Ch 79: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Lu Wen and Lu Jiu went up into the mountains for a walk. When they returned, they had a string of wild rabbits and pheasants, along with a pouch full of red dates and persimmons.

As they passed the east wing, they saw Jiang Yan and Jiang Ji inside wiping down the armor. Lu Wen lifted the front of his shirt where he had tucked the dates and walked in happily.

“Young master, there are dates and persimmons. Want some?”

Jiang Ji glanced at them. “From the village chief’s house?”

“Huh? Young Master Jiang Ji, how did you know?” Lu Wen asked, puzzled.

“In the whole village, only the village chief’s jujube tree still has fruit left,” Jiang Ji explained. “Were they harvesting the dates today?”

“Yeah. They let us bring back a big pouch.” Lu Wen grinned. “Oh right, Young Master Jiang Ji, we caught some wild rabbits. Can you cook that rabbit dish you made before tonight? These two haven’t tasted it. I told them your cooking is amazing, but they don’t believe me.”

Jiang Ji had originally planned to cook lunch himself, but he hadn’t had time because he was making the bracelet. Now he smiled.

“Sure. I’ll cook it for you tonight.”

The other two guards immediately brightened.

One of them said, “Thank you, Young Master Jiang Ji. On the way here we kept hearing them talk about how delicious your cooking is. They’ve made us curious.”

These were brothers who had fought life-and-death battles alongside Jiang Yan. Jiang Ji laughed.

“Have someone buy the rest of the ingredients. Tonight I’ll cook for everyone. We can all relax a bit.”

“That’s great.”

The group laughed happily. Then Lu Wen noticed the bracelet on Jiang Yan’s wrist.

“Huh? Young master, why are you wearing a bracelet? Did you buy it in the south?”

“No,” Jiang Yan replied.

He was wearing loose sleeves today, and his sleeves were rolled up. The black bracelet on his wrist was very noticeable.

“I made it,” Jiang Ji said with a smile. He lifted his own hand and waved it slightly. “Looks good, right?”

Lu Wen looked curiously at the bracelet on Jiang Ji’s wrist, which matched Jiang Yan’s.

“You made it, Young Master Jiang Ji? It looks pretty nice. Did you give it to our young master?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ji admitted openly.

Lu Wen looked back and forth between the two bracelets. Something felt strange, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what.

Lu Jiu’s eyelid twitched slightly. He quickly grabbed a few persimmons from Lu Wen’s shirt and placed them on the table while pushing Lu Wen out.

“Young master, we’ll head to the backyard first. We’ll wash the dates and bring them later.”

“No need to bring them. We’ll come over soon anyway,” Jiang Ji said.

“Alright.”

The group left while pushing and shoving each other. Lu Wen was still talking to Lu Jiu.

“The young master is actually wearing a bracelet. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

“What’s strange about it?” Lu Jiu rolled his eyes. “Stop making a big deal out of nothing. Don’t lots of people in the south wear them?”

There were many ethnic groups in the south, each with different clothing and jewelry. Some men wore bracelets too. It was very common.

“But the young master never wore things like that before. And Young Master Jiang Ji didn’t either,” Lu Wen insisted. “They didn’t have them this morning.”

Lu Jiu: “…Maybe they just started liking them now.”

Lu Wen replied, “You might as well say Young Master Jiang Ji just finished making them.”

“That’s possible too.”

Back in the east wing, Jiang Ji looked at the black bracelet on Jiang Yan’s wrist. It rested right near the wrist bone. The black leather contrasted sharply with his pale skin.

It actually looked very good.

Jiang Ji stared at it for a moment, then wrung out a cloth and continued polishing the armor’s shoulder guards, wiping each plate carefully.

He chatted casually with Jiang Yan.

“So Lu Jiu didn’t tell them?”

“No,” Jiang Yan nodded. “So far he’s the only one who figured it out.”

“But everyone will know soon enough.”

“They’ll probably be shocked,” Jiang Ji said, imagining the scene and laughing to himself.

Jiang Yan glanced at him. “You seem very happy about that.”

“Of course,” Jiang Ji said, raising an eyebrow. “Just imagining their surprised faces is funny.”

Jiang Yan shook his head with a quiet laugh.

The two of them polished the armor until it shone. Then one of them carried the wooden basin and they went to the backyard.

It was about time to start preparing dinner. Jiang Ji washed his hands and told the kitchen aunt to boil water so he could prepare the rabbits and pheasants.

Wearing the bracelet was inconvenient for cooking. Jiang Ji took his off. But he had nowhere to put it, so he grabbed Jiang Yan’s hand and slid it onto his wrist.

“Hold onto it for me,” Jiang Ji said, tightening the strap.

Jiang Yan also didn’t want the bracelet to get dirty. Translated on Hololo novels. He went back to the room, removed it carefully, wiped it clean, and placed it safely back into the box.

Jiang Ji personally prepared dinner. Jiang Yan and Sister Guihua helped with small tasks like plucking feathers and washing vegetables.

Jiang Yan and the others had been tense for more than two months. Now they chatted while working, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation stolen from serious matters.

Once all the vegetables were washed, Lu Jiu and the others had nothing left to do. They sat outside the kitchen watching the sunset while waiting for dinner.

One guard sighed. “Life here is really comfortable. You don’t have to think about anything.”

Far from the court. Far from conflict. Quiet and peaceful.

Lu Jiu nodded. “And there’s good food.”

Lu Wen agreed. “Right. I almost don’t want to leave.”

Another guard laughed. “No wonder you were so eager to follow the young master here.”

Lu Wu was originally supposed to come back with Lu Jiu, since his martial arts were strong, but Lu Wen had insisted on coming instead.

Lu Wen chuckled. “Aren’t you the same?”

They all laughed.

One guard peeked into the kitchen and whispered, “I never expected the young master to be like this here.”

They all turned to look.

Inside the kitchen, Jiang Yan was wearing his usual gray clothes, sleeves rolled up. He stood beside Jiang Ji, skillfully coating pork ribs with crushed glutinous rice, his expression focused and gentle, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

He looked completely relaxed and happy.

Before this, none of them could have imagined that their regent had such a side to him.

Jiang Ji personally cooked dinner and prepared three large tables full of dishes. Lu Shun and the others also returned from the city and brought back two large jars of wine. Everyone gathered together, raising cups and celebrating.

The two guards barely even lifted their heads while eating.

“This is unbelievably good,” one of them said. “No wonder you were all fighting to come here.”

“See? I didn’t lie to you.”

“I’ve never eaten anything this delicious in my life!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Ji kept placing food into Jiang Yan’s bowl.

“I made the rabbit differently this time. Try it and see if it tastes good.”

“This is the sweet-and-sour mandarin fish you like.”

“These ribs turned out really good today too.”

Jiang Yan looked at the pile of food in his bowl, smiling helplessly. “Slow down. Let me finish what’s already here first.”

Jiang Ji glanced at his bowl, which was already piled like a small mountain, and finally paused for a moment. “Oh. Then hurry and eat. You need to build yourself back up.”

Jiang Yan’s bowl was filled with dishes he liked. Out of the twelve dishes on the table, seven or eight were also his favorites.

His heart softened.

Jiang Yan picked up a piece of braised pork that Jiang Ji liked and placed it into his bowl. “You eat too.”

“Mhm.” Jiang Ji picked up the meat and ate it in one bite, his eyes curving into a smile. His mood was excellent.

Zhao Ru watched their interaction and the genuine happiness on their faces. Her heart finally relaxed.

As long as they were both happy, everything was worth it.

After dinner, Jiang Ji asked Lu Wen and the others to watch Jiang Nan and Jiang Bei while they did their homework. Then he pulled Jiang Yan outside for a walk.

The moonlight that night was beautiful, like silver flowing across the ground.

People in the village were either still eating or sitting in their courtyards chatting after dinner.

Jiang Ji hooked his finger with Jiang Yan’s. Jiang Yan immediately grasped his hand tightly as the two of them walked toward the entrance of the village.

Jiang Ji said, “Some time ago Magistrate Xu told me the court had issued an order. After the second rice harvest, officials from other prefectures will come to transport the grain seeds. The fifteen counties that planted the new rice this year can pay their land taxes in silver instead of grain. The price of the seeds has been fixed at forty coins per jin. Was that your suggestion?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Yes.”

“I knew it was you.” Jiang Ji smiled and squeezed his hand. Then he continued, “By the way, the second rice crop will be ready for harvest in about a month. The rice seeds should be enough to cover most of the paddies in the south. Wheat planting in the north is coming soon. How about I leave with you the day after tomorrow? If we move quickly, we can distribute the new wheat seeds in time. Then I can still make it back to harvest the rice.”

“Won’t the cotton be ready to harvest soon too?” Jiang Yan asked.

Jiang Ji nodded. “In about half a month.”

“Is the factory building finished?”

“It’s almost done. The timing should work out.” Jiang Ji said, “The warehouse is already built, so there should be enough space to store the cotton.”

Jiang Yan asked, “Don’t you need to supervise the cotton harvest personally?”

“If I go north to distribute the wheat seeds, I won’t have time for that here. I’ve already inspected the nearby cotton fields, and the quality looks good. I’ll ask the village chief and Uncle Tugen to help manage it.” Jiang Ji shook Jiang Yan’s hand slightly. “Let Lu Shun stay here and help me for a bit. Let him oversee the weighing, payments, and storage. I’d feel more at ease.”

“That’s fine.”

“Then it’s settled. Lu Shun will stay here to help collect the cotton, and I’ll go north with you. After we distribute the wheat seeds and give instructions, I’ll come back. I’ve already chosen the area. Somewhere around the capital would be best. That’s a major wheat-growing region. I calculated it. If we start from there, we can probably cover fifty to sixty thousand mu.”

Jiang Ji had been saving up points for more than two months. By the time they reached the capital, he would have accumulated even more. Earlier rewards had already been exchanged for wheat seeds, and he still had quite a few gifted seeds. The only problem was that wheat required more seeds than rice, otherwise he could have expanded even further.

“So much?” Jiang Yan said in surprise. Then he asked worriedly, “What tasks did the immortals have you do? Was it dangerous?”

Jiang Ji rubbed the tip of his nose. “Not dangerous. Pretty simple. I just tell them about my daily life and chat with them.”

He absolutely didn’t dare tell Jiang Yan that the “immortals” could watch their lives. He especially couldn’t tell him they had even seen them kissing. If he said that, Jiang Yan would probably feel extremely awkward in the future.

Jiang Yan already knew Jiang Ji sometimes talked to himself and understood that he was chatting with the immortals. Hearing that it wasn’t dangerous, he felt relieved.

However, he also noticed Jiang Ji rubbing his nose again. That was something Jiang Ji often did when he felt guilty. There was clearly something else he wasn’t saying, but Jiang Yan didn’t press further.

“If there’s anything I can help with, just tell me.”

Jiang Ji had already thought about it. “When we get there, issue an official order to the counties around the capital and have them select which counties will participate and cooperate in planting the new wheat seeds. That way I won’t have to spend time persuading them.”

“Alright.” Jiang Yan stopped walking and held both of Jiang Ji’s hands. “When we arrive in the capital, after I report everything to my parents, will you come with me to meet them?”

Jiang Ji smiled and nodded. “That’s exactly why I chose the capital as our starting point. I wanted to go meet them with you.”

Jiang Yan had already guessed that. He kissed Jiang Ji lightly on the lips, and beneath the moonlight they shared a gentle kiss.

They continued discussing their plans for a while before finally walking back.

That night in bed, they lay together whispering for a long time, talking about their plans once they reached the capital.

When Jiang Ji mentioned opening a restaurant in the capital, he suddenly remembered something.

“Oh right. Since you’re the Regent, if we get married, does that mean I can’t open a restaurant under my own name?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “That’s right.”

“What about under Mother’s or Xia’er’s name?”

Jiang Yan nodded again. “That’s possible. Your family members can.”

Jiang Ji thought for a moment. “Actually, to be safe, we should restore Uncle Han’s free status and open it under his name instead. That way no one will criticize you.”

Jiang Yan hugged him and kissed him lightly. “You’re very thoughtful.”

“Of course. Once we’re together, your honor and mine will be tied together. If something goes wrong for you, it affects me too. So of course I have to think things through for you.”

“Mm. Thank you.”

Thinking about Uncle Han again, Jiang Ji asked,

“By the way, who is the new magistrate in Huawen County?”

Jiang Yan replied, “I’m not too sure yet. Why do you ask?”

Jiang Ji held him and said, “Do you remember how Uncle Han and the others were sold here?”

Han Qingshan from the restaurant. Back then his eldest daughter had been violated by the young master of their former household. Translated on Hololo novels. Unable to bear it, she took her own life. Han Qingshan and his apprentice Yu Yang beat the young master to avenge her, and as punishment they were sold off to this place. His younger daughter, Xiang’er, had been sold to Pingnan County.

Jiang Yan remembered. “You’re thinking…”

Jiang Ji said seriously, “Can you have someone investigate that family they used to serve? Uncle Han and the others can’t be the only victims. I want to seek justice for them and truly resolve the knot in their hearts. People like that family should receive the punishment they deserve.”

Jiang Yan tightened his arm around Jiang Ji’s waist. “Alright. I’ll have someone investigate.”

Jiang Ji happily kissed him. “Having subordinates really does have its advantages.”

Jiang Yan smiled and deepened the kiss.

…

The next day, the two of them began making arrangements.

Jiang Ji first spoke with Zhao Ru, telling her that he would go toward the capital to distribute the new wheat seeds and also meet Jiang Yan’s parents.

Zhao Ru advised him, “When you meet his parents, you must be sincere, understand? Keep a proper attitude so they can see your sincerity and determination.”

Jiang Ji nodded. “Alright, I understand.”

“And you should prepare gifts.” Zhao Ru frowned. “We don’t have anything particularly valuable here. Bring silver notes with you and buy something in the capital. Buy something good, understand?”

“Mm, I know. Don’t worry, Mother.”

Jiang Ji then explained the cotton collection plans and told her that she and Lu Shun would oversee it. After that, he went to the village chief and Uncle Tugen, asking them to help when the time came. They immediately agreed.

By the time he returned, Jiang Yan had already instructed Lu Wen to investigate Han Qingshan’s former household and had also spoken with Lu Shun about staying longer to help manage things.

When Lu Shun saw Jiang Ji return, he said, “Young Master Jiang Ji, the young master told me some of what needs to be done, but you should explain the details to me.”

“Alright. I’ll take you out to look at the cotton fields first and teach you how to judge the quality.”

Jiang Ji took Lu Shun outside, with Jiang Yan following along.

Along the way, Jiang Ji explained how to distinguish good cotton from poor cotton. Translated on Hololo novels. He also told him about the contracts he had signed with the farmers. When the time came, they only needed to collect cotton from those who had signed contracts.

After returning, he showed Lu Shun the contracts and carefully explained the important points.

“I understand,” Lu Shun said after repeating everything back. “Is that correct?”

“Yes.” Jiang Ji patted his shoulder. “You really do have the talent of a good steward.”

Lu Shun smiled. “You flatter me, Young Master Jiang.”

After settling everything, the next day Jiang Ji set off with Jiang Yan, bringing along two guards.

Jiang Yan had originally planned for them to ride together, but when he saw Jiang Ji easily mount his horse by himself, he looked surprised.

“You can ride now?”

“Of course. During these two months, whenever I had time I asked the guards to teach me.” Jiang Ji smiled. “If I’m going to live in the capital in the future, I should at least learn.”

Jiang Yan curved his lips slightly. “Alright then. Let’s go.”

After saying goodbye to Zhao Ru and the others, they set off at full speed toward the north.

After one day of riding, they caught up with the main escort force transporting the captured Prince Qi. Jiang Ji and Jiang Yan switched to riding in a carriage.

From Changping to the capital, riding hard on horseback would take about four days. But a large convoy like theirs, escorting prisoners and including infantry, needed twelve or thirteen days.

After catching up with the main force, they traveled another seven or eight days before finally reaching the capital.

Just before entering the city, Jiang Yan noticed Jiang Ji tracing something in the air with his finger.

“What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking for gifts,” Jiang Ji said anxiously. “When we meet your parents, I have to bring gifts.”

Changping County was only a small county and didn’t have anything particularly good. Jiang Ji had already planned to buy gifts in the capital. If he couldn’t find suitable ones, he would exchange them through the system.

Jiang Yan laughed softly. “There are plenty of things in the regent’s residence. You can just pick a couple.”

“That won’t do.” Jiang Ji spoke seriously. “If I’m visiting your parents, how can I take gifts from your own house? I should prepare them myself to show sincerity.”

Jiang Yan looked at him with a smile.

Jiang Ji patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I brought silver notes. They’re valid throughout the country. And I already asked Lu Jiu about your grandfather, your parents, your younger brother, and your second uncle’s family. I know what they like.”

He repeated the information he had gathered from Lu Jiu. “It’s this, right? He didn’t get it wrong?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Mostly correct.”

“Then what parts are different? Tell me quickly.”

Jiang Yan explained the details. Jiang Ji took out his small notebook and wrote everything down carefully.

Watching him record everything so seriously, Jiang Yan smiled softly. “That’s all. When we arrive, I’ll have someone take you into the city to choose the gifts.”

“Good. It’s settled then.”

While they were talking, the gates of the capital came into view.

Jiang Ji lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. The towering city walls stood tall and imposing. He felt both nervous and excited.

“We’ve arrived at the capital.”

Jiang Yan took his hand.

“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾