A Good Country Wife
Chapter 558 - 552 - 1

Chapter 558: 552 Chapter 1

Jiang Ziqi also learned that Zhao Erhu had entered the capital from news that had come from Xin’an City, and even received an imperial summons. Fearing that Zhao Erhu might have encountered some trouble, he specially sent people to inquire about it, and only after gathering some information did he roughly guess the reason and knew that Zhao Erhu had entered the Imperial Palace to meet with the Emperor. Therefore, he went to the Zhao Residence to wait for him.

Zhao Erhu trusted Jiang Ziqi a great deal, and Jiang Ziqi knew many of their family secrets. After all, Zhao Erhu was unfamiliar with the Imperial Palace and the Court. Even though he knew the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Emperor had already explicitly signaled for him to maintain a distance. Zhao Erhu would not ignore such commands. If he went to find the Princely Heir right after leaving the palace, it would certainly arouse the Emperor’s suspicion. Moreover, there were some matters he couldn’t even tell the Princely Heir. Now that his wife was not by his side and he had no one to consult, he thought of Jiang Ziqi.

Jiang Ziqi feared that Zhao Erhu, unfamiliar with the rules, might offend the Emperor, so he waited specially, wanting to offer advice before Zhao Erhu entered the palace. However, they had not stopped upon entering the capital and went directly into the palace. He could only wait until after Zhao Erhu had seen the Emperor to understand the situation fully and give Zhao Erhu some pointers, in case Zhao Erhu had erred in some way, so he could make timely amends.

Zhao Erhu did indeed want Jiang Ziqi to analyze the situation for him and didn’t hide anything, telling everything as it was, including the conversation with the Emperor in the palace today, as well as the matter of the Golden Token. "Brother Jiang, as you know, I am not familiar with these matters, so I must seek your advice and have you help me see if there is anything inappropriate hidden within."

Jiang Ziqi was quite surprised when he heard that the Emperor had entrusted the Golden Token to Zhao Erhu, but then he understood something and sighed, "Being the Emperor is not an easy task! You did well today, and the Emperor still trusts you very much. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given you the Golden Token. Just do your duty well, do whatever the Emperor asks of you. Xiaoyue was right, the one you should stay loyal to from beginning to end is only the Emperor. As a sage ruler, he will naturally see your loyalty. However, you still need to be cautious of what you should be cautious of."

"Thank you, Brother Jiang, for your advice. Also, there’s another matter. My wife wants to find a craftsman skilled in firing glazed glass, which, it seems, only craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department know how to do. Originally, she wanted me to find a way through Lady Roujia, but after all, it is not quite convenient for me as an outsider. I’m afraid I will have to trouble you with this matter," Zhao Erhu said to Jiang Ziqi without any pretense, knowing that if Jiang Ziqi could do it, he would certainly help.

"This matter is indeed not that easy to handle, but it’s not impossible. Leave it to me. I will first make some inquiries and see how best to proceed," Jiang Ziqi readily promised without a second thought.

"Xiaoyue is doing well now, isn’t she? Before the New Year, I heard she was hurt by that scoundrel, but at that time, there were too many matters at my residence, and I really couldn’t leave to visit her personally. I initially thought she would accompany you to the capital." To be honest, Jiang Ziqi was somewhat disappointed to know that Lin Yue had not come with Zhao Erhu.

Zhao Erhu had been with Jiang Ziqi for a long time and admired the man greatly. Moreover, although Jiang Ziqi was fond of his wife, he was always upstanding and never harbored any sordid thoughts. Zhao Erhu now didn’t really feel jealous about Jiang Ziqi anymore.

At first, it was because he lacked confidence in himself, fearing that Xiaoyue would truly fall for Jiang Ziqi. Now he had come to understand that it was impossible between Xiaoyue and Jiang Ziqi. With Xiaoyue’s jealous nature, she would get angry even if he glanced at another woman, let alone share a man with other women. Just on this point alone, Jiang Ziqi was completely out of the question. Besides, Jiang Ziqi kept several concubines in his household. Truly, a man with a career is different; not only in terms of experience, but even his perspective and open-mindedness had greatly expanded.

Zhao Erhu laughed, "She’s much better now, rested well in her room for a good half a month before letting people out. She nearly drove me to complaint. I initially wanted to bring her, but she was unwilling to come. Perhaps it’s because of the unpleasant events last time she was in the capital. Moreover, she couldn’t leave the business at home. You know her obsession with money. I’ll be setting out to sea in no more than two or three months, and she wouldn’t want to miss such an opportunity to make money. She’s busy at home rushing to produce goods."

Hearing Zhao Erhu say this, Jiang Ziqi also couldn’t help but laugh, "Has Xiaoyue’s obsession with money remained unchanged to this day? By rights, she shouldn’t lack money from what she’s earned. It seems she’s really fallen head over heels for it."

Although these words were clearly a reproach, they were spoken with heavy fondness and indulgence. Even if Zhao Erhu was ’magnanimous,’ he felt a pang of sourness inside. Was Jiang Ziqi really not doing this on purpose?

"That’s my wife. Whatever she likes is fine, I will indulge her. As long as she’s happy, even if I earn gold and she wants it to build a house, I wouldn’t mind," he replied.

"Tsk tsk, look at how petty you are. I know Xiaoyue is your wife. Alright, since we’ve said what needed to be said, I won’t waste more words with you. I’ll be going now, and if there’s any news, I’ll send someone to notify you."

The Princely Heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei had already arranged for someone to keep watch at the palace gates. He received word of Zhao Erhu leaving the palace immediately. Although he knew the Emperor was somewhat suspicious of him—more accurately, suspicious of the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence—he still decided to make a trip to see Zhao Erhu. Some things could not be conveyed through servants or letters; they had to be discussed face-to-face. Moreover, even if the Emperor harbored suspicions, he would not mind just one or two encounters with Zhao Erhu, so long as some distance was maintained in the future.

"My lord, didn’t you say that you would keep a distance from the house of Zhao Erhu? Why are you personally going to the Zhao Residence now? Considering your status, why not send someone to give word and have Zhao Erhu come over instead?" Little Jinzi, although gaining some favor towards Zhao Erhu because of the food his family had delivered, held his master in the highest regard in his heart. He felt that his master, being of such noble status, should not personally visit Zhao Erhu whose origins were simply that of a farmer turned businessman, which was somewhat a downgrade in status. Moreover, his master had said not so long ago that he shouldn’t get too close to Zhao Erhu.

Feng Yinan glanced at Xiaojin and said, "What now? You’re meddling too much. Am I supposed to report everything to you now?"

"Your servant dares not, your servant dares not," Xiaojin replied, somewhat disheartened.

Just after sending Jiang Ziqi away, Zhao Erhu returned to his room when a servant reported that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei had arrived. After careful thought, Zhao Erhu decided to personally welcome him at the doorway. Regardless of circumstances, the Princely Heir had shown him great favor, and even if the Emperor intended for him to keep a distance from the Princely Heir, it didn’t mean they could never interact again. It was just a matter of being mindful of propriety.