CMWKSD -Chapter 219 A Sight That Stirred Pity

Jiu Yue followed General Shen and the others to the silver mine.

No one had expected that Yunlai Mountain would hide such a massive silver deposit.

Jiu Yue clutched her chest as she stared at the mine entrance ahead.

It was obvious the place had been mined for a very long time.

Which meant that at least several million taels of silver had already been transported out.

Of course, it could just as well be tens of millions.

Seeing Jiu Yue holding her chest, General Shen thought she was unwell and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong?”

“My heart hurts!”

General Shen became even more flustered. “Why would your heart hurt? I’ll find a physician for you right away!”

He had completely forgotten that the best physician was standing right in front of him.

Jiu Yue tugged at the hem of General Shen’s robe. “Don’t you feel heartache? So much silver has been carted away.”

“Think about it—this time I handled such a huge case. If the silver hadn’t been moved, it might’ve ended up in my pocket.”

General Shen: “……”

He brushed Jiu Yue’s hand off his clothes, turned his back to her, and said flatly, “Oh.”

And yet, he had no idea how he was supposed to explain this to her.

After that, Jiu Yue returned to the main camp with a long face the whole way.

Ji Yiqing hurried over from afar to congratulate Jiu Yue on her success.
Seeing that she looked unhappy, he quickly asked what was wrong.

After hearing her reasoning, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

“The silver deposited in money houses wouldn’t all belong to you anyway.”

What had already happened—why make assumptions that only brought unnecessary worry?

Just based on the two major cases Jiu Yue had supervised this time, there was no way Emperor Fengyuan wouldn’t bestow a heavy reward on her.

After all, the fact that the emperor was even willing to hand over the command token of the Capital Garrison showed just how useful Jiu Yue was in his eyes.

If you want a horse to run, you naturally have to feed it grass.

And for a sweat-blood steed that could run a thousand li like Jiu Yue, ordinary fodder wouldn’t do—it had to be exceedingly expensive delicacies.

Jiu Yue was finally comforted by Ji Yiqing.

Even General Shen couldn’t help giving him a thumbs-up.

As expected, it had to be Ji Yiqing.

No one had anticipated that by the time they returned to the capital after this trip, the New Year had already passed.

Prince Fu’s birthday had passed as well.

Even the feudal lords had already entered the capital.

After wrapping up the affairs of Pingta County, Jiu Yue and the others hauled several carts of case files and slowly made their way back to the capital.

By then, Jiu Yue’s face was practically stretched into a donkey’s scowl.

But now, Jiu Yue’s name was truly thunderous.

There wasn’t a single person in the entire capital who didn’t know her.

Those two victories had elevated her status by more than just a notch.

No one would ever again refer to her as an orphan girl or merely a “folk-born county princess.”

They all said Jiu Yue was Great Qi’s lucky star.

Great Qi’s princess.

The people’s princess.

No longer someone who could be summed up with a single phrase like “folk-born princess.”

Ji Chaomian quite naturally became a stipendiary official.

Ranked sixth grade—leaping two ranks straight from seventh to sixth grade.

What’s more, in the court debate over the case involving Vice Minister Jiang, Ji Chaomian rose to fame in a single battle.

No one wanted to go head-to-head with his mouth anymore.

He could argue the dead back to life.

After all, anyone who could keep a straight face and praise Jiu Yue as kind and timid
was a truly ruthless figure.

As for Ji Yiqing, he was appointed as a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel.

Fifth rank.

Also a two-rank promotion.

And this appointment had been issued directly by Emperor Fengyuan himself.

One had to know that the Ministry of Personnel was the head of the Six Ministries.

The Minister of Personnel was often called the “Heavenly Official,” wielding immense power and status.

The ministry’s duties covered the selection, appointment, and evaluation of officials.

So no matter whom you offended, you should never offend an official from the Ministry of Personnel.

Everyone could sense something from these appointments.

The Ji family was about to soar sky-high, gaining direct access to imperial favor.

With both Ji Chaomian and Ji Yiqing promoted overnight, social engagements were unavoidable.

They were invited to banquets for several days in a row.

To the point that both brothers felt nauseous at the mere sight of alcohol.

On the final day, the banquet was held in the capital.

Many of the guests were sons and grandsons of high-ranking officials and nobles, all around their age.

Neither of them really wanted to go.

But there was no helping it—every single one of them was of distinguished status.

Since people had personally come to invite them, even though they’d been promoted, they still had to attend.

At the banquet.

Amid the clinking of cups, one beautiful young lady after another entered gracefully.

Each guest smoothly drew a girl into his arms.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian exchanged a glance and waved their hands in refusal.

The two girls stood beside the brothers, tears shimmering in their eyes.

That pitiful look was enough to stir anyone’s sympathy.

One of the grandsons from a noble household spotted the scene at once and let out a snort of laughter.

Jiu Yue’s fame now was truly known to all.

As for how the Ji brothers had risen so quickly—who would believe it had nothing to do with Jiu Yue?

During this period, the ears of these noble sons and grandsons had nearly grown calluses from listening.

Everyone was saying how the Ji family had produced twin stars, how outstanding they were.

Even Ji Zhouye and the others were being praised to the skies.

These noble scions were all proud and arrogant by nature.

Being overshadowed like this—how could they feel pleased?

Especially when they believed the brothers had benefited from Jiu Yue’s favor.

A man who relied on a woman—could he even be called a man?

So they had deliberately brought in girls from pleasure houses.

After all, they’d long heard that the Ji brothers would never step foot in brothels,
pretending to be refined and aloof.

Wasn’t it because Jiu Yue kept them on a tight leash?

Men without dignity, yet daring to be compared to them—truly laughable!

“So what, Lord Ji—are you afraid the Princess will nag you when you get home?”

Ji Yiqing’s and Ji Chaomian’s faces both darkened.

Before they could retort, someone burst into loud laughter.

“Who would’ve thought Lord Ji was actually henpecked!”

“That won’t do, Lord Ji. A man should trample a woman under his feet—so what if she’s a princess?”

“The husband is the wife’s guiding principle. It’s just a couple of drinks, yet Lord Ji won’t even give us face? Or are you afraid you won’t be able to account for yourself when you go home, afraid you won’t even be allowed into bed?”

Ji Yiqing clenched his fists hard.

They could insult him all they wanted—but insulting Jiu Yue was unacceptable.

Just as he was about to speak, Ji Yiqing’s eyes shifted slightly.

Then he said calmly, “Jiu Yue and I are deeply devoted to one another. Why would I trample her under my feet? She is my wife—of course I should cherish and protect her.”

“Henpecked is henpecked. Why dress it up with such high-sounding words?”

Ji Yiqing opened his mouth, then closed it again.

After a moment, he shook his head helplessly.

“Fine, fine. If you say I’m henpecked, then I’m henpecked.”

The moment Ji Yiqing admitted it outright, everyone burst into laughter.

The roaring laughter nearly lifted the roof tiles off the hall.

Ji Chaomian glanced at Ji Yiqing.

Since when had his second brother ever lowered himself like this?

Once they got into the carriage, the slightly tipsy Ji Yiqing immediately splashed a good deal of wine over himself.

Watching this, Ji Chaomian was utterly baffled. “What are you doing?”

Ji Yiqing looked at him with sympathy. “Big Brother, you should get married sooner rather than later.”

The matchmakers at home were practically trampling down their threshold.

Proposals for Ji Chaomian, Ji Zhouye, and Ji Wanqiao were piling up endlessly.

Ji Chaomian had rejected them all.

He truly didn’t know what kind of person he was waiting for.

“What does this have to do with getting married?”

Ji Yiqing merely smiled and said nothing.

Before long, the two arrived at the Ji residence.

The servants helped them down from the carriage.

Ji Chaomian turned to speak to Ji Yiqing—only to see Ji Yiqing glance toward the main gate.

The man who had been full of vigor just moments ago instantly became weak and unsteady.

There was even a faintly aggrieved look on his face.

Ji Chaomian: “…What is going on now?”

Ji Chaomian lifted his head again.

Then he saw Jiu Yue walking out through the main gate.

She looked slightly displeased. “Why did you drink so much again?”

Ji Yiqing staggered, nearly unable to stand.

Ji Chaomian: No—weren’t you standing straighter than me just now?!

Supported by a servant, Ji Yiqing followed Jiu Yue into the house.

As soon as they stepped through the gate, Jiu Yue turned her head and glanced at Ji Yiqing.

Then she looked at Ji Chaomian. “Big Brother—did someone bully you?”

Ji Chaomian: !!!

He glanced at Ji Yiqing.

That man’s pitiful expression had grown even more pronounced, as he cautiously looked toward Jiu Yue.

That appearance—

Ji Chaomian truly, truly experienced for the first time the meaning of “a sight that stirred pity” when applied to a man.

And that expression was exactly the same as the dancers who had been rejected at the banquet.

Ji Yiqing had copied it perfectly!

This was eye-opening—truly eye-opening.

But little brother, how exactly am I supposed to cooperate with you here? At least give your big brother a hint!

Who knows what you’re even trying to do with this act?

Your big brother isn’t married—he really doesn’t understand the private amusements between you newlyweds.