A Good Country Wife
Chapter 444 - 438_1

Chapter 444: Chapter 438_1

"Brother Jiang, there’s no need. Brother Erhu knows some martial arts, and we have servants too. Handling ordinary bandits shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, Brother Li has his own matters to attend to, so let’s not trouble him." Lin Yue hurriedly declined, which was also what Zhao Erhu intended. The only person Lin Yue had informed about striking a deal with the mountain bandits of Longhu Mountain was Zhao Erhu. With the bandit threat out of the picture, there really was no need to trouble Li Xun with another journey considering Zhao Erhu’s skills.

"Enough talk. If you call me ’Brother Jiang,’ then you should treat me as a brother, and listen to what your elder brother has to say. It’s not just about escorting you back; Li Xun has other matters to attend to as well. Escorting you is just a part of it." Jiang Ziqi’s tone was not one of discussion but of certainty. Apart from his concern for bandits, Jiang Ziqi also harbored another worry. Since the Zhang Family had gone to such lengths to have the Fourth Princess act against Lin Yue—even though they didn’t succeed—who knew whether they might make another move? He couldn’t be at ease without sending an escort.

Jiang Ziqi insisted, so there was nothing Lin Yue could do about it. Moreover, Jiang Ziqi pulled Zhao Erhu aside to talk, and whatever was said changed Zhao Erhu’s earlier attitude. With Zhao Erhu agreeing to Li Xun’s escort, Lin Yue had even less reason to refuse.

"Take care on your journey. As for Magistrate Cheng, I am also aware of his character. If you can tolerate, then tolerate. But if he becomes too excessive, don’t endure it. I have your back, and I’ve already signaled to some people over there. I believe he won’t dare to set his sights on you anymore."

"Understood, thank you, Brother Jiang. We shall take our leave, and you take care as well."

After Zhao Erhu and his wife left, Jiang Ziqi watched them until they passed through the city gates. He watched their carriage growing distant, bit by bit, until it finally vanished from his sight, before he withdrew his gaze.

Lin Yue and the others had been escorted to the Capital City by Li Xun and his company. Everyone was familiar with one another, and the journey was filled with laughter and chatter. Thinking that they would be home in a few days, Lin Yue felt a lightness in her heart, and her smile became even more genuine.

In the Imperial Palace, Huangfu Jing finished reviewing memorial submissions. With no other affairs occupying him, he thought of Lin Yue, wondering how she had been and what she had been up to since leaving the palace a few days ago. Although he had not taken action against Yongle yet, he had already had people watch her closely, ensuring she would have no opportunity to harm Lin Yue again.

"Elder brother, are you still reviewing memorials?" Huangfu Jing was lost in thought when Princess Yongle’s voice interrupted him. The bold girl entered without announcement, growing increasingly undisciplined—a result, no doubt, of his excessive indulgence, since she was his only sister after all.

"Yongle, what kind of discipline is that? Bursting in so recklessly." Although Huangfu Jing chided her, his words carried little blame.

Princess Yongle was already accustomed to Huangfu Jing’s rebukes. "Elder brother, can’t you greet me without a reprimand? I just came to see how you are doing, and besides..."

"What now, you wish to leave the palace again? You’ve hardly stayed put for long, and now you want to go out once more? No!" As soon as Huangfu Jing saw Princess Yongle like this, he knew what she was after and promptly refused without a second thought.

"Why not? I won’t run around this time. I just want to visit Yueyue. Last time I invited her to the palace, unexpected incidents occurred, and she had to leave abruptly. I’ve always felt somewhat sorry about that. I just want to visit her outside the palace. Didn’t you say Yueyue is a good girl and that I should form a closer relationship with her? What! Are you going back on your word now, elder brother?"

"Of course not. I don’t object to you associating with her, but it’s not necessary to leave the palace. If you want to see her, you can invite her in. That’s all there is to it," Huangfu Jing said offhandedly.

Princess Yongle saw no issue with Huangfu Jing’s suggestion, thinking her elder brother merely wanted to keep her from leaving the palace, so she contemplated the feasibility of his proposal. "That’s true, but Yueyue may not be willing to come to the palace again."

"I don’t think Yueyue is the sort of narrow-minded woman to dwell on the past incident. She just dislikes trouble. Now that I have people watching the Fourth Princess, she won’t come out to trouble Yueyue again. Last time Yueyue visited in a hurry and didn’t even get to properly enjoy the Royal Garden. This time you can accompany her and take a good look around."

Princess Yongle was convinced by Huangfu Jing’s smooth talk and agreed to his idea. Since she couldn’t leave the palace, the only option was to invite someone in. "Alright then, I’ll send someone to invite her to the palace. This time, we must properly host Yueyue, show her around the palace, and Lady Roujia should be invited too since she and Yueyue are also close."

"Then it’s settled."

It was only after a visit to the Zhao Residence by Steward Wang that Huangfu Jing and Princess Yongle learned that Lin Yue had already left the Capital City. Though Huangfu Jing was displeased, as an Emperor, he did not show his emotions outwardly; thus, Princess Yongle didn’t notice anything amiss and complained on her own. "Why did Yueyue leave the Capital City for her hometown? She said she would stay here longer. She didn’t even notify me, claiming to consider me a friend. Could you have made a mistake?"

"Princess, this servant heard it truly; Mistress Lin and her husband indeed returned to their hometown. They set off yesterday, and there’s no mistake. Commandery Princess Roujia knows about it too and mentioned that Mistress Lin bid her farewell before leaving," said Steward Wang as Commandery Princess Roujia just arrived. Princess Yongle hurriedly invited her in to inquire about Lin Yue.

"Roujia, what’s going on? Why did Yueyue suddenly leave without saying goodbye? I was planning on inviting her to the palace, and yet when I sent someone to invite her, she was already gone," Princess Yongle said, clearly dissatisfied, feeling that Lin Yue didn’t value their friendship, even though she had been keenly attentive to it.

Roujia, knowing Princess Yongle’s temperament, laughed and explained, "Princess, don’t be angry. Yueyue had urgent family matters to attend to; besides, she didn’t leave without bidding you farewell—it’s just that entering the palace wasn’t convenient, so she entrusted me with the task. I’ve been busy as well these past two days, so I haven’t had the chance to tell you."

Princess Yongle wasn’t unreasonable. Initially upset because she thought Lin Yue didn’t care about their friendship, her anger subsided upon hearing Commandery Princess Roujia’s explanation. Nevertheless, her expression remained downcast. "So that’s it. But still, after all the time we spent together, I consider Yueyue a friend, and I enjoy her company. It’s disheartening that she’s left the Capital City without my knowledge; I didn’t even have the chance to bid her farewell."

"The thought alone counts, Princess. Yueyue will come back to the Capital City eventually. There will be more opportunities," responded Roujia.

As Princess Yongle and Commandery Princess Roujia chatted, Huangfu Jing remained silent, sitting aside, seemingly inattentive to their conversation.