comforting.

“Did Lord Gu agree?” he asked.

“To what?” Qin Zhao replied.

“The price increase,” Jing Li said. “Otherwise, what else would you two have been talking about for so long?”

Qin Zhao blinked, realizing the boy had assumed he had been negotiating payment terms with Lord Gu.

“He agreed,” Qin Zhao lied without hesitation. “Raised it to twenty-five taels per month and threw in free pastries.”

“That last part is your idea, isn’t it?” Jing Li snickered, burying his head in Qin Zhao’s chest. “But the pastries at the Gu estate really are delicious. When we get home, we should give some to little fry; he’ll love them.”

“And if he loves them too much, aren’t you worried he’ll eat them all?”

“What nonsense,” Jing Li protested, clearly dissatisfied. “Do I look like the kind of person who’d fight with my own son over pastries?”

“No, you’re not. I am,” Qin Zhao replied shamelessly.

Jing Li huffed, too lazy to argue with him further.

The carriage rolled quietly into the night as Qin Zhao gently stroked the boy’s hair, sighing softly.

His little husband, whose thoughts were either on food or money, made all of Qin Zhao’s worries about his identity and past seem like needless overthinking.

Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, he couldn’t decide.

Sigh.