Ch 67: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Jiang Ji blinked. Everything in front of him was still red.

He hadn’t seen wrong. Jiang Yan’s ears really were red.

Just a moment ago, when he leaned in, they hadn’t been.

“Jiang Yan.”

“Mm?” Jiang Yan turned to look at him.

Jiang Ji reached up and gently turned Jiang Yan’s face to the other side, looking at the base of his other ear. That side was red as well. Jiang Yan felt a bit puzzled. “What is it?”

Jiang Ji let go, his eyes curving into a smile. “Nothing. I just saw a mosquito flying near you and was afraid it might bite.”

Jiang Yan rubbed the cheek Jiang Ji had just touched. “It didn’t.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Ji looked at his otherwise perfectly calm face and said, “You don’t flush when you drink.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes curved even more. He leaned closer, covered his mouth, and whispered, “Jiang Yan, your ears are red.”

Jiang Yan paused. His ears had indeed felt a little warm just now; he hadn’t expected them to redden. He almost lifted a hand to touch them, then restrained himself.

“Oh. The alcohol makes me a bit warm.”

He glanced at Jiang Ji, then turned and lifted his cup, taking a sip. It was sharp rice wine. He paused slightly, swallowed, set the cup down, then calmly picked up the tea beside it and drank an entire cup in one go.

Jiang Ji watched him with a smile, delighted at having discovered a small secret of Jiang Yan’s.

Jiang Yan picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of chicken, and placed it in Jiang Ji’s bowl. “Eat.”

Jiang Ji looked at the chicken in his bowl, smiling as he picked it up and ate it.

“So good!”

Everyone was in high spirits today, livelier even than the New Year. The midday meal dragged on until past the hour of Wei before finally breaking up.

Most of the dishes on the tables had been finished. The food Han Qingshan and the others cooked was something most villagers had never tasted before; everyone ate until satisfied, bellies round and full.

Many of the men drank too much and were carried home on their families’ backs.

Jiang Ji looked at Jiang Yan. “Go lie down for a bit.”

Jiang Ji was the host, but because of his injuries he couldn’t drink and could only use tea instead. Others all came to drink with Jiang Yan, and he’d had quite a lot.

Jiang Yan nodded and returned to Jiang Ji’s room.

Jiang Ji’s wounds hadn’t healed yet, so Jiang Yan was still sleeping with him for now to look after him. Jiang Ji was also a bit tired; after telling Zhao Ru, he lay down to rest for a while.

The restaurant staff stayed behind to help Zhao Ru clear the dishes. The guards had also been drinking, but none were drunk. They helped pack up the tables and chairs and return the borrowed ones.

After everything was cleaned and washed, Han Qingshan and the manager led the restaurant staff back.

Lu Jiu and Lu Wu sat at the courtyard gate. Lu Jiu sighed with feeling. “Young Master Jiang Ji is really a man of temperament.”

Lu Wu nodded. “I heard all the restaurant chefs learned their skills from him.”

“The cooking really is excellent. Those dishes were incredible.” Lu Jiu was still savoring the memory. “You didn’t get to eat them last time, right?”

He was referring to the day they entered the city. They had already sat down at Jiang Ji Dining Hall when Lu Jiu chased after Xiao An, and later Lu Wu and the others, worried about exposing their identities, also left. The dishes hadn’t even been served before they exited the restaurant, losing their silver for nothing.

“Mm. Not long after you left, we left too,” Lu Wu said after thinking. “That day, we didn’t even get to eat the noodles.”

Lu Jiu laughed loudly. Thinking back to the day they found the prince, it still felt almost unreal.

“Ah, the Second Young Master would definitely like Jiang Ji,” Lu Jiu said.

Lu Wu was silent for a moment, then said, “As long as the cooking is good, the Second Young Master likes them all.”

“Hahaha, that’s true. If he came here, he probably wouldn’t want to leave.” Lu Jiu looked ahead, then grew a bit worried. “When will the young master recover his memory?”

The two stared into the distance, lost in thought.

…

The next morning after breakfast, Jiang Yan took people to harvest watermelons in the fields.

The watermelons were on the market now. Earlier, they’d picked some and had the restaurant make fruit platters, which were extremely popular. Many diners had even placed reservations.

Though it wasn’t yet peak season for mass ripening, Jiang Ji’s family had planted a lot. Every day they could still pick two or three cartloads to send into the city for the restaurant to sell.

They didn’t even need to shout to attract customers. Everything sold out.

Uncle Tugen and the village head had planted fewer watermelons. They hauled theirs to the market to sell, keeping the same price as Jiang Ji’s family: ten copper coins per jin. That was agreed upon beforehand so everyone could make money together.

Lu Jiu and Lu Wu were also helping transport the watermelons. Hearing hoofbeats in the distance, Lu Jiu exclaimed happily, “Young master, Chen Feng and the others are back!”

Lu Jiu and Lu Wu ran out onto the road.

Jiang Yan glanced back and continued picking watermelons.

Jiang Ji’s injuries hadn’t healed yet, so he stood on the ridge instead of going into the field. He turned to look at Chen Feng and the others.

Chen Feng and Lu Wen had brought back a reply letter from Lord Lu.

On the way, Lu Jiu anxiously asked, “Chen Feng, what did the master say? Is he bringing the young master back?”

Chen Feng shook his head. “The master said not to return yet. He told us to follow the young master’s wishes.”

Lu Jiu frowned. “Why is the master like this too? Isn’t he worried about the young master’s safety?”

“That’s why he told us to protect the young master at all costs.” Chen Feng looked around. “Where is the young master?”

Lu Jiu tilted his head. “There. Picking watermelons.”

Seeing the figure crouched in the watermelon field, Chen Feng walked over. Reaching Jiang Ji’s side, he said, “Young Master Jiang Ji.”

“Thanks for your hard work.”

“Not at all.” Chen Feng stepped into the field and went to Jiang Yan, pulling a letter from his robe. “Young master, a letter from the master.”

Jiang Yan stood, handed the scissors to him, and took the letter, opening it to read.

It was a thick stack of paper. Jiang Ji watched as Jiang Yan read page after page, carefully observing his expression. His brows drew together slightly, but there was no major change.

After finishing, Jiang Yan folded the papers neatly, slipped them back into the envelope, and tucked it into his robe. Then he went back to picking watermelons.

Jiang Ji couldn’t guess what was written. Restless with curiosity, he asked Lu Jiu beside him, “Does your master want him to go back?”

Lu Jiu shook his head. “No.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Jiang Ji relaxed.

“Hm?” Lu Jiu looked at him. “That’s good?”

Jiang Ji paused. “It’s more dangerous if he goes back. It’s better here.”

Lu Jiu sighed.

Jiang Ji patted Lu Jiu on the shoulder. Since it wasn’t a summons for Jiang Yan to return, there was nothing more for him to worry about. Translated on hololonovels.

Over there, Chen Feng was reporting to Jiang Yan on the progress on Prefect Fan’s side.

“Hu Yuanwu has already been escorted to the provincial governor’s yamen and is being held there. Everyone involved has also been arrested. Prefect Fan said that once all matters are fully investigated and the bandit case is completely handled, the case files and Hu Yuanwu will be sent to the capital together.”

Jiang Yan nodded. “You’ve worked hard. Go back and rest first. We’ll talk about other matters after you’ve recovered.”

“Yes.” Chen Feng and Lu Wen withdrew.

Jiang Yan methodically finished harvesting the watermelons. Once the guards had hauled them off to the city, Jiang Yan and Jiang Ji headed home.

Jiang Ji still couldn’t hold it in. “Your dad… uh, pull your sleeves down. You’re getting tanned.”

Jiang Yan glanced at his forearms, then at Jiang Ji’s short sleeves. “Then why don’t you wear something with sleeves?”

“……” Jiang Ji rubbed his nose, then asked, “What did your father say to you?”

Jiang Yan looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been holding it in for a long time?”

“You know I want to know and you still won’t say it on purpose.” Jiang Ji glared at him. “Hurry up and tell me.”

A hint of amusement appeared in Jiang Yan’s eyes as he replied, “He said he agrees with me staying here for now, but he’s sent a physician over. He’s on the road and will arrive in a couple of days. He said there might be some stagnant blood in my head and wants the doctor to examine it, to see if my memory can be restored sooner.”

“A physician?”

“Yes. He used to be an imperial physician, retired now.”

Jiang Ji scratched his head and said quietly, “When I treated your injuries back then, there wasn’t any medicine for dispersing stagnant blood. Since the system didn’t give any, there shouldn’t be any stagnant blood in your head.”

“Mm. I don’t feel dizzy either,” Jiang Yan said, trusting Jiang Ji’s judgment. “When I saw his handwriting, it felt very familiar.”

“Seeing familiar things does help with memory recovery.” Jiang Ji paused, stopped walking, and looked at him. “If… if you want to recover your memory quickly, going back might really be faster.”

Jiang Yan stopped as well and looked at him. “Do you want me to go back?”

“No.” Jiang Ji answered without hesitation.

Jiang Yan nodded. “Now isn’t the time to go back.”

Jiang Ji walked closer to him. “What else did he say?”

There was no way that thick stack of letters only talked about a physician.

Jiang Yan looked at him, weighing whether to tell him.

“Hurry up. As long as it’s not confidential, tell me,” Jiang Ji urged.

Jiang Yan sighed softly. “He told me about what’s happened at court over the past few months, so I could understand the current situation. I’ve been gone for so long that everyone in the capital knows I went missing. Things started to get a bit chaotic, but they managed to stabilize it. He said they can hold on for a while longer.”

He paused, then continued. “And they’ve also found out how the news of my assassination attempt was leaked.”

Jiang Ji asked curiously, “How was it leaked?”

Jiang Yan replied, “The night we left the city, a soldier guarding the gate went drinking at a tavern and mentioned that several people from the Regent Prince’s residence had gone out late that night. By coincidence, the tavern’s waiter was a spy from Xi Zhao who’d been embedded there for seven or eight years. He passed the information along.”

Jiang Ji: “……”

Jiang Yan continued, “My father and uncles followed that lead and uncovered an entire Xi Zhao spy network, which they’ve already dismantled. But after I went missing, the western border has remained unstable, with signs of troop movements. Fortunately, the general guarding that region is very experienced and received instructions from the capital to strengthen defenses. They even caught another spy trying to steal city defense maps.”

Jiang Ji was stunned.

Ever since transmigrating, he’d lived quietly in this small village in the county, farming and running a shop. The most dangerous thing he’d encountered was being kidnapped by bandits.

Now he was suddenly hearing about tense border situations, about how a single misstep could lead to war.

War. Something that had always felt distant to him was now something the man beside him had to consider.

For a moment, Jiang Ji was completely at a loss. It was as if he saw four huge characters stamped on Jiang Yan’s body: the weight of the nation.

Not only resting on Jiang Yan’s shoulders, but now pressing toward him as well.

After a long silence, he finally said, “You…”

Jiang Yan looked at him, waiting quietly.

Jiang Ji pressed his lips together and asked, “When do you want to go back?”

“In a while.”

“How long is ‘a while’?”

Jiang Yan thought for a moment. “If things go quickly, one month. If slowly, two months.”

Jiang Ji lowered his head and walked forward without a word.

Jiang Yan sighed softly and followed.

But Jiang Ji suddenly stopped and turned back. “You already decided this as soon as you got the letter, didn’t you?”

Jiang Yan met his gaze and slowly nodded.

Jiang Ji pressed his lips together again, then turned and walked straight home. Once inside, he went straight to his room and bolted the door from the inside.

Jiang Yan was shut out. He said, “I’m not leaving immediately.”

“I know!” came a shout from inside.

Jiang Yan: “……”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Once I finish handling things, I’ll come back.”

A short while later, Jiang Ji’s voice came again from inside. “Let me be alone for a bit!”

Jiang Yan sighed quietly and went to wash his hands.

Lu Jiu and Lu Wu had been following at some distance the whole time. Now they stood outside the east wing, looking at each other.

Lu Jiu nudged Lu Wu’s arm and whispered, “Why does this feel… strange?”

Lu Wu nodded. “It’s a lot like when the master and madam argue.”

Both of them: “……”

Jiang Yan brought his writing tools to the small sitting room in the east wing. Lu Jiu hurried over to grind the ink.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yan began to write a letter.

Inside the room, Jiang Ji lay under the covers for a long while, until he was sweating. With no choice, he threw the blanket off.

His chest felt tight and uncomfortable. In frustration, he opened his livestream and started chatting with the viewers.

The live chat scrolled rapidly.

【Oh my god, you finally showed up. It was so dark I thought it was nighttime.】

【Total lovestruck teenager energy.】

【He’s only nineteen. This is what being in love looks like. Everyone be understanding.】

【I thought yesterday things were about to get sweet and cozy, and today it’s like this. Absolute bolt from the blue.】

【Sigh, what can you do? Jiang Yan is the Regent. The responsibility on his shoulders is huge.】

【Poor streamer. A romance that just started to show promise is already facing separation again.】

【He’s completely shut down. Poor kid.】

“What nonsense are you all talking about?” Jiang Ji snapped, furious. “You’re enjoying the drama, huh? You’re going to piss me to death.”

【Hey, so you’re reading the comments. Thought you were totally shut down.】

【Still chatting, so not completely shut down yet.】

【Don’t overthink it. I think Jiang Yan really has you in his heart.】

【He was always going to go back sooner or later. You should prepare yourself mentally and not let it hurt you too much.】

【Didn’t he say he’d come back? No need to worry that much.】

Jiang Ji sighed. “Sigh, you don’t understand. This is ancient times. No phones, no computers. How hard it is just to meet once. Even a letter takes ages to arrive.”

“And with his family situation… once he leaves, he might not be able to come back at all, you know? Even if he’s a bit moved by me now, give it enough time and it’ll fade.”

【What can you do? With that kind of status, you can’t expect him to just drop everything.】

【You two really are a tough case.】

【You have to trust him. If he said he’ll come back, he will. He seems like someone who keeps his word.】

【But with ancient values and mindsets, do you really think his family would accept a male spouse? Especially when he’s the Regent.】

【Obstacles everywhere.】

【And not just Jiang Yan’s family. Even Jiang Ji’s mom doesn’t know he likes men yet.】

【Anyway, I think you shouldn’t think too much right now. Watch what Jiang Yan actually does. With men, actions matter.】

【Don’t worry yet. There’s still some time. Use this time to win him over first.】

Jiang Ji sighed again. “Sigh… first time in my life liking someone, and it’s this hard?”

【Hahaha, who told you to pick hard mode.】

【Your meeting was dramatic to begin with, plus the amnesia trope. At least Jiang Yan isn’t married, or it’d be even more dog-blooded.】

Jiang Ji: “……”

He muttered, “He hasn’t even clearly shown that he likes me.”

Then suddenly he sat up straight. “Guys… I’m not misreading this, am I? Am I just being delusional?”

【He definitely likes you. I can tell.】

【Observers see clearly. I think he has you in his heart too.】

【Same here.】

Jiang Ji pressed, “You all think so too? I’m really not misunderstanding? Don’t lie to me. Tell me the truth.”

【Yeah, I really think so.】

【Don’t worry. Your feeling isn’t wrong.】

【Even we watching TV can tell.】

“What do you mean, watching TV?!” Jiang Ji said speechlessly. “Hey, you just said the quiet part out loud.”

【Hahaha, your stream is basically like a TV drama.】

【Exactly. Edit it properly and it’d be even better than a drama.】

【Right? I don’t even watch shows anymore. I just watch your stream.】

Jiang Ji: “……”

【Alright, alright, don’t worry so much. If you want to know what he’s thinking, just ask him directly.】

【Don’t be mad. You’re acting like a bickering couple, and you haven’t even started dating yet.】

【Do you know the expressions on the two guys walking behind you were priceless?】

【Really? I didn’t even notice them. Your eyes are sharp. I’ll watch the replay tomorrow.】

【That moment when he turned around, it caught both of them in frame. They were totally stunned.】

【Streamer, aren’t you going out yet?】

Jiang Ji flopped back down. “Wait. I still need to emo for a bit.”

He stared at the ceiling in a daze for quite a while.

…

Jiang Yan hadn’t finished writing his letter yet when the door behind him suddenly opened. He turned around and saw Jiang Ji walk straight over and sit down across from him.

“Lu Jiu, please step out for a moment and don’t let anyone come in.”

Lu Jiu glanced at Jiang Yan, put down the ink stick, and left.

Jiang Yan also set down his brush and looked at Jiang Ji quietly.

Jiang Ji stared into his eyes and asked, “Before you go back, is there something you need to do?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “I need to take care of some things first.”

Jiang Ji was silent for a moment, then looked at the two pages already written and laid out to dry. “Can I read them?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yan handed him the papers.

After reading the two pages, Jiang Ji understood what Jiang Yan meant.

Jiang Yan was planning to use his disappearance as bait, setting a trap to flush out the remaining spies in the capital and other destabilizing elements.

One page was addressed to Lord Lu, another to the general guarding the western frontier. Jiang Ji glanced at the third page Jiang Yan was currently writing, which seemed to be for a northern border commander.

Jiang Ji put the papers back and asked, “What about Prince Qi in the south? Didn’t you say he has rebellious intentions? What if he takes advantage of the chaos in the capital and raises troops?”

Jiang Yan looked at him, was silent for a moment, then said, “When the time comes, I’ll personally lead troops to the south.”

Jiang Ji’s eyes widened instantly. “Y-you’ll go yourself?”

“Yes. I’m the closest to that front right now. I just need the military tally to be issued.”

“Isn’t the tally with the emperor?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Yes. So it needs to be requested from His Majesty and sent to me.”

Jiang Ji looked at him for a long time before asking, “You’ve been thinking about this for several days already, haven’t you?”

These past few days, whenever there was time, Lu Jiu had already roughly told them about the major and minor affairs in the capital.

Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment, then still nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Ji lowered his gaze. “Oh. Then go.”

Jiang Yan’s mind seemed naturally made for matters like these. Even without his past memories, he still took the responsibility onto his shoulders and was already planning what came next.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan looked at him without speaking.

Jiang Ji clenched his teeth, then raised his eyes to meet Jiang Yan’s. “I’ll just ask you one question.”

“Ask.”

“Did you…” Jiang Ji stared straight into Jiang Yan’s eyes, pressed his lips together, and finally summoned the courage to ask shamelessly, “does what you promised me that day on the mountain still count?”

Jiang Yan paused.

Seeing that he didn’t answer right away, Jiang Ji narrowed his eyes. “What, are you going back on it?”

“No,” Jiang Yan said. “I thought you’d forgotten.”

Jiang Ji glared at him. “How could I forget? I’m not the one with amnesia.”

Jiang Yan’s expression softened. Looking at him, he said gently, “It still counts.”

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾