Ch 78: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

After washing up, Jiang Yan shaved his beard clean. The tired look disappeared, and his handsome appearance returned.

At breakfast, the whole family was finally seated together again around the table.

Jiang Bei deliberately sat beside Jiang Yan. While chewing on a meat bun, he asked curiously, “Brother Jiang Yan, was the place you went to fun?”

Jiang Yan glanced at him. “It was alright. I brought gifts for you. I’ll give them to you after we finish eating.”

“Gifts?!” Jiang Nan’s eyes immediately lit up. “Brother Jiang Yan, what are they?”

“You’ll see after breakfast,” Jiang Yan replied.

Jiang Bei urged his brother, “Eat faster.”

“Okay.”

The two little boys stopped talking and focused on eating.

Zhao Ru looked at Jiang Yan, then at Xiao Ji sitting beside him. Xiao Ji was visibly in a very good mood. She sighed softly in her heart and stood up to scoop dumplings for Jiang Yan.

“Jiang Yan, eat more. You’ve gotten thinner. Being away from home, you probably didn’t have time to eat properly. Try these shrimp dumplings. I heard from Lu Jiu before that you like these.”

Jiang Yan quickly lifted his bowl to receive them. “Alright, thank you, Auntie.”

Zhao Ru was about to place the dumplings into his bowl when she suddenly paused.

It occurred to her that Jiang Yan was the Regent.

Should she even be serving food to him?

Her hand stopped in midair. Below, Jiang Yan held out his bowl waiting, but Zhao Ru still didn’t drop the dumplings in.

For a moment the scene froze. Everyone looked at her curiously.

Jiang Ji asked, “Mother?”

“Ah? Oh.” Zhao Ru came back to her senses. She looked at the bowl Jiang Yan was holding out and hesitated before asking, “Um… Jiang… Jiang Yan, should I not be serving you food? In your family… isn’t that not the custom?”

Jiang Yan paused for a moment, then answered, “It’s fine, Auntie. You can serve food.”

“Oh… alright then.” Zhao Ru carefully placed the dumplings into his bowl.

Her expression was so strange that Jiang Yan glanced at Jiang Ji and quietly asked, “She knows?”

Jiang Ji understood what he meant and nodded. “Yes.”

That explained it.

Jiang Yan then turned back to Zhao Ru and said gently, “Auntie, at home I’m just Jiang Yan. You can treat me the same as before. There’s no need to worry about formalities.”

Hearing this, and seeing that his attitude was the same as before, Zhao Ru relaxed a little. “Alright, then that’s good.”

While eating, Jiang Xia secretly watched her brother and Jiang Yan. Before knowing the truth she had never paid much attention, but now she realized that her brother always sat right next to Jiang Yan. Even though they now had a round table with plenty of space, they still sat very close.

She kept sneaking glances.

Zhao Ru lightly tapped her, signaling her not to stare.

Jiang Yan noticed their little movements but felt puzzled and didn’t ask about it.

After breakfast, Jiang Yan took the gifts out of his bundle. Everyone had one. He had deliberately bought them from a market the day before returning.

For Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei, each received a colorful little wooden horse and a set of Bagua puzzle locks.

For Jiang Xia, there was a set of silver jewelry: earrings, bracelets, and a silver neck ring decorated with many dangling silver pieces that jingled when lifted. Translated on Hololo novels. It had strong ethnic characteristics and was very beautiful. Jiang Xia loved it at first sight and couldn’t put it down.

For Zhao Ru, there was a green jade bracelet.

Everyone was delighted with their gifts. Jiang Xia happily said, “Thank you, Brother Jiang Yan.”

“You’re welcome.”

Zhao Ru didn’t know how to judge the quality of jade, but the bracelet looked extremely valuable.

“Jiang Yan, isn’t this bracelet too expensive?”

“No. There’s a place near there that borders a small country where this kind of jade is abundant. Some merchants secretly brought it over. I happened to see it. It wasn’t expensive,” Jiang Yan replied.

Jiang Ji glanced at Jiang Yan but said nothing.

The jade was an incredibly vivid green, lively and bright. It was the legendary imperial green jade, priceless.

Jiang Nan was already playing with his little wooden horse, while Jiang Bei held up the Bagua lock and asked, “Brother Jiang Yan, how do you play with this?”

“With this,” Jiang Yan said, “try to take it apart. After that, see if you can put it back together.” He challenged them a little. “Let’s see who finishes first.”

The boys’ competitive spirit immediately ignited.

Jiang Nan said confidently, “It will definitely be me!”

“I’ll finish before you,” Jiang Bei declared.

Jiang Ji reminded them, “You should be heading to school. You’ll be late.”

“Oh right, right, hurry to school,” Zhao Ru urged the children.

“Mother, keep this safe for me,” Jiang Xia said, putting the jewelry back into its wooden box and handing it to her.

“Alright, alright. Hurry and go. Don’t be late.”

Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei ran off holding identical Bagua locks.

Once the children had gone to school, Jiang Ji looked at Jiang Yan and raised an eyebrow.

“Where’s my gift?”

Jiang Yan grabbed his wrist. “Come back to the room and I’ll give it to you.”

The two returned to the east wing. After entering the room and closing the door, Jiang Ji waited for Jiang Yan’s gift.

Instead, Jiang Yan took out the jade pendant he always carried with him and placed it in Jiang Ji’s hand.

Jiang Ji’s eyelid twitched slightly. “You’re giving this to me?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yan closed Jiang Ji’s hand around it. “My grandfather carved this for me personally. I’ve carried it with me since I was a child. Giving it to you is the most appropriate.”

Jiang Ji blinked, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

“A token of love?”

Jiang Yan’s hand tightened slightly, his gaze deep as he nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Ji’s heart thumped. He opened his hand and looked at the pendant, his fingers gently tracing the pattern on it. Then he looked up and said solemnly,

“I accept it.”

Jiang Yan nodded with a faint smile in his eyes.

“Then I should give you a token of love too,” Jiang Ji said, thinking. “What should I give you? Wait, let me see.”

He looked around the room helplessly. Apart from silver notes, he realized he hadn’t bought any valuable items.

There were some expensive things in the storeroom, but those had all been gifts from the Lu residence. It wouldn’t make sense to give them back to Jiang Yan.

Come to think of it, he probably should start preparing a bride price as well.

After thinking for a moment, he opened the system interface and went to the exchange marketplace. He searched for jewelry.

Originally he wanted to exchange a modern diamond ring.
But there weren’t any.

In the system’s modern items section, there were only things related to food, clothing, housing, and daily necessities. There was no jewelry.

2977. Just like you, the Farming System.

There were jewelry options in the ancient items section, gold and silver, jade and more. But Jiang Ji felt that if he simply exchanged something directly from the system, it would lack sincerity.

After thinking for a moment, he looked up and said, “Can I give it to you before you leave for the capital?”

Jiang Yan looked at him with a smile. “You seem a little troubled.”

“Yeah,” Jiang Ji admitted honestly. “Look at this room. Other than silver notes, there’s nothing here.”

“Then where is my token of love?” Jiang Yan looked at him. “That can’t be missing.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make one for you myself. Just wait.”

Hearing that, Jiang Yan actually felt a little excited. “Alright. I’ll wait.”

“Then I’m going to the workshop. Don’t come in before I’m done,” Jiang Ji said, and immediately hurried toward the tool room.

Jiang Yan watched his hurried back and smiled faintly.

After entering the tool room, Jiang Ji shut the door. Then he browsed through the system for quite a while before exchanging a black crossbody leather bag.

He sat down and thought about the leather bracelets he used to make. Taking out a sheet of white paper, he began drawing designs. He sketched three styles that he could make with his current tools, adjusted them repeatedly, and finally settled on one.

Then he cut pieces from the leather bag strap and one of the leather buckles and began crafting.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan took a book from the study, intending to go to the backyard to sit with Jiang Ji while he worked.

Just as he reached the corner of the corridor by the main hall, Zhao Ru saw him and called out.

“Jiang Yan.”

Seeing he was alone, she asked, “Where is Xiao Ji?”

“He’s in the workshop,” Jiang Yan replied.

“Oh.” Zhao Ru hesitated for a moment before saying, “Um… Jiang Yan, come here. I need to talk to you about something.”

Jiang Yan followed her into the study in the west wing.

The two sat down. Zhao Ru clasped her hands tightly, took a deep breath, and said,

“Jiang Yan… Xiao Ji told me about the two of you.”

Jiang Yan froze slightly. His heart immediately tightened.

“He… told you?”

During breakfast earlier, he had thought Jiang Ji had only told her about his identity. Translated on Hololo novels. He hadn’t expected that Jiang Ji had already told her everything about their relationship.

Since returning yesterday, they hadn’t yet had a proper chance to talk about this matter.

“Yes. Didn’t he tell you?” Zhao Ru looked surprised. “I thought he already had.”

“No. There hasn’t been time yet.” Jiang Yan looked at Zhao Ru and, without hesitation, suddenly knelt down.

“Auntie,” he said solemnly, “I love Jiang Ji and want to marry him. I will treat him well. Please grant your approval.”

His sudden kneeling startled Zhao Ru. She quickly stood and tried to pull him up.

“Oh, Jiang Yan, you… you should get up. You’re the Regent. How can you kneel to me?”

Jiang Yan shook his head and did not rise.

“You are Jiang Ji’s mother. You are my elder. It is right for me to kneel.”

“Get up first. We can talk slowly,” Zhao Ru said anxiously. “I’ve already agreed. Please get up.”

“You’ve agreed?” Jiang Yan froze again.

“Yes, yes. Now get up.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” Jiang Yan stood up and sat down again, still somewhat unable to believe it. “Auntie… you really agreed?”

Zhao Ru sighed.

“He told me he likes men, that he likes you, and wants to marry you. During the two months you were gone, he hardly ate or slept properly. I saw it all, and it hurt my heart to watch. Xiao Ji has suffered a lot in his life. I just hope that from now on he can live happily.”

Jiang Yan felt deeply moved.

“Auntie, please rest assured. I will make him happy.”

“Jiang Yan, you are a good child. I know that,” Zhao Ru said, looking at him. Then she spoke her worries plainly. “But with your status… will your family agree to this? I want to hear your plans.”

Jiang Yan took a quiet breath and answered seriously.

“Auntie, the day after tomorrow I must return to the capital. When I get back, I will report everything to my parents. They have always respected my wishes. I will persuade them as well. Please don’t worry.”

Hearing him say it personally eased Zhao Ru’s mind slightly. But she asked another question.

“You are the eldest son in your family. If your parents insist that you have heirs… if they ask you to take concubines?”

“When I decided to be with Jiang Ji, I already decided that I would not have children,” Jiang Yan said firmly. “Auntie, please be assured. In this lifetime I will only have Jiang Ji. I will never take concubines. Words may be weak proof, but please watch us in the future. I will spend my entire life honoring my promise to Jiang Ji and my promise to you.”

His sincere and heartfelt words moved Zhao Ru.

Jiang Yan had lived with them for half a year, and Zhao Ru trusted his character deeply. She believed his promise.

A faint sheen of tears appeared in her eyes as she smiled.

“Good. Hearing you say that, I feel relieved.”

“I will cherish him well.”

“Good.” Zhao Ru took another breath and continued. “There is one more thing. In the capital there are many nobles and powerful families. I’ve heard many people look down on those beneath them. We are just a simple farming family. Marrying into your family would be reaching far above our station. If Xiao Ji marries you, people will inevitably gossip about him and he may suffer grievances. When that time comes, I hope you will protect him.”

“I will,” Jiang Yan replied. He did not promise that no one would dare speak ill, because that was impossible. People would always talk. Instead he said simply, “I will not let him be wronged.”

“Who would dare give me grievances to suffer?”

Jiang Ji’s voice came from outside as he walked in.

“Why did you come here?” Zhao Ru asked. Seeing her son catch her speaking privately with Jiang Yan made her feel slightly embarrassed. “How much did you hear?”

Jiang Ji had originally come to get a small knife. Earlier he had used the paper-cutting knife for Jiang Nan and had left it here.

He had not expected to overhear the conversation between his mother and Jiang Yan.

“Most of it.” Jiang Ji sat down beside Zhao Ru and held her hand. “Mother, don’t worry. No one can make me suffer any grievances. Your son is clever. If anyone speaks to me in a sarcastic way, I’ll just answer them the same way. Lu Jiu has already told me a lot of secrets about the capital. I’m not afraid.”

Zhao Ru didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Still worried, she said, “The capital isn’t like here. Everywhere there are nobles and powerful officials. Be careful not to offend someone without even realizing it.”

“Well, other than the imperial family, can any of them outrank Jiang Yan?” Jiang Ji patted her hand. “Mother, Jiang Yan is the Regent. If I marry him, I’ll at least be the Regent’s husband. My status will be right there for everyone to see. They won’t dare say anything to my face. Right, Jiang Yan?”

The Regent’s husband…

Jiang Yan looked at him and chuckled softly. “Yes. They wouldn’t dare.”

Zhao Ru looked at the two of them helplessly. “There are many rules in the capital. Xiao Ji, you don’t understand the customs there. Don’t accidentally cause trouble for Jiang Yan.”

“Mother, don’t worry. I’ve already asked Lu Jiu about a lot of things.” Jiang Ji tapped his head. “It’s all in here. And besides, I won’t be going alone. Our whole family should move to the capital.”

“To the capital?” Zhao Ru looked shocked. “We’re going too?”

Jiang Ji looked even more surprised. “What, you expect me to go alone?”

Zhao Ru: “……”

Jiang Ji: “……”

Mother and son stared at each other.

Jiang Yan looked at the two of them and said, “Auntie, the regent’s residence is very large. Our whole family can live there together and take care of each other. And teachers in the capital are very knowledgeable. Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei could learn much more if they attend school there.”

That was true. The capital gathered many talented people. The teachers there would certainly be better than those in their small county.

Zhao Ru thought about it and said, “I’ve never considered that before. And I’m worried that if we all go, we might not be able to help you much. Instead, you might have to take care of us, and we’d only become a burden.”

“Mother, what are you saying?” Jiang Ji looked at her. “We’re family. How can you talk about being a burden? Of course a family should stay together.”

Zhao Ru sighed helplessly. “I was only saying it. Why are you getting worked up? Of course I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go alone.”

“I knew you wouldn’t feel at ease. And I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you all behind either. That’s why it’s best if our whole family stays together.” Jiang Ji continued persuading her. “And you were just worried I might suffer grievances. If that really happens and you’re not there, I wouldn’t even have anyone to talk to. Wouldn’t that make it worse?”

Zhao Ru: “……”

“And besides, don’t you want to see the capital?”

Zhao Ru nodded. “Of course I do. I’ve heard it’s very prosperous.”

“Exactly. It’s nothing like our little county. For now just think about it. We still have time.” Jiang Ji explained, “I can go ahead first to see how things are, then bring you all there later. After that we can open a restaurant in the capital. There are so many wealthy people there. It will definitely make good money. And if you don’t like living in the Prince’s residence, we can buy our own house in the capital.”

“There’s no need to buy a house. Just live in the regent’s residence,” Jiang Yan said quickly. “There aren’t any complicated people there. It’s mostly brothers who followed me before and a few people who handle cleaning. There isn’t even a single maid.”

Jiang Ji glanced at him, smiling slightly.

Zhao Ru looked surprised. “There are no maids in your residence?”

“No. Aside from the cook and three women who do laundry, everyone else is a man,” Jiang Yan replied.

Hearing this, Zhao Ru felt even more satisfied. It seemed Jiang Yan had always been very disciplined and probably never had any concubines or attendants.

The three of them discussed their future plans for a while. Only after Zhao Ru nodded did Jiang Ji finally take the paper-cutting knife and return to the tool room.

After lunch, Jiang Ji continued working on the bracelet. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that he came out and returned to the east wing, holding a small black box. He handed it to Jiang Yan with a mysterious expression.

Jiang Yan took it. “Finished already?”

“Yes. Open it and see.”

Jiang Yan opened the box.

Inside were two bracelets.

One black, one brown. They were the same design: a circle of leather with four thinner leather strips crossing over each other, giving it a slightly loose yet natural look.

“What are these?”

“These are bracelets. A couple’s set. One for you and one for me.” Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow. “Which one do you like, black or brown?”

Jiang Yan’s heart stirred slightly. “Black.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ji took out the black bracelet. “I’ll put it on for you. Left hand.”

Jiang Yan raised his left hand. Jiang Ji slipped the leather bracelet onto his wrist.

“The clasp here can be adjusted. If you pull these two ends, it tightens and locks. To loosen it, just pull here.”

Jiang Yan’s skin was fair. It had tanned a little before, but after spending two months in the south covered in armor, it had returned to its pale color. Translated on Hololo novels. The black bracelet rested just below the white bone of his wrist, making his skin look even lighter.

Jiang Yan tried it. It was very convenient.

Jiang Ji asked, “A token of love. Do you like it?”

“I like it.” Jiang Yan nodded. He took the brown bracelet and pulled Jiang Ji’s hand over, fastening it onto his wrist. Then he gently touched the leather band. “It looks very good.”

“Of course. I made it,” Jiang Ji said proudly.

The young man before him had bright eyes reflecting Jiang Yan’s image. His smile was radiant and dazzling.

Jiang Yan wrapped an arm around his waist. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and kissed him.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾