Ch 105: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

After finishing the banquet, Jiang Ji and the others prepared to head home.

The male and female guests had eaten separately. When Zhao Ru and Madam Lu returned to the front hall to meet up with Jiang Ji and the others, Jiang Ji immediately noticed that both of them looked rather unhappy.

Madam Lu even pulled Lu Huaizhou aside to quietly say a few things before boarding the Lu family carriage and leaving.

Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou also got into their carriage. Jiang Ji asked, “What did Mother say to you? Why do both she and Madam Lu look upset? Did someone say something?”

Their family had come from humble farming origins and had only recently entered the upper circles of the capital. Zhao Ru still was not familiar with the social circles here, and it was inevitable that some people would make snide remarks or speak sarcastically. Jiang Ji was worried his mother had suffered some grievance.

Madam Lu understood this as well, which was why she always accompanied Zhao Ru to gatherings and banquets.

And today was a child’s hundred-day banquet. Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou would never have children, so Jiang Ji suspected someone had deliberately used that topic to say something unpleasant that upset the two mothers.

Lu Huaizhou’s expression turned slightly cold. Holding Jiang Ji’s hand, he said, “Mhm. Someone brought up children and hinted, both openly and indirectly, that my mother should arrange concubines for me. Mother (Zhao Ru) happened to overhear it.”

Jiang Ji raised a brow. “Oh, that matter…”

Lu Huaizhou looked at him and said, “Don’t overthink it. My mother firmly refused.”

“I’m not overthinking.” Jiang Ji’s expression remained calm, though his gaze had turned icy. “I just want to know who exactly offered Mother such a suggestion.”

Lu Huaizhou replied, “The wife of the Assistant Minister of Personnel.”

Jiang Ji gave a mocking laugh. “I suppose she probably already picked out candidates for you too? I heard her niece from her natal family has admired you for years and still isn’t married at eighteen. She’s certainly generous, willing to let her own niece become someone else’s concubine.”

Lu Huaizhou: “……”

Lu Huaizhou tightened his grip on Jiang Ji’s hand. “She’s dreaming.”

Jiang Ji looked at him and let out another cool laugh. “Anyone else say anything?”

Lu Huaizhou shook his head. “I don’t know. Mother only mentioned her. Mother told me to explain it to you after we returned and reassure her not to worry.”

“Mhm, I understand.”

After returning home, Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou accompanied Zhao Ru back to Wutong Courtyard.

Jiang Ji helped Zhao Ru sit down and poured her a cup of tea. “Mother, why are you unhappy? Did someone bully you?”

Zhao Ru took a sip of tea and shook her head. “No. Madam Lu was there. No one bullied me.”

Lu Huaizhou directly said, “Mother, my mother already told me everything.”

Zhao Ru: “……”

After a moment of silence, she looked at Lu Huaizhou and then at Jiang Ji. “What exactly did Madam Lu tell you?”

Lu Huaizhou answered solemnly, “Mother, please don’t worry. No matter what anyone says, Jiang Ji and I will only ever have each other. There will never be any random concubines.”

Zhao Ru looked at her son.

Jiang Ji nodded.

Zhao Ru patted Jiang Ji’s hand and finally revealed a small smile. “As long as the two of you live happily together, that’s enough.”

Then she became angry again. “Those loose-tongued busybodies. You’ve only just gotten married and they’re already plotting things.”

Jiang Ji wrapped an arm around Zhao Ru’s shoulders and comforted her. “Mother, don’t worry. I guarantee no one will ever dare bring up this matter in front of you again.”

“What are you planning to do?” Zhao Ru asked in alarm.

“I’m not doing anything serious. Don’t worry.”

Lu Huaizhou glanced at Jiang Ji as well, unsure what Jiang Ji intended to do.

…

Two days later, Lu Huaizhou and Zhao Ru found out exactly what Jiang Ji had done.

Jiang Ji hired a matchmaker to visit the Assistant Minister of Personnel’s residence, bringing along many beautiful portraits of women.

The Assistant Minister’s wife was utterly bewildered. She asked the matchmaker, “Neither my son nor daughter are old enough for marriage yet. Did you come to the wrong house?”

The matchmaker replied, “Hm? Wasn’t it said that Madam thinks your household lacks descendants and wants to arrange two more concubines for your husband? Don’t worry, all these girls come from respectable families. Gentle personalities, fertile too. Guaranteed to satisfy Madam.”

The woman exploded in anger. “Who said I wanted to arrange concubines for my husband?!”

“Duke Chang did,” the matchmaker answered.

The Assistant Minister’s wife frowned. “Which Duke?”

“Duke Chang, of course.” The matchmaker looked puzzled too. “He said Madam herself mentioned it a few days ago, saying families are happier with many children and much prosperity. Duke Chang thought perhaps Madam felt there weren’t enough children in your household, so he sent me over. Duke Chang even paid the matchmaking fee himself.”

The woman froze.

The next moment, realization dawned, and her face turned green, red, then white in rapid succession.

“No need for this. Steward, see the guests out!”

Within days, news spread through all the noble and official households that Duke Chang had personally sent a matchmaker to the Assistant Minister of Personnel’s home to arrange concubines for the man.

The Assistant Minister lost tremendous face. Rumor had it that the very same day, he returned home and furiously scolded his wife.

Since many noblewomen had been present that day, anyone with half a brain could piece together what had happened. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. The whole affair struck people as both ridiculous and hilarious.

After that incident, however, no one ever again dared suggest in front of Madam Lu or Zhao Ru that either Lu Huaizhou or Jiang Ji should take concubines.

After all, nobody wanted a matchmaker appearing at their own doorstep the very next day trying to arrange concubines for their husband.

Madam Lu sat beside Zhao Ru cracking sunflower seeds while laughing. “Hahaha, Xiao Ji truly knows how to handle things.”

Zhao Ru laughed too, though she still asked worriedly, “Will this offend people? It won’t cause Huaizhou trouble, will it?”

“What’s there to fear?” Madam Lu said confidently. “Our family has a Regent and a Dukep. Why would we fear him?”

Zhao Ru had always been gentle-tempered. She never cared when people subtly mocked their humble farming background or ridiculed her lack of education. Their family truly had been farmers, and there was nothing shameful about that.

But that day, she had genuinely become angry.

Jiang Ji had only just gotten married, and that woman was already trying to push people toward Lu Huaizhou. Zhao Ru simply could not tolerate it.

After hearing Madam Lu firmly reject the suggestion, Zhao Ru herself had stepped forward and directly rebuked the woman several times, ending the gathering unpleasantly.

She did not regret it either.

Who told that woman to deliberately make trouble?

Her only concern was whether it might cause problems for her son and Huaizhou.

Having only recently moved to the capital, Zhao Ru’s mindset had not yet fully adapted to the realities of noble society. But hearing Madam Lu’s words now, she thought it over and realized it made sense.

Huaizhou was the Regent.

Her son was Duke Chang.

What exactly was there to fear?

That evening, Lu Huaizhou also brought up the matter with Jiang Ji.

Holding Jiang Ji in his arms while massaging his waist, he said, “The Assistant Minister of Personnel kept apologizing to me and even wanted to personally apologize to you. I refused.”

“Mhm. No need to meet him.” Having just finished rolling around in bed, Jiang Ji lazily yawned. “I heard that when you announced you were marrying me, plenty of people tried introducing girls to you too.”

At that time, when the Huihe delegation visited and Lu Huaizhou publicly announced at the palace banquet that he and Jiang Ji intended to marry, the entire court had been stunned.

The very next day, people carried portraits to the Lu Residence hoping to select a wife for Lu Huaizhou. Madam Lu rejected them, and several officials even approached Lu Huaizhou directly multiple times, only to be coldly turned down to their faces.

Jiang Ji had only learned about it later from gossip overheard at a banquet.

Lu Huaizhou tightened his arms around Jiang Ji and kissed his lips softly. “I ignored all of them.”

Jiang Ji looked at him and laughed. “You really are quite the prized delicacy. Popular both before and after marriage.”

Lu Huaizhou gazed at him meaningfully. “Did you think nobody wanted to arrange marriages for you?”

When Jiang Ji had been granted the title Duke Chang last year, he was only nineteen years old. The position of Duke Chang’s spouse was naturally attractive, and many people had set their sights on him too.

“That happened too?” Jiang Ji grinned. “Well, none of it ever reached me directly.”

“That’s because Mother hadn’t arrived in the capital yet, and because I acted quickly,” Lu Huaizhou replied.

Jiang Ji raised a brow and laughed. “Then congratulations to you?”

Lu Huaizhou hummed lowly before rolling over and kissing him again.

…

The next day, Lu Huaizhou brought Jiang Ji to the Imperial Armory Bureau, the institution responsible for researching and manufacturing weapons.

Lu Huaizhou had mainly brought him there to see the newly forged steel blades.

Back during the first month of the year, when Jiang Ji completed the Emperor’s fishing task and received his reward, he had given Lu Huaizhou a steelmaking method. Lu Huaizhou had immediately handed the method over to the Imperial Armory Bureau and ordered them to forge weapons according to it.

Inside the bureau were blacksmith workshops on both sides, along with many carpentry shops. Numerous craftsmen worked busily crafting weapons.

Jiang Ji also noticed many workshops producing parts for crossbows and large mounted ballistae.

Upon hearing the Regent had arrived, the bureau superintendent hurried over with his subordinates to greet them. However, seeing Duke Chang beside the Regent left them rather surprised.

Wasn’t Duke Chang mainly responsible for agricultural cultivation and crop expansion?

Despite their confusion, they still bowed respectfully. “Your Highness. Duke Chang.”

Lu Huaizhou nodded. “Mhm. Bring us to see the blade.”

“Yes.”

The superintendent led them into a room displaying newly completed weapons. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Jiang Ji spotted the crossbows and mounted ballistae he himself had designed.

The superintendent removed a blade from a rack nearby and placed it on the table enthusiastically. “Your Highness, this is the new blade forged according to the method you provided. It’s sharper and tougher than our previous blades.”

Lu Huaizhou picked up the weapon.

The blade measured slightly over two chi long and gleamed with a cold sharp light, already fully honed.

He lightly ran a finger along the edge before flicking the blade with his finger, producing a vibrating hum.

Walking outside to a wooden testing post, Lu Huaizhou casually swung the blade once.

The thick wooden post split cleanly into two halves.

“Excellent blade.”

Lu Huaizhou’s eyes brightened. Returning inside, he handed the hilt to Jiang Ji. “What do you think? Does it pass?”

The superintendent stared in shock.

Duke Chang understood blades too?

Jiang Ji accepted the blade and examined it carefully. Running a finger along the spine, he inspected it for a while before having 2977 scan it as well.

“Not bad,” he finally said. “But there are still too many impurities. It could be forged several more times and refined further.”

Before the superintendent could respond, one of the supervising officials nearby could not help speaking up.

“Duke Chang, perhaps you don’t really understand blades. This is already the finest blade we can currently produce after repeatedly hammering and refining it according to His Highness’s method.”

Though the superintendent had lost the chance to speak, he privately shared the same thought.

Duke Chang did not look like someone knowledgeable about blades at all.

Lu Huaizhou shot the man a cold glance.

The supervising official immediately shrank his neck back, not understanding what he had said wrong.

Then he heard Lu Huaizhou say icily:

“That method was given to this prince by Duke Chang.”

Everyone from the Imperial Armory Bureau instantly widened their eyes.

The superintendent asked in disbelief, “Duke Chang provided the method?”

Lu Jiu, who stood behind them, snorted with amusement. “Not just the steelmaking method. Those crossbows, mounted ballistae, and sleeve arrows you’re building were all created by Duke Chang too.”

“T-This…”

The officials stared at Jiang Ji in complete shock.

The superintendent exclaimed, “Those new crossbows were all invented by Duke Chang?!”

“Exactly.” Lu Jiu sneered. “Still think Duke Chang doesn’t understand blades?”

“N-No, absolutely not!” The superintendent hurriedly lowered his head and apologized to Jiang Ji. “Please forgive us, Duke Chang. We failed to recognize greatness before us.”

No wonder the Regent had personally brought Duke Chang here to inspect the blades.

The superintendent secretly wiped sweat from his forehead.

Holding the blade, Jiang Ji smiled. “It’s fine. The blade can still be improved further though. Bring me to see the forging process.”

“Yes, yes! Duke Chang, Your Highness, please follow me.”

The superintendent no longer dared underestimate Duke Chang in the slightest and hurriedly led them to the forge workshops.

After observing the production process, Jiang Ji immediately made several suggestions on the spot. The superintendent quickly recorded everything and instructed the blacksmiths to improve the process according to Duke Chang’s recommendations.

After touring the Imperial Armory Bureau, Jiang Ji and Lu Huaizhou finally departed.

Watching their backs disappear, the officials all breathed sighs of relief.

“Wasn’t Duke Chang originally just a farmer? How does he know how to create so many incredible weapons?” someone asked.

“Who knows?”

“So even those crossbows and mounted ballistae were Duke Chang’s ideas? That’s unbelievable.”

“Have you heard about that game called darts all the young masters have become obsessed with lately?”

“Yeah. Like archery, except throwing darts by hand.”

“Exactly. Apparently Duke Chang invented it too.”

“That was his idea as well?”

“Yep. My cousin attended the hundred-day banquet for the Minister of Rites’ grandson and personally saw it.”

“Duke Chang truly hides his talents deeply. Not only can he farm incredibly well, he knows so many other things too.”

“No wonder the Regent fell for him. The way His Highness looked at Duke Chang just now was unbelievably affectionate and gentle. He’s hopelessly in love.”

“You brat, instead of listening carefully to Duke Chang discuss blade forging, you were staring at that?”

“I only glanced accidentally! I’ve never seen the Regent make that kind of expression before, so it shocked me. Think about it. There are countless noble ladies and prestigious young women in the capital, yet the Regent liked none of them and instead fell for Duke Chang. Duke Chang obviously must have extraordinary qualities. Now I finally understand why.”

“Enough already. Hurry and make sure the blacksmiths refine the blades exactly according to Duke Chang’s instructions. If we succeed, there’ll definitely be rewards for all of us.”

“Right, right, let’s go.”

Within only a few days, news spread throughout the Imperial Armory Bureau that the new steelmaking methods and advanced weapons all originated from Duke Chang.

Soon after, the news spread through military garrisons and camps both inside and outside the capital as well.

Without even realizing it, Jiang Ji once again gained a massive wave of admiration from soldiers and officers alike.

At that moment, Jiang Ji himself was at home drawing blueprints for a jacquard weaving machine.

At the same time, he also received good news from back home.

The new textile factory buildings had finally been completed.

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾